Memories and Warmth

Entering the living room, Mana Ochi saw Misaki Shizuki sitting pitifully on the tatami, waiting.
A wave of guilt washed over her.
Because of her, Misaki must be starving.

“Sis…?”
Seeing Mana, Misaki’s small body trembled slightly.
She instinctively clutched the round cat plushie beside her, her face showing an expression as if she’d seen something terrifying.

“Mom’s already cooking. It’ll be ready soon.”
Mana tried to speak in a gentle tone, but Misaki curled up even smaller.

Mana sighed and began setting the table.
Noticing a bowl with a cat-ball pattern on the rim, she thoughtfully placed it in front of Misaki.

“Wuu…”
Seeing this, Misaki looked so scared she nearly cried.

What’s going on?
Mana knew as a vile stalker, it was normal for people to dislike her.
But to be this repulsive even in someone else’s body—were her eyes and actions that off-putting?

“Misaki, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”
Mana felt dejected but tried to mend their relationship.
She couldn’t let the real Yurina Shizuki return to an awkward situation.

As expected, Misaki’s fear lessened, though it was replaced by a look of confusion.

Not good—she’s getting suspicious.
Though Mana didn’t think anyone could guess the truth, she didn’t want to be labeled as strange by the family.
Even with her fragmented memories, she knew all too well how painful it was to be seen as an “outsider.”

Since talking more would only lead to mistakes, Mana busied herself silently, then sat upright, waiting for Ryoko Shizuki.
Perhaps growing used to Mana’s unusual behavior, Misaki gradually lowered her guard.
She reached out to touch the cat-ball bowl but quickly pulled back, hiding behind her plushie, sneaking glances at Mana sitting primly nearby.

Mana noticed Misaki’s actions but didn’t dare move or even change her expression, afraid her foolish self would scare the child.
Fortunately, her efforts paid off slightly.
Seeing no reaction from Mana, Misaki grew bolder, grabbing the bowl and playing with it happily.

Mana let out a breath, watching Misaki, engrossed in her toy, with interest.
In her memories, she vaguely recalled having a younger sister too—adorable as a child.

But later, perhaps due to rivalry over their family’s inheritance, everything changed.
All she could remember were scenes of that sister hurling harsh words at her.

Mana held no resentment.
The old her wasn’t just unfit to inherit the family—she was barely fit to live as a person.
Her only concern was whether she’d left her sister with scars and if, after she left, her sister had found some happiness.

“Sorry for the wait.”
Ryoko brought out the dishes, her face regaining the gentle warmth Mana was familiar with.
Clearly, no matter how much she might dislike Mana, she wouldn’t show it in front of her younger daughter.

What a good mother…
Mana couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

She’d lost her mother early, and her father didn’t care for her.
But as always, someone like her had no right to envy others or enjoy a normal family life.

“Yurina?”
Noticing her daughter’s dim gaze and rare formal posture, Ryoko grew worried again.

“Oh, Mom, I’m fine… Let’s eat.”

“No need to be so formal at home.”

Mana panicked slightly and adjusted her posture.
Her actions were unusually polite, almost like a refined young lady from a noble family.

Ryoko, of course, couldn’t imagine her daughter’s body was occupied by another soul.
She assumed Yurina was still guilty about today’s events, acting so reserved to apologize, and her heart ached.

“Yurina, Mom isn’t mad at you.”
Ryoko sat beside her daughter, gently patting her head.
“So don’t blame yourself, okay?”

At first, her daughter’s body stiffened, but eventually, she relaxed, quietly savoring the maternal love.
Ryoko’s eyes blurred with tears.
When was the last time she’d sat so close with her daughter like this?

Right, it was when Goshi was still around.
The two girls loved clinging to him, and the dining table was always filled with laughter…
Pushing those blurry memories deep down and swallowing her weakness, Ryoko refocused on the present.

“Mom, I’m really fine…” her daughter said softly.
“Let’s eat. Misaki’s waiting.”

