Chapter 2: Half assignment (2)

The classroom door opened yet again. Nearly all the seats were filled, and a male student, familiar to Aya and Mizuki from middle school but otherwise a background character himself, took the seat behind me.

‘…This is the last one?’

And with him seated, only one spot remained empty. I glanced around the room again, just in case. But no matter how hard I looked, Yamahashi Hiro, the “ordinary-looking but secretly handsome” protagonist, was nowhere to be found.

‘He’s really not here?’

The realization filled me with a strange emptiness and a surge of anxiety. How was the story supposed to unfold without the protagonist? As these thoughts swirled in my mind, the classroom door swung open, and our homeroom teacher strode in.

Ito Masaru. He seemed much younger and more energetic than described in the novel. The teacher, his hair neatly styled, stood at the podium and addressed the class.

“Is everyone here?”

He placed a file on the podium, smiled brightly, and surveyed the students.

“Alright, I’m Ito Masaru, and I’ll be your homeroom teacher for Class 1-3! You can call me Ito-sensei.”

The novel had described him as “somewhat frivolous, yet his position at a prestigious private academy spoke volumes about his capabilities as a teacher.” He seemed even more free-spirited in person. Initially, I’d mistaken him for a P.E. teacher, given his casual tracksuit.

“First things first, the seats you’ve chosen will be your assigned seats for the year. So, if anyone wants to switch, speak now! If not, these are your spots!”

A murmur rippled through the classroom, but no one moved or requested a change.

“Good! Seems like everyone’s happy. Now, let’s go around and do quick self-introductions. Starting with the front row by the window, and then moving back.”

Oh right, self-introductions. A sudden wave of panic washed over me. I knew absolutely nothing about Kurosawa Rina, the background character I was inhabiting. I’d barely learned my name from my “mother” this morning, and beyond a few basic details, my mind was a blank.

“I’m Kujo Akito. I’m from Takamari Middle School, and my hobby is listening to classical music. Pleased to meet you all!”

The first student, Akito, was unfamiliar. Likely another background character, barely mentioned in the novel, if at all. As he sat down, the turn passed to the next student.

One by one, the students introduced themselves. Most were from Takamari Middle School, their hobbies and talents reflecting their privileged backgrounds: piano, horseback riding, tennis, shooting… Just listening to them made me feel increasingly inadequate.

‘I have to introduce myself in this atmosphere?’

And then she stood. Yukikawa Aya, seated beside me. All eyes turned towards her as she rose gracefully. In a calm, clear voice, she spoke.

“I’m Yukikawa Aya. I’m from Takamari Middle School, and my hobbies are reading and flower arranging. It’s a pleasure to meet you all.”

Her voice filled the classroom. It was a simple self-introduction, yet she commanded attention like an actress on stage. Small bursts of applause erupted from around the room.

‘She really is the heroine…’

Observing Aya, I felt the full weight of her presence. It was a stark reminder that I was inside the novel. She sat down with a slight smile, and the air around her seemed to brighten. This was definitely the world of the novel.

Next was Mizuki, seated behind Aya.

“I’m Asakura Mizuki. I’m from Takamari Middle School. My hobbies are listening to music and the tea ceremony.”

Mizuki’s introduction was short and to the point. One of the four most beautiful girls in Takamari Academy, she exuded confidence and grace. The refined air of a noblewoman.

“And it’s nice to meet you all,” she added with a gentle smile, her composure unwavering. The other students seemed captivated by her charm, nodding in quiet agreement. In the novel, she’d run for class president and won by a landslide.

The introductions continued, moving back to the front row where I sat. As I waited, I racked my brain for what to say. This simple task filled me with an inexplicable nervousness.

Since almost everyone had mentioned “Takamari Middle School,” I was suddenly struck by something I’d momentarily forgotten. My mind went blank.

Should I not mention my middle school? But I had no memory of where Kurosawa Rina had attended. I should have looked at my graduation album before leaving the house…!

“Next.”

It was my turn. Steeling my nerves, I forced my frozen body to rise. I could feel all eyes on me, and a cold sweat broke out.

“K-Kurosawa Rina. I attended a regular public middle school, and my hobbies are…”

My voice trembled. I barely registered the words coming out of my mouth. If only I, as a background character, had also attended Takamari Middle School. This wouldn’t be so nerve-wracking.

