The night came in a flash, and when I opened my eyes, I found myself in the body of a baby.

"Haruka, look, this is your little brother," an old man said, his voice gentle yet filled with authority.

From this new perspective, it became clear—I had been reincarnated. As the realization set in, I started to cry, not because I was a baby but because memories of my death flooded back, raw and painful.

"O lost soul, you have wandered too far into the abyss," a woman with flowing blue hair said, her voice echoing through the darkness.

"Wh-what do you mean by that?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"You don't even remember? Poor thing…" she sighed, pity lacing her words.

"Ah…right… I died…" I muttered as fragments of the events that led to my death resurfaced, a mix of regret and resignation washing over me.

"You don't need to be sad anymore, for I have granted you another chance," she said, her voice soothing yet enigmatic.

"Eh? You mean…?" I began, hope sparking for the first time.

"Time to wake up… Himeya…"

Ring-Ring

"Huh?!" I jolted awake, looking around to find myself in my own room. My heart raced as I processed my surroundings.

My name is Shin Himeya, and it seems I've been reincarnated into a new world. At first glance, this world looks just like the one I knew, but something feels off. Then it hits me—this is the world of the manga I used to read. But there's a twist: I'm not the protagonist. I'm just a random character, the side character in this story.

Knock-Knock

"Himeya, are you awake?" a familiar voice called from the other side of the door.

"Yeah, I'm awake, sis," I replied, recognizing the voice as my sister, Haruka Shin. Unlike me, Haruka was the perfect sister—kind, talented, and admired by everyone.

I got up, grabbing my school uniform and a towel. "I'll take a bath first, then I'll come down for breakfast," I called out to her.

"Alright but hurry up! I have work to do," she responded, her tone brisk yet caring.

I headed to the bathroom and turned on the shower, the warm water cascading over me, helping to clear the fog of confusion. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, trying to make sense of everything. The face staring back at me was familiar, yet there was an undeniable strangeness to it. This was my life now, in a world that was once just ink and paper, and I wasn't even the hero of the story.

"I never thought I'd get a chance to be reincarnated into this world…" I muttered to myself, staring at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. The steam from the hot shower was still lingering, making everything look hazy, like I was in a dream.

Knock-Knock

"You done yet?" Haruka's voice echoed from the other side of the bathroom door, her tone a mix of impatience and concern.

"Yeah, I'm done now," I replied, hurriedly drying off and rushing out to join her at the dining table.

"Alright, let's eat," Haruka said with a warm smile, pulling out a chair for me. The aroma of freshly cooked food filled the room, a comforting reminder of home.

"You… waited for me?" I asked, surprised as I took my seat. It wasn't something I was used to.

"Of course," she said, ruffling my hair affectionately. "You're my little brother, after all. Besides, I have to look after you while Mom and Dad are overseas."

Her words made my chest feel warm, and for a moment, I forgot all about the strangeness of my new life. Even in this unfamiliar world, having Haruka by my side made it feel a little more like home.

After we finished eating, both of us got ready to go. My sister, Haruka, works at a company as a manga artist. AMAZING, RIGHT?! I still can't believe my sister actually draws manga for a living.

"Himeya, come on, get in the car," she called out as she grabbed her bag.

"Okay, sis," I replied, rushing to the passenger seat.

This is my first year in high school, and funny enough, the school I'm attending is the same one featured in a popular manga.

"Sigh Today's the day," I muttered, feeling the weight of the anticipation settle in.

"Don't mess up your first day," Haruka said, glancing at me with a playful smile.

"I don't need that from someone who still doesn't have a boyfriend at 23," I shot back, smirking.

"Uwah, that's rude, Himeya!" she exclaimed, feigning hurt.

"I'm just joking, sis. Haha."

As we pulled up in front of the school gates, I felt a mix of excitement and nerves bubbling up. I took a deep breath, opened the car door, and slapped my cheeks lightly with both hands.

"I'm ready," I declared, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

"Fufu, good luck, Himeya," Haruka said, her voice full of encouragement.

I stepped out of the car, turning back to give her a grin. "Watch me, sis. Haha!"

There were a lot of students gathered around the front of the school hall. I scanned the crowd, hoping to spot someone I knew from junior high, but all I saw were unfamiliar faces.

