Act One: Never Cross Paths Again
Under a gloomy, overcast sky, I walked down the familiar path to school, unable to hide my bewilderment.
“I never thought I’d walk this road again…”
Until yesterday, I was a 27-year-old working adult. But when I woke up, I was back in my first year of high school.
I don’t know whether this is a dream or reality, but I hope it’s reality. If it’s a dream, that means the real me is probably lying on the brink of death after getting hit by a car. And if I can relive my high school years, I can avoid getting married altogether.
This time, I’m determined to land a better job and live as a carefree bachelor!
With that quiet resolution in mind, I walked through the school gate and headed to the shoe lockers.
Checking the class assignment list posted above the lockers, I confirmed my placement: just as I expected, Class 1-A.
And, as I remembered, below the name Kurose Kohei was Koikawa Yuzuhana.
That said, even though our seats were fairly close to each other, avoiding Yuzuhana would be easy.
After all, even though we were in the same class for three consecutive years, we didn’t have our first real conversation until after graduation.
We ended up taking the same lecture at a distant university, and by coincidence, we sat next to each other. That’s how it all started. So, if I choose a different university—or avoid the same lectures—I won’t have to interact with Yuzuhana, and I can dodge the marriage route entirely.
Changing into my indoor shoes, I made my way to Class 1-A.
Most of my classmates were already there, including Yuzuhana.
She had bright, dyed-brown hair, a confident and sharp expression, piercing eyes, and… well, I hate to admit it, but she was absolutely stunning with her full figure.
The old me used to swoon every time I looked at my phone wallpaper of Yuzuhana. I’d even kissed the screen more times than I could count. Once, she caught me in the act, and instead of calling me gross, she teased, “The real thing is right here. What do you want to do?” That led to an unforgettable, passionate kiss.
A past I wish I could erase.
The past itself can’t be erased, but I’ve been given the chance to start over. If that’s the case, there’s only one thing I need to do.
I sat down without looking at Yuzuhana, pretending to be asleep to avoid any interaction. Not that she would ever talk to me anyway.
...Still, I couldn’t relax.
The person sitting behind me isn’t my ex-wife—just a classmate. I understood that logically, but it didn’t make me feel any less uneasy.
The nostalgic chime of the school bell, ding-dong-ding-dong, echoed through the room as the teacher arrived.
It was a kind-looking female teacher. If I remember correctly, her name was Sawashiro-sensei? Back then, she seemed so mature, but now I’m actually older than her. It’s a strange feeling, realizing the teacher is technically my junior now.
After congratulating us on our enrollment with a warm smile, Sawashiro-sensei explained the schedule for the day. Then, she cheerfully said:
“Alright. Before we move to the assembly hall, I’d like everyone to give a brief self-introduction. Please come up to the podium in order of the attendance list.”
As familiar names like Aoki-kun, Inoue-san, Eto-san, Oishi-kun were called, a wave of nostalgia hit me. Seeing those faces again drove home the reality of my time slip. Even though I hardly ever talked to them, it was surprising how much I still remembered.
Then it was my turn. I headed to the podium, avoiding looking in Yuzuhana’s direction, and gave a safe, generic introduction.
“I’m Kurose Kohei from Botan Middle School. My hobbies include visiting bookstores. I also enjoy movies and make it a point to go to the theater at least once a month. Looking forward to spending the year with you all.”
I returned to my seat to polite applause.
Next up was Yuzuhana’s turn.
Standing on the podium, she scanned the classroom. It was a confident demeanor that hinted at the skills of someone who had secured multiple job offers in the past.
Though her appearance was poised, I knew better—Yuzuhana was prone to extreme stage fright.
When she got nervous, her speech would become stilted, and she’d stumble over her words. I’d spent countless days helping her practice for interviews. Thanks to those efforts, she became articulate and confident. Unlike me, she never once received a rejection email.
But in this timeline, Yuzuhana might struggle with job hunting. I felt a little sorry for her, but... considering the marriage we’d endured, receiving rejection emails might actually be the lesser evil.
As these thoughts ran through my head, Yuzuhana’s clear voice rang out:
“I’m Kurose Yuzuhana, from Kirishima Middle School.”
...Huh? Did I hear that right?
She just introduced herself with my last name, didn’t she?
And she spoke without a hint of nervousness, her voice crisp and assured.
Yuzuhana continued her self-introduction, but Sawashiro-sensei interrupted her.
“Um... Kurose, you said?”
