My Seatmate is Apparently My Wife from My Past Life; She Still Loves Me in This Life as Well

There is always a mysterious shrine in the countryside. I don’t know if this thought is influenced by fiction, or if it’s because my hometown had one, leading me to believe all countryside areas do. Whatever the reason, as soon as I spotted it, I naturally made my way there, driven by a familiar instinct.

Passing through the old, weathered torii gate that couldn’t be called grand by any stretch, I found a small shrine. To describe its size, think of it as similar to a storage shed that a typical household might have. It’s not large enough to be called a hut, yet too big to be kept indoors.

I had come here, partly to escape from Kamidama’s conversation, but this place had its own charm. It’s a scene that seems common enough, yet not easily found without searching.

If I were a bit younger, I might have rudely barged into the shrine and used it as a secret base. It was that untouched by human hands, almost blending into the natural surroundings.

Of course, the details didn’t match exactly with my hometown shrine. But still, it felt oddly familiar and nostalgic.

“You always come here first. Even though the atmosphere has changed a lot since then, you still find yourself drawn to this place.”

“Stop saying such cryptic things. It’s creeping me out. I wasn’t led here by anything; it just caught my eye, and I got curious.”

“Haha, but in a story, that’s called being led by fate, isn’t it?”

“Well, maybe… Wait! Don’t try to make me agree with you!”

The more I agreed, the more real the unease felt. Damn it, stop scaring me… If I can’t sleep tonight, I’ll hold you responsible. Though, to be honest, I rarely sleep well anywhere, not even in Aimoto’s fluffy bed.

Given that I can’t sleep well even in Aimoto’s comfortable bed, it probably wouldn’t matter how nice a hotel was. The fundamental reason for this isn’t clear, but I think it has to do with being on edge.

“Despite being quite tough, you are also very sensitive, Nagiura. But that’s why I love you, even if it’s a bit annoying.”

“What are you, some sort of over-affirming hamster? Are you going to go ‘heke heke’ for me?”

“I won’t say ‘heke heke,’ but I might say ‘love you love you’…”

“That’s even creepier…”

“Creepy!?”

“Creepy!”

Why do you expect me to take everything positively? Our current friendly relationship is largely due to my indecisiveness, a sense of gratitude, and my weakness to persistent persuasion. I hope you understand that.

But then again, beyond these petty excuses, the main reason is that Kamidama doesn’t make me feel uncomfortable. Generally speaking, it’s hard to dislike someone who likes you.

Especially if that someone is exceptionally cute and kind, it becomes even harder. If Kamidama weren’t such a weirdo, I might have fallen for her by now.

Don’t underestimate the susceptibility of a teenage boy.

“You’re generally quite easy-going, but when it comes to this, your guard is very strong.”

“I sacrifice offense for minimal defense. I have the resolve to protect my final line of defense.”

“But in your case, that final line seems to move back and forth.”

“Stop using harsh words… What if I start crying?”

“If that happens, I’ll hug you and comfort you.”

“That’s so self-serving…”

Her responses are invincible.

Kamidama, who has abandoned defense, and I, who have abandoned offense. The contrast is stark. Wait, this is strange… The power difference is too great.

Even though we paid the same price, the strength gained is worlds apart.

“But you haven’t really abandoned offense, Nagiura. You lure people into letting their guard down and hit them with counters.”

“I don’t remember being that malicious… Isn’t that a bit harsh?”

“Your cluelessness makes you difficult to handle. What are you going to do if you make me love you even more?”

“I’m not planning to do anything!”

Stop making it sound like I have some kind of ulterior motive!

I climbed the old wooden steps of the shrine, sat down, and sighed.

Then, Kamidama quietly moved closer to me. Her flaxen hair swayed gently, reflecting a faint gold in the light, making me rub my eyes.

“Something wrong, Nagiura?”

“No, nothing’s wrong. Probably.”

“That’s definitely something someone says when something’s wrong…”

“Yeah, well… How should I put it?”

I hesitated to ask but prefaced it for my own sake.

“…Is this place somehow related to my so-called previous life?”

“Yes, it is. This was your favorite place. You called it your ‘best place.'”

“Wow, that really sounds like something I’d say…”

“Of course, it’s you.”

Kamidama’s smile was so natural that it made me chuckle.

That’s it. That’s what it is.

Every time Kamidama speaks like that, I wonder a little.

The past me and the present me.

Can they really be considered the same person?