Can't We Skip Dating?

Who am I, where am I, and why am I lying here?

By going through those questions one by one, Akira slowly regained his senses.

It was a typical Japanese-style room. Aside from an electric light, there were no modern appliances—only elegant folding screens, flower arrangements, and wooden furniture. 

If not for the lingering discomfort from drinking, waking up in such a room would've been quite pleasant.

Akira lifted the blanket and checked his clothes—no stains, no signs of being cleaned. He let out a quiet sigh of relief. 

If he'd thrown up from being drunk, it would've been embarrassing—both in terms of dignity and for the trouble it might've caused Watanuki.

He rubbed his temples and stepped out of the room, washed his face, rinsed his mouth at the sink, and felt noticeably better.

Luckily, the alcohol from last night wasn't the type to leave a terrible hangover.

After tidying himself up, he returned to the main room, where he found Ichihara Yuuko watching TV.

Watanuki wasn't around—today wasn't a holiday. As a male high school student, he still had to go to school.

"Morning," Yuuko greeted with a cheerful smile. "You went straight to sleep after drinking. Ogiwara-kun's drinking manners are as good as ever."

Akira caught the flying black ball with ease and started absentmindedly rubbing it. "What, Miss Yuuko? Were you hoping to see me go on a drunken rampage?"

"Maybe that would've been fun."

"You mean you would've had fun..."

Seeing Yuuko's fake smile, Akira clearly picked up on the malice hidden beneath her words.

This woman really held grudges.

But sorry—not sorry. I'd still dare next time.

"Watanuki-kun left breakfast in the kitchen. It's almost lunchtime now, but for you, it's probably perfect timing, right?"

Did I ever tell her about my sleep schedule?

Akira thought to himself, but wasn't surprised. In fact, it would be more surprising if there were something this witch didn't know.

After all, she not only instantly saw through him being a transmigrator, but also identified a mysterious and powerful "rule" he carried—what people often called a system.

After greeting Mokona and Maru-Maru, Akira strolled to the kitchen and placed Mokona on the stove while checking the pot for breakfast.

It was a traditional miso soup and rice set. Interestingly, the miso soup didn't have the usual fish ingredients and was mostly made of vegetables.

After just one taste, Akira—who hadn't had much appetite—immediately served himself a full portion. 

The light and refreshing vegetable miso was clearly made with the hangover in mind, soothing his stomach and even making him crave more.

Watanuki really is a good kid. That merit he received wasn't wasted.

After finishing breakfast and washing the dishes, Akira went to bid farewell to Yuuko.

Surprisingly, Yuuko actually stood up and walked him to the entrance. As they parted, she said:

"The number of 'threads' on you is growing, Ogiwara-kun."

"What can I say? I've got desires now." Akira stretched lazily in the sunlight. 

"They say people without desires are the most resilient. 

But once you have desires, you start stepping into whirlpools on your own, becoming entangled by all sorts of things. 

Naturally, karma's threads increase and tangle too. Is that a warning, Miss Yuuko?"

"No, quite the opposite. I actually like seeing that. 

For someone as unusual as you, if you were to live quietly for decades… you might one day snap out of boredom and try destroying the world."

"Haha. When that day comes, won't you just stop me as per the terms of our deal?"

Akira turned back and grinned like a carefree boy. "Or… is Miss Yuuko worried that, a few years from now, you might not be able to stop me?"

Yuuko's gaze turned just a little more serious, like she was seeing him for the first time, studying him closely. "Ogiwara-kun… do you know something?"

"With such a vague question, I really don't know what you're asking."

He chuckled, then slowly dropped the smile. In a slightly hoarse, low voice, he began to sing:

"All that lives must fade away

None should bear eternal sorrow

Listen quietly to this song that starts with an end

Though the ending may be destined—"

It was a funeral song.

Before he transmigrated, Akira had really liked that song. After arriving in this world, he began using it as a requiem. 

After all, with songs for the dead, as long as the lyrics and melody weren't completely absurd, what you sang didn't matter—the key was who sang it, and what emotion they carried when they did.

In fact, if the deceased and their loved ones were okay with it, even an absurd tone or emotion would be fine. 

Take Akira himself—he honestly wouldn't mind having a professional team perform at his own funeral.

You leave crying, or you leave smiling. Either way, you're gone. So why wallow in sorrow?

Yuuko quietly closed her eyes and listened to the end. After a while, she smiled softly.

"So you really do know. Strange… You shouldn't know my true name or my birthday. How did you figure it out?"

"Well, it's not like I mind saying, but… please let me keep it as a secret."

Akira smiled pleasantly. "Between friends, equality is the most important thing. If I didn't have even one secret, then we couldn't really be friends, could we?"

"Friends, huh…"

Yuuko's gaze went distant for a moment, but quickly returned to clarity.

"What's the name of that song?"

"Funeral Song. That's the title too."

"Very beautiful. When that day comes, I hope you'll sing it for me again—as a friend."

"Of course. The song's meant for the dead anyway. When that day comes, I'll not only sing it—I'll sing the whole thing, from start to finish."

Akira turned and waved with flair. "Well then, see you later, Miss Yuuko. Next time we meet, I'll be bringing my sweet, obedient maid with me~"

Yuuko stood beneath the eaves, watching his back as he left. Then she suddenly said:

"Do as you please, Ogiwara-kun. As long as you don't cross the real line, even stepping a little out of bounds is okay."

"Did you even need to say that? I've already been dancing on the edge of the line~ But in the end, all I can do is give it my all and leave the rest to fate, right?"

Akira's figure disappeared beyond the wall.

So he didn't see Yuuko's slightly strange expression.

Nor did he hear her quietly murmur to herself:

"Leave it to fate? But with this much merit on you… fate is already on your side, Ogiwara-kun. Don't tell me… you really don't understand what 'merit' means?"

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