I (30), Who Works for a Black Company and Died While Regretting My Gloomy Life, Started Over From High School!

Chapter 158: Savoring the Present

It was early in the morning, a time when I wouldnt normally be awake. Clad in my school uniform, I was restless in the living room of my home.

What occupied my mind at the moment was, once again, a girl named Haruka Shijouin.

(Its been two weeks since that night It still feels like a dream)

My heartfelt confession had come to fruition, and Haruka and I were officially a couple. I had worked hard for this moment, but now that it had actually happened, it felt surreal.

Every time, I would replay Harukas response to my confession in my mind, just to reassure myself that it wasnt a dream.

Shinichirou-kun I love you. Truly, deeply I love you.

Hehe hehehe

The sensation of my heart melting, as if my brain was ascending to the heavens, was probably what might be expressed as heart-fluttering or melting of a maidens heart in shoujou manga.

Lately, Id been engaging in peculiar behavior, like rolling around on the floor with a goofy grin plastered on my face, which earned me pitiful glances from my family.

Well, leaving that aside, todays finally the day Haruka returns to school. It took two whole weeks to get here Truly a joyous occasion.

After the confession, Tokimune-san and Akiko-san, who were out at the time, rushed back home, so I wisely made a hasty exit.

(Tokimune-san and Akiko-san apparently cried their hearts out when they saw Haruka, who had recovered. Im really glad the folks in that house could finally break free from the nightmare)

Then Haruka promptly underwent examinations in the hospital, but there were still no clear causes found for her collapse, and she recovered without a definite diagnosis.

At that point, it could be said that this incident with Haruka collapsing had come to an end.

But

(Her muscles must have weakened from being bedridden, so the rehabilitation period at the hospital was probably tough.)

Haruka seemed to be on the verge of tears when faced with the fact that she had to miss more school. It was genuinely pitiable, but there was no helping it.

(Well, its finally over. Haruka really did her best Ive never experienced it myself, but it seems to be quite tough.)

Normally, a longer period of rehabilitation would be necessary, but the maids at the Shijouin residence provided extremely effective and devoted care massages to Haruka in her hospital bed, minimizing muscle atrophy. As a result, Haruka returned to her daily life quite early.

And today, after a long while, Haruka would be donning her school uniform

I felt unusually fidgety.

Whats with all this restlessness, big brother?

Kanako

Turning around, there stood my younger sister, Kanako, clad in her middle school uniform. She often referred to herself as a middle school heartthrob, and her perpetually adorable face now wore an expression of exasperation directed at me.

Youre going to school with Haruka-chan today, arent you? I get it if youre excited, but theres no reason to be this unsettled.

Indeed, the reason Id been pacing around the living room since earlier was due to a cute request from Haruka in her message.

Could you accompany me on my first day back to school? Ill come to your house by car

I promptly replied, Of course!! to this overwhelmingly adorable request, and today was the day wed been eagerly anticipating.

Well, Im just nervous, you know Since Haruka and I mostly communicated through messages after she was hospitalized.

That night, I confessed to Haruka, and she accepted my feelings. It was a major event in my life, and I still doubted whether it was real.

However, due to Harukas hospitalization and subsequent rehabilitation period, we hadnt seen much of each other since then.

I tried to visit her at the hospital, but it seemed like her parents wanted to be by their daughters side as much as visiting hours allowed. I thought it would be best to respect that.

Not only her parents but also the maids at the Shijouin residence and some elderly relative from the main Shijouin family came to visit almost daily, so the visiting schedule was apparently quite packed.

So, as a result, weve reached the day of Harukas return to school, without having done anything particularly couple-like. Its making me nervous.

What on earth are you saying, big brother? At times like this, you just need to stand tall!

At my agitated voice, Kanako scolded me.

Its the start of your long-awaited romantic relationship with Haruka-chan. Right now, the most important thing is to have a face brimming with joy! Well, I might even be more excited than you, big brother!

As she said, Kanako was beaming with delight from early in the morning.

After all, when I had informed her two weeks ago that my confession to Haruka had been successful

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Seriously!? Seriously!? Yesssssssssssss!

A resounding cheer echoed through the house, and from then on, I was in an exceptionally good mood.

