Episode 23 – Meeting Miku and the changes that followed


I, Who Was Reincarnated as an Evil Character With Cheat-Level Stats in an Eroge, Will Live Freely in This Life


โ€œThat’s rightโ€ฆ Come to think of it, I ran out of drinks.โ€

It was Sunday evening, and I muttered that as I opened the refrigerator.

I was going to go buy some this morning, but it was raining, so I decided to put it off until laterโ€ฆ

I didn’t have any plans today, so I was just lazing around at home reading manga, but I guess I’ll have to go buy some after all.

I didn’t have a way to carry a large purchase, so I ended up buying them individuallyโ€ฆ To be honest, it’s a hassle, so maybe I’ll just order online from now on.

It’s a pain to go out and buy them multiple times.

So, I took my smartphone, wallet, and umbrella and went outside.

โ—‡

โ€œI still can’t get used to the rainโ€ฆโ€

As soon as I stepped out of the house, I muttered that under my umbrella to avoid the rain.

It wasn’t super heavy, but it was raining pretty hard today.

I don’t like getting wet, but I’m sure my past life has something to do with it.

When I was in middle school, I used to get scolded when I came home wet from the rainโ€ฆ

โ€œYou’ll catch a cold!โ€

When I hear that, I think they were angry because they were worried about me, but that wasn’t the case. It was simply because I would have to skip practice or training for a few days.

They told me that it was only natural to take care of my health and that it was impossible to catch a cold from the rain!

At the time, I thought that was normal, but now I realize that my parents were overreactingโ€ฆ I thought they were worried about me, but in the end, they were only worried about themselves.

Well, because of things like this happening over and over again, I don’t like rain.

At that moment, I spotted a certain person ahead of me.

From the looks of it, she was covering a cat with her umbrella, and she herself was soaking wet.

What are you doing? I thought to myself as I approached her.

โ€œNya, nya.โ€

The sound was drowned out by the rain, but as I approached, I heard her talking to the kitten like that.

โ€ฆOh no, if she finds out I’m here, it’ll be a bit awkward.

The reason I thought that was because the girl there was Miku.

Given Miku’s personality, she wouldn’t want anyone to see her talking to a kitten.

In fact, I myself was quite surprised because I never thought Miku would do something like this.

But if she stays here, she’ll catch a cold. I thought so too.

Should I leave and pretend I didn’t see anything, or should I say something? As I was torn between the two options, Miku suddenly turned around.

It seemed that she had noticed me before I could make up my mind.

โ€œWho’s there?! Kisaragi? Why are you here?!โ€

Miku’s face turned red as she said this in a panic.

I thought, โ€œSo it came to thisโ€ฆโ€ but I answered her anyway.

โ€œI just happened to be passing byโ€ฆ What are you doing over there?โ€

โ€œHow longโ€ฆ How long have you been thereโ€ฆ?โ€

For a moment, I thought about covering it up. I thought about it, but decided to be honest.

โ€œWhen Suzukaze was meowing?โ€

Upon hearing that, Miku was clearly shaken, but she immediately sat down in the same position as before and looked at the cat.

โ€œI seeโ€ฆโ€

I was a little surprised at how calm she was, but I knelt down next to Miku and let her under the same umbrella.

โ€œYou’re soaking wet. You’ll catch a cold.โ€

โ€œMaybeโ€ฆ but I couldn’t just leave it there.โ€

โ€œHow long have you been doing this?โ€

โ€œNot that long. I just got here a few minutes ago.โ€

โ€œI thought it was a stray cat, but it has a collar.โ€

โ€œYes, but what should I do in a situation like thisโ€ฆโ€

As we were talking, we heard a loud voice that could be heard even in the rain.

โ€œThere it is!!! I found it, onee chan!!!โ€

When I looked at the child who said that, I saw a boy who looked like he was in elementary school and a woman who looked like she was in high school, who had arrived a little later.

The boy ran straight to the kitten.

โ€œI’m so relievedโ€ฆ I was worried because it suddenly ran off somewhere!โ€

โ€œIs this your kitten?โ€

When I asked him that, the boy replied.

