My New Life is not what i expected

by Kevinhs11

After a tragic accident, our protagonist wakes up in a new world, only to realize that it is now part of his favorite novel, so he decides to take the role of an extra character, unfortunately for him, things never go as planned. Beta reader wanted.

47. Complementary stories

Yukinoshita and Kuro.

I moved my arm to find my cell phone and turn off my alarm.

I don't usually use it since my body's internal clock wakes me up every morning, but yesterday I stayed up late, so I had to make sure to wake up early.

It's 6:00 am, and I'll be entering Sobu High in 2 hours, but my morning workout won't happen on its own.

Maintain a healthy body with just sleep, play, and Max Caffe drinks is impossible, so every morning I make sure to do some exercise. Of course, this has become a habit of mine.

As I got up to do some stretches, I noticed that Kuro also woke up.

Since Kuro sleeps on the bottom of my bed, he was unlucky enough to wake up. when I moved the sheets.

"Nya." Kuro let out a somewhat muted meow. He must still be sleepy.

"Good morning."

Kuro went back to sleep, completely ignoring my greeting.

"You sleep more than 16 hours a day, you could at least give me some attention."

But there was no response, as Kuro was enveloped in the world of feline dreams.

How I wish I could be a cat and only worry about sleeping and eating, but putting those thoughts aside, I changed into my tracksuit and grabbed a few things to go for a run.

---

Once I returned home, I went straight to the shower to wash off all the sweat from my body.

Maybe I should worry about sticking to this training routine, or else I might end up bald, but I hope that's not the case.

Ignoring these thoughts, I undressed and stepped into the bathtub.

After making sure I was completely clean, I dried myself off with my towel and headed to my room.

I still have 30 minutes before I leave, so I'm not in a hurry.

I grabbed my uniform to dress properly. Sometimes I wish I didn't have to wear this thing, but even later on, I'll have to wear a suit, so it's part of adapting to the future Japanese lifestyle.

Putting on my jacket, I was already dressed. Now, I just need to select the subjects I have today and put them in my bag. I should have done it yesterday, but I felt lazy. I also put my wallet in it.

With everything ready, all that's left is to have breakfast and head to school.

But as I was about to leave, my cell phone vibrated. When I reached to pick it up, I noticed it was a message from Yumiko. Her good morning messages are very gratifying.

I left my briefcase aside to sit for a while and chat with Yumiko. It's not like I'm a model student who always arrives on time.

We talked about unimportant topics until Yumiko had to go to school, which reminded me that I had to do the same.

I put away my cell phone and headed to the dining room. It seems Rumi has already left since her breakfast wasn't on the table anymore. My mother prepares breakfast before she leaves.

I sat down and proceeded to have breakfast. Once I finished eating, it was time to leave.

Of course, before leaving, I served Kuro's food. The last thing I want is for him to attack me when I come back for not leaving him something to eat.

When I was at the door, I felt like something was missing. The strange sensation came from my right arm.

I almost forgot my briefcase. Not presenting the report to Hiratsuka-sensei is not an option.

I quickly went to my room and grabbed my briefcase from the bed.

But it felt heavier. Did I put more things than usual?

I shook my head and just took it with me since I didn't need to overthink it.

With everything ready, I started heading to Sobu High.

---

The journey was as peaceful as always, and I arrived on time, just a few seconds to spare. And for some reason, Hiratsuka-sensei was in charge of dealing with late students, so I felt like I dodged a bullet.

I changed my shoes and headed to my classroom.

I hung my briefcase on the side of my desk and lay on top of it.

The first class is biology, which goes well for me, and I don't really need to pay attention when all I have to do is review the book, so I decided to sleep until the next hour.

---

The three hours of classes flew by when you're not aware of them. There were only two more hours until lunchtime, and since I didn't bring any, I would have to go to the cafeteria.

The math teacher entered the classroom and mentioned something about doing group exercises.

When I was about to grab my briefcase to get the materials, I changed my mind.

I don't feel like doing math today, so I asked for permission to go to the bathroom and headed to the rooftop. As usual, I have a light novel with me, so I started reading it until lunchtime.

I'm not someone who enjoys math, so if I have the chance, I'll avoid it.

So I spent the two class hours on the rooftop reading. Once the bell rang, indicating the start of lunchtime, it was time to go buy something to eat.

Or at least that's what I should do, but I remembered that my wallet is in my briefcase, so I first headed to my classroom.

Once in my seat, I put my hand in my briefcase.

I felt the books and notebooks that I brought, as well as Kuro. I ran my hand over his soft fur and petted him. He purred in response to my caresses, but setting that aside, I moved my hand a little further until I found my wallet. Now all that's left is to go to the cafeteria.

But as I was about to get up, the wheels in my mind started turning.

I looked at my hand, still feeling the soft and pleasant sensation from a moment ago.

I grabbed my briefcase and brought my face closer to it. Inside, I could see a black ball of fur that licked my nose when awakened by my abrupt intrusion.

At this moment, I have many questions. Why is Kuro inside my briefcase? How did he get in there? Or why the hell didn't I notice this before?

But that doesn't matter. If Kuro is here, it means he hasn't eaten yet, and knowing Kuro, once he gets hungry, he'll get up and look for food. And not finding any, the most normal thing would be for him to meow until his owner feeds him, after all, Kuro has that person by his side.

I'm not sure what kind of trouble bringing a cat to school would cause, but I'd rather avoid that.

My mind is chaotic right now, but at this point, I decided to act on pure instinct. The first thing to do is take Kuro to a place where he can be undisturbed and at the same time, have something to eat.

I gently picked up my briefcase to avoid fully waking up Kuro.

I have the right place for that since there are only two people who usually stay there, and I doubt anyone else will go during class hours. And if I'm not mistaken, she should be having lunch.

So I headed to the Service Club, of course, I bought milk and some food that Kuro likes. I'm grateful that vending machines sell milk.

Once in front of the Service Club door, I entered like any other day. Of course, this earned me a strange look from my president. It's odd for me to be here at this time.

"Calling your presence strange is an understatement, Tsurumi-kun. What business do you have here?" Yukinoshita asked.

"Just to make sure, you're the only one who has access to this place, right?"

"Are you really planning to use this place to skip classes? Unfortunately, as the president of the service club, I cannot allow this place to become an accomplice to your wrongdoing."

"At another time, I would go along with it, but for now, I'll pass," I said nonchalantly as I took a seat and placed my briefcase on the table.

Yukinoshita just looked at me in silence, as if trying to guess what the hell is going on in my head.

I opened the food I brought and placed it on its wrapper, along with the milk carton. These models are very convenient.

Once everything was in order, my briefcase started to move. It must have awakened from hunger, as it usually eats around this time.

Yukinoshita only watched expectantly, as if unaware of the reason for this.

Slowly, Kuro emerged from my briefcase, stretching as if he had the most comfortable sleep in years.

Kuro looked around, trying to identify his surroundings, but once his gaze settled on me, he approached the food and started eating. Kuro doesn't trust anyone except my family and people who enter our house, so being cautious is normal.

With Kuro happily eating his food, I began to pet him. I'll have to punish him for sneaking into my briefcase.

"Tsurumi-kun, what does this mean?"

There was a certain excitement in her voice, as someone who loves cats like her must be thrilled to have such a magnificent specimen in front of her. I can't blame her.

"If you haven't noticed, it's a cat that's eating," I said with a mocking tone.

My words only earned me a cold stare from her.

"My mistake, someone of your low caliber can't understand simple words, so I must be more specific. Why did you bring your cat to school?"

Knowing Yukinoshita's good memory, she must still remember Kuro from the photos I showed her.

"Kuro sneaked into my briefcase, and I brought him to school without realizing it." There's no point in making excuses.

"How can you not notice that you're carrying a cat with you? I suppose your stupidity increases every day."

I have no way to argue back, as she's right. It was my carelessness not to realize this.

"Anyone can make a mistake. Besides, you don't have any problem with me leaving Kuro here, right?" I said as I took out the yakisoba bread I bought for lunch.

With Kuro eating, all that's left is to leave him in the service club until classes are over, and hopefully, everything will be resolved.

"I guess this can't be called a simple mistake. But Kuro is not to blame for his owner's incompetence." Yukinoshita sighed as she said this.

Yukinoshita finished eating and started to approach, but this was noticed by Kuro, who stared at her while becoming alert to the unfamiliar person approaching.

Yukinoshita noticed Kuro's hostile behavior and stopped. I could see a mix of discomfort and surprise on her face, as if she hadn't considered that a cute kitten could quickly change from a gentle to a hostile demeanor in a matter of seconds.

"Consent is always required, but I feel like you suffer more from it, so you can consider it a favor for letting me use this place for Kuro." I used my hand to start petting him. "Consider her an acquaintance of mine, so there's no need for you to be on guard." I said with a gentle tone as I used my fingers to stroke his chin.

Kuro allowed himself to be pampered and relaxed.

"You can approach now, unless you want to keep staring the whole time, which I don't mind." I said with a smirk.

She had a surprised expression on her face.

"How did you make him relax like that?" It seemed strange that Kuro understood me on the first try.

"Just talk to him, and he'll understand. He's as intelligent as his owner." I said arrogantly.

