Reincarnated as a failed hero?! Watch me Defy Fate! - Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Unexpressed Longing Chapter 29: Unexpressed Longing I walked down this quiet street, the familiar path stirring memories of the countless times I’d taken it after work.

It hadn’t changed-still silent, still lonely.

I couldn’t help but wonder: had my body been found quickly back then, or had it taken time?

The thought weighed on me, a quiet sadness creeping in.

But I shook it off.

Now isn’t the time for that-I need to focus on my family.

The evening sky was clear, painting the city in warm hues of orange and pink.

It was a scene I couldn’t help but admire as I broke into a jog, my eagerness to see my family growing with each step.

Arriving at the neighborhood I once called home, I paused to take it all in.

Though I’d run quite a distance, my body-Naoki’s body-felt perfectly fine.

Not even the slightest hint of exhaustion.

I silently thanked the heavens that I’d returned in simple, plain clothes.

Showing up in a knight’s armor or noble garb would have made me look like a cosplayer and raised all kinds of questions.

I slowed my pace as I entered the residential area, where more people were out and about.

Their stares made me uneasy.

Confused, I glanced at my reflection in a shop window and froze.

Naoki really is ridiculously handsome.

His face and hair were distinctly Japanese, but he had an effortless charisma, a noble charm that turned heads.

It was undeniable, even if Naoki himself was a flirtatious and problematic noble.

“HAHAHA!

So, you admit Naoki’s handsomeness and your lack thereof in your original world!

This is hilarious!” Envi, the annoying system in my head, cackled.

“I’ll admit it, sure.

But-HEY, I’m handsome too!

My mom and sister said so…

though, uh, no one else ever has.” A pang of insecurity hit me as the words slipped out.

I realized I’d just shouted at Envi aloud, earning puzzled looks from passersby.

Embarrassed, I ignored them and kept walking toward what was once my home.

After some wandering, I found it.

Not the house we used to live in, but a small apartment.

My mother had sold our home to support us, and now we lived here.

Though modest, it looked clean and cozy-a testament to my mother’s tireless efforts.

I waited outside for over an hour, trying to come up with a way to approach them.

But no one showed up.

It was odd; my mom should’ve been back from selling goods, and my siblings, Nana and Naki, should’ve returned from work by now.

Dusk turned to evening, and worry gnawed at me.

Where could they be?

Feeling like a stalker loitering outside, I decided to explore the area.

To avoid suspicion, I rummaged through a trash bin and found a hat and sunglasses.

Now I looked like a scavenger.

Envi laughed endlessly at my absurd disguise, but I ignored him.

This’ll have to do.

Night had fallen when I found myself in a nearby park.

There, on a bench, sat a familiar figure-a middle-aged woman, her face weary but calm.

It was my mother.

My heart ached at the sight.

I wanted to run to her, to call out, but Envi’s voice stopped me.

“Are you insane?

Do that, and you’ll trigger a penalty.

You might not be able to return here again!” “…You’re right,” I whispered, my throat tight.

“If I could, I’d run to her and cry.” I stayed in the shadows, watching.

Not long after, a young woman with shoulder-length hair in office attire appeared, jogging toward my mother.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Mom!” she called out, her voice tired but warm.

It was Nana, my older sister.

She looked exhausted, likely from overtime.

“Nana, dear, you shouldn’t make your mom wait like this,” she said gently.

“It’s fine, Mom.

I don’t want you sitting here all alone at night.

It’s not safe.” “I don’t mind waiting for you two.

It’s nice to walk home together.

The house feels so empty now…” Mom’s voice trailed off, a wistful sadness in her tone.

It was a stark reminder of the emptiness I’d left behind.

Before, Mom and I had worked late while Nana welcomed us home and Naki in his room.

Now, it was different.

Guilt twisted in my chest.

Just then, a portly man came jogging over, panting heavily.

“Hah…

haah…

Sorry, Mom, Nana!

Didn’t mean to keep you waiting…” It was Naki, my older brother, just off his shift at the same convenience store I used to work at.

“Naki, you don’t need to run like that!” Nana scolded.

“But it’s part of my diet plan,” he said, beaming with pride.

“I’m trying to lose weight!” “Enough, enough,” Mom said, patting their shoulders.

