(Ritsuka POV)
A soft giggle filled the kitchen as small, flour-covered hands patted dough into shape.
"Papa, is this good?"
Ritsuka smiled warmly as he knelt beside his adorable little daughter, gently adjusting the cake batter in her tiny hands.
"That's perfect, sweetheart."
Behind them, his lovely wife hummed softly as she cooked another dish, occasionally glancing at them with a loving gaze. The smell of freshly baked cakes and warm home-cooked food filled the air.
It was… perfect. A simple, happy life.
After preparing everything, they all sat at the table, sharing smiles and laughter as they ate together.
Ritsuka could feel the warmth in his chest.
This was his happiness.
This was his dream.
He opened his eyes.
The soft light of a cozy home vanished. Instead, he was met with the cold hum of an airplane cabin. Slowly, he lifted his hands and covered his face.
"…A dream."
A beautiful dream.
His heart ached. He had never had something like that in his past life. A loving family. A peaceful home. A simple life. It was something so ordinary, yet for him, it felt so far away.
He clenched his fists, feeling a twinge of embarrassment. If someone knew that was the dream he longed for, they'd laugh, wouldn't they?
"I never had a chance to live that kind of life to begin with…" he muttered under his breath.
"Bro, are you finally awake?"
A familiar voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
Ritsuka turned his head and saw three faces grinning at him.
His childhood friends.

Hōtarō Oreki – The definition of laziness. The guy would rather conserve energy than waste it on unnecessary effort. But if he ever did put in effort? Scary.

Yuji Itadori – The definition of "Golden Retriever Energy." Strong, friendly, and an absolute menace in stupid dares.

