Chapter 12

I’m a pervert.

I tried my best to explain myself under Pell’s suspicious gaze, but he clearly wasn’t buying it.

So I figured, fine.

I’ll just be a pervert.

It’s not like I’d done anything bad.

All I’d done was smell his clothes a little.

And even if that made me a pervert…

So what?

I hadn’t hurt anyone.

“From today on, that’s just who I am. Accept it, Pell.”

“I know that’s not true.”

“Then why are you… Ah.”

I narrowed my eyes.

Then it hit me.

“Were you teasing me just now? Seriously? Wow!”

“…”

How much closer had we gotten emotionally?

This was incredible.

…Ah.

My mistake.

Pell quietly took a step backward.

I’d forgotten that when an introvert actually teased someone, pointing it out directly only embarrassed them.

I hurriedly changed the subject.

“Pell, do you realize it’s been two weeks since we last saw each other?”

“It has. It’s been a while, Miss.”

“Weren’t you happy to see me?”

“I was.”

Beep. Contradiction detected.

His face didn’t look happy at all.

For some reason, I felt a little sulky.

I took a small step toward him.

“You didn’t miss me?”

“…”

“That’s so mean. I missed you.”

The slight softness that had been on Pell’s face instantly vanished.

His expression stiffened.

“…Do you always say things like that?”

“Huh? Oh… I just meant I was bored and wanted to hang out with you.”

“…You said things like that before, too.”

Before?

He meant before Leta lost her memory.

Before I’d transmigrated.

Pretending not to know, I asked,

“What was I like back then?”

No way.

There was no way Leta had said things similar to what I did.

That socially dysfunctional girl couldn’t possibly have spoken so casually and warmly.

When I looked puzzled, Pell thought for a moment before answering.

“It felt different… but you’ve made several remarks that could easily be misunderstood.”

“…Pell. I say things like this to girls too. You and they are the same to me.”

“You’re all just my friends.”

It was true.

Most of my friends back in my old life had been women.

Getting close to guys could occasionally lead to… disasters.

To make a long story short, I’d once gotten caught up in an enormous mess during college because of it.

Just remembering it gives me chills…

After that, I stopped approaching men so casually.

Only the ones who genuinely seemed like they could become friends.

I certainly didn’t cling to them the way I did with girls.

Pell was a guy too…

But he didn’t seem to have any romantic feelings for me.

And…

If I was being completely honest…

This was a novel.

That made it easier not to think too deeply about it.

…Wait.

Don’t tell me…

Does he think I like him?

No…

That would be bad.

Especially with this face.

Leta was absurdly beautiful.

The kind of goddess who could tell people to get lost while looking at them like insects…

…and they’d probably answer,

“Yes! Thank you for telling me to leave!”

If the most beautiful woman in the world smiled at you…

Asked to be your friend…

Said she’d missed you…

Even I’d misunderstand…

No. I can’t lose the first friend I’ve made here.

I looked straight at Pell.

Carefully putting all my sincerity into every word, I said,

“More importantly… I would never act like this toward someone I actually liked.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. When I like someone…”

I completely lose the desire to get close to them.

People I had no romantic feelings for?

I could approach them endlessly.

No problem.

But the moment I liked someone…

I didn’t even want to start a conversation.

I suddenly remembered the strange look one of my classmates had given me after hearing that.

“…You…”

He’d stared at me like I was some fascinating new species…

Then slowly shaken his head.

“So what’s wrong with that?”

It wasn’t like I lost the ability to speak around people I liked.

Or became so shy that my friends wanted to gouge their eyes out.

No.

It was much simpler than that.

I literally just don’t feel like getting close to them.

The desire I had to befriend everyone else…

Shrank to something smaller than a speck of dust whenever I met someone I romantically liked.

Maybe that was why…

Despite my decent looks, good conversation skills, and pleasant personality…

My dating history wasn’t exactly impressive.

How had things ended with my last boyfriend again?

He was probably the one I’d dated the longest.

“Did you ever actually like me?”

“What kind of stupid question is that? Why would I date you if I didn’t?”

“…Tomorrow would’ve been our hundredth day together.”

Ah.

Right.

We broke up on Day Ninety-Nine.

Naturally…

My friends had treated me like absolute trash afterward.

I accepted every insult with humility.

