[Vol. 2] Chapter 39: A New Beginning
Several days had passed since Mei got me the apartment, and I still couldn't quite believe I was actually moving.
"This…"
I looked around.
Boxes.
Boxes everywhere.
Not that many, actually.
Probably fewer than a normal person should have.
But there they were.
My few belongings, carefully sorted between what to take and what to throw away.
I sat down on the floor and opened another box.
Clothes.
A couple of books.
Some notebooks.
A charger that had probably been lost for months.
"Why do I have three chargers that don't work?"
I looked at them one by one.
"…"
"Out."
All three ended up in a bag.
I kept packing.
Even though I didn't have much, most of it had already been there when I woke up in this body, so it was in a way an experience of discovery for me.
I kept working for a while.
Until I finally closed the last box.
Then I sat back down on the floor, looking at everything I'd packed and what was just garbage to throw out.
I felt a little nervous and excited at the same time.
I thought I'd have to live here forever… I never expected to be able to move somewhere so nice. I should thank Mei somehow.
Wait… shouldn't I also thank her father?
The image of a terrifying business magnate flashed through my mind and gave me chills.
"W-well, I think thanking Mei is enough. No need to go overboard."
I got to my feet.
"Right."
I looked at the boxes one more time.
"Thank you, Mei."
A little while later there was a knock at the door.
"Shimizu-san?"
"Yes!"
I opened it.
Two workers from the moving company were standing in the hallway.
One of them looked inside.
"Is everything ready?"
"Yes."
I pointed to the last boxes.
"Those are the last ones."
"Perfect."
The men came in and started carrying them out one by one, until finally the place was empty.
The apartment looked…
Small.
Much smaller than I remembered.
I stood in the middle of the room.
I looked at the kitchen.
The tiny bathroom.
The window.
And finally…
The corner by the wall.
My corner.
That was where I'd set up the camera.
The ring light.
The tripod.
That was where I'd done my first streams.
Where I'd taken my first photos.
Where I'd spent hours trying to figure out what the hell I was doing with my new life.
I'd also spent entire nights wondering if all of it was a nightmare.
And somehow…
That place had ended up becoming my first home.
I hadn't lived here very long, but a lot had happened.
The first time I woke up as Aika.
The first mission.
My first stream.
The fear.
The money.
The system.
The nights when I could barely sleep.
The arguments with myself.
And also…
The first times someone called me a friend.
I lowered my gaze slightly.
"I guess I'll miss you."
It surprised me to hear myself say it out loud.
I smiled a little.
"Thanks for everything."
I turned toward the door.
Took a step.
And then—
CLONK.
I stopped.
…
Again.
CLONK… CLONK…
A metallic sound ran through the pipes.
I stared at the ceiling.
"…"
The apartment seemed to be saying goodbye.
"Come to think of it…"
I picked up my bag.
"I take it back."
I walked to the door.
"I hope they tear this place down."
I opened it.
"Goodbye!"
I closed the door behind me.
I went downstairs to the building entrance.
The moving truck was parked out front.
One of the workers was checking a list.
"Shimizu-san?"
"Yes."
"Is this everything?"
He pointed at the boxes.
I blinked.
I looked at the boxes.
Then at the truck.
Then at the boxes again.
"Yes…"
The man seemed confused.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"I thought you'd have more stuff."
"So did I."
The worker let out a small laugh.
"Well, at least we'll finish quickly."
"Y-yes, that's true."
I answered with a small laugh.
Sorry for being so poor!
I signed the document he handed me and then the man put the paper away.
"Perfect. We'll take care of the rest."
"Thank you."
I looked up at the building.
My old home.
Or something like it.
I stood there watching it for a few seconds.
It had been a terrible place.
But it had also been where my second life began.
I took a slow breath.
"Well…"
I looked at the sky.
"I suppose that's it."
The worker closed the truck's back door.
The engine started.
And I just stood there.
Watching it disappear into the distance.
…
A few hours later…
"Wow…"
I stood in front of my new building.
It was…
Well.
There was no comparison.
The old building looked like something someone had abandoned mid-construction and then decided to rent out anyway.
This one, on the other hand, looked like a place where actual people actually lived.
The walls were clean.
The windows didn't look like they were about to fall off.
The façade was nice, and all the lights seemed to work.
"This is what a normal building looks like…"
I smiled.
Even the surroundings were much more pleasant.
There were trees, small shops, and quiet streets.
You didn't have to walk watching your every step to avoid discovering some new disaster.
"Mei really wasn't exaggerating."
I looked up.
"Thank you…"
I felt a small flutter in my chest.
I still couldn't quite believe I was actually going to live there.
…
I went inside and up to my new apartment.
I took out the keys.
Looked at them for a few seconds.
"Here we go…"
I smiled.
The door opened with a click, and I fell silent.
"…"
"Wow!"
I walked in.
The space was considerably bigger than my old studio.
There was a small entryway separate from the rest of the apartment, a modern kitchen — just the basics, but quite nice — a spacious living room, and two bedrooms.
Two.
Bedrooms.
"Two bedrooms?! Since when am I royalty?!"
I started walking around the apartment, absolutely thrilled.
I'd never even had a two-bedroom place in my past life…
The apartment was partially furnished — just the essentials, enough to live in. A few things were missing but it was still so much more than I'd expected…
I could barely contain my excitement, and then… I saw the balcony.
I ran to it.
Opened the door.
A gust of fresh air came in immediately.
"Oh!"
I stepped out.
From there I could see part of the surrounding area.
It wasn't a spectacular view of Tokyo or anything like that.
But it was peaceful.
Beautiful.
I rested my hands on the railing.
"This is incredible…"
After everything I'd gone through to get here…
It had really been worth it.
I looked back inside.
Boxes were stacked around different parts of the living room.
"Now I just have to put everything away."
I went back in.
Put my hands on my hips.
"And… maybe buy some decorations?"
I think I'll start with a plant.
Yeah… that would be nice.
…
I started humming to myself as I opened one of the boxes, and then a window appeared in front of me.
[Congratulations on your new apartment!]
"Huh?"
I blinked.
"Thanks… I suppose."
The window stayed floating in front of me.
"I was starting to wonder…"
I paused.
"Haven't you been very quiet lately?"
[You've had some difficult days.]
[I decided it was better not to overload you.]
"…"
I blinked again.
"I didn't know you could be so considerate."
[I am not! Don't get the wrong idea, kid.]
"Wow! What are you, a tsundere?!"
[You're imagining things.]
I couldn't help laughing.
"Sure, whatever you say. And aren't you talking more… naturally than before?"
[Stop imagining things.]
"Definitely yes."
Did it only show up to congratulate me?…
"…"
The window disappeared for a few seconds.
Then it came back.
[New mission available.]
My smile disappeared.
"…"
I knew that tone all too well.
"No."
[Mission: A New Beginning.]
"I should have seen that coming…"
[Mission objectives:]
[• Buy items needed for the new apartment.]
[• Buy new clothes.]
[• Buy decorations.]
[• Buy underwear.]
[• Buy erotic lingerie.]
"…"
I read the list again.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
"Why is there a specific category for erotic lingerie?"
[It's necessary.]
"Necessary for what?"
[For your new beginning.]
"That doesn't answer anything at all."
The window stayed silent.
I slowly lowered my gaze back to the list.
"…"
A shiver ran through me.
"I have a very bad feeling about this."