The moment I returned to the ground floor, I immediately scanned the area for the girls. When I finally found them, I couldn't help but grit my teeth, a vein practically popping on my forehead.
"Now I'm getting tired of this same shit."
Three high school guys—probably the type girls our age would find attractive—were talking to Misaki, Yuka, and Sanae. From the girls' expressions, it was obvious they didn't want to engage. I could understand it, though. We were high school students, at the age where attraction to the opposite sex is inevitable. On top of that, those three girls were undeniably pretty. But seriously, could I not even leave them for a minute without a group of guys flocking to them the moment I return?
"Girls, do you want to play with us? We were actually looking for more people to join." One of the guys spoke, his tone dripping with confidence, his posture exuding self-assurance.
He was probably the type who relied on his looks, someone who had never tasted rejection from a girl before. Unfortunately for him, he had chosen the wrong group to target.
"No, thank you. We came with someone else, and we are currently waiting for him," Yuka replied flatly, her tone laced with disinterest.
Meanwhile, Sanae subtly shifted behind Yuka and Misaki, seeking cover. She was still bad at dealing with strangers, and the sudden approach of these guys clearly made her uncomfortable.
"Aww, no need to lie," another guy chimed in playfully, flashing a charming smile. "We've actually been watching your group for a while, and no one came or left."
His tone was light, clearly trying to keep the conversation pleasant, but his persistence was starting to get annoying for them.
"No, we're telling the truth. You guys are actually disturbing us," Misaki bluntly stated, her tone still polite but firm.
"That's really harsh," one of the guys responded, his playful smile faltering. "We just wanted to hang out, how about just one—"
He was cut off as a voice interrupted him, smooth and serious, carrying an edge of coldness. "They are with me. Do you need something from my friends?"
The tone was unmistakably serious, almost intimidating, and the guy's words caught in his throat. But as the voice's owner stepped forward, the expressions of the three girls lit up.
"Dude, chill. We just wanted to play some games with them," the playful guy said, raising both hands in front of him as if declaring his innocence.
"And they clearly turned you down," Hayato replied with a friendly smile—one that wasn't friendly at all.
"Guys, let's go," the so-called "confident" one said before turning on his heels, walking away without another word. His two friends soon followed.
They weren't delinquents looking for trouble—just regular high school guys who probably thought they had a chance. Causing a scene over a simple rejection would only ruin their own image and risk getting banned from the arcade they clearly frequented. Worse, if things escalated, they could even face suspension from school. In the end, it wasn't worth it for them.
"Are you all okay? They didn't do anything, did they?" I asked, just to be sure.
"We're fine," Yuka reassured me before asking. "But what about you? Is your stomach okay?" Her concern was evident in her tone.
Misaki, on the other hand, crossed her arms and eyed me suspiciously. "Wait a minute… where did you get those plushies? Weren't you supposed to be in the washroom?"
Meanwhile, Sanae stepped out from behind them, her gaze fixed on me. "Hayato, you showed up right on time… again," she murmured, her voice carrying a hint of fascination.
"I lied. I wasn't in the washroom," I admitted, my voice steady as I handed the bear plushie to Yuka and the panda to Sanae. "I just felt it wasn't fair of me, so I wanted to win something for you two as well."
As I spoke, I found myself scratching the back of my neck, a hint of embarrassment creeping in. "I'm not sure if you'll like them, but… if you do, I hope you'll take good care of them." A small smile formed on my lips as I looked at them, waiting for their reactions.
But before I could even react, Yuka and Sanae moved at the same time, wrapping me in a tight embrace.
"Thank you," they both murmured in unison, their voices filled with raw emotion. "I'll treasure it for my whole life."
I could feel it in their tone—happiness, gratitude, and something deeper that I couldn't quite put into words. Their warmth pressed against me, making it clear just how much this small gesture meant to them.
But… treasuring it for their whole life? Wasn't that a bit too much?
I glanced over at Misaki while still being hugged by Yuka and Sanae. She gave me a playful thumbs up, her usual mischievous grin spreading across her face.
"That was quite smooth and considerate of you," she teased, her tone light but with a hint of admiration. I couldn't help but chuckle awkwardly, unsure of how to respond to that.
Casually hanging out after school, spending time with friends—it's something I wouldn't have even dreamed of just a few weeks ago.
On the first day I arrived in this world, I was beyond nervous, unsure of what my future held. My mind was flooded with questions, most of which still remain unanswered. But little by little, I'm getting used to this life. There are moments when loneliness creeps in, when thoughts of my family from my previous world resurface.
But I'm not alone anymore. At least, not right now. Looking at everything I have now… this life isn't so bad at all.
-------
Today is Sunday, but that doesn't mean I'm going to slack off and skip my morning routine. Normally, I spend Sundays cleaning the unused rooms in this house. So far, I've managed to clean two, but today will be an exception.
I have guests coming over—Yuka and Misaki. We made plans yesterday, and true to her enthusiasm, Yuka is especially eager to visit. With that in mind, I set aside my usual chores and focus on preparing for their arrival.
Though I said that, it's nothing extravagant—just some snacks, cold drinks, and a deck of cards in case they feel like playing. Maybe we could even watch a movie together. It's a simple setup, but I figure it's enough for a casual hangout.
Ding!Dong!
