Chapter 16

I've gotten much better with the bow over the past few weeks, but I've also found some downsides.

"Ugh, this wind is infuriating! It's throwing off my aim." I spun around, frustrated, and was surprised to see my sisters lounging nearby, munching on snacks and engrossed in a board game.

I walked over to join them, deciding a break was in order. As we played, I found myself on a hot streak, winning game after game.

"Hehe, see? I'm so good at this!" I looked back at my sisters. "Anyways, let's go home, it's already afternoon."

Me and my younger sisters cleaned up the place, they immediately sat inside the e-bike and waited for me.

Minutes passed and we arrived, I cleaned them up and took a bath.

"Lalala… hm, the water is too cold lately." I mumbled as I rubbed my face on the towel.

I got dressed up and checked my phone as usual, I scrolled on social medja and saw a post, a confession post that I wrote anonymously to be specific.

"W— this is making me remember embarrassing moments…" I uttered, flustered at the past memories.

I started liking someone at the start of this year, although I didn't really want to fall inlove with that person but I couldn't help it.

My eyes drifted to the calender. "It's already april 21, the towers and portals appeared at late march."

Time passes by so quickly, it seemed like it was just yesterday when it was my first day of high school, although I mostly had embarrassing moments…

"Now that I think about it, I want to go back to my normal life." I mumbled, my hand is trembling as I held the phone.

Thinking about the past was pointless, but it still made me sad. I had been so happy when the portals first appeared. I thought it was the most amazing thing that had ever happened in my life. But as time went on, I realized that I had been so dumb. I had thought it was all just a fun thing, but it really wasn't.

I felt stupid for not seeing the reality of the situation sooner. I felt like I had been blind to what was really going on.

Tears began to fill my eyes. They streamed down my face, and I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by my emotions.

"Mama, I want to go back home…" Tears fell from my eyes, my mind keeps drifting to the happy memories where it was like every other day but much more special to me.

Minutes passed, and I finally grew tired and slept. The pillow on my head was catching my tears and the blankets were comforting me.

[Do you wish to go back to the past?]

[Yes] [No]

.

.

.

A dream began to unfold in my mind, but as I slowly opened my eyes, I was met with unfamiliar surroundings. Confusion clouded my thoughts as I glanced down at my hand, only to find it had transformed into a small, chubby fist. A gentle voice whispered sweet nothings, "Aw, our cute son, Arios."

My gaze drifted upward, locking onto a young woman with an ethereal beauty. Her long, wavy silver hair cascaded down her back, and her purplish eyes shone with affection. I was entranced by her striking features. Suddenly, a man appeared beside her, accompanied by a child who radiated an irresistible charm. A young girl, who bore an uncanny resemblance to the man, squealed with delight, "Is he my little brother?!"

My mind reeled as the truth dawned on me. 'Wait, brother? I—I'm a boy?!' The revelation sent my thoughts into a tailspin.

I looked at the man who seemed to be my father. He had golden hair that was really eye-catching. But it was his pinkish eyes that really stood out. They looked like they could scare almost anyone.

The woman, who I thought was my mother, smiled softly at me. "Doesn't he look like you?" she asked, looking at my father.

My father chuckled. "No, he definitely looks like you," he said, smiling at my mother. "Look at his hair." He nodded towards me, and I looked down at my own hair. It was still really baby-like, but I could see that it was a similar color to my mother's hair. She had really beautiful, silvery hair that cascaded down her back in waves.

Before I could wrap my head around everything that had just happened, I was jolted back to the present. I groggily opened my eyes, feeling a pang of disappointment. "It's a shame the story couldn't go any further," I muttered to myself, rubbing my eyes to shake off the haze.

I glanced over at my sisters, who were sleeping peacefully. I turned my attention to my status window, and my eyes widened in surprise for a moment.

[Do you wish to go back to the past?]

[Yes] [No]

"Yes, definitely... I want to go back in time, but is there a condition?" I said, knowing that the system would likely demand something in return. But to my surprise…

[No, I know many systems are against this, but I feel pity for you. So, which day would you like to travel back to, player?]

My eyes softened, and a wide smile spread across my face. "Thank you, system. I'll never forget this. I'll travel back to June 21, 20XX, a month after my youngest sister was born."

[Turning back time to June 21, 20XX...]

I gently kissed my sisters' foreheads, a bittersweet goodbye. "I know I'll see them again when I return, but for now, I'll be leaving this version of them behind. I hope that when I go back, fate will unfold differently, yet somehow the same."

"System, will everything stay the same - same school, same friends — even if I change something?" I asked, feeling a pang of doubt.

[Of course, player. I'll do that just for you. I'll remove any abnormalities, so you can live a normal life without suffering.]

I chuckled softly, feeling a sense of gratitude. "Now I feel sorry for all the times we argued. This opportunity is all thanks to you, system."

[It's my duty... no, it's every system's duty to make their players happy, so don't be thankful...]

I gazed at the status window, happiness etched on my face. "I'll remember you, even if I regress. I'll find a way to repay you someday, if it's possible!"

[... I— player.]

The system's response was being blurred off as the regression progressed farther, making it difficult to read, and I felt myself being pulled back through time.

To be continued…