"I doubt that's the case for you, but at least Kuro is intelligent."

I ignored her words and continued eating, while Yukinoshita approached and started petting him with some shyness, but as she noticed that Kuro didn't resist her touch, she continued doing so.

Once I finished eating, I picked up Kuro's food, which he had already finished, and he was purring on Yukinoshita's lap, who seemed to be in paradise.

Only a couple of hours left until classes end, but I would like to skip them and stay here keeping an eye on Kuro, although he'll probably just sleep the rest of the time. However, my next class is with Hiratsuka-sensei, so skipping that class is not an option.

"Nya."

"NYA."

"Nya."

"NYA."

Meanwhile, Yukinoshita was in her own world, having a conversation with Kuro in a language that I doubt exists.

"I'll take that as you having no problem accepting Kuro, so I'll leave him here."

But there was no response to my words. That girl is a headache.

''Kuro.''

Upon hearing his name, Kuro stood up from Yukinoshita's lap, jumped onto the table, and made his way towards me. Yukinoshita merely moved her arms as she realized that the furry ball had escaped from her lap.

''No matter how hard you try, the bond between Kuro and me is stronger than any affection you can give him.'' I said arrogantly.

She quickly changed her expression back to her usual self. Seeing Yukinoshita happily playing with a cute kitten is adorable.

''I never thought about it, but setting aside your insecurities, I have no problem with having Kuro in the Service Club.'' She said, cutely waving her hand to try to call Kuro, but he remained purring in my hand.

There are only a few minutes left until lunchtime ends, and knowing Yukinoshita, I'm sure her ego wouldn't allow her to tell me that she wants to play with Kuro. Sometimes she can be childish in her own way.

''I suppose it's time for me to go, so you can keep that girl company over there.'' I stroked Kuro after saying this.

With my words, the furry ball made his way towards Yukinoshita, who welcomed him with a big smile in her lap.

Isn't it easier to just tell me that she wants to play with Kuro?

But putting aside the childish side that cats bring out in Yukinoshita, I got up and grabbed my briefcase to head towards the door.

''Don't forget to close it, as I don't want Kuro to escape through any openings.''

But, just as it happened a few moments ago, there was no response from her.

I shook my head and left the Service Club. At least with Kuro playing, he'll feel tired and only limit himself to sleeping the rest of the day.

---

More than 2 hours have passed since lunch ended. There are only a few hours left until classes finish, but I'm still somewhat restless about Kuro. That cat is curious, so there's a possibility he might find even the tiniest opening and escape. Cats are very flexible.

Hiratsuka-sensei is teaching her class as usual, so I don't see a problem in going to pay a visit to Kuro, just to make sure. And if I can't find him in the club room, I'll launch an relentless search throughout the school. Hopefully, it won't come to that.

Sensei granted me permission to go to the bathroom, so I quickly headed to the club room.

Once in front of the club room, I reached for the door, and to my surprise, it wasn't locked. Did Yukinoshita forget to lock it?

With some hesitation, I opened a small part of the door just to peek inside, and at that moment, I knew Yukinoshita didn't forget to lock it because she never left the club room.

She's been in the same spot since I left the club, and in her lap, you could see a peacefully resting Kuro.

At least, I can be sure that Kuro won't go anywhere.

Yukinoshita was gently caressing a sleeping Kuro, making sure her strokes were soft enough not to wake him up.

It's a pleasant sight. Seeing a beautiful girl like Yukinoshita with a calm and happy expression on her face is not something you see every day. And having Kuro adds to the charm.

Just by witnessing this, I feel at ease, as if simply observing such an act is enough to relax my mind.

I don't know how much time has passed since I started watching her, but I feel like this is something that won't happen again, so I decided to savor this moment as much as possible.

Of course, Yukinoshita might accuse me of being a stalker, but it's a risk I'm willing to take.

The serene expression combined with her beautiful smile only enhances her calm demeanor, along with her striking blue eyes. And if we add her jet-black hair to the mix, it creates something that seems otherworldly.

I need to stop reading novels with heroines who resemble Yukinoshita; it makes my mind have very confusing thoughts.

''I guess it's best to go back, even though the view is quite pleasant.'' I said quietly to myself.

''It must be something really good for you to spend more than 20 minutes observing, isn't it?''

''It is, it's not something that you..."

My mind went blank after instinctively responding. I recognized the voice that came from behind me.

The voice of an older woman who can't find a partner is easy to recognize.

I closed the small opening of the door and turned towards her.

''Hiratsuka-sensei, what brings you here?'' I said loudly, ensuring that nearby people could hear. Yukinoshita will be very annoying for the rest of the day.

''I should be asking you the same thing, Tsurumi. It's been more than 20 minutes since you left the classroom, and out of curiosity, I came to this place only to have the pleasant surprise of finding you observing something.''

I'm sure Yukinoshita heard my previous words, so I'll trust that she'll hide Kuro. Bringing animals to school is probably not allowed, and although I know Hiratsuka-sensei won't make a big fuss about it, I don't want to deal with her lectures or a possible dragon punch.

"As a member of the service club, I decided to come and make sure everything is in order." I said, coming up with the first thing that came to mind.

Sensei let out a long sigh. "I'm sure you could come up with a more believable excuse, so I'll ask again, what are you doing here?" There was no doubt in her voice.

"Would you believe me if I said I got lost on the paths of life?" I said with a sincere smile.

"Very well, if that's the story you want to go with." She replied with a challenging tone, clearly not convinced.

Sensei reached for the door, but I placed my hand on hers.

"Wouldn't it be better if we returned to the classroom? I'm sure classes haven't ended yet." I said calmly.

"Thanks for your concern, but I left your classmates doing an essay, so there's no problem." She tried to increase her grip to open the door, but I didn't let her.

"Tsurumi, it's obvious you're hiding something, so you better show it now." She said authoritatively.

I knew this was inevitable, but I hoped the time I bought for Yukinoshita would be enough.

"Actually, I just wanted to put my hand on a beautiful woman's hand, and now that I've achieved my goal, I don't need to keep doing it."

I removed my hand from hers, noticing a slight blush on her cheeks. But it quickly disappeared as she opened the club door.

Both of us entered the service club room, and what we found was Yukinoshita sitting there, reading a book.

She lowered the book elegantly and focused her attention on us, but if you looked closely, you could tell she was somewhat nervous.

"H-Hiratsuka-sensei, T-Tsurumi-kun, what a surprise." She said with some nervousness.

I thought I was bad at handling situations where I have to improvise, but Yukinoshita is worse. Or maybe it's because she had Kuro with her until a moment ago?

"Yukinoshita, aren't you supposed to be in your classroom?" Sensei questioned Yukinoshita's strange behavior since a model student like her would never do something like this.

"I got absorbed in my reading, so I didn't notice the time passing, that's all."

Those were the words Yukinoshita would say, but they would have been more believable if she hadn't avoided eye contact with Hiratsuka-sensei.

Sensei narrowed her eyes and looked at both of us. It was obvious she didn't believe Yukinoshita's excuse.

"Alright, you two, you're going to tell me what's going on!" Sensei said firmly.

"As I just told you, I got absorbed in my reading."

"I see, then why was Tsurumi watching inside the club?"

Sensei's reasoning and deduction abilities were impressive; she could easily pass as a responsible adult in some situations.

"Hiratsuka-sensei, Tsurumi-kun's erratic behavior is beyond my comprehension, so he should be the one to answer that question." She finished with a mocking smile towards me.

Passing the responsibility to someone else would be the easiest thing to do, and that was the response Yukinoshita arrived at.

Sensei focused her attention on me. You're really mature, Yukinoshita.

"I won't answer until my lawyer is present." I said, the first excuse that came to mind.

"As you may have heard, Tsurumi-kun might have awakened his deepest desires and been harassing me, so it would be best to take him to the relevant authorities for execution."

I agree that getting Hiratsuka-sensei out of the service club is the best course of action, but execute me? Don't you think that's a bit too much, even for me?

Sensei exchanged glances between both of us but eventually let out a deep sigh.

"Alright, it seems something is going on, or maybe I'm mistaken. But setting that aside, you two go back to your classrooms. I'll talk to both of you once classes are over."

I felt a great sense of relief upon hearing those words.

"I suppose it's inevitable." I said wearily.

"Although I'm against it, I guess it can't be helped." Yukinoshita joined in.

This must be the best solution to all of this, but I just hope Kuro stays still wherever Yukinoshita hid him because even though I scanned the entire classroom, I couldn't find him.

"Then go back to your classrooms. What am I going to do with you two?"

Just as I was about to respond before leaving, a sound came from the back, specifically from a closet. I noticed Hiratsuka-sensei also caught the noise, as she focused her attention in that direction.

"Did you hear that?" Sensei asked with some doubt.

"What thing?"

"I didn't hear anything."

We both responded automatically.

Did Yukinoshita leave Kuro in the closet? There aren't many better places to hide him in the club.

"It must be your senile mind. It's better if we go..." As I was about to refute her words, Kuro's meow came from the closet.

"Nya."

"Is that what I think it is?" Sensei raised an eyebrow as she observed both of us.

"Nya, nya, nya." But to my surprise, Yukinoshita started meowing, as if trying to make Sensei believe that the noise was made by her, although her face turning slightly red doesn't make it very convincing.

