“Mmmph…” A soft moan escaped Sachi’s lips as she stirred awake.

  ‘How did I fall asleep so quickly?’ She rubbed the grit from her eyes, blinking against the heaviness weighing down her limbs. Even sitting up felt like a chore.

  ‘Is this normal?’ she wondered, shifting sluggishly on the sofa. ‘It has to be stress… right?’ The revetions from yesterday cwed at the edge of her thoughts, and she tched onto the simplest expnation. ‘Yes… That must be it.’

  Her fingers absently twirled strands of hazelnut-brown hair– an unfamiliar yet strangely soothing motion. Then, hesitantly, she whispered, “S-system?”

  [Good morning, User! How may I be of assistance?]

  The translucent screen appeared before her eyes, crisps and clear against the empty air. Sachi stared at it, her mind sluggish as reality sank in.

  ‘So… Yesterday was real, huh?’ The thought weighed on her chest. ‘I’m really living in this new world… And now, I’ve only caused more problems for my mom… I’m the worst.’

  Her heart pounded as guilt twisted in her stomach, her breaths growing uneven.

  [User, I advise you to calm down, Your heart rate and breathing are abnormal.]

  The mechanical voice cut through the storm in her mind, grounding her.

  “Huh?” she mumbled, blinking in confusion. Her breathing slowly steadied.

  “What… what am I supposed to do now?” Her voice barely rose above a whisper as she slumped against the sofa.

  [I may not provide emotional advice, but I can offer a rational one. Live your new life the way you want it.]

  Sachi’s gaze drifted upward, her thoughts tangled. “Live the way I want… But how?”

  [This is up to you. I cannot dictate how you wish to live.]

  She bit her lip, frustration creepin in. “I-I can’t just live for myself. Shouldn’t I… I don’t know… live for my mom and sister instead?”

  [You can still live for them— simply by being well and happy. That is what they would want for you.]

  A lump formed in her throat. “B-but… do I really deserve this? I still haven’t repaid my mom for everything she sacrificed…”

  Her fingers gripped the fabric of the sofa, as if holding on to something slipping away.

  [Are you certain your mother expects repayment? Are you certain your happiness is not the only repayment she wants?]

  Silence filled the room. The system’s words echoed in her mind, stirring something deep within her.

  Memories surfaced— her mother’s warm smile as she watched her py as a child, the gentle way she ruffled her hair when she brought home a good grade, the quiet pride in her eyes even when she didn’t say anything.

  Before that day… before everything changed, her smiles had been real. But after that day, they became something else— forced, practiced, a mask worn to keep others from worrying. That was the day she vowed to bring back her mother’s smile. A naive promise made by a child who didn’t yet understand the weight of such a burden.

  Sachi shook her head, forcing those memories back down. Even in her past life, she had buried them deep. She had no reason to dig them up now.

  [Do you want to talk about it?]

  The system’s voice chimed in, as neutral as ever.

  [While I may not be able to ease your pain, I can listen and provide support.]

  “N-no I’m fine..” Sachi inhaled deeply, steadying herself.

  [If you ever need someone to listen, I’ll be here.]

  She nodded absentmindedly, her mind still lingering on the memory that had resurfaced. A memory she hadn’t realized she had forgotten.

  Shaking it off, she forced herself to focus on something more immediate. “A-anyway, I should check on my current financial situation first, right?” she said, shifting the conversation to something more practical.

  [That would be the most logical approach.] The system agreed.

  “Right.” Sachi nodded, her forced smile settling into something more natural. “Are online banking apps a thing in this world?”

  [Yes, but their functions are limited. Most only allow users to check their bance.]

  “I see…” she cupped her chin, making a thinking pose. “Then I’d better check my phone.”

  [That’s a great idea! Understanding your financial status is crucial in settling into your new life.]

  Satisfied with her decision, Sachi stood up— only for her legs to wobble unexpectedly. She blinked in surprise. “Huh? Maybe this body is weak to stress?” She muttered, frowning slightly.

  Still, she steadied herself and made her way to the bedroom.

  ??????????????

  Entering her bedroom, Sachi carefully scanned the pce she first woke up in. One side of the room held a messy single bed— pillows scattered, sheets wrinkled and half-hanging off the mattress. Beside it stood a small end table, her phone resting quietly on top. At the other end was a study desk, cluttered with crumpled papers and a closed ptop buried beneath them. A small bookshelf sat nearby, sparsely filled with a handful of books. Near the door stood a modest closet.

  The floor was no better— littered with more crumpled papers, empty containers, and one of the bed sheets she must’ve knocked over from yesterday’s panic.

