Hello. If you're reading this, it means I'm dead…
Oh well, I suppose that was my fate.
You're probably wondering why I accepted that fate so easily.
The reason is simple: I brought this on myself… or at least I think I did.
A few minutes ago, I was on my way to a friend's house because her mother invited me over for dinner.
Pretty normal, right? Moms often invite their kids' friends; even my own mom has done that with Rumi's classmates more than once.
But the situation I'm in now… yeah, it's not looking great for me.
I was only a few minutes away when I decided to stop and buy a drink—my first mistake.
If only I'd skipped that, everything would've gone as expected: show up, enjoy dinner, have a pleasant conversation with Yumiko's parents. Her father might have made me a bit uncomfortable, but as long as I acted respectfully and showed I had no ulterior motives toward his precious daughter, the evening would've ended with a polite goodbye and me walking home with a nice smile.
A perfectly peaceful day.
But the world doesn't work that way. It never does.
What I mean is: that peaceful scenario never happened, and it all traces back to that first mistake.
But calling that the crucial factor would be pessimistic—and honestly, I'm more of a realist.
So no, buying a drink wasn't what doomed me… but it was definitely the beginning of the end.
I'm drifting off again. Let me just list every action that turned a supposedly peaceful dinner into anything but peaceful:
- Calling Yumiko an annoying girl.
Her father probably didn't take it seriously—he knows exactly what kind of daughter he has. Still… everything adds up.
- Talking about our "types" when it comes to women.
I wasn't thinking of Yumiko when I said mine; it was just a general opinion.
However, from an outside perspective… yeah, it doesn't look great.
- "She's a beautiful girl—long hair, lovely eyes, great thighs, and above all… a pair of mountains."
Those were my exact words. Those words dug my grave. Deeply.
- Yumiko's father making a comment about the size of said "mountains," and me understanding it correctly.
Not my fault. But playing along?
Yeah… that was definitely my fault.
- Him giving me his support to pursue that girl—who, of course, happened to be his daughter.
This was the real death flag.
I may not fully understand it from a father's perspective, but from an older brother's?
I get it.
It's like cheering on a friend who's into "some girl" and then finding out that girl is your little sister.
- "Raiden, you're actually on time today! I thought you'd make me wait half an hour again like last time."
How would you react if you found out some bastard made your daughter—or sister—wait half an hour?
Exactly.
You'd crush him without hesitation.
And that was the exact expression I saw on Yumiko's father's face.
So when you add up those six points, the result is my death. Metaphorically… hopefully.
Am I exaggerating?
Maybe.
But when I walked into their house a few minutes ago, I was greeted by a pretty luxurious interior—not millionaire-level, but definitely close.
Unfortunately, since someone was radiating pure murderous intent, I didn't exactly take my time admiring the decor. Even so, it's obvious Yumiko's parents earn good money.
The dining table I'm sitting at right now practically screams "refined spending."
The good news was that, as soon as I entered, Yumiko guided me straight to the dining room, where her mother had already finished serving dinner. For the occasion, she wore a long-sleeved red blouse and black jeans, covered by a kitchen apron.
Comfort over style. Mom would approve.
Dinner started sooner than I expected, which brings me to my current situation.
After thanking them for the meal, it's… difficult to take the first bite while feeling Yumiko's father's eyes drilling into my skull.
I'm pretty sure he wants to erase me from the face of the earth—or at least that's what his stare keeps telling me.
And with my luck, I ended up sitting directly across from him. Yumiko sits at my right, and her mother is across from her. Perfect seating arrangement for my funeral.
If I want to see tomorrow's sunrise, I'd better behave flawlessly.
I shifted my eyes toward my plate, pretending everything was normal. Worrying won't help, and if this really is my last dinner, I'd at least like to enjoy it.
And to be fair, Yumiko's mother really outdid herself.
Gyoza and wakame no sunomono as starters; sashimi, tempura, yakitori, and nabe for the mains; miso soup and rice on the side.
What does each dish consist of? I'll leave that to your imagination.
Everything looks delicious—though it's hard to fully enjoy it with a sniper aiming at me from across the table.
"Rai-kun, don't hold back. I made this especially for you~" Yumiko's mother said with a bright smile.
She probably assumed I was being shy because I hadn't started eating yet.
I'd love to answer cheerfully, but the moment she said that, her husband's glare sharpened even more.
