Uncle Hikigaya is Forever Young [1] & Synopsis

Wait, wait, hold on a second!

I've transmigrated into Hikigaya Hachiman's dad? A guy in his thirties?!

Just got out of the ICU from overwork (thanks, 996? And I got fired along the way?!

My wife was Hikigaya Kazusa? But we're already divorced? An amicable split at that?!

Broke and divorced, I had no choice but to get a physically exhausting job. And the matchmaking partner introduced by my neighbors turns out to be Hiratsuka Shizuka, my kouhai from university days?

Then, one day, I run into Ichinose Honami—a beautiful college student—getting beaten up on the street?

I need a goddamn smoke!!!

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“Uuuuu! Papa, you're awake? You're really awake! Onii-chan! Papa finally woke up—hurry, come see!”

A sobbing, soft, childish voice rang beside his ear, strangely soothing.

But immediately after, Lin Zhe's head was overwhelmed by pain!

Unbearable, splitting pain!

It felt as if the whole world had twisted itself.

Amidst a little girl's tirelessly persistent cries, mingled with sobs, Lin Zhe gradually awoke from his coma. As soon as his consciousness returned even slightly, he felt like every bone in his body was shattered, unable even to move a single finger.

A chill ran down his heart: Could it be that I'm crippled? Am I going to be paralyzed in bed for the rest of my life? But I still have work!!! Tonight, I even have evening classes with the students!

Speaking of which—was he in the hospital? Lin Zhe, still preoccupied with work, slowly opened his eyes and began looking around.

This isn't a hospital!

Not only was the familiar antiseptic smell missing, but the furnishings here were also way too shabby.

Struggling, he glanced around; it was a cramped little room, barely twenty square meters. The floor was covered in dust, scattered with unpacked or half-unpacked cardboard boxes, as if someone had just moved in.

Something's wrong. This isn’t a hospital, and it's not my home. Where exactly am I?

Looking around again, it was clearly just an ordinary residential room—almost bare walls, nearly devoid of any home appliances. Only a few large boxes had been opened, scattered with daily necessities and furniture parts.

The handful of daily necessities taken out were also arranged haphazardly, as though someone was in a rush.

Uh, for appliances...there seemed to be a soy milk maker...and a half-opened rice cooker box.

Strangely enough, in a corner stood a glossy black grand piano, awkwardly occupying what little space there was.

Lin Zhe knew nothing about musical instruments, but after giving it two glances, he inexplicably thought, It must be quite expensive, huh?

Probably the only valuable item in this shabby room!

Judging from the sky, it seemed to be dusk. A green veil covering the piano fluttered gently without wind. On the tiny table in the center of the room, a single candle flickered weakly. A petite, adorable little girl with tiger-teeth and fluffy black hair topped with an ahoge knelt anxiously by his side on the tatami, seemingly overwhelmed by his sudden awakening.

Joyful, yet panicked from excessive concern?

Hold on!

Didn't this kid just speak Japanese?

And somehow, I can still understand her!

With that realization, Lin Zhe also noticed the tatami beneath him, something he'd never seen in real life.

Having long ago weathered countless battles in the Transmigrator Training Center™, a certain possibility flashed through his mind—but immediately, he felt it was far too absurd.

“Uuuu… Komachi…Komachi thought she'd never see Papa again. Even though Onii-chan and I are still here…as long as we're family…even if Mama is gone, as long as Papa is here, Komachi will be good…even if I don't get allowance, it’s fine! Uuuu!”

The black-haired girl suddenly threw herself onto Lin Zhe, bursting into tears as though unable to hold back any longer, causing him to groan from the pain.

Whose kid is this?!

Did she just call me… “Papa”?!

What the hell's going on? I'm not even married yet!

Well, even if I'm already in my thirties…

Could it be an old fling coming back to haunt me?

“Oi, Komachi. You're touching Father's wound. It hasn't even healed yet, right? If it gets worse, we'll have to pay the hospital again. The family's almost out of cash,” another voice chimed in at that moment—belonging to a slightly awkward teenager with matching black hair, the same ahoge, and unforgettable dead-fish eyes.

He sure left an impression.

Only then did the little girl realize she was pressing against her father’s wound on his thigh. Jumping up like a startled bunny, she hurriedly apologized: “Uwa! Sorry! Papa, it must hurt a lot!”

“Well, actually, it's fine—this bit of pain is nothing.” Lin Zhe couldn’t help but reach out and gently pat the girl's fluffy hair, ahoge and all, comforting her with a smile. It came so naturally that he realized afterward this body had probably done it countless times before.

That smile appeared like a ray of warm spring sunlight in Komachi’s teary eyes, instantly breaking open a floodgate inside the normally carefree girl. She wailed even louder, seemingly releasing pent-up feelings she'd long suppressed, leaving Lin Zhe slightly embarrassed.

Although still confused about what exactly was going on, at least he wasn’t dead—so he felt surprisingly good about it. In fact, he even felt a bit guilty facing these siblings who seemed to have been taking care of him.

“Oh, right…you two, why exactly—hm?”

Lin Zhe looked at the two kids; obviously, they weren't young anymore. But he himself was only thirty—he'd certainly had intimate experiences with a few girls, but even if something unexpected happened, the kids wouldn't be this old yet, would they?

However, before he could finish his sentence, his blurry gaze caught sight of a small mirror placed at the bedside.

That palm-sized mirror was the only one in this entire shabby room.

Reflected in it was a face—still handsome enough, but haggard, exhausted, clearly ravaged by life.

It was a face thoroughly crushed by life's hardships.

But—not his own!

Though still clearly Asian, with ordinary black hair…

To begin with, Lin Zhe’s original face had been entirely average, utterly forgettable. Now, this face—though unkempt and worn—if carefully looked at, held a certain weary charm.

But at first glance, this face looked almost forty: stubble everywhere, rough skin dulled by the burdens of life, perpetual dark circles from sleepless nights, and even two or three faint lines etched between the brows…

Lin Zhe froze, countless thoughts racing through his mind.

His hair, his looks, his body—everything had changed.

And those two children—and himself earlier—were clearly speaking…Japanese?!

So…he transmigrated!

He transmigrated!

He goddamn transmigrated!

The black-haired teen, silent until now, seemed to notice something off. Frowning slightly, he asked softly, “Father? Are you alright? Does your head hurt? Uh…about Mother—that's all in the past. You’ll definitely find another job soon. Actually, there's still a month until school starts, so yesterday I found a part-time job. I planned to tell you after getting my first paycheck... Anyway, please hang in there! Komachi…can't lose her father…”

Although the teen’s eyes were still irritatingly dead-fish-like, they carried a reliability far beyond his age. It was just when mentioning the unauthorized part-time job that his gaze flickered away nervously from his elder.

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This is a fan translation of 比企谷大叔永远年轻 by Stargazer All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!