Ah, crap… What the hell happened? Suddenly, I passed out, but from what?
Riko slowly pushed himself up, rubbing his head in confusion. He scanned the room, trying to figure out why he had suddenly passed out. Then it clicked
Oooh, so that's why I passed out. It's because my mana capacity dropped to a flat zero. So, if I run out of mana, I'll get hit with a massive fatigue, which causes me to pass out?
Riko let out a deep sigh, resting his hand against his hand as he flipped through the book again. His eyes darted across the pages in frustration.
Dammit, how can I increase my mana capacity? He flipped another page. This stupid book doesn't say anything about increasing mana.
After a moment of silent pondering, an idea sparked in his mind.
So, if my theory is correct, I cast another magic again. Would it increase my mana capacity? Determined, Riko raised his tiny hand. His mana began to swirl, surrounding his body like faint mist. His hair lifted slightly, flowing with the surge of magical energy.
Veno Aquatigaru…
A small sphere of water formed in his palm and shot toward the wall, splashing against it. —Splat!
I did it again… except that I didn't pass out. So that means when I cast the last spell, it increased my mana level? So my theory was, in fact, correct!
Feeling a rush of excitement, Riko decided to cast another spell. Let's try this one out…
Closing his eyes, he focused his mana into his arm. The air around him heated as his aura shifted. When his eyes opened, they glimmered.
Veno Fugario… His eyes widened in surprise as a small fireball flickered into existence, hovering above his palm. With a whoosh, it launched toward the wall—
—and ignited it.
Riko's face turned pale.
"EEK!" he squeaked, his baby face sweating bullets.
Think, think, THINK! He scrambled mentally for a solution. Then it hit him—he hadn't collapsed yet.
Wait, I'm still standing!—I mean sitting. Never mind that, but I can use this chance to put out the fire! He quickly raised his hand again, channeling his mana with all the focus he could muster.
"Hmph…" His aura swirled around, transferring it into his arm. Water formed at his palm, swirling violently before bursting forth in a stream that struck the burning wall. Steam hissed through the room as the flames were finally snuffed out.
A wave of crushing fatigue suddenly washed over Riko once again, but it felt much worse than before. Guh…!
He stumbled back and forth, collapsing to the ground. As his consciousness began to fade, a single thought echoed faintly in his mind. I have a lot to learn in this new world and body...
Seven years later…
Warm sunlight streamed through the wooden windows as Riko trotted down the stairs, a bright grin lighting up his face. He was truly happy about his improvement in magic and his peaceful new life, which he had always eluded in his past life.
It's been seven and a half years since I first reincarnated in this world. Over the years, I have only focused on magic, which I have improved significantly. Well, I wouldn't say it was easy—but it did exceed my expectations.
Spotting his mother in the living room, Riko walked over and gently tugged on Rimara's sleeve. "Mom, can I go outside for a bit?" he asked politely.
Rimara tilted her head, pretending to think it over. "Well, uh… sure," she said with a teasing smile. "But you'd better be careful. Creepy monsters love to snack on little boys, you know."
Riko's smile stiffened. How could you say something like that with a smile on your face?! He thought, mentally sweating.
Riko slipped on his shoes and headed for the door. "See you later, mom!" he shouted, waving brightly
"Have fun, Riko!" she shouted back, waving with a soft smile.
He dashed outside, inhaling a deep breath of fresh morning air. The sunlight bathed the village in a warm glow, and a soft breeze brushed against his face as he ran. From a distance, a great mountain loomed over the village; the village named Thornveil, its peak hidden beneath drifting clouds, the trees swayed gently, and the fields of grass shimmered like waves.
Riko slowed his pace, letting the breeze wash over him. For a moment, all the stress of training and studying faded away. This village really is beautiful… He thought.
It's so peaceful, it almost feels like my soul can finally breathe. This life was truly what I always sought in my past life.
Riko headed toward the small hill, where a breathtaking view of the fields and the distant mountain of Mitaguruki stretched before him. The grass below shimmered like waves in the wind, glowing softly under the sunlight.
After his studies, this was always his favorite spot. From here, the mountain and fields looked even more beautiful. The mountain's name is kind of weird, he thought, but Ruther said it's been around since ancient times, which is reasonable for its name.
