The Thugs Attack

After that, there's no need to go into details about the conversation between Granny Gray and the gang leader, their manipulation of the thugs in the private room, or how the gang leader, seizing the opportunity after the relationship completely broke down, used the excuse that "that brat Yamanaka Koichi might be resentful and run off to Kaomi, so we need to finish this job as soon as possible" to lead a group of thugs to stake out the area near the school where Uraraka Shige was located.

After all, these thugs aren't the main characters.

Our true protagonist is Uraraka Shige, who now believes she is definitely not the protagonist anymore.

And what is Uraraka Shige doing now?

"Ochaco, if you want ice cream, you can go buy one."

He and Ochaco were on their way home when they passed an ice cream shop.

Ochaco was looking at the ice cream shop with a somewhat reluctant gaze, occasionally stealing glances at its location, which amused Uraraka Shige. When she realized Uraraka Shige noticed her, she was clearly a little embarrassed, as she herself thought her behavior was rather childish.

In fact, she wouldn't normally act this way. However, recently the family's finances have clearly run into some problems, becoming even more strained than before.

Therefore, even though she could occasionally eat ice cream on weekdays, she hadn't had it for about a week. Naturally, the young Ochaco missed the taste of ice cream.

However, due to the family's recent financial situation, the sensible Ochaco had to suppress her craving for ice cream. But under the instinctive influence of her young body, she still couldn't help but linger and yearn for places where ice cream was available.

Upon seeing Ochaco in this state, Uraraka Shige felt amusement, but also a slight sense of frustration at his own powerlessness, and even a fleeting longing for his past life that had been gone forever.

'If I were still in my previous life, even though my financial situation would be even worse, at least I could afford to buy Ochaco an ice cream, right?'

Then, in the next instant, he began to laugh at himself for even having such a thought.

'But if this were truly still the previous life, I definitely wouldn't know Ochaco now, and we wouldn't be siblings at all; we'd be complete strangers, right? Knowing my personality, how could I possibly buy ice cream for a complete stranger?'

So, in order to free himself from the longing for his past life, and to make himself happy by seeing Ochaco's satisfied smile, and to fill the void in his heart with joy, Uraraka Shige said these words.

Although he knew that, given his older sister's personality in this life, the advice he offered was practically impossible.

"No, Shige, we shouldn't trouble our parents at home. Let's go back."

However, when he actually heard Ochaco sensibly reject his suggestion, Uraraka Shige couldn't help but savor the faint bitterness that suddenly welled up from the bottom of his heart.

This bitter feeling didn't stem from any sympathy or empathy for Ochaco at such a young age. Rather, it was because the emptiness, loneliness, and longing for memories of his past life that followed Ochaco's rejection of his suggestion weren't replaced by joy or happiness, but rather by a deep sense of regret and sorrow...

At least in his previous life, that would certainly have been the case.

But who knows what he'll say in this life?

After a moment of silence, Uraraka Shige had quietly adjusted his mental state without Ochaco's knowledge. Then, seemingly realizing that the silence between him and Ochaco was perhaps too overwhelming, he opened his mouth again, intending to say something to break the silence and prevent himself from being swallowed up by another kind of fear and loneliness—a feeling of unfamiliarity with the world and the people around him—just as he was emerging from the emptiness.

Logically speaking, having grown up in this world since childhood and now approaching ten years old, he shouldn't have these feelings... but who can truly explain such a thing as a rift?

"Ochaco..."

Uraraka Shige, calling out the name of his sister in this life. This was different from how his parents and sister in this life called him "Shige." This was the name he always used for his sister in this life.

However, he only called out Ochaco's name.

After much deliberation, he couldn't find any suitable topics to discuss with Ochaco at this moment.

Should we continue talking about the ice cream? But that's all in the past.

Should he talk about the difficulties his family's construction company was facing? But in reality, he had no good solutions to them, and discussing this topic under these circumstances would only worsen his and Ochaco's moods.

So what should they talk about? Their Ochaco topic...

Is it 'Quirk'? Is it Genga? Or something else entirely?

Uraraka Shige deeply troubled and worried about this, and even a sense of irritation began to rise from the bottom of his heart. Ochaco had also heard him call her name earlier, and was now looking at Uraraka Shige with a curious and questioning look, waiting for Uraraka Shige continue the topic. However, Uraraka Shige was currently struggling with this issue.

Fortunately, he would soon no longer need to worry about it.

He saw a group of thugs with dyed hair who looked somewhat familiar walking towards his school.

And so, in the next moment, Uraraka Shige had a topic to continue the conversation.

"Ochaco... be careful of these guys. They look familiar. If I remember correctly, they're the thugs downstairs at my home office back then."

After hearing Uraraka Shige's words, Ochaco had no doubts whatsoever. In fact, Uraraka Shige's reminder made her suddenly worried and wary. At the same time, she suddenly remembered her memories of this group of thugs. Although she was completely unfamiliar with the guy who looked like a good person, the other thugs gave her a sense of familiarity as if she had met them before.

Meanwhile, among the group of thugs, several men, upon seeing Uraraka Shige and Ochaco, suddenly turned to the thug they called their leader, who seemed like a good person, and asked him a question and offered some advice.

"Boss, those two kids seem to be the target?!"