I, Who Was Reincarnated as an Evil Character With Cheat-Level Stats in an Eroge, Will Live Freely in This Life
We sat at a table and looked over the menu.
“Seito, do you want a large portion? No need to be shy.”
“Um, yeah, I’ll take that.”
“Miku wants a large too, right?”
“…Uh, yeah.”
This ramen shop is famous for its huge large portions. Could Miku really eat that much? An ordinary person might think so, but I know better.
Miku has an amazing figure, yet she’s the type who eats quite a lot. Or maybe it’s more accurate to say she has a metabolism that doesn’t gain weight easily?
As for how much she can eat, she probably eats about as much as I do, right?
“What’s with that look you’re giving me… Is it so strange that I ordered a large portion?”
I didn’t mean to stare, but I was definitely looking at Miku.
“It’s not funny, but I was surprised.”
“What do you mean surprised…”
“Well, how should I put it… I guess you could call it a gap? Anyway, I just thought it was nice to see a side of you I didn’t know.”
“Oh… okay…”
After saying it so plainly, I felt a little embarrassed, wondering what I was saying in front of her mother.
Well, if my memory serves me right, Miku used to be pretty self-conscious about eating a lot, so I guess I had to follow up like this.
Yuki-san had been silently watching Miku and me talk. As soon as our conversation paused, she pressed the button to place our order—
◇
After that, Miku and I kept talking while Yuki listened for a little while longer, then Yuki spoke up.
“You two seem pretty close.”
“……”
Miku looked embarrassed and stayed silent. Even cool Miku can’t help it in front of her mom. I should say something here.
“Yeah. We haven’t been long, but we’re getting along well.”
“I see… I think I understand quite a bit now…”
“Mom, understand what? What exactly?”
Miku reacted to Yuki-san’s muttered words.
“I was just a little curious about what kind of person Seito-kun is. I never imagined Miku would make a male friend… I’m sorry. I asked Seito kun out because I wanted to confirm that.”
Well, I figured as much.
It was the same with Saki. I suppose it’s natural for a girl’s mother to be concerned about such things. Given Miku’s past, it’s only natural Yuki would be even more worried.
“I was surprised when you suddenly asked Kisaragi out, but thinking about it, I kind of figured it might be something like that…”
And apparently, Miku had also sensed it somehow.
“Yeah. Anyway, seeing how things are even in this short time, it’s fine now. Looking at the vibe between the two of you, it’s impossible to think you’re not clearly close.”
“Th-that’s why I said we’re friends… Mom…”
“Yeah… It’s been so long since I saw Miku laugh happily in front of a boy…”
It was true. After we finished ordering, Miku had been smiling while talking to me.
That alone was enough to sense a softness in her that felt unlike the Miku of before. Plus, she’s her mother. She probably knows Miku far better than I do. Maybe she sensed something.
“That might be true… I’ve even noticed lately that I can laugh from the heart again…”
“So, is it because of you, Seito-kun, that Miku seems a bit happier at home lately? Like, her whole vibe has changed?”
Yuki-san didn’t sound sarcastic; she just seemed genuinely pleased to ask.
“Y-yeah…”
“I see… So how did the two of you become friends?”
“Since it’s a good opportunity, I’ll explain it to Mom.”
Miku said this, looking me in the eye, so I nodded.
“Well, actually…”
And so, Miku explained as concisely as possible how we became close, how my words changed her perspective, and how she managed to fully overcome her past.
“I see… That’s good.”
Yuki-san, who had been listening, had closed her eyes or furrowed her brow at times, but after hearing everything, she looked happy and calm, saying only that.
She probably had a lot on her mind…
“I’m fine now. You don’t need to worry…”
“Yeah…”
Then, right after that, the ramen arrived, interrupting the conversation, and we all ate together.
While we ate, we were all silent, but it seemed like a few tears were welling up in Yuki’s eyes. Still, her expression was bright.
I think they were tears of joy, but I also think there were other feelings mixed in.
Miku didn’t want to bring up the past, so we hadn’t touched on it, but I guess from a mother’s perspective, she must have been worried all along.
Miku probably noticed Yuki-san’s tears, but like me, she ate silently without saying anything.
◇
“Seito-kun, are you heading home after this?”
We had finished eating and stepped outside the shop.
“That’s the plan. I have a little something to take care of.”
“Then I’ll walk you home.”
“No, I just had ramen, and I want to walk it off anyway. I’ll be fine.”
They said they were going shopping after this. It wouldn’t really cost them much time, so they probably wouldn’t mind, but honestly, I genuinely wanted to walk.
After eating something high-calorie like ramen, I just feel restless unless I move around a bit.
“You really don’t need to be polite, Kisaragi?”
“I’m not being polite. I genuinely want to walk.”
“Well, if that’s the case…”
“Alright then. We’ll be heading out now, Seito-kun.”
“Yes. Thank you for today.”
“Thank you for today, too.”
“See you tomorrow, Kisaragi…”
Yuki-san reacted to the words “see you tomorrow,” but I didn’t mind and said it anyway.
“Yeah. See you tomorrow.”
And so I walked home.
◇
●Suzukaze Yuki (side)
“Such a good boy… Seito-kun…”
“Yeah. That’s right…”
After Seito-kun left, I said that to Miku.
I have various thoughts, but as her mother, what I heard today was incredibly heartwarming.
I had noticed Miku’s behavior changing for the better lately, but so that’s what happened, Miku…
I can only feel gratitude toward Seito-kun. But at the same time, hearing that he resolved something we’d struggled with for years in less than a month made me feel a bit jealous, or rather, complicated…
And seeing Miku’s face, there’s no doubt she’s recovered. She looked genuinely happy talking with Seito-kun.
Seeing her like that, I guess I don’t need to worry anymore…
“Be good to each other…”
“We don’t need to be told that…”
“Okay… Well then, shall we go shopping?”
“Yeah.”
Still, Seito-kun…
Miku seemed to trust him a lot too. Having such a strong-looking guy around Miku makes me feel really reassured.
I always thought it would be hard for Miku to find someone she liked someday… but if that future ever comes, I’d be incredibly happy. That’s what I thought, but seeing how things are now, maybe that future isn’t so far off after all…
“Wait, are you meeting Seito-kun again tomorrow?”
“…Not just the two of us, though. Kana and Saki will be there too…”
“Seito-kun gets along well with Kana-chan and Saki-chan too?”
“I guess you could say that. Well, Kisaragi and Kana… nah. Never mind.”
“So the four of you are going out together?”
“Yeah…”
“Have fun.”
“Yeah…”
Come to think of it, hearing that earlier made me realize—Miku really has become more straightforward lately. It’s like a weight has lifted off her, to the point where she can speak her mind clearly.
After that, I felt incredibly good. It was truly a great day.
Maiban
Too bad Protag Kun couldn’t be this supportive.
But I guess he doesn’t seem to care about the girls very much.