Ch.337IF Side Story: Seems I’ve Arrived a Bit Early (34)

What food did I like in my past life?

Since the memories that started becoming clear after entering this body were mostly from when I was about three years old, I’ve now lived in this world for just over 3 years.

Of course, I was in this world even as a newborn, but I barely remember anything from that time.

3 years.

It’s a long time if you think about it. If you say you’re “doing something” in life, it’s a period long enough to say you’ve been doing it for quite a while.

Whether studying, drawing, or exercising, it’s enough time to get past the basics and feel confident that you can do it to some extent, even if not professionally.

It’s long enough to serve in the military twice, and if you were employed, it’s around the time when people would stop calling you a rookie. If you started dating in your late twenties, it’s an age when you might seriously consider marriage.

But looking at life as a whole, it wouldn’t be strange to call it short. After all, once you adapt to a workplace, the time after that is much longer.

Middle school and high school only seem long while you’re attending them, but looking back, they were relatively short periods compared to everything else you’ve done in life. Perhaps that’s why they remain as memories.

So, yes.

What did I like?

What did I like in my past life?

Those memories were hazy. I thought I still had most of my special memories from adulthood intact, but after losing everything, many memories were surprisingly vague.

So, that’s probably it.

I probably just lived the same life every day, simply left alone in my room.

I didn’t want to die, so I put things in my mouth, chewed and swallowed, went to work, came back and slept. If I wasn’t exhausted, I’d dream of the moment I lost my entire family, and since I hated that, I worked until I collapsed.

“How is it, Kotone?”

Being in first grade is still considered young, but I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to keep being held in a parent’s arms.

I’m not sure if eating lunch while being held in Kagami’s arms is the right thing to do.

But somehow, I just wanted to.

Because I had no family left to embrace.

Things you couldn’t do or say because you were shy or embarrassed become impossible once everything suddenly leaves your side. Going to a grave to talk and embrace doesn’t let you feel your family, and no answer comes back.

“It’s delicious.”

I answered while picking up a piece of tonkatsu.

Yes. I liked tonkatsu. Especially when I was young. I didn’t eat it extremely often after becoming an adult, but I liked it.

Mom used to make tonkatsu at home sometimes. I don’t remember if it was more delicious than what I ate outside, but young me ate it with enjoyment.

Meat seasoned with salt, dipped in egg wash, coated with breadcrumbs, and fried in a pan. I remember the texture more than the taste. Cold, soft, slightly damp, but somehow not unpleasant to touch—tonkatsu before being fried.

The taste is different now, of course. But I’m still going through “childhood” in this life too. Those memories couldn’t help but surface.

I don’t think I particularly liked cherry tomatoes. But I would eat them when they were in my lunch box or when mom gave them to me. When I was young, I was quite gluttonous, so I would eagerly put whatever was nearby into my mouth.

Come to think of it, it’s not that I extremely disliked them, I just didn’t love them. Sometimes, I would crave foods I didn’t particularly like. Cherry tomatoes were like that for me.

The rolled omelet is completely different from what I remember. Kagami’s rolled omelet was Japanese-style with plenty of sugar.

It was different from the salty rolled omelet I ate at home, which was like folded egg crepes seasoned with salt.

But—

This is a memory of my current life.

I couldn’t judge whether having all my memories from my past life in this world was God’s prank, mere coincidence, or just my own imagination because I was crazy.

But regardless of my past life memories, I’m creating new memories one by one as I spend my childhood in this world.

I put the bright yellow rolled omelet in my mouth with chopsticks, and as I chewed its sweetness, a pleasant breeze blew, making my hair flutter.

The long hair that Kagami combs every morning fluttered in the wind.

Though she wasn’t combing it with a brush like in the morning, Kagami was still slowly stroking my hair with her hand.

None of it felt awkward at all; it felt so natural that I silently accepted her touch.

I received and shared side dishes from Harumi and Yuu’s lunchboxes, and also put one in Kagami’s mouth. Kagami’s eyes were still slightly bloodshot, but she still looked happy.

“Mom, Mom.”

Suddenly remembering something, I picked up the camera Kagami had placed beside her.

I tried to hold the camera as far away from us as possible with both arms, but unfortunately, my arms were a bit short. I was still growing, after all.

As if knowing what I was thinking, Kagami took the camera and held it farther away.

After pointing the lens at us so that both our faces would appear in the camera—

“I’ll take it.”

Kagami said as she pressed the shutter.

It was a clear day without a single cloud.

The photo will surely turn out well.

*

All afternoon, I cheered until my throat was sore and danced enthusiastically.

During the tug-of-war, Harumi, Yuu, and I joined in and pulled the rope with all our might.

After putting in as much effort as my peers throughout the sports day—

“Kotone, are you tired?”

Yes.

By the end of the sports day, my body was completely drained.

To be properly captured by Kagami’s camera—

……

No.

Thinking about it again, I was simply having fun.

I was excited by the fact that Kagami was there in the distance. The fact that Kagami—my mom—was watching my movements.

My friends were beside me, and near Kagami were their families too.

It felt like our family could now blend in anywhere without standing out.

Probably as time passes, it will become even more so. Even the slight awkwardness I feel will disappear, and Kagami will gradually become more naturally my mother.

“……”

That fact alone made me feel a little sorry.

But Kagami would only be sad if she knew I was thinking this way.

“Kotone, Kotone.”

Kagami, who was walking while holding my hand, casually said.

“Do you want to get on my back?”

“Huh?”

I blinked and looked up at Kagami.

If I were still in kindergarten, I might have gotten on without much thought. I was small back then. Of course, being a child, I still had some weight.

But now I’m an elementary school student.

No matter how tall Kagami is, wouldn’t I be too heavy on her back?

“Hehe. Then, shall I carry my daughter on my back for the first time in a while?”

Saying that, Kagami crouched down in front of me.

With her palms facing me as if telling me to get on, strangely not with a reluctant expression but with an expectant look as she turned to me.

……

I raised my head to gauge how far we were from home.

It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to walk from school to home.

I had already walked about half the way, somewhat leaning on Kagami.

So, considering Kagami’s stamina, it might not be impossible.

But still, Kagami has to go to work again in a day or two.

“Kotone.”

Kagami called my name softly.

After hesitating a little, I finally accepted Kagami’s offer.

I slowly approached and leaned on Kagami’s back.

Kagami’s back was warm.

It seemed a little narrower than when I was younger.

Although there’s a big height difference between us, I wonder if there will come a day when I can carry Kagami like this.

Kagami supported my thighs with her hands. I wrapped my arms around her front and clung tightly to her back.

When Kagami stood up, my view suddenly rose higher.

“Kotone, you need to eat a bit more.”

Kagami said.

“I eat everything without leaving anything behind every day.”

I complained for no reason. Kagami chuckled at my voice.

“Then, should I increase your portion? I think it would be better if Kotone were a bit heavier.”

“…I won’t be able to finish if there’s more.”

“Hmm, is that so? Then I’ll have to think about it more. We don’t want Kotone to develop bad habits.”

I rested my cheek near Kagami’s neck.

The slightly swaying feeling was as gentle as sitting on a rocking chair, making drowsiness wash over me.

In the midst of walking that short distance of just a few minutes, I fell asleep.