Return from death, p.1
Return from Death, page 1
Table of Contents
Copyright
Character Page
Chapter 1: Return from Death, Return to School Life
Chapter 2: A Formal Pickup Line
Chapter 3: A Normal Friendship
Chapter 4: You and Me and…
Chapter 5: Winter, The Beginning of Love’s Opera
Chapter 6: A Love Abandoned in the Desert
Chapter 7: Unknowingly Reciprocal Love
Chapter 8: Date - A Promise to Meet
Chapter 9: Strong Winds and Forgotten Things
Chapter 10: Teardrops on the Morning Dawn
Chapter 11: Show No One Your Tears
Afterword
Other Series Pt. 1
Other Series Pt. 2
Return from Death: I Kicked the Bucket and Now I’m Back at Square One With a Girlfriend Who Doesn’t Remember Me Volume 2
Eiko Mutsuhana
Translation by Alyssa Niioka
Illustration by Yuki Nekozuki
Title Design by Hanase Qi
Editing by Elijah Baldwin
Proofreading by Charis Messier and A.M. Perrone
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Return from Death: I Kicked the Bucket and Now I’m Back at Square One With a Girlfriend Who Doesn’t Remember Me Volume 2
©Eiko Mutsuhana 2020
First published in Japan in 2022 by
EARTH STAR Entertainment, Tokyo.
English translation rights reserved by
Cross Infinite World.
English translation ©2023 Cross Infinite World
All rights reserved. In accordance with U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, email the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the email below.
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First Digital Edition: March 2023
ISBN-13: 979-8-88560-052-1
Chapter 1: Return from Death, Return to School Life
“EXCUSE me, could I have a moment of your time?”
A head of beautiful blond hair swayed as the person she had called out to turned to face her. Almost immediately, Oriana’s stomach dropped.
There were only two students standing in the middle of Lagen Magic Academy’s deserted courtyard. The handsome face of the one who had turned around contorted in surprise. He stared at her as if he’d seen a ghost—as if he couldn’t believe what was happening.
You idiot, she cursed herself. Why did you have to call out to him of all people?
Oriana was shocked at her own lack of judgment. She had only glimpsed him from behind, so she didn’t know who he was until he turned around. Still, this was the pinnacle of stupidity. If only she’d strung together what little intelligence she had, or if she’d at least worked on developing her powers of observation a bit more… Even a monkey would have recognized him sooner.
“What is it?” he asked.
Well, now I’ve done it.
Oriana drew her brows together as the person she’d called out to—Vincent Tanzine—strode over to her.
Since they were now third years, there was a noticeable difference in physique between the girls and the boys. Vincent was naturally tall anyway, enough that he towered over her. That, combined with his dignified way of speaking, only served to intimidate her. A cold sweat trickled down her forehead.
Vincent was a fellow student at the magic academy, and he was in the same year as Oriana. In the three years that had passed since their enrollment, the two had never had any relation to one another beyond being students in the same year. Vincent was a handsome, morally upstanding student with exemplary grades. He was also the heir to a ducal house. Meanwhile, everything about Oriana was average—her appearance, her background, her scores. It would be odder if the two of them did have anything to do with one another.
He’s like a flower on a peak, high above everyone else’s reach, and I’m the brainless buffoon who just casually struck up a conversation with him!
Her eyes felt like they were spinning as she stewed in regret.
Vincent, however, gently said, “Calm down. Did something happen?”
His voice hit her right in the chest. The way he spoke was so kind and encouraging that, as intimidated as she was, Oriana couldn’t help but speak. “I-I was hoping for some help…”
“Of course,” said Vincent. “What can I do to help?”
Despite how reluctant she was to ask, Vincent didn’t hesitate to oblige her request.
But this is only our first time speaking to each other…
Not only that, Vincent probably didn’t even know who she was. Oriana knew who he was because he was so famous. While Oriana did pride herself on her own established reputation and connections, it wasn’t as though all of those in her academic year were acquainted with her. Vincent didn’t spurn her even though they were practically strangers, however. He was perfectly willing to extend a helping hand as a fellow student.
Oriana was left gaping for a few seconds, but she quickly recovered and bowed her head. “Thank you, Mister Tanzine!”
For a moment, she could swear she heard him sucking in a breath, but by the time she lifted her head, he was wearing a perfect smile on his face.
❦❦❦
“A stalker, you say?”
“I wouldn’t put it that way, exactly… He’s my father’s apprentice, so the two of us are acquainted. He’s requested to meet with me numerous times though, and when I go into town on the weekends, he’ll suddenly show up and follow me around…”
“Then he is most certainly a stalker.”