“Yes, Kurose... No! I mean, Koikawa! Koikawa!”
Flustered, Yuzuhana darted her eyes around the room, sneaking glances in my direction.
“S-so... um, sorry. A lot has happened with my family, and I’m still trying to process it...”
“Ah, I see... It’s okay, you don’t need to apologize,” Sawashiro-sensei said, her tone filled with understanding and concern.
Hearing Yuzuhana’s explanation about “family issues,” the other students seemed to interpret it as her last name changing due to her parents’ divorce. But—
This is that, isn’t it?
That’s what this means, right?
“Thank you, Koikawa-san. Alright, next person, please.”
Finishing her self-introduction, Yuzuhana stole a glance at me before sitting down, looking a bit flustered.
I managed to maintain a poker face, but my heart was pounding furiously.
I couldn’t talk to her here.
Nor could I risk bringing it up when we’re alone.
And so, all I could do was scream in my mind:
—You time-traveled too?!
-----
When the entrance ceremony ended, my heart was still pounding like a drum.
The thought of having Yuzuhana—my ex-wife who constantly argued with me—sitting behind me made it impossible to stay calm.
Thankfully, Yuzuhana didn’t know about my time slip. As long as I don’t mess up like an idiot, I should be able to get through this without her finding out. But just imagining what might happen if she did… Spending three awkward years in this cramped classroom with my ex-wife? The mere thought was suffocating. Is this what couples who break up after workplace romances feel like?
Anyway, since things have come to this, I have no choice but to act exactly as I did back then!
Yuzuhana and I only got involved after graduation, so it’s not like she’d notice a minor inconsistency. Still, I need to be careful not to deviate too much from my past behavior.
While steeling my resolve, homeroom ended, and I bolted out of the classroom.
In three days, after the weekend, school life with my ex-wife would officially begin. But for now, I could breathe easy. Maybe I should play a game to regain my composure—it’s been a while.
Having made up my mind, I headed straight home… but then remembered. Ah, that’s right. Flip phones.
Smartphones existed in this era, but I had just gotten my first mobile phone upon entering high school. The smartphone gaming market wouldn’t explode for a few more years, so even if I upgraded, I wouldn’t have much to play.
So, I dusted off a console from two generations ago and booted up a game I used to play obsessively. In it, you control a feudal warlord, cutting down waves of foot soldiers.
"…"
Back then, I was amazed at how realistic it looked. But now, the graphics feel crude. Using special moves makes the frame rate stutter, and that minor lag is oddly irritating.
I got bored in about ten minutes and started swapping out nostalgic games one after another, but I couldn’t really get into the groove.
“Maybe I’ll head to the bookstore.”
I figured I’d grab a light novel to kill some time.
Just as I was changing into casual clothes and about to leave my room, I suddenly remembered something.
Today was the anniversary of my computer’s death.
I didn’t witness it firsthand, but someone mentioned lightning striking the nearby park. Because of that, my computer got fried, and I had to give up on playing new games for a while.
“Guess I lucked out this time.”
Unplugging the power cord to protect against lightning, I grabbed an umbrella and stepped outside. After walking for about fifteen minutes, I arrived at the nearest bookstore, which sold everything from manga to games and CDs. And then—
“Ugh.”
There she was, Yuzuhana.
Still in her school uniform, she must’ve come straight from class.
I thought I’d be safe until Monday, but to run into her this early…
Whatever. She hasn’t spotted me yet. I’ll just wait this out in the game section.
“...Ah.”
While I was browsing the games, Yuzuhana appeared. The moment she saw my face, her expression twisted into something pained.
Does seeing my face bother her that much? Well, guess what—I don’t want to see yours either.
Naturally, I didn’t say hello. Ignoring a classmate this soon after starting school might normally seem rude, but it’s the first day. Not remembering someone’s face wouldn’t be strange at all.
“Kurose-kun… right?”
Why are you talking to me!?
I went out of my way to ignore her, and this is what I get!
I had no idea why she’d bother talking to someone she supposedly hates, but now that she’d initiated, ignoring her wasn’t an option anymore. I had to act like the first-year Kōhei Kurose to avoid arousing suspicion about my time slip.
“Uh… who are you again?”
“I sit behind you… you know, the one who said something weird during introductions? Koikawa.”
“Sorry, I stayed up all night gaming, so I was half-asleep during the intros.”
“Oh, really? What kind of games do you play, Kurose-kun?”
“Huh? Why do you ask?”
