"Ahh!! Finally finished studying!!!"
Just a few minutes after school ended, the school gate was filled with hundreds of students. Many were waiting for the bus stop and many were walking with their friends. But there was a short-haired school girl with a guitar bag on her back and a school bag in her right hand. She was running out of the school gate in a slightly hurried manner. I wonder where she was rushing to…
"We need to hurry!! If it sells out first, it's going to be really bad!! I promised to hurry up and buy that game to play with my brother, but the teacher is releasing it late!! If it sells out first, my brother will cry!! (Me too!!)"
She was about to run away with all her might, but suddenly she heard a girl's voice calling her from behind. She stopped and turned around in the direction of the voice…
"Kaichi-chan!! Are you going back already?? Why are you in such a hurry today??"
A long-haired girl called out to me from behind. She was my classmate and clubmate. Our club was the music club. There were five members in the band: guitarist, bassist, drummer, keyboardist, and lead singer. I was the lead singer, although I also played the guitar sometimes…
"Ah, uh!! Today, there's a game I wanted for sale at a store near my house. I promised my brother that I would hurry up and buy it and go back to play together. Plus, I have to hurry back to make food for my brother!! So now I'm going to hurry back!!"
When I replied to her, my friend smiled meaningfully. Her eyes narrowed slightly before she said to me…
"Ah, you really love your brother, huh? Or maybe you and him…"
"It's not like that!!"
I immediately replied back with a fake angry tone. Well, I knew she was just joking. I often told her about my older brother, so I've always been teased like this. Plus, she's my best friend…
"Okay, okay. I was just joking. If that's the case, go home safely. Be careful of the car, Kaichi-chan!!"
"Okay, okay!! I understand!!"
Okay, okay!! Sorry for the late introduction. Hello, my name is 'Akane Kaiichi', but my friends usually call me 'Kaichi'. I am an ordinary junior high school girl. My parents passed away before I could remember, so I have lived with my older brother since I was a child. He works as an employee of a company. He is a capable person and is trusted by everyone in the company. Even though the work is quite hard, he works hard…
Even though it was a little difficult for the two of us to be together, we were happy. For this, I really have to thank him… Even though in my opinion… just thanking him… doesn't seem like enough. Because he has taken care of me all along until I became who I am today. Because of that, I have been diligent in doing housework. I took on the role of a housewife, doing housework, waiting for my brother to come home from work. Wow!! This type of person must be a good wife!! Just kidding!!
After I arrived at the game store and bought the game, when I walked out of the store, I immediately picked up my phone and called my brother…
Tick!! Tick!! Tick!!
"Moshi, Moshi, Moshi, this is your lovely little sister. The recovery mission was a success!!"
"Great job!! Female soldier Kaiichi… Wait!! Is this the time to play?? I'm still working."
"Huh?? I also thought that if you heard your little sister's cute voice, you would be more motivated to work, huh?"
"…I'm…a little bit happy…"
When I was a kid, my brother always joked with me like this. Now, I've gotten used to it. I wonder if it's because I have a brother like this? My personality seems to be different from other girls'…
"Kshi-kshi-kshi."
I laughed softly like that… but my brother said it was a very strange laugh… so…
"Kaichi, didn't I tell you not to laugh like that? It doesn't look feminine… Oh!! Since you're here, Kaiichi, I'll be home a little late today. It's about work. And today… I'll take Tanaka-san to our house."
"Huh?? Are you two going to be flirty again, huh?"
Tanaka-san is my brother's girlfriend. She's my brother's coworker and she's an incredibly beautiful woman!! Plus, I'm really close to her!! She said that since she doesn't have any younger brothers or sisters, she sees me as a cute little sister… Even though sometimes I act cute with her to the point that my brother gets jealous… But that's me…
"I'm not flirting!! And you, whenever Tanaka-san comes to our house, you so close to Tanaka that I can't get in between."
"Because I like Tanaka-san, you know."
"... Kaiichi... I'm telling you... Tanaka-san is my girlfriend..."
"Okay, okay. Then hurry back. I'll make delicious dinner and wait for Tanaka-san!!"
"... Are you worried about me or Tanaka-san?"
After I put the game in my bag, before I hurried home, I walked until I reached a crosswalk. But then I had to stop because there were so many people walking around here… Like, there were so many people. Are there really that many people who want that game?? Are you crazy!? They were just waiting to cross the crosswalk like normal!! Unlike a game addict like you!!!
"…Okay…that's right…"
And after I finished joking to myself in my mind, I glanced over and saw a male and female student standing at the front. The two of them were talking happily…
"…Misa…"
You ask if I know them? If it's that girl, then yes, but I don't know about the boy. I only know that they're lovers… I only know because I used to be her lover before, so I know a little bit…
Her??? Yes!! Her!! That girl!! It seems like everyone must be shocked. I'm a girl but I like girl. But why!! If someone likes me, then they like me. Who can stop them? Love!! There's no barrier!! …Even though she was the one who asked me out first… Okay!! Let me introduce her. The girl's name is Shukina Misa-chan. As for the boy… I don't know his name. I don't want to remember!! He's my enemy in love!! I don't want to remember!!!
