Rin was 5 years old when he gained consciousness and realized a truth that changed his world.
'Ah, I am inside a story I read before. Then, is this a world that would be destroyed in a few years once the apocalypse starts?'
This was a revelation that should have filled him with fear and agitation.
But somehow, Rin found himself utterly calm.
He was not sure if it was because he was currently a child and could not understand the gravity of his situation, or because he had read too many novels with a similar plot to feel the usual sense of danger.
But he did recall that he had lived a fulfilling life before he died.
Anyway, coming back to this world and its impending doom…the reason Rin knew this was because he recognized the show his mother had currently put on TV. It was a news segment called 'How to Survive the World's Doom.'
This was a cartoon show that showed people how to survive if an apocalypse were to come, and this innocent show was mentioned in a few lines by the novel's main heroine.
She had mentioned that she used to watch this show (discontinued within a year due to budget issues) with her wealthy childhood friend.
Recalling that, Rin looked at his side and immediately noticed a cute girl. She had natural pink hair and unnatural purple eyes. That was just another indicator of this being a novel, since normal people did not have such features.
Anyway, this beautiful child sitting beside Rin was going to grow up and become one of the most important figures in this world once the apocalypse starts. This delicate-looking girl was going to struggle and, one day, become the no. 1 hunter in this world.
But was she the main character? Of course not.
Her fate was to forever be branded as a 'love interest,' and not even the 'single love interest,' but one in a harem where she would be forgotten soon.
Rin did not like the fate that awaited his childhood friend.
His gaze did not go unnoticed by the cute female. Even at such a young age, she was well aware of her surroundings, and she immediately turned to look at him.
"Rin, is something on my face? Is the cream from before still here? I-"
Looking at her concerned face, how could Rin possibly allow this pure creature to be used by others and be discarded later? He had to save her at all costs.
Rin's hands rested on Shelly's shoulders, and he tightened his grip to make her focus on him.
"Shelly, there are a lot of bastards out in this world who will try to use you and discard you later. You have to make sure not to fall for their tricks, alright? You have to always put yourself and your interests above anything else. Do you understand?"
Rin shook Shelly's shoulders, and she felt dizzy. He finally let her go once he was sure he had gotten his point across.
But the fluffy creature in front of him just shook her head and looked at him with a worried expression.
"Rin, are you feeling sick? You don't feel hot, but you're acting weirdly…"
Shelly's soft smile worried Rin even more. Somehow, he knew that Shelly's soft nature wouldn't allow her to live a quiet life.
'Ugh, her softness is the reason she got used and abused so much. But it is one of her charms that I like. What should I do…?'
The best way to protect Shelly would be to stay by her side. But Rin did not have confidence in his abilities and the circumstances of the story.
'I should try to tell others about what is going to happen in the future…maybe even meet that shameless protagonist who is going to use my dear Shelly…'
But it would only be possible once Rin grew up a little. A 5-year-old was not someone others were going to take seriously.
"Rin-"
Shelly's soft voice snapped him out of his daze, and her huge eyes made Rin harden his heart.
There was only one person in this world who could make Rin feel the need to protect her, and it was this tiny and fluffy creature in front of him.
Even if Shelly's fate was to become the no. 1 hunter in the future, she was just a kid who needed protection and guidance now. And Rin would become that for her.
"Shelly, we should learn martial arts. I want to learn how to kick and flip like those experts on TV."
Shelly's eyes lit up, but they became dull the next second. She played with her hair and made an unsure face.
"A-Are you sure we should do that? T-The other girls told me that it was not cute or girly for me to learn how to defend myself. I-I don't want to let them down-"
'Darn it-! Her soft nature and her lack of confidence have started to build up. Thankfully, it does not look like it is too late. I can still change her now.'
Rin grabbed Shelly's hand, and it made her look up. Her eyes shone with curiosity, and Rin immediately spoke to her.
"Don't say words like those. The only ones who can decide what suits you or does not suit you are yourself. As long as it is something you want to do, why would anyone else's words matter to you?"
This was something that was harder to tell an adult than to a kid like Shelly. She was at a stage where the words of those close to her mattered more than those of unknown strangers.
Slowly, her eyes hardened, and she nodded.
"Y-You are right. It should not matter what anyone else says. I should do what I want to. You will support me, right, Ren?"
Ren immediately wanted to agree, but he paused.
Wasn't…this the wrong message? He did want Shelly to be independent, but doing whatever she wanted was…
'Eh, it will be fine. She's a kid, so she thinks like this. Once she grows up a little and understands responsibility better, she will be fine.'
Unfortunately, Rin misunderstood the true nature of his childhood friend, nor had he read the original work to the end. Because if he had, his reaction to this would have been much different.