Starting Over as a Kindergartener to Fulfill My First Love! - Episode 00

The next day, I hurriedly went to Shiho-san’s house.

Of course, it’s to ask about Tsune-chan.

Suddenly, when I visited, Shiho-san looked surprised, but upon learning that Tsune-chan, who had passed away, was my homeroom teacher at the time, she kindly shared stories about the old Tsune-chan.

It seems that Tsune-chan transferred to a nearby kindergarten after I graduated, where the nearest station is the third one from my nearest station.

Now that I think about it, I could even go by bicycle… no, at this point, I could walk there.

And then, Tsune-chan worked at that kindergarten for nearly six years, and after that, she moved from one kindergarten in the city to another every few years. During that time, it seems she and Shiho-san became senior and junior colleagues at the same kindergarten.

According to Shiho-san, she has always been a very kind senior and was well-liked by her juniors.

“By the way, at what age did Professor Tokoya get married…?”

I asked Shiho-san the question I wanted to ask the most, but it was also the hardest to bring up.

“Well, you know, even though she was such a beautiful and kind person, she got married late. I think she was in her mid-thirties? She had a few relationships, but none of them lasted long. But finally, just before she hit her forties, she married a younger man. And guess what? It was an arranged marriage.”

“Oh, I see…”

I was listening to Shiho-san’s story with mixed feelings. What made it complicated was that Tsune-chan’s partner was younger and that it was an arranged marriage, which left me in a complicated state of mind.

Could it be that I had a chance to marry Tsune-chan too!?

I couldn’t help but feel that way.

But well, in reality, it’s just impossible, right…?

I’m a coward by nature, and despite having several chances, I’ve never been able to propose—I’m such a chicken.

Even if I had a chance to confess to Tsune-chan back then, I probably wouldn’t have been able to do it…

Seriously, what a pathetic man…

I was exasperated with myself, imagining things that hadn’t even happened.

After that, I learned a lot about Tsune-chan’s later years from Shiho-san.

It seems that Tsune-chan has been steadily promoted to head caregiver, vice principal, and then principal.

I have come to respect Tsune-chan, who dedicated her life to being a nursery teacher until the very end. Well, I also worked hard with the intention of fulfilling my duties, but since I ended up on the “list” halfway through my dream, I feel that way even more.

But from here on, Shiho’s story was shocking to me and very painful.

Tsune-chan’s younger husband passed away from illness a few years ago…

The fact that the two of them didn’t have any children…

And then Tsune-chan passed away at home without anyone by her side…

A few days later, a neighbor found Tsune-chan dead in her bedroom, as if she were sleeping, and called the police because they were suspicious…

While listening to Tsune-chan’s stories about his later years, I had my usual headache, but I somehow managed to endure it and listened to the end.

But, since the content was what it was, I ended up with not only a headache but also a stomachache, and it was so painful and distressing that I felt like I was dying. However, I somehow managed to endure it, forced a smile, thanked Shiho-san, and went home.

When I get home, I immediately jump into bed.

And tears were streaming from my eyes…

It’s not because my head hurts or my stomach hurts that tears are coming out…

That Tsune-chan, who was so beautiful and kind, passed away alone and unnoticed after her husband preceded her in death…

Tsune-chan… how has your life been so far?

Were you happy?

Were you really happy?

I, I…

Right now, I’m such a pathetic guy, but…

I wanted to make Tsune-chan happy…

Even though it’s too late to regret now… if I could start my life over…

I will definitely take care of Tsune-chan for life…

I buried my face in the pillow and cried. And as I thought about Tsune-chan, my consciousness gradually faded away.