...Fujisawa Yuma has transmigrated.
No... or rather, a flood of memories from another world suddenly rushed into his mind; it made him instantly realize how strange the world he currently lived in was... those memories.
They brought Fujisawa Yuma a completely new perspective on this world.
For someone living alone in Tokyo, studying and working part-time, those memories that suddenly appeared in his mind could be described as a stroke of luck.
After carefully reviewing the memories in his head, Fujisawa Yuma discovered that this world was very similar to the one in his memories, yet there were some differences:
This world lacked all the light novels and manga works from the world in his memories.
Aside from the well-known Big Three shonen manga, works like Sword Art Online and Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World did not exist in the world he lived in now.
Thinking of this, Fujisawa Yuma was suddenly struck by a wave of joy.
Didn't this mean he could finally abandon the predicament of going to a restaurant for a part-time job every day after school?
Having come from a small rural town to study in Tokyo, although his family gave him enough money for living expenses, it was only enough to maintain a basic lifestyle. If he wanted to buy anything extra, he had to go out and work for money.
Fortunately, the hourly wage in Tokyo was much higher than in his small town.
Although he had little rest time each month outside of his part-time job, he had gained some good friends and purchased many doujinshi, game discs, and figurines... It was just that with the sudden addition of another set of memories, Fujisawa Yuma inexplicably felt like he had matured.
*Buzz, buzz, buzz*
*Buzz, buzz, buzz*
While he was still thinking about when to start his life as a plagiarist...
Suddenly, the urgent vibration of his phone pulled him back from his fantasies.
Fujisawa Yuma quickly grabbed his phone and looked down at the screen—
Time displayed: 4:40 PM.
There were only 20 minutes left before his part-time shift at the dessert shop started!
"Oh no!"
The joy and contemplation on Fujisawa Yuma's face were instantly replaced by panic.
He had to be at the shop by 5 PM every day. Even taking the train from his apartment, it took at least twenty minutes including walking; that was assuming no accidents occurred.
During his time studying in Tokyo, he had already encountered train delays due to track-jumping incidents at least five or six times!
All those beautiful futures and grand blueprints of being a "plagiarist" were, at this moment, completely submerged by the harsh reality of "being about to be late."
"Hello, is this Fujisawa? Where are you?"
The screen showed a call from the Manager; Fujisawa Yuma scrambled to answer, stuffing his student ID, wallet, and keys from the table into his backpack all at once while responding vaguely:
"Ah! Manager! Sorry, I—I'm already on my way! The train is a bit... a bit slow! I'll definitely be there before five!"
He certainly couldn't say he had forgotten the time while daydreaming.
The Manager's voice sounded a bit impatient and tired: "You'd better hurry; there are many reservations today, and the kitchen is very busy! Hurry up!"
"Okay! I'm coming right now!"
With a "click," he hung up the phone, and Fujisawa Yuma quickly pulled on the sneakers he had taken off yesterday.
He didn't even have time to tidy his hair, which was a bit messy from fantasies and insomnia, before he slammed open the apartment door.
As for being a plagiarist or whatever, he wouldn't give up his current jobs so quickly before receiving any actual payment... 5:02 PM.
Fujisawa Yuma was still late.
"Fujisawa... you're two minutes late." The Manager's stern face appeared at the entrance of the passage, brows furrowed.
Fujisawa Yuma quickly bowed, lowering his head deeply: "I'm sorry, Manager! The train was delayed. I'll change and start working immediately!"
"Forget it." The Manager sighed and didn't press further. "Hurry up and change. The tables in the hall need to be wiped clean immediately, and there are a few dishes fresh from the kitchen that need to be delivered."
"Yes!!"
Fujisawa Yuma rushed into the locker room, quickly changed into the shop uniform, and stuffed his backpack into a locker.
When he stepped back into the noisy hall filled with the scent of alcohol and food, he had transformed back into that familiar yet numb Tokyo part-timer—Fujisawa Yuma.
Five minutes later.
Fujisawa Yuma stacked the dirty plates and trays together, lifted them with effort, and turned toward the kitchen.
The kitchen and the bustle of the hall were two completely different worlds.
The temperature was higher here, and the air was filled with the heat of the ovens and the fresh scent of ingredients.
Fujisawa Yuma walked straight to the dessert preparation station.
There, a girl wearing a clean white uniform and a tall chef's hat was busily working with full concentration.
Her name was Nishimiya Shoko, but at this moment, the girl's fair face was dusted with a bit of flour. Her eyes were focused as she carefully used a piping bag to add the final decorations to a strawberry mousse.
On the girl's ear was a light brown, somewhat bulky hearing aid.
Fujisawa Yuma was already accustomed to the girl's focus.
He walked to the workstation, placed the heavy dirty plates in the washing area, and gained a brief moment of rest.
He didn't leave immediately but stood beside Nishimiya Shoko, quietly watching the dessert nearing completion under her hands.
"That's really impressive."
Fujisawa Yuma spoke these words softly with heartfelt admiration; in the entire dessert shop, perhaps only Nishimiya Shoko could make him feel such respect.
However, after he said those words,
Nishimiya Shoko's body suddenly stiffened.
Even though she couldn't hear, she could feel the slight change in the airflow around her, so she quickly realized someone was there. She turned her head quickly, her clear large eyes blinking. When she saw the tall Fujisawa Yuma beside her, her gaze inexplicably relaxed.
Fujisawa Yuma noticed Shoko's gaze, smiled slightly, and raised his right hand. He extended his index and middle fingers, making a "speaking" motion by his mouth, and then slowly made several gestures:
"Nishimiya, your skills are really great."
A blush instantly rose to Nishimiya Shoko's face, and she lowered her head shyly.
However, because she was currently making desserts and her fingers were covered in flour and cream, it wasn't convenient for her to respond with Sign Language immediately.
She could only use all her effort to nod slightly toward Fujisawa Yuma in thanks.
As the only person in the shop willing to spend time learning basic sign language and taking the initiative to communicate with her, Fujisawa Yuma made Nishimiya Shoko feel very comfortable working part-time here.
So compared to those colleagues who kept their distance and only used writing boards or didn't communicate at all, she preferred being with Fujisawa Yuma.
However, this brief moment of tranquility was soon broken.
"Fujisawa, what are you dazing out for? Why haven't the empty plates from table four been cleared yet! Get out here!"
The Manager poked his head out and looked at Fujisawa Yuma, starting to urge him frantically, pulling him back to reality from the aroma of the desserts.
"Yes! I'm coming right now!"
Fujisawa Yuma gave Nishimiya Shoko an apologetic, wry smile; he quickly signed these words:
"I'm leaving, let's talk later."
Nishimiya Shoko gave Fujisawa Yuma a gentle smile, then lowered her head again, focusing on completing the dessert in her hands.
Fujisawa Yuma quickly ran out of the kitchen and plunged back into the bustle of the shop.