Sensei let out a deep sigh. "I'm not foolish enough to believe that, so confess already! Did you bring a cat to school?"

"He sneaked into my bag, and it was already too late when I noticed." There was no need to invent an excuse at this point.

"In other words, you're saying your cat got into your bag, and you didn't notice? Do you think I'm an idiot?" The way she put it made me feel like a fool.

"Hiratsuka-sensei, Tsurumi-kun has proven to lack many basic concepts, and reasonability seems to be one of them, but it is as he says. Let's ignore Kuro, who is not at fault; he was just a victim of his irresponsible owner."

"Thanks for defending me. What would I do without you?" I said in a mocking tone.

With no way to escape, all that was left was to confess. So, I approached the closet and, upon opening it, Kuro jumped onto me. Fortunately, I caught him and carried him in my arms to the two of them.

I started petting him to make him feel comfortable in front of Hiratsuka-sensei, which worked.

"This is Kuro, although you should remember him from the pictures I showed you."

"Yes, I remem—"

Before Sensei could respond, Kuro jumped from my arms to Hiratsuka-sensei. Luckily, she caught him and held him against her chest.

Kuro started meowing happily and purring.

"It seems someone doesn't want their owner to be scolded." Sensei began petting him with great fondness, as if she were destined to get along with cats.

Although I noticed how Kuro seemed particularly comfortable in Sensei's bosom, and if I remember correctly, he usually does the same when Yumiko plays with him.

Did this cat plan all of this just for this? I suppose I'm letting myself get carried away with my thoughts due to everything that happened, although the idea itself is amusing, especially since he never does it with Yukinoshita.

"Why do I feel like you're insulting me?"

"Your imagination."

"You two will talk once classes are over, and you'll also get a sermon for hiding this from me."

Sensei approached me, and Kuro jumped back into my arms.

"You can stay in the club until classes are over since it would be a problem if Kuro wanders off, but as a punishment, you'll have triple the amount of homework. That's my condition."

"Agreed." Caught between a rock and a hard place, I had no choice but to surrender.

"Hiratsuka-sensei, in that case, can I —?" Yukinoshita tried to excuse herself to spend more time with Kuro.

"Yukinoshita, you go back to your classroom. It's Tsurumi's cat, so it's his responsibility to take care of him."

With everything said, both of them left, and I was left alone in the club with Kuro. Although Yukinoshita seemed very reluctant about it, in the end, she accepted it begrudgingly. But I have a feeling that once classes are over, she'll come rushing to the club.

I took a seat and placed Kuro on the table, and he started staring at me as if finding my behavior interesting.

I brought my finger to his forehead and pressed it against him. Kuro took it as a challenge and started trying to bite it, a way of playing that I have with him.

I don't know if it was intentional or just a mere coincidence, but the whole situation was amusing. At least, in the end, everything turned out fine...

"Ouch." I shook my hand in pain. Kuro managed to catch my finger and bite it.

"Seriously, what am I going to do with you?"

"Nya!"

---

Dinner at the Yuigahama family's house.

I am someone who always keeps their promises. After all, everyone determines how much credibility they give to their words. And in my case, I always strive to fulfill what I say.

So when Yuigahama invited me to her house for dinner, I couldn't refuse. And this is because it was Sayaka who explicitly invited me. If I remember correctly, during the occasion when I took Yui to her house, Sayaka invited me to stay for dinner. But with a lot on my mind at that moment, I decided to pass, but I gave Sayaka a vague response about accepting another time, and apparently, she interpreted it as "no problem, I'll accept another time."

So, without any other option, I accepted Yuigahama's invitation. Although it's not like I have a bad relationship with her. Yuigahama is Yumiko and Kawasaki's friend, and I have no problem interacting with her. I even tease her on several occasions. The cultural festival was quite fun, although Yumiko scolded me for the idea I suggested to Yuigahama. Though, to be fair, she wasn't exactly half-naked promoting her food stall, well, maybe just a little.

And now that I have interacted and conversed with her, I can say she is very pleasant. She can be a bit absent-minded and foolish, but that's part of her charm. Plus, she has an excellent figure. You can't blame me for thinking about that.

But setting aside all those thoughts, without realizing it, I had already arrived at Yuigahama's house, so I rang the doorbell to announce my arrival.

While waiting, I took a look at myself. I dressed in a blue shirt with a black vest, along with brown jeans and somewhat formal shoes. You can't criticize my way of dressing. It's not like I'm a fashion fanatic keeping up with every trend. If it were up to me, I would wear a tracksuit every day. They're comfortable.

After a few seconds, I could hear footsteps on the other side of the door, and then I was greeted by a cheerful Yuigahama.

"Tsurumi-san, good evening!" Yuigahama is wearing a pink t-shirt and blue jeans. Comfortable attire for being at home.

"Hello, Yuigahama-san." I greeted in the same manner.

"Come in."

"Thank you."

Once inside, I could hear the fast-paced, choppy footsteps coming towards me. The owner of these footsteps turned out to be a mustard-colored Dachshund.

I stopped once I took off my shoes at the entrance since I had an idea of the little animal that was rushing towards me.

Quickly, Sable reached me and started circling around my legs. I'm a fan of cats, but dogs also please me, especially when they're playful like this.

"How have you been?" Of course, Sable can't respond to me, but animals have other ways of communicating.

I picked up Sable, and once he was at the level of my face, he started licking it.

"Good boy." I tried to control him a bit, even though he's small, he has a lot of energy.

"Come on, Sable, don't be like that with Tsurumi-san." Yuigahama approached to try to separate Sable from me.

I moved Sable away from my face and handed him over to Yuigahama, but he quickly shifted his attention and started licking Yuigahama's face. It's clear that pets are similar to their owners.

"Stop it, Sable, you're tickling me." While Yuigahama looked happy, having fun with Sable, I could hear footsteps approaching us.

"Oh, Tsurumi-kun, you arrived early." Sayaka-san approached to receive me.

As always, she was wearing a beige sweater paired with a long cherry-colored skirt. It's no surprise that she looks so beautiful in any outfit she wears. How does she manage to look so young?

Now that I think about it, I believe I arrived a bit early since the invitation was for 7 o'clock and my watch confirms it's 6:30.

"I'm quite punctual." I joked. Maybe I should have come exactly on time, but there's nothing I can do about it now.

"That's good. Being punctual is an excellent characteristic." She smiled as she said that. "Although we were just about to go to the supermarket to buy the ingredients for tonight." Her expression was endearing. Can you believe this woman already has a daughter?

I feel that if we had met in a different context and were older, I wouldn't have hesitated to pursue her.

Putting those thoughts aside.

"If you'd like, I can accompany you to do the shopping since I don't have anything better to do."

I don't say it with any ulterior motives; I simply seek to help others as the kind-hearted person I am. If Yukinoshita heard this, she would give me a strange look.

"I would love that!" Sayaka-san was very happy about it.

As I nodded, Sable approached Sayaka-san, walking between her legs.

"It seems like you want to come with us too." Sable barked upon hearing those words. "Yui, it's fine if we bring Sable, right?"

"Alright! I'll go get Sable's leash!" Yui quickly went to fetch Sable's leash.

With the preparations ready, which only involved putting Sable's leash on, we headed to the shopping mall. Since Yuigahama's house is near a shopping mall, we didn't need to take a train; just walking a few blocks was enough.

And so, we started walking towards our destination. Yuigahama happily walked Sable, while Sayaka-san and I followed behind them.

"Tsurumi-kun, how's school going?"

"It's normal, not much to say."

For the rest of the way, I answered Sayaka-san's questions. They were common questions about school and her daughter's friends. To my surprise, both Yumiko, Kawasaki, and Ebina had been to Yuigahama's house. I'm surprised that Kawasaki became close enough to visit Yuigahama's house, but knowing that Ebina was there, I can guess what happened. Even for her, dealing with Ebina is difficult.

But I'm glad that Kawasaki has close friends or people other than me with whom she feels comfortable interacting. That's a good thing. I can't relate her to the girl I first met at the academy.

Once at the shopping mall, I grabbed a shopping cart.

The place is like any other shopping mall, although my family and I usually go to one closer to the city center, while the current one focuses on the basics: food, pets, and children.

"I'll go to the pet section to look for a new toy for Sable!" Yuigahama, as always, was assertive and cheerful.

"That's fine, but don't take too long. I'll meet you at the checkout to pay for everything."

Having said that, Yuigahama and Sable headed to the pet section.

"So, Tsurumi-kun, shall we go too?" She said playfully.

I nodded in response, and we made our way to the ingredient section.

Sayaka-san started selecting the ingredients for tonight's dinner, and I followed her with the shopping cart. If you looked at it from a different perspective, we would appear like a mother and son going shopping. Although, since she looks so young, someone might mistake us for a couple, although I highly doubt it.

That's how we filled the shopping cart until she ran into some friends. Unlike Sayaka, these ladies looked older, probably around 50 years old or more.

Now that I think about it, isn't it strange that some mothers of the characters look young and beautiful while others don't?

Yumiko's, Yuigahama's, and my own mother fit that description. Of course, since my sister is Rumi, it wouldn't be so strange. Perhaps I'm overthinking it.