Riko sat down on the grass, letting the cool breeze wash over him as he gazed at the view. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes, a small smile forming on his face.
—Crack!
Riko's eyes shot open. He turned toward the sound and spotted a girl with bright red hair staring at him.
"EEK!" she squeaked, quickly ducking behind a tree in panic.
A girl? Riko thought, stifling a laugh. He leaned forward and teased, "You know, I can still see you."
"N-no, you can't!" she shot back nervously from behind the tree.
Riko blinked in surprise, then slowly returned to his previous position on the grass.
What was that about? Eh, whatever… He sighed and stretched his arms. Maybe I should just cast some magic to pass the time.
Closing his eyes, he focused his mana. A gentle swirl of aura gathered around him, forming a small sphere of water in his palm.
"Maybe I should water the grass," he murmured with a grin.
He raised his hand and launched the water sphere high into the sky, then performed a quick hand gesture, spreading the liquid outward. The water dispersed gracefully, falling like a soft rainfall.
Behind him, the red-haired girl watched in awe, her eyes sparkling with pure admiration. Slowly, almost unconsciously, she stepped closer.
"Amazing, right?" Riko asked, a smug smirk creeping onto his face.
She glanced at him shyly. "Um… mind if I ask… are you interested in magic?"
Riko tilted his head back, watching the water droplets fall as a faint rainbow formed in the distance. "Yeah, I am. In fact, I study it a lot. It's kind of fascinating, isn't it? The fact that humans can even wield such power." He turned to her with a gentle smile. "Mind if I ask your name?"
Her face instantly turned beet red. "O-oh, u-uh… Shizo! Shizo Hayveil!" she blurted out.
"Riko Takamo," he replied, smiling warmly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Shizo."
"I-I'm also really interested in magic!" she declared suddenly, her confidence flaring for a moment.
Riko raised an eyebrow, taken aback by her sudden enthusiasm. There was a strange sense of familiarity in her words, though he couldn't quite place why. "Oh yeah? Then how about you show me some of your magic?" he asked with a playful grin.
Shizo's expression faltered, her earlier confidence melting away. "Oh, um… I'm interested, but… I'm too poor to afford a magic book," she admitted softly, looking down.
Riko's eyes widened slightly. He felt a pang of sympathy for her. Without a second thought, he smiled reassuringly. "Then… how about I teach you some magic?" he offered.
Determined, Shizo nodded vigorously and blurted out, "Hmhm!"
Riko smiled, teasing her. "You sure are confident," he chuckled.
He decided to go straight to the point. Shizo stared at him intently, and a bead of sweat slid down his forehead. Why is she staring through my soul?! I can't concentrate on this!
"So, Shizo," Riko began, closing his eyes to focus, "what you need to do is concentrate on your 'core,' the part of your mana inside your heart. I recommend closing your eyes to focus better."
His aura swirled around him as he channeled his mana to his arm. "Once you find the mana core, transfer the mana to your arm and pronounce this spell with me. This is basic magic: Veno Aquatigaru—"
Before he could finish, Shizo interrupted, her own aura beginning to swirl around her, lifting strands of her hair. "Veno Aquatigaru…"
A sphere of water formed in her palm.
Riko's eyes widened in disbelief. "You got it… on your first try?!" he shouted, amazed.
Shizo opened her eyes and stared at the water sphere in her palm. "I did… I DID IT, RIKO!" she cheered, her soft smile catching the sunlight.
Riko felt a surge of pride, but that smile threw him off. His world seemed to slow for a moment. That face… it feels so familiar… like I've seen it somewhere before…
A gentle breeze ruffled his hair, and the trees swayed along with the grass. The world felt alive, peaceful, and… emotional, stirring something deep inside him.
—Splash!
A sudden splash of water hit his face, snapping him back to reality.
"Wakey wakey!" Shizo giggled, leaning close, her bright smile beaming.
"UH!" Riko yelped, flustered from her sudden closeness.
"Are you okay, Riko? You looked like you were on another planet," she asked, concerned.
Riko shook his head, still a bit dazed. "Oh… yeah, I'm okay," he replied.