“I like games too, so I was wondering if you had any recommendations.”
Why is she asking me!? Sure, the timeline’s different, but I’m still me—the Kōhei Kurose she can’t stand! If you’re that curious, why not just check a gaming magazine while you’re here in the bookstore?
…Of course, saying that would be a mistake. Showing hostility would make her suspicious.
I don’t know what Yuzuhana’s angle is, but I need to play it cool.
“...If you’re into games, you’ve probably played them already, but I recommend Monster Hunt and Dynasty Warriors.”
“You play those too? I love them!”
She beamed at me with a full-on, radiant smile.
It had been a while since I’d seen her smile like that, and—damn it—I couldn’t help but feel a little flustered.
I quickly shook off the feeling by recalling her scathing words from before: “I’d rather live with a stink bug than deal with you.”
Yeah, well, same to you, lady. I’d rather bunk with a cockroach than deal with you.
“I like Monster Hunt, but I’ve spent over 100 hours on Dynasty Warriors. I’ve maxed out every character’s stats and memorized where all the items are on every map.”
“Wow. Koikawa-san, you’re really into games, huh?”
“Surprised?”
“Yeah, a little.”
“Because I look like a delinquent? I’m not scary at all, you know.”
You are scary. Normally, you’re fine, but when we argued, the intensity was off the charts. A pissed-off beauty is at least 50% more intimidating.
“I’m not glaring at you now, am I? My bad eyesight just makes me look like that.”
“Oh, I see.”
Yeah, I know.
Yuzuhana’s family lives in the countryside, but she moved out and started living on her own.
She used to be the poster child for plainness, with black hair and glasses. But to avoid being looked down on as a country bumpkin, she had a high school debut: dyed her hair, ditched the glasses, and changed her style.
Still, she doesn’t wear contacts—she’s too scared of putting something in her eyes. I remember thinking that was adorable when she told me back then. Now, all I can think is, just wear your damn glasses.
“…”
“…”
An awkward silence lingered between us.
Apparently unable to stand the tension, Yuzuhana broke the ice. “By the way…”
“You’re an only child, Kurose-kun?”
“I have a younger sister…”
“You do?!”
Yuzuhana’s face lit up with excitement.
…So that’s it. She’s only talking to me because she wants to get close to Sana.
The two of them always got along so well that they’d hang out without me, leaving me completely sidelined.
“What’s her name?”
“Sana.”
“Sana-chan, huh? That’s such a cute name! What’s she like? Do you have a picture of her?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Oh, too bad. I’d love to see her sometime!”
If I were some desperate guy trying to get closer to Yuzuhana, I’d probably invite her over to my house to meet Sana. But in my mind, it feels like I just divorced her half a day ago.
I hadn’t planned to have any contact with Yuzuhana in the first place. Inviting her over would be an unthinkable mistake.
“Sorry, my sister’s in the basketball club. If you want to meet Sana, you can cheer for her at one of her games. Anyway, I’m gonna go check out some manga!”
I cut off the conversation and walked away.
Yuzuhana didn’t follow me. By the time I noticed, she had disappeared from the store entirely.
When I left the bookstore, it had started raining.
It seemed like the rain had just begun, but before long, it was coming down harder.
Rainwater seeped into my shoes, making them uncomfortably soggy. As I hurried along, my footsteps squelching with every step, the low rumble of thunder began echoing overhead.
Knowing what I did about the upcoming lightning strike, I hesitated to pass by the park. But my house was directly across from it, so there was no avoiding it.
Please, not yet. Don’t strike yet!
My heart raced with anxiety as I quickened my pace, dashing across the park—and then…
"..."
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a figure.
Through the vine-covered fence—inside the small rest area with a roof—sat Yuzuhana. She was hunched over, curled up tightly, and covering her ears with her hands.
What the hell is she doing there...?
Her apartment is in the nearby complex. There are multiple routes from the bookstore to her place, and cutting through the park is the shortest. I get why she’d take the shortcut if she was in a rush to get home, but why is she staying in the park?
She’s terrified of lightning…
When we were still on good terms as a couple, she’d cling to me every time there was a storm. Even during fights, I’d take the couch out of consideration, but she’d come asking me to sleep in the bed with her because she was scared. If she’s that frightened, why doesn’t she just head straight home instead of sitting there?
A flash of lightning lit up the dark clouds, followed by a deafening crack of thunder.