"Sayaka, I didn't know you'd come accompanied today. Did you replace your husband?" She said with a mocking tone.

"Of course not. He's a friend of my daughter." Sayaka responded, slightly annoyed by the woman's joke. Although her tone remained gentle. Perhaps both of them tend to joke this way.

"I see. Getting to know your future son-in-law better. Kids grow up so fast."

Future son-in-law? From my point of view, that's impossible. After all, Yuigahama is in love with Hikigaya. Of course, she'll only realize it next year.

"He's just a friend of Yui's, although it wouldn't be such a bad idea." Sayaka looked at me with a smile.

I could only offer a slightly uncomfortable smile. I wasn't so far away that I couldn't overhear their conversation, and Sayaka knows it.

They chatted a bit more before saying goodbye and continuing on their way. Sayaka put the ingredients she had picked into the shopping cart.

"That's all, so now we just need to go and pay."

"It seems like it's going to be quite a feast."

There were several ingredients, and I managed to gather several recipes, so I can get an idea of the dishes she wants to prepare.

Without further ado, we started moving towards the cashier to pay.

"By the way, Tsurumi-kun, what do you think of Yui?"

After hearing that conversation, it became somewhat predictable to me.

"She's a cheerful and energetic girl, easily fitting into other groups, and she's quite lovely." I have no reason to lie about it.

"I see." She began to smile. "And what do you think of Yumiko-chan?"

Drawing a comparison between her daughter and the girl who speaks excitedly when asked about me, it doesn't take a genius to know where she's heading, but I still don't understand why. After all, she indirectly told me once that Yumiko is interested in me, so it would be strange.

"What if I told you that I think the same?"

"I'd say it's a bit strange since people aren't the same; they always have different interpretations of others." She said this while placing a finger on her chin, as if she had pondered it in detail.

A wolf in sheep's clothing? Or is it just that becoming a mother makes you very perceptive?

I'm aware of how perceptive my mother is. To the extent that she can easily detect a lie.

"People are strange, so it can be said that we're not all the same. I agree with that. However, there are still people who defy all logic, people whose next move is hard to predict." Maybe my words seemed somewhat confusing.

"And what does that mean?" Her expression of doubt is quite adorable.

"It means we've arrived to pay, and Yuigahama is also waiting for us." I said with a smile as I advanced with the shopping cart, leaving a confused Sayaka behind. Seeing her pout because I avoided the subject is adorable.

As the guest, I decided to pay for everything, although Sayaka wanted to refuse, she eventually gave in.

The money I receive from working as a panda, in addition to having to act in the theater wearing a suit that makes you feel like a sauna, is quite good because people refuse to do it. One of my colleagues almost passed out from wearing the suit for too long. Seriously, who the hell made those suits? Improving ventilation and mobility wouldn't hurt. But in part, thanks to that, the number of people willing to wear them is small, and this makes the salary for those who dare to wear them good. I can't complain in that regard.

Of course, as a student who only cares about spending money on things I like, it could be considered a very good amount, but if I were an independent person, I would need to have two more jobs to support myself.

With the shopping paid for, I started carrying the bags the rest of the way, which went smoothly, except for Yuigahama telling us about her experience finding and choosing Sable's toys. Her energetic personality can be useful on several occasions.

Once we arrived, I left the groceries in the kitchen while Sayaka and Yuigahama put on their respective aprons to start cooking.

Out of courtesy or maybe because I simply didn't want to be poisoned by Yuigahama's cooking, I wanted to help, but Sayaka was very firm in rejecting this, saying I had already done enough by accompanying them in the shopping and paying for it. She asked what kind of host she would be if I also helped with cooking.

She was very convincing, so I went to the living room to play with Sable and his new toys while I waited.

While I was at it, I remembered that the apron Yuigahama was wearing was the one Yumiko gave her, as according to her, Yuigahama had learned to cook enough to not poison people. I also recalled how Yuigahama was in charge of her food stand, which allowed me to relax even more while playing with Sable.

Time passed as I had fun with Sable. If I didn't have a cat at home, I would also want to have a dog, but I doubt Kuro would accept that. Besides, the members of my family are almost always out of the house, so I doubt a dog would feel comfortable with this lifestyle. Kuro usually sleeps most of the time and takes walks around the neighborhood. Like a stray cat, he likes to explore.

"Tsurumi-kun, it's ready."

Upon hearing Sayaka's words, I separated from Sable and went to the bathroom to wash my hands.

Once clean, I went to the dining room where dinner had already been served, and to my surprise, it was a feast in every sense of the word.

We sat at the table to start eating, but before that, we expressed gratitude for the food.

As I brought one of the dishes to my mouth, I knew that they were not only good-looking but also delicious. It tasted great.

While enjoying the meal, I noticed Yuigahama's expectant gaze, as if she wanted my approval. It amused me.

"It's delicious." I sincerely said.

"Really? Did you taste anything strange? Or maybe..." Yuigahama bombarded me with questions.

"Yui, Tsurumi-kun already said it's delicious, so don't doubt it. Besides, you can taste it for yourself too." With her mother's words, Yuigahama also decided to try it, putting a smile on her face as she tasted the food. "Apologize to her for that, she has been practicing to perfect her cooking recently, and although she has improved a lot, she still has some small flaws in her preparation, so she's a bit nervous. Of course, I helped her correct those small flaws."

It's incredible how in just a few months since she met Yumiko, she has improved so much. Yumiko has been a good influence on her. Of course, Sayaka mentioned that she also helped her a lot, but why did Yuigahama feel the need to want to improve her cooking?

It's usually expected to wait until the second year for this.

"Making mistakes is part of learning, even members of the cooking club often make mistakes."

That time when I had to teach different cooking styles for the skewers, I noticed that only half of the group had a complete understanding of cooking, while the rest made some basic errors and such. The club president mentioned that their club not only accepts people who know how to cook but also those who are willing to learn. That caught my attention because I thought the club was made up of people who had a certain level of cooking skills.

"Even the cooking club makes mistakes!?"

It seems that my words caught Yuigahama's attention.

"That's right, several of them even struggle with peeling vegetables." Of course, they could manage in the preparation stage at least.

Yuigahama had a somewhat uncomfortable smile in response to my words.

"Yui still has trouble peeling ingredients, so I took care of them while she handled the pot and frying some ingredients."

I suppose that even though she improved, some basic issues still exist.

"Mom, there was no need to mention that!" Yuigahama was somewhat embarrassed, how cute.

Their mother-daughter relationship is interesting to observe because, from what I can deduce, Sayaka can be very cheerful and kind, but she has a terrifying side when it comes to her daughter. It reminded me of Yumiko's mother, and I guess it applies to mine as well. That time was the first time I saw that behavior from my mother.

"Come on, Yui, to improve, one must acknowledge their mistakes. It's the first step." Sayaka knew what to say. I suppose it would be good to complement this idea since the last thing I want is to upset Yumiko by discouraging her friend.

"Your mother is right, and nobody is born knowing how to do things perfectly. We learn based on the mistakes we make. And as I said, even members of the cooking club, who practice for several hours in the evenings, still make basic errors. So expecting exponential improvement would be asking too much." When you lack talent, the only way to become good at something is through effort, something I know a lot about.

"You're right! I just need to keep practicing to correct those mistakes."

I'm glad she understood it quickly.

"Both of you, the food will get cold if you keep talking." Sayaka scolded us a little.

We both nodded and went back to enjoying the meal.

---

The food was delicious; the texture and taste complemented each other well. In that regard, Sayaka should have supported Yui.

After eating and taking the dishes to the kitchen, the beloved pet of the house felt the need to relieve itself, so Yuigahama decided to take it for a short walk. Why did Sable choose the moment after dinner for this? It's something only nature knows.

So, at this moment, it's just Sayaka and me in the house.

Having the opportunity to be alone, I suppose I can ask her that.

"Sayaka-san, why is Yuigahama so eager to learn and improve her cooking?"

Yumiko never explicitly told me, she just mentioned that Yuigahama wanted to learn how to cook. Maybe it's a secret among girls? Or maybe my lack of interest made me not pay much attention to it.

Sayaka's expression changed, as if she started to remember.

"A few months ago, Yui came with some friends, which made me happy because it's good for her to have people she can trust. That's where I met Yumiko-chan and Hina-chan. Yumiko-chan is a pleasant girl, and Hina-chan is somewhat peculiar." I understand perfectly. "But after a few weeks, Yui showed an interest in cooking, with the support of Yumiko-chan. So I decided to help her too, but Yui didn't mention a specific reason; she just wanted to make some cookies. At first, it was a complete disaster, but as the weeks went by and with our help, Yui improved a lot to the point where she could be proud of her creation."

Achieving a difficult task brings great personal satisfaction. After all, accomplishing something you thought was impossible is encouraging.

"I was happy for Yui; her effort paid off. But the next day, she seemed down and sad. When I asked her about it, she simply said it was nothing and went to her room. Just when I was thinking about asking her, Yumiko-chan rang the doorbell, saying something about talking to Yui, and she went to her room. I was very curious to know, but during the time I got to know her, I realized she's a good girl who always cares about Yui, so I decided to trust her."

