Chapter 1

★Hello.

Thank you so much for reading!!

゜+.ヽ(≧▽≦)ノ.+゜

--- Beginnings and endings always come suddenly.

“Whoa! Hasn’t that guy gotten fat again?”

While picking up the soccer ball rolling around the schoolyard, the high school boy deliberately raised his voice. In front of his gaze, a girl who was about to go home was faintly visible.

“No way! That’s just not possible! ... But, he’s a pig, a real pig!”

A classmate, looking through the schoolyard fence, laughed heartily and then burst out laughing again at the sight of her, who couldn’t be described as having a good figure.

“But, didn’t we hear that she was a real beauty in middle school?”

“Yeah, yeah! Didn’t you confess to her, Naoya?”

“I didn’t confess! ... Besides, that was a scam, a total scam!”

Naoya, who was being teased, scowled and spat out the words. If she were still a beauty, he might have been hailed as a hero. But reality was different.

It was nothing more than a black mark in his past now.

... I can hear you.

Rina muttered indifferently.

She didn’t become like this by choice.

She had turned to overeating to escape from a painful past.

◇◇◇

--- It happened suddenly one day.

On the way back from a trip to celebrate her high school entrance, it happened.

“... Ugh!! Are you listening, Onee-chan?”

A slightly sulky voice from the side, it was her younger brother.

“... Ah, sorry. I might have fallen asleep.”

Rina said with a wry smile. She was so exhausted from playing in the sea with her brother until the last moment before they left.

“... Mmm”

Even when he pouted with his cheeks puffed out, he was adorable.

Rina gently stroked his head to calm him down. With a ten-year age gap, everything about him was irresistibly cute.

“From morning, you dragged me around and played in the sea, so Onee-chan is tired. Let her rest a bit, okay?”

Her mother, sitting in the passenger seat, said with a slightly troubled look.

“... Mmm~ ... Then, make me an omelet when we get home?”

“... Sure, sure.”

Rina chuckled at her brother’s pleading eyes.

How much do you love omelets...?

Every time something happened, he would beg for an omelet, making her want to ruffle his hair affectionately.

“Ah!! Onee-chan, look, it’s an open car!!”

As they started to cross the bridge over the river, a white open car with loud music blared by from the left rear, driving past them briskly.

“... That’s cool.”

Her father, who was driving, muttered.

“Hey!! Let’s borrow it and drive it next time!!”

Her brother said excitedly.

Though buying one was out of the question, he thought it might be possible to borrow one, being the younger brother that he was.

“Oh, that sounds nice. Driving along the coast would be so refreshing, wouldn’t it?”

Her mother, not entirely against the idea, encouraged her brother.

“... U-um... Then, on the next holiday...”

Just as her father was joining in the conversation...

--- Bang!!

A violent impact hit the family.

No one knew what had happened.

All she could see was a red car, which seemed strangely close.

When she came to, Rina’s body was overwhelmed by intense pain and shortness of breath.

--- Gulp.

Water filled her mouth.

Only then did she realize she had fallen into the river.

Struggling for air, Rina desperately made her way out through the broken window. She swam upward, following the light...

That’s why Rina didn’t notice. That her family was still in the car... That her brother was reaching out his hand...

◇◇◇

After hours, days, or perhaps weeks had passed, when she finally escaped the pain and opened her eyes...

A white curtain she didn’t recognize was gently fluttering in the wind.

Yes, she was in a hospital room, not at home.

And Rina realized.

That she no longer had a family to laugh with...

Her father used to enjoy drinking sake with the dishes I made.

Her mother would eat anything and say it was delicious.

Her brother, who loved omelets, often begged me to make them.

... Those happy days will never come again...

◇◇◇

--- Whoosh.

A cold wind caressed Rina’s cheek.

She always found herself here.

It felt as if her family was still here.

Would they come to welcome the one who was left behind?

Hey... I... I tried my best, didn’t I?

Can I go to the other side now...?

Something seemed to respond, touching her cheek.

... At that moment...

A warm light gently enveloped Rina, spreading before her eyes.

It was a light that brought happiness to Rina.

... It was the beginning of the summoning that would bring happiness.

Thank you for reading.

I don’t open comments because I can’t reply, which makes me feel bad.

(・ω・)

I hope for your understanding.

Thank you.