Even with her ears covered, the sound must’ve gotten through. Yuzuhana curled up even tighter. I could hear her faint, frightened whimper through the thunder.
It shook my resolve.
…I told myself I wouldn’t get involved with her anymore. Sure, I couldn’t avoid her if she came to me, but I’d sworn not to reach out to her first.
But…
If she’s sitting there, she doesn’t know about the lightning strike.
I hate Yuzuhana.
I hope she pulls the lowest prize in every lottery she ever enters. I hope she gets rejected every time she applies for an anime concert.
But I don’t want her to get hurt.
“Damn it…”
Sighing, I stepped into the park and called out to her from behind.
“…Koikawa-san?”
"..."
"Koikawa-san."
"..."
"Ko-i-ka-wa-saaan!"
Grab!
"Hyah!?"
She flinched and let out a small scream when I grabbed her shoulder.
Turning around warily, she exhaled in relief upon seeing me.
"Oh, it's just you, Kurose-kun... What are you doing here?"
"My house is nearby. I happened to notice you and thought I'd check in."
"I see. Sorry for making you worry."
I-I wasn’t worried or anything! You’re just so close by that it was making me uncomfortable!
"Rain sheltering here, huh? Didn’t you bring a folding umbrella or something?"
She’s the type who always carries a folding umbrella. It’s not like we only shared an umbrella once or twice during dates when it rained. Back then, I’d been genuinely happy and even wished the rain would never stop.
I remember how smug she’d get every time she pulled out her umbrella, saying things like, 'You should carry one too—it’s so handy!' or 'If it weren’t for me, you’d be soaked right now!' Looking back, it annoys me. For the record, I deliberately “forgot” mine because I knew she liked sharing umbrellas, you idiot.
"I had one, but I gave it away."
"...Gave it away?"
"Yeah. There were some kids sheltering from the rain here, and I gave it to them. Their mom was supposed to pick them up soon, but I couldn’t just leave them like that."
"I see."
Classic Yuzuhana. Her soft heart wouldn’t let her ignore a situation like that. Even now, after everything, that part of her hasn’t changed.
This girl is just too kind-hearted.
I remember it clearly—back before we started dating. On a crowded train, she gave up her seat to someone who wasn’t even elderly, and when a lost grandmother asked for directions in an unfamiliar place, she went out of her way to personally escort her to the destination.
At the time, I had this twisted belief that beautiful women always had nasty personalities. So, meeting someone like her was a shock. I didn’t think a kind-hearted beauty could exist.
...Though, as it turns out, I was deceived.
I’ve never met another woman with as awful a personality as hers. Thinking about it now, it was because of her generosity that I ended up in those situations. She gave up her seat, which meant I had to give up mine for her. She offered to help but didn’t know the way, so I had to navigate with my phone. And that? It drained my phone battery, leaving me unable to take pictures on what was supposed to be my long-awaited pilgrimage to an anime holy site.
I’ll never befriend Yuzuhana again. Honestly, it’s a relief not to have to clean up after her anymore.
...So, now what?
I need a natural excuse to get her out of here.
If I tell her straight-up that lightning’s going to strike, she might get suspicious and figure out I’ve looped back in time.
But staying here any longer is dangerous. The idea of getting hit by a car and struck by lightning all in the span of half a day is just too much.
No other choice...
"Want to come to my place? I’ll lend you an umbrella."
She hates me, but she’s been trying to get closer to Sana. For that reason, she should go along with it without much resistance.
"Your house? ...Are you sure I won’t be a bother?"
"Not really. It’s better than standing around here chatting in the rain."
"Thanks. Then I’ll take you up on that."
"Good. Let’s go. …What’s wrong? Take the umbrella already."
When I held out the umbrella, Yuzuhana blinked in surprise.
"Um... am I supposed to use this by myself?"
"I said I'd lend you the umbrella, didn't I?"
"In situations like this, isn't it normal to share it together?"
"It’d just mean we both end up half-soaked! I can change clothes later, and you could rush home alone with the umbrella if you want—but then I'd have to get it back at school, and it'd just be a hassle to carry! …Why are you laughing?"
"I was just thinking how fast you were talking."
"I-it's fine, isn't it? Even if I talk fast!"
"At that speed, you might bite your tongue, you know?"
"I won’t bite my tongue! I’m used to talking fast!"
Yuzuhana chuckled softly.
"You're just embarrassed to share an umbrella with a girl, aren't you? Trying to hide it by acting tough?"
"I'm not embarrassed at all!"