I feel like I can get an idea, but there are so many contradictory things based on what I know that forming hypotheses seems incongruous. Besides, it's likely that my mind would wander and come up with scenarios that didn't happen.

"After they came out of the room, Yui seemed determined and full of confidence. And for several days, she wanted to make a bento. After two weeks, she succeeded and decided to bring one. She did this for several days, but then she suddenly stopped. When I asked her about the reason, she told me it was fine, and although she seemed a little sad, her face showed confidence, something rare for Yui. But I didn't feel like she was lying to me, and since she continued to act normally, I attributed it to school matters. But I know that Yumiko-chan was of great help to Yui."

The information that Sayaka gave me gives me a lot of ideas, but in the same way, with what I know, the information overlaps. Did that really happen? Isn't it too soon? Was there something that changed everything? Or maybe it's something different from what I have in mind and I'm overthinking it?

Whatever the answer, there's nothing I can do about it, since, if I recall correctly, Yumiko gave me some cookies weeks before I met Kawasaki, and if this is related, it's been a long time since then. Dwelling on this matter would be a waste of time.

"By the way, Tsurumi-kun, you still haven't answered the question I asked you at the shopping center." She said with a big smile.

Here, I could respond with what I know about Yumiko, then she will ask me about what I like most about each girl, eventually leading to her asking if I'm in love with someone. When I deny it, she'll ask me about my thoughts on Yui, but it's obvious that this will have another meaning.

Parents always seek the best for their children, and from my point of view, I'm not the best for anyone. However, perhaps for others, I may give off that impression. Or maybe I'm just overthinking it, and Sayaka is just joking with me. But if there's one thing I'm sure of, it will be tedious.

I moved my arm as if to check my watch. "It seems to be getting late. I remembered that I have some things to do, so I'll take my leave for today." I said calmly.

"Is that so?" I wonder if Yuigahama will be as perceptive as her mother in the future.

It's obvious that Sayaka-san knows that my excuse is a lie, but since I refuse to answer, perhaps she thinks it's something I don't want to talk about.

"Who knows? But setting that aside, the food was exquisite."

"I'm glad. You can come again on any other occasion. You're a good friend of my daughter, so there's no problem with that."

I fall into the lucky friend category, so she's exaggerating.

"I suppose I'll take you up on that."

It's not like I have a need to come to this place, but if there's free and delicious food, why not come?

With everything said, I stood up and made my way to the door, where I put on my shoes. Sayaka also accompanied me to the door.

"Next time, don't think I'll let you avoid the topic. Fufufu." Her tone of voice was playful, and she had a teasing expression on her face.

"I think I'll manage." It seems she hasn't given up. "Well then, see you, Sayaka-san. Thanks for everything."

"See you, Tsurumi-kun. I'll be waiting for your next visit."

Once we said our goodbyes, I walked out the door towards my home.

As I was about to walk, I noticed Yuigahama, who was arriving with Sable, so I approached her.

"Tsurumi-san, are you leaving already?" Yuigahama asked, tilting her head.

"I remembered that I have some things to do, so I'll take my leave for today." I crouched down and started petting Sable, who looked happy to receive the affection. "You've really improved a lot in cooking, haven't you?"

"I think so, but I still lack confidence. I always receive help from Yumiko or my mother." She said with a somewhat awkward smile.

''Receiving help is normal; none of us are perfect, so finding people who lend a hand is important. Great chefs have assistants, and even members of the cooking club tend to fail and lose against others, so don't push yourself too hard.''

Yuigahama's face brightened. "You're right. It's enough to practice, although I don't want to be a bother to Yumiko or my mother." Good point, although I doubt either of them considers it a bother.

"I don't think so. You're uniquely strange in your own way, so the people around you will always be willing to help you."

"What do you mean by 'strange'?" She pouted cutely.

"I mean it in a good way, so good luck."

"Thanks. In fact, I just thought of something, so I'll give it a try since, as you said, to improve, one must practice constantly!" She looks very happy, and that makes me glad.

"It's nothing. Well then, I'll take my leave." With nothing else to do, I continued on my way home.

"See you later!" Yuigahama waved her arm in farewell, and Sable let out a few small barks.

Today was a fun evening; I got to know certain aspects of both of them and found out some strange things. But it's best to leave that matter alone and let things take their course.

And as for what Sayaka hinted at, I find it impossible. If we compare how I treat Yuigahama compared to how I used to treat Hikigaya, it's obvious the way Yuigahama shows her affection, and in my case, it's just the way a friend would. In any case, I never sought to be anything more, and I feel happy and content this way.

Maybe I'll regret it later, or maybe not. Only my future self in a few months or years will know.

With that in mind, I continued on my way home.

---

Shopping day.

Saturdays are the days I enjoy the most, mainly because I don't have to go to school and I don't have to see the president of my club either. You might wonder, who in their right mind wouldn't want to be in the same classroom as Yukinoshita Yukino? She's beautiful in every way. But I don't care about that since, when it comes to beautiful girls, several others come to mind who don't insult me to the point of degrading me to an object like Yukinoshita does. I guess I've gotten used to it over time, and that's terrifying.

Putting that aside, I decided to open the door of my house and head to take a shower. Do I even go out to train on Saturdays? The answer is obvious. When something becomes a habit, it reaches a point where it becomes part of your routine and feels normal.

Moreover, I'm not the only one who does this. During my rounds in the park, I noticed some students from Sobu who also train on their own. My mind tends to remember many unnecessary things.

Putting that aside, I noticed that my mother was having breakfast, but what's strange is that she's wearing her work attire. If I recall correctly, today is one of her days off.

She noticed my gaze and gave me a smile. "Is it strange to see me in a suit on a Saturday?" She said in her usual tone.

"It is," I replied as I walked towards the stairs. "A friend got sick, so I'll go and replace her. Of course, she'll compensate me afterward."

"I see. Then I'll go take a shower." There's no point in discussing matters that don't concern me.

"By the way, Raiden, come and have breakfast. I want to talk to you." Her tone when she said the last part was serious.

Even if you haven't done anything wrong, when your mother says such words, you feel a chill running down your spine, and that was the case for me. I don't remember doing anything that would make her want to have a conversation with me.

"Sure." But as they say, one is innocent until proven otherwise.

Once I showered and changed into more comfortable clothes, which consisted of a slightly loose polo shirt and blue sweatpants, I went downstairs to the dining room as my mother indicated.

Once in the dining room, I took a seat in front of my mother. During a conversation, my mother likes the other person to be facing her.

"So, kaa-san, what do you want to talk about?" I said as I grabbed a toast and prepared my coffee.

"Tell me, Raiden, are you gay? Don't worry, I won't judge you for it." She said in a serious tone.

I ended up spitting out the coffee I had just started drinking. And the surprise made me choke. How on earth did she come to think that?

"Is this some kind of hidden camera prank?" I couldn't think of any other reason why my mother would say that.

"Before you arrived, I had a conversation with Rumi, just a normal conversation. Except she mentioned that you're always surrounded by beautiful classmates and, since you still don't have a girlfriend, I thought maybe you didn't like women." My mother said calmly as she sipped her coffee.

"I like women." I immediately replied.

"Then why don't you have a girlfriend? According to Rumi, there's one who's interested in you." The way she said it, I understand why she asked that.

What the hell did my adorable little sister tell my mother? Although I'm sure she accidentally let slip a small part of it, and my mother, being curious, made her confess everything she knew. That would explain why she's in her room right now.

"I like to take things at my own pace. Maybe Rumi is misunderstanding this. Besides, we're just friends, and of course, if I had the chance, I would take it."

I actually had many opportunities, but I chose not to pursue any.

"If you only leave the house to train, buy novels, and do your part-time job, but not to go out with any of them, it's obvious that there will never be an opportunity." She has a point, especially since after Yumiko's confession that time, I gained the confidence that I'll always be with her, eliminating any insecurity I might have. Kawasaki isn't the type to ask for a date, and Ebina and Yuigahama are out of the question.

''As I said, I like to take things slowly. Besides, I'm not in a hurry to have a girlfriend."

"If that's your decision, I won't oppose it, but it would be good if you had clothes more appropriate for your age. The clothes you usually choose are only sweatshirts and garments that are larger than your size."

"What's wrong with wanting to wear simple and comfortable clothes?" Every time I go shopping, I choose a size larger, so it's easy to wear.

"With that mindset, I understand why you don't have a girlfriend," My mother said as she nodded her head.

That hurt, my mother knows how to strike me with words.

"Like I said, I ..."

"Since I'll be replacing my friend in about two hours, let's go to the mall to buy you new outfits. In case an opportunity arises, at least I'll be sure my son is well dressed." But she interrupted me.

"I guess I can't refuse, can I?"

She only responded with a smile. My mother is so lovely.

With no other alternative, my fate for the next two hours was sealed.

---

We arrived at the shopping mall in my mother's car.

Once inside, I followed my mother to the men's clothing section.

"Come on, Raiden, I want you to try on several outfits."

When did I become a dress-up doll? Although now that I think about it, I've been one since I was a baby.

Being self-aware from birth isn't a good thing, seriously, it's very strange, but I prefer to avoid thinking about it. Damn childhood traumas.