โ€œYes!โ€

Then the woman who had caught up with us said.

โ€œI’m sorry. Did you happen to be watching over this kitten?โ€

The woman looked at the umbrella that had been placed to protect the kitten and then said that to us.

โ€œIt wasn’t me, it was Suzukazeโ€ฆ She was worried about it and was watching it. It was already like this when I arrived.โ€

โ€œIs that so? Thank you so much. This kitten suddenly started running and then disappeared. My brother and I had been looking for itโ€ฆโ€

โ€œIt’s okay. But shouldn’t you take it home quickly? I think it’s getting cold.โ€

โ€œYes, you’re right. But I want to thank youโ€ฆโ€

The woman looked at the kitten with concern and said that to us.

โ€œIt’s okay. As long as the kitten is safe, that’s all that matters, right?โ€

โ€œThank you so much!! Thank you so much!!โ€

When Miku said that, the woman thanked her, picked up Miku’s umbrella, gave it to her, and then took the kitten home with the boy.

โ€œAt least that’s good.โ€

โ€œYeah. I was wondering what to do, so I’m glad the owner came.โ€

I looked at Miku again, but her clothes were still soaked.

โ€œAre you okay? You’re soaked.โ€

โ€œI’m fine.โ€

Miku said that while holding her umbrella.

โ€œI don’t think you’re okayโ€ฆ Is your house close from here?โ€

โ€œAbout a 20-minute walk, I think.โ€

โ€œThat’s quite a long walkโ€ฆ You’re going to catch a cold. Don’t you have any friends’ houses around here? Or can’t your parents come and pick you up?โ€

โ€œFriendsโ€ฆ No, I don’t have any.โ€

โ€œI thought you had a lot of female friends?โ€

โ€œI have a lot of friends I can talk to, but I don’t have any I can rely on in situations like this. Saki and Kana’s houses are close to mine.โ€

โ€œWhat about your parents?โ€

โ€œIt’s a holiday, so I think they’ll come if I call them. Anyway, I’m fineโ€ฆ achoo! โ€ฆ I’m fine.โ€

While saying she was fine, Miku was sneezing cutely, and I thought to myself, โ€œYou’re not fine.โ€

โ€œWait there for a moment.โ€

I pointed to a bench with a roof and ran to a convenience store nearby.

A minute later.

I bought some warm drinks and towels at the convenience store.

โ€œUse these. And drinking this should warm you up too.โ€

โ€œIt’s okayโ€ฆ but thanks.โ€

Miku said that while taking the towel and drink.

โ€œWell, if you can call your parents, please do. Even if you wipe yourself with a towel, you might still catch a cold.โ€

โ€œDon’t worryโ€ฆ Kushuuun! โ€ฆI understand.โ€

Miku sneezed cutely again and contacted her parents, looking a little embarrassed.

โ€œIt looks like they’re coming.โ€

โ€œI see. That’s good.โ€

โ€œBy the way, what was Kisaragi doing?โ€

โ€œI was just coming back from the convenience store to buy some drinks. Where were you going, Miku?โ€

โ€œI was on my way home from cram school when I met that kitten.โ€

โ€œCram school? But you’re not carrying anything.โ€

โ€œI just went to submit my homework today, so I came home empty-handed.โ€

โ€œI see.โ€

โ€œCan I ask you something?โ€

โ€œWhat is it?โ€

โ€œI know you understand, but please keep it a secret that I talked to that kitten, okay?โ€

Miku brought up a topic that I had deliberately avoided, looking a little embarrassed.

Wait, did she say โ€œforget itโ€ or โ€œkeep it a secretโ€?

If it were the Miku I know, it would definitely be the former, right?

โ€œYou don’t want me to forget, but you want me to keep it a secret?โ€

โ€œIf it weren’t for Kisaragi, I would have said so.โ€

โ€œWhat do you mean?โ€

โ€œI thought it was okay for you to know about it. I told you my biggest worryโ€ฆโ€

โ€œI see. In that case, I’ll keep it a secret, so don’t worry.โ€

โ€œI trust Kisaragi, so I’m not worried.โ€

I was a little confused by those words, but I was also happy that she trusted me, so I continued talking.