"Hmm… How is it possible that there's not a single person I know from junior high…" I mumbled to myself, feeling a bit lost among the sea of strangers.

Suddenly, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to see a guy about my age with a familiar grin.

"Yo, long time no see, Himeya," he said, giving me a friendly wave.

"Ah, Kousuke?! You're going to Enoshima High too? I thought you were going somewhere else…" I exclaimed, surprised to see Kousuke Kirihara, my friend from junior high.

"Heh, what? You want me to disappear or something?" he replied with a smirk.

"Well, then begone now!" I joked, trying to keep a straight face.

"Pfft, haha!" We both burst into laughter.

"Hey, let's grab a seat. The headmaster's about to start his speech," Kousuke suggested, nudging me towards the school hall.

"Yeah, let's go."

We made our way to the hall and found seats on the left side, where we could get a decent view of the stage. As we settled in, I couldn't help but notice a girl standing behind the headmaster, her posture calm yet commanding.

"There she is…" I murmured under my breath, my gaze fixed on her.

"Huh? What are you looking at, Himeya?" Kousuke whispered, leaning in to follow my line of sight.

"Nah, it's nothing," I said, trying to play it off.

"Hmm…" Kousuke squinted, scanning the stage to figure out what had caught my attention. Suddenly, he spotted her and grinned. "Oh, I see… you've got good taste, man."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, confused.

"I know what you're up to. You're checking out that Senpai, aren't you?"

"Which one?"

"The one with the beauty mark under her left eye," he said, nudging me knowingly.

"..."

"Bullseye!" he laughed, the sound of his voice carrying a sense of triumph.

After the Headmaster's speech concluded, each club president in the school began promoting their clubs. One by one, they stepped forward, delivering their pitches with varying levels of enthusiasm and charisma. By the time most of the clubs had finished, it was finally the Literature Club's turn—the club I was most interested in, mainly because the girls who had caught my attention were part of it.

"The next presentation will be given by the President of the Literature Club, Kanemoto Uguisu. The stage is yours," announced the speech moderator, stepping aside to make room for her.

"Yes, thank you," Uguisu said, her voice calm yet commanding.

As she began her speech, it was clear that she wasn't just going through the motions. She captivated the audience with her eloquence, expertly explaining not just why students should join the Literature Club, but also highlighting the broader benefits, like the valuable knowledge and skills they would gain. Her passion for literature was evident in every word, and it was hard not to be drawn in by her enthusiasm.

"...And that concludes the introduction to our Literature Club. If any of you are interested in joining us, please head to the library after your class introductions. Thank you," she finished, her voice carrying a hint of pride. With a graceful nod, Uguisu stepped back from the podium.

Clap-clap

The sound of applause broke the brief silence that followed her speech. Everyone's gaze shifted toward the person clapping—Takamine Hiro, the protagonist of this story. Uguisu glanced at him, and a subtle smile crossed her lips.

"Hey, Himeya, did you see that senpai just smiled at that guy? Do you know him?" Kousuke nudged me, breaking my focus.

"Nah, I don't... and why would I knew him?" I replied, my eyes lingering on the interaction between Uguisu and Hiro.

Once all the speeches were finished, the first-year students were instructed to check the board outside the hall to find their class assignments. A crowd quickly formed as everyone jostled to find their names.

"...Shin… Shin… Hmm… Found it!"

My name was listed under Class B. As I scanned the list, I noticed a few familiar names as well.

"That guy and that girl… they're in the same class as me, huh," I muttered to myself, feeling a mix of curiosity and anticipation.

Kousuke soon found his name too and came over. "I found my class—Class A," he said with a smug grin. "As expected of me, the ace."

"What does that even mean? It has nothing to do with classes," I laughed.

"Well, anyway, I'm heading to my class. See ya, Himeya," Kousuke said, waving as he turned to leave.

"Yeah, see you," I responded, watching him disappear into the sea of students.

I made my way to my assigned classroom, choosing a seat by the window in the second row. The room was filled with the quiet buzz of first-day jitters, yet no one was really talking like you'd expect from a group of high schoolers. As I glanced around, I noticed the girl behind me with dark red hair—her hair a messy tangle as she rested her head on the desk, appearing as though she was already asleep.

