The 'Item Box' That Only I Can Use Is Bugged (Patreon)

Chapter 6: School Is About To Start, Right?

After retrieving items from around the house, Okinaga discovered new facts about his ability. 

It turned out that the higher the monetary value of an item, the higher its rank.

Among the items he retrieved this time, several were ranked "E." For instance, he found a luxury watch in Yuji’s room, a renowned brand watch worth 2.5 million yen. 

The list mentioned that it was still appreciating in value and likely to increase in the future. 

The ranking seemed to consider both monetary value and rarity.

Additionally, Okinaga realized that when he retrieved furniture like wardrobes and closets, their contents were also duplicated infinitely. 

This meant he could potentially duplicate multiple items at once.

(What if I retrieved a building...?)

He was curious but decided to explore that idea later.

The most surprising discovery came when he retrieved a cup of ice cream. 

Despite a considerable amount of time having passed, it hadn’t melted at all. 

He suspected something and headed to the kitchen. 

He poured hot water into a cup, added some ice cubes, and retrieved it. 

Normally, most of the ice would melt within a minute, and the water would cool down.

After waiting for about five minutes, he took the cup out.

"Oh, wow... This is amazing."

The cup still emitted hot steam, and the ice retained its shape as if freshly added. 

However, over time, the ice slowly started melting. 

This indicated that the "Item Box" froze time for the items inside, preventing any form of deterioration.

Food wouldn’t spoil, hot items would remain hot, and cold items would stay cold.

"Just when I thought nothing could surprise me anymore, this is incredible."

This ability seemed to be beyond mere cheating; it was almost like a bug.

"This Item Box is definitely glitched... in a very convenient way, though."

He was pleased with the beneficial glitches.

"If I ran a café in the future, I’d make a fortune. Once I make a dish, it’s duplicated infinitely. No more costs for ingredients or time. This is wild."

The initial investment in equipment and ingredients would be the only expense. 

Even if he sold items at the lowest prices, the profits would be enormous.

(But if I get caught, it’ll be more than just being criticized worldwide.)

Hence, it was best not to use the ability in visible places.

"Maybe I could run an online-only business?"

That way, he wouldn’t meet customers directly, minimizing risks.

"But that’s for the future. No need to worry about it now."

He hadn’t decided on a career yet. 

Given this second chance at life, he wanted to keep his options open.

While he was immersed in checking his retrieved items and the functions of the "Item Box," the door suddenly opened, startling him.

"Okinaga, it's almost dinner time. Take a bath with Dad."

Aoi entered, reminding him.

He quickly closed the list, relieved she hadn’t noticed.

Following her out, he saw Yuji already seated at the table, fiddling with his smartphone. 

Watching him, Okinaga longed for his own smartphone, though he doubted he could get one at six years old.

But there was no harm in asking.

After all, some preschoolers already had smartphones and tablets.

"Hey, can I have a smartphone too?"

"Hmm? Isn’t it a bit early for you?"

As expected, Yuji responded with hesitation. 

Okinaga used his most persuasive weapon: the puppy dog eyes.

"Please?"

It seemed effective. 

Yuji, looking unsure, turned to Aoi for help.

"What do you think?"

"Well, I don’t see why not. Nowadays, it’s not unusual for young kids to have smartphones. Besides, I trust Okinaga won’t misuse it."

"If Aoi says so, I’ll think about it."

Internally celebrating, Okinaga was thrilled. 

This meant he could gather information online and have entertainment.

Elated by the prospect of getting a smartphone, his excitement peaked when he learned dinner was curry.

Curry had always been his favorite, and he often cooked it himself in his previous life. 

He was passionate about it, mixing his own spices for a unique flavor and visiting various curry restaurants for research.

He didn’t disdain store-bought curry either. 

Each variety had its own charm and deliciousness. 

Plus, there were many ways to enjoy instant curry, like mixing it or adding seasonings.

Someday, he hoped to explore the curry restaurants in this world too.

In high spirits, he took a bath with Yuji. 

They chatted about trivial matters, and after about fifteen minutes, they emerged to find the table already set for dinner.

The tantalizing aroma of curry filled the room, causing Okinaga's mouth to water. 

He quickly sat down, said his thanks, and began to eat.

Curry is the quintessential homemade dish, and Aoi's version was a thick, fruity blend, likely containing honey and apples. 

It clung beautifully to the white rice and tasted delicious.

"Speaking of which, Okinaga's starting elementary school soon," Aoi mentioned.

"Is it next Monday?" Yuji asked.

"Yes, it is. Today is Sunday, so it's a week away," she confirmed.

Hearing this, Okinaga's mood dipped slightly. 

He wasn’t thrilled about going through elementary school again. 

In his previous life, he had graduated from university and survived the grueling entrance exams. 

Going back to elementary school seemed tedious.

(Still, I should make the most of this opportunity.)

To fit in, he realized he needed to catch up on current trends and behave more like a child. 

In his previous life, he didn’t use polite language with adults, but now he found himself considering manners and etiquette. 

However, there were polite children, so it might not be a big issue.

Thinking ahead, Okinaga planned to "collect" various items from school. 

There would be supplies and equipment not available at home, particularly science-related chemicals and apparatus, which he looked forward to acquiring.

"Aoi, have you prepared the camera for the entrance ceremony?" Yuji asked.

"Of course! My mirrorless camera is ready to capture Okinaga's big moment!"

"Wow, Yuji, you're so cool!" Aoi gushed.

"Right?" Yuji grinned proudly.

Although Okinaga felt a smartphone camera would suffice, he understood the sentimental value of a dedicated camera.

Okinaga had already graduated from kindergarten. 

He hadn’t made many friends there, possibly due to a lack of social skills, but he hoped to make friends if any of his kindergarten classmates were in the same elementary school.

After dinner, Okinaga relaxed on the sofa with Yuji, watching TV.

"Dad, you start work again tomorrow, right?" Okinaga asked.

"Yes, I do."

"Are there a lot of students at the swimming school?"

"Yes, from elderly folks to kids like you."

"Kids like me... But I don't swim, do I?"

"What? Didn't you quit because you didn’t like it?" Yuji recalled.

Okinaga searched his memory and remembered that he had quit at age five after nearly drowning, despite initially enjoying it.

"Do you want to start again? I'd be thrilled if you did."

"Maybe... I'll think about it."

He didn’t have a reason not to swim anymore. 

The trauma had faded since regaining his past life’s memories, and swimming was excellent for building stamina.

"Really? Let me know whenever you decide."

Yuji beamed, flashing a bright smile, and Okinaga, seeing his father's joy, decided to give it a try.