[CH.43] Returning Home After a Long Time (Part 2)

I Reincarnated as a Beautiful Girl and Aim to Become a Top Actress! (WN)

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[CH.43] Returning Home After a Long Time (Part 2)

**TL Notes: So as not to confuse you all, I made a list of the characters that get mentioned in this chapter that you may have forgotten before.   Sumire Matsuda: MC Yoko Ando (Yoko-san): Sumire's manager. Tsukiko Matsuda: Sumire's sister Nao: Sumire's close friend. Fumika: Sumire's close friend.

The following morning, I was abruptly awakened near dawn and, following my grandmother's instructions, helped with the household chores. My grandmother, who was born in the Taisho era, held to the traditional belief that "housework is women's work," so when most female relatives visited this house, they were put to work like draft horses. In my past life, I was a male, so I often entered the kitchen and got scolded. And while my past-life sister diligently followed my grandmother's instructions and worked on household chores, it seems that my current-life sister was defiant and often skipped them. Or rather, perhaps it's more accurate to say that she avoided coming near this house. She was scared of my grandma.

While I finished cleaning and laundry, my grandmother prepared breakfast, and by a little past 6:00 in the morning, the morning chores were finally done.

"Grandma, I'll go wake up Yoko-san."

"I wonder if she's okay. She drank quite a bit of alcohol yesterday."

Indeed, she drank to a point where "showered in alcohol" would be an accurate description. Yoko-san is usually very composed and behaves like a proper adult, but yesterday she seemed to let loose a little. It's my grandmother's house, and the sashimi, grilled turban shell, and grilled fish were all delicious.

"...Yoko-san, it's morning!"

Yoko-san and I had slept in the same room on separate futons, but I woke up earlier and already put my futon away, leaving only Yoko-san's futon on the floor. I gently shook her and called out to her.

"Ugh, my head hurts."

"Well, that's because you drank so much last night. It's breakfast time. Can you get up?"

"I'm okay. My head hurts, but I'm hungry."

Yoko-san slowly sat up, and I was surprised to see that she was in her underwear rather than the pajamas I had helped her change into last night. She was wearing a black bra and matching panties with lace, which had an adult-like feel to them. It made my heart race, not in a lewd way, but in a guilty feeling of seeing something someone you're close to doesn't usually show.

"Why did you take off the pajamas I worked so hard to put on with my grandmother?"

I scolded her while picking up and folding the scattered pajamas. Then, I forcefully pulled Yoko-san out of bed, still looking drowsy, and handed her some clothes from my bag. They might not match perfectly with my sense of style, but if she didn't like them, she could choose something else later.

After sending Yoko-san to the bathroom, I folded the futons and put them away in the closet. I removed the used sheets and pillowcases and took them to the laundry room, tossing them into a basket. I couldn't wash them now because we were preparing to leave after breakfast, but my grandmother would take care of it. I washed my hands and returned to the dining table, where Yoko-san, with tousled hair, was waiting for me. My grandmother, sitting across from me, wore a concerned look, as she glanced at Yoko-san, who appeared somewhat disheveled, and said, "Is she okay?" I could only respond with a wry smile. I've said it many times, but Yoko-san is usually a reliable and mature adult, so I hoped my grandmother would cut her some slack.

We enjoyed a delicious breakfast consisting of grilled salmon, miso soup, and white rice, a quintessential Japanese breakfast menu. After eating, while Yoko-san was preparing herself with a somewhat embarrassed expression, my grandmother and I talked about various things. I probably wouldn't have the opportunity to visit again for at least a year or so. Even if I returned to my parents' home, making the trip to the island would be difficult given my limited time.

"When you have time again, please come back. And take care of yourself until then."

" Well, take care, Sumire. Keep working hard so that you'll appear on the island's TV programs soon."

"Yeah, I'll do my best to appear on the programs you watch, Grandma."

As we exchanged these words and finished cleaning up, my grandmother slowly opened a drawer and took out an envelope.

"Consider it extra travel expenses for your return," my grandmother said with a somewhat thick envelope.

No, no, the thickness of that envelope is not small, right? I couldn't accept it, after all, I make a living through my work and receive fees for it. But my grandmother insisted, saying, "Kids shouldn't be so reluctant." She pushed the envelope into my hands. It turns out that my grandmother provided some financial assistance for my sister's education, so she didn't want to treat one of us differently. So, I reluctantly accepted it, with the intention of repaying her when I become a stable and self-sufficient adult.

