- The Way Things Are -

The young man found himself waking up upright like before. The white room he saw when he first died was the same as it ever was. The golden patterns along the wall still looked as regal as ever.

“Back so soon?” The angel asked glibly.

“You know dying is a very traumatic event!” Taro protests feebly.

“Ah relax, I know you didn’t actually feel anything both times.” She said dryly,

“Ack!” Taro had no retort,

“In any case, some apologies are in order.”
The angel said reluctantly,

“I have sent you into a dungeon without proper warning, so some leeway is in order.”

“In that case, you can send me to be born as a member of royalty, I’ve had my fill of hard work.”
Taro makes dismissive hand waving gestures.

“Don’t push it. Umeboshi.” The angel continues to work on her paperwork.
”To move your physical body would be untenable from here, and it’d show a bit more favoritism than I’d like. Try to make do.”

“Aha…” was the only meek concession that Taro could make.

“How about this? I can afford a power to you,” The angel peered up from her paper work.

“A power?!” Taro’s heart fluttered in anticipation. ”Like an ultimate sword?! The ability to read minds? Cheat powers?! Or a bag of holding?!“

“Haha… Some of those ar-” She started before being interrupted again.

“Hey can’t I just bring you with me like that one isekai with the useless goddess?”

“...”

“Alright.” She said suddenly.

“?!”

“You get to take things from your room from when you were alive. Sound good?”

“Huh well that’s doesn't sound all that goo-”

“Sounds good to me.”The angel said cheerfully.

“Ah but-”

“I’ve kept you long enough. Good luck Taro, I hope to not see you too soon.”

“Wai-”

A familiar flash filled the room.


“AH! AT LEAST LET ME SEE MY LEVEL!” Taro screamed into consciousness.

Taro was sitting up from a room in the dungeon. Shion was standing nearby with a mildly worried face and Akari was crying.

“AUUGHHH!! KAPPA BOYY!!” Akari jumped onto Taro.

“I’M NOT A KAPPA!” Snapped Taro

It took some time before Akari could calm down. In the blubbering, Taro discerned that it took some time before he could wake up. Akari thought she had brought Shion too late and thought Taro could no longer be saved.

“Fear not my friends!” proclaimed Taro, ”I have been beckoned by the god of this world. Behold!”

Taro outstretched his hands in some attempt to activate his power.(The angel hadn’t explained the mechanics of his new gift.)

“I summon!..” Taro chanted, “A pillow!”

Nothing had happened.

“A bed! Gaming console! A book!”

Still nothing.

“Hmmm. Maybe the resurrection spell didn’t turn out well?” Shion wondered out loud.

“Ahh… a soda?” Taro sighed

Suddenly he felt a weight in his hands.

“Oh!” Taro exclaimed, he requested a soda had in fact been transported to his possession.

“(Grrr…)” Taro could only think that the goddess was in fact snickering in the afterlife at the display.

“Oh amazing! What is that?!” Akai asked wide eyed.

“It’s a soda, a carbonated drink.” He explained, “Not very good if I’m honest. It’s diet.”

He hands it to Shion. Taro looks around to see if there’s anything else he could do. Looking at Akai, he scans her.

“W-What?” Akai exclaimed

Taro thought that Akai was in fact really strong, as seen in her stamina - to be able to dig all those holes in such a short time. Not to mention that grand attack at the foolish couple. With the right tool her power could be used to great effect.

Shion was meekly sipping the soda.

Taro thinks for a bit, then outstretches his hand again.

“Baseball bat!” in an instant a baseball bat appeared in his hand!

“This should work” He hands the bat to Akai.

“Oh! For me?” She graciously accepts.

“And this…” Taro meekly hands his school jersey that he brought as well.

“Clothes?” Akai asks,

“Yeah you know… Your clothes are quite tattered, from all the fights I imagine”

“Ah! Thanks Taro!” She happily smiles, and puts it on.”Hehe! Cute right?!”

Akai does a little twirl.”It’s so soft and easy to move in!”

