Chapter 37: Season Finale "First Bite"


TL: Akabane


***


I think the best part of being a college student is having classes starting in the second period. These moderately leisurely mornings are really the best. Well, I don't want to be late, and college classes are basically fun, so I go early.


"Oh, I'm so tired from drinking so much! I really raised it too much!"


I left the station with a voice that I'm not sure if it sounded like a college student or a ranting protagonist. I was about to walk toward the campus when I suddenly saw a lottery ticket shop in my field of vision. And next to it, for some reason, I saw my wife.


"Huh? Eh? Uh? What? Ha?"


When people are too surprised, their voices bug me. I don't know what that means. My wife was sitting on top of a sports bag right next to the counter of the lottery shop, reading a book. I've seen my wife's eccentric behavior several times in the past, but this is quite surreal today. I feel like I shouldn't go through with this. In fact, other students on the street are looking at me suspiciously, and the lady at the lottery booth looks annoyed. I approach the lottery ticket booth and ask,


"What are you doing...?"


"Oh...good morning...Tokiwa."


My wife looked up and closed the architectural design book she was reading and put it on her lap.


"Tokiwa, your performance the other day was so radiant."


She suddenly declared something rude with a kind smile on her face.


"Huh? What is this out of the blue? I mean, why are you doing this?"


"Because I wanted to win the lottery."


I have no idea what she's talking about. I don't understand what this woman is saying. My wife stood up.


"Speaking of which. I haven't been to that expensive cafeteria yet. You see, Tokiwa turned me down the other day, so I couldn't go, right? I wanted to go so badly."


"Don't naturally blame me. You can go to that place anytime you want."


"Really? I don't think I can go there anytime. I don't feel like it. The menu is so expensive... the bar is so high... for me..."


My wife is somewhat sozzled. It's like she's trying to say something but can't. This is the same as in the past. This is the old wife I knew.


"I see. Hmmm.  ...Well, it's a little expensive. I'm sure you're not comfortable with that."


I decided to continue the conversation. My wife was usually chatty, but sometimes she seemed reluctant to say something like this. Sometimes it was something important, and sometimes it was something embarrassing. I mustn't miss it. So I had to encourage her to say it and wait for it.


"Yes! I was kind of resistant! So! I've got an idea! Let's draw lots! Whoever wins gets to buy the drinks! What do you think? Don't you think that's a good idea...?"


Somehow, she clutched at me. She said this with a lonely smile on her face. This was a face I didn't know. Oh, she has a face I don't know. I know it now for the first time.... I meditate. I think of my old wife, the one I spent so much time with. There are many similarities. But there were also differences. Today, I am clearly aware of this.








The one in front of me now is the same, but she is a new girl I met.







That's right. That's how it was. This world has rewound.









I couldn't forgive her sins.


So I punished her excessively.


I took on the new burden of guilt.






And all of the loving memories I had with her are gone from this world.



There are no more memories of my time with Ririse that left in this world.



The memory of being loved and the proof of that love are gone.









I see.











I can rewind time and start over.


That all memories are only in my mind.










This was my punishment.












"What's wrong? Are you sick? Are you okay?"


Ririse Igarashi looks into my face and caresses my cheek. It's soft. I know her well, but somehow I don't know.


"I said something strange, didn't I? I'm sorry. Forget what I just said..."


"No, I can't. I won't forget. That's right. Let's do it."


I buy two scratch-offs from the lady at the counter. Then I hold them out in front of Igarashi.


"Take whichever one you want."


"What...you don't mind if I draw from there? That lottery is Tokiwa's."


"That's fine. I don't care."


This is the first time we worked together in this redo world. If we were going to do something, we wanted to do it together. We couldn't do anything together from the day of our mistake in the previous world. So, together. I wanted to do something together.


"...I see! Yes! Then, I'm going to pull over!"


Igarashi stood to my left, gazed at the lottery ticket in my hand, and chose one. Then I took a ten-yen coin from my wallet and was about to shave off the silver paper when she said,


"Ah, wait!"


I stop my hand at the sound of her voice. Igarashi smiled a big smile.


"Yes! Let's trade that for this raffle!"


The raffle ticket she chose is held out to me.


"Trade? Does that mean anything?"


