Re: Death - Reincarnated Dead Into Another World

Chapter 51 - 44: A Glimpse of the Past

I was just an ordinary first year college student you can find anywhere. I know there ups and downs in my life, but aren't we all have? I can't just say that I'm someone special because of them. We're all in the same boat, just with different degrees of weight.

Anyways, today also, I'm going to the university to study.

I've set an objective to finish my studies and graduate, then I can get my degree. I just want to go out there and work.

What for, you ask?

… I don't know.

I particularly don't have anything in mind. I don't have any goals that I want to reach. No dreams to realize. I'm just living. Living this life I was given to me, by who I don't know.

Waking up to a morning with only the goal of finishing the day. Finishing the night with reports written, lying on the bed with regrets filling my brain. The next day, I'll wake up with the same feelings again.

Wondering if this kind of life will continue for the rest of my life, I went to the university for another day to spend.

*tap*

??: "Yo! Han! Hyaha~ So dark at the earliest of the day, eh?"

Oh. It shows in my face? I was sure I'm hiding it pretty good though.

Yohan: "Say my name right, you. Don't make sound like a greeting."

The girl, who tapped my shoulders and called out to me like she's actually the bestest of my few friends, waved her hands in front of me. The said girl, Chloe, greeted me with a smile, not losing to the brightness of the warm shine of the sun. Her voice was loud enough to bring a ringing to my ears, but heck, I'm already used to it by now.

She holds her backpack's strap with her hands, which awkwardly enough, is almost larger than her own body. Just what in the world is she stuffing in there?

Chloe: "What's your first lecture?"

So she's going to ignore it, huh?

Yohan: "Accounting."

Chloe: "Muu… We're not the same…"

What's the point in having a class together, anyways? Or so I almost asked, but swallowed the words. I'd rather not ask. I'd rather not, I tell you.

Chloe: "Say, want to have lunch together later? I mean, we're going to, right? It's decided!"

Yohan: "I haven't said anything, have I?"

Chloe: "Hyahaha~"

Well, I end up agreeing anyways. That's just how it is between us.

Chloe and I are certainly close. Close enough for people to think that we're dating or something.

Just like right now, we're walking together early in the morning. Then by lunch, we'll be together again. Lastly, we even go home together. She waits for me to finish my lecture, I wait for hers to finish. There are even days off she'll spend in my apartment without even doing anything.

That's just how we are. That's just how we have been.

Although… I doubt it will continue like this forever.

We'll graduate, look for a job, and then work. She'll find someone who she will love forever, create her own family, and live happily ever after. While me…

I don't know. I guess I'll just live my life working.

Nothing exciting, nothing fun. Every day, same old events. Nothing new.

It's not that bad, though. It's just…

Chloe: "-han."

I just want something exciting to encounter. I want to have fun.

Chloe: "Yohan!"

Oh, there. I got lost in thinking. I really need to fix that part of me. Much more when someone is talking to me.

Yohan: "… Ah. Yeah? So we're talking about how small you are?"

Chloe: "We definitely are not! Muu… My c.h.e.s.t is not that small…!!"

Yohan: "… No one is talking about your c.h.e.s.t."

I was surprised by her growth when I met her again during high school, but… I really felt relieved when my eyes fell upon her c.h.e.s.t. It's the only part that I still perfectly remember when we were still children.

So I won't deny that her bust part is really lonely for a girl her age…

Chloe: "~~!! I-It's your fault for saying something strange! Muu… You're always like that… *sigh* Also, weren't you thinking about something rude just now?"

Yohan: "My bad, my bad. So yeah? What were we talking about again?"

I try to return to the topic at hand as soon as possible. It'd be bad if this continues.

Chloe: "I'm asking you how's my sandwiches. Muu… Changing the topic like that as you please…"

Ahh… Right, right. We're eating lunch right now. In the end, I agreed to her plea and joined her for lunch. I mean, who wouldn't want free foods? I'm short this month, too. This really helps.

Yohan: "It's really good. I'd want to eat it every day."

Chloe: "Hyaha~! Are you proposing?? You're ten years too early for that mister!"

So if she gives me ten years, I can propose to her?

Not like I'll ask, though.

Yohan: "Well, that's just to say how it's really good. You've been good at cooking, after all. In contrast, I'd be shocked to death if this turned out to be bad."

Chloe: "Hehe~ Praise me more~"

Yohan: "Sure, sure. You're really good at cooking. A chef in the making. Everyone's waifu."

Chloe: "Ehehehehe~~"

She squirms on her sit as she rubs her hand on the back of her head.

Yohan: "Yeah, yeah. You also look good with your apron. You're so cute. Very cute. Everyone's wife material. You're b.o.o.b.s are so small."

Chloe: "Ehehehehehe~ That's not really- HEY!! What's with the last comment?!"

