CH 10

When you come across someone in need on the street, is reaching out to help them an act of hypocrisy?

At the very least, I personally tend to avoid approaching people who look intimidating or dangerous, but if someone else is in need of help, I will offer to lend a hand.

“Hey there, can I help you, ma’am?”

“Thank you so much!”

Today, I had a day’s duty to do and ended up coming home later than usual, so I wasn’t able to go for my usual run.

However, while I was lounging around at home, I realized that my fridge was looking empty and decided to go grocery shopping.

“Okay, let’s get this done.”

As the woman ahead of me dropped some round items like apples from her shopping bag, I quickly picked them up for her in place of the typical scenario where the person struggles to do so themselves.

Though it was a bit uncomfortable since it pressed on my extra fat, I managed to pick up all the fallen items for her as a substitute for the elderly woman.

“Thank you, young man.”

“No problem. Take care, ma’am.”

With a wave of her hand, I parted from the elderly woman.

The exchange we just had didn’t hold much meaning, and I didn’t expect any reward in return… but doing something to help someone else always leaves me feeling good.

In a sense, it was refreshing to see an elderly woman who genuinely thanked me for my help, because in Arashi’s memory, most of the time I’m given a depressing stare just for approaching.

“Now then, let’s get some vegetables and… what else?”

I figured I might as well pick up some daily necessities while I’m at it.

Even though I’ve been abandoned by my family, they still send me money for living expenses, so I’m not particularly struggling to make ends meet… and in the current situation that feels like a whole different world to me, it’s really helpful to have some prior knowledge about nearby supermarkets.

“… Cup noodles, huh?”

As I entered the supermarket with a basket in hand, a tempting object appeared before me: cup noodles with various flavors.

They’re the perfect meal for someone living alone, but they’re also my worst enemy right now.

“… damn it… I control my hand!”

Cup noodles are the best, they are easy to make and delicious to eat, but now that I am the poster child for dieting, I can’t pick one up.

Desperately using all my willpower, I retract my hand and head towards the vegetable corner.

“Cabbage…lettuce…carrots…eggplant…”

As a university student who has experienced living alone, I can cook simple things.

I never thought that this experience would be utilized to the fullest in this way, but still, Arashi seems to have lived a very unhealthy life.

“There are no vegetables in the refrigerator. The containers for instant noodles are piled up like a mountain, and he is completely addicted to instant food.”

Then it makes sense that he would have a body like this.

“Alright, this is good.”

I took what I wanted to buy to the cashier, paid the bill and left the store.

As I was thinking that it was getting a little dark, I heard a voice that stimulated the memories of this body.

“Like I said, I don’t like him.”

“…”

That voice made me think of someone who exists in my mind.

It should have been the first time I heard that voice, but the person who came to my mind was Arashi’s little sister.

(This voice… Arashi’s little sister, huh? She never appeared in games or anything.)

I only recently learned about Arashi’s family structure after being reborn as him, so I don’t have much information about his family, but one thing I do know is that Arashi is hated by his family.

“So…”

I may have made a mistake by turning towards the direction of the voice because I made eye contact with her.

She was a cute girl who looked like a middle school student and was so beautiful that I couldn’t believe we had the same blood running through our veins.

(… Kana Gundo)

Kana, who I made eye contact with, was staring back at me. Her friend next to her was probably wondering who I was and tilting her head while looking at me.

“… Eww.”

I had a feeling that I didn’t actually hear it, but Kana’s mouth moved as if she had spoken.

She walked away with her friend, but it seems that my memory was not wrong about Arashi being disliked by his family.

“…Well, that’s troublesome.”

But, to be honest, I couldn’t help but think of it as someone else’s problem.

From then until I got back to my apartment, I thought about Arashi’s family again, digging up the memories that had been etched into my mind.

Arashi’s parents were alive and had an older brother and younger sister.

The brother was a sophomore in college, and the sister was a third-year middle school student.

Among them, Arashi is the only heretic in the family… Well, it seems like all the good parts have been taken away by his brother and sister.

“Why are you so useless?”

“I’m ashamed. I can’t believe someone like you is my son.”

… Because Shirayuki was my favorite character, I couldn’t forgive Arashi for causing her trouble.

However, I sympathize with him for having to endure being told these kinds of things from his parents and siblings since he was a child.

“And that’s why…”

That’s why Arashi developed twisted emotions towards Shirayuki, who was the first person to ever stand up for him.

“But well… there is still a line that you shouldn’t cross.”

Arashi tried to attack Shirayuki on impulse, but it ultimately failed, and from that point on, he faded away from the story and never appeared on stage again.

No matter what happened in the past, it’s still not okay to assault a girl.

“We’re classmates, aren’t we? How could you do something so cruel?”

I remember her serene figure… Yeah, she’s pretty cool.

Even though Shirayuki has the yandere attribute, she doesn’t just coddle people and clearly points out what’s wrong.

To put it in a negative way, it’s like being whipped, but Shirayuki is still great.

“… If you go down the harem route, Hisui will also join, which will be even more dangerous. I’m sure there are many people whose preferences have been messed up by Everlasting-Love.”

Of course, I confidently declare that I love not only Shirayuki but also Hisui!

Even though I know I’m not Arashi at a fundamental level, I can’t help feeling a little discomfort towards my family because of the memories that remain.

However, when I think about Shirayuki and her mother, I can still smile.

“… Come to think of it, the day after tomorrow is a holiday. Maybe I’ll go to the gym again.”

Since Thursday the day after tomorrow is a holiday, I decided to go to the gym.

Shirayuki wanted me to invite her… Well, I feel a bit anxious about inviting her, but it’s okay, right?

I called Shirayuki, and to my surprise, she picked up after just one ring.

“Hello.”

“… Hello, Shirayuki?”

“Yes. You called me right away, didn’t you?”

“Well… can I talk to you about something?”

“Sure. I can tell what it is, but please tell me in your own words.”

… Her voice was so calm that I wondered if she’s really the same age as me.

I couldn’t help feeling like any lies or pretense would be useless in front of her, and her voice didn’t make me want to resist in the slightest.

“I just decided something. I’m thinking of going to the gym on our day off the day after tomorrow.”

“Understood. Let’s go together… Where should we meet? Shall we meet at the gym directly? What time is good?”

Shirayuki was quite quick to respond.

She said it doesn’t matter where or when, so we decided to meet up in the afternoon.

“… It’s just me… huh? …can’t afford to be careless or make mistakes.”

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. So let’s meet on Thursday afternoon in front of the school.”

“Ah, thanks a lot.”

“Don’t worry about it. In fact, that’s my line.”

After a brief conversation, we hung up.

I never thought I would hear her voice outside of school, let alone at home.

My excitement was through the roof, and I might even be grinning uncontrollably at school tomorrow.

“Maybe, just maybe, if I lose weight, I could make a move on Shirayuki…?”

I chuckled at my own thoughts, realizing it was a common concern among reincarnated individuals. I gave up and forgot about it.

▼▽

And on the Thursday afternoon we had agreed upon, with the school between us, I was facing two ladies.

“To tell the truth, she ended up finding out so she’ll be coming as well.”

“It’s been a while, Hii!”

“H-hi…”

In front of me stood Shirayuki and Hisui, with their facial features so similar that they could almost be mistaken for sisters, and with their overwhelming beauty, I simply stared at the two of them in a daze.