But honestly…

What was I supposed to do?

Wasn’t love supposed to be about constantly wanting to know more about someone?

Missing them?

Wanting to see them all the time?

The only people I felt that way about…

Were my friends.

So…

Did that mean I was in love with all my friends?

Was I secretly the greatest playboy in history?

“Ew! Are you insane?!”

The moment I voiced that theory, my friends had looked ready to throw up.

After a lengthy group discussion…

We reached one conclusion.

Apparently…

I simply hadn’t met my “true love” yet.

Why am I like this?

The question was far too philosophical.

I forcibly ended the internal debate.

As I absentmindedly stared across the green meadow beyond Pell’s broad shoulders…

He quietly murmured,

“…I see.”

“Yeah. So don’t misunderstand, okay? I’d be pretty sad if even you did.”

“I don’t exactly have many friends as it is.”

…I couldn’t believe I was saying that myself.

I don’t have many friends.

Me.

The owner of a contact list titled Silver Town, containing 495 people.

Me.

The person whose schedule this month was completely packed except for two days.

…

Actually…

This wasn’t so bad.

Maybe this is a chance to understand people who don’t have friends a little better.

A change in perspective.

Looking on the bright side wasn’t a bad thing.

“It’s cold. Let’s head back.”

I had merely been lost in thought…

But perhaps Pell mistook it for sadness.

His voice softened slightly as he held out his hand.

I took it and stood.

“Thanks.”

We walked back down the hill together.

The cool night breeze brushed against my fingertips…

The very fingertips that had been holding his hand.

They felt strangely ticklish.

A month had already passed since I’d arrived here.

At breakfast, as always…

My assigned seat was now directly opposite Mother and to Father’s left.

I’d even written “Leta’s Seat” on a piece of paper and left it there.

No one had dared remove it.

“Enjoy your meal! Love you~”

“…”

“Tch.”

I’d casually slipped an “I love you” into my greeting.

No luck.

They weren’t falling for it.

Today’s breakfast was served.

The stage was set.

Watch closely, Mother.

Drawing fully upon the survival skills of a graduating senior…

I had finally mastered noble etiquette perfectly.

Every tiny utensil—

Different sizes.

Different shapes.

Different purposes.

I used every single one in the correct order.

“…!”

Mother’s eyes widened in genuine surprise.

“…Your table manners have become quite respectable.”

“Of course.”

“I’m your daughter, after all.”

“…I… suppose.”

A joke like that would’ve completely broken the old Mother.

Now…

She managed to respond without freezing like a rusty robot.

That was enormous progress.

“…Your memories…”

The rest of the sentence—

“Have they returned?”

—went unspoken.

I simply shook my head.

“No.”

“As you can see.”

“…I see.”

Father, as always, asked only what was necessary before ending the conversation.

I wondered…

Did he want his daughter back?

Or did he simply want his heir to resume her duties?

“Do you dislike who I am now?”

Father paused mid-cut through a slice of lamb.

He looked directly at me.

Most people would’ve misunderstood those eyes.

But I knew better.

There was worry in them.

Affection.

Concern.

Love.

“…No.”

“Then that’s enough.”

“I’m sure everything will return eventually.”

Including the real owner of this body.

I swallowed those final words together with a spoonful of soup.

The carrot soup slid smoothly down my throat.

It was delicious.

Everything in this house was.

Maybe I should ask the kitchen for the recipe.

My friends back home would probably love it.

After breakfast…

We headed out into the garden.

At last.

Our very first family walk together.

We should’ve done this ages ago.

But after our previous plan had fallen through, both my parents’ schedules had remained completely packed.

“The air feels so fresh.”

As promised…

And as a reward for completing my basic education…

The Human-Extermination Robot and the Sloth had generously devoted a full twenty-three minutes to taking a walk with me.

I’ve got to make every second count.

As we walked beneath the lush greenery…

A cluster of vivid red flowers caught my eye.

What flower is that?

One of my walking encyclopedias—I mean, one of my friends—had told me before.

What was it called again?

I’d listened carefully at the time.

But naturally…

I’d forgotten immediately afterward.

“Zinnias.”

“Gah—!”

“Mother?!”

She’d appeared beside me without making a sound.

My heart nearly stopped.

Then…

For the very first time…

A spark of life appeared in Mother’s eyes.