Obeying my mother, I entered the store with her, where I was greeted with several sets of clothes.

"Try them on!" Said my mother with excitement.

"I think they fit me well, so there's no need...''

"It wasn't a question." Her tone changed from cheerful to serious; seriously, my mother is scary.

With no other option, I entered one of the fitting rooms with all the clothes she had selected for me, even catching a glimpse of the somewhat uncomfortable look from the store attendant.

I proceeded to try on each of the outfits my mother had selected, and as expected, they fit perfectly, accentuating my figure. I don't like tight clothes on my body.

Do boys my age really wear these things? I'd rather be half-naked than wear this.

"And how do they fit?"

My mother entered the fitting room. I think I need to explain the concept of privacy to her.

"Kaa-san, I'm changing." I said with a sigh.

"I've seen you since you were a baby; there's nothing I haven't seen." She said with a playful smile.

Part of me wants to argue, but she's right. Of course, I have a great way to contradict this, but saying it in front of my mother would be too weird.

I resigned myself and changed in front of her.

"You have a great physique; I can see that time at the academies and your morning workouts paid off." She commented, starting to touch my abs, which tickled.

"Kaa-san! It tickles." I struggled to speak.

"You look just like your father when he was young, even have the same sensitive spot." She said as she moved her hand over my chest.

"I can't tell if that's a compliment or an insult." I removed her hand from me.

"It's a compliment; after all, your father was quite the dragon in his youth." A play on words with his name. After all, my father's name is Ryu.

If I recall correctly, she mentioned in the past that they both used to be gang members, so, although it sounds strange, it's hard for me to imagine my parents leading gangs to fight at night.

I shook my head and grabbed another set of clothes since the fitting room door was open, and I noticed another lady looking at me from a distance. Shouldn't she be focusing on her son or husband instead of staring at someone her son's age?

Ignoring the stranger, I got dressed.

"That outfit looks great on you." My mother praised me as she made sure the clothes were in place.

Currently, I'm wearing a blue shirt along with black shorts. The shirt clings too tightly to my body, accentuating my arms and build.

"It looks good on you. It reminds me of how I used to dress you in extravagant outfits when you were a little baby." She said with a big smile.

To think I was conscious at that time, so I have vivid memories of being treated like a test dummy.

"I'm not a little baby anymore."

"To me, you'll always be my little baby." She said, holding my face in her hands.

"In case you didn't notice, I'm almost 17 now." I once again moved her hands away from me.

"I don't see much of a difference; I would even say that area is still small." She said with a teasing tone, pointing at a certain area.

"Don't say those things to your son!" I wanted to respond differently, but embarrassment prevented me from doing so.

I have a lot of confidence in my body, and especially in my big friend. But that's not something to discuss with my mother.

I shook my head and accepted the next set of clothes my mother handed me.

A combination of a sleeveless shirt with a red striped t-shirt.

"I don't like it," I complained.

"I didn't ask for your opinion." She said playfully as she selected more clothes.

I remember now why I don't like going shopping with her. The normal thing is to buy clothes that I like and ask for a bigger size; it doesn't take more than 5 minutes. In contrast, it's been an hour since I've been here.

Is this some kind of hell or something?

Time became relative once I lost interest in knowing how much time had passed.

I regained a sense of time once we left the store.

"Come on, Raiden, don't make that face; I'm sure any of those girls would compliment you on your outfit." My mother said with a big smile.

"I do not care." I responded nonchalantly.

If that wasn't enough, I had to carry several bags of clothes that I didn't like. Maybe I can use them to make a bed for Kuro?

"You're thinking something sinister, aren't you?" My mother said, giving me a terrifying look.

"Can you read minds?" That would be too much if she could do that.

"Not at all, but I have something called mother's instinct. It's almost the same thing."

Terrifying, I really don't like annoying my mother.

"Let's leave the shopping in the car, and I'll treat you to coffee. What do you say?"

"It's better than nothing."

Once we left the vast amount of clothes in the car, we headed to a café. It's already 10 o'clock, so I got a little hungry from spending a long time trying on clothes.

On the way, I noticed that one of the stores was under construction, and a large sign caught my attention. "Coming soon: Riox, a bookstore that you will love."

Quite a slogan. Who am I kidding, it's bad.

I don't mind if a bookstore opens since the one currently in this shopping mall only offers ancient literature, so I have to go to the other mall to buy novels.

That reminded me that I've abandoned my idea of becoming a writer, but to be honest, I find it tedious. Although I have the idea in mind, going through the process of transcribing and correcting errors is bothersome. I wonder how authors endure all of that. And if we talk about hobbyist writers in general, how do they manage? After all, no one pays them for it.

It must be tough. I silently sympathized with them. Don't worry, I know that at some point, all their effort will be rewarded, unless they're the type who abandons their works. I'm still waiting for one of the novels I liked, but the author opened a restaurant and left the novel unfinished.

"We've arrived." My mother said as she stopped in front of a café.

Once inside, I accompanied her to the counter, where we placed our orders before heading to a table.

"It was really exhausting." I couldn't help but complain about the suffering I endured while trying on the clothes my mother selected.

"You know, in the future, you'll have to go shopping with your wife too, so it's better to get used to it." She said with a smile.

"I suppose it would be best not to have a wife." Currently, I don't plan on having a wife and children. The reason is simply that I see it as a burden.

"That's what you say now, but when you have a daughter, I'm sure you'll adore her as your greatest treasure. You won't let anyone get close to her. After all, if you're like that with Rumi, I imagine you'll be the same with your daughters." She said, teasing me.

It's not that I'm a siscon, right? I just appreciate and care about Rumi, so if any guy wants to pursue her, they'll have to earn my permission. I don't care if he's the son of Japan's prime minister; if I don't consider him suitable for my sister, I won't accept anyone.

The future boyfriend of my younger sister has to be better than me, so every day I make sure to raise that bar higher.

"I don't know for sure, so I can't answer with certainty." Maybe I could change my thinking in the future, so saying that I won't be overprotective with my daughters would be false. Of course, it all depends on the future.

"I also had a similar thought." She looked at me affectionately. "But when you become an adult, you start to wish for a child, someone small and helpless who will depend on you in their early years of life."

"For now, I can't understand that."

"You will in the future. Having a child is a great responsibility, from providing a home for them to selecting a name they will grow up with."

Now that she mentions it, I've always been curious about my name.

"By the way, why did you name me Raiden?"

She looked somewhat nostalgic.

"The first time I met your father, there was a storm. The thunder could be heard clearly, and the time he confessed to me was also during a storm."

Hey, hey. How the hell do you confess to someone during a storm? Although from another perspective, it could be considered epic.

"So, that's the reason?"

"That's what I mean. When we were brainstorming ideas for your name, we thought of giving you a name related to thunder, as it's a memory that both your father and I cherish. At first, we thought of Raijin, in Japanese it's composed of the characters 雷 and 神, which mean 'thunder' and 'god.'"

"But that wasn't the case." Raijin does have some resemblance to my name.

"Naming you that would have been too presumptuous, but your father agreed, so we opted for a variant. Raiden. In Western culture, Raijin is known by this name. It's composed of the characters 'Rai' (雷, thunder) + 'den' (電, lightning)."

"I see, a variation of Raijin, but at the same time, it also refers to the God of Thunder."

"A name can also imply one's personality, and in this case, we hoped that you would have a strong, imposing, and electrifying attitude, and it seems to have worked."

I'm sure this has nothing to do with it, but there's no need to refute it. After all, I like my name.

The waiter brought our coffees, so we started enjoying them.

My mother looked happy, and even though I want to deny it, I partly had fun today.

"You know, another reason we chose that name for you was because of all the struggle you had to go through before being born."

Her words piqued my curiosity.

"I want to hear about it."

"During your birth, the doctor informed us that there was a problem; apparently, you were suffocating before being able to be born. This scared me a lot because it could bring problems in the future, and in the worst-case scenario, you could die even before being born." She had a sad expression. "But the doctor reassured me by saying that you started moving, and when you were born, you looked perfectly fine. You even gave me scares before you were born." She put a smile on her face.

This left me perplexed. Questions I had asked myself years ago got answers.

I thought about that situation once I met her since her case was different from mine, but since I didn't know for sure what it meant, I simply left the topic hanging. But now I think I understand it to some extent.

My mother looked at her watch. "Is it already this late?" She quickly finished her coffee. "I'm running late for work. Can you go back home alone, right?" She asked as she stood up.

"I'm grown up now and can take care of myself." I said confidently.

My mother started patting my head.

"I know, but as your mother, I'll always worry about you. Take care on your way home."

After saying this, she left the café and headed towards the parking lot.

With nothing else to do, I finished my coffee and left the café, heading home.

Normally, I would take the train to get back faster, but right now, I have a lot on my mind.

Once outside the mall, I embarked on the long journey home.

I have many things to think about, so I decided to take the long way.

The moment I became aware in this world was the moment I was born; not even three seconds passed before darkness turned into light. At that moment, I was a newborn baby. When I turned five, I started questioning whether or not we really reincarnate when we die, and if that's the case, do we reincarnate into fantasy worlds or something similar? It's a question I never found an answer to.

But what matters most is, do we reincarnate as someone new or do we replace someone?

