I Became the Final Subjugation Target of That Era’s Light Novel

I’m a middle school student.

I’m at the perfect mid-teen age.

I used to think I was older when I was very young, around ten years old. Before that, my age was a single-digit number, and then suddenly it became double digits, right?

Wearing the same school uniform as everyone else for the first time and feeling like I had to use formal speech when meeting someone new, and the books I read shouldn’t have too many pictures. That was the time I started seriously reading novels.

I may feel precocious and act like an adult, but in reality, I still looked pretty much like an elementary school student to others. Still, I do get treated somewhat like a teenager.

It was also a time filled with energy.

I had changed into a swimsuit, but honestly, I wasn’t planning to jump into the sea right away. I wanted to enjoy the moment a bit longer. That’s how I felt every time I went to Odaiba beach with Sota and Shii before.

But—

“Koto Ne, what are you doing?”

Yuka, who was running toward the sea with the other kids, turned around and asked me.

“Uh?”

“It’s the sea! You said you hadn’t been to a place like this since becoming a middle school student!”

Since becoming a middle school student, I hadn’t been to a proper beach for swimming, indeed. Odaiba is literally the sea in front of the city.

“If so, since it’s been a while, we should play in the water.”

Yuka, seeming frustrated, came up to me, grabbed my wrist, and pulled me toward the sea.

I didn’t really resist.

Well, since I was in a swimsuit, playing in the water was only natural.

“Koto Ne!”

Koko, who had already jumped into the sea with Shii, waved her hand and called to me.

Koko had her hair in a ponytail now. She adjusted it slightly so it wouldn’t drag on the ground as she ran around on the beach.

Still, the sandy beach wasn’t completely flat, so the ends of her hair would inevitably touch the sand.

Koko was already drenched from head to toe.

Maybe it was her first time jumping into the sea. It was nice seeing her raise her arms high above her head and shake them vigorously.

The intense sunlight reflected off the sea and Koko’s wet body, making it look all hazy like a 90s Japanese movie.

“Let’s go, too.”

Yuka quickened her pace. I matched her speed as we headed towards the water.

Yuka’s face was bright. Just before coming here, she had seemed somewhat unenthusiastic, but I guess that was all an act. Yuka’s tsundere personality was already starting to show a bit.

I glanced back.

Kagami was sitting under a parasol, spreading a mat, and lightly waving at us. She looked cheerful. Even her dad sitting next to her was smiling and watching us.

Yeah. Everything was fine.

Everything was fine—

“Gah!?”

While I turned to look back, it seemed we had already arrived at the sea. In an instant, my body leaned forward, and salty water rushed into my mouth.

It was summer, so the seawater wasn’t freezing. Still, it was enough to blow away the heat instantly and wake me up.

“Phew!”

As I emerged from the water and threw my hair back, Yuka exclaimed, “Wow!”

“You looked like a commercial model. Just a bit young, though.”

I splashed water at Yuka.

“Oooh!”

Koko, seeing me splash water at Yuka, instantly sparkled her eyes and splashed water at Yuka too.

For some reason, Shii jumped in too, and Sota and Nanami got involved.

In no time, the area was filled with splash sounds. Just for a moment, even the sounds of the waves got drowned out.

Other tourists playing nearby glanced over at us, but we didn’t really pay them any mind.

Yeah. There was no need to worry.

We were here to have fun, after all, right?

*

Playing in the water was more tiring than I expected. Having to bear the weight of the water with my entire body, and more than that, the sea kept on creating waves, so just standing there was exhausting.

Even splashing water with my hands was a workout. Although I wasn’t pulling up much water at a time, it turned out water was heavier than it seemed. After splashing around a few times, I ran out of energy in no time.

Even energetic kids or puppies quickly run out of batteries when playing in the water, and that’s why.

In my previous life, I would have lasted much longer.

But then again, in my previous life, I wouldn’t have ended up in the water with these kids. I would have been the adult.

