Rimuru POV

"Senpai, is that really you?"

"Of course it is Tamura, why else do you think I asked you to remember the exact time and date? I wanted to make a flashy entrance when I came to save my idiotic self. Wait... how did you know who I was?" I ask, even though I already know the answer.

"Senpai, more specifically Satoru-senpai, told me about you Rimuru-senpai, three years ago, the day he was stabbed. He told me how he was reincarnated into another world after being killed, and how he became the slime known as Rimuru Tempest. Normally I wouldn't have believed such a story, but I saw you heal him instantly three years ago, and you knew who I was. In addition, you were strangely similar to Satoru-senpai, Rimuru-senpai."

Listening to Tamura's response, I proceed to pour a potion into my alternate version, Satoru Mikami's mouth. Immediately, his body heals up. Tamura is looking relieved, while Miho-san is shocked. And why wouldn't she be? An unbelievably beautiful woman with blue hair appeared out of nowhere and saved her husband's best friend's life.

Then, after recollecting herself, Miho-san approaches me looking suspicious.

"I'm grateful you saved Satoru-san's life lady, but who might you be?"

Oh boy, looks like she got jealous seeing her husband speaking familiarly with a strange gorgeous woman.

"Relax Miho-san, I'm not Tamura's side woman or anything. In fact, I'm not even a woman at all. My name's Rimuru Tempest, but you may know me as Satoru Mikami."

Then, in an instant, me, Satoru, Tamura, and Miho-san are teleported to an apartment. It's the one I used to live in, as Satoru Mikami. I lay Satoru on the bed and turn to Tamura and Miho-san who sit on the couch in shock.

"Now, you two. Let me explain exactly what happened."

Two days earlier

"Diablo!"

"Yes, Rimuru-sama?" my loyal servant appears out of nowhere, answering my call.

"I'm going on a trip today to my old world."

"Oh, are you referring to the world known as 'Earth' my lord?"

"Yes, I want to take a break and visit my old self, junior, and his wife."

"Would you allow me to come, Rimuru-sama? I am familiar with that world after all. I went with you eight years ago," the demon looks at me pleadingly.

"Don't remind me about that trip. That's exactly why you can't go. Last time you tormented my attacker with Endless Pain," I look at him disapprovingly while he winces.

"With all due respect my lord, that imbecile deserved it for stabbing the Great Demon Lord Rimuru Tempest," he responds as if he didn't regret his decision, yet he is still looking down dejectedly.

"Don't worry, that's not really the reason I don't want you coming. To be honest Diablo, you're just too attractive. You would get too much attention thrown at yourself in Japan," I say a little enviously.

"Y-Your words are too kind, Rimuru-sama," the ever so cool demon lord stutters while blushing.

"Anyway, I want you and the Twelve Patrons to protect the country in my absence. Tell Benimaru he's in charge while I'm gone."

"Understood, my lord," Diablo regains his composure and disappears immediately.

[Okay then Ciel, it's time to visit my alternate self, Satoru Mikami.]

[Alright my lord, I have the coordinates for Tokyo, Japan located on Planet Earth. What date and time would you like to travel to?]

[Let's see, how about December 25, 2020? We can go around 8:00 a.m. I want to get Christmas presents for Satoru, Tamura, and Miho-san. By the way, what day of the week is December 25, Ciel?]

[December 25, 2020 is a Friday. We will now be arriving at 8:00 a.m.]

Suddenly a portal opens up, and I'm transported to modern-day Tokyo. It feels so nostalgic, probably because I haven't been here in eight years. Now let me buy some presents.

(Hmmm, for myself, or rather Satoru, I think a nice eroge will do. However, I hope he's moved on past those days and made proper use of his son. Damn, I'm so jealous! Now, for the lovey-dovey couple, I wonder what I should get? Surely they've had a child by now. I'll get some children toys, a nice jacket for Tamura, and flowers for Miho-san. Hopefully, she doesn't think I'm hitting on her. Well, in this form most people assume I'm a woman, so she probably won't think that way.)

I then proceed to buy the Slimy Seduction game for Satoru, a duster jacket for Tamura, roses for Miho-san, and Legos for the potential child. If you're wondering about how I paid for it, Diablo retrieved money from the robber who killed me after torturing him with Endless Pain.

[Now then Ciel, let's see if I moved in the past eight years. You remember the location of my apartment, right?]

[Of course my lord, we will be teleported there now.]

And with that, in an instant, I'm at the front door of my old apartment. I knock on the door, preparing to see the shocked face of Satoru Mikami.

However, the man was not a 45-year-old Satoru Mikami, but rather a young college student.

"Can I help you miss?" the kid asks, looking surprised to see a beautiful lady at his door.