We spent some leisurely time with my grandmother this way, and a little after 8:30 a.m., Yoko-san and I, now properly dressed, left my grandmother's house. She had planned to see us off at the pier, but considering the distance from here and our concerns about the way back, we declined. We bid my grandmother farewell at the front door and walked to the pier, where we took the boat. The sea was rougher today compared to yesterday, and the boat ride was quite turbulent, but we managed to get through it. After disembarking from the boat, we headed to the train station.

**TL Note: I made this so you don't get confused.

Since I visited my grandmother (Sumire’s mother parent)*, I felt obligated to drop by my other grandparents' house as well (Sumire’s father parents)*. If I didn't, my mother and grandmother might complain. In my past life, my grandmother had caused significant financial trouble for me after my grandfather's death, but in this life, she hadn't done anything like that yet. So, I tried to interact with her cautiously. However, given that I had cut off my uncooperative sister rather quickly, I understood the importance of being cautious. I wanted to be prepared in case a problem arose so I could take immediate action.

I spent the day talking about my experiences in Tokyo, explaining my future plans to my grandparents, and sharing the same information I had told my island grandmother. For dinner, we went to a revolving sushi restaurant; it was our second consecutive day of seafood, but it was delicious. Yoko-san seemed to have learned her lesson from the previous day, as she had just one glass of beer, even though my grandfather encouraged her to have more.

---

The next morning, my grandfather kindly drove us to the nearest train station, from where we headed home. On the train, Yoko-san tiredly mumbled, "They look like people who are carrying something in their bellies," which left a lasting impression on me. Yoko-san may have sensed something since she deals with people from the TV industry, where some might carry their share of secrets. I'm truly sorry for getting her involved in such an annoying situation.

As the scenery reflected in the train window transitioned from buildings and residential areas to mountains and rice fields, I started feeling more and more like I was returning home. The number of passengers on the train decreased gradually, until it was just Yoko-san and me in the entire carriage.

When the train slowly came to a stop, a somewhat familiar scent filled the air. Despite being away for over a year, the view from the platform remained unchanged, and I couldn't help but release a sigh that was equal parts relief and nostalgia. In my previous life, this dry cleaner and that diner would have been demolished due to redevelopment occurring about ten years later.

I walked up the stairs to the ticket gate, where a station attendant was collecting tickets and making sure they were properly stamped. It wasn't long ago when ticket punches were replaced by electronic gates, but I wonder when exactly that change occurred. Lost in these thoughts, I handed my ticket to the station attendant and passed through the gate, heading towards the small rotary where a taxi was waiting.

Now, would the taxi driver agree to take us? It seems the local taxi companies are under the impression that they won't pick up passengers who aren't going very far because my home is just a little short of one kilometer from the station. I have a vivid memory of them being blunt and telling a mother carrying her children and her belongings to walk because the distance was so short. And this wasn't just once or twice, it happened repeatedly.

This time, perhaps because Yoko-san, who looked like a tourist, initiated the conversation, the taxi driver reluctantly opened the trunk after hearing our destination. The distance wasn't long, and it would take less than 20 minutes on foot, but nobody wants to carry a lot of luggage, right? With the taxi, we quickly arrived near my home, and the taxi driver parked in the lot in front of my family's somewhat run-down apartment.

I heaved my bags and headed towards my family's house. However, I noticed a red bicycle parked in front of the house. I wondered, "Whose could it be since neither my sister nor I have one?" I rang the doorbell of the apartment and soon, heavy footsteps came closer from behind the door.

"Suu-chan, welcome back!"

The door flew open, and someone rushed out and hugged me. Well, I knew who it was from the voice, but the girl in front of me didn't match the image I had in my memory.

"Nao!?"

"Hehe, did I surprise you?"

"You definitely surprised me, but why are you here? And, Nao, you've grown a lot, haven't you?"

Originally, when we met last summer, there was an 8 cm difference between us. But now, it feels like the difference has widened. Also, I couldn't help but notice two noticeable protrusions in front of my face. They weren't overly large, but they had a definite shape.

"I'm 148 cm now, Suu-chan. Did you...shrink?"

"I didn't shrink! I'll grow as tall as Nao in no time!"