Water dripping off me, I headed out to the parasol where Kagami was waiting. She handed me a slice of watermelon, neatly cut up, as if she had been expecting me.

After having a splashing good time, the watermelon went down refreshingly sweet and cool.

“Isn’t Mom going in?”

“Mom isn’t going in.”

I casually asked, to which Kagami smiled and answered.

Even though she was smiling— that’s how it appeared, but I had spent every day of this life with my mom. There were far more nights we clung to each other while sleeping compared to nights I slept alone.

Of course, I could instantly read that expression on her face.

Kagami’s demeanor changed slightly.

It’s not that she was scared or didn’t like it. It was more like a rare expression.

Wearing a swimsuit well, isn’t it strange not to go into the water? Kagami was still in her late twenties. It was the early 2000s, so it wouldn’t be odd to be married, but if it were the 2020s, she’d still be at an age to travel around.

“Hmm.”

“Koto Ne?”

As I munched on my watermelon while looking at Kagami, she seemed a bit tense as she looked at me.

Good.

Maybe I should use that tactic.

The only way to drag this married woman, who was flaunting her womanhood in a wide-brimmed straw hat, into the sea was to act like I wanted to play with my “mom.”

“I wanted to play with Mom…”

As I mumbled sadly, Kagami instantly panicked.

She probably knew I was acting. After all, she’s spent my whole life watching me.

Or maybe she knows me better than I know myself. She might have sharp memories of my childhood, which I don’t even remember. Her photo collection of me began from when I was just a newborn.

Kagami was weak to all my actions and expressions. Maybe it’s because I hardly ever whined to her.

…

Thinking about it made me feel a bit guilty.

But what can I do; I really want to play.

I peeked up at Kagami. She thought for a moment, then nodded.

“Well, after we eat lunch, I’ll join you.”

Kagami said.

“Okay!”

I hugged Kagami tightly. Even though the ground was a bit sandy, she happily wrapped her arms around me.

“…You really turn into a little kid next to your mom.”

“That’s just how Koto Ne is.”

I could hear Nanami and Yuka talking, but I ignored them on purpose.

Before I knew it, Kagami was also hugging Koko. When I looked up just a little, I was relieved to see the happiest expression in the world on her face.

*

Kagami was in better shape than I expected.

Thanks to her blessed physique, not only was her basic stamina good, but for some reason, she seemed to have a talent or had put in quite a bit of effort, as she stayed in the water longer than I thought possible. Usually, adults tend to burn out after just an hour in the water.

Well, maybe it was because both Koko and I were in the water.

Kagami’s swimsuit was black.

She wore a summer outfit that was suitable for the water, but it was so thin that you could see the swimsuit underneath.

Sota’s face turned beet red. He couldn’t focus his gaze and kept drifting around Kagami. Meanwhile, Kagami just mixed in with us and was enjoying herself without realizing she was so attractive.

If there was anyone most shocked, it would likely be Nanami?

At first, she had just thought of Kagami as a friend’s mom, but when faced with the reality behind her loose-fitting clothes, it was like a sailor seeing Cthulhu for the first time.

Nanami isn’t a bad-looking girl either. In fact, saying she looks good would be acceptable. She’s still a middle school student, so who knows what’ll happen in the future.

Anyway, having Kagami right next to her as a comparison was bound to be shocking. Especially since Sota, who’d never blushed in front of his friends, had that expression; it was surely more shocking.

Shii was alternating his serious gaze between me and Kagami. I didn’t quite understand why.

Yuka, observing me, Koko, and Kagami with a somewhat complicated expression.

For some reason, feeling like I understood why, I pulled Yuka’s wrist, forcing her to join us.

Just like when Yuka had initially dragged me into the sea.

Yuka laughed, realizing my intent, and splashed water in my face.

Starting from there, we started splashing water again and ended up soaked from head to toe.

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