Slide

The door opened, and a woman stepped inside, her presence immediately commanding attention.

"Alright everyone, let's hurry up and get through our first introductions. My name is Tanaka Maria, and I'll be your homeroom teacher. Without further ado, let's get started. We'll begin from the right," she said, her voice brisk and businesslike.

One by one, the students introduced themselves. When it was Takamine Hiro's turn, he stood up, his demeanor confident yet casual.

"Takamine Hiro. I have a lot of hobbies...um… yeah, one of my interests is literature," he said simply before sitting back down.

Not long after that, it was my turn to introduce myself. I stood up, feeling the usual discomfort of having eyes on me.

"I'm Shin Himeya," I said simply, keeping my voice as flat as possible. "I'm here because I have to be."

My teacher gave me a quick, polite smile, and I quickly took my seat again, relieved that it was over.

Next, the girl behind me stood up. She moved with a sluggishness that made it clear she didn't really want to be there.

"Miyako Touka," she muttered, her voice casual and almost indifferent. "Nice to meet 'cha."

She slouched back into her chair, immediately resting her head on the desk as if trying to disappear. The classroom filled with whispers—quiet but unmistakable. I could hear bits and pieces; they were talking about Touka, and not in a good way.

She didn't seem to mind—or maybe she was just good at hiding it. I glanced at her, half-curious about the girl who seemed to care even less than I did.

Miyako Touka, the girl who wandered the city at night, had her reasons. It wasn't just aimless wandering—there was a purpose behind those nightly excursions, but what that purpose was...

"Alright then, everyone has already introduced themselves, and that's all for today. Thank you! You may go home or join any clubs you're interested in," Maria-sensei said, wrapping up the class.

"Time to go…" I muttered, picking up my bag. But when I turned around, Touka was already gone—nowhere to be seen in the classroom.

…That girl…

I headed towards the library, hoping to catch up on some reading. On my way there, someone tapped my shoulder.

"Yo, Shin, isn't it?"

"You are… Takamine," I said, recognizing him from earlier.

"Hiro is fine," he replied with a grin.

"Call me Himeya, then," I said.

"Are you joining too?" he asked, sounding hopeful.

"Joining what?"

"The Literature Club."

"…Yeah, I think so," I nodded, unsure of my own commitment but curious enough to follow through.

"Then let's go together," Hiro suggested.

I nodded again, and we made our way to the library. As we arrived, I noticed a few people already there, scanning books or chatting quietly.

"Welcome, Kouhai!" a voice greeted us energetically.

"Y-yeah…" I responded, caught off guard by the sudden welcome.

"Ah, right! Are you guys interested in joining the Literature Club?" another voice chimed in—a senior, by the looks of him.

"Yeah/Yep," Hiro and I answered in unison.

The senior handed us each a form. "Fill out these papers, and you'll officially be members of the Literature Club."

"Um… What's your name, Senpai?" Hiro asked.

"Oh, did I forget to introduce myself? I'm Suzuki Kento. You can call me Ken, or add '-to' if that's more comfortable," he said with a friendly smile.

…Weird Senpai… I thought to myself.

After filling out the forms, we handed them back to Kento, who then introduced us to the rest of the club members.

"Alright everyone, we have some new members joining us today!" Kento announced, gesturing towards us.

I glanced at Hiro, signaling for him to go first.

"M-mmm-my name is Takamine Hiro, and I'm interested in joining this club because I'm, well, interested," he stammered nervously.

…Weird protagonist…

"Shin Himeya. Looking forward to getting to know this club," I said, bowing my head slightly in respect.

The other members clapped politely, welcoming us into their small circle.

"Welcome, Shin and Takamine. Our club may not be the biggest, but we're like family here, so let's all get along, okay?" Uguisu, one of the seniors, said with a warm smile that seemed to light up the room.

I was struck by her smile, but there was something behind it—something like pain hidden beneath the surface.

"Yes, Senpai… Looking forward to being your juniors," I said, extending my hand for a handshake.

She took my hand, shaking it firmly. "Fufufu, what an interesting kouhai I have this year."

We both laughed, the sound echoing in the quiet library, as if the world around us had faded away.

After a brief introduction to everyone, we wrapped up for the day and headed home.

