episode_0002

003.

Romance Hero Academy is a game targeted towards women.

The main goal is to form relationships with numerous men and enjoy sweet and spicy romances.

From wealthy young masters to the heirs of prominent clans, to celebrities turned classmates, and more.

As you live your academy life, you’ll naturally find yourself entangled with handsome and talented men, one by one.

Just like bees intoxicated by the scent of flowers.

But here’s the thing.

What if an unexpected male character, who you’ve never seen or heard of before, sticks to the girl you have a crush on?

Would you simply accept their special treatment and continue to maintain a lovey-dovey relationship just because they’ve been together for a long time?

No. That’s not going to happen.

A guy with no abilities, talents, or a good background, occupying the attention of the girl you love, will never be acknowledged.

Why?

The reason is simple.

As mentioned earlier, this world is an inverse harem game.

Unlike typical romance stories that sing about love, this inverse harem romance is filled with darkness, obsession, jealousy, and toxicity.

That’s the true nature of Romance Hero Academy.

“The personalities of the male protagonists in a game targeted towards women… are no joke.”

The male protagonists have very high self-esteem.

They may not openly show jealousy, but as the story progresses, their dissatisfaction and obsession will grow.

If you fail to manage intimacy and favorability, the male protagonists will eventually see me, the only boyfriend of Jin Soyeon, as an ‘enemy’ or ‘obstacle.’

Of course, they won’t openly torment me, as they claim to be the good guys, but the problem lies with the NPCs who are willing to harass Jinhyuk to gain favor with the male protagonists.

Spreading malicious rumors, ostracism, exclusion, harassment, and bullying.

They will act very maliciously within the limits of not being caught by others.

The more I think about it, the more daunting my future at the academy seems.

Perhaps because I’m a character made to be a sacrificial lamb.

The treatment is unbelievable.

But there is one simple way to solve all of this.

A way that can be easily resolved.

Well, there’s no need to think about it, right?

If the reason for the harassment is that I’m dating Jin Soyeon, then if I break up with her, it should all end.

So, I declared my breakup to Jin Soyeon.

“….”

“….”

And so, silence fell between us.

The room was filled with an inexplicable sense of silence.

“Ah.”

But that was only temporary.

“I was just kidding… Anyway.”

Muttering to herself as if inviting a response, Jin Soyeon finally raised the corners of her eyes with a sullen expression.

And then, with a mischievous air, she began to act like a tragic heroine who had been abandoned.

“Oh… How could you.”

Her demeanor reminded me of a playful cat or a mischievous little girl.

“Do you have feelings for someone else?”

She asked, her voice tinged with tears.

“Jinhyuk… How could you do this to me…!”

She even went as far as pretending to cry openly.

“I had a feeling this would happen, but is this really the reaction?”

It was a possible reaction given our complicated relationship.

We had played many mischievous pranks on each other before.

April Fool’s jokes, surprise pranks, and so on.

“Well… Yeah.”

“Huh?”

“The truth is, I’ve developed feelings for someone else.”

With the intention of not exacerbating the playful atmosphere, I nodded as if there was no other choice.

As a way to change the mood.

“A woman who is much prettier and kinder than you.”

“Sigh. Saying goodbye at the transfer point is the worst~.”

She giggles, playing around with frivolous jokes.

“I was half-joking at the entrance ceremony earlier, but did you really find someone you fell for at first sight?”

“Well, who knows.”

“Oh, come on~ You’re doing it again~. Why don’t you tell your noona a little?”

With a subtle smile, Jin Soyeon looks at me.

Giggling, she playfully pokes my side.

She doesn’t look like someone who just heard a breakup declaration. Well, that’s to be expected. Soyeon and I are not in a typical romantic relationship.

“Anyway, let’s stop joking around here.”

“Okay.”

“Soyeon.”

“I got it. I got it. So, what did you want to say, Jinhyuk?”

As I look at her with a serious gaze, Soyeon shrugs her shoulders as if she understands and prepares to listen.