Hm. She noticed, huh? I was sure she was already swimming in her own heaven.

Yohan: "It's just your imagination, missus."

Chloe: "You said my b.o.o.b.s are small! You definitely said it!! Muuuuu!! Say that again and no more lunches for you!"

Yohan: "Wha… Anything but my free sandwiches!"

Now that'll be not good. That's precious meal right there, now that I'm in the red for this month. I can't waste such an opportunity.

Chloe: "Muu… I won't go that far. I know you're having it hard, but… Are they really small…? You really think so…?"

… I've stumbled…

Upon a landmine… Damn me.

This is the pattern where whatever I say, I'm on the route where I'll find myself dead in my apartment. Well, not really, but… You get what I mean.

Yohan: "That's-…"

??: "Yahoo…~ You two. So close as ever, eh?"

Chloe: "Ah! Dia!! *hug*"

As expected of Chloe, she's already hugging Diana as a greeting. She really loves doing that to girls she close with.

Yohan: "Diana…"

Greeted with a monotonic voice, a girl waved her hands at us while yawning.

Phew… She saved me there… Any more seconds she's late, then news will be covered with my body floating along a river.

Diana: "Yah, my dear brother. You're great at leeching, as usual."

Yohan: "Call it mooching, if you may."

Diana: "They're the same, dolt."

Are they? I didn't know…The latter sounded l.e.w.d so I prefer it, though.

The girl who came just now is Diana. Well… She is, in a sense, my sister. She's rather stoic at almost anything, but she's good at heart. She also loves reading like me, so we really get along at most parts.

Just like Chloe, we've known each other since we were children. Maybe much longer than Chloe, I think?

I guess the only special feature she carries is…

Diana: "Were you haunted by ghosts so you've gone idiotic, dear brother?"

Yeah. She loves paranormal things next to reading and sleep.

Chloe: "Eh?! Y-Yohan… You're being h-haunted…?"

And the other is weak at them. More like, she can't handle scary stuff. Because of that, she often gets teased by Diana.

Yohan: "Actually, I am…"

Also, there's me who loves joining at any fun I see.

Diana: "Ah…"

Releasing a surprised monotonic voice, which is actually Diana's normal tone, her gaze went from me to Chloe, who is hugging her at the moment. She made it look like something just went from me to her.

Chloe: "D-Dia… What's that 'Ah'? Wh-What is it…??"

Yohan: "Hmm… Somehow, I feel a lot better. As if a weight was lifted off my shoulders…"

Chloe: "… Eh…?"

I placed my hand over my shoulder and rotate it, as if I'm trying to relieve them from a prolonged weight. Then followed by the frightened face of Chloe, she's almost turning pale.

Diana: "Yes… Dear brother… The one that was haunting you…"

Chloe: "H-Haunting him…? Eh? Why are you both looking at me…?"

Fear is apparent on her face.

This is fun. Mufufu.

Diana: "It just transferred to you, Chlo…"

Chloe: "…!! Eeeeeekkkkk!!"

And just like that, another blissful and ordinary day passes. Teasing Chloe is fun, teasing Chloe with Diana is fun, so our lunch itself is really fun. The days are fun.

Yeah…

But somewhere inside me, I feel like I'm looking for something. Ah, no. It's not like I switched body with someone and is actually looking for them without a memory of the person. This is not a movie.

It's just… I feel like everything will end if I don't do something. But to begin with, I don't know what that something is. I feel like I've found it already, but I also feel like I haven't yet. It's frustrating me, even to this day.

But just like how most stories go, I'll just let it be and go on with my life.

Que sera, sera. What happens, happens.

…

??: ""Everyone. I found something weird. Want to check it out?"

Our org. president, Grant or something, suddenly called out to us, waking the other member beside me who was sleeping. Chloe jumped from her seat and trots towards the president.

*sigh* I'd rather you just be honest and say you can't handle books.

She's more into movies than books, after all.

Grant: "This book, you see. I don't know what it is, but it looks weird so let's check it out."

… This weird-loving freak. He's really weird with his tastes and all.

He brought out a book from his bag and placed it on the table. The other members also joined the fray as well and checked out what's happening. I am reading so listening will do for me. I'm not really into stuff unless it's interesting for me.

Go ahead and enjoy yourselves.

Grant: "… It looks like a book out of a fantasy novel…"

Yohan: "Oh, so this is what it looks like. Let me check it out too."

Chloe: "That's quick, Yohan… If you could just use that enthusiasm in running with me…"

Diana: "*yawn* Well… That's just my dear brother being himself."

I love fantasy, okay? Leave me alone, both of you.

Grant: "Haha. No matter. Let's all check it out then."

Pres wiped the dusted book with a slightly wet cloth. From the looks of it, it's bound with a leather material so it won't damage it even if the cloth is wet.