By this, I mean if we take the place of an existing person or if we simply come into existence as a new being. But thanks to my mother's words, I was able to come up with a theory.

Raiden died; the child who would have been my parents' son died before being born. That's why my parents went through a phase of rejection towards others for several years. As time passed, they decided to maybe have another child, and that's where Rumi was born.

But when one goes through those experiences, sometimes they end up developing a rejection towards children. There can be various cases, which can be interpreted as a lack of interest in them. To the point of leaving your child to their own fate. This is seen a lot in Japanese society, although it's different from neglectful parents. That's why Rumi grew up in an empty home, an environment where she got used to being alone since childhood. I don't blame her for having those thoughts originally.

That's the hypothesis I have, but here's where the other factor comes in. Why do I think my parents' child died? Before I was born, I was capable of consciousness, even as an unborn baby. I had the ability to reason and even had memories. So, if I had been someone who was reborn, wouldn't I be conscious from the moment the baby develops its senses and so on?

Perhaps, if that had been the case, I would think that I died and woke up in a dark place, a place where I couldn't do anything. Any thoughts of my past life and such would have been discarded, to the point where when I was born, I would think that my soul had served its punishment, and now I have a new opportunity. If that had been the case, my way of doing things and my decisions would be very different, but that didn't happen.

I had consciousness seconds before being born, as if I had taken someone else's place.

In simple terms, Raiden died from suffocation, and his soul left this body, and in turn, my soul occupied that place.

I'm not one to believe much in soul theories and such, but when you die and appear in another world, beliefs like the soul become plausible.

This idea crossed my mind once because of what she told me. After all, her case was different from mine. Once she died, the first thing she saw was being carried. Apparently, she had fallen down the stairs at the age of three, hitting her head hard. According to her, the little girl simply died from the impact, and that's when she took her place. At first, I didn't believe or pay much attention to it, but now her words are believable.

Does reincarnation consist of taking the place of a person who died, but whose body remains intact?

That's the only idea that comes to mind. The truth is, this may not necessarily be the case because, at this point, it could even be a type of god who finds it amusing to bring the dead into other bodies. I can't confirm anything.

But if my hypothesis were true, I took the place of my parents' original child who died.

Tsurumi Raiden died before being born. I took that place. I wonder how things would have been if that baby hadn't died. Would I have been reborn somewhere else with another family? Did I reincarnate with a purpose? Or would I have simply died?

No matter how many questions I ask myself, I'll never get an answer. The most I can come up with are hypotheses.

But by overthinking, I won't be able to achieve anything; in fact, this hypothesis should be tormenting me mentally, but it doesn't. Or rather, it can't. That's just the way I am.

I decided to enjoy my life my own way, leaving that behind, burying it deep within me. Or at least, that's what I believe I'm doing. But still, there are moments when I'm weak.

Things are harder when you seek the easiest path, but it doesn't matter. If there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that all I seek is to live a good life and take care of my family. Nothing else matters, even if that displeases others.

I pondered on this so much that I didn't notice I had already arrived home. At least thinking about it made the journey shorter.

I used my key to unlock the front door, and upon entering, I noticed my father watching television with Rumi.

"Raiden, was the shopping trip fun?" My father said mockingly.

"It was, especially when I saw several men flirting with Mom." I responded as usual. There are many things I can say about my father, and one of them is that he loves and cares deeply for his wife.

My father's expression changed, making a 180-degree turn, and he stood up.

"Onii-chan, don't joke like that. You know how he gets." Rumi said, sighing.

"It's amusing to see that expression on his face." I teased a bit.

"I guess I brought it upon myself." He replied as he sat back down. "If you say it with such a serious tone, it's hard not to believe you."

I moved to sit next to Rumi. "By the way, my lovely little sister, do you know why Okaa-san asked me very personal questions?"

"I have no idea." She avoided eye contact.

I playfully flicked her forehead with my fingers. "You need to learn not to say unnecessary things." I said with a smile.

Rumi moved closer to my father's side.

"Otou-chan, he hit me!" Rumi said, wiping non-existent tears. My lovely little sister has learned many things from me, and I'm proud. She even used that way of addressing him that she used when she was younger.

"Raiden, don't make Rumi take my side, because in the end, it will be your mother who gets back at me."

"Well, she's terrifying, so I understand." We completely ignored Rumi's act.

According to studies, fathers love their daughters more, while mothers love their sons more. I know this from experience. And in my family, my mother is the one in charge.

"It's very rude of both of you to ignore me, you know?" Rumi pouted.

"You should make your acting more believable." I said mockingly.

"I agree with your brother." My father agreed with me.

"I'll tell Kaa-san."

Faced with such a threat, we only had one option.

"We're sorry." (x2)

We apologized in unison.

There are things you can never win against, and in this case, my mother's wrath is one of them. If she finds out that we were making fun of her precious daughter, I fear for my future. My father feels the same way.

Some time ago, my father and I were discussing where we should go for Rumi's birthday, but we both got very intense. As a result, my mother knocked both of us down before we could even react. Even if I had tried to do something, she elegantly and swiftly took me down. That's why I know I couldn't do anything against my mother.

"Are you really that cowardly when it involves Kaa-san?" Rumi mocked.

"Aren't you afraid?" I asked with a tone of mockery.

"Of course, I am." She quickly replied.

No matter what, everyone in this house respects my mother, even Kuro.

"Her mother can be terrifying, but she also has a tender side."

"Like the time you came home drunk, broke a vase, and she made you sleep on the couch for a week?"

"Don't remind me." My father sighed heavily.

The way we interact as a family is pleasant. It won't always be smooth sailing, but if I have the opportunity, I'll do my best. They are the most important to me. Even if he doesn't like it, I will always choose my family over others.

"By the way, Oyaji, since Mom isn't here, and I'm too lazy to cook, how about you take us out for lunch?"

"I support the idea." Rumi joined in.

"Not a bad idea, let's go. I know a good restaurant in the city center."

With our plan set, we got ready to go for lunch.

No matter what may happen in the future, I'm sure I'll take care of keeping things the way I like them.

---

My life in another world is not that interesting.

Pov ?

Monotonous life is boring; I don't like having the same days over and over again.

Waking up, going to school, grabbing the attention of all the guys, going to my part-time job, and then coming back home has become boring.

Initially, I thought it would be exciting to generate a lot of money at a young age, but over time, it became dull.

It's not that I don't enjoy receiving all that attention and seeing my beautiful figure in various fashion magazines, but it gets boring if I have no one to show off to.

I think I've repeated the word "boring" too much, but I can't think of another word to describe my situation.

Having the opportunity to have a new life should be thrilling and fun, but my current self thinks the opposite. Of course, when I was a child, it was quite enjoyable to bother that guy, watching him get stressed and causing him trouble was one of the most exciting things. Being chased by a pack of dogs, throwing him into the river with his uniform, or even the time we broke into the convenience store are the most memorable moments I have. I have many more, but those are the most remarkable ones.

If you have a second chance, it's obvious to make the most of it. Not making the same mistake for which you died would be ideal.

That's why I don't have any friends. If he has a paternal complex due to his death, I have a loner complex because being killed by your best friend is not pleasant. Although, if I think about it, repeatedly sleeping with her boyfriend and then acting like it's something normal wasn't the best way to do it. You can't blame me; she was so sweet, and there wasn't a day she wouldn't boast about him, so out of curiosity, I decided to try him out for myself.

The result was being stabbed multiple times to death. That's the reason why I don't have any friends, and boys are just idiots who will be attracted to the first girl who treats them nicely, so they're not of interest to me either.

But if I have to speak well of men, there's only one guy I find perfect. His dead fish eyes are so charming, his cold attitude, as well as his way of thinking and doing things, are so exciting. I'm sure that by his side, I wouldn't have boring days.

That's why when I found out about the place where I reincarnated, the opportunity to meet that guy who seemed so amazing filled my mind. But my stupid parents decided to move to another city, and even though I wanted to oppose, I was forced to follow them.

Seriously, why don't they behave like cliché parents who let their daughter move to an apartment where she can bring the guy she likes and flirt with him? Well, they fulfill their role of not being at home due to work, so that's something.

That guy is so lucky, being the older brother of a supporting character; he has a clear path to do whatever he wants. But what did that idiot respond to me when I talked to him years ago?

"I just want to have a peaceful life; I don't feel the need to do that, maybe be an observer."

Seriously, what kind of idiot would think that with our situation?

The normal thing would be to aim for the main girls, even form a harem, but that idiot prefers a monotonous and boring life.

If I were him, I would seize every opportunity to intervene in any situation and take advantage of it. He's an idiot, a siscon idiot who loves his parents.

Of course, I can think that about him, but I wouldn't tell him, mostly because that guy is scary.

It's not that I was afraid of an 8-year-old boy, but rather his mindset. I studied psychology in college, and I can say that he has a certain degree of psychopathy. I suppose before dying, it was mild, but considering everything that happened to him and all the thoughts that went through his mind since childhood, I can assure you that he is an irrational time bomb. And I wouldn't want to be around when he explodes.

But I suppose with his ideal of wanting a monotonous life, there shouldn't be much of a problem, as it wouldn't be possible for him to, for example, enjoy massacring other people or exhibit excessively violent behavior, right? Although, if important people to him were involved, I feel like it could happen. It's too strange even for me.

