The next morning began just like any typical rom-com morning: birds chirping, sunlight filtering through the curtains, and a comically persistent mother shouting from downstairs.
"Ren! You're going to be late! Hinami-chan's waiting outside!"
Ah, right. The "childhood friend walks to school with you" cliché. Like clockwork.
I dragged myself out of bed and got dressed in the standard school uniform—black blazer, white shirt, and a loosely worn tie. In the mirror, Ren's handsome face greeted me again. Still unnerving. Still annoyingly photogenic.
As I stepped outside, there she was.
Hinami Kurosawa stood with a sweet smile, her hands folded behind her back, brown hair tied in a soft ponytail, her school bag resting neatly against her leg. The light hit her just right—game engine magic. There was even a wind effect in her skirt.
"Morning, Ren-kun," she said with that practiced gentleness.
"Morning," I replied, adjusting my bag. "Sorry to keep you waiting."
She shook her head. "Not at all. Shall we?"
We walked together, and the conversation started like any normal day—classes, club activities, the weather. But I noticed the sidelong glances she kept throwing me. Like she wanted to say something but wasn't sure how.
Finally, as we reached the corner by the vending machine, she stopped.
"Ren-kun…" she began, then hesitated.
Here it comes. A flag.
I recognized it immediately—the classic "childhood friend affection rise" event.
"I heard what happened yesterday... behind the gym. You helped Akari-chan, didn't you?"
So news traveled fast. Even when you try to stay in the background, the world seems determined to put a spotlight on you.
I shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "She needed help. Anyone would've done the same."
"That's not true," she said, her eyes firm for once. "Most people would've walked away. But you didn't."
Her admiration wasn't hidden. Another flag had fallen.
"It wasn't a big deal," I said, trying to deflect. "Let's get going. We'll be late."
But as we walked on, I caught the faint blush on her cheeks and the slight lift in her step.
One heroine emotionally compromised. Four to go.
In Class 3-B
The atmosphere was slightly different today. People stared more openly. Whispers flitted from desk to desk. Apparently, saving someone from a shady encounter earns you a few popularity points—even if you're technically a side character.
Kaito Shiranami, the protagonist, didn't seem to mind. In fact, he looked impressed.
"You're kind of a badass, Ren," he said, grinning. "Heard what you did for Akari. Didn't think you had it in you."
I raised an eyebrow. "What, do I look that harmless?"
Kaito laughed. "No offense, but yeah. You're like... cool in a calm way. Like a secret agent hiding in plain sight."
Not far off, actually.
Akari Misawa walked into class a moment later, hugging her books to her chest. She gave a small, shy glance in my direction, then quickly looked away. Red in the face. Another flag.
Wonderful.
As the teacher droned on about historical reforms, I tried not to think about how badly I was breaking the narrative.
Lunch Break: Rooftop
I wasn't hungry, but the rooftop was quiet, and I needed space to think. That was my first mistake.
The second was assuming I'd be alone.
"Ah, Ichikawa-kun. I was hoping to find you."
I turned to see her: Minako Aoi, the student council vice-president. Raven-haired perfection. Elegant, cold, calculating—the "cool beauty" archetype. She was a heroine designed for the late-game route. Sharp intellect, heavy emotional barriers, tragic backstory.
She was also not supposed to talk to Ren. Ever.
"And you are?" I asked, keeping my voice flat.
"Minako Aoi," she replied, walking forward with perfect posture, her bento box in hand. "I wanted to thank you for intervening yesterday. Akari-chan is a friend."
I leaned back against the railing. "It wasn't much."
"It was enough to disrupt a pattern of behavior. Those two delinquents have been on our radar for some time. But we lacked evidence. Your timing was... efficient."
She said it with the precision of a prosecutor, analyzing every word.
"And?" I asked.
"I'd like you to consider joining the Disciplinary Committee," she said bluntly. "We need someone who can act without hesitation."
A flag.
A massive one.
The cold beauty route had just opened—and I hadn't even done anything flirty.
I laughed under my breath.
"Sorry. I'm not the committee type."
"Think about it," she said, bowing slightly before turning to leave. "Ichikawa-kun... not everyone can stand in the shadows and still be seen."
I watched her walk away, her long black hair catching the wind like she was in a commercial.
This was getting out of hand.
After School: Club Hallway
"Ren-senpai!"
A younger girl zipped down the hallway toward me, her energy practically bouncing off the walls. Pink hair. Ribbons. Big eyes. Small stature.
Sayaka Mochizuki. First-year. Idol-in-training. Literal ball of sunshine.
She skidded to a stop in front of me, breathing hard.
"I saw you yesterday! You were so cool!" she said, stars in her eyes. "You're like... like a secret superhero or something!"
I sighed. "Let me guess—you want to recruit me for the idol club?"
"No! Well, yes. But also, I made you this!"
She held up a hand-made charm—awkwardly sewn, a bit crooked, but oddly endearing. "For protection! From bad vibes!"
Another flag.
At this point, I could probably build a country out of all these flags.
I accepted it, unsure how to politely refuse. "Thanks... I'll, uh, keep it safe."
She beamed.
As she skipped off, I stared at the charm. What was I becoming?
That Night
I sat at my desk, the charm resting next to my hand, textbooks open but forgotten. On my laptop screen was the original game wiki for Love Arcadia!!. I had it memorized in my last life. Now I was reviewing just to see how far I'd already diverged.
Kaito hadn't even had his first proper heroine scene yet. I'd tripped three route triggers in twenty-four hours.
What's worse, the heroines weren't acting like they were supposed to. Hinami was more assertive. Akari was actively seeking me out. Aoi approached me. Sayaka handed me a good luck charm—which in the original game, she gave to Kaito after his rescue event in Chapter 3.
Everything was off. And I was the cause.
I leaned back, rubbing my eyes. Maybe I could still fix it. Retreat. Stay quiet. Let the flags cool.
Then the doorbell rang.
A moment later, my mother called up. "Ren! There's a girl here for you!"
I groaned.
This world didn't want me to hide.
And honestly...
Maybe a small part of me didn't want to, either.