I’m Back in the First Grade of Elementary School, so I’m Going to Live Well

Command Question

Translated by Green Cake
Edited by Green Cake

It’s been about ten minutes since I’ve been on my knees.

Or maybe it hasn’t even been a minute yet.

I was nervous and embarrassed, and my heart was pounding so fast that time seemed to be moving very slowly.

“…… So, what’s the third command?”

I can’t stand the contact with the girl, so I ask her to urge her to finish the lap pillow.

“Don’t rush me. I want to stay like this for a while longer.”

But it looks like the lap pillow will continue.

“Can we have a little talk?”

“Talk?”

“Yes, a talk. A story to get to know you better.”

“Well, that’s okay, but…… My stories are not that interesting.”

I was living as a single freelancer until I was 28, and then I woke up one morning and I was back in first grade, or something like that.

“It’s fine if it’s not interesting, I just want to know. I want to know about Sho-kun.”

“What do you mean, about me, like my height and weight?”

I said to myself, but I thought to myself that this information was not going to be worth anything.

There is no need or benefit to know what you can find out from such a physical examination unless it is yours.

If anything, it would be a disadvantage because it would be a waste of information in the memory area of the brain.

“Well, I’d like to know that, too.”

You want to know? You want to know my information, which is not even worth a penny.

There were quite a few people around me who liked things.

“But, you know. If possible, I would like to know what you like, Sho-kun.”

“What I like… huh…”

“It doesn’t have to be a thing, just something you like.”

In other words, she wants to know my hobbies and preferences. This is another piece of information that doesn’t seem to be of any benefit.

Well, it’s up to the individual to decide whether it’s beneficial or not, and if Mizui-san wants to know, I’ll gladly tell her. I don’t have any hobbies or preferences that I would be embarrassed to share.

“If you don’t mind my information.”

“Really”

“Yeah, sure.”

I could see the smile of happiness spilling from her face in my lap.

If you are happy with this, I will provide you with as much information as you want.

“Then, let’s start with…”

She struggled with the question, her voice bouncing.

There are so many choices when it comes to what you like and what you do that it’s hard to decide in an instant.

She waited a few seconds and then opened her mouth.

“Tell me about your favorite food.”

“Favorite food…”

I was troubled because it was so safe.

Of course, it’s not that I don’t have a favorite food. In fact, there are so many that I am troubled about.

“Hmmm… I like all kinds of food.”

“No, not like that. Tell me the one you like best.”

Well, that’s true.

“Anything” is not an answer, is it?

However, when it comes to deciding the best, it is difficult.

I have been in contact with food for almost thirty years. Well, I’m not a gourmand or anything like that, so it’s not like I’ve tasted fine cuisine or delicacies, but I’ve worked part-time in restaurants and I’ve been exposed to a fair amount of food.

When it comes to choosing one of these dishes, I can’t help but think about it.

“Hmmm… Japanese food…?”

“No, not a vague one.”

That’s right.

The only thing I have established is that I prefer Japanese food to Western food, probably because of my part-time job at a restaurant, but that is not the answer to Mizui-san’s question.

I never thought I’d have to worry so much about such a simple question.

If this is the case, I should have made a list of my favorite foods.

“Sho-kun… are you… indecisive?”

“Guha!”

A first grader abused me with a four-letter word. It’s quite hurtful…

It’s my fault for not being able to give you a quick answer.

“T-Thank you for your sobering remarks.”

“…? You’re welcome…?”

She tilted her head on my little sarcasm and self-deprecation.

“――Umm, well, stir-fried vegetables, I guess. What I like best?”

I couldn’t avoid answering the question, so I just answered what I liked the most at the restaurant.

I said “stir-fried vegetables,” but only the stir-fried vegetables at the restaurant.

“Hee~, that’s unusual. I thought it would be more like meat or fried food.”

“That’s certainly a better way to go for a first grader.”

Please don’t misunderstand me, I’m not making fun of adults who like meat and fried foods.

――Who the hell am I explaining what to?

“… Sho-kun is so mature, isn’t he?”

I’m actually an adult.

“I’ll take your word for it.”

Even as an adult, Mizui-san seems mature to me.

It was very itchy to be called mature by such a girl.

“――Next question. Let’s see… what is your favorite sport?”

“Ah, I’m not good at sports in general.”

It’s not that I don’t like sports, but I can’t like something I’m not good at.

I’ve never even been to a sports game.

“That’s surprising. I thought you were good at sports because you’re fast.”

“I’m just a fast runner. ――Well, but I like to run a lot, so if you asked me what my favorite sport is, I guess it would be track and field?”

The answer was in the form of a question.

“――Next, favorite place to go out.”

“I like the countryside better than the city. My grandfather’s house was in the countryside, so maybe that’s why I like places with a lot of nature.”

However, I don’t remember much about my grandpa’s house.

The only thing I remember is that it was in a rural area where rice paddies were closer than convenience stores. That’s all I remember, but everything else is a bit hazy.

The only other thing I remember about my grandfather is… 

… Wait, this is not relevant right now

“You mean you also like forests like this one?”

“I like it, but I like the sea better.”

“The sea. ――I’ll keep that in mind.”

“What are you going to do with it?”

“Fufufu, it’s a secret.”

Mizui-san smirked as if she was planning something, though it was probably not a devious plan.

“Hey, can I ask you more questions?”

“Only if time permits.”

That’s what we originally agreed on.

“What’s your favorite animal?”

“If I had to choose between cats and dogs, I’d say dogs.”

I’ve been scratched by a cat before.

“What is your favorite color?”

“Blue.”

I like cool colors.

“Favorite hairstyle?”

“Hairstyle… I like my hair pretty well right now, so I guess it’s my hair right now.”

I answer while fiddling with the ends of my hair.

It’s not that I’m confident in my hairstyle. It was just that I didn’t know much about other hairstyles, so I could only answer that way.

“That’s not what I wanted to know, but…”

Mizui-san combed her hair with a hand comb, looking frustrated.

It seems that she was not satisfied with my answer.

“――Then, what’s your favorite women’s clothing?”

“Women’s clothing? If I answer that, won’t I be sued for sexual harassment?”

Even if that’s not the case, won’t they don’t be? Is it right not to answer in this case?

I was puzzled, unable to grasp her true intentions.

“Fufufu, I wouldn’t. So, what do you think?”

If that’s what she said, then I guess there’s no problem in answering.

“Women’s clothing, huh? I don’t know much about that at all…”

But there was another problem.

My knowledge of women’s clothing is limited.

There’s nothing I know―――

“… Ah, maybe the dress Mizui-san wore when you came before.”

“Eh? Re, really?”

Mizui-san glanced at my face.

“Yeah, I like that dress.”

I didn’t mean anything by it. That’s what I really thought.

“I, I see, ――so… that’s…”

I could tell from her face that her ears were red.

It seems that she liked my answer this time.

“Then… umm… ――can I ask you one last question?”

“Hmm? Is that the last one?”

There was still some time to spare.

It wouldn’t have been a problem to ask a few more questions, but she insisted that the next one would be the last.

“Yes, the last one is fine. But you must answer the last question. That’s the third command.”

“……”

Preparedness, then determination.

The tone of her voice changed.

The weight of the question was different from the previous ones.

――It’s a question she wanted me to answer even if she had to use her command.

I already had a hunch.

I already knew the content of the question and the meaning behind it.

“Sho-kun… the girl you like…”