Before he could recover, Shizo splashed him again, laughing. "Guh!" he gasped, sputtering. WHY'D YOU DO THAT FOR?! He thought.
"Wanna play, Riko!" she shouted, waving as she ran off.
Riko waved her off with a laugh, then took off after her. "HEY!" he shouted, chasing her across the field.
Riko and Shizo ran through the field, laughing as they splashed water at each other with magic. The sunlight caught the droplets, making them sparkle like diamonds. For Riko, the world seemed to slow down.
I've never had this much fun in years…
Shizo stumbled. "Oof!" She fell forward into the grass, then burst into laughter, brushing herself off.
Riko laughed too—real laughter, the kind he hadn't felt since his previous life. But as he watched her get back up, her bright smile hit him like a wave. Something about that expression… it tore through his heart.
That smile—so familiar.
I can't—
A flash of memories seared behind his eyes.
Riko's expression shifted, his breath catching. Could it be? Why does she remind me of her… from my past life?
A tear slid down his cheek. Akari…?
For a heartbeat, Shizo's face blurred. In its place appeared a woman's gentle smile. His chest tightened; his eyes widened in shock.
Why… of all times… I didn't want to remember you.
"Riko?" Shizo's voice grew distant, muffled, fading into static.
His world turned black. A single spotlight flickered on. A woman stood there.
"You know, Takahiro… I'll always love you," Akari said softly.
Trapped inside his mind, his heart plummeted. No… No… WHY NOW?!
Another light snapped on—Akari again.
"Takahiro, I'll always be with you until my last breath…" Her voice echoed, a blade of sound cutting into his skull.
He stumbled back, tripping, hands clawing at his head. SHUT UP! YOU SAY THAT—BUT YOU LIED TO ME!
Another light turned on, this time burning him.
"Takahiro…" Her voice repeated, echoing, drilling deeper and deeper.
SHUT UP. SHUT UP. SHUT UP!!
"I will always love you no matter what."
That was the breaking point.
Riko fell to his knees, clutching his head, trembling violently.
YOU LIED! SHUT UP! STOP IT—PLEASE! I BEG YOU—STOP!
His breath hitched, ragged, heart pounding like a drum.
You didn't care about me. You only cared about yourself. You only wanted to drain everything I had away from me
Riko's body trembled as his knees buckled beneath him. He collapsed onto the grass, tears streaming down his cheeks in an unending flow. His fists clenched tight against his lap, nails digging into his palms.
Of all times… why did I have to remember you? His chest ached with each breath. A burden I thought I buried… a wound that came back to haunt me. Painful memories—ones that dragged me so low I wanted to end it all. I lost everything because of you—
Before his thoughts could spiral further, something warm wrapped around him. A pair of arms. Riko's eyes widened.
"Shizo…" he whispered, startled by her touch.
She held him tightly, her warmth pressing against him. Her voice was soft, gentle.
"Riko… you're crying."
The wind drifted lazily through the field, teasing their hair, lifting strands as if in quiet sympathy. The tall grass swayed in rhythm with the trees, a soft, calming rustle filling the air. Nature itself seemed to hold its breath, listening.
He froze, feeling the warmth of her embrace seep into him—different from anything he'd ever felt. It wasn't a pity. It wasn't an obligation. It was… real.
Shizo's hand gently patted his head, her voice a whisper against the breeze. "There, there… It's okay to cry. It's always okay to cry. That's what makes us human."
Her words hit him like a wave, breaking the dam he'd been holding for so long. His breath hitched, and before he could stop himself, the sobs came. He cried with everything inside him—pain, frustration, regret—all spilling out at once.
"Shizo!!" Riko choked out her name, clutching onto her shirt as if he'd sink without her.
He cried not because he was weak… but because, for the first time in years, he truly felt like someone cared.
"There, Riko… let it all out." Shizo's voice was soft as she rubbed his back, her gentle smile never fading.
Riko's chest heaved as he felt Shizo's warmth holding him. I can see how pure her heart is… The comfort she gave him felt like it was washing away all the painful memories that had haunted him for so long. Even though we've just met… she's here for me. She actually cares…
A strange sense of clarity filled him. This… this warmth… It's enough to remind me that there's always a purpose to living. That even after all I've lost, I can still keep moving forward.