Cheated and Restarted Epilogue

Epilogue : First Bite

Waking up felt awful. I think it’s because I was thinking about stupid things before I went to sleep. I tried to live by my own thoughts instead of just accepting what others gave me, and now I feel this miserable.

"Haa. Morning practice is a hassle..."

The Cheerleading Club was practicing for the upcoming Tokyo Big Five University Baseball League cheering. It's one of the big showcase events for the Cheerleading Club.

"But our university is going to lose anyway. Why do we even bother cheering, I wonder."

To put it mildly, our university isn't strong in sports. Unlike private universities, we don't have sports recommendations, and honestly, I think we’re weak. Yet, we have to cheer. I can't find any meaning in it. I started cheerleading in high school. I didn't have anything else to do, so I consulted Hiroto, and he recommended it. Back then, Hiroto played soccer, so cheering had meaning. But what about now? Everyone praises me for doing it, though.

'The train will arrive at the platform shortly. Please stand behind the white line...'

My nearest station is Kichijoji. I tell everyone at school I'm from Kichijoji too. To be exact, I live in a town in Nerima Ward closest to Kichijoji, but since "Tokyo Disney Land" in Chiba is allowed, then I should be safe with this much. Everyone lies a little bit. Even Hiroto does. Lately, he's been especially bad. I was certain he was doing something that would be bad if exposed. But I could also imagine myself just letting it slide. Whatever he's done, compared to what I did, surely what Hiroto is doing is no big deal. I think so. Sitting in the seat, I was blankly thinking about trivial things.

'Shimokitazawa. Transfer for...'

Before I knew it, I was already near the school. I wished I could just stay on the train, lost in thought until the last stop. I want to be swept away without thinking about anything. If I just let myself drift, surely the punishment will be easier to bear.

"Oh my? Oh my, oh my!? Well, well, well!"

I heard a voice that carried well. When I looked up, there was a blonde, blue-eyed foreign girl. She was peering into my face with interest. I felt like the blonde girl's features resembled the Latin people I've seen on TV. But race doesn't matter. I don't know this person.

"Sorry, I can't remember you. Who are you? You had......" (speaking in english in the raw)

Caught off guard, I honestly wasn't confident in my English phrasing. I hoped she understood, but the blonde girl spoke to me in fluent Japanese.

"Stop that. Speaking to me in English. I hate it, you know. That kind of intellectual gesture. Acting like you have an understanding of foreigners only pisses me off."

"Haa... Umm. I don't know you, so... I'm a bit confused."

The blonde girl sat next to me. She was wearing a smirk (niya-niya). Honestly speaking, I just feel irritated by this girl for some reason.

"Oh my? Well, what a cold woman! Fufufu. I'm Ayashiro. Look. I was next to Tokiwa at the entrance ceremony."

"...Eh? You are that person? Eh? Isn't your face different? Ehh?"

Now that she mentions it, she did seem similar. I have seen a blonde girl next to Tokiwa-kun on campus occasionally. Strangely, realizing that only made my irritation increase even more.

"You're quite early in the morning, aren't you? Club activities? Cheerleading, was it? Because the baseball tournament is close?"

"That's right, but. Why are you here?"

"I have an appointment with a professor this morning. So I need to be early for prep."

"Is that so. But why a jersey? You usually wear elaborate clothes. Besides, the size doesn't fit."

Ayashiro-san was wearing a jersey. Maybe because the size didn't fit, it was baggy. Both hands were in "moe sleeves" (sleeves covering hands). Both legs were rolled up to the knees.

"Hmm? This? I stayed over at Tokiwa's house yesterday. I didn't have clothes, so I borrowed this. He said it's his high school jersey!"

"...Ehh? ...E... No way..."

I suddenly felt a sensation like my chest tightening sharply. My voice didn't come out well.

"Man, yesterday was fun! It got very heated! Ufufu."

Heated. I don't want to think about the meaning of that word. I'm not a child anymore either. It's not like I don't understand what a relationship where you stay over and borrow clothes implies. I have many friends who got boyfriends after entering university. Some of them have experienced sex. At that time, I didn't think anything of it. I've never had that kind of experience, and it was outside my imagination. But today, it sounds terribly graphic.

"Look, look! See this! He sleeps with a face like this! Cute, right! Ufufu."

Ayashiro-san shows me her smartphone. Tokiwa-kun's sleeping face was shown there. Sleeping peacefully like a child. Seeing that, my heart becomes a little calm and warm. I thought he was cute. But that feeling was blown away immediately. Ayashiro-san swiped the smartphone with her finger, and the next photo appeared. Ayashiro-san was kissing the cheek of that cute Tokiwa-kun. I looked away immediately.

"Oh my? That's a very innocent reaction! You're cute, aren't you. Ufufu. This much is normal for university students. Nor-mal, you know! Fufufu."

Ayashiro-san's smirking face looks hateful to me.

"So what? Tokiwa-kun and I are just friends in the same department. I don't know what you expect me to do with this."