“You know what I just said.”

“Oh. About breaking up?”

Soyeon’s eyes flicker as if she remembers.

“I’ve already enrolled in Union Academy, so I think it’s time to stop now.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah.”

I gaze at Soyeon intently.

And then.

“I see.”

Soyeon nods slowly as if she understands.

“…Ah~ By the way, what was I going to say?”

I exhale deeply.

A smile creeps onto my subtly tense face.

She even lightly pats my shoulder as usual.

“I wanted to say something too. About breaking up.”

“It must be nice~ to dump such a pretty girl like this.”

Soyeon and I talk about the breakup as if it’s not a big deal.

From a logical standpoint, our reactions might seem a bit strange, but in reality, Soyeon and I are not genuinely dating.

We are what you might call ‘fake lovers.’

It’s a relationship where we pretend to be in love.

‘Fake lovers, huh. It’s a setting that could easily appear in a game.’

In love comedies, shoujo manga, romance fantasies, etc., it’s a common trope, right?

But now, it would be disappointing not to appear in the subculture genre.

“Once we graduate from the academy, our student life will be over, so shouldn’t we try a real relationship?”

“Wow? You’ve only just started school and you’re already thinking about dating?”

The reason why Soyeon and I became fake lovers is nothing special.

It all started when Soyeon, who had received countless confessions from boys since she was young, asked me, ‘Boys are annoying, can you pretend to date me?’ and it has continued until now.

As the past me couldn’t refuse Soyeon’s request due to her exceptional looks and various hardships she faced since childhood, I became the target of jealousy for many men.

But not anymore.

I have to end this superficial relationship.

“I didn’t know Jinhyuk was so eager to date.”

Soyeon lies down on the bed, chuckling.

“Men are all wolves, wolves~. Ahaha….”

I quietly gaze down at Soyeon’s face as she laughs and jokes around.

For a moment, I observe her, but she seems the same as usual.

She doesn’t seem to attach any particular meaning to ending our fake relationship.

‘But is it really okay? I can’t tell just by looking at her.’

I scratch my head, worried secretly.

There was one thing I was concerned about.

Soyeon almost always laughs, so I couldn’t accurately gauge what she was thinking.

‘But seeing her nonchalant reaction, maybe there’s no big issue.’

I mean.

There’s actually one thing about Soyeon.

It’s not a big deal.

Just, the very typical setting of secretly liking your childhood friend.

In the game, it’s a setting given to become the tragic heroine after I die and receive a big shock.

Anyway, according to the game’s setting, Jin Soyeon might be secretly liking me.

…Of course, who knows if it’s true or not.

I don’t really know.

It’s just a pointless joke I’m playing along with.

And the mediocre qualifier ‘secretly’ bothered me.

It’s a difficult expression to objectively judge.

Also, the reaction when I suggested ending the fake relationship was too nonchalant.

Was she really liking me? I started to doubt.

In the game, Jin Soyeon’s feelings weren’t really expressed.

Even though she was a playable character.

‘If we think about Jin Soyeon’s character setting… well, it could be possible. But the reaction is too vague, so I’m a bit hesitant on how to respond.’

I suggested breaking up outright.

I wondered how Jin Soyeon would react.

“Soyeon, how about you saying that?”

“Me?”

“Yeah.”

She blinked her eyes and then pointed at herself with her index finger.

“Do you ever want to try a real relationship?”

“I’m good.”

Jin Soyeon absentmindedly replied while fiddling with a penguin doll.

“Relationships are bothersome~.”

“Is that so.”

“Of course, because of my looks, guys won’t leave me alone. Ah, Jinhyuk might regret breaking up with you, you know? Even if he tries to hold onto you later, it won’t work, right?”

“There’s no cure for princess syndrome.”

“What did you say?”

Jin Soyeon pouted her lips and glared at me with dissatisfaction.

“Guys in general. Even after rumors spread that you were dating, some continued to confess.”