Ryoko paused, then noticed the different bowl in her younger daughter’s hands.
She smiled warmly, hugging her daughter—who had grown so different from her memories—tightly.

“Yurina, thank you.”

The meal ended in a fairly warm atmosphere.

Using studying as an excuse, Mana returned to her room and promptly collapsed onto the floor.
“Hahaha… I’m so disgusting.”

Perhaps because she’d grown up without a mother, she’d shamelessly basked in the affection meant for Yurina.
She felt ashamed and nauseated by her own disgrace.

“I’m reaching my limit…”

It was good that Ryoko didn’t blame her, but all signs pointed to her being a terrible Yurina.
She’d scared her sister and caused her mother unnecessary worry.
If this continued, she’d surely ruin this happy family.

“I have to find Yurina soon.”
A failure like her didn’t belong here and wasn’t worthy.

Steeling herself, Mana took out her phone to search.
An hour later, she put down her aching hand and let out a heavy breath.
“The target… is me?”

While unconscious in the hospital, Mana had recovered more memories.
She now knew this was a world tinged with magical elements, though most people were unaware.
The world’s pulse was controlled by those with special abilities.

The Ochi family she was born into was a reclusive, prestigious clan of sorcerers, wielding immense influence in both the magical and mundane worlds.
Naturally, they had many enemies and those with ill intentions.

It was now clear that the world’s major events hadn’t changed.
The biggest changes were her and Yurina Shizuki.

Considering Yurina’s life trajectory was nearly unchanged while Takuro Ochi’s existence seemed erased, it wasn’t hard to deduce these anomalies targeted her.

Her only value was her identity as the “eldest son” of the Ochi family.
Thinking of this, she felt a pang of pain.
If she hadn’t given up on herself and fallen so low, she wouldn’t have dragged so many others down with her.

After her self-reproach, she resolved to investigate her family’s situation first thing tomorrow.
The reason was simple: if magic was involved, even if Takuro Ochi vanished, the Ochi family couldn’t have.

They were that powerful.
Conversely, for someone to target such a mighty clan and erase a disowned failure like her was child’s play.

The only issue was that spells like “time reversal” and “soul swapping” were far too advanced.
In her understanding, no one could cast them so seamlessly.
There was also the possibility this was a parallel world, and her soul had crossed into this world’s Yurina.

Unable to find answers, a wave of fatigue rose from her heart, and Mana quickly shut off her phone.
“Let’s rest well for today.”
After all, this was someone else’s body.

Just then, she realized a serious issue.
She had to bathe and change using Yurina Shizuki’s body.
At the hospital, Ryoko had helped change her clothes.

For most guys, this situation would be thrilling, maybe even sparking dirty thoughts about exploring the body…
If she were still the “Takuro Ochi” from not long ago, she might’ve felt the same.
But back then, her feelings for Yurina were just self-deception.
Now, she only felt shame and disgust.

Even if, hypothetically, she still liked Yurina—liked her enough to crave her body—she wouldn’t want to fulfill that desire this way.
Call her a dreamer or naive, but her standards for love were high.
The only exception was that one time, and she was still regretting it.

“Forget it. I’ll just sleep like this tonight.”

As Mana prepared to crawl into bed, Ryoko’s voice came from outside.
“Yurina, the bath’s ready.”

She instinctively wanted to refuse, but remembering the love Ryoko showed at dinner, she feared Ryoko might offer to help her bathe.
“I’ll be right there.”

She’d never seen her own mother, but she knew Ryoko was a good one.
She couldn’t let this good mother worry more.

Before heading out, she searched on her phone for things girls should know about bathing.
This body had to be returned to Yurina Shizuki, and she had to take care of it.
“Yurina, I’m so sorry.”

No matter how careful she was, some things were unavoidable.

She could only half-close her eyes, wash as quickly as possible, then return to her room with a flushed face, apologizing to the real owner—wherever she was—over and over.