Chapter 2.2. I’ve Been Reincarnated

I realized that this place was Japan, and I was just a baby. Finally, I can crawl, make wobbly steps, show smiles, and beg to be picked up by saying ‘Papa’ and ‘Mama.’

My parents were worried because I didn’t move around much and rarely cried at night. I was also afraid my body might break, so I can only apologize for that aspect.

Being held and seeking comfort, I still look around while snuggling, but there’s a  smartphone. There’s a TV too, and there’s regular food. They have tamagoyaki and curry. Yep, it’s Japan. The TV content is ordinary. My parents seem to like traveling and eating, so they often watch programs related to that.

Black eyes, black hair, an average appearance, not too thin or too fat, just a standard body type. Normal. Living in a single-family house, my mother is a homemaker. My father is a salaryman. I don’t know what kind of work he does, but he can usually come home at regular hours.

A typical family. Even though they’re not newlyweds, they’re still affectionate, caring for each other, saying kind and grateful words, sharing household chores, and taking family walks on days off. Occasionally we eat out.

Some might pity that I reincarnated into an ordinary family. What a shame to be in an ordinary family.

But anyone who says such words is probably young. A homemaker, you know? They own land and live in a single-family house; they don’t seem to be struggling for money. Above all, my family relationship is very good. They’re like miracle parents. Are these people saints?

It’s definitely better than being reincarnated into a world of swords and magic.

After all, that world sounds troublesome, right? Above all, there’s no TV or internet. I can’t watch uploaded videos or play games. I can’t survive there. There’s no delicious food either.

“Mii-chan, it’s snack time~.”

It’s a few years later. I’m rolling around in the living room, and my mother beckons me with a smile. I’m rolling around because it’s fun. I’ve become young again, and it seems my mind has become one too.

“Yes~”

I walk with little steps and let my mother pick me up. Physical contact is important.

“Mama, snack!”

With a smile on my face, I express my gratitude. It’s important to say thank you for everything. I always say ‘thank you’ to my parents with a smile. Family is important.

“Today, we have homemade cookies. Be careful, they’re still hot.”

“Homemade!”

I unconsciously open my mouth wide in surprise. Because the cookies are homemade, you know?

“Yes, here you go.”

My mother placed cookies and milk on the table. When I pick them up, they’re faintly warm. Seriously, warm cookies? Huh? Are they homemade cookies? Like, some legendary item?

I take a small bite, and it returns with a crispy and light texture, sweetness spreading and warmth lingering in my mouth. It’s the first time I’ve had warm cookies! They’re freshly made!

I used to think homemade cookies were just a myth. Incredibly delicious. The best.

I knew that this environment was the best. My previous life parents divorced, and they always spoke ill of each other, so maybe the comparison was too harsh.

But even with a skewed comparison, I’m still moved. I’ve never seen a family like this. Even on TV, the close-knit families are mostly immortal sea families from dramas. In real life, people often divorce, and they don’t reconcile without some dramatically adventurous event. Ever heard of the suspension bridge effect? I’m curious.

So, I know that scenes of an ordinary family are like miracles. My mother feels somewhat like a slightly refined sheltered daughter, perhaps from a well-off family.

I absolutely won’t let this family collapse. I tightly grip the cookie, and it shatters into pieces.

“Cookie~”

My tear glands are fragile in this young body. My tears well up. Homemade cookies. More rare than the holy sword Excalibur or Muramasa, I’m on the verge of tears, and my mother smiles softly, patting my head to console me.

“It’s okay, there’s plenty more.”

Comforted by my mother, I make a firm promise. I made a vow over homemade cookies. To protect this family.

Needless to say, I accidentally shattered another cookie.

Now, how can young me protect this family? …With smiles, gratitude, and money, I guess.

Let’s study the winning numbers for the lottery. Yeah, that’s what I’ll do. That’s a perfect plan. If I research from a young age, I think I can hit the jackpot a few times. I never managed that in my previous life.

So, I start pounding away at the computer to gather lottery numbers. One would call it a constructive action, wouldn’t they? I think everyone will praise me for it, but who knows?

And so, until I turn five, I live as a good kid. Unfortunately, my parents hadn’t bought a lottery ticket, so I decided to wait until I was old enough to buy one. It’s like “enduring hardships to taste the sweetness,” they say.

But when I turned 5, my life fell apart.

It completely fell apart.