On a Saturday afternoon, there are many things you can do: catch up on unfinished novels, play some video games on your console or PC, waste your money donating to V-tubers, or simply lie on your bed staring at the ceiling while letting your imagination run wild with the millions of possibilities inside your mind.
You can't blame me. For some reason, when I woke up that morning, I had a bad feeling that something really annoying was going to happen, so I stayed on guard.
Even so, nothing strange happened during the morning. I followed my usual routine like any other day: I exercised after getting up, took a shower, had breakfast with my cute little sister, killed time playing video games until lunchtime, had lunch with my cute little sister, and then my cute little sister went to one of her friend's houses.
…Have I already mentioned how cute my little sister is?
With my parents working as usual, I was left home alone. Even that black ball of fur that does nothing but eat and sleep was gone too—or rather, he had been abducted by Rumi and taken to her friend's house. Poor cat. All that awaited him was a group of elementary school girls who would probably dress him up in strange outfits.
It's not the first time that's happened to Kuro, so he'll be fine… I think.
That meant I could officially consider myself the king of my castle. Though I'm not sure how viable a castle really is when it's completely empty.
Oh well. In moments like this, when all I want to do is relax, I could start reminiscing about my entire life—but that wouldn't be relaxing at all.
Besides, I had already spent the last hour lying on my bed, staring at my bedroom ceiling and imagining all the possibilities I might have had if I'd reincarnated into another fantasy world. Realistically speaking, I'm pretty sure I would've died pathetically as a background character most of the time, so I'm glad I ended up in a normal, ordinary society—where the only real things to worry about are natural disasters.
This is Japan, after all. Tremors and earthquakes are things you get used to. Houses are built with that in mind, and over the years it just becomes normal. Part of the country's culture.
After staring at the ceiling for a few more minutes with my mind completely blank, I finally got up and walked over to my desktop computer.
As far as being an average teenager goes, I suppose I have everything one could want—though I pay for my games myself with my allowance.
Once I was comfortably seated in front of the screen, I browsed social media to check for any news about upcoming light novels, along with a few games I was looking forward to.
While I scrolled through post after post with my mouse, a certain icon suddenly appeared on my screen: a video call notification.
"Do I really have to answer?"
The moment I saw the caller's name, I understood why I'd had that bad feeling when I woke up.
I prefer to avoid trouble, so I simply rejected the call and went back to what I was doing.
A few seconds later, the video call icon popped up again.
That girl really is stubborn…
I kept rejecting the calls every time they appeared, until she finally seemed to give up.
Feeling calmer after successfully avoiding trouble, I let out a small sigh of relief.
But…
"No matter how you look at it, that's a scam."
This time, the icon that appeared on my screen displayed the photo of a beautiful, mature woman.
I'm not stupid enough to fall for that. She clearly just made another account with a different name and profile picture.
Then again, considering my strange circumstances ever since I reincarnated, maybe the god of this world finally decided to reward me for the harsh and difficult life I've lived so far—by giving me a chance to start some kind of new adventure.
I know, I'm an idiot. But if there's one thing I've learned, it's that the probability of something strange happening is never zero. Source: the guy who literally reincarnated after dying.
So, feeling like the biggest idiot in the world—yet clinging to a tiny, pathetic sliver of hope—I answered the video call.
The moment the face appeared on my screen, I knew for sure that I really was the biggest idiot in the world.
Oh well. I'll just hang up and go cry while trying to fall asleep…
"Desmont, don't you dare hang up on me, or I'll come to your house and kick your ass!!"
Why is the beautiful girl on my screen threatening to kick my ass?
You might also be wondering how someone else knows my former name.
The answer is simple. That girl is what people commonly call a childhood friend.
And I don't know whether my bad luck has truly reached that point, but it turns out this very same childhood friend is also someone with whom I have far more in common than I'd ever like to admit.
To put it plainly, she's also someone who was reborn with her memories intact.
"What the hell do you want?" I said with a sigh.
I highly doubt she'd ever accept being ignored; it's simply in her nature.
