Metanoia

4

You were completely baffled.

Even though, by the time you had fully woken up and snapped back to reality that this was indeed, not a dream, you still had a hard time processing just how this was happening.

How could it be possible?

How could you have ended up 14 years in the past?! Time travel had always been a topic of interest for people all around the world, several movies and mangas being based on that concept.

But no one, not even scientists were ever able to pull it off. Hell, there was even an experiment by the famed English physicist, Stephen Hawking for time travelers!

So... the only plausible explanation was that this ought to be a continuation of your last seven minutes... right?

But, how?

It didn't make sense. People always said that having your life flash before your eyes felt like having a memory of everything that had happened to you in your life show itself all at once in the quickest movie one could ever imagine.

And yet the memory that you found yourself in right now was anything but that. It didn't feel like a fast forwarded movie. More like a very hyper realistic simulation of your teenage years.

You kept thinking about it, even when you went towards the kitchen to help Iyo-san prepare breakfast, all while Yoichi was busy getting ready for school.

"Thank you for your help, dear." Iyo-san called out to you as you mindlessly grilled the fish, successfully pulling you out of your thoughts. The older woman had a kind smile on her face, one that made your mind stop getting flooded with your thoughts.

You turned to her with a small smile on your face, "It's no big deal. Thank you for letting me stay the night."

"Of course! You're always welcome to stay as long as you want." She earnestly answered, making the smile on your face grow even more.

Honestly, how could you have forgotten how nice it all had been? The Isagis treated you so much like their own child, to think that you never made much of an effort to appreciate them is a crime in on itself.

"Though, I have to say," Mrs. Isagi suddenly began. "-when did you learn to cook so well, [Name]-chan? You work like those master chefs!" She giggled, making your eyes widen in surprise.

Ah, right. You had been cooking for yourself ever since you moved abroad after getting your job as a manager. On the rare occasion, you would even cook for someone as nit-picky as Sae, so obviously it was only a matter of time before your cooking skills came to the level of someone as seasoned as Iyo-san. To be honest, other than your managerial accomplishments, your cooking skills were your second most prized skills.

You have won a lot of favors with just your cooking (most of them from Sae because the only way to get that asshole to listen was by bribing him).

"Oh, it's nothing big. I've just been practicing... There's not much to do when mom and dad are busy with work, anyways." You admitted, making the woman look at you with pity. But you both were tugged out of your conversation with a loud yell, coming from none other than your own friend, Yoichi.

"Mom!" He whined, "Have you seen my socks? I can't find them–oh, uh... [Name]..." He came rushing out of his room, only to stop when he caught sight of you.

Looks like he had forgotten that you were also here today.

"G'morning, Yoichi!" You smiled, your clouded mind already getting somewhat cleared just by seeing your childhood friend's face.