Ch.5 There's No Trick or Gimmick

My tears had stopped and my mind had calmed down.

The house was transformed into a festive atmosphere.

"Well then, cheers to the return of my son!"

""Cheers!""

Mom and Mitsuki followed Dad's lead.

Although Shin-nii tried to act cool, he joined in the tossing of beer cans.

I think he's probably embarrassed to say it in unison.

It's so typical of Shin-nii that he still feels resistance to this sort of thing.

"Wow, I can't believe there's such a thing as reincarnation."

"To be honest, I'm still a bit skeptical, but our stories just keep coming out one after another."

Mitsuki agreed with father's words with a wry smile.

"Indeed... She said some things that we'd never tell to other people."

"Well well. The girl's back. That's a good thing."

Shin-nii reluctantly nods as Mother tries to calm him down.

Looking at the familiar scenery, I once again realized that I had returned.

Even though I had cried my heart out, it seemed like I'd start crying again if I let my guard down.

"Sorry for causing such a fuss."

To reset my mood, I gave a wry smile to the two girls around my age.

In stark contrast to their parents, the girls seemed uneasy about their surroundings.

That's obvious.

From their perspective, it was nothing more than an incomprehensible turn of events in which a complete stranger recounted the story of a family she had never met - Claims to be a person who's supposedly died - and the family accepted it.

"Um... are you really the reincarnation of my uncle?"

Shin-nii's daughter (temporary) asks.

They have the same sharp eyes.

"There's no need to be so intimidated. We're about the same age now. By the way, I'm a first year high school student. How about you?"

"Me- me too. Sakura is the same. And my name is Kaede."

"Sakura and Kaede? Nice names."

"Thanks"

She gives a cold response.

Yeah, they really are the same. Not only is she quick to switch gears, but she probably hates being intimidated by girls who look the same age as her. She's the exact same person. She's definitely the type with a lot of pride.

 I didn't get the same vibe from Mitsuki's daughter (temporary), now Sakura.

She just nodded timidly and completely shy.

"So, to the main point-"

"Yes, I know. But no matter how I explain it to you guys, you can't just accept that I'm a reincarnated person, right?"

"...That's true. After all, we only know about our uncle through word of mouth."

“So I'll prove it another way.”

"Another way?"

“?”

Kaede has a question mark on her face.

Sakura tilts her head to the side. How cute.

After checking the condition of my throat,

“―♪”

I sang a little bit.

I held my index finger up in front of me, and as soon as I finished singing the first verse, a flame suddenly appeared on the tip of my index finger.

“““Huh?”””

"There's no trick or gimmick behind it."

It became a big fuss.

"A-Are you okay? Your fingers are burning!"

"It's absolutely fine. This is what they call magic."

I quickly extinguish the flame and show my index finger.

There was not a single burn on my whitefish-like fingertips.

“Ma- magic…!”

Sakura's eyes began to sparkle.

I see, so she's that type of person.

"So- something unreal again...! Is this a dream...?"

"It's not a dream or anything, Shin-nii. I told you, I was Kisaragi Yuuji in my previous life."

"And why is that related?"

"In other words, I still have memories from my first life. And memories of being reincarnated into the other world."

“Another world reincarnation…!”

Sakura's eyes are blinding.

Oh, it seems like Kaede is feeling the same way too. A bit surprising.

"So That's what caused the flames earlier?" Mitsuki asks.

"Yes. It's called 'Musical Arts'. It's something that can be used by modifying the soul. So it can be used even after reincarnation."

In other words, it is a power that resides in the soul.

Well, right now I have almost no pneuma, the energy for musical arts (like people's feelings or recognition), so I can only act as a substitute writer.

"Remodeling souls sounds dangerous..."

"It's an ethically questionable technology, but we couldn't survive in that world without it."

"Umm, what kind of other world was it...?"

Sakura asked timidly, but with great interest.

"As I said before, we're just talking casually so there's no need to use honorifics."

As I replied, I told them about my past life.

I'll refrain from talking about myself.

I suffered quite a bit - or rather, I suffered enough to consider suicide, but I don't think I should say that now.

I wanted to avoid deep conversations as much as possible.

Landmines exist not only in past lives, but in this life too.

“Umm, that sounds really tough..."

"Yeah, no matter what kind of world it is, you don't want to reincarnate into another world. Not in a dystopian world like mine, and not even in a typical medieval world."

"…… Communication"

Sakura said hatefully.

I'm sorry, but it's interesting that that's the first thing that came up in her mind.

"I don't really mind that, but the lack of electrical appliances and plumbing is a bit much. Even if I were to encounter the magic I long for, once I get used to it, my life would only become inconvenient and dangerous. ー A world without monsters that attack humans would be truly wonderful."

I muttered to myself as I gazed in the direction of the day after tomorrow.

"Such heavy words ...!"

"So, putting aside the fact that I am the reincarnation of Kisaragi Yuuji, I think that gives a fair amount of validity to the explanation of me being a reincarnated person. What do you think?"

If this world had any low fantasy elements, I'd be finished. ...But there isn't, right?

"Well, I suppose so. It's hard to believe though."

"(Nod nod nod)"

It seems like Kaede still needs some time to process it, but it seems that's the end of it.

"Now that you mention it, Yuuji... no, Aria?"

"Yes, if possible, please call me that. Even though I reincarnated, I am currently Aria after all."

I replied to my father's words.

"Okay. Aria, what are you going to do today? I still have your room left."

"Really?! Thank you! That'd help me so much!"

Seriously?! That's good.

I really thought that was a long shot, so I'm really happy.

After all, there's no space more relaxing than your own room.

"Hmm? Didn't you make a hotel reservation? Or do you live nearby?"

"Hmm. I was disowned so the only home I can go back to is the orphanage."

“.....”

Well, the atmosphere has cooled down.

“What happened?”

With a wry smile, I told them about my current life.

I was born as an illegitimate child and abandoned at an orphanage.

On top of that, I was forcibly brought back because the heir had died.

I was subjected to eight years of torturous lady education.

And today, a new official successor was born, so I was subjected to the cruelty of being banished with the words "We don't need you after all, woohoo~"

I came here after being chased away, clinging to a glimmer of hope.

When I finished speaking, Mom hugged me again.

I didn't burst into tears again, but the warmth permeated my heart and made me feel good.

"How selfish they are...!"

“But if she is to be returned to the orphanage, it should be possible for her to be adopted. The Shiraori family I know is quite a wealthy family, but it shouldn’t be that difficult to arrange.”

"Seriously?" I looked at her, and Kaede reassured me, "My dad's a lawyer."

Can I assume that they will protect me through their own connections?

Thank you, Shin-nii. I'll keep quiet about the fact that you were seriously examining the tools to develop butt as a thank you!

Even though he has a very elitist mentality, he has a lot of dark history.

I know you were shouting the name of the sacred beast while playing Beyb**de alone.

But he's a lawyer, huh. that's typical of Shin-nii.

Not in the benevolent sense of defending and helping the innocent, but in a power-hungry sense.

"Yes. We will adopt you."

"Please, thank you"

I bowed my head deeply.

And so, I was able to live under my parents' roof once again, as Shiraori Aria, now Kisaragi Aria.

Well, not as a son but a daughter.

This feels wrong.

Is this real?

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