I said it loudly, but Yuzuhana just squinted at me with a smug grin. She looked like an older sister teasing her younger relative.
No matter how much I denied it, Yuzuhana knew everything about me from our school days. She knew I had spent most of my time as a loner and that I had no experience with girls besides her.
You don't have experience with anyone but me either! I wanted to retort, but saying that would reveal I had time-traveled.
If she found out, we'd end up arguing every time we saw each other. It would be frustrating to admit defeat, but for the sake of a peaceful school life, I had to endure it.
Fearing the conversation might drag on until lightning literally struck, I steeled myself.
"L-let's just hurry home already."
As we left the shelter and I opened the umbrella, Yuzuhana sidled up next to me with a soft, "Thanks. Sorry for intruding."
The moment we started walking briskly, she clung to my arm.
"W-what are you doing?"
"S-sorry. You’re walking so fast…"
"…Is this pace okay?"
"Thanks. Sorry for making you adjust for me."
"It’s fine. Really…"
Yuzuhana, apologizing so honestly—what’s with her? It’s throwing me completely off balance.
Having my ex-wife, who I swore never to interact with again, right beside me—it’s impossible to stay calm. My mind stayed unsettled the entire walk home, but just as we arrived…
"Kyahhh!"
A thunderclap roared through the air, and Yuzuhana clung to me.
"I-it just struck, right!? It was close, wasn’t it!? Where do you think it hit…?"
"I have no idea, but… could you let go of me?"
"Oh, sorry… Are you okay? Did that hurt?"
"Not really."
I kept my tone indifferent, but my heart was pounding like crazy.
Getting hugged by your ex-wife because of a lightning strike… That’s too much for my heart to handle.
Anyway, that should settle things. All I need to do now is hand her the umbrella and send her on her way.
At least, that was the plan…
"Um, hey, can I stay at your place for a little while?"
"At my place? …Why?"
"Because… I’m scared of the thunder. Is that… not okay?"
"…Well, if it’s just to wait out the rain, I guess it’s fine."
Unable to turn away a teary-eyed Yuzuhana, I checked to make sure no one else was home before reluctantly letting her in.
-----
I wasn’t thrilled about inviting my ex-wife into my room, but it would be a hassle if my family caught us.
Sana was at club activities, and Mom wouldn’t be home from work for another two hours, but just to be safe, I asked Yuzuhana to put her loafers in the shoe rack.
"…"
When I led her to my room, Yuzuhana looked visibly awkward.
It wasn’t because she was embarrassed to be in a guy’s room.
Her gaze was fixed on a large, twin-tailed figurine prominently displayed on my shelf.
It was the very first figure I’d ever owned.
I’d spotted it in a game center and casually tried to win it, only to burn through a thousand-yen bill after another. By the time I realized I couldn’t stop, I’d spent nearly five thousand yen.
The satisfaction I felt when I finally got it was incredible, but so was the heartbreak when it broke.
During one of our marital spats, Yuzuhana had thrown it against the wall, snapping off the twin tails.
I was furious back then. Even now, just looking at the figure brought back unpleasant memories.
"Want to play a game?" I asked, changing the subject.
"Is that okay?"
"Just sitting around doing nothing until the rain stops would be boring. What do you prefer—competitive or co-op games?"
"Co-op. What about you, Kurose-kun?"
"Co-op for me too."
I couldn’t quite picture us working together, but if we played competitively, it might just lead to an argument.
So I chose a hack-and-slash co-op game, and we got started right away.
As the opening cutscene played, Yuzuhana's face lit up with excitement.
"Whoa, this is so nostalgic!"
"Is it really? Didn’t this game just come out during spring break?"
"O-oh, right. I must’ve mixed it up with another game. So, the characters aren’t leveled up yet?"
"I’ve maxed out the stats on a few of my favorites."
"Let me see… Wow, you really did. And they’re all female characters."
"S-so what? Female characters are just more fun to play as!"
"Don’t male characters have cooler moves?"
"Female characters have better voice actors."
"Who’s your favorite?"
"This one."
"Ah, an idol voice actress. You shouldn’t get too attached. If she gets married, you might be so shocked you’ll be bedridden for days."
She wasn’t wrong. I had been bedridden.
Yuzuhana even took care of me back then, though she rolled her eyes when I told her the reason.
Anyway, I wish she wouldn’t bring up the word marriage. It’s a touchy subject right now.
"What difficulty should we go with?"
