Chapter 2

It was early in the morning, and a middle-aged man in a suit was riding the long escalator at the station. It was still very early, and I was the only one on the escalator besides him. I thought it was unusual for no one to be around in the city, but I stood on the left side anyway.

There is an unspoken rule on the escalator: the left side is for those who don't walk, and the right side is for those who do. I heard it's the opposite in Kansai. Also, I yawned, still sleepy, thinking that walking up the escalator might be a minor offense. Either way, I had no intention of walking up. It's tiring, and running up the escalator makes no sense.

So, I waited leisurely for the escalator to reach the top. The high-speed escalator is quite fast. It's so fast that I doubt anyone would run up it.

Thinking back, I realized later that those thoughts were a flag. But at the time, I didn't pay much attention. If it weren't for the man running up the escalator with a loud, rough sound, nothing would have happened.

"Huh?" I noticed the sound of footsteps but didn't turn around. The high-speed escalator is that fast, and the escalator at this station is incredibly long. There was a risk of falling if I turned around.

So, I was a bit concerned but didn't do anything. Most people would probably do the same. Even if they are curious, they don't show it. As you get older, curiosity loses to laziness.

Soon, the footsteps got closer, and I saw a young man running past me at an incredible speed. He was a bit chubby, dressed normally, and was sweating profusely with heavy breathing. I thought he was probably going on a trip because he was carrying a wheeled suitcase, the kind with a handle that you often see on overseas trips.

He must be late for a tour or a flight. Still, I thought it was brave of him to run up the high-speed escalator as I watched him go.

But it only lasted until he slipped and fell. He slipped just when he was about to reach the top. Probably because he felt relieved that he was almost there. He must have been out of shape, as his legs were shaking.

The young man and his suitcase fell. I was unfortunately a bit lower and got caught up in the fall, rolling down. My body hit the corners of the escalator steps with a thud, causing intense pain. I heard a crack, and my body became immobile as I fell to the bottom.

"Seriously?" I was terrified by the fact that my body couldn't move, and even more so by the lack of pain. I realized it was a fatal injury. I thought I was going to die as my vision faded.

I won't forgive this young man. He shouldn't have involved me. I'm single. I've saved money for my retirement, and it amounts to 50 million yen. It will either be confiscated by the government or taken by my relatives. Either way, it won't be in my hands. You can't take money to the River Styx.

I should have lived more luxuriously. I wanted to drink expensive sake, stay in a suite that costs hundreds of thousands of yen per night, and travel overseas. Regrets overwhelmed me.

There is no afterlife. No heaven or hell. I thought I regretted my life as I died.

Indeed, I died. That was the end of my life.

And a new life began.

When I realized it, I had become a baby.

"A-a-a"

I couldn't speak. My limbs wouldn't move freely. What is this?

At first, I thought I had survived. I must have survived even with severe injuries. But I soon realized it wasn't the case. A man I didn't know was looking at me, and he seemed happy. He didn't look like a doctor.

The final words were:

"Baby, it's daddy."

A man with a decent but not handsome face said happily. When I managed to move my hand, it was tiny like a maple leaf. It seemed to be my hand.

I see? I might have been reincarnated. I was a baby. It might be a dream, but thinking of it as reincarnation gave me hope. Even if this life is a dream, I decided to enjoy it. However, I realized something terrifying.

I was overwhelmed by fear.

"Aah!"

I cried out. What terrified me was that babies can't move much because their necks aren't fully developed. If I moved like an adult, I might die or be left with a disability.

I was scared. This life was scary. Being a baby was embarrassing? Not really. Babies are fragile like glass. If I really became a baby, I should be terrified of my fragile body before worrying about embarrassment, and I cried out.

So, until I could crawl, I hardly moved, and my parents worried about me.

I don't remember much of my terrifying baby life. My parents had decent faces and good personalities. When I cried at night, my father, who had to work the next day, would comfort me. He did it without showing any signs of annoyance or fatigue.

My mother would sleep soundly during this time.