I can tell my voice is naturally becoming cold. I can tell my face is stiffening too. But Ayashiro-san isn't fazed at all. Rather, she looks like she's having fun.

"Oh my, oh my? Is that so? I'm sorry. I teased you a little too much. Rest assured. We were just drinking! It's called 'Taku-nomi' (drinking at home)!"

"Taku-nomi? Just drinking? Really?"

"Kukuku. That's right. Just drinking alcohol and acting like idiots. That's it. Nothing happened like what you're expecting! Ahaha!"

Ayashiro-san laughed as if she were having the time of her life. Does she intend to tease me? Tokiwa-kun and I are just friends, and our relationship will end as just friends. There is no future beyond that. And yet. Why? I touched my face. It felt soft. And why was it so hot?

"Nice. That face. Very good. Yes. The honest expression of emotions is what colors a person beautifully. If it's with you, I wouldn't mind having a 3P with Tokiwa."

San-P (Threesome)? What's that? A video game or something? Something Tokiwa-kun, me, and this girl do together? But either way, doing something with Tokiwa-kun aside. I hated doing anything together with this girl.

"I don't want to. I don't want to do anything together with you."

"Oh, what a shame. I got rejected."

And the train arrived at Komaba-Todaimae Station. We passed through the ticket gate and came out in front of the campus entrance. At that time, Ayashiro-san muttered softly.

"He's still sleeping. So he'll come later. He's serious, so I suspect he'll arrive before the second period starts. Right here."

"So what?"

I didn't understand what this girl wanted to say. So what if Tokiwa-kun comes here eventually?

"That is for you to decide. What meaning will you give it? And how will you act? That is your freedom."

Saying only that, Ayashiro-san disappeared into the campus dashingly. I remained alone in front of the station.

"I have to go to practice..."

I tried to head to the campus holding my sports bag. But before that, a lottery stand caught my eye.

"...That's right. I have to buy a lottery ticket like always. Yeah. I have to test my luck. Today's fortune is important."

I decided to buy a lottery ticket. I don't really care if I'm late for the Cheerleading Club. Something more important than that was probably right here, right now.

＊

I think the real pleasure of a university student is classes starting from the second period. This moderately relaxed morning is truly, seriously the best. Well, I hate being late, and university classes are basically interesting, so I go early, though.

"Ah~ I drank too much, I feel sluggish~! We got way too hyped~!"

I left the station making a voice where I couldn't tell if I was like a university student or a light novel protagonist. And just as I tried to walk toward the campus. Suddenly, a lottery stand came into my vision. And beside it, for some reason, I saw my wife's figure.

"Fua!? Eh? Eh? What? Eeh?"

When a human is too surprised, their voice bugs out. Because it makes no sense. Surprisingly, my wife was sitting on her sports bag reading a book right next to the counter of the lottery stand. I witnessed my Pon-kotsu wife's eccentric behavior several times in the previous world, but today's sight was quite surreal. I feel like I shouldn't ignore this. Actually, other students walking by are giving her suspicious looks, and the lottery stand lady looks annoyed too. I steeled my resolve, approached the lottery stand, and spoke to my wife.

"What are you doing...?"

"Ah... Good morning... Tokiwa-kun."

My wife looked up, closed the architectural design book she had been reading, and placed it on her lap.

"Tokiwa-kun, your acting the other day was very 'ham' (daikon), wasn't it."

She declared something incredibly rude right off the bat, with a gentle smile on her face.

"Huh? What's with that all of a sudden? More importantly, why are you here?"

"Because I wanted to draw a lottery."

I don't get it at all. I don't understand well what this woman is saying. My wife stood up.

"Come to think of it. I still haven't been able to go to that expensive cafeteria. You know, since Tokiwa-kun turned me down the other day, I couldn't go, right? Even though I really wanted to."

"Don't naturally blame me. You can go to a place like that anytime, right?"

"Really? Can I go anytime? I don't feel like I can. The menu there is pricey... the hurdle is very high... for me..."

My wife is somewhat fidgety. It feels like she wants to say something but can't. This part hasn't changed from the old days. It's the wife I used to know.

"I see. Hmm. Yeah. Right. ...Well, it is a bit expensive. I get the hesitation."

I decided to continue the conversation. My wife usually chatters away, but occasionally there were times like this where she seemed to have trouble saying something. That was usually something important, or something trivial but embarrassing. I mustn't miss it. That's why I have to encourage her so she can say it, and wait for her properly.

"Right! That's right! I feel some resistance! That's why! I thought of something good! Let's draw a lottery together! And the one who wins treats the other with that money! How about it? ...Don't you think it's good...?"

She said it with a smile that looked somewhat clinging and lonely. This was a face I didn't know. Ah, she is making a face I don't know. I just realized that for the first time now... I closed my eyes. I pictured the wife I spent my time with in the past. There are many similarities. And there were differences, too. Today, I realized that clearly.

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

That's right. That was it. This world has rewound. I couldn't forgive her sin, So I gave her excessive punishment, I shouldered a new sin, And the precious memories I spent with her have all vanished from this world. The memories of me spending time with Ririse are no longer left anywhere in this world. The memory of being loved and its proof are nowhere anymore.

