CH 94

After returning from the shrine, I took a shower because my body felt sticky.

And while we were relaxing and watching TV, it was already time for dinner.

The dining table is surrounded by our family of three.

I’ve been eating alone so much lately that meals with my parents felt like a long time ago.

Simmered taro, pickled vegetables and fried eggs.

And other Japanese food such as rice and miso soup.

I put my favorite taro stew in my mouth.

The texture is sticky, and the broth soaks in well.

“Delicious …!”

“Yuta’s always been a fan of boiled fish.”

“I’ve always eaten convenience store lunches, so… my mom’s cooking when I come home once in a while is delicious.”

“I know you live alone, but it’s about time you find someone nice to cook for you.

“…that’s old-fashioned nowadays, people work together even if they’re married.”

We don’t get that much income, and the future is uncertain.

It is not encouraging to rely on one person’s income.

“Oh, well, either way, I can’t wait to see my grandchildren, can you, Dad?”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Kids are …I don’t even have a girlfriend yet …”

“At your age, you still don’t have a girlfriend?”

“Don’t do that, Dad, because those words are pretty hurtful.”

The age equals no girlfriend thing could be funny if you were in your early teens, but …I’m already in my late 20s.

Oh, I’ve always wanted a girlfriend, too!

It’s not that I’m so serious as to think I have a wife in two dimensions.

Of course, it’s not like I like men or have any weird hobbies.

I wanted to, but I just couldn’t get her!

Hahahaha … something, I’m getting sad.

“Well, but … I’m … too.”

The one that comes to mind is the … blonde haired, blue eyed girl.

‘……? No, no, no, who?’

For a moment, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, angelic beauty came to mind, but I don’t know such a pretty girl.

It’s not that girl, it’s Miyuki I like.

We have a date next time, and this is the first time in my life I’ve had a girlfriend!

I’m hoping for the best.

“Maybe there’s actually a good girl out there?”

“No, there’s no…”

Mom is so sharp in a weird way.

We haven’t even started dating yet. I can’t tell my parents.

“Well… Yuta is like his father, so tell her exactly how you feel. Father didn’t confess much either.”

“Hahaha…, you know, you asked me, ‘Do you like me or not?’, and I said I did, and I still dream about it a little bit …”

Dad gave a somewhat distant look.

“I asked her if she liked me, and she finally told me yes.”

“I don’t want to hear about how my parents got together!”

“Don’t say that, because you were born because of the love between the two of us.”

“I won’t talk about that stuff in front of my kids! I just got chills down my spine, ugh, that’s disgusting.”

“Yes, dear, Yuta is not ready yet.”

“Well, you’re still…”

“Stoooop, don’t say that word anymore, because it’s pretty hard to say that word to your parents, it’s heartbreaking!”

It’s forbidden to be a virgin.

No, really, seriously.

“Sorry, but don’t you … have a girlfriend or two? It’s not my place to say, but if you like someone, you should confess.”

“…confession is not …that easy.

If I have the courage to confess my feelings, I won’t be in this dreaded situation of not having a girlfriend until I reached this age.

“That’s right, don’t be afraid to tell someone that you like them, because you may never get to tell them.”

“I’ll never be able to tell you …what it’s like to say goodbye.”

That you can’t tell?

A farewell to this life …?

I feel like I’m …forgetting something very important.

I put my fingers between my eyebrows, trying to remember.

What’s …?

Something’s wrong.

Why am I here in the first place …?

“What’s wrong with your serious face?”

Dad bent an unreliable eyebrow and looked into my face.

Dad, …?

Why is my dad here …?

“Yuta …? Are you okay?”

Mom then gives me a worried look.

Mom also …why is she here …?

I thought we’d never see each other again.

What do I mean I’ll never see them again?

Dad, you’re here. Mom, you’re also here.

It’s been really strange …since a while ago.

Because I was reincarnated in a different world where …there is magic ——yes.

I remember.

I’m not Yuta Sasaki anymore—I’m Owen Pepper.

Then where’s … here?

Is this my memory?

“Yuta… why are you crying?”

“What…  is that? That’s weird…”

I wiped my eyes with the sleeve of my clothes to stop the tears.

But…

“Why …?”

Why can’t I stop crying?

Suddenly, I started crying and my parents started to worry.

These two, too, are a product of my memory.

When I think about it, I’ll never see my real parents again…

“Dad… mom… I’m sorry I’m unfilial.”

There was more I could have done.

Sometimes I didn’t answer my mom’s calls because I thought it was burdensome.

I didn’t come home when my dad had to be hospitalized.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but …you’re not an unfilial child.”

“Yes, we’re lucky Yuta is our child.”

No.

I’m not as good a kid as the two of you think I am.

I died before my parents did.

It made …my parents sad.

I can use magic, but I can’t go back to the world I came from.

We don’t speak the same language anymore.