"Did you just say what I think you said?" I stare at Tamura dumbfounded. "You named your own son after the idiot who got stabbed and died twice in the exact same place?!"
This was beyond embarrassing! It was one thing having your subordinates name everything after you, but having your kouhai name his own son after you is just going too far. My face was all red, I wanted to hide immediately.
"Listen, Tamura. Maybe I'll just spend Christmas alone. Don't worry I'll save Satoru. And tell Miho-san and S-Satoru-kun I said 'hi,'" I turn around, preparing to leave.
"Wait senpai! I know it's a little embarrassing, but I had to name my son after the man who saved my life twice! Besides, I really want to introduce Satoru to you, and I'm sure Miho-san will want to see you too after we explain who you are. Even if it's a different version of you, you're still Senpai. We haven't seen you in five years," Tamura hurriedly convinces me not to go.
"Fine," I sigh. "But after I save Satoru's life, there's no way I'm letting your past self name your son after me."
"That's fine," Tamura replies. "If you really save Satoru-senpai's life, I'm sure he won't want me to either."
I turn back around, and Tamura introduces me to Miho-san. It took a bit of convincing, but after I proved myself with a little bit of information and magic she believed me.
"I'm so glad it's really you Satoru-san," Miho-san hugs me.
"Um, I'm glad to see you too Miho-san, but Rimuru is fine. Using Satoru and Rimuru interchangeably will be confusing after all."
"Of course Rimuru-san," she smiles.
"Oh, I almost forgot," a duster jacket appears in my left hand and roses in my right, shocking the couple. "Merry Christmas to you both!" I hand the presents to them with a smile.
""Thank you and Merry Christmas to you as well!""
"Alright then," I say, now holding the Lego box in my hands. "It's time to meet Satoru-kun."
"Right, he's in his room right now," Miho-san says, moving to the stairs. "Satoru! Please come downstairs, there's someone I want you to meet!"
"Okay, Kaa-san, I'm coming!" I hear a cute voice yell, and soon see a young boy running down the stairs.
"Satoru, this is your Oji-san, Rimuru," Tamura tells his son who glances at me. "Be a good boy, and shake his hand."
I crouch down and look at him with a smile. "Nice to meet you Satoru-kun, I'm Rimuru," I then extend my hand to him.
It seems my smile and hand comforted him, because he returns my smile with an adorable grin. "Nice to meet you too, Rimuru-ojisan," he shakes my hand and melts my heart. At that moment, hearing him call me "Oji-san," I could forgive the embarrassment of him being named after me. I lovingly pull him into a bear hug.
"Uhhh, Rimuru-ojisan, I-I can't breathe," Satoru-kun tells me while smothered.
I reluctantly let him go. "R-Right, sorry about that Satoru-kun," I say guiltily while scratching the back of my head.
"Rimuru-san, why don't you celebrate Christmas together with us?" Miho-san asks me. "You can have dinner as well and spend the night."
"She's right Rimuru-senpai," Tamura supports his wife. "As you said, we're in no rush, and my boy is calling you Oji-san already. You're part of the family now and Christmas should be spent with family, right?"
"I-I guess," I blush sheepishly. It has been a while since I've had someone to call family. The closest thing would be Veldora as my brother in the other world. "Well then, if you'll have me, I'd like to spend Christmas with my family," I say with a bright smile.
"Of course, and if I can't be your best friend, then does brother work?" Tamura asks.
Speaking of Veldora, if Milim got jealous of the best friend position, then he might get jealous of the brother position. Like uncle, like niece. However, by definition there can only be one best friend, yet there can be multiple brothers. Also, Veldora wouldn't get as jealous as Milim. I already had Velgaia as my second brother, and Velgrynd and Velzado had eventually accepted me as their brother. One more sibling couldn't hurt.
"Alright then," I tell my kouhai and new brother. "But there's no way I'm letting you call me Rimuru-onii-chan."
"I-I wouldn't dream of it! Rimuru-senpai," Tamura reassures me assertively.
"Okay, well forget Christmas dinner for now, it's still only 10:00 a.m. What's for breakfast, I'm starving!" I declare, even though I don't need food as a slime.
"We have nothing special, just rice," Miho-san tells me.
"That's fine, it's been a while since I had good, traditional Japanese rice," I say as my mouth waters. "I'm fully expecting a meal worthy of someone now a fulltime housewife."
"I hope to live up to your expectations," Miho-san giggles.
"Well Rimuru-senpai, you can definitely look forward to her breakfast nowadays, but when we first got married, you couldn't say the same," Tamura laughs.
"I'm sorry for being such a terrible cook honey," contrary to her mouth, Miho-san's eyes weren't smiling, having her food insulted like a certain purple-haired ogre. Although, I do feel less of an aura from her stare towards Tamura.
"Haha, well that's all in the past so it's fine," my kouhai chuckles nervously.