What greeted us from the bind is…

[Thine Conquest, Thine Reward.]

Is that the title? It's hard to read, but that's how it looks to me.

The Pres opened the book and read the encrypted words in it for us.

To sum it up, it's about a world where there are three races who are on constant war. The Humans who are great with their creations and wisdom. The Elves who excels at magic. The Beastmen who boasts pure physical strength. These three races continues to wage war with each other, fighting for a single goal. To eradicate the rest of the race, and reign as the only race all over the world.

However, the war continues without a clear victor. The Humans bests the Aelves with their mind work and planning. The Aelves bests the Beastmen with their spells and wide range offense. The Beastmen bests the Humans with their brutal assault without leaving a single combatant at the battlefield.

No one wins, no one loses.

That's why the three Goddesses came up with a better plan. For them to give them a hero. A hero that will stand up for them and fight for their race.

The races waited for their heroes, their Summoned Ones.

Some have come, but they suffer in battle before they even manifest their powers.

So even until now, the races' wait for their one true hero continues.

I'm not really sure who wrote this stuff or for what reason, but… I really don't get its point. Is it a prose? But it's written in poetry. Is it a song or something? Was it written for entertainment?

Well, I guess there's just someone out there who has a lot of time in his hands.

Grant: "What do you guys think?"

??: "What, you say… I just don't know what it wants to say. First of all, I'm not even sure of it's a story or what. Not to mention how it's battered and old. Hmph! Not worth my time."

Oh, she has spoken…

That's the organization's vice president and is actually Pres' childhood friend. If I remember correctly, her name is…

Grant: "Well, don't say that, Esther. We're about to think what it's all about."

Ah, right, right. Esther. Right. I forgot.

But to think these two are friends…

Grant is like your typical nice guy. He's even popular with the girls, even from those in other colleges. He has this gentle aura that you won't believe that he could get angry with someone.

Though the only thing why it's rumored that he still haven't had her first girlfriend is because of his weird obsession with weird things. Anything he finds weird, he'll do anything to get it. I suppose, most of the girls who got to know about it, stops halfway.

Vice Pres on the other hand is someone who has knives for eyes. One look from her, even those delinquents outside are forced to submit. Her mouth is even made with swords. One word and you'll feel your heart get wrenched in two.

I heard she's been on Pres side since their high school days or something. But strangely enough, they're not dating too. It reminds me of my relationship with Chloe. So I kind of understand.

Sometimes, Vice Pres is even the reason why some girls decide to back away from confessing to Pres.

At any rate, it's a weird combination, to be frank.

Chloe: "You love these kind of stories, right Yohan?"

Yohan: "Hm? Yeah. I guess so."

Chloe: "You sound unsure. Myu? You didn't like it?"

Well, if I had to choose, I'd say I liked it. But… There's just something in it that kind of bothers me. And the frustrating part is I don't even know what that something is.

*sigh* I really hate vague things.

Grant: "What about, Chloe? Did you like it?"

Chloe: "Me? You see… I somehow imagined how two different races may somehow join together or something like that. Hyaha~"

Grant: "Meaning?"

Chloe: "Like… Imagine an Elf and a Human fall in love with each other. They fight for their love, even if it means they will have to fight their own race…! Kyaaah! So romantic! Then perhaps a miracle will happen and will bore fruit! Aahh… A lovely family…"

She really does like those kinds of stories, huh? The staple in movies. She prefers action more than anything, but she also loves this passionate ones that centers in love.

Chloe doesn't interact much with her parents, because of their job. So most of her time, she spends them with me. But that doesn't mean that she won't long for a proper and loving family. I, myself, understand that part of hers. I'm an orphan, after all.

Hm? Were those encryptions there before?

New words, which are written in a language I haven't heard of, have appeared in the last page of the book. I really think it there's only a blank page there before… But…

Grant: "What about Esther?"

Esther: "Hm? I'm fine with anything. Like, I'd rather be myself rather than any another."

Chloe: "Boo! Esty's being boring again!"

Esther: "Wh-Who are you calling Esty?!"

Well, look at her lips curl into a smile, though. With all is said and done, she's just a normal girl who loves being with others. She's just shy to admit it. That's how it seemed for me, at least. As if I know anything about her.

Grant: "Ahaha. So we're choosing which race we want now?"

Somehow, the talk went to that direction, huh?

Diana: "I'd rather see a Beastman. I bet they're cute and all. Their fluffy tail would be nice to have while sleeping."

She has lots of stuff animals in her room, if I remember right.

Wait, it's as if this turned out into some Psychological test or something.

Chloe: "What about you, Yohan? What'd you want to be?"

Yohan: "Me? Hmmm…"

For me.

I guess, I'd rather be a…

…

Ciel: "Who would've thought I'll be among the monsters, eh? Ahahaha."

Fina: "Huh?? You said something??"