"Ten years later, the graphics and effects in these games are amazing!"
Renz didn't start a stream. Instead, he scanned every game on his computer. Holy cow! He'd lived to see it. Even games that had been delayed for years finally had sequels. And beyond those, there were so many new anime series to watch.
But in the blink of an eye, Renz's excitement faded. The moment he thought of his children, an incredibly heavy burden pressed down on him.
How was he going to raise his daughter? How was he going to raise his son? That was the question.
He had no experience whatsoever, and the family's finances were firmly controlled by Erina Nakiri.
To take good care of his children, money was paramount. Without a stable source of income, both Rina and Haruna Nakiri would have to be jointly cared for by him and Erina.
It seemed he needed to find some private time to talk with Erina about this.
Knock, knock—
A knock on the door. Renz walked over and opened it.
Standing before him was Erina Nakiri, wearing an apron and holding a tray. On the tray sat a bowl of five-grain porridge, seemingly with fresh vegetables and fruits hidden inside. Next to it, on another plate, were sliced melon cubes — a simple fruit serving.
"This is...?" Renz asked, a bit surprised. Was Erina really making a special meal for him?
"Your performance today was good. This is my reward for you," she said, tilting her head back arrogantly — or pretending to. The tone masked her nervousness.
She wanted the carefully prepared, stomach-soothing meal to appear casual, as though she hadn't put much thought into it. Certainly not something she made specifically for him. That would be... suggestive, right?
"Don't misunderstand. This isn't specifically made for you," Erina reiterated quickly, worried about being misread.
"Take it and eat. After you finish, get some rest."
Renz, still a bit confused, took the tray. Before he could say anything, Erina had already shut the door and leaned against it on the other side.
Darn it. I really didn't want him to misunderstand. Why does it sound even weirder the more I explain?
The last sentence had probably made it even easier to misinterpret.
No, this is just normal interaction. This is what family feels like. No, no—!
The more Erina thought about it, the more flustered she became.
She definitely said the wrong thing.
This confusing relationship was making her head spin even more.
Sleeping with her daughter was definitely the easiest.
---
Inside the room, Renz looked at the five-grain porridge, his mood complicated. He'd just finished a cup of instant noodles. He was in that weird in-between state — not quite hungry, but not full either. He knew he'd be starving later and was already planning a fridge raid.
But he hadn't expected the grand tsundere to make him a special meal.
It was perfect. Just what he needed.
What the heck? She said it wasn't made specifically for him, but it really looked like she had thought this through.
If she'd made omelet rice instead, he wouldn't have been able to finish it.
The tsundere was unexpectedly thoughtful.
But what surprised Renz more was the realization that in all his decades of life, this was the first time he'd eaten a delicious meal prepared by a non-relative female.
He really had it tough, didn't he?
He gently sipped the porridge. Whether it was the psychological warmth or the actual taste, it was smooth and slightly sweet — refreshing like clear spring water.
Looking at the dazzling array of games on the screen, Renz sighed inwardly. He still had responsibilities.
Since morning, his thoughts had been filled with his daughter and son. He was in a tough spot.
He had never even dated before. For over a decade, due to his unique experiences, he hadn't even held a girl's hand — aside from a school trip in elementary.
He'd attended an all-boys boarding school in middle school. After just one year of high school, he went straight into professional gaming.
Now, having just arrived in Japan to study, this situation dropped on him.
He had skipped dating. Skipped lust.
And somehow landed directly in married life — no, worse — straight into raising a daughter and a son.
He hadn't even started running, and he was already a dad.
How was he going to be a father?
Aside from instilling proper values, he needed to manage parent-child relationships and their academics.
Just thinking about it gave him a headache. He'd better check online. He could gather advice and create his own Child-Rearing Guide.
He had some experience writing guides, after all.
Tonight, he would focus on learning how to be a good dad!
---
Meanwhile, in the villa's largest bedroom, Erina Nakiri lay in bed, dressed in soft white pajamas.
She couldn't fall asleep.
She had a habit of sleeping well only in her own bed. Logically, this villa had been hers for ten years — it was her home.
And yet, she couldn't sleep.
She hugged her daughter, Rina, close.
Before bedtime, Rina had loudly "rejected" her, but when it came time to sleep, the little one was very clingy.
Haruki, on the other side, was fast asleep — in a bizarre position.
Everything that had happened today felt surreal.
And every time she thought about it, Renz's face came to mind.
What is he doing right now?
Erina was curious.
No—why am I even curious about that?
He's probably just playing games in the gaming room.
She should be more curious about what her future self would become.
Still, she was about to meet her friends from ten years ago.
What would those relationships look like now?
Erina began to feel a bit uneasy.
Just sleep, she told herself softly and closed her eyes.
Ten minutes later…
She still wasn't asleep.
"Ahhhhhh! What should I do if I can't sleep!"
---Support with power stones