Do I treat my childhood friend badly? Should I be grateful for having someone so beautiful as a childhood friend?
No matter how you dress up a wolf, a wolf is still a wolf on the inside.
"So this is how you treat your beautiful childhood friend, you damn bastard! I'm going to **** you up and I'll also **** you, I'll smash your **** and especially your ***, and then ***********. You hear me!!!"
Even though she swears she was a girl before she died, I'm convinced she was actually a forty-year-old unemployed, divorced man.
I ignored all her insults—I've known her for years already. The truly disturbing part isn't what she says, but the fact that she would absolutely do everything she just threatened.
"So, what do you need?"
Letting this argument drag on would only give me a headache—and possibly motivate me to go to her house and beat her up.
"That's better. Talk to me with the respect I deserve, or I'll beat you until you beg for mercy. I haven't spent these past few years lazing around or wasting my time," she said proudly. "I bet you've been living pathetically. Let me guess—you won't turn on your camera because you've become an obese NEET who brings shame to his family? Hahaha."
As she spoke, she made several exaggerated expressions that twisted her face, proudly displaying what her 'true' personality is really like.
My computer doesn't have a webcam. The previous one broke when Kuro decided it was a good idea to bite it, and since there was no real need for one, I kept putting off buying a new one.
Come to think of it, the last time we saw each other in person was years ago, back when we were still kids. Over the past few years, we occasionally played online games together, though it always ended the same way—us insulting each other over voice chat.
"I don't seek the approval of others in order to live in peace."
A simple man, living a simple life.
"Are you saying that because I work as a model? Ho ho ho. Little Desmont spends his lonely nights pleasuring himself while staring at photos of his sexy childhood friend? Hahahaha, how pathetic. Truly pathetic… You should leave your house and see the world. People don't bite. You might scare women away, but at least they won't report you to the police."
Despite her personality being enough to scare off any sane human being, she's considered a beauty—so much so that she currently works for a modeling agency, a young rising star steadily climbing toward the top.
Naturally, she's extremely conceited and arrogant. If given the chance, she'll rub her successful life right in your face without hesitation.
That said, where did she even get the idea that I'm some useless NEET who never goes out or interacts with society?
"Quick question—why do you assume my life went down the drain?"
The person she's describing sounds like a pitiful loser who lives shut inside his own world, fantasizing about women he'll never have—possibly to the point of becoming obsessed with one and trying to kidnap her.
"Recently, I ran into a pathetic idiot, and seeing him somehow reminded me of you, so I figured you must be the same."
"What do we have in common?"
To my own surprise, I was actually a bit curious.
"Black hair."
This girl is a complete idiot…
"You've got black hair too."
"But I'm a sexy girl who's a model and has a bright future ahead of her."
I silently thank the higher entity that decided to send this girl away from Chiba—otherwise known as her parents.
"So then, what did you do to that poor idiot you mentioned?"
If she referred to him that way, something definitely happened.
"That idiot tried to kidnap me so he could have me all to himself, so while I pretended not to notice he was following me, I turned a corner, jumped the wall beside me to get behind him, and then shocked him until I was satisfied."
She said it with an innocent smile, as if describing something completely normal, casually playing with a stun gun in her hands.
That reminded me I still had the stun gun I got during that incident with Kawasaki. Maybe I'd find some use for it in the future.
"As sadistic as ever, huh."
Over the time we'd interacted, I'd gotten to know her pretty well.
"You're really not the one who should be calling me sadistic—you're worse than I am!"
She pointed at me while making exaggerated gestures, as if she were breaking something in midair.
I'd like to deny it, but… maybe she's right to some extent.
"Setting aside your sadistic tendencies, what do you want? It's rare for you to show this much interest in talking."
She would never contact me just because she missed her childhood friend. We couldn't stand each other due to our different ways of thinking and seeing things, which is why most of the time we just argued.
"Straight to the point, huh? You're still as boring as ever…" She sighed and stretched her arms. "I wanted to tell you that the theory I mentioned years ago is true!"
Hmm?
"And what theory would that be?"
Back then, I'd reached the point where my brain completely tuned her out, since that girl didn't seem to come with a mute button.