Although the idea of wanting to train seemed irrational to me. I understand the part about being prepared and ready to act at any moment, but we're in a world of a romance and school-type novel, so I don't see it very likely that strange things will happen.

Did my daily life become so boring and monotonous that I remember things from the past?

I guess it can't be helped.

I took out my key to unlock the door of my house as I finally arrived at my destination.

My parents are well-paid individuals, so my house is quite big, although if I were to compare it to a certain wealthy family, I suppose it would fall short.

Upon entering the house, I heard a noise in the living room, and to my surprise, my father was watching television. He must have come home early since he usually returns around midnight, and it's only 9 o'clock.

"It's strange to see you so early." I said.

I left my bag on one of the sofas.

"Come on, can't you be nicer to your father?"

"As far as I remember, you still prevent me from living independently, so don't think I'm grateful to you."

"You're only 16; don't you think it's too early to be thinking about living alone?"

"If I recall correctly, I've spent the last few years alone, so it should be normal." I said indifferently.

My father looked somewhat uncomfortable.

In my previous life, I didn't have a good relationship with my parents, and unlike that guy, I don't feel a need to want to fix that. You can call me selfish, but that's the reality. Besides, my current parents aren't exactly the parents of the year, but they're not bad either. I never lack money and food, and they even let me work a couple of months ago, so they're tolerable.

"Work is important. How else would we have a place to come back to?"

"In that aspect, I have no complaints."

Before entering high school, I asked my parents if I could go back to Chiba, where I could rent an apartment and live alone. Of course, they flatly refused.

"I'm glad you understand, but I still don't know why you want to go back to Chiba."

"I find that place more fun."

"There's not much difference between Tokyo and Chiba. Or perhaps you're referring to the Tsurumi's son? If I recall correctly, they were always very close as children, even for childhood friends, they were too attached."

"I couldn't care less about that guy." I said in my usual tone. Someone who doesn't take advantage of their situation is just an idiot. Seriously, he has a new life, so he should make the most of it, be more liberal and all that. Studying and all that is secondary, especially because I died before graduating, so I couldn't even use all that knowledge.

"Then, I don't know why you want to go back to Chiba. Besides, you mentioned wanting to enroll in Sobu High, and that school demands a good level. Just remembering that your grades are terrible, I find it impossible for you to get in."

My father's words were like a bucket of cold water.

I had completely forgotten about that detail. After moving to Tokyo, any motivation to study and such disappeared from me, so I only got the minimum grades to pass each year. The rest of the time, I watched anime, novels, and even online games. Of course, I also dedicated time to a certain hobby.

But now that I think about it, it makes sense. If I wanted to enroll in Sobu High right now, my grades would be rejected. And to be honest, I'm not interested in learning the respective subjects.

How could I overlook that detail?

"From your expression, I can see you didn't think about it. How can you be so perceptive about some things and so clueless about others?"

"The one who calls someone else clueless usually is, and besides, I'm your daughter, so I must have inherited it from someone." I instinctively responded.

"Seriously, you and your mother are terrifying with your comebacks."

Putting aside how pathetic my father looked, I never considered that option. But I guess I have time. If I managed to pass over 10 courses with just one night of studying, what are over 10 years of study?

I could see my father sigh.

"It seems that you're not going to change your mind anyway, but I suppose I can tell you. I recently talked with your mother, and we reached an agreement. We can't keep avoiding you becoming independent. In fact, it's a good thing, especially because I'm worried about how irresponsible and absent-minded you can be. But once you become independent, you'll realize it's not as easy as you think."

"What's the point?" My father's words caught my attention.

"If you manage to get first place in the upcoming exams, maybe in a year, I can consider letting you move alone to Chiba. And if you can show me that you can be responsible, I'll buy you the apartment myself."

"Are you serious?!"

"I am, but only if you can fulfill what I told you."

"You're the best!"

I lunged at my father and gave him a big hug.

"But only if you prove to me that you can be someone responsible and attentive. If not, forget about it."

"I will. I'll crush everyone to become number one."

"That's an odd way of putting it, but it's valid." My father said with a tone of doubt.

I never expected my father to say that. If he himself buys me an apartment, it would be the best, especially since I had initially planned to live in that guy's house. Our parents are good friends, so I doubt there would be any problem with that.

With this excitement, I headed towards the refrigerator, but to my surprise, there were no more Max Caffe drinks.

Right, I completely forgot to buy more cans, even though I said I would buy some on the way today, I ended up forgetting.

Maybe I should stock up tomorrow, but I really want one, so I'll go to the vending machines. The closest one is several blocks away, but there shouldn't be a problem.

So, I approached my bag and took out my wallet.

"You're going out?"

"I'm going to buy something, so I'll be back quickly."

Right now, I have to start studying everything I've ignored during these years, but I feel like I can do it. That's why I need my favorite drink.

With all that in mind, I left home heading towards a vending machine.

Once I reached my destination, I inserted a coin and collected my drink.

All in all, the sugary flavor fills me with energy.

After finishing my drink, I tossed the can into a nearby trash bin; I really needed that.

Now, without further ado, it's time to return because if I want to change my boring lifestyle, I must overcome my father's test.

"Hello, beautiful."

Although a boy's words caught my attention. Judging by his appearance, he should be around 20 years old, and he didn't look bad at all. His brown hair, along with his slightly unbuttoned shirt, gave him a certain air of maturity.

"Hello, do you have any business with me?"

I responded in a flirtatious tone.

I'm aware of my appearance; a long mane, an excellent figure, ample bosom, and slender legs. Currently, I'm wearing a pink blouse that reveals a hint of my cleavage, along with a skirt short enough to leave much to the imagination. I'm so beautiful that I don't need to hide it; I don't have to conceal who I am.

"It seems like you know what I want."

"Is that so? Then tell me, what is it that you want?~"

"How about accompanying me to the karaoke? We'll have a great time."

"That's a very fun idea." I approached him and placed one of my hands on his face, slowly sliding my fingers down to his neck. "But it's a pity that in my eyes, you're just a pathetic playboy, so better luck next time. Although I doubt you'll find a beauty like me."

After saying this, I turned around and started walking, making sure to sway my hips sensually. If I were to compare my current appearance to the previous one, this one comes out on top. Not that I wasn't beautiful before, but now I am much more so.

Men are pathetic; they easily fall for charm without truly seeing who a person is, except for one, who is my ideal guy. So I won't waste time with idiots.

"Don't tell me you don't want to have fun with me?"

This guy closed the distance between us and grabbed my wrist.

"That was my answer, and as I said, you're not of interest to me, so it would be boring to be with you."

"That's not a 'no,' right?" Judging by his gaze, it seems he won't give up.

He grabbed my other wrist and pushed me against a wall.

"I'm sure you'll enjoy this."

"Is that so?"

(Tell me something, Desmond. Do you seriously plan on doing something as foolish as training? I understand to some extent, but you'd better focus on other things instead of wasting your time.)

Those were my words on that occasion, but being bored of my routine, I became curious, so I decided to enroll in self-defense classes. Since not everyone will always agree with expectations.

I smashed my head against the guy's nose, causing him to let go due to the pain.

When you're at the top, it's obvious there will be situations where the leftovers will try to come for you, which made learning self-defense interesting for a while. Of course, I also used a self-taught guide to learn more. Limiting myself to just defending would be boring, and there are many techniques one can learn with a foundation and prior knowledge.

"You damn bitch, how dare you!"

He threw a punch at me, but I guided his fist to crash into the wall.

"That hurts, you damn bitch!"

"But I didn't do anything." I said with a smile.

Before he could attack again, I decided to strike first.

With agile movement and graceful footwork, I positioned myself behind him and kicked the back of his knee, causing him to kneel from losing balance.

Men are so easy and useless.

When he turned his head to look at me, or even before he could comprehend what happened, my foot crashed directly into his face. A truly beautiful roundhouse kick, I must say.

"Come on, didn't you say we would have fun? I'm sure you even imagined me in many inappropriate poses, didn't you?"

But there was no response; I suppose I used too much force.

"Learn to respond when someone talks to you!"

I moved a bit and slammed my foot into a very vulnerable area, ensuring I used enough force to render it useless.

"Hope you enjoy spending time with other girls."

That man woke up from the pain, and he tried to get up; that pain must have affected him a lot, how ironic.

"I didn't say you could get up."

Like a ball, I kicked him forcefully in the jaw, leaving him unconscious on the spot. My slender and beautiful legs have the necessary strength that I appreciate.

Being at the top isn't always good, but if you have the strength to humiliate others, it's enjoyable. Besides, this time, I should be able to react in time if someone tries to stab me, so I'm pleased with my current skills and abilities.

I wonder if I can change Desmond's mind this way? I don't think he took his idea seriously, at most he must have tried it and realized he doesn't have the aptitude for it, unlike me, who easily improved.

If I can count on his help when I arrive at Sobu High, things would be easier, although it's not necessary, but they would be smoother that way.

Putting that aside, it's time to continue my journey home since I have a long way to go to fulfill my goal.

With that in mind, I let my thoughts wander until I arrived home.