“Mmph! Scho cyu! ” Shion said mid drink,

Taro fidgets a bit.

“Huh? What’s wrong Taro?” Shion said after she gulped down the drink.

“Ah.. well…” Taro continues to fidget. His cheeks a bit red.

“Ehh?! What’s wrong, Taro?!” Akai added.

“I… er…irl..ore” Taro mumbles..

“Hmm?” They both lean in.

“AAHh! I never had a girl wear my clothes before!!!” He yells out,

“Eeek! Gross!” Akari covers her chest reflexively

“Why’re you covering yourself! It’s not like that! That’s why I didn’t want to say anything!” Taro attempts to defend himself,

“I.. didn’t think you were this kind of person.” Shion looks away,

“I’m not!!!...AAA HOW ANNOYING!!”

…

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA” That was the scream of someone not in the room with them.

“Huh? What was that?” Taro asked,

The group made their way to the scream. It was room where taro had set up the trap. The wooden platform was triggered.

“I’ll take a look,” volunteered Akari,

With great dexterity she hopped from platform to platform and down the open hatch. Sliding down the trap, she safely descends down the hole.

“Yeah there is a guy down here!” She shouted from the chasm!

Taro and Shion look at each other and excitedly cheer!

Akari then leaps out from the hole. She brought with her a large backpack and various armor pieces. A pauldron was held in her teeth.

She gets to solid ground, and the group celebrates,

“You did it, Taro! It works!” Akari cheered as she spat the pauldron out.

“Haha… well!... It’s still not fool proof but-”

*Grooowl…

All of them grew quiet. It was Taro’s stomach. At this moment the pack that Akari was carrying spilled over and its contents splayed on the floor. It was filled with cooking implements.

Shion gave a soft smile.
“Let’s get some food then.”

…

“So… What is this?” Taro sat in disbelief. A large dead boar was laid before him.

“A boar.” Shion proudly announced.

“What’re you complaining about Taro?” Akai asked as she took a bite out of your boar’s leg.

“It’s raw! And also that’s mine!” Taro swats her away as though he wanted to keep that raw boar’s leg like a rabid dog.

“I don’t understand.” Shion replied calmly. ”This is more than enough for a whole year for us monsters.”

“Ahh, you wouldn’t understand,” Taro gave up explaining, ”Akari, hand me that sack.”

Within the pack had various utensils, a pot and some tinder and a flint. Using the flint, tinder and some wood Taro started a fire. There he asked Akari and Shion to skin, wash and cut the boar into pieces.

“Haahh… So wasteful but I suppose I can do so.” Akari complained.
“Mh,” acknowledged Shion

Setting up the work station, Taro called upon a ramen packet from his room. ‘Thank god for his tendency to not clean up’ - he thought to himself. The sauces packet he intends to use for seasoning.

Once the location had been set up, Akari and Shion appeared with the meat prepared. Taro then rubbed some seasoning on the meat before grilling it on the pan. It made such a mouth watering sizzle as it cooked. During which, Akari asked:

“H-Hey… Can I have one?”

“What? Never had cooked food before?” Taro responded,

“In all honesty, yeah.”

“Sure.” Taro tossed a piece that looked cooked enough and she caught it mid - air with her mouth.

“MMMmm!~”Akari made noises as she put her hand to her cheek “This is heavenly!”

“Want some Shion?” Taro offered. Shion jolts but quickly upturns her nose.

“No! I mean… no. Like I’ve said - I already ate for the year.”

She’d walk away yet remained in close proximity. As time passed Taro chucked some more chunks Akari’s way and she’d react in utter bliss. Some were shared amongst the little slimes as well.

Shion grew more and more agitated as the scent of freshly cooked meat filled the air.

Akari elbowed Taro and motioned towards Shion. Shion had been pacing around the room. Taro, known for his kind heart, called out to her:

“My lord!~” beamed Akari. She scooted over and invited Shion to sit beside her. 

And the trio ate together. As the way things are... It's not too bad.