Chapter 1: Half assignment

Takamari Private Academy.

A prestigious institution with a connected middle school, high school, and university. In the web novel, it’s renowned as a preparatory academy for noble families, distinguished lineages, and exceptionally bright commoners boasting the highest academic achievement scores in Japan. Owned by the Asakura family’s Takamari Foundation, the academy boasts a long and esteemed history.

Therefore, although officially a high school entrance ceremony, most students were already acquainted from their time in Takamari’s middle school. It was similar to the aristocratic schools often depicted in other novels – a close-knit community.

So, it wasn’t strange for Yukikawa Aya, the heroine, to say, “I haven’t seen your face before.” And that line, originally, was meant for the protagonist.

Yamahashi Hiro. He failed to get into Takamari’s middle school but, through sheer determination, gained admission to the high school. Thus begins his fateful encounter with the heroine, Yukikawa Aya… That’s how the prologue of the novel I’d been reading unfolded.

However, despite searching high and low, I couldn’t find this supposedly “ordinary-looking” yet “secretly incredibly handsome” guy. Even after the entrance ceremony, as I walked to my assigned classroom, a sense of unease lingered.

And the moment, or rather, the drawn-out process, of receiving my class assignment… I almost blurted out, “Wow… Japan is amazing.” They still used an analog system? It took ages just to confirm which class I was in.

Finally, I found my designation: Class 1-3. And this… this was the class Yamahashi Hiro was supposed to be in. Would I still not find him here?

Driven by curiosity and a flutter of nervousness, I headed towards Classroom 1-3.

****

Standing before the door of Classroom 1-3, I clutched the slip of paper, still in disbelief, and cautiously opened the door. Inside, students who’d arrived earlier were already chatting amongst themselves. As the door swung open, several gazes naturally fell upon me.

‘Stay calm, just act like a background character…’

I slipped inside quietly, trying my best not to attract attention. The classroom was surprisingly spacious, befitting its prestigious reputation, and the number of students felt just right. Around twenty seats? Everyone seemed preoccupied with their middle school friends, paying little attention to an unfamiliar face like mine.

‘Phew, that’s a relief.’

I slowly made my way to the back. The protagonist’s spot in the novel – the last seat by the window… I chose the seat diagonally in front of it, my gaze drawn to the window.

‘He’ll show up eventually, right?’

In Class 1-3, at least, students were allowed to choose their seats initially. So, if I occupied this spot, he’d naturally end up here, wouldn’t he?

Ideally, to avoid the teacher’s attention, I should have chosen a seat around the third row. However, those spots were already taken by the more perceptive male students, leaving me with no other option.

Just as I settled in, the door swung open again, and the classroom fell silent. She… entered.

“It’s Yukikawa Aya…!” someone whispered in awe.

With her silver hair and blue eyes, she exuded an elegant aura that transcended mere beauty. The atmosphere in the classroom shifted palpably with her arrival.

Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on her. And she… walked straight towards me.

‘Wait, why me…? Oh, right, the seat behind me is hers.’

Preoccupied with searching for the protagonist, I’d forgotten that the seat behind me, diagonally across from where he was supposed to be, was Aya’s designated spot. But instead of heading there, she sat in the empty seat beside me, by the window. My heart sank.

“Hello.”

Her clear, gentle voice washed over me, leaving me momentarily speechless.

“I haven’t seen your face before. You’re not from Takamari Middle School, are you?”

Her words jolted me back to reality. Oh… this was Aya’s first line to the protagonist in the classroom…

“Uh, um! That’s… right…!” I stammered, just like the protagonist would have. Not that I could think of any other response. I could hardly snap, “Nope!” to someone I’d just met.

Aya tilted her head, a smile gracing her lips. “So, it’s Kurosawa Rina, right? Nice to meet you!”

Wait, she remembered my name? In the novel, Aya remembered the protagonist’s name. That was because, as the heroine of a romantic comedy, she was destined to be drawn to him. But this… this was playing out completely differently!

Ignoring my internal panic, Aya unpacked her bag, continuing to chat casually. “So, Kurosawa, where are you from? A regular public middle school?”

Looking at her smiling face, a sense of dread washed over me. While Aya was kind in the novel, she wasn’t this approachable. Her reserved nature and the distance she maintained with strangers was part of her charm. This Aya was far too friendly.

“J-Just… yeah, a regular school,” I replied, my voice trembling slightly.

Aya nodded, a bright smile illuminating her face. Wow, she’s truly beautiful. On a completely different level…

“I see! It must have been tough to get into Takamari. Well done!”

‘Seriously… can’t you just let me live as a background character?’ I screamed internally, nodding my head. My frozen expression must have looked strange. One of the reasons I wanted to blend in was because this novel, true to its romantic comedy genre, revolved around the protagonist’s group and the various incidents they faced and resolved.

So, so, so… please, just let me be.

Just then, the classroom door opened once more. Again, all eyes turned towards the entrance.

“Oh, it’s Asakura Mizuki!” someone whispered.

The girl who entered had long, neatly styled brown hair. Her impeccable uniform and calm demeanor commanded attention.

I knew who she was. A member of the protagonist’s group. Yukikawa Aya’s best friend and the one secretly in love with the protagonist. She was also the eldest daughter of the prestigious Asakura family, owners of Takamari Academy.

Asakura Mizuki surveyed the classroom with a leisurely gaze, then settled into the seat diagonally behind me. The seat originally meant for Hiro, the protagonist.

‘Huh…? Where is he?’

Now I wanted to roar, not just internally scream. Originally, Mizuki was supposed to sit in front of Hiro, establishing the dynamic between Aya, Hiro, and Mizuki, setting the stage for their intertwined story. But now… the seating arrangement was centered around me, not Hiro. What in the world was going on?!

“Good, this spot seems quiet.”

“Mizuki, you’re in the same class too?”

“Of course, I pulled some strings to be with my Aya-ring.”

“Aw, it’s fine, I’m not a loner. I already made a friend.”

Huh? What? A friend? Did I hear that right?

I forced my stiff neck to turn and look at Aya. She was beaming, pointing at me.

“Kurosawa…? Oh, you’re from a public school?”

“Uh, y-yes! That’s right!”

Mizuki, with her neat and proper appearance, wore a mischievous smile that didn’t quite match her studious aura. And even that… was eerily similar to how she interacted with the male protagonist in the novel. Initially teasing him about his commoner status, but secretly harboring feelings for him… a classic trope.

But since I wasn’t a boy, wouldn’t this just devolve into a bullying scenario?

“Why so formal? If you’re Aya-ring’s friend, then you’re our friend too. Can I call you Rina-chan? Or do you not like -chan?”

“Huh…? Uh, um, Rina is fine…”

I was taken aback by the sudden Japanese honorifics. In Japan, how you addressed someone indicated your relationship with them. Using their first name denoted closeness, and dropping the honorific “-san” signaled even greater familiarity. Unthinkingly, I’d replied like a Korean, asking her to drop the “-chan,” which seemed to have earned me Mizuki’s favor.

“Then call me Mizuki too. It’s more comfortable that way.”

“O-Oh… Mizuki! Nice to meet you.”

“You too!” Mizuki replied, her elegant face breaking into a wide smile. This wasn’t something I’d seen in the novel. And thanks to that… it seemed I’d narrowly avoided being ostracized.

This was a good thing, right? It had to be, haha.