"Darling, could you stop shooting murderous looks at Rai-kun?" she asked, nudging him lightly.
"I just wanted to make sure he enjoys your cooking," he replied with a smile so fake it could peel paint.
Yeah… this man definitely wants me six feet under.
Still, as long as his wife stays at the table, this is considered relatively safe territory. Hopefully.
I finally picked up my chopsticks and started eating. Everything tasted as amazing as it looked.
"Raiden, what do you think? I helped prepare dinner too," Yumiko said, puffing her chest proudly.
"Are you sure you didn't just offer moral support?"
If she wants honesty, then yes—she doesn't exactly strike me as someone who can cook.
"That's so rude. Do you really think I can't cook?"
I looked away and kept eating. My silence answered for me. Yumiko, now offended, puffed her cheeks and turned to her own plate.
"It's delicious," I said without looking at her.
Not exactly answering her question, but close enough. And honestly, Yumiko is the type to fish for praise anyway, arrogance included.
"Come on, don't be shy. If you liked my cooking that much, I can make it for you from now on," she said, laughing lightly.
"Having your cooking every day… I guess that wouldn't be such a bad idea, don't you think?"
She froze for a second, surprised by how easily I agreed, then immediately regained her usual confidence.
"If you want that kind of privilege, you'll have to earn it~"
Before I could answer, Yumiko's father cleared his throat loudly enough to shake my soul.
"I didn't know you two called each other by your given names."
His voice sounded calm.
His eyes… not so much.
Calling someone by their first name usually implies closeness—friends at the very least, couples at worst. And if the two people involved are a boy and a girl, well… it's only natural for him to misunderstand.
"Yumiko made me do it."
For a moment, his eyebrows lifted.
Why do I suddenly feel even more pressure in his stare?
Maybe I shouldn't have phrased it like that—it basically implies his daughter wanted to get closer to me.
"Honey, you're being old-fashioned. Young people today aren't that traditional," Yumiko's mother said, stepping in to save me from complete annihilation.
Bless this woman.
He let out a quiet "I see…" and gave Yumiko a subtle glance, as if trying to confirm something.
"Raiden is my friend, and friends call each other by their names!"
For a moment, I almost laughed, but somehow managed to hold it in. That line sounded like something a grade-schooler would proudly announce—and it absolutely didn't suit Yumiko.
Still… she wasn't wrong. Close friends do call each other by their first names.
I grabbed a piece of fried chicken and brought it to my mouth. Meals are usually for small talk anyway; anything heavier is saved for later.
"Since we're on the topic…" Yumiko's mother smiled warmly. "We haven't introduced ourselves properly yet, so Rai-kun, why don't you go first?"
Once I finished chewing, I straightened up a little.
"Tsurumi Raiden, third-year middle school student."
"No need to be so formal, Rai-kun. Still… Raiden. Mmm, do you know what the kanji in your name mean?"
Her question caught me completely off guard. I'd never been curious enough to ask what my own name was supposed to mean.
In Japan, name kanji often have multiple interpretations. If my memory from Japanese class is accurate…
"Raiden uses the kanji 雷 for thunder and 電 for lightning."
At least, I think that's right.
"Mmm, it can also refer to the god of thunder and lightning. In Japanese mythology, it's tied to thunder deities."
For a second, Yumiko's father returned to the calm, collected version of himself—the one I'd talked with on the way here.
Hopefully he stays like that… and forgets everything we talked about earlier.
"Your parents must be fans of mythology," Yumiko said, taking a bite of tempura.
"My parents never explained why they picked the name, so I can't say much about it."
Mental note: ask Mom and Dad later.
"My turn." Yumiko's mother dabbed her lips with a napkin before speaking brightly. "Miura Emiko, branch manager of Pasona Group Inc. in Chiba."
"What does your company do?"
I'm not some prodigy who instantly understands a company's field just by hearing its name.
"We provide management solutions for many types of businesses. My branch specializes in human resources support and training, consulting for overseas expansion, worker guarantees, and everything related to internal corporate operations."
To be honest, Emiko-san completely surpassed whatever tiny expectations I had about her job.
"By the way, the kanji for my name are 恵 (blessing), 美 (beauty), and 子 (child), which can be read as 'a blessed and beautiful girl.'" She smiled cheerfully before taking another bite of rice.
