I. Found You, Sweetheart!

Hello, my name is Rei, I am a 16 year-old high school student. I failed an important test last year so my family sent me out to the city. At school, I was often bullied for being fat and having red eyes and was called names like Demon Hog. Now, at summer vacation, I am living in my apartment alone, doing my part-time job as a convenience store cashier to earn money, and play video games all day. I admit, it was pretty sad and lonely at first but I got used to it.

Today, my friend, classmate, and neighbor, Timothy, asked me if it is ok to let his girlfriend's cousin live in my apartment because his apartment isn't big enough for the three of them. It is pretty lonely here so having a roommate living with me is a good change.

A day after the call, at 9 AM, I heard my doorbell rang. When I opened the door, I saw a petite, young girl, with long, black hair and green eyes. She is wearing a dark blue sleeveless blouse with white polka dots, grey shorts, with stockings and black shoes. She also wears glasses and has a hairpin which looks like the letter C. She was catching her breath as if she hurrily ran here without stopping. She stands up straight and looks at me at the eyes, "Found you, sweetheart!" she said to me while smiling.

Rei: Uhm, are you... Mei's cousin?

???: Yes, yes I am.

Rei: Ok... well, come inside. I'll carry your luggage for you.

???: Aww, thanks sweetheart! You've been always so nice to me.

I kept my cool and brought her luggage at the empty bedroom in front of my bedroom. Good thing my apartment has two bedrooms. And why is she calling me sweetheart? Are we a couple or something?

I sat beside the girl on the couch and asked her name. It turns out her name is Midori, she's my friend's girlfriend's cousin who came here to study and strangely, to find me. She said that I am the 100th reincarnation of the boy she loved half a millenium ago. It's hard to believe at first, but she mentions something that caught my attention.

Rei: So how did you know that I'm the 100th reincarnation?

Midori: I asked Mei if she knows someone who's a boy with the same age as me and red eyes. She said that her boyfriend's neighbor is 16 and has red eyes. I would never forget your cherry red eyes, sweetheart.

Rei: But why me specifically?

Midori: In half a millenium of dying and reincarnating again and again, I learned the day the new reincarnation is born is a day before the death date of the last.

Rei: So?

Midori: Your 99th reincarnation died in America. Specifically in the World Trade Center at the 11th day of September, year 2001. In short, 9-11.

Midori's statement is pretty convincing because I was born before September 11, specifically my birthday is September 10. I was not even born when 9-11 happened.She also said that she'll never forget my red eyes. That means all of my past reincarnations has red eyes, making it easy to identify me although there are a lot of boys born in 9-10 after 9-11.

Rei: So, are you hungry? Thirsty?

After that, Midori's stomach began to rumble and she blushed. She said that she haven't eaten breakfast yet so I went to the kitchen to make omurice. I looked up the internet for recipes and found a simple one.

I often don't cook because I always order food outside. This is the first time I'll be cooking for someone else so hopefully I don't screw up.

While waiting, Midori looked at my collection of consoles and games under my TV.

Midori: Hey, I haven't known your name yet. What is it?

Rei: Sorry, My name is Rei.

Midori: Rei huh? What a good- sounding name. By the way, are you a gamer?

Rei: Well, judging by the consoles and games under the TV, yes, yes I am.

Midori: None of your past reincarnations are any sort of gamers before.

I finished cooking the omurice. I got a plate and put the newly cooked omurice on the plate. I got ketchup in the fridge and wrote "Welcome" in Kanji. Maybe she'll understand since Japan is a very wide culture. I grabbed a spoon and gave it to her. Midori sat down on the table, eagerly waiting for her brunch.

Midori: Wow, you cooked this by yourself? In the past, I'm the one who always cooks for you but now is the opposite.

Rei: Well, it's the first time I cooked for someone else so I hope it tastes good.

Midori eats a spoonful of omurice. She smiled and blushed. She really liked it. She gave me the plate then she opened her mouth.

Midori: Aaaaaa...

Rei: What, you want me to feed you?

She nodded twice while her mouth still open, I placed a spoon with omurice in her mouth and she adorably chews and swallows. " More sweetheart, more!" she said to me. After a few minutes, she finished the omurice, the constant feeding of omurice made my right arm go numb. What an adorable girl she is.

As I put the dishes on the sink, Midori stood up in front of me, extending her hand, saying:

Midori: Thank you for letting me live here sweetheart. I really appreciate it.

Rei: It's nothing. I just accepted the request because it's very lonely here.

Midori: Well, now I'm here so you won't feel lonely ever again.

Rei: Right...

I also extended my numb right hand and shook her small, warm hand. For some reason, it felt very nostalgic. I didn't understand it at first since I never touched a woman's hand before, not even my family's hands.

Rei: Well, go to bed now, you seem to be very tired of travelling.

Midori: Ok then. See you later, sweetheart, good night.

Good night, sweetheart...

After washing the dishes, I go directly to my room to play some games on my phone before going to sleep.