"Tou-san, I have to use the bathroom," Satoru-kun cunningly leaves his father alone to deal with his unnerving mother.
'How could you leave me son?' Tamura's glare seems to say.
"Hello? Your starving senpai is still here, so how about you stop fighting and we get to the more important matter... My stomach!" I break up the tension.
"You're right Rimuru-san, sorry about that. I'll be happy to serve someone who wants my cooking," Miho-san throws her husband under the bus.
"I'm sorry already Miho! Please forgive me, I'm hungry too," Tamura cries.
"Kaa-san, could you feed Tou-san please, we're all hungry for your delicious cooking," Satoru-kun says, saving his pathetic father with cute puppy-dog eyes that make his mother submit.
"Alright sweetie, Kaa-san will have to feed everyone then," Miho-san says, and finally we can get started on breakfast.
After eating Miho-san's delicious cooking, which was second only to Shion's food with the Unique Skill Cook, we take a family photo. I then build Legos with my nephew and brother, it was a nice family moment. It's also snowing, so we build snowmen and go sledding. Miho-san goes out somewhere, probably getting food for dinner.
At 7:00 p.m. Miho-san finally comes back, and prepares dinner. We eat fried chicken and yuzu for our Japanese Christmas dinner, which makes my eyes water, as it tops even the great breakfast we had this morning. After dinner, we eat an amazing Christmas cake, and Satoru-kun covers my face with icing.
(I don't think I've had this much fun in a while, I'm almost sad to go. I know I'll have to leave tomorrow, and I'll be able to see Tamura and Miho-san in the past, but I'll miss Satoru-kun. Oh well, at least after I'm done, he won't get such an embarrassing name.)
However, before I go to bed...
"Rimuru-senpai, can you come to the living room for a bit?" Tamura calls me over for some reason.
"Yes, is there something you need? If it's about tomorrow, don't worry, I'll definitely save Satoru," I predict, reassuring him because he might have felt uneasy.
"No, it's not that, I believe you will save Satoru-senpai for sure," my brother smiles. "Actually it's not something I need, but rather something for you."
"For me?" I question, wondering what he could be talking about.
"Well you know Miho took a while earlier to get the dinner, it's because she wasn't just getting food."
"Huh?"
"""Surprise! Merry Christmas!""" the family of three shouts at me.
Miho-san and Satoru-kun both pull presents out from behind their backs and hand them to me.
"W-what? Re-really, for me?" I'm in shock, wondering how they pulled this off.
"Of course, you got gifts for us, and you deserve it because your family," Miho-san tells me.
"I told Kaa-san to get you this present, Rimuru-oji-san," Satoru-kun hands me a box.
"Thank you so much Satoru-kun! Also you too, Tamura and Miho-san," I say to them with tears in my eyes.
"No problem, you're my special senpai," Tamura says softly.
Then Tamura and Miho-san proceed to hug me, with Satoru-kun joining in as well.
I can't hold it in anymore, the tears flow out of my eyes like a waterfall. For the first time in a while I had a real family, in my home world. I was so happy and we were all smiling.
"Now, it's time for you to open your presents," Miho-san tells me.
"Sure, I can't wait!" I'm genuinely excited and grateful.
It seems Tamura got me a coffee mug, Miho-san got me clothes, and Satoru-kun got me toy cars. How cute! Lastly they gave me a frame with the photo we took earlier, which made me warm and fuzzy inside. I will make sure to treasure it forever.
After one of the best days of my life, I spend the night and wake up in the morning. After eating another splendid breakfast, I prepare to say farewell to my family.
"Goodbye Satoru-kun, we will meet again" I tell my nephew, although at that time, we will both have different names.
"Bye-bye Rimuru-oji-san," Satoru-kun tells me with watery eyes.
"You too, Miho-san, I'll see you later."
"Yes, it was nice seeing you Rimuru-san."
"Now, then Tamura, let's go outside, we have business to talk."
Tamura closes the door and takes me outside. I can't be time travelling in front of a five-year-old can I?
"Tamura, I'll need to know the date Satoru was killed. I guess I'll have to go in the morning."
I think that I should go early, not knowing what time Satoru was killed. Better to be safe than sorry.
"About that senpai, it's Saturday, October 17, 2015," Tamura tells me looking at his phone. "And uhh... well... the time is 4:22 p.m."
"Huh?! You know the exact time?!"
"Yeah, Satoru-senpai told me to remember it at the time. I didn't understand why back then, but now I'm guessing he wanted you to save him in the nick of time for cool effect. It's just like Senpai, isn't it?"
"Jeez... what an idiot," I smack my face. "Well, it was nice seeing you. Goodbye Tamura."
"Yes, it was really good to see you. I'll miss you Senpai. Be back soon!"
[Alright, you heard him Ciel. It's time to save one foolish Satoru Mikami!]
[Yes my lord, teleporting to individual Satoru Mikami at 4:22 p.m. on Saturday, October 17, 2015.]