“Oh, that’s right.”

It was in middle school, wasn’t it?

Several guys confessed to me secretly.

It must have been due to their confidence that they could break through a goalkeeper like me. Well, objectively speaking, Jin Soyeon and I aren’t compatible.

“They would belittle you, saying they’re much better, asking why you’re dating me, saying they would treat you better… ugh.”

Perhaps due to negative experiences with several guys.

Jin Soyeon didn’t have a good opinion of guys.

Of course, thanks to her bright and lively personality, she got along intimately with both genders, but she didn’t seem interested in forming good relationships as a member of the opposite sex.

“You really have no interest in dating?”

“I don’t.”

“Or maybe you don’t know? Maybe there’s a really good guy out there?”

Like the male protagonists with good abilities, good looks, and wealthy backgrounds.

“You really… ugh. Fine, just date whoever you want.”

Jin Soyeon looked displeased as she stared at me.

But considering the future, it would be good for Jin Soyeon to build positive relationships with the male protagonists.

After all, the male protagonists have excellent talents, abilities, backgrounds, and wealth.

They would be good allies in solving various problems in the future.

“If you start your academy life in earnest, Soyeon won’t be able to handle it alone.”

The difficulty level of this female-oriented role-playing game is quite high.

If you make a mistake, you’ll most likely face a bad ending.

In that case, the world will be a mess.

The ending of a world without a protagonist is never good.

Whether I like it or not, this world is where I have to keep living.

I can’t just leave it all to Jin Soyeon without thinking.

Oh, of course.

I have no intention of fighting directly.

Even if I’m considered a veteran in this game.

Do I have to fight twisted monsters from the netherworld and risk dying?

From the beginning, the monsters and villains in this game are truly terrifying.

NPCs like me, with no talent, no abilities, are likely to become mere chunks of meat if they recklessly step forward to fight, as they were created to die.

In unavoidable situations, I would fight myself, but fortunately, there’s someone who will fight in my place, the heroine Jin Soyeon.

“As the center of this world and the chosen protagonist, depending on how I lead Soyeon and the male protagonists, the future will vary greatly.”

Alright.

There’s no point in hiding anything now.

I plan to use the world’s most talented Jin Soyeon and the male protagonists.

Ah.

But don’t misunderstand my use of them.

Using them as tools is definitely not the case.

Soyeon is my favorite and childhood friend.

I have no intention of treating Soyeon harshly.

Instead, I will support her so that she won’t be envious.

Based on memories from my past life, I will take advantage of all benefits.

Of course, the best way would be for me to die in front of Soyeon, but I can’t just die on purpose for her awakening, can I?

Well… depending on the situation, I might be able to fake my death…

“Are you lost in thought again?”

“Oh. Sorry, I’m just sleepy.”

“You’re saying you’re sleepy when your girlfriend is right next to you?”

“We decided to stop pretending to be lovers, remember?”

“Oh, right.”

Jin Soyeon twisted her hair around her finger.

“Anyway, if you’re sleepy, go back and sleep, okay? Tomorrow marks the start of our academy life.”

“Right… I’ll do that.”

I nodded.

I’ve already said everything I needed to, so I can go back now.

“Jinhyuk.”

“Yes?”

Suddenly, Jin Soyeon called out to me.

“Thank you for always listening to my requests. It must have been a bit annoying from your perspective.”

“No, it’s fine. Between us.”

“Between us…?”

Jin Soyeon smiled with a meaning that I couldn’t understand.

“Then let’s meet tomorrow, Soyeon.”

“Sure, goodbye, my ex-boyfriend Jinhyuk.”

“Dream of me, my ex-girlfriend Soyeon.”

“Ugh, what are you saying, gross.”

I parted ways with a usual exchange of words.

“…”

Just before closing the door.

I glanced back and saw Jin Soyeon’s face peeking through the closing gap.

Her pupils, what can I say.

They seemed deeper than usual.