Chapter 47: I Thought Snack-kun was Just a Snack, But When He's Gone It's so Difficult. It's so Bad I Can't Think of Anything to Talk About

I Thought Snack-kun was Just a Snack, But When He's Gone It's so Difficult. It's so Bad I Can't Think of Anything to Talk About

A while after I rejected Tomohiro-kun's confession, I finally secured Satoshi-kun, just as I had intended.

Satoshi-kun had always had a crush on me since we were little. But because I was always with Tomohiro-kun, Satoshi-kun had been considerate and kept his distance. If I were to become close to him, it was obvious what would happen.

I managed to compete with Satoshi-kun by pretending to be an honor student, consuming the lead I had secured through reincarnation. My body is better than it used to be, but considering my little sister and Mama, it's not like I have an outstanding body of genius.

When I think about it, Satoshi-kun is really strange.

After all, in this school where there are already so many talented people, he has never lost to anyone other than a reincarnated person in her second life.

It's no wonder he became arrogant, and it's only natural that he thinks those around him are stupid. Of course, in reality, it's not that those around him are incompetent, but that he himself is just too talented.

In that sense, I'm sure my presence in Satoshi-kun's mind is quite significant, as I've become his rival, someone he should have had no one to compete with, and even secured himself a girlfriend.

Being exceptionally talented means that you can't have anyone around you who is your equal, and that you can't build trust with people after all.

And yet, Satoshi-kun now has rival he can compete with and a girlfriend he respects. His record, which was supposed to be unbeatable, is now filled with losses, and I'm here in his heart, where he was supposed to be alone.

I'm sure that makes him very happy. 

Satoshi-kun is happy that he wasn't left alone, and I'm happy that I didn't have to make him lonely. It's the win-win thing.

It's only natural to wonder if a boy who has had his life turned upside down in exchange for not having to be alone is truly happy, but I choose to ignore that. Because, look, Satoshi-kun seems happy now, and he says he is.

As long as I can get his word, I can say he's happy. So Satoshi-kun is happy. I come to this conclusion while ignoring the future.

So, how long has it been since the anniversary of Tomohiro-kun's rejection?

It's been four years. It's been a long time.

Why?

My daily life lost its color and vitality because my Snack-kun, Tomohiro-kun, had left me.

I often treated him roughly, but Tomohiro-kun, whom I had raised since he was a baby, was a big presence for me.

Hikari, despite still being unmarried, had already experienced letting go of her child.

As soon as my beloved child, Tomohiro-kun, left me, he became able to live independently. He now wakes up on his own in the morning, helps out with housework properly, and even provides mental care for the neighbor mom.

The neighbor mom's home environment was on the verge of falling apart after I left, but he seriously addressed the situation and repaired it, which even I can say is admirable.

...Tomohiro-kun was really talented.

I didn't choose him because he was a little small, but he's a capable kid who can do things well when he tries, and although he doesn't have any outstanding characteristics, he's generally the type who can do anything.

I had minimized his self-esteem and made him a snack, so he didn't stand out, but the truth is he's a much more relaxed and talented kid.

I feel a little guilty thinking that without my intervention, this slightly distorted but rebuilt family would have been close from the start.

Well, I guess I feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction just as much as I do thinking that I ruined such a wonderful family.

It was only after I let him go that I realized his value.

It's a little sad to think about it, but it's too late now.

I wanted him to be happy forever. I'd even give my younger sister as a wife if he ever wanted it.

It's up to my younger sister's wishes though, but since she's influenced by me, I think she'll like Tomohiro-kun. Even more so if he gains confidence.

Thinking about Tomohiro-kun and the others makes my heart ache, but four years have passed, and now I'm a thriving university student.

Back then, I was just a bubbly 16-year-old, but now I'm an adult.

...Adulthood is 18? Shut up, in my world it's 20!

I mean, you know, I've been pretending to be a child prodigy or a genius, but once I grow up, a little extra effort doesn't matter anymore.

In short, over the past four years, I've reverted to being just an ordinary person. I lost the magical power of reincarnation, and I've lost all control.

Now I'm just an ordinary girl, a little quick-witted, like any other girl.

...Am I still a girl even though I'm an adult?

My standards are basically based on my past life self. 20 years old is still like a baby, and Satoshi-kun is still a green-headed brat.

...But that doesn't mean Satoshi-kun still has his Mongolian spots. I've confirmed that he doesn't have them.

By the way, the timing of my loss to Satoshi-kun, having returned to being an ordinary person like that, was perfect, as I had just become an adult.

