Do you believe in the Isekai world?
Well, I did not initially, but I was later reincarnated into that world with no sense of objectivity or logic, and I was made to live there with a small cheat that really helped me to live there in peace for a long time.
But as fate intertwined, I was forced to survive. Though with my careful attitude, I survived to the very end of it. Then I was sent back… With all of my skills locked away and going back to zero, I came to the realization that there might be something in this world that I would have to deal with.
Then again! I still don't have any clue about them.
So, I started to think about how I used to miss my childhood life back in Tokyo, and the moment I am given a chance—why not enjoy this peaceful time again?
Even if it is just a dream…
But the moment that thought crossed my mind, something in me snapped.
Wait… This moment. This scene. This smell.
The dim glow of my old room, the familiar hum of the AC barely keeping up with the summer heat, the flickering blue light of my monitor running an anime I had seen at least a dozen times. And in my hand—
"Ugh—!"
I barely had time to register the lump of rice and half-chewed meat lodged in my throat before the same panic I once felt in my past life surged through me. My body froze. My lungs screamed for air. The same stupid mistake—choking on food like a pathetic shut-in.
And just like before—
Everything went black.
—
When I opened my eyes, my heart was still racing. But this time, I felt… different.
"Haah… haah…"
I sat up, panting, hands instinctively clutching my throat. I wasn't choking anymore. My room was exactly the same, down to the empty soda cans and stacked game cases beside my monitor. The clock on my desk blinked lazily—July 21st, 20XX.
"The third day of summer vacation…" I murmured.
I remembered now. This was the day I died.
But I'm back.
My fingers trembled as I reached for my smartphone. The lock screen lit up, showing a notification for a new message. For a moment, I just stared at it—something about this moment felt unreal.
Then, my gaze shifted to my lap, where I saw it.
A faintly glowing blue screen.
[Welcome back, Renji Sakamura.]
[System Reinitializing…]
[All Skills Locked. Progress Reset.]
[Survive & Grow Stronger.]
My breath hitched. The System—the one I relied on for survival in the other world—was still here. But all my stats, my carefully accumulated abilities, everything was back to zero.
"…Shit."
"Wait! I really came back."
Renji's voice trembled as he took in the scene before him—his old, messy room, the dim glow of the desk lamp, the hum of an aging air conditioner struggling against the summer heat. The faint scent of instant noodles and unopened snack packs lingered in the air, a familiar reminder of his pathetic shut-in days.
"It's not a dream!!!"
Sitting up, Renji clenched his fists. The reality of his return hit him all at once. His old self—the weak, beaten-down loser who barely survived school, who had his money stolen by punks, who lived on nothing but cheap cup ramen—he remembered it all.
"Haah…" He exhaled, rubbing his face. "Even Naruto had better food than me. At least he got Ichiraku ramen…"
He let out a bitter chuckle before shaking his head. That wasn't important right now.
What was important was where he was. Sakuragi Inn.
A small, family-run inn tucked away in a quiet district of Tokyo, built in the traditional style with sliding doors and tatami rooms. His old room was one of the smaller ones on the second floor—cheap rent, just enough space for a bed, desk, and his gaming setup. The faint scent of incense and wood polish drifted in from the hallway, a nostalgic reminder of the place he once called home.
And then, there was her.
Hanami Rika.
The granddaughter of the inn's owner, his childhood friend, and the one girl who still treated him like a normal person even when he was a shut-in.
Rika was different from the cold, untouchable beauties from his old world—she was soft, expressive, and full of life. She had a habit of pouting when things didn't go her way, puffing her cheeks when annoyed, and clapping excitedly whenever she ate something delicious. She wasn't bookish and quiet—no, she was chatty, a little clingy, and had a mischievous streak.
And yet… she was also his biggest regret.
Because in his past life, he ignored her kindness. He pushed her away. He took her presence for granted.
Renji swallowed hard.
Outside, he heard quick, light footsteps approaching his door.
Knock, knock!
"Renji! Are you awake yet? I made breakfast~!"
His breath hitched. That cheerful voice.
It really was her.
But she only saw him as a friend and nothing else, which was the reason he had tried to push her away—his first love.
No matter how much he longed for something more, Rika never looked at him that way. She was warm, kind, always there with a smile… but her heart was never his to claim. He remembered how desperately he tried to distance himself, pretending he didn't care, avoiding her invitations, and even snapping at her once just so she'd stop being so nice to him.
Yet, even after everything… she never changed.
She still treated him the same way. A friend. A little brother figure. Someone she could tease and joke around with.
And now… he was back here again.
Knock, knock!
"Renji! Are you awake yet? I made breakfast~!"
That voice.
That familiar, cheerful voice from beyond the sliding door.
Renji's chest tightened. His fingers dug into his blanket as he stared at the ceiling, his breath uneven.
How was he supposed to face her now?
"Oi, Renji! You better not have gone back to sleep!"
The door slid open without warning, and before he could react, Rika stepped inside.
Her short chestnut-brown hair, slightly messy from the morning, framed her bright hazel eyes that carried a playful glint. She was wearing a simple summer outfit—a loose, off-shoulder white top and navy blue shorts, her fair skin exposed just enough to make him subconsciously avert his gaze.
"Ah! You're actually awake for once? What a miracle!" she teased, stepping further into his room without hesitation. She held a tray in her hands, the aroma of freshly cooked rice, miso soup, and tamagoyaki drifting through the air.
Renji felt his throat dry up.
This scene—this exact moment—he remembered it so vividly.
This was the day before his death.
The last meal she ever brought him.
His fingers trembled slightly as he stared at her, his mind racing. The System that had been with him in the Isekai world… was it still here? Was his strength really gone?
"Oi, why are you looking at me like that?" Rika tilted her head, her brows furrowing. "You're being weird."
Renji blinked, snapping out of his daze.
"…It's nothing."
"Tch, whatever. Anyway, eat up before it gets cold!" She placed the tray on his desk and sat cross-legged on the floor beside him, completely comfortable in his room. "Jeez, your place is still a mess. Did you seriously just spend the past three days gaming again?"
Renji hesitated. How was he supposed to answer that? Technically, yes—he had been in his room for three days before his past self died. But his soul had spent years in another world, struggling, learning, growing stronger.
And yet, here he was.
Back to being weak.
"…Something like that," he muttered, picking up his chopsticks.
Rika sighed, shaking her head. "Hopeless as always." But then she grinned, leaning forward slightly. "Guess I'll have to keep taking care of you like always, huh?"
His chest tightened.
This was dangerous.
Even after all these years… she could still mess with his heart so easily.