—On the way home—

"Himeya, what do you think about her?" Hiro asked, his voice breaking the comfortable silence.

"Her? You mean Uguisu-senpai?" I replied.

"Yeah… What do you think?"

I stared blankly ahead as I thought about her. "You know, you're weird, right?"

"That's rude!" Hiro exclaimed, but he laughed it off.

"She's… kind of whimsical," I said thoughtfully.

"Whimsical?"

"Yeah… but, there's something more. I can't quite put my finger on it…"

"Whoa, that's deep, Himeya. I never knew you were such a serious guy when it comes to women," he teased.

"Ugh… now you're being rude," I grumbled, but couldn't help but chuckle.

After walking for a while, we eventually went our separate ways.

Click

"I'm home," I called out as I opened the front door.

"Welcome back, Meyya," Haruka's voice came from the living room, casual and lazy as ever.

I untied my shoes, leaving them haphazardly by the entrance, and made my way into the living room.

"Why didn't you come pick me up… SIS!" I complained, grabbing her shoulders and giving her a playful shake.

"U…W…A…H…Stop…Shaking…Me…" she mumbled, clearly unfazed.

"…"

"Because you always make fun of me when— Wa…H…Stop…Shaking…My…Shoulders…Meyyaaaa!" she whined, flailing dramatically.

I looked at her with an exaggerated expression of disdain.

"Uwah, don't look at me with those eyes!" she pouted.

"I hate you, sis…" I said with mock seriousness.

"HUH?"

"Wh-what?"

"Where is Himeya?!"

"I'm right here?"

"No, you're not my little brother. My Himeya would never say something like that! Instead, he'd say, 'I like you, sis. When I grow up, I'll make you my wife!'—just like that!" she said, mimicking my voice and expressions in a poor but amusing imitation.

"…Baka Aneki!" I groaned, playfully knocking my fists on her head.

"Ouch!"

"I'll make dinner… Sigh."

"Make curry!" she demanded cheerfully.

"Yeah, yeah," I replied, rolling my eyes but smiling despite myself.

"Hmm…" I hear my sister murmur, her eyes fixed on me.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" I ask, feeling a little self-conscious.

She smirks. "It's true, my little brother is cooler now."

"And my sister is still single, though," I tease back, raising an eyebrow.

We both burst into laughter, the sound filling the kitchen with a warmth that makes everything feel like home.

After about fifteen minutes of playing chef, I finally plate our dinner. "Dinner's ready, sis," I call out, wiping my hands on a towel.

"Kayyy!" she replies, making her way to the table.

We dig in, enjoying our meal like we always do—comfortably, casually, like it's just another evening.

"How was your first day?" she asks between bites.

"Everything's fine," I reply, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Did you make any friends?" she probes further, eyes glinting with curiosity.

"I'm not you, ya know," I shoot back, smirking.

She sighs. "Again with that?"

"Sorry, hehe." I chuckle awkwardly, scratching the back of my head.

…

"Anyway, everything went fine according to my plan," I say, shifting the conversation.

"Plan?" She raises an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.

"I call it the 'Youthful Plan!'" I announce proudly, puffing out my chest a little.

"Uwah, Chuunibyou Himeya," she teases, rolling her eyes.

"Don't call your bro a Chunni, idiot." I frown, crossing my arms.

She leans forward, a mischievous smile on her face. "So, what's this so-called 'Youthful Plan'? Can you tell me more?"

I lean back, acting all mysterious. "Plan number one: Don't tell Haruka my plan," I say, trying to keep a straight face.

"That's your plan?!" She stares at me incredulously.

"What? Don't like it?" I respond, maintaining my deadpan expression.

"Whatever…" She rolls her eyes again, but I can tell she's amused.

After finishing dinner, I head to my room. "I'm gonna go to sleep, sis. Good night," I say, already feeling the exhaustion of the day catching up to me.

"G'night, Himeya," she replies, her voice fading as I close my door.

-My Room-

I plop onto my bed, staring at the ceiling. The first day of meeting the characters from the manga… wow… it feels like a dream.

"I wonder if I… can…" I mumble to myself as my eyelids grow heavy, and before I know it, I'm drifting off, ending this day on a hopeful note.