"You really are an idiot… I mean that this world is some kind of mix of various anime and light novels, so it's very possible to run into different characters." She said this while miming the act of adjusting invisible glasses.
"Oh… I'd forgotten about that."
So much has happened over the past few months that I stopped giving it any importance.
"How the hell are you not excited after hearing that?"
She has a point. Maybe if I'd died back when I spent way more time on this hobby, I'd be thrilled and rushing out to look for those characters.
But once I entered university, I no longer had time for it. My priorities shifted, and as the years went by, I could barely remember the plots of some of the anime I watched back then. And considering my interests leaned more toward fantasy anime and light novels, there isn't much I can do at this point.
"Is that what people call being more responsible?"
"Don't act like an adult just because you're one year older than me!"
Even though we're the same age now, that wasn't the case back then. And, as you'd expect, when we were kids, most of what we talked about revolved around our past life.
"Back to the topic—how did you come to that conclusion?"
I might not be great at remembering my past life, but she was a die-hard fan of Japanese culture.
"Let's just say I became friends with two girls who turned out to be the protagonists of their respective works." She puffed out her chest, clearly expecting me to congratulate her.
"The word 'friend' loses all meaning when it comes from you."
There are many things this girl hates, and the word "friend" is definitely one of them. The reason—let's just say—has to do with how she ended up in this world.
"Mmmm, they're harmless girls I can hang out with and have fun with."
"Are you sure you weren't some shitty adult in your past life?"
She said that like a stereotypical old man chasing after young girls. Should I report her to the authorities?
"As I already told you, I was a diligent, exemplary university student…"
Even though she couldn't see me, I'm sure she could tell the look on my face, because she averted her gaze.
"Okay, okay, I wasn't a great student, but I did attend my classes—at least that part is true!" She was practically gripping the screen.
"Relax, this isn't a job interview. And if it were, I'd have already called security to escort you out."
"Stop reopening my trauma—why the hell did I tell you that…" She covered her face with her hands, shaking her head rapidly.
And as you can probably imagine, she's an emotional time bomb, so don't expect anything coherent when it comes to her.
"Let's forget about your failed career phase for a moment—so who are those two unfortunate girls?"
My condolences to those two poor heroines for having to put up with her. As her childhood friend, should I go apologize on her behalf?
Honestly, that sounds like the polite thing to do.
"Just so you know, they both have fun with me. I even gave them that extra push in their hobbies and future goals, so they should be grateful to have me around."
"And?"
She has a real talent for beating around the bush whenever she gets the chance.
"I doubt you even know them. Their names are Marin Kitagawa and Ririsa Amano," she said, nodding cheerfully.
Well, she's not wrong. Who the hell are those two?
"You're right. I have absolutely no idea who they are."
"Didn't you watch romance anime before you died? Do something productive with your life!"
…That genuinely hadn't occurred to me.
"You're right," I replied flatly. "I'll go talk to my past self and tell him to dedicate his life to watching romance anime."
If I ever had that chance, the last thing I'd do is recommend myself romance anime.
"And you, Desmont?" she continued. "Being the absent-minded idiot you are, you probably don't remember anime characters, so tell me—do you recall meeting any remarkable people who could be characters from different series?"
Hmm. Good question.
Thinking about it now, those three are probably the closest examples I can think of—especially since they were also my senpai.
"Do these names sound familiar to you: Tatsuya Himekawa, Jo Togame, and Tsukasa Shishio?"
I'd brought them up because of how I met them and what I'd heard about those three. Still, she just stared at me with a baffled expression.
"I have absolutely no idea who those idiots are," she said, shaking her head.
"I guess they're just normal people," I shrugged, even though she couldn't see me.
After that, I couldn't think of anyone else who might seem like an anime character. Then again, this is Japan.
There are peculiar people simply because they are peculiar, and I doubt that if I walked around asking strangers whether they were anime characters, any of them would say yes.
"The fact that you mentioned three people made me curious," she said. "It seems your life isn't as boring as I thought. Tell me—did anything relatively interesting happen to you over the past few months?"