I nodded, still processing everything she'd just said—not the name part, but the weight of her responsibilities.
Before I died and reincarnated here, one of my university classmates worked as an assistant in HR. He always looked exhausted, constantly complaining about how brutal the workload was. HR is the backbone of any company.
So hearing that Emiko-san manages an entire branch that handles all of that… honestly, it's impressive.
Thinking about her relaxed, cheerful personality—yet how serious she can be when needed—it fits perfectly.
To run a branch like hers, you can't be too soft or too strict. Emiko-san hits the perfect balance.
"You flatter me so much, Rai-kun~"
"Hm?"
I looked up to find Emiko-san beaming proudly for some reason.
"I feel the same way as Raiden," Yumiko added with a nod.
…Wait. What's going on?
…Did I say that out loud?
My eyes drifted toward Yumiko's father—he was staring at me with a deep, stern look.
Yeah.
I definitely did.
It's not like I said anything offensive; I just stated plainly that the kanji in Emiko-san's name suit her perfectly. From any angle, it was a compliment.
"Dear, you should introduce yourself," she said.
Yumiko's father set down his chopsticks before speaking.
"Miura Takeshi. I'm the chief physician at Chiba University Hospital." He said it calmly, like someone who'd repeated that introduction countless times.
I already knew he was a doctor, but I didn't expect him to be the chief physician at Chiba's main hospital—the same place where I first met Yumiko. Suddenly, everything made a lot more sense.
"That's incredible," I said honestly.
Chiba University is well-known in the city; even middle-schoolers know its name. The university is famous for its strict entrance exam, and getting in basically guarantees a job thanks to all its partnerships with major institutions.
Why was I thinking about Chiba University again?
Oh, right—the hospital where Takeshi-san works is affiliated with it, so medical students train there. Students from other universities can apply too, but it's much harder.
Which means Takeshi-san must be a Chiba University graduate. And since he said he met his wife there, Emiko-san should also be an alumna of the same university.
Really, when you think about it, Yumiko's parents are on a whole different level.
Speaking of higher education, it's impossible not to mention Japan's number one—The University of Tokyo. Every year, students from across the prefectures aim for it. But living in Tokyo isn't cheap, and if you're from Chiba, moving there just adds more expenses.
I still have three years before I need to worry about university, so that's future-me's problem. Good luck, future me.
"It's not that big of a deal…" Takeshi-san muttered, scratching the back of his head, though he looked pleased.
"Is it really that amazing?" Yumiko asked.
The moment she did, his expression dropped.
"It's one of the best universities in Japan, and the top one in Chiba," I said as I put some food in my mouth.
Just like me, Yumiko hasn't thought about university at all, so it felt necessary to at least mention that Chiba University is a pretty good school.
"But it's not the best in Japan, right?" she asked as she tilted her head.
"That would be the University of Tokyo. It's Japan's top university—internationally recognized, with partnerships in several countries."
Well… that's what I read on brochures at bus stops.
"I see… Then why didn't you study at the University of Tokyo?" she asked casually, looking straight at her father.
"Well… you know…" Takeshi-san struggled, clearly searching for an answer.
"Yumi, your father tried applying to the University of Tokyo, but he didn't pass the exam," Emiko-san said calmly.
"Mmm, I thought you were smarter than that," she said, completely unfazed.
Oi, oi… you shouldn't say that about your father.
And why is he looking at me like he wants to erase me from existence? Terrifying…
"I forgot to mention it, but the kanji for my name are 武 (warrior) and 志 (will). You can interpret it as 'Warrior's Will,'" he said with a kind smile that sent a chill down my spine.
Should I take that as a threat? Yeah… probably.
"Now that you both mentioned it, what do the kanji of my name mean?" Yumiko asked while picking up a piece of fried chicken.
You can guess the meaning of your name sometimes, but that's different from knowing why your parents chose it.
Her name can be written in two common ways; the most typical is 由美子 (archer girl), but I doubt that was their intention.
Kanji readings are still tricky for me.
Emiko-san took a sip of tea before answering.
"The kanji for your name are 由 (origin), 美 (beauty), and 子 (child). It means 'child of beautiful origin.' That's the meaning we chose the moment you were born." She smiled softly, as if reliving that memory.
"More specifically, it was because of the color of your eyes," Takeshi-san added.