[Reberu] ga Arunara Agerudesho? Mobukyara ni Tensei Shita Ore wa Gēmu Chishiki o Ikashi, Hitasura Reberu o Age Tsudzukeru

Everything was the fault of Amanai Hayato.

“Ha, haha.” (Amanai)

He leaked out a dry laugh.

With the truth presented so clearly in front of him, the truth that those around him got involved because of his stupidity, he could not not understand it even if he didn’t like it.

“My apologies.
I don’t mean to blame you or anything.” (Julia)

“It’s alright.
Thanks to you, the problem has become clear, rather, I feel like I’ve become able to think positively about what to do from now on.” (Amanai)

Seeing that, Julia opened and closed her mouth several times in an attempt to say something to Amanai, but perhaps because she couldn’t find the word to say, she eventually closed her mouth.

Dozens of seconds passed without them saying anything to each other.
The one who broke the silence was Julia.

She took a piece of paper out of her outer garment and held it out in front of him.

Amanai asked with his eyes what the paper was before receiving it,.

“I found it in my pocket while I was being treated.
It’s probably a note written by Sakurai.
I don’t know what it means, but I’m sure it can be a clue to get closer to him.
But…” (Julia)

“But?” (Amanai)

“It’s written in a peculiar ciphertext, so I can’t read it.
If you know something about it, I hope you can tell me.” (Julia)

As he read the contents of the paper, Amanai wrinkled his forehead.

What was written in the memo was a huge list of numbers.

From the first line, there was a sequence of numbers showing some regularity, such as [31122222*55555448*0003334*] which continued for several lines.

“…………” (Amanai)

“Is there anything you can think of?” (Julia)

Amanai silently shook his head and returned the paper.

Julia received the paper while saying, “I see,” like finding it unfortunate, and stood up with the crutch as a support.

“We, the knight apprentices, will pursue Sakurai’s tracks.
I will let you know as soon as something turn up.
So, for now…” (Julia)

“The Disciplinary Committee chairman Higaki-san had told me that, so even though I’m involved, I understand that I, as an amateur, better not move poorly.
That’s why, umm, please do your best.” (Amanai)

“Ahh, I will.
Wait for the good news.” (Julia)

Julia left the place with the sound of her crutch hitting the floor ringing in the corridor.

After staring at her until he could not see her back, Amanai put his weight on the back of the sofa and looked up at the ceiling.

Ceiling with pure white tiles.

A sequence of numbers emerged in his view.

It was the list of numbers written in the memo that Amanai saw; he remembered them all accurately in just over a dozen seconds.

The numbers lined up in order.
That was why Julia said it was ciphertext.

However, in Amanai’s eyes, it’s not a ciphertext or anything.
It’s just a writing that need time-consuming conversion.

(But only reincarnated people know this.
Something like phones’ characters input, no one will know about it unless they do from the beginning.)

Amanai deciphered the text while remembering the memories of exchanging emails with the phone that his parents gave him for communication when he was a child in his previous life.

In this world where phones did not exist, no one but the reincarnated people who could understand that this list of numbers indicated characters input method using the numeric keypad of a feature phone, which could be said to be nostalgic in the present.

Looking at it in another way, this character string could only be understood by reincarnated people, so Amanai was convinced that this was a message from Sakurai.

And should it be said as expected? The first line of the sentence that Amanai had inwardly converted was definitely directed to him.

‘It’s your last chance’.

The rest of the text simply stated the time and place.

Amanai, having read it, closed his eyes and exhaled.

Since Sakurai put it like that, this would probably be the last chance for him.

Those words resonated deeply in Amanai’s chest to a surprising extent.

“…Phew.” (Amanai)

Amanai Hayato slowly stood up.

Because he kept delaying things with the excuse of he had not yet ready that the situation turned out like this, so he had to start moving… such a vague idea surfaced inside Amanai.

It was not like he had mentally prepared, it was not like he had renewed his determination, and it was not like he had any clear vision.

The power that was inserted in his legs was thought of self-reproach that he couldn’t get those around him involved more than it they already were, and a sense of duty to save his kidnapped childhood friend.