  She made her way toward the end table, picked up the phone, and immediately frowned. “Huh? Password… hmm…” she muttered, sinking onto the edge of the bed. She tried to recall anything from the original Sachi’s memory, but after a full minute of mental strain, she colpsed backward with a groan.

  “Ugh… why can’t I remember anything?” she sighed. “Hey, System, can’t you help me out here?”

  [Certainly. The password is 1101– your current birthday.]

  Perking up, Sachi sat up straight and quickly typed it in. The screen unlocked with a soft click.

  “Yay! Hehe—” she caught herself mid-celebration, freezing in embarrassment. Her cheeks flushed as she gnced around the room.

  “That didn’t happen. I’m a grown man…” she coughed, trying to save face as if someone had seen her.

  Shifting her focus on the phone screen, Sachi began browsing through the apps until one icon caught her eye— Hinomaru Trust Mobile.

  Tapping on it, she groaned. “Ugh, another passcode… Unless…”

  Taking a wild guess, she typed in her birthday. The screen loaded for a moment before successfully logging her in.

  “Whoa! Nice! But… using my birthday as the bank passcode? That’s way too easy. Meh… I’ll just change it ter” she mumbled, brushing it off for now.

  Her eyes scanned the bance dispyed on the screen. “Hmm… Hey, System, is a hundred thousand yen enough to live off for a month?”

  [Assuming you’re not covering rent, bills, or school expenses, it should be more than enough. If you are, however, then it’s barely sufficient.]

  Sachi stared at the numbers, her brows furrowing. ‘This is bad… If I remember things right, the original Sachi was kicked out of her family. That probably means… no more allowance from them.’

  “Aghh, what am I supposed to do now?” she groaned, ruffling her hair in frustration.

  Then, as if struck by lightning, her expression brightened. “Wait… I could try writing! I could use some novels in my old life.”

  The system responded promptly. [That’s a promising idea. However, researching the market here might help refine your approach.]

  “True,” she nodded with a smile. “I should check what this world’s otaku culture looks like first.”

  But then, doubt crept in as she twirled a lock of her hair between her fingers. “...Still, what if my writing isn’t good enough?”

  [I can assist in improving your writing. In fact—]

  [Processing…]

  [New Feature Unlocked: Skills Tab]

  [User, The Skills Tab is now avaible. The listed skills are based on your abilities from your previous life.]

  Sachi sat in a daze. “Huh? Skills?” she muttered.

  A translucent window appeared before her, listing out various skills and levels.

  [Writing Lv. 4 | Cooking Lv. 3 | Cleaning Lv. 3 | Gaming Lv. 5 | Running Lv. 3 | Soccer Lv. 2 | Leadership Lv.1 | Swimming Lv. 1 | Drawing Lv. 1 | Storytelling Lv. 2 | Research Lv. 3 | Studying Lv. 3 | Memory Lv.3]

  “What? Studying and Memory are skills now? And why is my writing so high?” she asked, tilting her head in confusion.

  [Yes. ‘Memory’ encompasses techniques like mnemonics and information chunking. ‘Studying’ covers methods such as active recall, passive review, and effective note taking.]

  [As for your writing level, it’s the result of countless college papers you completed in your previous life.]

  “I-I see…” Sachi nodded slowly. “Then maybe… maybe this pn could actually work!”

  Eagerly, she grabbed her phone and began searching if any of the light novels from her previous life existed in this world. Half an hour ter, she set her phone down with a thoughtful expression.

  “Looks like none of the well-known titles from my own world are here. The popur stuff now feels kinda… cliché. Lots of shounen and little sister types written by someone called Itsuki.”

  She scratched her head, mentally sorting through everything she’d seen. Then almost nervously, she asked, “Hey, System… Do you think pgiarizing Pstic Memories would be a good start?”

  [It could perform well in a market saturated with predictable tropes. Pstic memories have emotional depth. However… will you be content relying solely on pgiarism? I believe you have the potential to create stories of your own.]

  Sachi’s shoulders slumped slightly. “I-I don’t know… What if people don’t like what I write?”

  [It’s natural to fear the unknown. But stepping outside your comfort zone often leads to growth. Even if you fail, you learn.]

  Silence settled in the room.

  “I… I-’ll think about it…” she whispered, barely audible.

  [No rush, User.]

  Hearing that, Sachi smiled softly. It wasn’t a forced one, but something real. She stood up, pumped her fists, and decred, “Yosh! Time to start writing!”

  Right on cue, her stomach let out a loud growl.

  “...After I find something to eat.”

  ??????????????