"Never mind, the light's red, let's hurry up and go."
And while we were all about to cross the crosswalk, a trailer truck was coming this way. The trailer truck was speeding at an alarming speed. It's not going to brake at all!! This is dangerous!! I and the others hadn't stepped out yet…but Misa-chan and that guy had already walked out. Heh!! No matter how you look at it, there's no way the car would be able to brake in time!!
"No way!! This is going to be a crash, Misaaaa!!!"
I quickly threw down the guitar I was carrying and prepared to run out with all my might. As the trailer truck was getting closer and closer, I quickly ran towards the two of them. When I reached them, I quickly grabbed their shirts and pulled them back to the sidewalk…but…because I ran out so fast…I ended up taking the place where the two of them were standing…and the car arrived right there…
At that moment…I knew there was no way I could avoid the car in time…so I slowly turned back to Misa-chan who was looking shocked…when she realized it was me, she…
"Kaiichi!!!"
"…Haha…you're the one who came out here…"
I was hit by that trailer truck and flew into the sky. I floated across the road. While I was floating in the sky, the pain slowly came to me…
At first… the pain was a little bit… but then the pain shot up again when I fell and hit the ground. But this time, it hurt even more. I felt my body bounce on the ground continuously before stopping. Every time I hit it, the pain shot up. When my body stopped… all the cars… everyone in that incident… everything… stopped…
"Kaichi!!"
Misa, who saw me lying on the street after being hit by a truck, ran across the street without caring about the cars that might come next… If she gets hit by a car… I'm in trouble… Misa-chan…
When Misa got to me, she immediately knelt down beside me. She looked around and covered her mouth with her hand. She must have been shocked by my current physical condition… Well… Even me who can't see my own body knows… that my current physical condition…
"Kaichi!! You're okay!! I'll call an ambulance right away. Hold on… Everyone!! Please, someone call an ambulance…"
"…Mi…sa…"
I tried to call out to Misa, although my voice was very soft… Probably because I was badly injured… Let me tell you, it hurt so bad… It felt like my body was going to break into pieces… No, it should have broken… My bones… Misa slowly turned to me… So I continued speaking… But my voice didn't come out very well…
"…Misa… It's fine… It's just… Haha… Ack!!"
While I was talking like that, I choked on my own blood… I couldn't breathe… It hurts so much… It hurts so much…
"Don't laugh, you idiot!! You hurts so much… No… No… Don't… Don't… Talk like everything is okay… Sob… Sob…"
Misa sobbed, looking like she was trying to hold back her tears, probably because my current physical condition was really bad… My right leg was twisted, my ribs were sticking out of my chest… But fortunately, I had my school uniform on so I couldn't see much. My left arm was broken with bones sticking out, and my head was bleeding… No matter how I looked… I wouldn't be able to live… much longer…
"…Misa…I'm sorry…It's my fault…But…I don't want…to let…you…I want…to let you be happy…That's why…I helped…because…you're my friend…Cough…"
I said while choking on my own blood…Because…I have to say it…I want to talk…I want to talk…to you…When Misa-chan heard me say that, she slowly reached out and lightly touched my cheek. Her hand shook a little as she lightly touched my face…before she…started talking to me…
"…You don't hate me…I left you…I left you…but you still…"
I…understand…the reason why Misa…broke up with me…But…even though Misa-chan broke up with me…to me…you're still my friend…an important friend to me…It's never changed…
"…I never thought…to hate you…Misa-chan…"
While we were talking, another boy who seemed to be Misa-chan's boyfriend ran up to us. It seemed like the ambulance had arrived... Thank you...
"Misa, the ambulance is here."
Misa-chan's boyfriend told her that the ambulance had arrived... Thank you very much... But right now... I...
"... Hey... Misa-chan's boyfriend..."
I tried to call him. Misa-chan's boyfriend looked a little shocked. I don't know if he was shocked by the state of my body or by my calling... But he slowly adjusted his expression back to normal. He must be worried about me. Then he slowly sat down next to Misa-chan, waiting to hear what I was going to say...
"... You... Take good care of Misa-chan... Don't make her cry, okay?"
Even though what I said seemed a bit too soon for a junior high schooler, I just wanted Misa-chan to be happy. I was just worried. I wanted Misa-chan to meet someone good... When they heard me say that, they probably understood that I couldn't bear the pain from my wound anymore. The two of them turned to face each other and then turned back to me, saying...
"Don't worry. You… Ms. Kaiichi, I will take good care of her. I will never make her sad. Don't worry."
