The same old, everyday life—a routine, unchanging.
Even after recalling memories of my past life, the world around me doesn’t change in the slightest.
Speaking of which, this world is almost indistinguishable from the one I lived in before. It could probably be classified as a different world, but it’s strange: from idols in the spotlight to the prime minister, almost all of the famous people here differ from the ones I remember.
However, the names of historical figures and familiar concepts, as well as morals and common sense, are unchanged. Oda Nobunaga is still Oda Nobunaga. Tokyo is still Tokyo. A smartphone is still a smartphone.
There’s no bizarre event, like robots falling from the sky, getting caught up in supernatural battles, or being transported to another world… no, it’s the same modern world I knew in my past life (if I can put it that way).
If there’s anything “unusual,” it’s just me—Kanazaki Eiji. Based on the knowledge from my past life, I seem to be quite the high-spec person. Not to brag, but I don’t think I look too bad, and my physical abilities aren’t lacking either. I was always pretty good at studying, and now, with the addition of memories from my past life, I’ve become even sharper. I can mostly understand junior high-level material with just a single lesson, without needing to review or prepare.
Even the things I used to take for granted now feel special, filtered through memories of my past life. I’m practically a genius now. Maybe, just maybe, with these new skills, I could lead a far better, happier, and more enjoyable life than in my last one!
(Maybe this is a reward for the me who was ground down working at a soul-crushing company in my past life!)
Honestly, I was thrilled.
And so, I missed something I could have noticed. I was so focused on myself that I overlooked my entire situation.
“Eiji. Starting today, she’s going to be living with us as family.”
“Huh?”
When I got home, I found my father, who was usually still at work at this time, waiting for me. As soon as he saw me, he introduced the girl sitting beside him.
She was a beautiful girl with long, silky black hair flowing down to her waist, and her features were striking. It’s odd to compare, but she was on the same level as Wakana in beauty.
And I knew her.
She was there at the funeral for my aunt and uncle—the moment I recalled my memories—
“Suzuna-chan?”
“…”
Suzuna looked at me with eyes that seemed empty of life and bowed her head slightly. The emotionless air she gave off was the same as when I had seen her at the funeral that day. It made me sit up straight without realizing it.
“You’re aware of the situation,” my father said. “You used to play together when you were younger, didn’t you?”
“Ah, yeah.”
My father is normally strict and serious, but now he seemed to be speaking even more carefully, likely out of consideration for Suzuna beside him.
“It’s sudden, but as her older brother, please support your sister.”
“…Yeah, of course.”
“I’ll be fine,” Suzuna interjected, cutting off my reply.
“Thank you very much for taking me in, uncle, auntie… and Eiji-san, as well. I’ll do my best to handle things on my own so I don’t cause any inconvenience.”
Polite yet somehow distant words. Though she’s two years younger than me, just starting junior high, she’s incredibly composed—
(Huh…?)
A sudden pang of pain struck my head.
She overlapped with someone in my memory. Just like when I saw Wakana, a slightly older image of her began to form.
“Suzuna-chan, don’t worry about us, okay?” my mother reassured her.
“That’s right. We’re family now,” my father added.
Watching this, the headache I was feeling intensified.
(Kanzaki… Suzuna.)
That was my new sister’s name.
(Kanzaki… Eiji…)
Suzuna’s brother. That’s right—Eiji, her brother’s name.
Suddenly, an image flashed in my mind. Suzuna as a first-year high school student, and standing beside her… me, as a third-year.
(Why am I seeing this? No, wait… This isn’t real—it’s an illustration. This is… this is…!?)
The throbbing in my head grew hotter and louder. My parents and Suzuna’s conversation faded out, and though they seemed to ask me something, I just muttered a vague reply and hurried to my room.
“Kanzaki Suzuna… Kanzaki Eiji… and Amamiya Wakana…”
It’s too coincidental. No, there’s no doubt.
I knew them. Not as Kanzaki Eiji, but as the person I was in my past life.
“This is… the world of a dating game I played in my past life…!?”
No robots falling from the sky, no battles with supernatural powers, no getting transported to another world… Reality is simpler, more straightforward. And, in a way, it’s wilder than anything I could have imagined.
I finally understood.
This is the world of that game I played in my previous life.
And in this world, as Kanzaki Eiji… I’m a minor character with a name, but little more.