"Obviously the hardest. Let’s meet up after we each take down two generals."
"Got it."
We each took control of a warlord and started cutting down enemy troops.
The highest difficulty made the enemies tough, but this was a game I used to play religiously. With overwhelming power, I carved through the enemy forces, meeting up with Yuzuhana. From there, we worked together, alternating between saving each other and turning the tide of the battle.
The graphics were rough, but co-op play made it genuinely enjoyable.
Moments like this reminded me of the fun times we had during our married life.
Back when our marriage was still warm, Yuzuhana and I would play games late into the night like this every day. But as time went on, things changed. After the incompetent CEO’s blunder led to the company’s bankruptcy, I didn’t have the luxury of gaming anymore. The cracks in our relationship widened, and we drifted apart, with me burying myself in mobile games to escape.
I have no intention of getting back together with Yuzuhana, but in this timeline, I’ll make sure to land a job at a different company.
"Cleared! I took down five generals. How about you?"
"Same here."
"Then, that makes me the winner."
"Huh? How does that even make sense?"
"My character isn’t fully leveled yet."
"That character starts with higher stats anyway. Even at its current level, it’s about as strong as mine."
Our back-and-forth wasn’t a fight—it was the kind of playful banter we used to have. Arguments like this were a sign the game was getting exciting. When our marriage was on the rocks, all we’d manage was silent resentment and the occasional irritated sigh.
"Next round, I’ll outshine you, Kurose-kun."
"I’ll take down every single one of them this time."
Gripping our controllers with sweaty hands, we cleared stage after stage together—until…
"Nii-chan!"
Whoa! Sana’s back!
I glanced at the clock and saw that two hours had flown by without me noticing.
I can’t believe I lost track of time playing with Yuzuhana…
But right now, that’s not the issue. I need to hide her, fast!
We’re divorced, for crying out loud. Don’t make me clean up your mess now, Yuzuhana!
"K-Koikawa-san, hide!"
"Huh? W-wait, why?"
"If my sister finds you, it’ll be a huge hassle!"
Yuzuhana and Sana always got along too well. It wouldn’t take long for them to become fast friends. Before I knew it, she’d start inviting Yuzuhana over without my permission, and my family would see us as an official pair again.
I’d already gotten more involved with Yuzuhana than I planned. Any further progress would be disastrous.
"Big trouble, big trouble, Nii-chan!"
Sana burst into the room just as Yuzuhana dove under my bed.
"What is it? At least knock before coming in!"
"I did—in my head."
"That doesn’t count! So, what’s this ‘big trouble’ about?"
"Look at this!"
Practically vibrating with excitement, Sana shoved her phone in my face.
The screen displayed an image of a completely wrecked park pavilion.
"The park's rest area got struck by lightning! Micchan just emailed me about it!"
"Huh."
"That’s all you’ve got to say? Come on, Nii-chan, react more!"
"I’m tired from gaming, okay?"
"Fine, but let’s go check it out!"
"I told you, I’m tired. I’ll go after the rain stops. Now get out."
"Promise me, okay!"
With her trademark exuberance, Sana left the room.
As soon as she was gone, Yuzuhana peeked out from under the bed, smiling warmly.
"Your sister really adores you."
"Yeah, and it’s exhausting."
"Really? I think she’d be energizing."
Sana’s outgoing personality, combined with her tendency to bulldoze through social barriers, was probably a breath of fresh air for someone like Yuzuhana, who often struggled to connect with others.
In any case, I was relieved that they didn’t cross paths. That would’ve been a headache I didn’t need.
"So, what am I supposed to do now?"
"Usually, when Sana comes back from practice, she heads straight for a shower. While she’s busy with that, you can—"
The door suddenly burst open.
"Oh, right, Nii-chan! I was going to use the deodorizer, but when I opened the shoe rack, I found some loafers and—Nii-chan, you brought a girl over! That’s so shady!"
"It’s not shady! And knock before you come in!"
"I did!"
"In your head, right?"
"If you heard it, what’s the problem?"
"I didn’t hear it! Just go away already! And don’t tell Mom about this—"
"Kohei! There are some loafers in the shoe rack—did you bring a girl over? Introduce her to me!"
I wanted to curl up and disappear.
Caught red-handed, we moved to the dining room.
Now I was awkwardly sitting there, watching Mom and Sana chat cheerfully with Yuzuhana over tea.
The sight of my mom and sister talking with my ex-wife was pure torture.
