The sparrow's name was Torimune.
She made a simple pumpkin porridge and handed it to Kenji. Even though a bird had cooked it, there were no feathers floating in the porridge. On the contrary, it was delicious, and he scraped the bowl clean twice. A pleasant feeling of fullness washed over him.
"Thank you."
"Oh my, it's nothing~ Fufu."
Torimune took Kenji's bowl with a gentle smile. A sparrow smiling. It was an unbelievably absurd sight, but she was clearly smiling. Just like a person. Kenji felt a strange emotion at her smile and gave a wry grin.
"What! You didn't smile at me like that!"
Mika shouted, pointing an accusing finger. Kenji ignored her and bowed his head to Torimune.
"I will be sure to repay this kindness."
"Kindness? Helping a child is the natural thing to do."
"There are many people who fail to do that natural thing. There is no need for such modesty."
"...How old are you, by any chance? You speak so well~"
"...I don't know my own age either."
It was the truth.
Before falling into this world, he was clearly 28 years old, but he couldn't tell the exact age of his current body. He guessed he was roughly between five and seven, but it was just a rough estimate.
"...Your parents?"
"I don't have any. I've been living alone in an alley."
"Oh dear... And for sleep..."
"I sleep on a piece of cardboard with newspapers as a blanket. My blanket is also newspaper."
"You should live here."
Torimune said with a firm expression. It was an offer Kenji had no reason to refuse. But he didn't accept it right away. He smiled awkwardly, as if slightly troubled, and touched his chapped and broken lips.
"Is it really okay... I would love to, but wouldn't I be a burden?"
"A burden? I would be happy to have you."
"Haha..."
"If you're really not comfortable with it, think of it as repaying my kindness. By getting along with these two children here."
"Is that really alright?"
"Of course~"
Torimune patted Kenji's shoulder with her large wing. Kenji forced his twitching lips into a smile and put on a moved expression. It was an emotional look that suited his appearance.
"Thank... Thank you, really."
"No, I should be thanking you. Nagisa?"
Torimune called to the girl with light gray hair. Nagisa nodded with a calm expression.
"Yes."
"Can you get along with this boy?"
"Yes. Of course."
"Mika, what about you?"
"Me too! I can get along with him too!"
"There you have it."
Torimune turned to Kenji and smiled. Kenji smiled back and wiped away the tears welling up in his eyes.
"Oh, I just realized I never asked for your name."
"It's Kenji. Kenji Suzuki."
"Kenji Suzuki... That's a unique name. You two should introduce yourselves as well."
At Torimune's words, Mika puffed out her chest and stepped forward.
"I'm Misono Mika! I like collecting cute accessories! Oh, and I love to chat!"
"I am Kirifuji Nagisa. My hobbies are growing plants and collecting tea leaves. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Ahaha! Nagi-chan, your voice is trembling so much! Are you nervous~☆"
"Mika-san. Please shut your mouth."
"So mean!"
*
Two years had already passed since he had woken up in Kivotos. In that time, he had learned quite a lot.
First, that this academy city called Kivotos was nearly the size of a continent. And that schools were established on this continent like nations. Each academy had its own distinct characteristics. He had steadily gathered a good amount of information about the world.
Among the various schools, the most influential were Trinity General School and Gehenna Academy.
Most of the students at Gehenna Academy had features like devil horns or tails. And fitting those peculiar traits, most Gehenna students were lunatics. There were no proper rules, school start times were flexible, and apparently, bombs went off just from walking down the street. It was a mystery how it could still be one of the two great academies.
There was a reason Mika called them 'stupid horn-heads'. Well, not that Mika wasn't an idiot herself.
Trinity General School stood in direct opposition to Gehenna. Instead of devil horns or tails, many students had features like angel wings, and the student body was mostly composed of young ladies who enjoyed tea and sweets rather than kidnapping and terrorism.
Mika and Nagisa had wings too. But unlike the free-spirited and mischievous Mika, Nagisa preferred to quietly drink tea. Nagisa fit the public image of Trinity far better than Mika did.
Millennium Science School was a school that had recently begun to distinguish itself, focusing primarily on science, math, and other STEM fields. It boasted the most advanced technology, and the number of clubs alone was said to be in the triple digits. The foundation for rapid growth was already laid. In time, its status would likely rise to rival that of Trinity and Gehenna.
It was a place he wanted to visit at least once. A place where holograms and virtual reality were commercialized. He couldn't resist the thought.