I was amazed. These parents were incredible. They were not only good to each other but also had good personalities. They had both.

Because the wife didn't show any signs of annoyance or fatigue. She smiled and comforted me.

I was moved. This family was the best. I was lucky. My reincarnation was in the best environment.

I grew to love these parents and vowed to keep their relationship strong.

First, I decided to try not to cry at night.

I realized I was in Japan, even though I was a baby. Finally, I could crawl and walk unsteadily, smiling and saying, "Daddy, Mommy," and asking to be picked up.

My parents were worried because I hardly moved and cried less at night. I was afraid my body would break, so I could only say, "I'm sorry."

When I was picked up, I would check my surroundings while being affectionate. There were smartphones, TVs, and normal food. Omelets and curry. Yes, it was Japan. The TV content was normal. My parents seemed to enjoy traveling and eating, often watching related programs.

I had black eyes and hair, a plain appearance, and a standard build. I lived in a single-family home, and my mother was a housewife. My father was a salaryman. I didn't know what he did, but he seemed to come home around regular hours.

An ordinary family. They were still in love, even though they weren't newlyweds. They cared for each other, spoke kindly and with gratitude, shared household chores, and went for family walks and occasional outings.

Some might pity me for being reincarnated into an ordinary family. They might say, "What a pity, an ordinary family."

But those who say such things are young. My mother was a housewife, and we lived in a single-family home with no financial worries. Most importantly, the family was very close. They were like miracles. Were these people saints?

Being reincarnated into a world of swords and magic would be worse. Swords and magic are troublesome, and there's no TV or internet. No video uploads or games. I couldn't live there. There's no delicious food either.

"Mi-chan, here's a snack."

A few years later. My mother, with a smile, beckoned me as I rolled around in the living room. Rolling around was fun, and my young mind was influenced by it.

"Okay!"

I walked over and let my mother pick me up. Physical contact is important.

"Mom, there's a snack!"

I said thank you with a smile. Saying thank you for everything is very important. I always said thank you to my parents with a smile. Family relationships are important.

"Today, it's homemade cookies. Be careful, they're hot."

"Homemade!"

I opened my mouth in surprise. They were homemade?

"Here you go."

The cookies and milk on the table were warm when I picked them up. Seriously, warm cookies? Homemade cookies? What legendary item?

I took a small bite, and the light texture and sweetness spread in my mouth, leaving a warm aftertaste. It was the first time I had eaten warm cookies! They were freshly made!

I thought homemade cookies were a legend. They were incredibly delicious. The best.

I was convinced that this environment was the best. My parents in my previous life had divorced and always spoke ill of each other, so the comparison was harsh.

But even with a skewed comparison, I was moved. I had never seen such a family. On TV, the only close family was the immortal sea family. In dramas, they were usually divorced and only reconciled through dramatic events. Do you know about the suspension bridge effect?

So, I knew that what seemed like an ordinary family was a miracle. My mother seemed to be a bit of a lady, probably from a good family.

I firmly resolved to never let this family fall apart, and I crushed the cookie in my hand, breaking it into pieces.

"Cookie!"

My young body had sensitive tear ducts. I welled up with tears. Homemade cookies. They were rarer than the Holy Grail or Muramasa. My mother chuckled and patted my head to comfort me.

"It's okay, there are more."

As I was comforted by my mother, I made a firm resolution. The promise of the homemade cookie. To protect this family.

Needless to say, I crushed another cookie.

Now, how could I protect this family as a young child? ... A smile, gratitude, and money.

I decided to study the winning lottery numbers. That's the plan. A perfect plan. I thought I could win the jackpot a few times if I studied from a young age. I never won in my previous life, but I could.

So, I started tapping on the computer to collect lottery numbers. It was a constructive action. I thought people would praise me, but who knows?

I lived as a good child until I was five. Unfortunately, my parents didn't buy lottery tickets, so I decided to wait until I could buy them myself. It was a time of perseverance.

But when I turned five, my life was shattered.

It was destroyed.