Ch.228Epilogue. What I Wished For (6)

I realized I had a decent talent for surfing.

Of course, I’m not at some national representative level or anything that would get me on TV.

It’s more like I can at least stand up on the board without falling off.

Despite appearances, I’m actually a good swimmer, and my athletic ability isn’t particularly lacking. It’s just that I’m short, so my legs are shorter compared to other kids, meaning I have to move more frequently and extensively to cover the same distance.

“Wow!”

And Koko was similar to me.

No, that’s not right. In terms of physical ability, Koko is actually better than me. I already knew how to swim from my previous life, but Koko swam almost instinctively from the moment she entered the water.

It was more like swimming by frantically flailing her arms and legs and forcing herself forward through sheer power rather than technique, but she was faster than most kids, so there was nothing to criticize.

Still, she improved considerably after adjusting her form during swim class. Though that “dog paddle” vibe still remained.

At least she probably wouldn’t be in danger if she fell into water.

While her swimming might have looked a bit strange, Koko maintained a textbook posture when standing on the surfboard.

Perhaps that was somewhat instinctive too. To stand on a surfboard as it glides down the rising wave, you need to spread your arms slightly and lean forward to maintain balance.

She looks oddly cool.

Long hair usually gets terribly in the way when wet, but Koko’s hair, which Yuka had braided thickly in the back, didn’t stick to her body at all.

My hair is styled the same way. I wonder if I looked similar when I was surfing.

“She picks things up pretty quickly.”

Sasaki said, plopping down beside me.

And Nanami sat down next to Sasaki.

Unlike Koko and me with our refreshed expressions, Nanami was completely soaked. You might think getting wet is normal when playing in water, but what determines the impression is the person’s demeanor.

Even with equally wet hair, someone smiling refreshingly will look like they’ve had fun in the water, while someone with an exhausted expression on the verge of collapsing will look like they’ve just been rescued from drowning.

Nanami was the latter. It seems she didn’t have much talent for surfing.

“…Well, after everything that happened last year.”

I carefully chose my words so as not to hurt Nanami’s feelings.

Both Nanami and Sasaki knew the situation well enough to understand what I meant. Neither of them said anything, but they seemed to understand.

Right. After experiencing what I did last year, wouldn’t your physical abilities improve unnecessarily? It’s not something everyone would understand, but at least those who know my situation would find it somewhat comprehensible.

“What about you, Sasaki?”

“Me?”

Sasaki’s eyes widened slightly at my question.

Then he stared ahead with his mouth slightly open.

Um…

Did I ask something I shouldn’t have? Does he have some kind of story too?

Sasaki’s gaze remained fixed on the kids playing in the distance for a while.

Koko and Yuka, Mako, Yuu, and Harumi.

Harumi had become fairly accustomed to surfing with her overflowing enthusiasm, but Mako and Yuu kept falling off. Still, Mako seemed to find it incredibly fun, her face never losing its smile, and Yuu didn’t look particularly annoyed either. As usual, his facial muscles weren’t working very hard.

By the way, the two boys who had been next to Sasaki were also having fun. At first, they casually chatted while playing, but at some point they found their own group and were now playing with other boys nearby in a truly “boyish” manner. Their main activity was picking someone up and throwing them into the sea.

Koko and Yuka had somehow joined Mako, Yuu, and Harumi’s group, setting their surfboards aside and just splashing around together.

They could be in a magazine photoshoot looking like that. With their distinct personalities, they almost look like a girl group.

It’s surprising that none of them has ever been scouted while walking down the street.

“I, um, learned from my father.”

“Ah.”

I felt my mind freeze at the voice from beside me as I was staring blankly ahead.

I had seen Sasaki’s mother before, but I had never once seen his father. Although he had given the house to the Sasaki siblings, he never visited. The two of them covered their living expenses themselves, and household chores were naturally their responsibility too.

In the original story, Nanami would occasionally come help, but I’m not sure if that happens here as well.

When Sasaki was younger, his family must have been just an ordinarily happy one. Then Sasaki’s mother had an affair, went down a strange path, and the family completely fell apart.

Sasaki’s mother…

From what I heard last time, she didn’t die, at least. Though it seems she was horribly tortured.