"Yeah, I was wondering if you knew anything about Satoru Mikami? He used to live here," I respond.

"Oh, I'm sorry ma'am, but if you're talking about the previous resident, he passed away five years ago," he says as if breaking bad news.

WHAT?!

How the hell did I die, only three years after being saved?!

"Okay, thanks for your help. We weren't that close, just coworkers, but it's still sad to hear," I lie. After all, we were literally the same person, can you get any closer than that? "But I guess I'll be going now."

"No problem, miss. Again, sorry for breaking the news. Goodbye," he waves kindly.

I wave back and leave.

[Since I'm dead, Ciel, looks like we'll have to find Tamura and Miho-san. There's no way Tamura is in the same apartment as before, especially after getting married and maybe even having a kid. Looks like we'll have to find him using magic.]

[Understood, my lord. Locating individual Tamura Yamaguchi using Universal Perception. Target found, teleporting now.]

We appear in front of a single family home. I look to my left and see skyscrapers far away. It looks like Tamura moved to right outside of Tokyo. I ring the doorbell.

"In a moment... how can I help... Se-Senpai?! Is that really you?!" Tamura rubs his eyes and looks surprised.

"Yeah, it is Tamura, wait how did you recognize me?" I say astonished, as he recognized me as Rimuru Tempest, who he's only seen once, eight years ago when I saved Satoru Mikami's life.

"I'm so glad to see you!" he hugs me without answering my question. Well that makes sense, I supposedly died five years ago as Satoru Mikami. He lets go and regains his composure, but he still has tears in his eyes.

"Right, about how I recognized you senpai," Tamura starts explaining to me. "You, or rather Satoru-senpai, told me about you Rimuru-senpai, eight years ago, the day he was first stabbed. He told me how he was reincarnated into another world after being killed, and how he became the slime known as Rimuru Tempest. Normally I wouldn't have believed such a story, but I saw you heal him instantly eight years ago, and you knew who I was. In addition, you were strangely similar to Satoru-senpai, Rimuru-senpai."

"Oh, that makes sense," I say, but then I focus on a particular word he said. "Hold on, did you just say 'he was first stabbed?' What do you mean by that?" I ask with narrow eyes.

"Well, about that... You see, five years ago, a repeat of the incident eight years ago occured. Satoru-senpai was stabbed by a street robber saving my life. That's why I was happy to see you again. Wait, if you're here, does that mean you're going to go back in time and save Satoru-senpai, Rimuru-senpai?" Tamura looks at me with hope in his eyes.

(What?! That's how I died?! I got stabbed again?! How stupid was I? And Tamura knows about my time travelling ability, as well? I guess that's expected after all... Damn Satoru, that idiotic deceased blabbermouth!)

"Look here, Tamura, I only came here to visit my kouhai and his wife on Christmas," I tell him, and a present, specifically the Lego box, appears out of nowhere. Tamura looks at me with stars in his eyes.

"W-Was that really magic Rimuru-senpai?! That's amazing! You can surely save Satoru-senpai now!" Tamura seems to have ignored what I just said.

"Did you even hear me? I said I wanted to spend Christmas with you, yet you just want to use me to save your senpai. I'm offended you know."

"S-Sorry, I'm more than happy you're here Rimuru-senpai, but I just learned I can bring my best friend who saved me back to life! Surely you can understand where I'm coming from?"

"I get it, fine I'll help you," I sigh. "Wait... did you just promote yourself to best friend? You know we were close, but no offense I just saw you as my kouhai, not best friend," I say, thinking a certain pink-haired demon lord would get jealous if she had just heard Tamura.

"Well, I get why you may think that way, but in the three years after Satoru-senpai saved my life, we got really close," Tamura clarifies. "I'm certain he would have considered me as his best friend."

"Oh, that makes sense. Alright then, you can be Satoru Mikami's best friend, I have no arguments, but I, Rimuru Tempest, already have a best friend."

"I see, well about the time travel thing, are you going to save Satoru-senpai now?" Tamura questions me, as if the whole best friend thing didn't matter. I guess some people make a bigger deal over it than others.

"No, not now," I tell him. "It's time travel after all, we're in no rush."

"I see. Well then, why don't you come inside. Miho's in the kitchen, and there's a certain someone I want you to meet. Seeing the Legos you brought – and thanks for that by the way – I'm assuming you've already guessed who it could be," Tamura tells me with a smile.

"So it's true then, you really have a kid? Congrats, is it a boy? A girl? How old are they? What's their name?" I fire questions while stepping inside.

"He's a boy, and five years old," Tamura answers, then scratches his head. "As for his name... well it's um, it's... "

"Well, spit it out already," I say, suspiciously looking at his face.

"It's Satoru Yamaguchi!" he yells.

"Eh?"