A Special Encounter With An Imperial Princess As I Get Reincarnated To Isekai

Blessing or Curse?

After about five minutes, Janne finally broke the silence. "Finished with your thinking?" she asked, her voice gentle and curious.

"Yeah," Satoru replied simply. As if something had suddenly dawned on him, he looked at her and asked, "Can you share your story with me? Why am I your first friend? Didn't you have any other friends before? I mean no offense."

Janne's smile faltered slightly, and she looked away, her fingers tracing the edge of her teacup.

"It's... complicated," she began.

"I've been alone for a long time, not by choice, but because of circumstances. You see, Astralsya is a grand academy within the Seraphius Empire, a place filled with opportunities and challenges. Despite all its grandeur, it's easy to feel isolated here."

She paused, collecting her thoughts.

"The Seraphius Empire is vast and powerful, with few rivals. Astralsya, being one of the top academies, attracts many, but it also means that people here are often focused on their ambitions, leaving little room for genuine connections. I've spent my time here excelling in my studies and training, but meaningful friendships have eluded me."

Satoru listened intently, feeling a mix of empathy and curiosity. He had gathered bits of information about this new world and its vastness.

Astralsya, a significant academy within the powerful Seraphius Empire, was evidently a place of both opportunity and loneliness.

Janne continued, her voice softer now, "When I saw you, something felt different. Maybe it was the way you seemed out of place, just like I felt when I first arrived. I wanted to reach out, to help, and maybe, in doing so, find some companionship for myself too."

Satoru nodded, understanding the weight of her words. "Thank you for sharing that with me. I appreciate your honesty and your trust."

Janne looked up, her eyes meeting his, and smiled. "Thank you for listening. It feels good to finally talk about it with someone."

As they sat in the cozy interior of Janne's home, the bond between them began to grow, forged through shared experiences and mutual understanding.

The journey ahead in this new world was still uncertain, but at least now, they had each other.

Noticing the slight unease in Janne's eyes, Satoru became more thoughtful.

"You're still hiding something, aren't you?" he suddenly said.

"E-eh!?" Janne stammered, clearly taken aback. Satoru had hit the mark.

"I've been thinking," he continued. "When we first met, you sat directly in front of me, resting your chin on your hand, not seeming worried that I might find it annoying. That doesn't quite match the cautious side of your personality. And when our eyes met, your first reaction was... surprise?"

He paused, watching her closely. "Then, when we stood up to leave, I noticed the way some strangers were looking at us. Or more accurately, at me. They didn't seem to be looking at you at all. It was almost as if they were deliberately ignoring you, or... maybe they couldn't even see you?"

A suffocating silence followed Satoru's words.

"You're a perceptive one, aren't you?" Janne finally spoke after a long pause.

"Just as you guessed, others can't see me. So when you saw me, I was both thrilled and surprised," Janne admitted.

"But I'm not a ghost. This all happens because of..." Janne paused suddenly.