Tokyo: The Player Behind the Scenes.

Chapter 55, Side Story 54.5: Last Will and Testament

"I've heard that as people get older, they're prone to a condition called Alzheimer's, which causes them to forget things, whether important or not. So, I need to write this down, really write it down, because I can't forget it!"

“There is something I have never dared to tell my parents, not even to tell them at their graves. I am a coward, and I only dare to write it in my will.”

"That was in Showa 30 (1941). The weather was just starting to get warm, and you couldn't hear the cicadas chirping yet. My older brother, Nobi Tomoaki, and I had just transferred to Komagome Junior High School. My birthday was still two days away."

1955 years.

Early June, early summer.

Komagome Academy.

"The classes here are so much harder, and it's crowded everywhere. My old school was much better; it was right next to the mountains, and during lunch break I even had time to go and raid a bird's nest."

On his first day of school, younger brother Tomohiro Nobi couldn't wait to complain to his older brother Tomohiro Nobi.

Although the brothers are not twins, they look very alike, and the older brother started school a year late, so the two brothers are in the same grade.

Because his father's job in Tokyo had become stable, he brought his wife and children from the countryside to Tokyo, intending to start a life there.

"It's alright, not particularly difficult," Nobi Tomoaki whispered.

Zhixin pouted; in terms of academic ability, her older brother was indeed more impressive.

"Hey, someone's here. Remember our game!" Nobi Tomoshin suddenly lowered his voice, seemingly trying to suppress a laugh.

Zhiming opened his mouth, then nodded helplessly.

"Let me introduce myself. I'm Masao Asano. Uh, which one of you is the older brother and which one is the younger brother? Are you twins?"

A classmate who seemed quite cheerful came over and started a conversation, his eyes darting curiously between the two of them.

He had always heard that some twins look very alike, but these are just too alike!
Apart from their facial expressions, the two were almost perfect replicas of each other's features.

"Hello, hello, I'm the older brother, Nobi Tomoaki. We're not twins, you know," Nobi Tomoko replied with a smile.

Nobi Tomoaki nodded: "I am Nobi Tomoshin."

This is a game between two people, where they switch roles.

Because the two look so alike, they often play like this.

It's not acting yet. If it were, even their parents would have to rely on very subtle details to tell the difference.

Asano had no doubts whatsoever and hadn't considered Nobi Tomomi's tactics at all.

As it happened, both of them were playful boys, but after chatting for a while, they found that they were kindred spirits and immediately felt like they had known each other for a long time, and started calling each other brothers.

Nobi Satoshi, however, was clearly out of place, silently reading his book.

"In our class, if anyone dares to bully you, just call me. I know a lot of people, including those from higher grades!" Asano patted his chest.

"Then we'll have to rely on you to protect us, Asano-kun." Tomoko's eyes lit up; this way, the other person should know a lot of fun things.

He just happened to be missing a "mentor" at this school.

"Leave it to me!" Asano declared with boundless confidence, as if he were ready to become sworn brothers at the slightest provocation.

Nobi Tomoaki suddenly coughed twice.

Zhixin looked around in tacit understanding and saw a well-dressed middle-aged man—probably the teacher—walking towards them outside the window. Judging from his eyes, his target seemed to be them.

Huh? Is talking loudly during lunch break a violation of school rules?
Then he looked at Asano.

Just moments ago, Asano had been fearless, but now he looked timid, lowered his head, and whispered, "This is the 'weird teacher' from the next class! Don't talk to him."

They're just teachers; they haven't broken any school rules or anything. Why are they so afraid?

Nobi Tomohisa didn't quite understand, or even care; he was more concerned with having fun.

"Hey, didn't you say you knew where there were bird eggs nearby?"

"Ah, yes, yes! I'll take you!" Asano seemed unwilling to get too close to that eccentric teacher, so she quickly agreed.

"Hiccup, little brother, are you going?" Zhixin almost blurted out "brother" out of habit. "I'm not going, you guys go, be careful, 'brother'." Zhiming shook his head and continued reading.

As soon as the two stepped out the door, the eccentric teacher came towards them, and Asano led Tomoko to take another staircase.

But the eccentric teacher suddenly called out to them.

"Asano."

"Yes, sir!"

Asano jolted awake, straightened his back, and reluctantly turned around.

The eccentric teacher didn't look at him, but instead looked at Zhixin, who was standing next to him with a puzzled expression.

"This student looks unfamiliar. Did you just transfer here?" He asked knowingly, since his purpose in coming here was to see one of the transfer students.

"Yes, teacher, he is Nobi Tomoaki." Asano was a little nervous. Although she was scared, she still stood half a step in front of Nobi.

The eccentric teacher nodded slightly: "Is that so, Nobita-kun?"

"Yes, hello teacher, I am Nobi Tomoaki, the new transfer student. Please take care of me."

Zhixin greeted them with a sweet and obedient expression.

Upon hearing this "conclusive" answer, the eccentric teacher's interest in him vanished instantly, but he felt an unprecedented excitement as he looked at "Nobi Tomoshin" reading a book inside the window.

He forcibly suppressed his excitement: "Yes, I am Tetsuro Muto, the head of Team 5. You can call me Mr. Muto."

"Hello, Mr. Muto!" Zhixin called out energetically.

He certainly fits the stereotypical image of an older brother.

The way he reads inside, looking somewhat timid, fits the image of a younger brother.

It seems very reasonable.

"Okay, it's nothing. I just wanted to get to know the transfer student."

"Uh, well then, we're off, Professor Muto."

After saying that, Asano grabbed Tomokazu's wrist and hurriedly left.

As Zhixin reached the top of the stairs, she suddenly felt something and turned around to look. She saw Mr. Mutou standing by the window, seemingly talking to Zhiming.

"Hurry up, that bird's nest is very obvious, I'm afraid someone else will get it first!"

"Okay, coming right away!"

Playing is more important!

Zhixin ran downstairs without looking back.

"That night, my brother secretly went out for a little while and then brought back a small cake, which was a really rare thing at the time."

"He said he had eaten, and I believed him because his voice did indeed have a creamy aroma."

He also said he could get a big cake for me tomorrow as a birthday present. However, he would need to go out near dusk.

"I should have stopped him, but the cake was so delicious that I didn't think too much about it and agreed with great anticipation."

"That night, I didn't get the cake, nor did my brother."

"He seems to have completely vanished from the face of the earth, along with that 'eccentric teacher'."

"I can roughly guess that Mr. Muto's target is actually me."

"If... if my brother's remains can be found, please be sure to bury him next to my grave at Honmyo-ji Temple."

"At least give me a chance to atone for my sins."

　The story of "Soul Swap" has come to a complete end.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)