The Story Where I, the Strongest Mercenary, Was Reincarnated as a Bullied Introverted High School Student ~ When I Was Freely Enjoying My School Life, for Some Reason the Girls Around Me Started Glancing at Me~

Char was invited into the house by Shiori, and the two sat facing each other in the living room. Char then bowed to Shiori once more in greeting.

“I’m Char Stanley. I was a member of ‘SWORD’ like Ryuji… I met you once at the wedding.”

“Yes, you’re Ryuji’s best friend. Of course I remember you.”

I hid right by the window from the courtyard, eavesdropping on the conversation between the two sitting in the living room. This was my own house that I knew inside and out. I was also watching them using my smartphone’s front camera.

“…Ryuji had… a noble… ‘end’.”

Saying that, Char gripped her sleeves tightly and began crying uncontrollably. Nodding slowly, Shiori moved closer to Char and gently embraced her.

“Thank you for coming to tell me… it must have been painful, right?”

“I-I’m sorry. You must be the one in more pain, Shiori-san…”

“No, I was prepared for this. You’re the one who’s suffering more, Char-chan.”

For a while after that, Char continued crying in Shiori’s arms. Shiori closed her eyes and gently stroked her head.

“R-Ryuji was the first person to understand me… U-until then, all the adults around me were enemies.”

“Hehe, Ryuji could always put himself in other people’s shoes.”

“Ryuji always treated me like a child… but Ryuji got worked up easily too and was childish himself.”

“That’s right. Ryuji and I fought all the time too. Well, I always won though.”

“Really, Ryuji was dense, tactless, selfish, stupid, and an idiot…”

“You’re right, he was an idiot. Honestly, what a terrible guy to make such a cute girl cry.”

(Hey now, don’t get all worked up having a Ryuji-bashing session.)

As I watched in exasperation, Char raised her tear-filled face.

“…I want to see Ryuji. Even if it’s just in a dream…”

“I’m sure he’ll appear in your dreams. Ryuji could never leave a crying girl alone.”

“…”

Shiori seemed fine even without me being there. I was hardly ever able to come home anyway.

…No, that couldn’t be right. I actually understood. Shiori’s heart must be filled with sadness. But because Char was crying in her place, and because she was sharing the grief… That was probably why Shiori could remain composed.

(Char… thank you. You really are my best friend.)

After that, until around noon, Char and Shiori bonded over badmouthing me. Then Char would cry again, Shiori would comfort her, and they’d badmouth me again. They kept repeating such simple things.

“I’m sorry for disturbing you.”

“You’re leaving already? Why don’t you stay for lunch?”

“No, I can meet you again, so I’ll stop here for today. And… this.”

Char said that and held out my dog tag to Shiori.

“That… would you keep it, Char-chan?”

“I-I couldn’t possibly…!”

“It’s fine. I’m sure you’ll treasure it more than I would.”

“…Thank you.”

Saying that, Char clutched my dog tag tightly to her chest.

Then Char left Shiori’s house. I followed after her.

Char walked through the town and climbed up a small hill. She came to a place with a good view overlooking the entire town.

At Shigemichi High School, where my children Yuuka and Masaya attended, along with Fushimi who was the original owner of my body, students were happily walking around the campus chatting during lunch break. On the town roads, a dog was happily walking with an elderly person, and in the park next to them, children were playing joyfully.

“Ryuji, this is… the scenery you protected.”

Char murmured while wearing my dog tag around her neck.

Char had said it. To me… ‘I want to see him, even if it’s just in a dream’.

If that was the case, then surely there would be no regrets.

“…Ryuji, you idiot.”

“Sorry for being an idiot.”

To the girl who was leaning against the fence, looking melancholy while insulting me, I called out.