My life isn't boring; I just prefer to take things slowly.
Still, I had no problem telling her what had happened over the past few months—though I conveniently left out certain details.
For several minutes, I narrated everything. Strangely enough, her face showed far more emotion than usual, but by the time I finished, she sighed as if she'd completely given up.
"Desmont, can I tell you something?"
"Go ahead."
What does she want now?
"YOU ARE A COMPLETE AND MASSIVE IDIOT!!!"
I watched as she grabbed the screen and shook it violently.
"Did I say something wrong?"
"HOW THE HELL DON'T YOU REALIZE IT, YOU HUGE, CLUELESS MORON?! I EVEN GAVE YOU HINTS BEFORE I LEFT!!!"
Now that she mentioned it, I vaguely remembered that on the day we said goodbye, she started explaining things about Sobu High—what would happen there, and who the related characters were.
Unfortunately, I'd been too busy getting lost in my own thoughts to actually listen.
"You know," I said lightly, "I'm kind of forgetful. Tee-hee!"
"DON'T YOU 'TEE-HEE' ¡ME, YOU ANIMAL! HOW DO YOU FORGET SOMETHING THAT IMPORTANT AND STILL MANAGE TO BECOME FRIENDS WITH SIDE CHARACTERS WITHOUT REALIZING IT?!"
"Side characters?" I tilted my head.
"I'm talking about Miura and Kawasaki."
Calmer now, she sat back down and placed the screen properly in front of her.
"Those two? Aren't they just a gyaru girl and a delinquent?"
I won't lie and say the thought never crossed my mind. Still, after getting to know them better, I'd dismissed the idea entirely.
They're way too troublesome to be lovable characters.
"You have a point. At the end of the day, that's all they are. In the story, they help out on certain occasions, but they're not that important."
"Really?"
Knowing Yumiko's and Kawasaki's personalities, I can easily imagine them as the heroines of some anime where a poor protagonist is constantly dragged into trouble and forced to figure out ways out of it.
"They're just disposable side characters. You could replace them, and nothing would change."
She spoke with complete indifference, as if she were talking about background props rather than people.
"And what's the problem with that?"
"The problem is the butterfly effect you just created!"
Butterfly effect? If I remember correctly, that's the thing where you end up becoming your own grandfather or something equally absurd.
"And what effect would that be?"
"You know… you change things, and then other things happen differently from how they're supposed to, and stuff like that…"
Halfway through, she started doubting her own explanation.
"Didn't you just say that you also became friends with two girls who are main characters? Isn't that the same thing?"
If we look at it that way, she's technically worse than me—she got involved with two protagonists, not just one.
"Well, maybe… but…"
She didn't even bother coming up with a proper excuse.
"So then, what's the real reason?"
Before she answered, I noticed something odd. That nervous-girl attitude of hers vanished completely, replaced by a calm expression that didn't suit her at all.
"So perceptive. I see you haven't changed that part of yourself."
"Is that a compliment or an insult?"
She ignored the question and continued.
"Those two… no, Miura in particular is almost irrelevant, but she does contribute certain things. For example, she leads her little clique and sets up events where she plays the role of the typical gal girl who's a complete pain in the ass."
"And that won't happen anymore?"
I barely understand half of what she's talking about. I don't remember much of what happens at Sobu High, but I'm not as lost as I thought I'd be.
"From what you've told me, I can assume that normally she would've overcome those issues on her own and adopted that distinctive personality of hers. But even if it wasn't intentional, you helped her reach that conclusion earlier. And now, she's found in you someone she can trust."
"I didn't do anything. She latched onto me without me wanting it."
Anyone watching my life would realize that much. If I had actually wanted to catch Yumiko's attention and get closer to her from the start, I would've worked behind the scenes to make it happen.
"That's exactly the problem. Normally, Miura should later form her own group of friends and develop a crush on Hayama—the perfect prince for an idiot like her. But since you're not exactly the ideal-guy stereotype, I seriously doubt she'll end up taking any interest in him."
I guess I'm not a good influence on others…
"I'll ask again—so?"