โ€œBy the way, what were you talking about with that kitten back then?โ€

โ€œโ€ฆShould I just forget about it? I said it was okay earlier, but it’s just embarrassing.โ€

Miku said that with a slightly red face.

โ€œSo you were embarrassed after allโ€ฆโ€

โ€œIf I wasn’t, I wouldn’t have asked you to keep quiet about it.โ€

โ€œI guess so.โ€

โ€œStill, Kisaragi is mysterious, isn’t she?โ€

Miku said with a solemn expression.

โ€œMysterious?โ€

โ€œMysterious. Because the fact that I can talk to you so normally isn’t normal. For some reason, I can trust youโ€ฆ Actually, I’ve been wondering why I feel like you know everything about meโ€ฆโ€

Knowing everything about Mikuโ€ฆ I do know a lot about her, but that’s just knowledge from the game, not everything.

In fact, she has never said that she trust a man except for Nanashima, who has progressed in the routeโ€ฆ

Besides, there are many things I learned for the first time after coming to this world. That goes for Miku and Kana as well, and now I no longer think of them as the same people as in the game.

Well, I can’t say that. I think so, but I say,

โ€œAs I mentioned before, it’s because you reminded me of my past self.โ€

โ€œI recall you saying something like thatโ€ฆโ€

โ€œBut it’s good that you’ve become more honest than before.โ€

โ€œThat’s true. However, I don’t become honest with everyone. I only become honest with those I trust, and I have no intention of changing that.โ€

โ€œI think that’s perfectly fine. I believe it’s sufficient to have a few people like that.โ€

–A few minutes later, Mikku received a call on her smartphone.

โ€œIt seems to have arrived. It’s the car parked over there.โ€

โ€œThat’s good. Be careful not to catch a cold, okay?โ€

โ€œYes, see you tomorrow then.โ€

โ€œSee you tomorrow.โ€

Saying that, Miku walked toward the car.

โ€œPhewโ€ฆโ€

I sat back down and thought about it.

Both Kana yesterday and Miku today were clearly acting strange.

I know from my past and from playing the game how difficult it is for Miku to trust a man.

I never imagined that Miku would say she trusted me.

To be honest, I’m still surprised.

Then there’s Kana. Kana is even more amazing.

I’m not particularly insensitive or perceptive, but I could sense that Kana had feelings for me as a member of the opposite s*x.

If those feelings weren’t just my imagination, what should I do? I’ve thought about it, but to be honest, I think the answer is clear.

I like being with Kana, and I want to continue being with her.

From the moment I decided I couldn’t leave it up to Nanashima, I decided that I would protect the heroines, so if Kana feels that way, it’s okay to respond to her feelingsโ€ฆ

I’m saying all these fancy words, but the truth is that I’m also attracted to Kana as a member of the opposite s*x.

This isn’t just about Kana, but also about Miku. When I’m with them, their good qualities become more and more apparent.

Of course, their appearance is incredible, but they also have many cute qualities on the inside.

There are even things I’ve never seen in the game, and even though I liked them when I saw them in the game, I find the real them more charming.

โ€œI guess I’ve been drawn to them tooโ€ฆโ€

Originally, I was acting to protect the heroines, but as I gradually became more involved, I felt a little confused about my own feelings. But since I’ve already gotten involved with them, maybe it’s natural to feel this wayโ€ฆ That’s what I was thinking.

Because they’re such good girls and wonderful women that they make me feel this wayโ€ฆ

โ€œWell, maybe it’s still too early to think about that.โ€

It’s only been about a month since I met them.

I don’t know what will happen in the future, but there’s still plenty of time.

Besides, that event is coming up soon, so I need to prioritize that for nowโ€ฆ

โ€œLet’s just buy some drinks and go home for now.โ€


Maiban


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