Chapter 2: Accepting Home

"Why are you standing and gawking at the door? Move from the door—I need to go!"

After snapping out of my daze and shaking off the numbness from my mind, I started to say something, but she came up abruptly and pushed me to the side.

"Move! I need to hurry to the market!" she said impatiently.

She dashed out before I could respond.

I stood there for another 15 minutes, feeling a mix of confusion and frustration. Finally, I gathered my courage and decided to enter the house to meet them. As I was stepping through the door, I heard a familiar voice from behind.

"What are you still doing here? What happened to you? Did something happen at school? Did someone reject your proposal?" she asked, laughing.

Before I could react, she shoved me aside and barged into the house, shouting, "Alex got rejected by some girl!"

"Alex got rejected by some girl!" she repeated, laughing loudly.

"Mom, Alex's proposal got rejected!" she screamed.

I stood there, stunned and open-mouthed, as someone emerged from the living room, if my memories served me correctly. It was Mom, and she looked concerned.

"Was it too hard for you? You can share it with me if you want," she said gently.

"No, it's nothing like that," I replied quickly. I turned and headed upstairs, ignoring their voices.

My mother looked worried as she watched me go, whispering, "Will he be okay?"

Once in my room, I closed the door behind me and began to process what had just happened. It felt like everything downstairs was swirling in my mind. They not only looked like my family but also acted like them—there was no difference.

I decided to put my thoughts aside for now and focus on something else. I needed to research world history first. I quickly went to my PC and turned it on. Thankfully, it wasn't password protected. I typed in "world history" and found a relevant article.

[How the Reincarnation Tower Came to Be]

I clicked on the link and began reading:

"15 years ago, millions of asteroids struck Earth, bringing with them monsters that thrived in the planet's atmosphere. Along with these monsters, many plants and animals began to mutate, causing widespread destruction. In response, safe cities were built around the world.

Amidst the calamity came a blessing: the Tower of Reincarnation. After three years of destruction, anyone who reached the age of 18 could enter the tower. Climbing the tower granted people the power to fight back against the calamity that had befallen Earth. After 15 years, the highest anyone has climbed is 68 levels."

(For more information, see the Auxiliary Chapter.)

I closed the PC after reviewing the information about the Reincarnation Tower.

"The entry limit is 18 years, and if you die in the tower, you die in the real world."

I shivered at the thought. "That's dangerous. No wonder there aren't many superpowered individuals roaming around."

My birthday is on August 5th, which is just 6 days away. Should I attempt it or not?

I realized I had an advantage over others: the world in the Reincarnation Tower is similar to the movies, anime, and manga from my world.

"This world doesn't have those movies, games, or stories, so everyone is unfamiliar with them…"

"But I know all the plots!" I thought, my eyes lighting up with excitement. Knowing the plots meant I had foresight and could make the best decisions.

What might be difficult or impossible for others would be possible for me! Alex resolved with determination that he would enter the Reincarnation Tower and climb higher than anyone else.

[TIME SKIP: 4 DAYS]

As Alex's birthday approached, his mother noticed his withdrawn demeanor during dinner. She exchanged a concerned glance with her husband, who also sensed the unease beneath their son's smile. Their younger daughter, Ananya, watched silently, her worry reflected in her eyes. Alex struggled with a profound sense of displacement. Despite the loving gestures of his "family," he couldn't shake the feeling that he was a visitor in his own life. He longed for his real home, where the memories from his past felt clearer.

One evening, during dinner, Alex's mother gently broached the topic. "Alex, your birthday is coming up. Is there anything on your mind, son?" Her voice was soft and caring, filled with a mother's tenderness. Alex hesitated, his heart heavy with conflicting emotions. "I... I've been feeling a bit lost, Mom," he admitted, his voice shaky but sincere.

She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and pulled him into a warm embrace. "Whatever happens, Alex, we will always be here for you," she whispered softly.

Alex felt a wave of warmth and acceptance wash over him. In that moment, something inside him began to heal. He realized that this family, this place, was where he belonged. No tears fell from his eyes, but a deep sense of peace settled within him. This was his family, and nothing could replace the feeling inside him.

In the days that followed, Alex gradually opened his heart to his new reality. With each passing day, the barriers he had built around himself began to crumble, replaced by a sense of belonging he hadn't expected to find.

On his birthday, at midnight, as his special day began, they celebrated with laughter and cake. Alex looked around at the faces he now called his own. Everyone smiled and laughed together, making Alex feel loved and accepted, even though he was different. In that moment, surrounded by their love and acceptance, he knew he had made the right choice.

As the birthday festivities were winding down, Alex went upstairs to the rooftop and sat silently, staring at the stars. His sister joined him and sat beside him. "Are you feeling okay now?" she asked with concern.

"I'm fine now," Alex replied.

She huffed and said, "Don't upset yourself over a rejection. I know that no one will like you since you have an average face and all. But maybe someone will settle for you." After saying this, she looked at him and added, "Ah, I take that back. Maybe you'll die single."

At that moment, Alex felt his anger flare, a vein pulsing on his forehead. Seeing his reaction, his sister started backing away toward the door. He shouted, "You little—!" She ran downstairs to hide behind their mother and father for protection, but Alex chased after her throughout the house. It was a chaotic, yet oddly joyful moment.

Despite the uproar, Alex felt a profound sense of happiness. He really loved this family.

"To my other family, please be happy and don't worry about me. I'm with you all—quite literally—and I will always be with you no matter what."