Prologue: Waking up to the Days of Youth
"Even if you regret it, it's too late!"
"I won't care even if you beg!"
On the way back after submitting the divorce papers at the night window.
While walking along the road, I was arguing with my ex-wife, Yuzuka.
It was a sudden divorce triggered by a trivial argument, but the marital relationship had already cooled down.
Even if I had stopped the divorce this time, it would have ended sooner or later.
"If it was going to be like this, I should have divorced earlier! Now I'm free!"
"Huh? Don't make me laugh! There's no freedom for a corporate slave!"
"It's better than your restraint being gone!"
"When did I ever restrain you!"
"You would constantly contact me during work!"
"It's your fault for not replying quickly! I'm the one making dinner, so at least contact me!"
"I'm busy with work, unlike you! I don't have time to contact you!"
"Stop acting like you're the only one who's busy!"
"Your place doesn't have overtime, right!"
"Even without overtime, it's exhausting! And when I get home, the source of stress is there!"
"You are the source of stress!"
When I started dating Yuzuka, I thought I was the happiest person in the world.
When I got married, I thought the happiness would last forever.
Yet after just four years — at the age of 27, my married life ends.
If I could meet my past self, I would advise him. Don't marry that person.
"If you hate being with me that much, then don't follow me!"
"I'm just going home!"
"It’s my house!"
"It’s also my house!"
"Stay at an internet cafe! You're used to staying out, right!"
"I just stayed because I missed the last train! You’re lucky, you can go home in the evening!"
"Don't take it out on me! It's your fault for getting a job at a black company!"
"I didn't choose to work there! My last company went under, and it wouldn't look good to be unemployed, so I hurried to get a job and it turned out to be a black company!"
"Didn't I warn you to think carefully before getting a job! You have no ability to judge companies!"
"Same goes for your ability to judge women!"
"That's my line! If I could redo my life, I would never marry you again!"
"That's my line! If I could time travel, I would never get involved with you again!"
If marriage is the grave of life, then I feel like I've crawled out of a tomb.
In other words, today, on this day, I have been resurrected.
This is the beginning of my second life, and from now on, I will forget Yuzuka completely and live happily.
For that, I want to be far away from Yuzuka as soon as possible. It feels like losing if I give in here, but it's better to stay at an internet cafe than to deal with unpleasant feelings.
At the traffic light, I stopped.
"If you're going, then go."
"Don't follow me."
"Who would follow you! But you better pack your things and leave by tomorrow."
"I will. I don't want to stay in a room that still smells like you."
Turning her back to me, Yuzuka crossed the pedestrian crossing.
This is the last time. I will never see Yuzuka’s face again.
Thinking this, the days I spent with Yuzuka flashed before my eyes like a revolving lantern... just for a moment. For just a brief moment, a feeling close to regret welled up.
Of course, I won't say I want to try again. Even if we did, we would divorce again—it's clear that we would both be unhappy.
"...Goodbye."
I muttered, and Yuzuka turned around.
Because the streetlight was broken, the pedestrian crossing was dark, and I couldn’t see clearly, but... her face looked like she was expecting something.
"...You said something, right?"
"I didn’t say anything."
"You definitely said something. If you have something to say, say it clearly."
"I didn't say anything. Hurry up and go home—"
At that moment, a black object appeared at the edge of my vision. It closed the distance instantly without slowing down.
The next moment, a shock ran through my whole body—
◆
"Ow—!?"
I jumped up suddenly.
My left cheek is hot! It stings!
"Finally awake!"
A girl with a youthful face is looking down at me.
She's wearing a sailor uniform and has black hair tied in a ponytail. She looks exactly like my younger sister did when she was young, but... why is Sana here?
Did she come to visit me after I was hit by a car? But why is she slapping my face? And... this isn't a hospital room, is it? This is my room, isn't it? Why am I in my parent's house?
"What’s with you, spacing out like that?"
"What do you mean 'what's with me'... you're Sana, right?"
"Of course, I'm Sana. Stop being dazed and wake up already."
"Wake up, you say..."
I was about to say, "I was hit by a car and seriously injured," but I didn’t feel any pain except in my cheek.
Did I somehow escape without injury? If that’s the case—
"Hey, hey, what happened to Yuzuka? Is she okay?"
"Yuzuka? Who's that?"
"Who, you ask? My wife—no, my ex-wife!"
"Is this about a game?"
"This is reality! The one with brown hair, bad eyes, and big boobs!"
"You've lost the ability to distinguish between reality and fantasy because of too many games..."
"Don't look at me with pity! I know the difference! Unlike games, real girls aren't so nice!"
"It's okay, the world is big! There must be at least one girl who will be kind to you besides me!"
"One girl in this vast world...?"
"One is enough! I hope you have a good encounter!"
Sana gave my back a light tap, as if to encourage me, and left.
In the end, I still don't know what happened to Yuzuka or why she's wearing a sailor uniform.
Confused, I got out of bed... and felt a strange sense of discomfort.
"...This isn't right."
It’s my room, but it doesn’t feel like it. The bookshelf is rearranged, there are nostalgic posters on the walls, and anime goods I took to the new place are still here.
Did Yuzuka bring me back to my parents’ house?
Even so, it's strange. If that was the case, Sana should have mentioned something. Instead, she said she didn’t know anything about Yuzuka.
They were close enough to go out without me, so why is she pretending not to know her?
Unable to make sense of it, I went downstairs to find my family gathered in the dining room.
I was left speechless.
"What’s wrong, Kohei? You’re spacing out."
"Wha-what do you mean, ‘what’s wrong’? Why are you younger, Mom!?"
"My makeup went on really well today."
"That’s beyond the level that can be covered by makeup! You seriously look younger!"
"Oh, you’re good at complimenting."
"I’m not complimenting you! And Dad's hair is all thick now!"
"Must be the hair growth lotion working well."
"That’s beyond hair growth lotion!"
"Onii-chan! Onii-chan!"
"What is it?!"
"Don’t I get any compliments?"
"You look good in your uniform too!"
"Yay! Onii-chan complimented me~!"
"Good for you, Sana-chan."
"Seems like today Kohei feels like complimenting everyone. Alright, if that’s the case, Dad’s getting in on it too. Mom’s breakfast is delicious as usual."
"The way the sausages are cooked is perfect!"
"Stop complimenting and explain! Mom, why do you look younger?! Dad, why is your hair thick now?! Sana, why are you wearing a uniform?!"
"It's because it's a school day."
"You should wash your face and fix your bedhead too. It’s an important day today."
"...Important day?"
My mom dropped another confusing remark, leaving me even more bewildered.
"It's the high school entrance ceremony."
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