For some reason, everyone seemed overly delighted about my love life success.

Oh, man! That night when big brother came home with that dreamy look, and the news that Haruka-chan had recovered was already such fantastic news. But to think thered be this big bang of good news with a successful confession on top of that! Its like having both the New Year and the Bon Festival at once, isnt it?

Apparently, my love life was so entertaining to my younger sister, Kanako, that she had been in high spirits ever since my successful confession.

Upon hearing this news, my mother reacted with disbelief:

Eh, eh!? You really ended up dating that young lady? Hey, Shinichiro, youre not misunderstanding something, are you? Just being polite?

Well, the more you understand how aristocratic Haruka is as an individual, the more understandable it is for my mother to become suspicious.

Well, big brother is a total newbie in love, so I get why hes all tense. But have some confidence! You worked hard, thinking about Haruka-chan, and youve finally arrived at this result! You got here because youre you, big brother!

My sister, who had almost become estranged from me in my previous life, was genuinely affirming me in front of me. Her smile and words were pure and uncomplicated.

Besides, Haruka-chans response to your confession wasnt just a simple yes, right? She also said, I like you too, on her own, didnt she? Thats the ideal response that wouldnt come out if it wasnt mutual! Theres nothing to worry about!

I-is that so?

Thats right! You have a mission to bring Haruka-chan back to our house, big brother, so do it properly! Ah, Im looking forward to it! I have so many things I want to ask, like what Haruka-chan felt when you confessed!

Looking at Kanako, who was all excited and leaving me, the person involved, behind, I couldnt help but smile wryly.

(I really came back)

For the past two weeks, I had been elated by my successful confession to Haruka, but at the same time, there were moments when an inexplicable fear crept in.

It was the fear that, having experienced the miracle of time loops twice, I had come to understand that reality was not an absolute and unshakeable thing.

Was this world I was in really the same as the one I knew?

Would I eventually vanish like a bubble once my purpose was served?

And, in the first place was I really existing here now?

I couldnt help but feel this anxiety, that the peaceful reality of now might vanish like an illusion in the next moment.

(On the contrary, its probably better that Harukas so-called future dream turned out to be just a dream for my mental well-being.)

The night when Haruka, freshly recovered from a mental breakdown, had been convinced that her dream had actually happened was still fresh in my memory.

But by the next morning, that sense of reality had disappeared, and while she still felt a strong pull, she had settled into the recognition that it had been a very strange and realistic dream.

The dream that had been so vivid upon waking seemed almost impossible to recall by the next day.

But I thought it was better that way.

There was nothing good that could come from remembering such an occult and absurd thing.

It would only lead to unnecessary worry and mental distress.

(Well, no matter how much I think about whether this is a dream or reality, theres nothing I can do but accept it But still, when I see Mom and Kanakos faces, I cant help but feel relieved.)

Whether this was a dream or reality, the value of the time spent with Mom and Kanako, with the smiles and happiness they had now, remained the same.

Because I could think that way, I could continue walking in this world.

Alright, thanks to you, Kanako, Im starting to feel more settled. Youre right. Ill believe in myself a bit more and have a stronger heart. From now on, Ill do my best for Haruka-chan.

Yeah, thats the spirit!

With a laugh, Kanako responded, and just at that moment, the doorbell rang.

I knew exactly who would be visiting at this early hour, so there was no need to bother with the intercom.

Oh, it seems theyre here. Well then, Im off. Make sure you dont be late too.

Saying that, I slung my bag over my shoulder and headed for the entrance.

And there

Big brother!

I heard Kanakos voice from behind.

Ive said it so many times already, but congratulations, really! Big brother, who worked so hard for the person he loves, was seriously cool!

When I turned around, Kanako was smiling, looking a bit shy.

Her words, which were like a full-powered cheer, seeped into my heart.

Ah, thank you, Kanako Well then, Im off.

With heartfelt gratitude, I headed for the entrance.

Ah, trulyIm glad I could come back.

TLN: We have a bonus chapter dono. Expect an extra one next week. To explain, it takes a while to translate this story but it is the most popular one Im doing by far. So I translate the chapters in one bunch on my days off. It legit takes HOURS to crank out the chapters for the week.