"The events where she confronts YukinoSHITa won't happen. Much less the tennis match where they face each other."
After saying that, she let out a disappointed sigh.
"I didn't know you cared so much about Yumiko."
I suppose my childhood friend has a kind side after all.
"That gal can go to hell. What I'm getting at is that those events help my Hachiman understand others better. Even if they seem trivial, he keeps learning and growing from everything he experiences."
That part is true. I think I forgot to mention it, but this girl is obsessed with—if not outright in love with—the protagonist of the anime set at Sobu High.
"I thought you hated the FMC."
Thinking back on it now, I remembered hearing her curse the FMC more than once.
"Of course I hate her. That bland girl who thinks she's all that, when she's just an idiot playing at being an adult. She's nothing more than a stuck-up moron who couldn't do anything without my Hachiman. This is all the fault of that stupid author who didn't know how to handle his own work and ended the novel with that awful ending."
In the end, it all comes down to how each person interprets an ending. If your favorite character doesn't end up with your favorite girl, it automatically becomes a trash story—or at least that's how she seems to see it.
"So what's the problem with the actions Yumiko didn't take?" I pointed out the obvious.
She stared at the screen, a huge question mark practically hovering over her head.
"What do you mean?"
"From what you mentioned—and what I can infer—those events help the protagonist get to know the FMC more deeply and analyze her."
For a few seconds, silence settled between us. Then her expression shifted, realization finally setting in.
"That's true… that cuts out a lot of scenes with that bland plank. How did I not notice? I adore you, stereotypical gal!"
I seriously doubt Yumiko would enjoy being called a gal stereotype—though she doesn't stray very far from the label either.
"Besides, you treat simple, everyday events as if they were a huge deal."
As always, she was being way too dramatic.
"But they are a huge deal, I think…"
That reaction would probably be normal if you suddenly discovered you shared a world with characters from multiple works. My teenage self would've reacted the same way.
Now, though, I just see things differently.
"Let's say some events didn't happen—would that be the end of the world?"
"Technically, no…"
"Would some alien invasion or interdimensional portal crash into this country and force us to fight for survival?"
"No…"
"Then the only thing that would happen is that the characters make different choices. Those might not change anything—or they might lead to minor differences. Use your brain, idiot."
It feels like I'm explaining something basic to a child…
I understand her fanaticism to a degree, but this isn't a fantasy world where we already know certain events must happen to prevent a bad ending or the destruction of the world. In that kind of setting, it would make sense to interfere—to harass the characters, force events to happen, and do the dirty work ourselves.
But if you're reborn into a normal society, why the hell would you worry about forcing things to play out exactly the same way?
If anything, we'd look like stalkers spying on other people. And even if they were fictional characters from our perspective, in this reality they're still human… or at least, I think they are. It's not something I can exactly confirm, so the interpretation ultimately depends on the person.
If you were reborn into your favorite story where the "important events" are just everyday life, would you really stalk certain people instead of enjoying your new life? You'd probably end up with a restraining order—and then prison.
Chance encounters are one thing. You can make an effort to be likable or build a friendship if you want.
But the girl I'm looking at on the screen right now? I seriously doubt she'd be that subtle.
She'd probably harass the protagonist until he gave in—or in more extreme cases… I don't even want to think about it. That guy was lucky this lunatic moved to another city.
"You're so boring, Desmont. Why the hell didn't some other guy die—someone more interesting who shares my ideals?" She puffed out her cheeks.
"A guy who only thinks with his crotch so you can use him however you want and then ruin his life in every possible way?"
"Exactly. See? You get me. If you were like that, you'd make my life so much easier." She puffed out her chest proudly.
I can say this because I know her: this girl can act like an idiot, but she isn't one. For everyone's sake, she shouldn't be underestimated.
"Sorry for not being an idiot who just wants to get you into bed."
Good thing I didn't die as a teenager. Otherwise, right now I'd be nothing more than her puppet.
"That's your worst crime. I'm wearing a blouse with a lot of cleavage that really highlights my sexiness, and I haven't heard a single compliment. Are you gay?"