As Nao and I playfully chatted in the entrance, my mother came out and urged us to come inside. I had left Yoko-san standing outside with the luggage, so I quickly apologized and encouraged her to join us inside. Yoko-san didn't seem angry and even commented that she found it enjoyable to see two cute kids having a great time together. Is she really okay with all this?

Inside the house, it seemed like my mother and Nao had been having tea and discussing something. I saw my mother's teacup and Nao's glass on the table. I was somewhat surprised that Fumika wasn't with Nao. I had assumed they would be together, so I began to feel uneasy, wondering if something had happened. Placing our bags in a corner of the room, I sat on a cushion and asked Nao.

"Hey, why isn't Fumika with you today?"

I inquired, and Nao's expression darkened slightly in response. Her reaction heightened my concerns, so I turned my gaze to my mother.

"Actually, Fumika-chan had appendicitis. It seems she collapsed at school around lunchtime the day before yesterday. Hey, Nao-chan?"

"Yeah, she turned really pale and was in a lot of pain. She was in so much pain, poor thing. She had surgery last night and felt terrible all day yesterday, but she's awake now. Fumika's aunt said it was okay to meet her today, so I thought we could visit her together."

Appendicitis, huh? I remember in my past life when I was in the fourth grade, it was painful, uncomfortable, and quite a hassle. She's a girl, and I hope she won't have any prominent scars from the surgery. On that note, I wonder if it's due to different living conditions in this life or maybe because she's slimmer compared to my past life. In this life, I haven't experienced appendicitis. I don't want to experience it again, either, if I can help it.

Leaving that aside, I'd love to visit Fumika in the hospital, but I can't just leave Yoko-san alone. She's come all the way here with me, and it would be inconsiderate to leave her behind while I go out. My hesitation was noticed by Yoko-san, who was sitting beside me. She gently patted my back.

"Sumire, I'll be fine, so go visit your friend. She just had surgery, and I'm sure she's feeling anxious. You came all this way to pick her up, you should be there for her."

"Are you sure about this, Yoko-san?"

"Of course. But remember, as I mentioned before departing, keep your promises. You're also a sort of entertainer, so always act professionally."

I nodded firmly in response to Yoko-san's words. Our agreement with Yoko-san included some basic principles: "Don't do anything risky, don't go with strangers, and if anything happens, don't hesitate to tell me." It was a list of common-sense rules, and I'd been following them diligently. There's no need to consciously revisit them, as they're all just plain common sense.

"Mom, please take care of Yoko-san while I'm gone."

"You don't need to tell me that, dear. I won't be rude. Have a safe trip, but don't stay out too late."

My mother patted my head and said with a smile. After checking my backpack, which contained souvenirs for Fumika and Nao, I put it on. I also had my wallet, as well as tissues and a handkerchief, just in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

"Nao, thank you for coming to pick me up. Well then, shall we go visit Fumika?"

"Sure! Oh, I was thinking of riding my bicycle there. Sumire, you don't have one with you, do you? Can you ride on the back?"

"Riding on the back is a bit risky because if I get scraped or bruised, it could affect my modeling work. So, if possible, I'd like to avoid that..."

Creating even a small scratch and showing up on a modeling set would likely cause the photographer, makeup artist, and coordinator to be horrified. I'd probably inconvenience everyone to fix the problem, so it's essential to avoid anything that could affect my work. More importantly, riding double on a bicycle is against traffic regulations, and it's essential to adhere to the rules, even in this modern age.

"Sumire-chan, you're amazing, like an adult!"

For some reason, Nao was gazing at me with sparkling eyes, so I replied with a vague smile. While I couldn't be as carefree and free to move around like a child, I didn't say that out loud.

"Which hospital is Fumika in, Nao?"

"Well, it's the big hospital in front of the station at the neighboring town."

Ah, it's that hospital, the one I was taken to in my past life. So, let's take the train, it would be a good idea to visit Nao's house and explain the situation to her aunt while we're at it. Nao might have already mentioned her plans to her aunt before leaving. So, it's better to coordinate a little and then go.

When I asked for Nao's opinion, she said, "I'll leave it to Sumire," so we decided to take the train. I put on the shoes I had just taken off and opened the front door.

"Well then..."

"We're off!"

Together with Nao, we walked out of the door, turned around, and, in unison, said the words back into the room.

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