It was the final exam of my third year of high school, and I lost the top spot I'd held for so long. By the way, following the example of first and second place, I became the second place. Second place is under the first place, right? My brain has been dyed from gray to pink, so I think it's pronounced naughty. ...I've had pink in my head from the beginning. Don't blame others.

Aside from the fact that my brain is a dirty, wrinkled pink, it was, of course, Satoshi-kun, no ordinary person, who took the top spot from me.

So Satoshi-kun had taken away something I'd cherished and protected for so long. It was a bit satisfying to be completely defeated in my studies, something I'd worked so hard at, because it made me realize the limits of my own efforts.

I felt like I was being smeared with mud, showing that my efforts were no match for those of a genius, and I was extremely excited.

...I'm sorry that the person you were trying so hard to beat turned out like this. I'm sure you're disappointed. But thinking about you finding out and being disappointed still gets me excited. What a worthless pervert.

Hidden behind my patchwork cat-like appearance, I'm going to the same university as Satoshi-kun-kun.

Hiding my lousy true nature behind the patchwork cat mask, I'm going to the same university as Satoshi-kun.

I'm hesitant to go to the best university in the country because I'm afraid my weaknesses will be exposed, but there's no guarantee that some bad people won't follow Satoshi-kun, who is so talented, so I have no choice but to be with him.

Saying this makes me sound like a laid-back person who says, "I chose university to be with my beloved boyfriend!"

But in reality, that's better, and it's not that different. Incidentally, the representative of the bad people who follow Satoshi-kun is none other than me.

What a pest, acting like a beneficial insect. Don't you feel sorry for being alive? 

"I'm so sorry..." I apologized to Satoshi-kun, who was studying with me, tears streaming down my face in response to the sudden insult, surprising him.

He didn't know why I was crying, but he roughly comforted me, and my tears subsided, bringing a smile back to my face.

I guess after being together for so many years, you get used to my emotional instability. It was a bit of a rough way of comforting me, but it wasn't bad. It's actually quite nice to think that a beautiful girl like me is being treated so roughly.

We're flirting like that in public, and we get a slight murderous look from other people, telling us to do that kind of thing at home. Hehe, I'm feeling a bit guilty.

By the way, Satoshi-kun doesn't seem to mind at all. He's been used to being the target of resentment, jealousy, and other ill feelings since he was little, so it seems he doesn't mind if it increases a little now.

What a sad upbringing. That's why he gets caught so easily by a lowlife like me.

If I study a little at the library and secure the reference books I need, there's no need to be out in a place like this where so many people can see us.

I go home to concentrate and get Satoshi-kun to teach me.

Because the tables have been turned and I can't recover, I've lost almost all the opportunities to teach Satoshi-kun anything.

Conversely, he's taught me a lot. It's a little frustrating, but that's just how it is for an ordinary person.

All I can give Satoshi-kun anymore is peace and quiet, a place to relax and study, money, and despair. I have quite a lot. There are some weird ones mixed in, though.

To provide him with one of those few things—a place to study—I bring Satoshi-kun into the apartment where I've started living alone. It's within commuting distance from home, but spending several hours every day commuting is a hassle, and I'm worried about him taking the train alone because he's so cute.

Luckily, I have a decent income, so I rented a secure apartment without sparing any expense. Dad was against it at first, but he eventually understood.

Money is power!

I'm a woodworker and I'm glad I did it.

I'm sorry, but just as Dad feared, Hikari-chan has grown into a slutty girl who brings a boy home every day.

Don't worry, it's not Dad's fault. And of course it's not Mama's fault either.

Seeing Satoshi-kun, who now lives in my room half the time, reminds me that it was around this time in my past life that I received a revelation. It was around this time that I was cut off from my family and living off Miho-san's old house.

When I think about it, I've come a long way.

Anyway, my life plan was perfect.

Satoshi-kun, who remains as brilliant as ever at university, was created to allow him to grow even more freely, and I was there to support him.

Even if I can no longer predict his thought patterns, I can still do a certain amount. And while I was doing that, Satoshi-kun grew up, became a fine young man, and sparkled in a delicious way.

I raised him. He's grown so well that I want to put a sticker of ownership on his forehead and brag about him.

Once they'd grown to that point, all that was left was to harvest. Just wait for the fruit to ripen, swell, and ready. Everything was going smoothly, with no problems.

Nothing....

"...Hikari-chan, it's been a while. Can I talk to you for a bit?"

"Hikari, I'm glad you're doing well. We don't have much time left, so can we borrow your ear, face, and body?"

....Until the past I'd cut off catches up with me.