“Let’s head home.” As they started walking, I followed from a distance.

Their conversation carried back to me.

“How’s work, Nana?

Any better?” Naki asked.

“I’m managing,” she replied hesitantly.

“But I still struggle with male clients…

I messed up again today.

My paycheck will probably be cut in half…” Her voice faltered.

“You’re doing great, Sis,” Naki reassured her.

“Even with your trauma, you’re brave enough to keep working.” Naki sighed.

“I’m not as strong as you.

I get so nervous dealing with customers…

maybe because I’m an introvert.” “You’re both doing your best,” Mom said, her gentle smile a balm for their spirits.

“I’m proud of you.” They asked about her sales, and Mom admitted business had been slow since her hospital stay.

She brushed it off with a smile, but I could hear the strain in her voice.

She spoke of finding ways to pay off her medical debt, her resolve unwavering.

Her words hit me like a truck.

I forgot…

The hospital bills.

She couldn’t use insurance anymore, having left her government job.

It wasn’t just about missing them; I’d left them burdened with debt.

“You don’t need to work so hard, Mom.

Let Nana and me take care of it.

We’ll work even harder to cover the hospital bills,” Naki said, his voice filled with determination.

“That’s right, Mom,” Nana added, her tone laced with worry.

“You should ease up on work and rest more.

Leave the hard work to us.” “So, the three of us need to work extra hard, huh?

Haha,” Mom chuckled softly, her laughter light but warm.

Her gentle humor brought smiles to both Nana and Naki, and they joined her in a brief, tender laugh.

Even amidst their struggles, they could still find happiness together.

Watching them like this made my heart ache with longing.

I wish I could laugh alongside them again.

As I passed them, our paths crossing for the briefest of moments, I couldn’t stop myself from murmuring, “I’m home…” The words escaped my lips so softly that they didn’t hear me.

But that was enough.

Tears welled up in my eyes-not from sadness, but from the overwhelming joy of seeing them so close again.

Quietly, I cried, my heart full, thankful for this fleeting reunion.

….

….

After leaving the park, I decided to visit the hospital where my mom had been treated.

It was the central hospital in the city-a place where people like us, without health insurance, could only dream of affording care.

The thought of my mom and siblings struggling to pay the enormous hospital bills made anger churn in my chest.

How could the healthcare system in this world be so heartless?

The wealthy could buy quality care, while the poor were left to fend for themselves.

It felt so fundamentally unfair.

Determined, I entered the hospital and approached the receptionist.

“Excuse me, can I get the billing details for Takahiro Ayase?

She’s my family,” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

The receptionist typed on her computer and soon handed me the records.

My eyes widened in shock.

The total bill was ¥957,120.

It was an astronomical figure, utterly impossible for my family to pay off.

My jaw tightened as I gripped the paper.

“I’ll pay this off,” I declared, surprising even myself.

The receptionist blinked, then looked at me skeptically.

“Oh?

Well, we’ve already sent a warning letter to Mrs.

Ayase’s address to settle the outstanding balance.

She may visit us soon.

You might meet her here.” “Th-that’s fine.

I’ll handle it.

Just wait for me-I’ll return with the money,” I said firmly before turning on my heel and leaving the hospital.

Once outside, I pretended to head for an ATM.

Envi!

I called out in my mind.

“Hey, Envi, can I use Goddess Points now?

I want to trade 5 points for ¥957,120.” “Of course you can!” Envi replied cheerfully.

“Just write it in the Trade Goddess Points menu.” I quickly opened the system menu and exchanged my points.

—— [You have used 5 Goddess Points!] You get ¥957,120.

—— Almost instantly, a large suitcase appeared before me, filled to the brim with cash.

I lifted it, marveling at the weight, and carried it straight back to the receptionist.

Her eyes nearly popped out of her head.

“S-sir, this is…

an enormous amount of money!

Why didn’t you just transfer it?

It’ll take time to count this all manually.” “I don’t have the time for a transfer.

This is cash from my business earnings, and I guarantee the amount is correct.

If there’s any discrepancy, you can contact my family,” I explained, hoping my excuse sounded convincing.

After all, Naoki doesn’t have a bank account here.

I’ll need to sort that out eventually.

The receptionist hesitated before nodding.

“A-alright, sir.

