After listening to the story, Agus lowers his gaze and thinks deeply about something. Unlike Rina’s parents, he might not believe that I am a blessing from the Goddess.
Well, that is natural.
「Rina died, and the Goddess gave us a new Rina?」
Agus’s mutter reaches my ears.
What is he thinking?
「Rina」
Agus looks at me.
「Yes?」
I am very nervous because I cannot imagine what he will say.
「Is it true that you have Rina’s memories?」
「Yes」
「Last summer, you bought candy at the festival. Do you remember?」
Candy at the festival? …Ah, I remember.
「Yes. It was flower-shaped candy that onii-chan bought for me. I was so happy that I was wondering where to start eating it」
Huh?
『What is wrong? You look troubled』
Yuu tilts his head and looks at me.
「I tripped and dropped the candy on the ground… and I cried, right?」
I do not just remember crying, I remember wailing! No, just because I dropped candy?
「Ah」
I even had a runny nose… I remember onii-chan wiping it for me… That memory… Ugh.
I cover my face with both hands and look down.
It is fine since Rina was only five, but I am thirty-one. Yes, thirty-one! This memory is unacceptable. It is too embarrassing.
「I see, you are really Rina」
「Eh?」
When I look at Agus, he is smiling happily at me.
「When Rina was embarrassed, she used to cover her face with both hands like that」
Ah, covering my face with both hands and looking down is Rina’s habit when she feels embarrassed.
「Rina」
「Yes?」
「You are definitely the Rina I know」
「Eh?」
Definitely Rina? Does that mean he has accepted me as Rina?
「Thank you, onii-chan」
Let us just say that the embarrassment was worth it. Yes, it was worth it… probably.
『Hey, hey, what was so embarrassing? I am really curious. Tell me later』
I will absolutely not tell him. If Yuu finds out, he will definitely tease me.
「Well, now that we have finished talking, let us have breakfast? If we do not eat and get ready soon, Father will be late for work」
Mother heads toward the kitchen.
Come to think of it, we have not had breakfast yet. I did not feel it due to tension until now, but I am hungry.
「Mother, I will help」
「Me too」
Since onii-chan headed toward the kitchen, I follow him.
「Thank you both. Can you carry this?」
Onii-chan carries a tray with two cups of tea and two cups of milk.
I am handed a large plate piled with salad.
「Be careful」
「「Yes」」
Holding the large plate of salad, I head toward the dining room.
Huh? Why do I feel like it is hard to carry?
I place the large plate on the table and tilt my head.
Ah, right. The size of my hands is different from my original self. Is that why the large plate felt difficult to hold?
「Rina, is something wrong with your hands?」
Onii-chan looks at me with concern. Father also looks at me worriedly, wondering if something happened.
「I am fine」
How should I explain this? Ah.
「I was relieved because I did not trip」
「I see. Certainly, Rina is a bit clumsy and trips often」
At Father’s words, memories of Rina tripping and crying come flooding back.
「…I will be careful from now on」
Even if she is clumsy, does she trip too much? And to think she cried in such an embarrassing way so often.
「It is okay, Father. I always carry an extra handkerchief for Rina」
When onii-chan says this proudly, Father happily pats his head.
To wipe tears and runny noses? Ugh, I really must be careful from now on.
「Agus really cares for his sisters」
I think so too. He is a wonderful older brother who cares deeply for his sisters.
「Because Rina and Suna are very cute」
At Agus’s smile, my chest hurts a little.
「Now, let us eat?」
Mother enters the dining room with a basket of freshly baked bread.
I have been thinking about it for a while, but it smells delicious.
「「「「Itadakimasu」」」」
This is the second breakfast we have eaten together since I became Rina. I feel relieved that everyone’s behavior is the same as last time.
『Sigh, the smell of freshly baked bread is nice』
I glance at Yuu, who is taking deep breaths repeatedly beside the bread basket, and then quietly look away.
Let us pretend I did not see that.
I think it is pitiful that he cannot eat, but seeing him sniffing with an ecstatic expression is too much.
「「「「Thank you for the meal」」」」
As expected, meals eaten with everyone are delicious.
In my previous life, both my family and I were busy with work, so we could rarely eat together. That is my only regret. I should have spent more time with my family. I never thought I would lose that time so soon.
「I am off to work. Agus, you have school, right? Shall we go part of the way together?」
After Father finishes getting ready to leave, he places his hand on onii-chan’s shoulder.
「Yes. I will get ready right away」
「Me too—」
「Rina, let us observe you a little longer. Your fever only went down yesterday. It might come back, right?」
Eh, I think I am fine now. But it is not good to make them worry.
「Understood. I will relax at home」
Father smiles happily and pats my head. Caught up in the moment, I smile too.
「Sorry to keep you waiting. Rina, you do not need to clean. Just take it easy」
Huh? Cleaning is not allowed either?
「I was planning to clean. That is not allowed. Stay in bed and rest today」
Since Father says this with a serious expression, I nod.
「Yes」
「Alright. Agus, let us go」
「Yes. We are off」
Onii-chan waves to me with a smile.
「We are off」
Father raises one hand to Mother and opens the front door.
「「Have a good day」」
Mother and I see them off until they disappear from sight, then return to the living room.
「Suna will be waking up soon. Rina, sleep until noon」
「Yes, understood」
It is a promise to Father, and I do not want to worry Mother.
「Good night」
『Rina. Scum is in front of the house』
「Eh?」
Is the scum Yuu is talking about the mother of the person who cursed us?
I hurry to the entrance and lock the door. Just as I feel relieved,
Rattle rattle rattle.
Bang bang bang.
Bang bang bang.
Rattle rattle rattle.
I hear sounds of someone trying to open the door and knocking.
『Whoa, this guy. He tried to open the door before knocking. This is terrible』
Really. Trying to enter someone else’s house without permission.
Bang bang bang.
「I know you are in there! Open up! Save my daughter today!」
Like I would know. You cursed people, and now you want help because you got counterattacked? I owe you no such duty!
『The church guy is with her again today』
「Rina」
Mother comes to the entrance in a panic and hugs me.
Ah, Mother is trembling.
「It is okay. They will surely leave soon」
I nod at Mother’s quiet voice and reach out to pat her back.
Bang bang bang.
「You murderer!」
That is your daughter, isn’t it?
「Hand over your son and daughter! If you refuse, I will make sure you cannot live in this village!」
…Huh?
Jolt.
I hug Mother tightly as her trembling worsens.
「Mother」
「It is okay. It is okay」
At Mother’s trembling voice, I gritted my teeth.
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