Time stops for no one.
I am now 8 years old, and I'm starting to feel my growth spurt. While I may not be as tall as the average Japanese man, who stands at about 170 cm, I am slightly taller than other kids my age. I currently measure 120 cm, which is great because it means I likely won't be short when I grow up. I hope to reach around 180-185 cm, as being much taller might make me stand out too much. It's not that I mind being unique, but it would be strange if I grew to 2 meters while my sister and friends stayed below 170 cm.
It has been a while since I last saw my friends. We still talk through our phones, but it's not the same as having them here. Honestly, I felt a bit lonely for a while, but I'm okay now. I'm sure we'll gather in the future, but for now, it's not the time to be sad, as there are many things I could do.
Yuki, my sister, has become an aspiring otaku, getting into manga and anime without any help from me. She fell into that world all on her own. We spent three days together without any issues. She came to visit because she wanted to see her paternal grandfather, who lives in another town.
In the year we were apart, Yuki changed—not physically, since she's only a bit taller, but in her behavior. When we were together, she was cheerful, almost unrestrained, throwing in quotes from popular films and anime left and right. She had no qualms about using puppy eyes when she needed something, feeling completely shameless in some instances.
I was taken aback when our old family butler arrived to take her home, along with her grandchild, a girl named Ayano who was also a childhood friend of mine. Yuki's personality shifted dramatically in front of Ayano, going from playful gremlin to a poised Ojou-san. The smirk she sent my way made me think of revenge for calling her out on her elegance, which she completely disregarded.
That night, we talked a little, and I almost revealed myself when she burst out laughing at my comment about this being my villain origin story. Overall, her visit was just what I needed. I stopped moping around and got myself together.
The first thing I did was attempt to tap into my still unawakened abilities to gain some advantages. Yes, I asked my father for money during the week he returned from overseas. But my request wasn't successful; Dad didn't feel comfortable giving me a large sum. He questioned why I was asking for money, as I had never done so before, and I explained why I wanted this.
Being a Gamer, I believed I could improve my stats and skills in different ways, and since I wanted to spend time with others before grinding, I decided to set some limitations on this leveling system that would slowly decay starting from my tenth birthday. Improvements would come from training, studying, and other activities deemed appropriate by my ability.
My goal was to enter the University of Kyoto and take courses there. I wanted to focus on increasing my intelligence and wisdom. Secondly, I expressed a desire for independence. I could see Dad's eyebrows raise in surprise; after all, it's not typical for an 8-year-old to desire independence. But I reminded him that I was anything but ordinary.
The reason behind wanting my own space was simple: I wanted a place that belonged to me alone, a space where I could do what I wanted. I made it clear that I loved my current home and family, but as a "special" kid, I felt more mature than my age suggested. I also pointed out that Yuki would probably appreciate staying in touch better if I had more freedom.
At those words, Dad praised me for being a good brother and promised to consider my requests. I could see a spark in his eyes, a determination to be a good father and not let me or Yuki down. Although he still wasn't quite the ideal father figure I envisioned, my respect for him grew.
We spent two more hours talking, with only a few minutes dedicated to his decision on my requests. The rest of the time was a pleasant conversation about various topics. He shared stories about his first encounter with Mom and how they got together. No skills leveled up during our discussion, but I feel like I gained a bit more understanding of Kyoutarou and Yumi not just as my parents, but as individuals.
In the end, I think we both grew closer during the time we spent together. Dad left with a brighter expression than when he arrived, even though he looked a bit sad.
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The strict environment that Yuki and I grew up in had its positives, too. One of those positives was the quality of education we received. Both of us were homeschooled because our grandfather didn't want us mingling with lower-class individuals. Eventually, we'll attend an elite private school for our junior high and high school years, which has a solid reputation.
As a dedicated learner, I made it a priority to improve my [Studying] and [Fast Reading] skills as much as possible. Once I was outside of that house, my dad was content to leave me alone until I turned 12—until I made my request, that is.
Instead of simply hiring a teacher for me, he expected more. Since I asked for independence, I had to prove I was capable of being independent. This meant finding a teacher on my own to help me study for university and keeping track of all the expenses associated with household needs. While I had a budget for hiring the teacher, my dad would cover the costs for books and other materials.
Personally, I saw it as an exciting challenge. Searching for a teacher in this unfamiliar town meant I would have to engage with society more actively. I actually welcomed this opportunity to adapt to my new environment and learn the importance of budgeting and recognizing the value of money. My dad wanted to ensure that I wouldn't be someone who wastes money carelessly.
Since he placed this expectation on me, it became my responsibility to meet it. It was time for me to become a contributing member of society.