"… Akane…"
"… Yes…"
… Who allowed you to call me by my name…
"… Call me… Akane… Even though you're Misa's boyfriend… I don't let you call me by my name… I don't want to… be close to you…"
"… Yes…"
"Oh!! You…"
Misa-chan made an angry face and said that. Oh, I miss you so much… When we were together, there were many times when you were angry at me like this… I think I'll get scolded… I closed my eyes slightly and smiled… Because…
"… You're…"
…I could only smile without saying anything…It wouldn't be wrong to say that I was happy…Because I really miss this kind of time…The time when we talked…We were together…I really miss it…
…Misa-chan slowly looked up. It seemed like she was trying to stop her tears. Then she looked down. She tried to smile at me and said…
"…Well…don't worry…Kaichi…I'm fine…Take a break…Run like that…You must be tired…"
Misa said and tried to force a smile through her tears. It was probably because I was about to leave her. But she knew that if she cried, I would definitely be sad. At least she wanted me to feel comfortable…
"…I'm not that tired…Misa…But…Take a break…You…don't break your promise…Or else…I'll…come and trick you while you're sleeping…Ha…Ha…Cough!!"
I tried to cover it up, but I choked on my own blood…To tell the truth, I was forcing myself to speak even though it hurt so much that I couldn't speak. My lungs must have been punctured by the ribs that were stabbing out. I couldn't breathe anymore. I couldn't breathe because it hurt so much. But I still said it… Well… I like to tease others… How can I hold back something like this…
"I won't break my promise, don't worry… Akane-san…"
I smiled and thanked Misa's boyfriend. Then I turned to her… because I had something I… had to ask her for…
"… Misa-chan… I have something… to ask…"
I tried to reach out my arm to Misa-chan, but because my arm was broken, I could only move my fingers. But Misa-chan reached out and held my hand…
"… Is there something you want me to do… Kai-ichi-chan…"
"… Could you take… my guitar… my school bag… the games I bought… sob… back to my house… take them back… sob… to my brother… can you tell my brother… for me…"
Misa-chan looked around. She must be looking for my guitar and school bag… before she turned back with a small smile…
"… Sure… I'll take it back to you… Tell me what you want me to… tell your brother… what to tell him… Kaiichi-chan…"
"…Please tell… my brother… that I… thank you… thank you… for taking care of me all this time… and I'm sorry that I… have become a burden… that's why he can't go out… and have a family… I wish him… a good life… I'm so happy to be with… him… I'm really happy… really… and… sob… tell Tanaka-san… that I… won't be able to play with her… anymore…"
"… I'll tell them… so…"
"…Confirmed. You have been granted the right to be reborn. Confirm the creation of a new identity…"
… Sound… What is it… God's voice?? I… am dying… Will it be like the male protagonist in an anime… who was reborn in another world… But I'm a woman, so I'll be the heroine… No, no, I'm the female protagonist, that's good enough. Then find a cute girl to be the heroine!! Then I'll have to create a harem of cute girls!! … But if I were to be reborn, I'd like to be a dragon… No, "Dragon Man" would be good too. Having a human body but some dragon parts would be cool!! Like in other world anime and manga!!
"… Confirmed. You have received the race name 『Dragon Man』… Confirmed and received the skill 『Resistance to Temperature Change』…"
"… Next is the confirmation… Unique skill that you will receive… I want to ask about the skill that you want to have when you are reborn…"
… Skills?? If I'm thinking about the future… I want to have a skill that can create things… So that I can create things… It would be very useful in my life…
"… Confirmed. You have successfully obtained the unique skill 『Creation』… This unique skill has the following effects: 1. Create - You can create various items, but you need to know about the items, their structural properties, and how to create them, and you need to analyze their structures and components accurately. If you meet the conditions, you will be able to create the items as you wish. 2. Inspect - You can inspect the properties and structures of items you touch. Once you have inspected the items, the data will be recorded as a blueprint to use as a prototype for recreating them. 3. Detect - When you touch something, you can expand your perception of that area to be able to sense what is in that area, but there is a limited range of perception. 4. Imitate - You can imitate items you have touched and create them again immediately…"
"… Additional information… This unique skill requires magic power to create items…"
… Hmm… Now that I think about it… If I had a strong body like a man… It would be great… Like, if I was weak like this, I wouldn't be able to do it… But never mind, it's just a wish before death… It won't have any effect anyway… But… That voice that was just a moment ago…
"… Confirmed, you have obtained the Extra Skill 『Strengthening』… successfully, and the selected gender is Male. The creation of a new body… has been completed…"
… Wait a minute!! What did you just say!!? Body!! Male!!! Did I hear you right!? Wait!! Wait!!!! Whose voice was that just now!! But don't!! It's just strength, not…
… And finally… My consciousness gradually faded… Before I lost consciousness… I heard Misa-chan crying and calling… But in the end, the voice gradually became fainter… And then I… couldn't feel anything anymore…
"… Goodbye… Kaiichi-chan…"
Akane Kaiichi (15 years old)