Oriana pursed her lips. Perhaps she had led him to that conclusion by what she’d said, but it pleased her to hear Vincent confirm that the man was a stalker. She’d felt so guilty turning down someone who was so closely associated with her father, which was why it was such a relief to hear her discomfort was valid.
The stalker in question was an apprentice of her father’s named Rysted. He was a passionate man, overflowing with ambition. Her father had noticed his talents from an early age and started training him. With a little more time, he would soon be her father’s right-hand man. Rysted was in his early twenties, and he seemed to be intent on marrying Oriana in the future, so he could inherit her father’s business and all that came with it. He had never explicitly said as much, but his aims were clear from the way he conducted himself. Oriana had realized early on what he was after.
For her part, Oriana wanted to be of service to her father, so she wasn’t entirely displeased with the idea. After all, her father was such a hard worker, who’d started from humble beginnings and built such an impressive business empire. On top of that, he had lavished her with enough love to make up for her absent mother, and she loved him deeply in return. She and Rysted had met a number of times since she was a child, so she wasn’t exactly opposed to the arrangement.
At least, that was how she’d felt up until last year, when Rysted suddenly changed. They had only met maybe a few times a year up until that point, but suddenly, he started going out of his way to come see her for whatever reason. His actions quickly escalated from there, and now, he was trying to come see her, claiming to be “family.”
This last time, he almost touched me.
Rysted was clever enough not to let his interest in her show when he was in front of her father. He kept on a mask, acting the part of her father’s foremost apprentice, which in turn earned her father’s complete trust. That made it impossible for her to consult her father about the matter, though. It was embarrassing in the first place for a daughter to discuss men with her father, but moreover, she was scared he’d dismiss her worries as exaggeration.
I managed to run away last time, but I’m sure he’s probably angry about that. I’m terrified of being alone with him.
Rysted had made an official request through her professor, which made it impossible for her to refuse on her own. Worse yet, the professor probably didn’t think too fondly of her because of how many times these requests had come in. She was stuck between a rock and a hard place, feeling as defenseless as a deer caught out in the open, with no other choice than to make her way to the meeting room.
If possible, I’d like to settle the matter peacefully before my father catches wind of it.
Why had it even come to this?
As Oriana bit down on her lip, Vincent came to a stop beside her.
“That’s a bad habit,” he said.
“Huh?”
“You’ll split your lip doing that. Don’t worry. I will do something about this, so no more biting.”
Vincent’s voice was far kinder than she would have anticipated. That, combined with the shock sh
Vincent smiled softly, nodded, and continued walking. Oriana scrambled after him. Any outsider watching would mistakenly think she was the one accompanying him and not the other way around.
“You made the right choice by asking someone to come along with you. It would be a bad idea to meet a dangerous man like that by yourself,” said Vincent.
Oriana was relieved to hear that. She was terrified of going alone, which was precisely why she’d come up with the idea of asking a male student to go along with her. With someone else present, she hoped Rysted would come to his senses and restrain himself. It went without saying that she couldn’t take another female student along, lest she expose them to the same danger she was facing.
She’d wasted no time looking for someone as soon as the teacher contacted her, saying she had a visitor. Unfortunately, today was Fruit Day (Sunday), which meant most students were out and about or holed up in the dormitory.
The first person that sprang to mind was Yana’s—her roommate—bodyguard, Azraq. She figured she could rely upon him, but at the same time, Yana was the princess of a neighboring country. Status was supposed to be irrelevant on school grounds, but if Rysted got involved, the matter could go well beyond the school. Oriana couldn’t bring herself to involve him in her personal matters given those possible repercussions and gave up on the idea.
She was close with two male classmates, but to her chagrin, they had gone out for the day. After crossing all those candidates off her list, she was starting to run out of time, which left her desperate. If she made the professor wait too long, she risked invoking their anger, and Rysted would likely go off on her as well. Terrified by that point, she started scouring the school for anyone who looked like they could help her, which was how she ended up calling out to Vincent.
“I really can’t thank you enough,” she said. “It’s reassuring to have you with me.”
“Not a problem. The meeting room door is just up ahead.”
There was a specific area set aside for people coming to visit from outside the school. The meeting room was located right next to the staff room. As soon as she spotted it, Oriana’s expression hardened. Rysted’s voice echoed in her mind.
“It’s fine. I know you better than anybody else.”
“I’m sure your father wants us to get closer. You see that, don’t you?”
“I feel like it’s high time you started giving some thought to my feelings.”
On the surface, he hadn’t really done anything violent or coercive, but no matter what she said, he brushed her off. Rysted treated her like a child, trying to force her along the path he desired. It made her feel small and irrelevant. It was so suffocating she could barely breathe.
