Assist-chan
“Alright then, let’s give it a try. Dimension!”
The moment I said it, a pink door appeared right in front of me.
““““““““““Ohh~””””””””””
Huh!? Wait a second—isn’t this basically a certain anywhere door?
What if it sends me to another country or something!? Is this really safe!?
“... Okay, here goes.”
I opened the door, and before me spread a vast, pitch-black space. Taking a cautious step forward, the darkness suddenly burst into light.
Whoa—automatic motion sensor lights!? That’s seriously impressive.
Inside the Dimension Room, there was absolutely nothing. It felt just like touring an empty apartment for rent. Looking around, I saw that the walls and floor were pure white. Assist-chan had said it was about thirty square meters—that’s roughly sixteen and a half tatami mats. Enough space for a bed, a table set, and still plenty of room left over.
When I placed my hand on the doorknob to go back out, the wall disappeared, and I could clearly see the outside world. Aunt Julie and Brother Noel were standing there, staring intently at the Dimension Room and exchanging their thoughts. The others were sipping tea and chatting with Belle about her promotion exam and Miss Lily.
Not only could I see outside, but I could hear them too.
That’s convenient.
When camping in the forest, I’d rather not step outside straight into a monster attack.
When I walked out, everyone looked toward me. As soon as I exited, the door vanished on its own.
“I’m back.”
““So? How was it?””
Aunt Julie and Brother Noel immediately pressed in close.
“Wanna try going inside?”
““Of course!!””
So, I activated the Dimension again and opened the door. With Brother Noel in the lead, everyone cautiously stepped in. Naturally, the first two—Brother Noel and Aunt Julie—were startled by the motion-activated lighting.
“Amazing. It’s not just bright—there’s air conditioning too,” Aunt Julie observed.
Now that she mentioned it, I realized it really was the perfect temperature—not too warm or cold.
“Hey, what happens if only Joan goes outside?” Aunt Julie asked.
To answer, I called out to Assist-chan.
––Assist-chan.
(Yeees?)
““““““““““Huh!?””””””””””
Even though I’d called her via telepathy, her voice echoed out loud—and everyone heard it. Huh!? Looking around, I spotted a tiny girl, about five years old, twin-tails and wearing a maid outfit, raising her hand cheerfully.
“Wait… you’re Assist-chan?”
(That’s right! And I’m the manager of this place. Oh, and nice to meet you all—I’m Assist!)
She beamed brightly and gave a polite bow. Everyone, startled but polite, bowed back.
“Oh, right—Assist-chan, what happens if I’m the only one who goes outside?”
(Nothing special~ If someone wants to leave while you’re gone, they can just tell me, and I’ll let you know.)
“Then what if Joan teleports while we’re still inside the Dimension Room?” Aunt Julie asked next.
(That’s not possible yet~ Teleportation only works when the Dimension Room is empty.)
“So yet means that when Joan grows stronger, it will become possible,” Aunt Julie said thoughtfully, clearly satisfied with that explanation.
While Grandfather, Father, Uncle Gill, Aunt Julie, and Brother Noel peppered Assist-chan with questions, Grandmother and Mother were watching her fondly, smiling as they talked.
“She looks just like Joan when she was little.”
“You think so too, Mother-in-law? I was thinking the same thing. She’s exactly like her.”
“Eh? Really? She looks like me?”
At their words, I looked more closely at Assist-chan.
Her hair and eyes were the same color as mine. Her face, too, carried a similar softness. Though… she kind of looked like Lyla as well. But we are sisters, after all.
“Yeah, I see it,” Vee said. “Looks just like you as a little kid, Joe.”
“When I first met Joan, she did kinda look like that.”
“It’s nostalgic.”
If even Belle and Brother Gene said so, then I guess she really does.
(Well of course~ I’m Joan’s skill, after all!)
“““““Whoa!!”””””
““!!””
Without me noticing, Assist-chan had teleported right beside me.
Apparently, question time was over, and Father and the others were sitting cross-legged, deep in discussion.
“But why do you look like a five-year-old? And why the maid outfit?”
(Hmm, no reason? Oh, but I can change my appearance, see? … Ta-da!)
And there she was—an exact copy of me, right now, wearing the same maid outfit.
A doppelgänger!? Wait, isn’t that bad?
Aren’t you supposed to die if you see your own doppelgänger!?
“Then can you turn into adult Joan too?”
Vee asked.
(Adult version, huh~ I can try to predict it… Let’s see… like this?)
““““Eh!!””””
““You’re kidding me!?””
Assist-chan transformed into a taller, curvier, full-grown woman—still in a maid outfit, but now a short-skirted one, with a rather, um, glamorous figure.
“Nononono, Assist-chan! Change back!!”
(Okaaay~)
Pop! She instantly returned to the little maid form.
“Why a short-skirt maid, though!?”
(Ah, it just… happened?)
“‘Just happened’!? Seriously…”
“Hahaha! That’s totally Joan’s skill. Even her thought process is the same.”
“Brother Gene…”
“Hahaha, but hey, that was worth seeing. Right, Senior Eric?”
“Ah, no, I—well, it was impressi—ugh!”
Belle’s elbow jab cut off Eric’s comment with a strangled grunt.
“““......”””
“Jo, let’s… maybe get going now… Huh? Eric, what’s wrong?”
“Ah, don’t worry about it, Young Master Noel. He’s fine.”
“O-Okay, let’s head out then.”
Belle and I somehow managed to cover it up, though Brother Noel still looked puzzled. Ignoring that, I placed my hand on the doorknob again. Just like before, the wall disappeared, revealing the outside.
“““““““Whoa!”””””””
Out in the living room, Gray and Nancy were talking. It seemed they’d been worried because we’d all vanished without a trace.
“Ohh, they really can’t see us from here,” Grandfather murmured.
We couldn’t let them stay worried, so we all stepped out together. From seemingly nowhere, the door appeared—and when we emerged, Gray and Nancy stared wide-eyed in shock.
After that, I introduced the Dimension Room and Assist-chan to the twins, Pearl, Rosso, Meteor, the Gray family, and Sarah. Gray immediately started picking out furniture for the Dimension Room, and before long, it had turned into a wonderfully comfortable living space.
What do you think about this chapter?
