This was a crucial point, so Akira considered carefully before finally settling on an approach.
He'd design a "LIFE GAME" for her!
"Anyway, let's start small. Benika-san, if you can talk normally with me, you should be able to do the same with Shion, right?"
"Yeah… with Shion, I think it'll be fine."
"Great. Then 'chatting with Shion' will be your 'starter quest'!"
"Starter quest… So, there's more?"
"Of course. You can gradually level up—helping with errands, doing her makeup if she needs it… Basically, start with things you can already handle, then slowly expand your range."
"Expand what I can handle…"
She was completely drawn in by Akira's suggestion since everything he'd mentioned really was within her ability.
"Exactly! And there are rewards, too!"
"Rewards?"
"Your reward is time. Younger Benika-san, you can think of your other self as 'Demon King Benika,' who 'stole all your time'!"
"D-Demon King Benika… isn't that a bit harsh? The other me never tried to replace me. I willingly gave her control…"
"I know. It's just a metaphor. But realistically, there's a fifteen-year age gap between you two, so naturally your experience is nowhere near that of the mature Benika-san, right?"
"…Yeah."
"But there's no reason you can't do the things she does since she's your future self! Like how the final boss Demon King is actually a hero from another world—your situation is pretty much the same idea, right?"
"I-I see…!"
"So you, as the hero, grind experience, keep leveling up, and finally reclaim your 'future' from Demon King Benika!"
Akira squatted in front of her, clenched his fist, and gave her an encouraging look.
"So! Can you do it?! The Hero Benika!"
"Y-yes… yes…!"
"Louder!"
"YES!!!"
"Good! From now on, keep challenging things you can't do yet! As long as you surpass Demon King Benika, you—the Hero Benika—will win back your personal time!"
"Okay!"
Just like that, the socially anxious girl class-changed into a hero, while the composed onee-san became the final Demon King.
Akira figured if the two personalities couldn't truly merge, he might as well encourage healthy competition—letting them compete for ownership of the body.
From "my life was stolen" to "I'm taking my life back"—just reframing it like this could change someone's entire mindset.
Because reward systems were always more motivating than punishment systems. People hated loss and loved gains.
Of course, Akira had his own hidden agenda. With this setup, Hero Benika would willingly hand most of the body's time to Demon King Benika. Meanwhile, as the challenger, she'd strive to discover what she was capable of—until she finally surpassed herself.
Either way worked for Akira. He didn't care which personality won out, as long as one of them could help him.
Watching Akira effortlessly inspire her other self, Demon King Benika felt both relieved and impressed.
She didn't mind being cast as the Demon King. If her other self could truly surpass her, she'd only feel happy.
But right after that, another emotion suddenly surged up… This is…!
Though the two personalities' memories were separate, perhaps because their physical sensations were fully shared, their thoughts and feelings sometimes overlapped.
"Let's head back, Benika-san. Can you stand? You probably scraped your knee earlier."
"Ah… hiss…"
Only after Akira pointed it out did she feel the sharp sting in her knees, sucking in a breath.
Akira held out his hand.
"If it hurts badly, I'll carry you on my back."
"Ah… mm…"
Tashiro Benika's voice trembled softly. A faint pink colored her eyes—shyness mixed with tear tracks.
She didn't want to trouble Akira, yet in the end she couldn't help nodding.
Akira turned around and crouched in front of her.
"Alright, hop on."
Looking at his broad back, warmth spread through her chest.
"We'll put some ointment on it when we get back. Hopefully it won't leave a scar."
"Mm… thank you, Shiro-senpai…"
"Uh—huh?"
Hearing his old surname, Akira broke into a sweat and reminded her.
"Benika-san, my surname isn't Shiro anymore, okay? Don't call me by the wrong name."
"Then… can I just call you Senpai?"
"Just call me Akira. See, the other Benika-san calls me that."
"But your actual age is thirty, right…? The other me's older than you, but I'm younger, so I'm technically your kouhai…"
"Mm… sure, I guess. But don't say that in front of other people. Judging by appearances, you could totally pass as my older sister."
"…Okay. I'll be careful when I use it, Senpai."
In appearance, he was a high school boy nine years younger than her. But in his previous life, he'd been a dependable adult six years older than her.
He was the one who invited me to switch careers and become a manager…
He was the one who chased after me and saved me…
He was the one who told me what to pursue, how to interact with people, how to reconcile with myself…
By the time she realized it, Tashiro Benika's thoughts were already full of him.
Her social anxiety had always prevented deep connections with others, leaving that space in her heart empty.
People who were saved naturally tended to develop feelings for their savior—and for Tashiro Benika, these feelings hit especially hard.
Interest → Affection → Love → ?
That was the normal progression. But because she'd never before felt affection toward a man, she skipped directly into "love."
Twenty-four-year-old Tashiro Benika's first love was thirty-year-old Shiroba Akira.
Previously, she'd only relied on her other self. Now, this man had become another pillar for her heart.
Benika pressed herself against his back. Even this contact alone made her chest and face burn hot.
Such close intimacy was already overwhelming for someone with social anxiety, so she urgently sent a distress call to her inner self.
Other me… can you switch back next…? Sorry, I'm causing you trouble again…
Onee-san Benika, forced back into control, smiled wryly.
Honestly… if you already like him, why not make a move?
If you blush this easily, how will you ever chase a guy?
But it's fine.
If you can't do it, I can.
Our sensations are shared anyway, right…?
If I do it, you'll feel it too—so you'll also get your "first time."
Sorry, Shion, little sister. Onee-san genuinely wants to support your romance…
But in the end, "me" comes first.
I'm going to steal your little man.
---
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