“…I enjoy reading, and I like riding my bike. Pleased to meet you all!”

I stumbled back to my seat as murmurs rippled through the classroom. They were probably whispering about me not being from Takamari Middle School, but it was too indistinct to make out the exact words.

Then, I felt a gaze from beside me. I turned to meet Aya’s warm smile.

“Rina is cuter than I thought,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

My face flushed crimson, and I lowered my head. I couldn’t tell if she was being sincere or just teasing, but her smile alone made my heart race.

‘Oh, right… that’s not the point. These seats are fixed for the year, aren’t they?’

The realization sent a shiver down my spine. In the novel, this was how the protagonist and heroine developed their relationship – by sitting next to each other. And now, I was occupying that spot.

‘Where is the protagonist?!’

My inner turmoil contrasted sharply with the warmth of Aya’s smile beside me. She seemed oblivious to my confusion.

Lost in my bewilderment, the self-introductions concluded, and the bell rang, signaling the end of homeroom.

“Oh, time flies. Good job, everyone!” the teacher said cheerfully, glancing at the clock on the podium.

“That’s all for today! We’ll distribute textbooks tomorrow, so go home, relax, and get a good night’s sleep. Be careful on your way home! Dismissed!”

As soon as he said the word, the classroom erupted in chatter. Students gathered their belongings, exchanging conversations. Since most were from Takamari Middle School, they already knew each other, some quite well. I quietly packed my bag, hoping to slip away unnoticed.

Just then, my eyes met Aya’s.

“Rina, where do you live?”

I hesitated for a moment. My inner Korean self was a beat slow, but I realized she’d switched from “Kurosawa” to “Rina.” She was already addressing me by my first name, a sign of familiarity.

‘Where do I live…?’

My mind, already buzzing with a thousand thoughts, hadn’t considered such practicalities. Thankfully, a faint memory surfaced, allowing me to formulate a response.

“Not too far from school. About a fifteen-minute walk towards Ōizumi.”

Aya nodded, a smile playing on her lips. “Our routes might overlap a bit. Want to walk together?”

“I’ll join too! I live next door to Aya,” Mizuki chimed in.

Suddenly, I was faced with the prospect of walking home with two of the most beautiful girls in the prefecture. I broke out in a cold sweat again.

“Ah, uh! I actually have somewhere to stop by, so you two should probably go ahead!”

“That’s a shame.”

“Yeah, well, be careful getting home! Looking forward to getting to know you better tomorrow.”

Thankfully, they accepted my excuse without question.

“Thanks,” I replied.

As the last of the students filed out of the classroom, I slowly rose from my seat, slung my bag over my shoulder, and headed for the door.

****

On the way home, I gazed up at the sky. Despite skipping lunch, my stomach felt strangely full, perhaps from the constant tension.

The streets felt oddly familiar yet foreign at the same time. I’d only been to Japan once, on a high school trip. How could this place feel familiar?

‘Do I really belong here?’

My resolve to live quietly as a background character seemed to be slipping away with the attention I was receiving from Aya and Mizuki. Lost in thought, I turned down a side street and entered a traditional Japanese house, the kind usually only seen in fiction. This… was my home. Yet, it felt new, even though I’d just left it.

Stepping inside, I was greeted by a space that was both familiar and unfamiliar. Past the shoe rack and into the living room, I took in the neatly arranged furniture, the small table, and the garden visible through the window. Everything was pristine and elegant, a luxurious residence that felt completely at odds with my previous life.

Perhaps this level of affluence was a prerequisite for attending Takamari Private Academy?

I set down my bag and stood before the mirror. The reflection staring back wasn’t a Korean repeat student but Kurosawa Rina, a fictional extra. Even a barely-there background character in this novel was this cute and pretty… Was this the power of a prestigious private school?

‘Right, I’m just a background character. I just need to live like one.’

But the events of the day weighed heavily on my mind. Aya and Mizuki’s attention, the absent protagonist. The suspicion that I might not be destined for the quiet, unremarkable life I’d envisioned was growing stronger.

“Wait, is this really okay?” I muttered, letting out a sigh.

I headed to my room and threw myself onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. It was still early afternoon, the sun high in the sky, the room too bright for sleep.

“For now… I need to keep a low profile. As low as possible.”

With that renewed resolve, I began searching my room, hoping to find any information about myself, about Kurosawa Rina.