"Whatcha doin'?"
Mika rested her chin on Kenji's shoulder as he was organizing information in his notebook. Kenji gently pushed her forehead away and answered.
"Studying."
"Ugh, studying what! Just come play with me!"
"Go play with Nagisa. I'm busy."
"No way~ Nagi-chan just keeps saying weird things!"
"I am not saying weird things, I was merely explaining the different types of tea leaves. You foolish Mika."
"I'm smart! I even memorized my multiplication tables yesterday!"
"Seven times eight."
"Uh, umm... fifty-eight!"
"Foolish Mika. It's fifty-six."
"Gyaaaaaaaah!"
Mika roared.
Kenji chuckled as he listened to their conversation.
It was a dialogue that didn't quite fit their age, but it was enough to make an observer feel heartwarming. It was like watching a children's talent show. It wasn't a bad feeling.
Kenji put the notebook he was organizing back on the bookshelf and stood up.
"What do you want to play?"
"Huh? You'll play with me?"
Mika's eyes sparkled as she asked. Kenji grinned and stroked her hair.
"Yeah. Big brother will play with you."
"What do you mean, big brother? We're the same age."
He ignored Nagisa's mumble. Fabrications that weren't facts could be safely disregarded.
"Let's play house! I want to play house!"
"Alright. You decide the roles."
"Okay, I'll be the mom! Kenji will be the dad, and Nagisa will be the daughter!"
"Why am I the daughter? And I never said I would play."
"Awwwww! Come on, play with us!"
"Hah... I suppose I have no choice."
Nagisa sighed deeply and walked over to Mika and Kenji. Mika grabbed her hand. Kenji's hand was already being held.
"Heehee! Okay, let's start! Aaaand... action!"
The moment she spoke, Mika hugged Nagisa. Then she glared at Kenji and said.
"You! How could you cheat on me and our daughter!"
"...What the. Why did this suddenly get so serious."
"Answer me! Were Nagisa and I just a fling to you? Do you like that other woman more than me!"
Kenji let out a hollow laugh at Mika's passionate acting. She was unnecessarily good at it, looking just like a scorned wife. He debated whether to play along or stop. This didn't seem like the kind of play he should be continuing with a seven-year-old kid.
But Nagisa, after a sigh, mouthed the words 'just play along' to him, so Kenji smacked his lips a few times and began to act.
"Hey."
"What! If you have an excuse, then say it!"
"I like women with big breasts."
"..."
"I'm tired of you. You're... kind of a handful, I guess."
Mika's jaw dropped. She really was a good actress. Kenji thought to himself as he swept his bangs back. In his mind, he pictured the tall, large-chested Hasumi he had seen in the game, and a sly smile formed on his lips.
"That woman has a nice personality, unlike you. You're far beneath her. And you're not smart, either."
"..."
"Well, I'm sorry for cheating. So I'll be raising Nagisa. You can go find another man or... hey, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"
"Hic, waaaaaah! Nagi-chan, Kenji... Kenji! He said to me...!"
Mika suddenly burst into tears. She wailed loud enough to shake the kindergarten and buried her face in Nagisa's chest. Nagisa, just like Kenji, was flustered by her sudden outburst.
"C-calm down, Mika-san. This is just playing house, isn't it? No matter how trashy Kenji-san's words were, he couldn't have meant them."
"R-right, that's right. It was all a lie! I was just acting, just acting."
As Kenji joined Nagisa in trying to console Mika, her crying began to subside. She sniffled and looked back at Kenji.
"Really...?"
"Yeah!"
"...Then give me a hug."
"Okay, okay, come here."
When Kenji opened his arms, Mika slipped out of Nagisa's embrace and snuggled into his. It wasn't very comfortable since Mika was taller than him, but Mika giggled and hugged him tightly. Thanks to her controlling her strength, Kenji had no reason to scream.
"Hehe..."
"Happy now?"
"Yup!"
"Good..."
Kenji sighed and stroked Mika's hair.
'Playing with kids is the hardest thing to do.'
He looked at Nagisa with that expression, and Nagisa nodded as if in agreement. She straightened out her wrinkled clothes from being hugged by Mika, sat back down in her chair, and took a sip of her black tea. She was a very mature child.
Mika, on the other hand, was very childish. Despite being the tallest here, her mental age was the youngest.
"Ehehe."
Only Mika didn't know it.