And why does Yuzuhana look so comfortable? This is my house. The home of the Kurose family you supposedly hated—well, okay, you only ever hated me. You’ve always adored my family. Maybe even more than your own.
She’d always been closer to them than I ever was with her parents.
If her parents had been more like my family, maybe our marriage would have lasted.
"Koikawa-san, where did you meet my brother?"
"At school, obviously."
"Who started talking to whom?"
"I talked to him at a bookstore. Then later, when we were taking shelter from the rain at a park, he lent me his umbrella."
"Wow, bold move, hitting on someone like that!"
"It wasn't hitting on. It was pure kindness."
"And then you went straight to his room! On the very first day of high school! My brother suddenly diving headfirst into a youthful romance—I'm happy for him as his sister, but also kind of sad!"
Sana said this with a wide grin that betrayed no sign of sadness at all.
She’s a middle school second-year, and she’s starving for love stories. The sudden emergence of a family member’s romantic tale must have her over the moon.
"But come on, if you’ve got a girl with you, playing video games? You could’ve done something more romantic."
"What’s wrong with that? Besides, Koikawa-san seemed interested in games too."
"Is that true?"
"Yeah, I like games."
"You two are a perfect match!"
"Isn't it a bit early to decide that? We only just met today."
At one point, I thought I was a perfect match with someone too, but if that were the case, we wouldn’t have gotten divorced.
"So, Koikawa-san, what do you think of my brother? You’ve got a little bit of a thing for him, right?"
"Hey, don’t ask questions that put her on the spot. I’ll give you a good scolding later, so you’d better leave before she asks anything weirder."
"No, it’s fine. I’ve got a bit of a scary vibe, so I actually appreciate it when someone like Sana-chan approaches me so openly."
"Hey, did you hear that, big bro? She says she likes girls like me! She’s way too good for you!"
"He's a bit twisted, but deep down he's a good guy, so please keep being friends with Kohei, okay?"
"Sure, as long as Kurose-kun is okay with it..."
She says that, but there's no way she's actually interested in being friends with me. In front of my family, she can't exactly say, 'I don't want to be friends.'
"Of course he’s okay with it!"
Sana interjected cheerfully, but I have no intention of becoming friends with her.
Naturally, I can't say that out loud. If I did, they’d start grilling me for reasons. And under no circumstances could I talk about the time travel.
"Oh, right! Koikawa-san, what's your first name?"
"It's Yuzuhana."
Sana tilted her head in confusion.
"...Yuzuhana?"
"Is it weird?"
"No, it’s super cute! It’s just... I feel like I’ve heard the name ‘Yuzuhana’ somewhere before... Oh, I know! It’s my brother’s wife!"
How does she know that!?
Wait, could she also be on her second life? Did she come from the timeline where Yuzuhana and I divorced?
While I struggled to maintain a poker face, Yuzuhana blinked in confusion beside me.
"U-um... What do you mean by 'wife'?"
"Don’t take it seriously! She’s just messing around!"
"I’m not messing around. You were talking about it this morning, weren’t you? Saying things like, ‘Is Yuzuhana safe?’ and ‘my wife’ or ‘ex-wife.’ You said you just met her today, but actually, you’ve known her since the exam results announcement, right?"
"I was standing right next to you when we went to check the results, and I didn’t notice at all!"
"No wonder you couldn’t wake up this morning. You were having a blissful dream, weren’t you?"
Sana and Mom looked amused, but Yuzuhana seemed incredibly uncomfortable. Her cheeks twitched involuntarily as she stole nervous glances at me.
This is bad!
At this rate, the time travel secret might come out!
"I was just groggy! More importantly, I’m starving! I haven’t had lunch yet!"
"Koikawa-chan, have you eaten?"
"N-no, not yet..."
"Then let’s order sushi! Sushi!"
"Good idea! This is a special occasion—Kohei bringing a girl home is worth celebrating!"
"Ah, no, I was actually thinking I should be heading home soon..."
"No need to hold back!"
"Make yourself at home, like it’s your own house!"
Being coaxed by the two, Yuzuhana could only manage a strained smile.
She seemed eager to leave but couldn't bring herself to reject Sana and Mom’s goodwill outright.
It irritated me to help her, but our interests aligned this time. I decided to throw her a lifeline.
"Hey, didn’t you mention having something you needed to do, Koikawa-san?"
"Y-yeah, that’s right! I just remembered—I have plans!"
