Re:Zero: Starting from the Great Transformation

"That's it..."

I nodded thoughtfully.

Then he looked at the bowl of dumplings in front of him.

Did you choose dumplings on purpose?

probably.

In China, dumplings have many meanings, especially for me who is from the north.

You have to eat dumplings when you go on a long journey, and you also have to eat dumplings when you welcome someone.

Eat dumplings during festivals.

Eating dumplings while visiting graves.

Eat dumplings for family reunion.

Eat dumplings as a farewell.

Basically, in various occasions, if you don’t know what to eat, eating dumplings is definitely the right choice.

And although Japanese Chinese food is different from authentic Chinese food, dumplings are basically the same no matter how they are prepared.

Even if the styles are different, the diverse flavors of dumplings themselves can accommodate such differences.

I chose dumplings to celebrate my promotion to A-level...

how to say.

It's really thoughtful.

As I was thinking this, Rudeus suddenly handed me a pair of chopsticks from the side.

"Anyway, how about a taste first?"

"Ah."

I took the chopsticks, but didn't put them down.

how to say……

The dumplings are wrapped crookedly, and they feel more like boiled buns than dumplings.

The ingredients used are also substitutes, so I guess they will be very different from the dumplings I have in mind.

It might be too salty or tasteless at all.

If it were in China, it probably wouldn't even be worthy of being served on the dinner table.

Rudeus and Sarah were obviously aware of this problem.

After all, neither of them was a professional chef, had never learned how to make dumplings before, and no one taught them.

At most, it was just a replica based on Rudeus's impression of the appearance.

but……

"..."

I picked up the dumpling and stuffed the whole thing into my mouth.

Ok……

Just as I expected.

It's not delicious at all.

It is just a simple wrapping of the filling with dough.

Moreover, since they are just dumplings without any seasoning, the taste will inevitably be a bit monotonous.

I chewed slowly and took a long time to swallow.

Sarah blushed and scratched her cheek.

"Stop being so picky. I made all of these myself. Even if they're not tasty, you should at least try a couple, right?"

"No, I'm not disgusted, it's just that how should I put it..."

I opened my mouth, but the words wouldn't come out.

When was the last time you ate dumplings?

Before coming to this world, I could eat whatever I wanted anytime, and I didn’t think it was that delicious. But after coming here, it became very distant and only existed in my memory.

I really didn't expect that someone would make dumplings for me.

There is no way to describe this feeling.

I just felt like something in my chest had melted and became very soft.

I……

"..."

The people around looked at each other.

Sarah was even more at a loss.

"I'm telling you, even if it doesn't taste good, you shouldn't cry, right? If you really don't want to swallow it, just spit it out..."

"No, I'm just... a little excited, that's all."

I fought back a sob.

I secretly wiped away my tears with my sleeves.

Sarah patted my shoulder and whispered:

"If you like, I can cook for you often..."

"...Forget it. To be honest, it's not very tasty."

"You guy!"

Sarah rolled her eyes at me.

Everyone laughed.

I laughed too, but it was just a little bit of a sympathetic laugh.

I glanced at Sarah's somewhat depressed expression from the corner of my eye, and the long-standing sense of incongruity surfaced, and then I felt like a stone was pressing on my chest.

Even if it's only a one percent chance.

If Sarah didn't fall in love with Rudeus, but had other feelings for me...

What should I do...

How to deal with it?

……

……

I don’t consider myself a slow-witted male protagonist.

Although I always thought that Sarah and Rudius had that kind of signs before, but looking at the situation today, it seems that the person Sarah likes is not Rudius.

But me.

To be honest, I always thought Sarah was a good girl.

I also like her very much.

Although this kind of love is not the kind of love between men and women, but more like the appreciation between friends, if conditions permit, I also want to respond to her feelings.

But that's not the most important thing.

The point is, I don't belong to this world.

I am not Rudeus. I have no reason or need to live in this world forever. Even now, I don’t know the meaning of my coming to this world.

Perhaps, when the mission is completed...

I will leave this world.

Maybe that is not up to my will, maybe that day may come at any time, maybe I have no room to refuse the mission.

The thought of Sarah being left behind and helplessly watching me walk away.

I just can't bring myself to ignore it all.

and so……

Instead of playing deaf and dumb, it is better to just come clean.

Let this relationship that shouldn't exist die out as soon as possible.

It doesn't matter if I'm just being sentimental. As long as I can avoid that kind of ending, it's worth it.

……

……

The celebration ended quickly.

After eating the dumplings, we helped Rudius put away the decorations in the room and prepared to leave.

Before leaving, I called out to Sarah.

"Sarah, wait a moment."

"Huh? What's the matter?"

"I just ate a lot and wanted to go for a walk. Could you please accompany me for a while?"

"what?"

Hear me say this.

Sarah's eyes widened in surprise.

Out of her sight, Susanna secretly gave me a thumbs-up.

"I, I..."

Sarah's earlobes were a little red, and her fingertips were twirling around the ends of her hair.

After a long while, he pursed his lips and nodded.

"Just a little while..."

"Thanks."

"Then we'll go back first. Sarah will be in your hands."

"Well, don't worry."

After leaving Rudeus's house.

Susanna and the others went straight back to the hotel where they were staying.

After I watched them leave, I said to Sarah, who was bowing her head beside me:

"Let's go too."

"Um……"

Sarah nodded quietly.

I took the first step.

Sarah lagged behind a little, then took small, slow steps to catch up with me.

The nights in Rosenberg are not silent.

This is the time when the tavern for adventurers is at its busiest.

After a day of adventure, people gathered in the tavern, drinking and eating meat, bragging to those around them about what they had seen and heard. The sound was mixed with shouting and women's laughter. Walking on the street, such sounds could be heard everywhere.

Sarah and I didn't say anything, we just kept walking along the road.