Nanami, who knew this fact, also looked like she didn’t know what to say.

Now… the Sasaki siblings aren’t in a much better situation than me. At least I had Kagami becoming a “mother” to me.

There were still many unresolved issues, and she was clumsy and childish in many ways, but Kagami was doing her best. To make up for everything she couldn’t do for us before.

Sasaki…

“Well, I’m fine.”

Sasaki said with a smile.

“Shii seems to be doing much better these days too. I think it’s because she found someone like an older sister.”

The way he glanced at me suggests he’s talking about me.

Well, Shii is my precious junior. Next year, although it’s only for a year, we’ll be attending the same school. If we end up going to similar universities, it would be convenient to meet up when we have time.

I’m worried I won’t be able to hold back my tears when I graduate high school.

I couldn’t have imagined it when I first arrived here, but I seem to have developed quite an attachment to Hanakawa High School in many ways.

“…Ah.”

Nanami made an uneasy sound as she observed Sasaki’s expression.

“…I’m all rested now.”

I quickly got up from my seat.

Time to retreat, retreat.

No matter what, I have no intention of getting involved with a boy after just one year of becoming a woman. No, that probably wouldn’t be welcome even after a lifetime.

Not that I’m thinking about dating either.

Of course, Sasaki probably didn’t look at me that way. He’s completely oblivious when it comes to such things.

But there is someone right next to him who is aware of it.

I gave Nanami a slight look.

Nanami, who had been looking at me with slightly suspicious eyes at first, opened her eyes wide once more and then nodded.

Right.

Handle this from here.

I know nothing, Sasaki.

Fortunately, Sasaki wasn’t so clueless as to barge in on the girls playing together.

*

I had stayed at a hotel with Kagami before, but we didn’t have meals there.

Back then, our goal was to spend as much time as possible exploring outside.

Come to think of it, although the hotel facilities were nice, it wasn’t exactly a five-star hotel in terms of size. Since I’ve heard that a hotel’s star rating depends on what facilities it has, the food might have actually been quite delicious.

If the meals at the hotel where the three of us stayed were similar to this, it’s a bit of a shame we didn’t eat there.

Dinner at the hotel was a buffet.

I thought it was a very wise choice. No matter how big the hotel is, if they had to serve course meals to hundreds of children, there wouldn’t be enough space, and more importantly, the chefs would be worked to death.

Besides, they’re students. Whether boys or girls, teenagers have black holes in their stomachs. And after playing hard in the sea all day, they’re absolutely famished. Course meals can be quite substantial in total volume, but dishes served in small portions from the beginning don’t suit hungry children’s temperaments.

For reference, the only buffet I had ever been to in my previous life was at a wedding.

So I didn’t know there were buffets where they grill steaks separately for you.

“Delicious!”

Koko was on her third plate of steak, her eyes sparkling.

I’m not sure how premium the meat is or anything like that, but it’s definitely delicious. Because it’s steak.

I was eating in smaller portions compared to Koko, but I was eating much faster than the teachers who were dining separately on the other side.

After all, I’m a teenager now too.

The other kids sitting at the same table were the same.

Yuka of course, and even Harumi and Yuu.

Even Mako, who usually eats quietly, was moving her hands quite quickly.

“…”

While eating enthusiastically, I suddenly thought of Kagami’s face.

Is the fact that I’m reminded of my mom’s face, who was whimpering that she wanted to come along, evidence that I’m becoming a filial daughter in this world?

…No, I just miss Kagami’s childlike face. I’ve accepted her as my mom, but it’s still a bit far to feel that way completely. It hasn’t even been a year yet.

But… well.

What comes to mind comes to mind.

I cut a large chunk of steak. The outside was cooked to a delicious-looking brown, with a gradient of redness increasing toward the center of the steak.

When I put it in my mouth and chewed, the beef juices that had been fully retained flowed in abundantly.

…Yes, Mom.

I’ll eat a lot here, including the portion you can’t eat.

Let’s plan to bring Kagami to a hotel like this sometime. And when we do, I’ll pay with money I’ve saved myself.

It was the moment when, for the first time since coming to this world, I developed a financial goal.