It was a fight for survival.
He was the prey.
The predator could be literally anywhere.
It stood hidden. Watching.
Left… clear.
Right… clear.
Behind… clear.
Straight ahead… clear.
He exhaled and started walking toward his destination.
The moment he crossed a certain point, the predator struck.
"FRIDA!!!"
Evan yelled as he felt a hand squeeze his ass.
He jumped away, slapping both hands over his butt.
Behind him, leaning against the gate pillar, stood the wolf girl.
She waved her tail with a smile.
"Something wrong?"
"Something wrong?!"
Evan's face turned bright red.
"You ask that?! You ambush me every day and grope my ass! Are you some kind of pervert?!"
Frida didn't care at all. Her tail kept wagging, and her ears tilted back made it clear she wasn't listening to a word he said.
"It's your fault it's so nice to touch."
"When will you leave me alone?"
She walked past him thoughtfully.
"No idea. Whenever I stop having fun, I guess."
Mira hopped past him in small excited jumps.
"So never."
Just as he was about to say something, he felt hot breath right behind his ear.
"Hi Astrid."
"Hi, butt-boy. Remember—whenever the boss wants it, you better stick that thing out nicely."
"Astrid! Move it!"
"I'm comin'!"
Evan stared at the retreating wolf girls.
Day after day, the same thing.
He was starting to wonder if he should start using a different gate… or go complain to Arslan.
Then he heard a somewhat melancholic voice behind him.
"Cut yourself free of it. Even if you try to strip a rose of its thorns, it will not become a lily."
He turned around and saw his mantis friend Morona.
"Easy for you to say. This happens every day."
"He who sails without a map shall not return."
"Yeah, well, I can't think of a plan."
"Seek, and drink the nectar of flowers."
She smiled at him and waved her antennae.
"You're right. I shouldn't stress so much. Sooner or later I'll come up with something."
Morona walked off, and right after that he heard another familiar voice—sharper than usual.
"I don't know if I should pity you or envy you."
"I'm not sure myself, Rufus… what happened? Bad date?"
"There was no date. Some joker stood me up."
He was visibly irritated. His ears twitched, and he stomped his foot nervously. Evan tried to steer the conversation someplace else.
"Have you seen Shaun?"
"He's not here yet?"
Then a tired voice drifted toward them.
"I'm… here…"
Shaun looked awful. His uniform was a mess, and his eyes were half-closed.
"You didn't sleep?"
"Work…"
Rufus snorted.
"So you watched porn all night?"
"Ha ha, hilarious. Why don't you two tell me about your adventures? Well, except you, Rufus—I heard plenty from you yesterday."
At that moment Rufus's ears shot straight up, and he stomped harder. Evan stepped between them.
"Guys, calm down. We need to get to class or else—"
Right then the school bell rang, and all three of them bolted toward their classrooms.
Long break.
A time long enough for something more than answering nature's call or trying to flush a teacher's rambling out of your brain.
It was time for something far more important.
Feeding time.
The sun was bright and warm, so Evan decided to have his lunch outside at the cafeteria tables.
There he got a surprise—Aiko was eating outside too.
She smiled and twitched her ears when she saw him.
He sat down and glanced at her lunch. A Japanese bento.
"Looks like a manga and anime club member."
"Thank you."
She wagged her tail and picked up a carrot flower with her chopsticks.
"I made it myself."
"Impressive."
Evan admired the carved vegetable.
"Lucky you. I still live in a tiny room and don't have my own kitchen."
"Not in the dorm?"
Evan bit into his cucumber sandwiches.
"The Headmaster's looking for a place for me, but right now I'm mostly thinking about finding a job."
"It's hard being… from who-knows-where. Kind of like from an isekai."
"You're telling me."
They laughed.
Aiko handed him one of the carrot flowers, and he ate it.
"Tasty."
"Thank you. I'm very good with a knife."
"I'd like to see you in action."
"You might get the chance. Together with one of the culinary clubs, we're working on decorative sashimi."
Suddenly she looked gloomy.
"Something wrong?"
"I have no idea where to get the meat—and even if I do, how to transport it."
"Maybe I can help."
She smiled and wagged her tail.
"Really? I might take you up on that."
For some reason, Evan felt a faint sense of doom… the same kind he felt around Frida.
End of day.
School over.
Friday.
Weekend begins.
Yes—the weekend.
Evan wondered how to spend it.
This was his first weekend in this world.
He didn't have much money.
He didn't have his own kitchen.
So… a library book and hanging out with Rufus and Shaun?
Not exactly the weekend he dreamed of.
As he stood there thinking, he heard a voice.
"Hey, Evan."
"Hi, Callisa?"
She stood in front of him, chest pushed forward, tail swaying gently.
"Got plans for the weekend?"
"Not really?"
She smiled, lightly licking her lips, playing with her hair, tail swishing behind her.
"Then maybe you could come over? I've got the house to myself."
At that moment Evan's brain went into overdrive.
Girl invites him.
Empty house.
"Is… is this a date?"
"Yes."
She wiggled her hips.
Evan grinned stupidly.
Then she seemed to guess exactly what was on his mind.
"Don't worry about clothes—I doubt you'll need them. So? Are we on?"
She smiled at him.
"Of course."
She handed him a slip of paper with her address.
"See you tonight."
Callisa walked away, and he stared at her butt and fluffy tail until she disappeared.
Then he stayed frozen for a moment before jumping into the air.
"YES!!!"
This was it—the legendary isekai protagonist luck.
Life couldn't get any better.
At least, that's what he thought.
He didn't foresee everything.