Chapter 209 - 3-13 サミュエル視点
Opening the door, I found the girl curled up in a corner by the food shelves. Though she surely knew I had entered, she didn't look up, keeping her face buried in her knees. I knelt down in front of Margaret-sama.
"Want some hot chocolate? It has marshmallows."
"Don't try to bait me with something so childish. Mob."
She glared at me, but her eyes gradually drifted toward the tray, clearly interested in the drink. Seeing that, I let my smile deepen and made a move to stand up.
"I guess you don't want it, then."
"I didn't say I didn't want it!"
Margaret-sama grabbed my arm with a weak grip to stop me from taking it away, then looked at the floor awkwardly. Suppressing a smile at her awkwardness, I slowly handed her the cup. She carefully took the cup from the tray so as not to spill it, brought it to her lips, and blew on it. Then, she took a slow sip. After one mouthful, her eyes widened.
"How is it? Is it hot?"
"...It's just right."
"I see. That's good... then."
"You don't... you don't have to use formal speech today. Don't worry about it."
"Really? Then... I'll take you up on that."
I had been struggling to use formal speech properly. Even though I have past memories, I've lived as a noble's son since birth. As someone with knowledge of social etiquette, I hadn't made such blunders before. Was I being pulled back by my past memories because I was with this girl?
As I watched her, Margaret-sama stared into the half-empty cup.
"I wonder why. This drink... it's my first time having it, but I feel like I know the taste."
"Maybe because it's just a simple hot chocolate with nothing special added? You might have had something similar in the Empire."
At my words, Margaret-sama thought for a moment, then shook her head.
"There's no one in the Empire who would serve me a drink like this."
She muttered it with a lonely, hurt smile.
"I see. Then, maybe memories of your past life...?"
"I wonder. It's warm and kind... like the taste of something I always drank when I wanted to cry. ...It tastes like that."
Taking another sip, she muttered to herself as if searching for something. "Yeah, nostalgic."
"...Are you a reincarnator too?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"What did you do?"
"I was a chef in my past life, too."
Without meeting my eyes, Margaret-sama gave a curt "Hmm." She fell silent, then glanced at me. Her expression wasn't tearful or angry anymore. I could sense a bit of interest in her eyes regarding my story.
I moved from directly in front of her and sat down a short distance away, leaning against the shelves.
"Want to hear about my past life?"
"...If you want to talk, I guess I can listen."
I chuckled inwardly at how she tried to act indifferent despite her obvious interest. Anna and I were childhood friends in our past lives. We died at the same time in an accident, and when we woke up, we were in this world. You know this world is exactly like a game, right?
"Of course. The characters are the same, the setting is the same. The only difference is that the protagonist's soul is a fake reincarnator."
"I had some knowledge of the game too. But as you can see, I've always been the type to only think about cooking, so I was pretty oblivious. I didn't even realize this world was like a game until I met Anna and she told me."
"Even though it even got an anime?"
"Heh, it got an anime? My sister liked the game, but I didn't know it was that popular."
"...You had a sister?"
"Yeah. Her name was Megumi, but I always called her Megu. She had a foul mouth, a short temper, and was quick to kick. A real tomboy. But she had a strong sense of justice, was bright, and was a kind girl who loved her family and friends."
Megu, my parents, An's family next door, and everyone in the shopping district. Just as I cherish my family in this life, they are people I can never forget. Of course, I can't remember their faces clearly, and their voices are fuzzy. Still, they remain in the most important parts of my memory.
"Was your sister important to you?"
"Of course."
Perhaps because Margaret-sama has an older brother who is the Emperor, she seemed particularly interested in the existence of siblings. When I nodded firmly, she relaxed her cheeks with a look of relief.
"You know, if I have any regrets from my past life, it's about my family."
When I first remembered my past life clearly, the first thing I thought about was An. Was she alive? Did I protect her? Please, let her be alive and happy. That wish always remained within me. To be honest, as happy as I was to reunite with An, I was equally disappointed in my own incompetence for failing to protect her. That's why I decided that in this life, I would never lie to my feelings and would protect her to the end.
At the same time, when I think of the family I left behind, I'm filled with apology. Especially An's parents, who lost their only daughter, and my sister Megu, who lost both her brother and her best friend at once.
"I wonder how much my sister and family suffered after An and I were gone. Knowing her, she's probably crying in secret while yelling at me for dying so selfishly."
I looked at the cup of hot chocolate, which must have turned lukewarm by now. "I used to make this hot chocolate for my sister all the time."
When she looked like she was holding back tears, I'd make it for her while grumbling, and the next day she'd always tell me it was delicious while awkwardly looking away. Megu's clumsy honesty was precious to me... I used to think that if she ever brought home someone she wanted to spend her life with, I'd have to teach them this recipe. When I told her that, she'd turn bright red and yell, 'Are you stupid!?'
"My regret is... that I can't make it for her anymore."
I promised Anna that we would live for the present, not the past. That's why it's been a long time since I've talked about my past life like this. I thought I'd forgotten a lot, but the important memories really do stay with you.
As I reminisced about the distant past, Margaret-sama let out a small giggle. She was looking at me with her hands on her knees. When she noticed my gaze, she gave a grin.
"You were a good big brother, weren't you?"
"...Was I? I hope so."
"Make this hot chocolate for me again. ...It was delicious."
"Yeah, anytime."
Her straightforward words were enough to make me blush, and I couldn't hide my joy as I scratched my cheek.
"I wonder if there was someone who felt that way about me, too."
"...Are you talking about your past life?"
Margaret-sama didn't answer my question, but bit her lip hard. "I don't remember anything about my past life."
"You don't... remember?"
"Not what I did, not what I looked like. Not if I had a lover, or how I died. I don't remember anything."
A reincarnator with no memories of their past life...
As I gasped, Margaret-sama gave a self-deprecating smile. "All I remember is the game content."
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