As far as Rysted was concerned, Oriana’s feelings didn’t matter. He didn’t come to talk with her, but rather to tell her whatever he wanted to say. All the joy flooded out of her when she met with him.
Oriana took several deep breaths. The moment she found herself thinking that she couldn’t back down and let him get the upper hand was the same moment she realized she already considered him an enemy. Rysted was older than her and had taken good care of her when she was younger. It wasn’t a good feeling, resenting him now the way she did.
As Oriana went silent, Vincent glanced over at her and quietly said, “I’ll enter the meeting room alone. I would like you to wait outside.”
“What…?” Oriana jerked her chin up, shocked.
“There’s a possibility he might fly into a frenzy because you have brought me along.”
Her face paled. She shook her head. “No, there’s no way it could devolve into violence…”
“It’s simply a precaution,” Vincent explained.
“In that case, that’s all the more reason I should go with you. I couldn’t live with myself if he punched you. If it comes to that, I’ll take his fist instead.”
Vincent smiled. “For your own well-being, it would be better not to make such foolish remarks.”
“Eep…” Oriana squeaked, her back shooting up straight. Vincent was no longer the calm boy he’d been a moment ago; though he still wore a smile, the anger seeped into his voice as he spoke.
“Please don’t think of me as such a coward that I would use you as a shield,” he told her. “Besides, even if a fist does go flying, I won’t be the one getting punched.”
“No, no, no, no!” Oriana flailed. “Doing the punching is bad too. If you were to do that, your reputation would take a hit…”
Vincent was a kind, handsome, and well-behaved duke’s heir with top grades. He’d entered the Academy as the head of their year, and she’d heard rumors that he continued taking first place during every term exam. It was impossible to imagine how his image might suffer if he got involved in a violent dispute.
Perhaps she hadn’t given this enough thought. Oriana never dreamed he would have to shoulder that kind of responsibility. And of course, Vincent didn’t have any obligation to go that far for her.
I guess I should have been the one to deal with this by myself.
Vincent had just reassured her a moment ago that she’d made the right choice bringing him along. She’d been so happy to hear that, but now she was beginning to regret her decision. If she’d only known how much trouble it would cause, then she could have just put up with her disgust and discomfort instead.
“In that case, would you be willing to do me a favor?” Vincent asked.
“Huh?”
The Amethyst Dragon Duke’s heir wants to ask a favor of me, of all people? A mere merchant’s daughter? Oriana gaped at Vincent, which prompted him to chuckle. His eyes were so warm that it only left her even more dumbfounded.
“If I manage to drive off your stalker, I would like you to call me Vincent instead of ‘Mister Tanzine.’”
His request blindsided her so much that her mouth remained ajar as she tilted her head to the side. “Uh, um… If you’re sure that’s what you want, of course.”
“Then that settles it,” Vincent declared.
“It does?”
“Indeed. Rest assured and wait here for me.” No sooner had he said that than he disappeared inside the meeting room, leaving Oriana behind.
❦❦❦
THE door to the meeting room began to swing shut with Vincent inside. Without missing a beat, Oriana scrambled closer and thrust her foot in the door. It slammed into her shoe, but she successfully stopped it from closing on her.
Shocked, Vincent whipped around and yanked the door open. “Hey! What are you doing?!”
Oriana’s foot was throbbing inside her shoe. Her eyes were probably welling with tears, but she was too distracted by the matter at hand to notice. “I’m going too.” She tried to stare up at him with determination, but it came across more as her glaring.
For a moment, Vincent scrunched his face in an unreadable expression, but with no other choice than to acquiesce, he pushed the door further open.
Oriana wasted no time slipping inside. She tried to step in front of him so she could lead the way, but he grabbed her by the arm and stopped her. He used his body to block hers as he moved forward.
“Hey there.”
“Oh? Is this an admirer you’ve brought along with you, Oriana? No need to do something so cruel to him.” Rysted clearly looked displeased as he glanced between her and Vincent. He was probably irritated at her for making him wait, on top of bringing another man to their meeting. Rysted was in his twenties, and so naturally, he took a condescending attitude with Vincent, who was nearly a decade younger. “I came here to meet with you, Oriana. You know that, right? If you wanna go on a date, do it some other time. Right now—”
“Who you have come to meet with is of little relevance. I am here because I want to speak with you,” Vincent said. He was speaking not as a student of the Academy but as a duke’s heir.
Rysted was left speechless.
Oriana managed to take a step forward as she said, “I apologize for the late introductions. This is Rysted Jarl. He helps my father with his work. And this is…” Oriana hesitated and glanced up at Vincent, unsure of how best to introduce him.
