I Won't Be a Loser

"Tokyo? It's just like what I've seen on TV. After walking a bit, you'll come across cafés that stay open late into the night, wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) shops everywhere, and some fancy restaurants that make you feel like your eyes are being overwhelmed just by standing at the entrance."

"You want to come to Tokyo? School's starting soon, right? How about you wait until summer break? You can bring Yotsuba and mom along, too, and experience Tokyo together."

"Yeah, I'll send you some of Tokyo's local specialties then. Don't forget to share them with Yotsuha."

"Alright, it's a deal."

After hanging up the phone with his younger sister from Itomori, where he had made plans to send some local Tokyo treats, Haruto sat at his desk, feeling a bit nostalgic.

It had been such a long time, hearing his sister's sweet, youthful voice again. It made him want to visit Itomori, but—

"Well, school's starting soon. If I go back, I'll be rushing to come back here."

The Shinkansen from Tokyo to Gifu Prefecture only takes about two hours, but from Gifu to Itomori, he'd need to take a local train for two hours. Buses only ran twice a day, making it impractical to rely on that option.

"There are still things to handle here in Tokyo. If I go back, there won't be enough time."

As he looked around his apartment, Haruto took out a notepad and began jotting down what he needed to do next.

"First, I need to prepare a low table and cushions for meals and entertaining guests. Also, I haven't brought an umbrella yet, so I need to get one—otherwise, I won't be able to go outside if it rains."

"A few more utensils and..."

Ding dong—

The doorbell rang again. Haruto looked at the door, confused.

It hadn't been half an hour since Ryuji left his apartment. Even if he had returned home, there wouldn't be enough time for him to take care of his mother and come back here, would there?

He tried to recall—when he first moved here, there weren't so many visitors. He had only started chatting with the neighbors after getting to know them over time.

Haruto stood up and walked toward the door, unlocking the safety chain and opening it slightly.

Even though Tokyo is often ranked as the safest capital city in the world, that doesn't mean it's free of crime. There's always a chance.

And then there's the even more annoying type of person—NHK fee collectors.

They're like ghosts that haunt you relentlessly. As long as you have a TV, or even an antenna outside, they'll show up and pester you until you give in and sign a contract to pay the fee. Then, they disappear... at least until the next monthly payment.

It might sound exaggerated, but NHK fee collectors are a real pain. If you have a TV or even a phone, it doesn't matter whether you watch NHK programs or not—they'll still force you to pay the fee.

Even if you bought a TV just to play games or watch rented Blu-rays, they don't care!

Their methods are no different from thugs.

Haruto had a very strong, unpleasant memory of them from his past...

But as Kenji opened the door a little, the person standing outside surprised him. He recognized the girl—she was someone who lived nearby. They had met a few times in passing during school, but that was about it.

"I'm Kiyoura Setsuna, I live in the apartment across from yours. I noticed a new neighbor moved in, so I thought I'd come and say hello. My mom made some Kinpira Gobo (Braised Burdock Root) and... if you don't mind..."

"Wait! Please wait a moment."

The girl in front of him, small in stature and with a clear voice, was holding a thermos container with the dish. Haruto told her to wait, closed the door, and unlocked the safety chain before opening it again.

"Please, come in."

"No... I..."

Originally, Setsuna just wanted to drop off the kinpira gobo and introduce herself briefly before heading back home, but when she saw the handsome young man in front of her, hesitation flashed across her mind.

No matter how much one might deny it, the fact remains that most people are visual creatures.

Walking down the street, a man dressed in ordinary clothes with an average demeanor might approach a pretty girl and be politely turned away. However, when a stylish and eye-catching handsome guy approaches, the response is much more likely to be positive.

Kiyoura Setsuna wasn't just a visual creature. The boy in front of her was indeed attractive, with a simple and clean aura. His looks were delicate and handsome, making her momentarily think of her late older brother, who had passed away. A fleeting hesitation crossed her mind, but her feelings of affection and curiosity overcame her, and she nodded in agreement to enter his home.

"Well then, sorry to intrude," she said, slowly stepping into the apartment and gently closing the door behind her.

She followed him into the apartment and, after removing her shoes, her delicate feet, covered in soft white cotton socks, touched the cool yet clean and smooth floor.

"Ah, sorry, I'm still settling in since I just moved in," he apologized, looking down at himself, also barefoot on the floor. It was not quite early spring, and although the temperature wasn't high, it felt chilly to be walking barefoot.

"Are you living here alone?" she asked, her voice calm, though her youthful demeanor made her seem more endearing than distant. Her appearance was lovely, with snow-white skin and a petite figure that exuded youthful charm.

"Ah, I forgot to introduce myself," he said. "I'm Miyamizu Haruto. You can just call me Haruto. I'm from Gifu Prefecture, and I'm a first-year student at Toyosaki Academy, starting my independent life here in Tokyo."

"Gifu?" Kiyoura Setsuna was surprised, as she knew where Gifu Prefecture was.

"Isn't that near Nagoya?" she asked.

"Yeah, Gifu is closer to Nagoya, but I chose to come to Tokyo for better opportunities," Haruto explained.

When he first came to Tokyo, he did have grand plans for his life here, determined to build a successful career, but in reality, even after reincarnating into a world nearly identical to his old one, he hadn't really managed to achieve much.

The only difference from his previous life was that he had gone from being a lonely bachelor with no romantic relationships to dating a girl named Sayuri.

The combined years from both lives had already brought him close to forty, yet only now had he "graduated".

I don't really want to think about those memories, he thought, momentarily lost in thought.

As he was about to pass through the narrow hallway and into the living room, he suddenly heard a "tsk" sound behind him.

Before he could turn around, he felt a heavy pressure on his back. His body lurched forward uncontrollably, and instinctively, he raised his hands to shield his face.

Thud!

Clatter!

The sound of a heavy fall echoed, followed by the sound of a food container spilling.

The sudden accident caused Kento to wince, despite his hands being in front of his face. He opened his eyes and quickly turned his head to check on the girl who had caused the mishap.

"Are you alright, Kiyoura-san?"

"Ugh... I'm fine," she replied, though her voice was weak.

But as Haruto observed her, he couldn't help but blink in surprise. The food container she had been holding was now upside down on her head. The red ribbon on her hair had been stained dark by the sauce, and pieces of burdock root had fallen onto her head and onto Haruto as well. When she managed to lift her head, a few chili pepper rings fell from her forehead.

Her disheveled and pitiful appearance nearly made Haruto lose control of his expression, but he pressed his lips together tightly, trying to disguise his shock as a look of pain.

Kiyoura Setsuna, initially feeling guilty for tripping and causing the accident, was taken aback when she saw the "pained expression" on Haruto's face. Looking at the fallen chili peppers, she touched her forehead, feeling the warmth from the sauce. When she glanced at the burdock root in her hand, her cheeks flushed deeply. Her body trembled uncontrollably from both embarrassment and the awkwardness of the situation.