In my past life, there wasn't really anything special about me.
I didn't die from anything dramatic like saving a kid from a truck, being a recluse, or getting killed by someone. It was probably just a brain hemorrhage or something. I vaguely remember it being super painful and then just... over.
I had a wife and kids, you know?
Everyone had become independent, and it was supposed to be just the two of us from then on. But since I was self-employed, there was no retirement money, and I really feel bad for my wife.
It's a bit late, but thank you for everything. I hope you live a long life and enjoy a happy old age surrounded by grandkids.
Now, about this life—what's up with the gender ratio world I often read about in light novels from my past life?
I don't remember meeting any divine being or anything like that.
Maybe it was because I spent my life reading things like Kakuyomu and Narou for fun?
I really got into it, even though my old eyes were struggling a bit with the smartphone screen!!
Reading apps are the best—those typos are just so cute!
Once you get used to it, it has this strange charm.
That aside, even though I've remembered my past life, it doesn't feel like much has changed.
It's like that feeling of relief when a nagging thought finally comes to you—like when you're trying to remember who the lead actor in Titanic was, and you're stuck on "not Brad Pitt, not Nicolas Cage!" until suddenly Leonardo DiCaprio pops into your head.
It feels amazing. (￣^￣)v
My personality might be a bit influenced, but for having the memories of an old dude who lived for half a century, I'm not dragging around too much baggage.
If I say this to anyone, they probably won't take me seriously, right?
Looking back, it was pretty weird to be concerned about the gender ratio in first grade.
Thank goodness I remembered it when I was in fifth grade, when my personality was more established; if it had been in kindergarten, it would have felt really off.
Still, this gender ratio world is something else.
What's up with those kidnapping incidents where women want to raise boys? The reason being, "I wanted to raise a man who would love only me" is just terrifying!
There were similar incidents in my past life, but now I can really feel the fear of those women who were victims back then.
So yeah, despite all the craziness, it was just a regular summer vacation as a fifth grader. Maybe tomorrow I'll go look for some stag beetles with Kouta.
*
I can't finish my summer homework.
I wrapped up my independent research with insect observation, but I'm stuck on math and kanji writing!
I can't deal with calculation problems right now!
Kouta, help me out~.
I quickly emailed him for help, but he replied that he's on a family trip.
Damn it!!
Also, he said he's already finished his summer homework. He wrapped it up in the first week—what a master, that's just insane.
But there's no point in whining, so I guess I'll get back to my homework. I don't want to pull an all-nighter on the last day.
Last year, I didn't finish and got yelled at so much. My mom's serious anger was super scary. I never thought I'd get so scared at this age.
She's definitely someone you don't want to make angry, for sure.
Once summer break is over, I guess the talk about middle school entrance exams will start, but I wonder what Kouta plans to do?
Well, in our house, it's just the local public middle school, no other options.
Why would I want to start studying for entrance exams while I'm still in elementary school? As someone who experienced the entrance exam wars in a past life (from the Showa era), I want to avoid it if I can.
My mom even said, "Private middle school? That's a term I don't know."
By the way, our "Hiroshi-sama" apparently got scouted by the notorious "Private Souzen Academy," which is super tough for girls and a paradise for some boys.
Whether it's true or not, they say he's exempt from entrance exams, tuition, and all sorts of fees, plus they're even offering him a preparation fund.
Seriously, that's just insane. The life of the elite is beyond my understanding as a commoner.
*
Summer vacation is over, and the lingering heat is still intense these days. Is there an autumn break coming up?
I heard that Kouta-kun went on a family trip abroad, and apparently, emerald green seas and white sandy beaches really do exist.
I mean, I've been to a gray sea and a beach that looked like iron sand! (teary-eyed)
And Kouta-kun said he played with his dad.
Wait, Kouta-kun actually has a dad!? That's amazing!!
I'm hearing this for the first time around here.
It turns out Kouta-kun's mom is his dad's, like, what number wife is she? They apparently met occasionally.
Kouta-kun has met him too, but he thought he was just an uncle who knew his mom.
They kept it a secret until he grew up because they were worried Kouta-kun might get bullied if people found out he had a dad.
Sounds pretty tough.
But was it okay for you to tell me this?
Saying, "You seem to have a weird sense of things, so I think it's fine," isn't that a bit rude?
So, I asked Kouta-kun, "What are you going to do for high school?" and he said he got scouted by a private school called Ousen Academy.
Wait, seriously? Isn't that place only for super smart or super athletic good-looking guys? I heard the boys are completely scouted while the girls get a lot of perks to become like, the prize carrots.
Apparently, Kouta-kun's dad is quite wealthy, and on top of that, Kouta-kun is pretty smart and decent-looking himself.
He doesn't stand out much because we have Hiroshi-sama here, but if it were another school, it might have been a big deal.
He'd probably end up being a recluse.
Hiroshi-sama is something else.
But if that's the case, they'll be in different middle schools. It's a bit sad, but it's not like they can't meet, so I guess it can't be helped.