Speak of the devil—they're here. As I opened the door, I found both Misaki and Yuka standing outside. It seems they came together. Thinking about it, Yuka didn't know my address, whereas Misaki did. That's probably why they arrived together.
"Welcome, make yourself at home," I greeted them with an inviting smile.
"Pardon our intrusion," they replied in unison as they stepped inside. Misaki's tone was as energetic as ever, while Yuka's was calm and polite, though there was a certain excitement hidden beneath her composed demeanor.
After I guided them to the living room, Yuka glanced around, taking in the surroundings before commenting, "You really live alone, huh?"
No matter how much effort I put into keeping the house clean and tidy, there was an undeniable emptiness that couldn't be erased. The absence of a lived-in presence lingered, something that mere cleanliness couldn't conceal.
"My mom and dad live in Tokyo because of their business," I explained calmly.
"Then why are you living here alone instead of staying with them?" Misaki asked curiously, realizing she had never asked before.
The moment those words left her lips, my body stiffened. A cold sweat broke out across my back as an unsettling tremor ran through my hands. Just recalling what had happened to the previous Hayato was enough to make my body react instinctively.
That incident... it wasn't something I had personally experienced. It didn't affect me, not in the way it should. My mind remained rational, untouched by the weight of those memories. And yet, the trauma embedded in this body—the one I now inhabited—was undeniable. It was as if the very flesh I now wore carried the scars of a past I hadn't lived, reacting before I could even think.
I clenched my fists, forcing my hands to still. The truth was, I didn't mind telling them—I had nothing to hide. But right now, they didn't need to hear it. I knew it would only drag the mood down, and perhaps... a part of "me" doesn't want to talk about it either.
"That's..." I forced a smile, only to quickly feign realization. "Wait, I just remembered—we only have one week left to decide on a club. Which ones are you two planning to join?" I asked, steering the conversation away.
Unbeknownst to Hayato, his fleeting pallor, the tremor in his hands, and his obvious attempt to change the subject didn't go unnoticed. Yuka and Misaki exchanged a brief glance, both fully aware that he was avoiding the topic. Yet, instead of pressing further, they chose to respect his unspoken wish, letting the moment pass without question.
"I don't really want to join any club, but I guess the literature club wouldn't be so bad... or maybe the cooking club," Yuka mused, her choices unsurprising given her personality.
"I'm still undecided," Misaki sighed, pressing her fingers against her temples as if trying to squeeze out an answer. "I thought about joining a manga club, but our school doesn't have one. So, I'm leaning toward the art club instead."
Then, Yuka turned to me. "What about you?"
I offered an awkward smile. "I still haven't decided either. I'll just go with whatever feels right at the last second."
That was a lie. My decision had already been made—or rather, I had no other choice. If I didn't join that club, I wouldn't be able to save her.
I served them drinks and snacks, and soon we were engrossed in a game of Old Maid. It didn't take long for me to notice how Misaki couldn't hide her emotions at all. Whenever I reached for a card she didn't want, she couldn't suppress a look of relief. But when I took the one she was hoping to keep, her face twisted in panic. It was like watching her entire strategy unfold in front of me.
Yuka, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. Her poker face was as calm and neutral as her usual expression, which made her nearly impossible to read. Misaki struggled, relying entirely on luck as her only hope.
As for me, I think I was doing alright at keeping my face neutral....
Thanks to Misaki's lack of a poker face, I was the first to discard all my cards and claim victory. I did feel a little bad for taking advantage of her weakness, but it wasn't cheating—reading your opponent was simply part of the game.
Meanwhile, Misaki had the worst luck. With Yuka's unreadable expression and her own inability to bluff, she ended up holding onto the Joker until the very end, suffering a crushing defeat. This resulted in her sulking heavily and opted to munch on the snacks silently.
"Hayato, where's your room? I'm actually curious to see your figure collection that Misaki has been boasting about," Yuka said, her tone laced with curiosity.
"Really? I don't mind showing you," I replied, smiling. It struck me as a bit odd that Yuka would be interested in something like that, but I couldn't help but feel relieved that I had taken the time to hide all the questionable items from "my" collection the first time I cleaned my room.
I glanced at Misaki and asked, "What about you? Do you want to come too?"
Without even looking up, she replied while munching on her snacks, "No, I'll stay here and eat all this."
Look at this girl sulking like a kid over a card game. I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight—her cheeks puffed up as she nibbled away, clearly still bitter about her loss.
I led Yuka to my room without thinking much of it. As we entered, I walked toward the showcase containing "my" collection.
"Here, this is all," I said, gesturing toward it with my hand.
However, before I could even turn around, I felt Yuka rapidly closing the distance between us. Suddenly, she grabbed my collar and forcefully pulled me forward— fully showcasing her Judo skills—causing me to fall onto the bed. And not just onto the bed, but directly on top of her.
Looking back, I could have easily prevented her from pulling me. There was no way she could have overpowered me, but if I had resisted, my T-shirt collar would've torn. So I unconsciously let it happen.
I remained silent, patiently waiting for her to explain her actions.
Seeing my confusion, she gave me a small, knowing smile adorned with her slightly red face—one that looked almost too seductive in this situation. Then, she leaned in and whispered against my ear, her warm breath sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.
"I lied. I wasn't all that interested in your action figure collection..." She paused, her voice dipping lower. "I am more interested in your figure."