Junpei's call jolted me awake from my peaceful sleep. Groggily, I reached for my phone, my voice still hoarse from sleep.
"What is it?" I mumbled, rubbing my eyes.
"Hey, you got time today? Your ID is done."
I immediately sat up, fully awake now. Finally. No more living like some ghost without proper registration. I had been walking on thin ice ever since I became Ryuko, constantly worrying about someone figuring out that "Mugiwara Ryuko" didn’t actually exist.
I was just lucky Manna's Kitchen had been lenient, letting me work while I pretended my ID was just in the process of renewal. If Keiko ever found out I had lied about losing my ID... well, I’d rather not imagine the consequences.
"I’ll meet you after work," I told Junpei, getting out of bed.
---
How We Created "Mugiwara Ryuko"?
To the world, Mugiwara Ryuko was now a legally recognized person. But behind the scenes, it had been a risky and complicated process.
When I first realized I had no official existence in this world, I panicked. No ID meant no job, no bank account, no way to even rent an apartment. If anyone dug too deep, they'd find out I wasn’t registered anywhere. That’s when I reached out to Junpei, he has an old acquaintance who had… let’s just say experience in making things work outside the usual legal routes.
Step 1: Creating a Fake Family Registry
Japan's Koseki (family registry) system is the foundation of any citizen's identity. If you aren’t in a Koseki, you legally don’t exist. So Junpei had to arrange a fake one for me.
The backstory? Simple:
Mugiwara Ryuko, niece of Mugiwara Junpei.
Parents? Deceased.
Guardian? Junpei himself.
To pull this off, Junpei used an old family registry from a distant relative that hadn’t been updated in years. Since Koseki records are only thoroughly checked during inheritance disputes or major legal matters, this gave us a solid cover.
Step 2: Using the Fake Koseki to Get a Legal ID
With a Koseki in place, we could now get a Resident Certificate—the document that proves someone actually lives in Japan.
Junpei registered me at the local ward office as his niece who had recently moved in with him. Since the system doesn’t do deep background checks unless flagged, my name was now officially in government records. From there, I was able to apply for:
MyNumber Card – Japan’s national ID. This was crucial for work and banking.
Bank Account – With a Resident Certificate and MyNumber card, I could now open an account, making my employment at Manna’s Kitchen legitimate.
Phone & Rent – The ID also allowed me to get a proper phone contract and eventually rent a place under my new name.
Of course, there were risks. If the government ever cross-checked my past records too deeply, I’d be in trouble. But as long as I kept my head down and didn’t do anything to raise suspicion, I could live as Mugiwara Ryuko without issue.
---
After my shift at Manna’s Kitchen, I met Junpei at a quiet izakaya. As I slid into the seat across from him, he smirked.
"Took you long enough."
"Sorry, work was busy. But seriously, thanks, Junpei. I owe you big time," I said, meaning it.
He waved a hand dismissively. "Just don’t get caught and drag me down with you, alright? If anyone starts asking questions, I don’t know you."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," I chuckled, raising my glass. "To my new legal existence."
We clinked glasses, but before I could take a sip, Junpei leaned forward with a teasing grin.
"So… how’s it going with Keiko and Rin?"
I nearly choked on my drink. "W-What? Where did that come from?"
"Hey, I heard things have been getting interesting lately. I’m surprised you’ve managed to keep up."
I sighed, rubbing my temples. "It’s… complicated. I mean, Keiko is strict and scary, but I still can’t help feeling something for her. Then there’s Rin, who’s just so kind and easy to talk to, it feels weird. But I almost got caught in some awkward situations, and Keiko’s been misunderstanding things left and right."
Junpei snickered. "Let me guess. You did something stupid again?"
"More like misunderstood stupidly," I grumbled. "Like, imagine getting caught half-naked in a locked room with Keiko, sweating, panting, and—"
"…I don’t need details," Junpei interrupted, shaking his head. "You really are living in a rom-com anime, huh?"
"Shut up," I muttered.
Junpei leaned back, smirking. "Well, whatever happens, just make sure you don’t mess things up too badly. It’s already risky enough having a fake ID, but if you get into some scandal on top of that? Yeah, good luck."
I sighed, realizing he was right. I had to be careful—not just with my identity, but also with my relationships.
"Thanks again, Junpei," I said sincerely.
"Just stay out of trouble, kid."
I nodded.
Junpei sighed as he leaned back in his chair. "So, any news about Fujiwara Ryusei?" he asked, lowering his voice.
I exhaled, resting my chin on my hand. "Keiko told me she reported it to the police, but of course, they haven’t found anything. As far as the world knows, Fujiwara Ryusei is now just another missing person."
Junpei shook his head and sighed, "This whole situation is weird and crazy, huh? But hey, it is what it is."
He groaned dramatically, and we both sighed again, perfectly in sync, like some tragic comedy act.
With a lazy wave, Junpei turned to leave. "Well... I need to go now. See you around, troublemaker."
"Yeah. Thanks again, Uncle Junpei!" I teased, making him shudder.
He shot me a glare before disappearing down the street, while I headed home, gripping my brand-new ID tightly.