About the Reckless Girl Who Kept Challenging a Reborn Man Like Me

Part 4.

Anja laughed as she asked me about my past life.
About my past life. But even if I called it that, it wasn't a particularly interesting life. It was an ordinary life, I had this sort of trouble, this funny thing happened, I had this strange friend, this is how I walked down life.
It was just that sort of incoherent ramble.
Anja happily listened in to those trifling stories.
"I finally feel like I've caught up to you."
"How should I put it... I finally feel like I've become your childhood friend."
She said and laughed.
My 28 years I never told anyone about were filled in just a bit.
"So what are you going to do now?"
"You don't have to shoulder it all anymore, so can't you just live how you want to? Why don't you do something fun?"
Sipping warm cocoa, she spoke in such a light matter.
"I wonder... I definitely have a better academic record than in my past life, so no matter where I go, I'll have an advantage, but......"
"Ah...! G.o.d! Advantage and disadvantage! That's not what I'm talking about! What do you like, and what do you enjoy doing!?"
Touching one hand to her hip, she pointed firmly at me with the other to match her strong tone.
"What I like... huh..."
I closed my eyes to think. But I got the feeling it wasn't something I would find so easily.
"I guess I'll take my time figuring it out..."
"No! I can tell! And I'll teach you! What you like, and what you're good at!"
Eh? What? What's all this then?
Taken aback, I awaited Anja's words.
"The path suited for you is teacher! I mean, the reason being, You've nurtured me all the way here!"
She stuck out her chest as she said it.
During middle school, I remembered how my friends and I would often hold study sessions.
I was happy to be relied on. I was happy when they understood what I was saying. I was happy to be useful to my friends.
"Your childhood friend is telling you! There's no doubt about it! You were my teacher!"
I know everything about you, she made a triumphant face as she laughed.
Led along by her, I ended up laughing myself.
When the snow came down, I would recall.
Just what part of me did my 'special' called reincarnation change?
Because of my reincarnation, various things happened to me. But precisely what change would you say came about to my own ordinary nature?
The answer won't come, in the end, I even get the feeling I was as ordinary as ever.
But...
"Teacher! See youuu tomorrow!"
"Ah, be careful of the snow on your way home."
Today, as per usual, I watched over my students' growth as I spend my days.
It was ordinary, but it was a job I felt was worth doing.
"So everyone went home... and I'm on overtime..."
I had paperwork to processes and tests to grade.
Now on the grading side, I couldn't help but let out a smile.
"Oh my, welcome home dear."
"Papa! Welcome hooome!"
As I opened the door to the house, my wife popped her head out, and my daughter latched onto my leg.
When I held her up, my daughter happily laughed aloud.
My wife is a special person.
She's currently seen as a young and competent researcher.
But to me, that wasn't what I meant when I said special.
she held a different sort of special.
By which, I mean I love her.
"Did you make dinner today."
"So papa and mama will be together for a while!"
"Yay! Papa! Thank you!"
"... Don't latch on stronger than our daughter..."
While I was the ordinary me, I watch over my students' growths and live with my special wife and daughter.
I tread such an ordinary, comfortable life.
Right now, I am walking a warm path of life.

Footnote:
[1] The exact term used for the cloth wrap is a Katusha, in reference to the character in Count Tolstoy's Resurrection, and her usual depiction in movies. This is a commonplace term in j.a.pan used to describe the hairstyle, and not a specific reference.

The End.