"Yes! It does! I pick one for you, and you pick one for me! Tokiwa picks one and I draw one! Maybe something good will happen!"


I couldn't help but laugh at the suggestion. The raffle is a sure thing when you buy it from the counter. Theoretically, yes. But what Igarashi was saying made me feel strangely warm inside.


"Okay. Then let's trade."


"Yes. We'll trade."


We trade our lots. Then we shaved the silver paper.


"What...? No way."


"Oh! Seriously!"


We both won...500 yen. The total for both of us was exactly 1,000 yen.


"Really? This? I'm not dreaming, am I? No way! Yes! Yes! I hit it! Kyahahaha!"


Igarashi was shouting with her hands in the air.


"You're exaggerating. It's only 500 yen."


"It's not just a mere 500 yen! It's my first time! It's the first time I won the lottery! I did it! That's great! Hahaha! Hahahaha!"


Igarashi was snapping photos of the winning lottery ticket. Is she that happy? She even started taking selfies with the winning lottery ticket.


"Tokiwa! Join me, Tokiwa! Come on!"


She takes my left elbow and pulls it.


"Oh, hey, hey!"


"No hey, hey! Just say hi, cheese!"


Igarashi smiled her best smile, and I got a somewhat stiff, confused, but smiling picture.


"No!!! That's great! Tokiwa! You're so lucky to let me win the lottery!"


"Hm? Is that so? Well, I guess you could say that."


I guess I was one of the lucky ones after my time leap. I met kind people. I've had some interesting days.


"Mm-hmm! That's great! Tokiwa must be an agetin!"


We redeemed our lottery ticket on the spot. Igarashi looked at the shiny 500 yen coin with urchin eyes and clutched it tightly to her chest.


"...Hey. Wait a minute. What did you say just now?"


"It's agetin! That's what you call a lucky boy, right? Tomoe told me."


That mackerel b*tch! She's been spouting funny words to Igarashi! Every time I take a selfie with a girl, the number of terrible long names increases. Friendship -> second -> darling -> agetin. What a change! It's too much!


"That's a misuse. Look up the meaning on the Internet later. You're saying something outrageous."


"Eh? Is that so? All right. But a grounder is good, but Agetin Tokiwa! Cool!"


No, it's not. That's absolutely not cool.


"By the way. What do you do when it's a draw?"


"Oh, we didn't decide. What should I do? Ufufu."


That's when it happened. A chime rang, signaling the start of second period.


"Eh. Even if I go now, I'm going to be late. Ah, I'm late!"


"...Is this...a chance to skip class? Tokiwa! Let's skip second period! It's Liberal Arts Math anyway! It'll be fine if we skip it once or twice!"


"Well, that's how college classes are."


"That's what I've always wanted to do! I've always wanted to skip a class! You can't skip classes in high school! This is my first time! I feel like a delinquent!"


"Ah. You're at that age...yeah, I guess so. Well, it's okay once in a while."


College classes aren't so tough that skipping one or two classes will cause you to lose credits. Besides, I didn't want to say anything that would make Igarashi cold when I saw her looking so happy right now. So I naturally said,


"Then, why don't you go to the more expensive cafeteria?"


"Ah! That's a good idea! Let's go! I bet it's empty this time, so we can have the place to ourselves! Wow, that sounds fun! Woohoo!"


We headed for the expensive cafeteria together. Igarashi was walking on my left, humming happily.

















I don't know what will happen next anymore. We may end up on different paths someday.






But for now, it was just the two of us, enjoying the same moment together.














Season 1 "Spring Meets Past Sins, Future Punishment, And Redemption" Complete.




Season 2 "Hell GW Newcomers' Camp! Kanata, The Circle Crusher (Physics)!" to be continued!






***Author's musings***

　




Next time, I'm going to do a date with Yuzuriha in Akihabara, ignoring the timeline a bit.


Weekday dates are the best part of being a college student, aren't they? I'm almost done with the plot for Season 2.


The plot for Season 2 is almost ready (just need to work out the details) so I should be able to release it rather soon.


Please wait a little.





Acknowledgements


I am very surprised at how far this piece has come.


I owe a huge debt of gratitude to you, my readers!


We look forward to working with you again in the future.



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