"―――― Actually, I have memories of my previous life"
"Yup, and?"
"Eh?"

I boldly confessed, yet Freed"s reaction was completely different from what I"d imagined.
When I raised my face at his voice that seemed to be saying What about it, Freed was looking at me with sincere eyes.
… I understand it doesn"t mean he doesn"t believe me.
Still, I just had to ask.

"… Aren"t you surprised? Or rather, don"t you think I"m lying?"

What if it was me. If I was told he has memories of his previous life.
Of course, it"d be different if it was a heartfelt talk, but I wouldn"t believe it immediately like this. I think that"s normal.
That"s why I found it strange, but Freed fixed my position with his arm and calmly told me.

"I said I would believe Lidi"s story, right. Of course, I"m surprised… But more importantly, could you go into detail now?"
"E… err, yup"

Urged by Freed, I began talking little by little.
Ever since I realized I"d reincarnated, I haven"t told it to anybody, it"s my secret.

"… I recalled when I was little. In the past, I lived in the world different from this. In that world, the common sense and just about everything was different. Most importantly, there was neither magic nor magical arts. Instead, it was a world where something called science developed"
"Science?"
"Don"t ask me to explain, okay. I"m troubled myself as to how to explain. You can think of it as magic and magical arts everybody can use. However, magical power was unnecessary for that"
"… So there"s something like that"

Seeing Freed"s intrigued face, I shook my head that"s it"s impossible.
There are things I would like to explain, but it"s been a long time since I lived in that world, and I didn"t think about such things deeply. Even if I"m asked to explain, I can"t.

"Anyway, in the past I lived in such a world. I have no memories of how I died. Well, that doesn"t matter… I"m now here with all my heart"
"Lidi…"

Being tightly hugged, I brought my cheek to his chest.
It really doesn"t matter how my previous life ended. Being at Freed"s side like this is now the most important to me.

"… Back to the story, compared to this word, it was a world where there were more tactics, and the weapon technology developed further. That"s why, I know plenty… of such things that don"t yet exist in this world"
"… Yup"
"For example, the fight against Tarim I heard about from Freed before. Freed told me the story of the excellent tactician appearing in Tarim, right? The tactic he used… That was one of the ancient tactics from my previous life. It was a famous tactic called Parthian shot"
"Wait a moment, Lidi. You"re saying…"

I quietly affirmed Freed who seemed to realize.

"Right, that"s why I told you to be careful at that time. There"s no such tactic in this world yet. It might have been different. However, I"m already here… Even if there was another person with the same situation in a different place, it wouldn"t be strange, right?"
"Certainly…"

I raised my face at his pondering voice. And met eyes with Freed.

"That"s why I suspected the Tarim tactician to have reincarnated same as me… And then I met Sion"
"… Yup"
"Actually, the song Sion performed as a singer was a song from my previous life"

When I confessed that, Freed had a convinced face.

"I see. And that"s why you were so shaken, right?"
"… Yup, besides. I knew him"
"Knew?"

I nodded. Honestly, I worried whether I should explain that, but I better do.
I thought so. Having once again resolved myself, I spoke carefully.

"… Freed. Sion didn"t reincarnate. He transferred"
"Transferred? What does it mean?"

Freed frowned at the unfamiliar phrase. It"s a natural response.
I tried to explain in an easy to understand and concise manner.

"Transferred means… he wasn"t reborn in this world… Through the work of some power, either by chance or on purpose, he leapt from the other world to this one"

I wondered if he could understand with that, but with his insight he seemed to understand.

"Crossing over worlds. Transfer, huh… He did?"
"Yup… He was my senior at the university. Err, you can think of a university as a higher education inst.i.tution. He and I majored in history… He was called a prodigy there. He knows much more about things like tactics than me"
"Maybe he"s someone else. Is there a possibility you"ve mistaken him?"

It"s a natural question, but I shook my head to deny.

"None. It"s unmistakably my senior. He introduced himself, right? Sion Nanaohgi. Actually, it"s Nanaoogi s.h.i.+on. Of course, he didn"t notice me"
"Why is that? If you"re acquaintances, it"s strange he wouldn"t notice"

I answered the questions fired in rapid succession one by one.

"I said I reincarnated, right. First of all, my appearance is completely different from the past… Naturally, personality too. That why I think he didn"t notice, and I don"t intend on making him notice"
"Is that so? Even though you"re acquaintances?"

Perceiving the determination in my words, Freed fixed his eyes at me.
I firmly nodded to that.

"I said it before. I live in this world. I"m okay with that, and I don"t want to drag out matters from the past… Besides, as I am now… I want to live with Freed. It"s already the past for me, so I don"t intend on telling him"

The woman called Sakura is dead. I am Lidiana now.
I mustn"t forget that.

"Lidi…"

Being strongly hugged, I deeply breathed inside his arms.
That"s right. The current me has chosen this place.
It"s Freed who I want to be caught by, not anybody else.
It"s refres.h.i.+ng how clear it is for me.
I felt satisfied with that. I"m proud of myself for choosing Freed without hesitation.

"That way of talking makes it sound like you were quite close acquaintances?"
"Well…"

As Freed showed his usual insight, I replied vaguely.
Still, I don"t want to be strangely suspected, so I clearly informed him.

"Even if. I"ve already chosen Freed, believe me"
"Yup. If Lidi says so, I"ll believe"

Having confirmed that Freed nodded, I felt relieved. I"ve already arrived at the answer, so I don"t want any fights or to bother Senpai. Because, in this world I don"t have any sort of relations.h.i.+p with Senpai.
Seeing strength visibly leave me, Freed wryly smiled.

"You don"t have to be so tense…"
"… After all, I"d be troubled if you misunderstood like before"

Recalling him asking if I love Sion, I scowled at him with upturned eyes, only to see him faintly smiling.

"That"s… I have no reply. I understand now that I"ve heard you were acquaintances, but Lidi looked strangely fitting walking with Sion. Honestly, I felt uneasy"
"…"

I think Freed"s words aren"t entirely incorrect. His intuition is extremely sharp.
I absolutely won"t say that we were former lovers.
We don"t have such feelings for each other, and I don"t intend on getting involved with him, but I still feel like it"d cause incredible jealousy.
Freed looked like he was thinking for a little while, and before long he shook his head as if he was shaking off those thoughts.

"… Well, whatever. Lidi took my hand. That"s all. Say, Lidi? You"ll always stay by my side, right?"

Asked for reconfirmation, I nodded inside his arms.

"Yup, I will. I will always be with Freed"
"… Yup. Then it"s fine"