Amanai knew that his current self was far from being comparable to the protagonists in stories, but still, he must not stop his legs, he had to keep walking.

With wobbling and uncertain gait.
In a ghost-like manner.

Still, he kept walking forward step by step, and his lone figure slowly getting further away from the hospital.

–

――There were two people looking down at such figure of Amanai from the window on the upper floor.

“…I think this is too drastic of a measure, after all.”

“Don’t worry.
Just as I believe in him, Sakurai-kun, too, believes that he will stand back up, thus the proposal.”

One was Higaki Ao, the chairman of the Disciplinary Committee.

The other was Julia von Knaust, a royalty.

The two, who were accomplices, expressed each of their feelings while thinking about Amanai who was caught in the scheme.

“Honestly, I don’t think that guy’s scheme will succeed.
Even if he told me that such a cornered person’s will would transform in a positive direction when his back is further pushed into a corner…” (Higaki)

“He probably judged that Amanai-kun’s problem is rooted so deep that we have to do at least this much.
I’m of the same mind as him.” (Julia)

“Princess overestimates Sakurai.
I’m sure he only thinks, “He’ll get better if something shocking happens,” or something, you know?” (Higaki)

“Maybe, or maybe not.
But at least he has the enthusiasm and spirit to make me think that this will work.” (Julia)

Certainly, Sakurai had a tremendous enthusiasm and spirit to the point that they influenced those around him.
Higaki also strongly felt that through their encounter.

If she hadn’t met him, her tumor-like abnormal attachment would have continued to grow unabated, and if she hadn’t fell into the Netherworld with him, she wouldn’t have had the opportunity to realize her stupidity.

Although it was Iris who urged her to reflect herself and corrected her from the deplorable path to humane path, it was him who was always at the starting point of everything; his enthusiasm and spirit swept her away, and now she had made it to this point.

She didn’t have the words to deny that fact.

“Still, I don’t think everyone can get back on their feet.” (Higaki)

Not everyone could rise from their weaknesses and mistakes.

Rather, there should be more people who would bend their knees and look for another way, or give up and make a compromise.

That was why those who could ‘get back on their feet’ was respectable and admirable.
Higaki thought so, at least.

And Higaki did not know much about Amanai.
They had not interacted enough for her to have an impression that he was one those people.

So, she couldn’t believe that he was someone who could get back on their feet.

And if the ‘what if’ came to pass, only the fact that a boy had ended up being cornered because of them would remain.

However, she was in no position to say anything about that because she had already lent a hand in this scheme, even if she did so because she was asked by Sakurai and Julia.

“It’s fine, don’t worry.” (Julia)

“However…” (Higaki)

“I’m confident in my ability to judge people.
And I’m sure that if I leave the matter to Sakurai-kun, Amanai will become stronger.” (Julia)

In response to the uneasy Higaki, Julia assured her that her worry was unfounded, and spoke of her faith in Sakurai and Amanai.

If it was Sakurai, he would definitely be able to change the current situation in the preferable direction.

Amanai would grow as if he was reborn under Sakurai’s hands.

Higaki was confused but refrained from refuting the bold remarks of Julia, who had put her full trust in someone whom she had just met yesterday. Well, if she says so, she thought.

Maybe she sensed Higaki was still unconvinced, Julia turned to her and said to her with a refreshing wink,

“Besides, Sakurai-kun promised, “I’ll prepare your opponent to be in his best condition for tomorrow’s round-robin tournament.” You should believe the words of your friend, right?” (Julia)

“Princess, I advise you to settle as friends.” (Higaki)

“Areee—?” (Julia)

At the response which was said in frighteningly cold tone, different from her expectation, Julia tilted her head slightly to the side with a smile still on her face.

However, be that as it may, it was an unusual for someone to talk this much to her, Julia smile to that refreshens.

“Hi~ga~ki~sa~n, wha~t a~re yo~u do~i~ng?”

Iris, who was excluded from Sakurai’s scheme and had been searching for him, was approaching Higaki’s back with quiet anger, and Julia – who explained about the ongoing operation due to her intensity – ended up receiving a huge scolding, “I don’t care even if you’re a royalty of the world of the living!” from Iris together with Higaki.
But that’s another story.