"Sorry, I can't see you as a woman. I just see you as if my friend had reincarnated in a girl's body." I waved my hands in denial.
Honestly, I'd hesitate more to hit a normal girl than her. Over time, I came to understand that she wasn't one of the best people before she died—there are things you can sense even if no one spells them out for you.
"I already told you—I'm a girl no matter how you look at it. I can have several guys on their knees whenever I want, but you seem to ignore me completely." She looked at me with clear irritation.
I want to cut all ties with her, but she's the only person who shares my strange situation. On top of that, our parents are friends, which means my options are painfully limited.
"Setting aside the fact that you're the kind of girl who should probably have a restraining order against her, besides modeling, what plans do you have for high school?"
It's better to be prepared when it comes to this woman—at the very least, so I can survive my first year of high school without her constantly around.
"You're very rude, Desmont, but I see that even you acknowledge I have plans ready."
That's exactly what I was afraid of. In middle school she could let things slide, but high school is where everything truly begins—especially at Sobu High. I doubt she'll hold back this time.
"Are you planning to come to Chiba?"
"More than that—I'm enrolling at Sobu High."
"…"
"I see I surprised you."
"You did…"
This is bad. If this lunatic really comes to Sobu High, the peaceful days I'm trying to secure will vanish without a trace.
"Hehehe, get ready, Desmont! I'm going to count on you to help me achieve my goals and dreams!"
Great. If I don't do something soon, I might seriously consider transferring schools—or even cities. I read that Shuchiin Academy is a good place, though I'd have to make a few calls…
"But I don't think your parents would approve, much less let you live alone in Chiba."
Our mothers are friends, and if there's one thing they have in common, it's how terrifying they become when they're serious. That alone makes me doubt her parents would ever allow this.
"They don't know. What I'll do is take an early train to Chiba. I can also say I joined some club so I can come back late, so I'm not worried."
"Oh, I see. And what about the enrollment?"
"I have my connections. The entertainment world is vast, so I withdrew the application my mother submitted for my enrollment in a high school. Who does that witch think she is, deciding for me?"
Heh. Heh. Heh. Heh.
"So let me get this straight—you withdrew your enrollment without your mother's permission, you plan to lie to your parents, and you're going to another city just to satisfy your whims. Is that correct?"
"Exactly. I see you understand perfectly. Only I decide for myself. My father is very easygoing—he spoils me and grants my requests—but that witch I have for a mother is a nuisance. She probably had no freedom as a teenager and now takes it out on me. Too bad she's not here for me to tell her that."
I made a few quick hand gestures. All that's left now is to buy some time.
"I suppose completing all those procedures will take you a few more days."
Classes start on Monday, and judging by how she said it, she'll probably manage to join a few days later.
"Unfortunately, that's the case. It'll take me up to a week to complete all the paperwork, and because of that, I have a very, very important task for you—one that you must accomplish no matter what, even if it costs you your life."
That sounds like way too much trouble, but I decide to play along.
"And what task would that be?"
"You must make sure my Hachiman gets run over and is hospitalized for a few weeks. That way, he'll avoid making friends. He said he wouldn't socialize anyway, but I still have my doubts."
If you truly cared about someone, wouldn't you want to protect them instead of wishing them harm?
"You should see a psychologist."
"I don't need one. I'm already my own psychologist," she said, nodding cheerfully.
Are all psychology students this unhinged?
"I don't think I should go watch someone get run over… Besides, if the story follows its course, his canonical event will play out on its own."
And it's not like I even know where or when that would happen.
"Since you showed me that things can change, I've started having some doubts. So there's a chance certain things might not happen, which is why I'd rather be cautious."
I wish I didn't have to ask, but I need to.
"And what if it doesn't happen?"
Just as she said, maybe some things can change due to unforeseen circumstances. After all, if several characters from different works exist in the same country, there's nothing stopping them from running into each other.
Maybe somewhere out there is a character who doesn't like seeing someone get run over and decides to intervene.
"If the accident doesn't happen, I want you to injure him. You can throw him down the stairs or do whatever you want—just make sure you don't hurt him too badly."