But we’ll need your full name and identification for our records.” My heart skipped a beat.

I didn’t think about needing ID…

I racked my brain, then blurted, “My name is Takahiro Natsuki.

I left my ID in my car.

I’ll fetch it and return shortly.” With that, I excused myself and walked away quickly.

Takahiro Natsuki-that was the name of my uncle, my father’s younger brother.

He had moved abroad years ago and hadn’t been heard from in ages.

It felt like the safest alias I could use in this situation.

But as I exited the hospital, fate threw me a curveball.

There, approaching the entrance, were my mom, Nana, and Naki.

Their expressions were tense as they clutched a letter-likely the hospital’s demand for payment.

They must’ve come immediately after receiving it, hoping to negotiate an extension.

I stepped aside, blending into the shadows as they walked past.

From a distance, I overheard bits of their conversation.

“Maybe they’ll let us defer the payment again,” Nana said, her voice full of hope.

“If we explain our situation…” “Let’s try our best,” Mom replied, her tone weary but resolute.

I couldn’t help but smile as they entered the hospital.

They’re about to get the surprise of their lives.

I stayed hidden but close enough to watch.

Inside, I saw their reactions unfold through the glass windows.

Mom froze in shock as the receptionist informed them that the bill had already been paid in full-in cash.

Nana’s jaw dropped, and Naki stumbled backward, collapsing onto the floor in disbelief.

For a moment, none of them could speak.

Their stunned expressions brought a bittersweet warmth to my chest.

They may not know it was me, but seeing them relieved and happy made it all worth it.

At first, Mom seemed reluctant to accept the payment.

She questioned the legitimacy of such a large sum of money being used on her behalf.

However, when the hospital staff explained that the bill had been settled by her brother-in-law, Takahiro Natsuki, relief washed over her face, and she eventually accepted it.

The hospital officially confirmed the payment and marked the bill as fully paid.

Curious about her supposed brother-in-law’s sudden generosity, Mom asked where Takahiro Natsuki was.

The nurse responded that he had stepped out momentarily to retrieve his ID but hadn’t returned.

She described my appearance in vivid detail.

The moment she heard this, Mom’s eyes widened, and Nana and Naki immediately exchanged knowing looks.

They must have recognized my description after our earlier encounters.

Without wasting a second, the three of them dashed out of the hospital, desperately searching for me.

I watched from a distance, my heart racing.

They’re onto me.

Knowing I couldn’t let them find me-and aware that my time in this world was nearly up-I quickly activated the [Back to Another World] feature.

A glowing magic circle formed beneath my feet, lifting me into the evening sky.

As my body began to dissolve into shimmering fragments of light, I caught one final glimpse of Mom, Nana, and Naki frantically looking around.

Their expressions were a mix of confusion and hope.

When they finally realized they wouldn’t find me, the three of them hugged each other, tears streaming down their faces.

Despite their sadness, there was undeniable joy in their smiles.

Seeing them like that warmed my heart.

They’ll be okay now.

That’s all I wanted.

I smiled softly as I faded from their world.

“Thank you, Envi,” I whispered, my voice steady but filled with emotion.

“Without you, I couldn’t have done this.

I’m so grateful.

From now on, I’ll work even harder!

I’ll make Naoki the greatest hero this world has ever known!” For the first time, Envi’s usual smugness was absent.

Instead, his tone was genuine.

“You’re welcome, buddy.

And yeah, let’s work even harder together!” Hearing him call me “buddy” so sincerely made me laugh a little, and I let him have this one.

The light surrounding me grew brighter, and I closed my eyes.

…

When I opened them again, I found myself back in the Blackmore family’s garden, exactly where I’d been before returning to Earth.

I checked the time.

Only 30 minutes had passed here since my departure.

The familiar night sky of this world stretched above me, dotted with stars.

I exhaled deeply, my mind still lingering on the image of my family’s joyful faces.

That night, for the first time in what felt like forever, I slept soundly, my heart at ease.

…

…

CREATORS’ THOUGHTS NAVIRUNAVIII Hi Author Navi here!

Once again this is an emotional chapter.

I want readers to understand the emotions Nao and her family are feeling.

The next chapter will be fun!

Stay tuned for the next update!

Your gift is the motivation for my creation.

Give me more motivation!