"Are you really sure you don't want me to walk you home, Ayana-chan?"
Standing at the entrance of the JR station, Shinguu You asked the petite girl holding a stack of books in her arms.
"No need to trouble yourself, You-kun. My place is in Oritsu—it's kind of far."
Taketatsu Ayana waved at him with a soft smile, her cheeks slightly flushed.
Indeed, Japan's transportation network was incredibly efficient. Combined with its small land area, one could go practically anywhere by shinkansen. It only took a little over half an hour from Tokyo to Oritsu Warehouse, so even those living outside of Tokyo could commute by JR. Ironically, driving took much longer.
"Well, if your legs start acting up after you get home, make sure to call me."
You grinned and mimicked the motion of holding a phone to his ear.
Using that as an excuse, he had finally managed to get a girl's email address—face to face, no less—for the very first time.
"No problem! See you, You-kun!"
Clearly shy under the attention of those around the station entrance, Ayana gave him a slightly awkward wave and turned to trot off into the station.
Shaking his head, You watched as the 150 cm-tall Ayana, running with her head lowered, bumped into someone. Watching her bow repeatedly in apology was... honestly kind of adorable.
"Well then, maybe my first doujin game will end up fully voiced."
Stroking his chin, You fell into thought.
In the world before he crossed over, Tsukihime hadn't had voice acting. But now that he had decided to remake Tsukihime, and with better visuals to boot, it wouldn't hurt to add voices while he was at it.
Sure, he could hire some unknown voice actors. But what if he used future stars—seiyuu who'd eventually explode in popularity? That would make this initial version of Tsukihime a bit of a legend in its own right.
"Alright—let's head home!"
You was in high spirits. Despite running into some guy and nearly hitting a girl with his car, today had gone surprisingly well. This trip to Akihabara was an unquestionable success!
He spotted his parked car in the distance, and under the envious gazes of passersby, opened the door, started the engine, and drove off—mission complete.
※※※
Time passed as Shinguu You drove from Chiyoda back to Nerima—but his good mood had completely soured. Once again, traffic.
Having reincarnated and regained his youth, time was precious to him now. He had no desire to waste his second life stuck in an endless traffic jam.
This—this was the curse of a big city.
Leaving behind the dense core of Tokyo, he entered the quieter suburbs that felt more like a small town. The landscape changed drastically. The towering buildings disappeared, even mid-rise apartments were scarce. Apart from the occasional apartment complex, most of the surroundings were dotted with two- or three-story Western-style homes.
The din of the city faded. Only calm and clean air surrounded him.
They said this ward had birthed many manga artists. Maybe it was only in this kind of peaceful atmosphere that such creativity could flourish.
As his mind settled down, so did his driving. Cruising along a relatively narrow road, he scanned the area, keeping an eye out for a large supermarket to stock up on groceries.
Then—suddenly—his gaze was captured by a figure standing by the roadside.
It was only a silhouette from behind, and yet... it was like a magnet. His eyes were locked in place.
Her jet-black hair flowed down to her waist like ink, cascading across her back with elegant ease. Despite the season's chill, she wore a casual light blue wool sweater. A white hairclip nestled in her cloud-like locks. A breeze stirred, lifting her hair gently into the air—and even from this distance, You could tell those silky strands could star in a commercial.
From the waist down, she was dressed like most Japanese schoolgirls: a tartan skirt in an English style. But what truly seized his attention—what made his throat tighten—was what lay beneath that skirt.
Her long legs wrapped in sheer black stockings were flawless.
Slender. Curved. Perfectly balanced.
Even without touching them, You instinctively awarded them a perfect score. The stockings had just the right sheen, a deep black hue reflecting the fading sunlight. He swallowed hard. The girl—though only a silhouette—walked with such graceful steps, it left him momentarily entranced.
He quickly snapped out of it.
He was driving, after all. He couldn't afford another accident.
Forcing down the impulse, he licked his dry lips and averted his eyes. Foot pressing down, he sped up the Ferrari FXX.
But just as he passed her, he couldn't help it—he turned his head.
Perfection.
Apparently startled by the loud engine, the girl turned as well—meeting his gaze directly.
A touch of delicate makeup highlighted her noble, goddess-like features. You had assumed she'd be a classic "rear-view killer," but no—this girl was flawless from every angle.
Though she wore makeup, his years of experience with cosplay allowed him to imagine the face beneath—and even bare-faced, she'd still be stunning.
In order not to expose the gentlemanly pervert within him, You quickly turned away, pretending the glance had been purely accidental.
The car surged forward. The girl shrank in the rearview mirror. At the next corner, he pulled over and slammed his hand against the steering wheel.
"Goddamn it—I should've asked for her number!"
A reflexive outburst, pure Chinese-style complaint.
He regretted it. And yet... somehow, he also felt that even if he had gotten out of the car and approached her with gentlemanly airs, she would've just coldly shot him down.
"What a shame... Judging by her age, she's probably a student around here."
He shook his head.
Sure, she was incredibly pretty—but there were lots of beautiful girls in this world. The kind of woman who could drive a man crazy with her looks alone—that kind only existed in novels. In reality, no such thing existed.
You wasn't the kind of guy who'd lose his mind at the mere sight of a beauty.
He pressed the accelerator and got the car moving again.
If she was a student who lived nearby, maybe he'd see her again someday. The real problem was what excuse he'd use to talk to her.
Fortunately, not far from his place, he found a decently sized supermarket. He parked, grabbed a cart, and began a full-on shopping spree—trying to drown out his regret in consumer therapy.
Sometimes, Shinguu You could be a real shut-in. If he could help it, he wouldn't leave the house at all. Stockpiling enough food to survive was a top priority.