"Oh, that’s too bad. I wanted to chat with you more. Is your house nearby, Koikawa-san?"
"It’s in a nearby apartment building..."
"Then why don’t you walk her home, big bro?"
"W-why me...? Koikawa-san probably wants to go home alone."
"No, I’d actually prefer it if you could walk me back."
For some reason, Yuzuhana seemed unusually eager, and Mom and Sana narrowed their eyes with amused grins.
“Don’t worry about being late coming back,” Mom added unnecessarily, sending us off with a knowing smile.
Under a light drizzle, we walked side by side in silence, each holding an umbrella.
Unable to endure the awkward quiet any longer, Yuzuhana was the first to break it.
“H-hey, Kurose-kun?”
The fact that she called me “Kurose-kun” meant she wasn’t completely certain yet, right?
In that case, I just had to bluff my way through!
“Y-yeah, what is it?”
“So… what Sana-chan was saying earlier… was it true?”
“O-oh, that. Well, you see, I pulled an all-nighter yesterday playing a dating sim. I happened to play a route with a character named Yuzuhana, and I happened to dream about marrying her. That’s all there is to it—it has nothing to do with you, Koikawa-san.”
“…Love Minus,” Yuzuhana muttered under her breath.
“Love Minus…?”
“It’s a romance simulation game that came out this spring.”
“I know about it, but why bring it up all of a sudden? Wait, are you interested in Love Minus, Koikawa-san?”
“I’m not. I just know what kind of game it is because someone told me about it a long time ago. It’s a game where you get to know a senior, a classmate, or a junior, confess your feelings, become a couple, enjoy dating, and the real story begins after you’re officially together.”
“You sure know a lot about it.”
“Yes, I do. I also know there isn’t a character named Yuzuhana in that game.”
“Well, yeah, Yuzuhana isn’t in that game, but the one I played yesterday was a different game entirely.”
“Didn’t you once say the only romance game you’ve ever played was Love Minus?”
“Who said that?”
“You did!”
“Huh? What’s wrong, Koikawa-san? You’re acting like a completely different person.”
“Don’t play dumb! You did it too, didn’t you? Time travel!”
She grabbed my arm tightly, making sure I couldn’t run, and yelled at me.
…Looks like she’s completely figured it out.
At this point, it’s probably better to just come clean.
If I admit it, maybe I can finally cut ties with her for good.
“So what if I did?”
I gave in and admitted it, and Yuzuhana glared at me fiercely.
She trembled with anger, her face flushing red with embarrassment.
“You’re such a jerk for keeping it to yourself! I bet you’ve been secretly laughing at me this whole time, watching me desperately try to act like a high school girl!”
“I’m not that cruel! I was just as confused by the time travel as you were! I didn’t have the mental space to sit around analyzing your school uniform or anything! And besides, weren’t you supposed to stay out of my business? Why are you getting involved now?”
“You started getting involved first! Why didn’t you just admit it right away!?”
“I was waiting for the right moment! Do you think this has been easy for me? Do you know how much stress I’ve been under trying to act normal after you introduced yourself as Kurose Yuzuhana? It’s been exhausting trying not to give myself away!”
“So you did hear my introduction! What was that about being sleep-deprived, huh!?”
“I really am sleep-deprived! I’ve been working overtime every day! Not all of us get to go home by evening like you!”
“There you go again! Maybe if you had gotten a proper job, you wouldn’t have this problem!”
“Next time, I’ll get a proper job! And I’ll enjoy my single life to the fullest!”
“Well, I’m never getting married again either! Especially not to you!”
“Of course not! If I see you at the bookstore, don’t even think about talking to me!”
“You better not talk to me if you see me at the park!”
“I wouldn’t have talked to you in the first place if I hadn’t known lightning was going to strike the park!”
“W-what are you trying to say? That you saved me or something?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying! Show a little gratitude, will you?”
“…If you don’t even like me, why bother saving me at all?”
“It wasn’t about you! I didn’t want the park near my house turning into a cursed place! You wouldn’t leave, and I almost ended up dead with you! Lightning, stress—you really seem to love shaving years off my life, don’t you?”
“If it’s that stressful, then just stay out of my life forever!”
“Don’t worry, I will! This is the last conversation we’ll ever have! And don’t talk to me just because you don’t have any friends!”
“Well, don’t get all familiar with me just because you’re unpopular with girls!”
Sparks flew as we exchanged barbs, then turned away from each other, each walking off in opposite directions.
Chapter 1 END
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