*Heroine’s Results*
Target Character: Sou Shiroyama
Encounter Event: Comfort Him on the Footbridge
*CLEAR*
The game menu floating in the air sounds the start of the game.
A man smiles with satisfaction and folds his arms over his chest.
✦ ✦ ✦
HAVING regained memories of my prior life, I naturally recalled my love for Kou.
Aah, how many times had I spoken to him through the console screen? Stopped by the LCD screen, I could hear his sweet whispers yet never get close to him. But in this world, there’s a chance I can meet the real Kou! The living, breathing, moving, blinking Kou!
At the moment, nothing had happened besides meeting a boy who was the spitting image of the game character Sou Shiroyama. Yet I got so worked up about it; I hope you can sympathize with me. My body wasn’t mature enough to completely understand all of the memories I had suddenly regained—it was still that of a seven-year-old girl. I simply latched onto the convenient half of my memories and daydreamed.
Since I’ve successfully encountered Sou and he’s the same age as me, Kou must be the same age as well. I let my imagination take over. An elementary school Kou! I bet he’s super cute. I want to be his friend! I didn’t hope for anything out of my league.
I have no doubt that Kou is fated to meet the beautiful brunette heroine. As long as I can gaze upon him from afar as one of the many background characters, I’ll be happy.
“That’s right! I have a chance to meet Kou!”
I sat up and hugged the teddy bear sitting next to my pillow and rained kisses on its adorable lips. Holding both of Becchin’s—my fluffy teddy bear’s nickname—hands, I stood and spun around in my room.
“Voi, che sapete che cosa è amor, donne vedete, s'io l'ho nel cor!”
‘I feel an emotion full of desire, that is now pleasure, and now suffering. You who know what love is, ladies, see whether it's in my heart.’
From the Second Act of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro opera.
I sang Cherubino’s famous aria, “You who know what love is”, as it was written in Italian at the top of my lungs, and raised Becchin over my head as I knelt on the floor.
O Becchin. Let me tell you that this emotion full of desire is love!
Short of breath, I began to consider my life plan. I had the good fortune of regaining the memories of my past life.
I can now redo my life that tragically ended at eighteen! I wish I had worked harder. I should’ve taken things more seriously back then. Whether it was in my studies or love, I have a lot of regrets. I want to live a regret-free life this time around. I’ll devote all my energy to the things I wanted to do before! With a new resolve, I balled my tiny hands into fists.
By the way, memories were the only things I could recall from my prior life. Although I had been a high school student studying for university entrance exams, I couldn’t remember anything knowledge-related. The sole knowledge I retained was what I had learned about music in order to complete Hear My Heart.
My inexplicable passion for learning music was ferocious enough that it frightened my high school music teacher. “Could you check if my harmony is off here?” I’d demand when I frequently intruded on the teacher’s lounge with handwritten sheet music in hand.
You know, I’m pretty sure they were scared of me. I eagerly studied musical composition when I hadn’t even been learning how to play an instrument.
I had saved up all my birthday money and allowance to buy every classical music CD I could get my hands on. Eventually, I could read music scores with ease. I don’t doubt that there’s some sort of meaning behind being able to remember all of that in my reincarnated life.
Kou played the violin.
Then shouldn’t I start playing the violin as well? A great idea suddenly occurred to me. That’s it! I should learn the violin and attend Seio Academy. If I do that, I can spend the sparkling days of youth, known as high school, with the object of my desires! Even if he never acknowledges me, I’ll be able to breathe the same air as him!
“Mommy!”
I hastily changed, slipped my backpack over my shoulders, and ran down the stairs. Everyone, from my mom putting breakfast on the table, to my dad reading the newspaper, to my sister Hanaka who was checking her daily fortune on TV, turned from what they were doing to look at me.
“Good morning, Mashiro. You’re spunky this morning.”
“Make sure to wash your face. Bread’s almost toasted.”
“Mashiro, what were you singing?”
They all started talking at once, so I couldn’t understand what they were saying. Instead of trying to figure it out, I placed my backpack next to my feet, then I knelt so that my knees were flat against the wooden floor.
“Wh-What are you doing…?”
My parents froze with their mouths open. Hanaka stared at me, wide-eyed.
“I have a favor to ask! Please let me learn how to play the violin!” I deeply bowed my head.
Violins come in various sizes. As a child grows, new violins need to be bought to match their size. Not to mention, there are lesson fees and instrument fees. Seio Academy is a private school, so with tuition and obligatory donations, my school expenses would be enormous.
Our family is an extremely normal middle-class household, and Dad is a company man who only recently got promoted to chief clerk, so it’s probably a stretch.
But I’ll work hard at it! I’ll give it my all!
Mom regained her composure and laughed at my unusual determination. “I was wondering what this was all about. We don’t have the money to let you pick up such an expensive hobby.”
“Sorry, Mashiro. Daddy’s job is just doesn’t pay enough…”
Seeing Dad’s sad expression clued me in to just how little leeway we had in our budget.
Right. I’m a minor character, so things aren’t going to be easy for me. I sighed heavily as I was overcome by shock. I see. It makes sense. Just because I was reincarnated into an otome game doesn’t mean I’ll get to live a life connected to Kou, especially if I’m just Pedestrian 1.
“You’re right. Sorry. I just asked because I figured I should give it a try.” I stumbled to my feet and sat at the dining table. The bread and ham with eggs were tasteless.
“Why the sudden interest in the violin?” Hanaka asked, peering at my face, concerned.
Not like I could say, “Because I want to meet a romanceable character from an otome game.” Instead, I changed the subject with a vague laugh.
It was time to go, so I put on my backpack and left the house.