She didn't hesitate at all when she said it.
"I'm not doing that. I won't be your accomplice again."
Some things from our past are better left unremembered…
"Come on, Desmont, do it for your cute childhood friend. Or better yet, go find YukinoSHITa and get rid of her. Her family will probably find you and make you sleep with the fishes, but hey—your childhood friend will remember your great sacrifice for at least a few minutes."
"That you can talk about serious crimes without batting an eye is impressive."
Then again, knowing her past, it's not that hard to understand.
"They're just fictional characters. It doesn't matter what happens to them. Their existence is meant to entertain the reader—us."
And that's the biggest difference between us. Even if people don't interest me, I still consider them people.
To this woman, though, they're nothing more than puppets you discard once you get bored with them.
Worst of all, part of me understands her…
"Interesting plan, but I'm not interested. If you want to do something, do it yourself."
I already have enough to deal with in my daily life without getting dragged into more trouble.
"Don't be like that. I'll let you admire me in provocative clothes before I gouge your eyes out—what do you say?"
She looked at me expectantly, as if she were offering me the opportunity of a lifetime.
"You can go to hell."
"You're cruel. You're supposed to accept anything I ask of you. You should feel honored to be of use to me."
Her words didn't match her expression at all.
"Don't worry. I can do something for you."
"I see you're a bit of a tsundere, but I'll let it slide this time. Don't let it happen again, Desmont. Then I'll trust you with that task."
Having secured my cooperation—or so she thought—she smiled more calmly.
Unfortunately for her, my help was meant for someone else.
"I'll do something even better than that—I sent a voice message to your mother with a small part of our conversation."
I said it with a big, innocent smile.
There are things you can't challenge, no matter what world you're in.
"You wouldn't dare…!"
"I already did. Good luck."
Through the screen, I saw her bedroom door get kicked open.
The culprit was a beautiful, mature woman with black hair tied into an elegant ponytail. To put it simply, she looks like my childhood friend—just an older version. You can imagine it.
What stood out the most, though, was the terrifying aura she gave off.
"Mayumi, do you have something you'd like to tell me?" her mother said as she slowly walked toward her.
"I-I don't know what you mean, Okaa-sama…"
The fact that she used "-sama" already says enough. She's cornered.
"So now you're going to pretend you know nothing? I see you've got some nerve, you brat!"
Her mother grabbed her by the head, fingers digging in without hesitation.
"Eh— I can explain… you know, I told you I wanted to enroll in Sobu High in Chiba, not here…"
"Is that all?"
"Yes…"
'Exactly. I see you understand perfectly. I'm the only one who gets to decide for myself. My father is very easygoing—he spoils me and accepts my requests. But that witch of a mother I have is such a pain. She probably had no freedom when she was a teenager and now takes it out on me. Since I can't say it to her face…'
Right on cue, I played part of the audio from my phone—the same one I'd already sent to her mother.
"Desmont, you traitor!!!"
"Stop giving your childhood friend nicknames," her mother said as she lifted her up.
Honestly, it's impressive how strong she is.
"Raiden-kun, thank you very much for warning me about my daughter's stupid plans. I never would have noticed otherwise. I'll tell your mother to buy you some sweets as thanks for your help."
"Don't worry, ma'am. I'm just doing my duty as a childhood friend."
Who says childhood friends are useless?
After thanking me once more, her mother turned her attention back to her daughter, who was still struggling to break free from her grip.
"You and I have a lot to talk about. It seems I neglected you too much, thinking you'd become more responsible. So don't worry—this time, I'll make sure not to repeat that mistake."
With a calm expression that didn't match her words, she began dragging her toward the door.
"With my last strength, I curse you, Des..."
Her words were cut short as the bedroom door slammed shut, sealing her fate.
If she survives, she'll probably contact me again just to chew me out over this.
Yeah… that's a problem for my future self.
With one less thing to worry about, I went back to browsing on my computer.
Just another Saturday in this new life.
Although… if I had known back then everything that would happen during my first year, things wouldn't have been nearly as troublesome.