I see.

Turning back time and redoing it, And having all the memories exist only within my heart...

That was my punishment.

"Is something wrong? Do you feel sick? Are you okay?"

Ririse Igarashi peered into my face and stroked my cheek. It was soft. A sensation of her hand that I knew so well, yet somehow didn't know at all.

"I said something weird, didn't I. Sorry. Forget what I just said..."

"No. I won't forget. I can't forget. It's fine. Let's do it."

I bought two scratch tickets from the lady at the counter. And held them out in front of Igarashi.

"Draw the one you like."

"Eh... is it okay to draw from there? Those tickets are yours, Tokiwa-kun."

"It's fine. I don't mind."

This is our first joint activity in this rewound world. If I'm going to do something, I wanted to try doing it together. Since the day of the mistake in the previous world, we couldn't do anything together. So, together. I wanted to do something together.

"...I see! Yeah! Then I'll draw!"

Igarashi stood on my left side, stared intently at the tickets in my hand, and chose one. And when I took out a ten-yen coin from my wallet and tried to scratch the silver foil.

"Ah, wait!"

At that voice, I stopped my hand. Igarashi, with a beaming smile:

"Here! Let's swap that with this ticket!"

The ticket she chose was held out toward me.

"Swap? Is there a meaning to that?"

"Yeah! There is! Tokiwa-kun draws the one I chose for you! And I draw the one Tokiwa-kun chose! Maybe something good will happen!"

I laughed involuntarily at that proposal. Winning or losing is determined the moment you buy the ticket from the counter. That's the logic. But I strangely felt my heart warm at what Igarashi was saying.

"Understood. Then swap."

"Yeah. Swap."

We swapped each other's tickets. And scratched that silver foil.

"Eh...? No way?"

"Oh! Seriously!"

Both were winners. A 500-yen win. Together, exactly one thousand yen.

"Is this real? This? It's not a dream, is it!? No way! We did it! We did iiiiiiiiiiiit! We wooooooooon! Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

Igarashi was raising both hands and screaming.

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

"It's not 'just'! Because it's the first time! It's the first time I won a lottery! I did it! Amazing! Amazing! Ahaha! Ahahahaha!"

Igarashi was taking photos of the winning ticket snap-snap. Is she that happy? Furthermore, she even started taking selfies with the winning ticket.

"Tokiwa-kun! Tokiwa-kun, get in the picture too! Come on!"

She grabbed my left elbow and pulled.

"Ah, hey, wait!"

"Just come on, come on! Say cheese!!"

Igarashi had the biggest smile on her face, and a photo was taken of me looking somewhat stiff and bewildered, but still smiling.

"Wow! Amazing! Tokiwa-kun! Making me win the lottery, you have strong luck!"

"Hmm? Hmmm? Well, that might be true."

I think I've been lucky after the time leap. Because I met kind people and could spend interesting days.

"Yeah, yeah! Amazing! Tokiwa-kun is an Age-chin!"

We cashed in the tickets on the spot. Igarashi stared at the shiny 500-yen coin with teary eyes and hugged it tightly to her chest.

"...Oi. Wait a sec. What did you just say?"

"Age-chin! That's what you call a boy who brings good luck, right? Tomoe said so."

That Mackerel Woman! She's teaching strange words to Igarashi! Every time I take a selfie with a girl, terrible nicknames increase. Sex friend -> Second -> Darling -> Age-chin (Lucky Dick (a man who brings good luck to his female partner by having sex)). What is this progression! Too terrible!

"That is a misuse of the word. Look up the meaning online later. You're saying something outrageous, you know."

"Eh? Is that so? Okay. But it has a nice ring to it, Age-chin Tokiwa! Cool!"

No. Absolutely not.

"By the way. What do we do since it was a draw?"

"Ah~ we didn't decide~. What should we do~? Hmm."

It was then. The chime announcing the start of the second period rang.

"Ehh. Even if we go now, we're late. Ah~ I messed up~!"

"...Is this... a chance to skip!? Tokiwa-kun! Let's skip the second period! It's just Liberal Arts Math anyway! It's okay to skip once or twice!"

"Well, university classes are like that, but."

"I yearned for it! Skipping class I mean! You can't skip in high school! So it's my first time!. I feel like I became a delinquent!"

"Ah~. That kind of age, huh... I guess so. Well, once in a while is fine."

University classes aren't so strict that skipping once or twice would make you fail credits. Besides, looking at the current happy-looking Igarashi, I didn't want to say anything to dampen the mood. So I naturally said this.

"Then want to go to the expensive cafeteria? If we have 500 yen, we can pay about half, so it might not feel expensive."

"Ah! That sounds good! Let's go! Let's go! It should be empty at this time, so we can have it to ourselves! Wow, sounds fun! Fufu!"

We headed toward the expensive cafeteria together. Walking on my left, Igarashi was humming happily.

I don't know what will happen from here on out. Maybe our paths will diverge someday.

But just for now, we spent the same time together, just the two of us, happily.

(End)

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