Karma Akabane – The definition of "Chaos Incarnate." Genius-level intellect, a terrifying manipulator, and the biggest troll Ritsuka had ever met.
Oh right. He had these guys in this world.
Ritsuka blinked, still shaking off the lingering emotions of his dream.
"Why didn't you answer my calls?" Yuji whined, throwing an arm over Ritsuka's shoulder.
"When we got here, you were already asleep like a log," Karma added, smirking. "What did you do last night to be this tired?"
Then he leaned closer, eyes gleaming mischievously.
"Wait. Don't tell me—you stayed up watching porn?"
Ritsuka's eye twitched.
"No! I was tired from working out!" he shot back.
Karma threw his head back, laughing. "Hahaha! Just kidding. That's my dude. Already thinking about the future!"
Oreki sighed, resting his chin on his hand. "I don't know what's worse—Karma being like this at seven in the morning, or you guys actually indulging his nonsense."
Ritsuka rubbed his temples.
He was too tired to deal with this.
"Just wake me up when we reach Cube," he muttered, leaning back into his seat.
As his friends chatted about the latest Dragon Ball chapter, Ritsuka closed his eyes again.
He needed time.
This wasn't just some fiction.
This was real.
The weight of losing 30 years of his past life, his old friends, his old world...it was still there, lingering in the back of his mind.
But… he didn't regret it.
Because what was waiting for him back there? A dead-end job. Endless work. A life where he never moved from his chair, slaving away in front of a screen.
That was hell.
And this? This was a second chance. A chance to actually live. With that thought, he let himself drift into sleep once more.
After four long hours in the air, the plane finally touched down in Korea.
Ritsuka and his three childhood friends stepped out into Cube Academy. The place was massive—colossal structures, advanced technology, and thousands of students dressed in training uniforms filled the academy grounds. And right now, all of them were gathered in a gigantic auditorium.
A deep, authoritative voice echoed across the space.
> "Military Academy of the Seoul Hero Association. Graduation of the Class of 2024. Rank 1 Cadet: Kim Suho."
As the name was announced, the crowd exploded with applause.
It was him.
Kim Suho.
One of the main protagonists of The Novel's Extra.
Ritsuka already knows him from the novel original Mc.
"Kim Suho?"
Ritsuka turned his head to see Karma Akabane smirking, arms crossed as his crimson eyes locked onto the young man in the spotlight.
That expression…
Ritsuka immediately knew what it meant.
Karma wanted to fight him.
And honestly?
It was only a matter of time before he found a way to make it happen.
Suho stood tall on the stage, his imposing presence undeniable. Bright blue hair, a ridiculously athletic build, and an air of natural confidence surrounded him.
Ritsuka glanced around, scanning the crowd.
'Where's Kim Hajin?'
The true protagonist of this world. But after a few moments of searching, he came to a realization.
'Right… he doesn't appear until two weeks later.'
For now, he was just another nameless mob in the background. Meaning Ritsuka wouldn't find him even if he looked.
The crowd buzzed with admiration.
"Is that really Kim Suho? Wow…"
"He's so handsome."
"I want him to be the father of my children."
Ritsuka blinked. His expression remained neutral, but inside?
'Did she just—? …Okay.'
Some students worshiped Suho like he was some kind of divine figure. Others?
Well…
"That's why people say talent is all that matters," a voice muttered from the side. "Who cares if you work hard? People like him end up at the top anyway."
"Tch. That guy was just lucky to get a talent like that. If I had that talent, I'd be amazing too."
Ah.
There it was.
The classic jealous remarks.
Before Ritsuka could react, Karma burst out laughing.
"Pfft—AHAHAHAHA!"
The red-haired menace turned toward the bitter students, placing a hand over his heart in fake sympathy.
"Oh, you poor things."
Then his voice dropped into something almost condescending.
"So, let me get this straight. You're saying that if you were born with top-tier talent, you'd be just as strong, right?"
He grinned.
"In talent, maybe. But in looks? You'd need at least a dozen surgeries to be even half as good-looking."
The guy looked offended.
But Karma wasn't done.
"Also—Suho's been a straight-A student since he was ten. Meanwhile, you?" He gestured lazily. "Your grades look like they belong to a middle-aged dad who gave up on life."
"PFFT—"
Yuji snorted mid-sip of his water.
"Karma, bro, chill—"
"What?" Karma shrugged. "I'm just stating facts."
Meanwhile, Oreki let out a deep sigh, rubbing his temples.
"God, I'm surrounded by idiots."
Ritsuka let out a breath and shook his head. Nothing ever changed with these three.
And honestly?
That was kind of comforting.
The ceremony dragged on.
Ritsuka couldn't help but observe the different key figures in the crowd.
Shin Jonghak had arrived, looking as arrogant as ever.
Yun Seung-Ah was discussing guild invitations with Kim Suho.
Rachel remained calm and composed.
Chae Nayun… was visibly annoyed at Suho, her arms crossed in irritation.
Then, right in the middle of his thoughts—
"Yo, forget all that."
Karma stretched his arms behind his head, flashing a lazy grin.
"Let's go to Red Chilli's restaurant later. To celebrate our entry into Cube, I'll pay this time."
Yuji's eyes lit up instantly.
"Let's go then! I'm starving."
Oreki?
He just sighed.
"You're always starving."
But he still followed.
After the ceremony, the group left the academy and asked for directions. But Karma took them in his own .
The moment they stepped inside, a warm and familiar voice greeted them.
"Oh my, Karma! Long time no see!"
The owner was a short elderly woman, no taller than 1.53 meters, with white straight hair down to her neck.
Her expression was kind, her face marked by gentle wrinkles that made her seem like the perfect grandma.
Karma's grin widened.
"Yo, Grandma! Been a while, huh?"
Ritsuka raised an eyebrow.
'He knows her?'
The old woman chuckled.
"It has! You haven't visited in so long. Still causing trouble?"
"Always." Karma smirked.
Then, she took out her notepad.
"So, what will you boys have?"
Ritsuka turned to Karma.
"I'll leave it to you."
Karma nodded.
"Alright, go find a table for us."
Ritsuka glanced around.
Almost all the tables were full.
Looks like finding a seat was going to be harder than expected.
Ritsuka scanned the restaurant and finally found a table with only one person sitting there.
And then—he froze.
Seated at the small wooden table was a girl unlike any he had ever seen.
Her golden-blonde hair cascaded down in soft waves, framing a delicate yet sharp face with piercing emerald eyes. Despite her small stature, there was an undeniable presence about her.
'She had strong Aura'
But that wasn't what shocked him the most.
No.
It was the sheer number of empty plates stacked in front of her.

'Holy shit.'
Ritsuka had seen hungry people before—but this? This was a level beyond.
And just as she lifted the last piece of food to her lips, she suddenly locked eyes with him.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then—
"KAH—COUGH—KAKA COUGH!!"
Her face turned red as she started choking on her food.
"Shit!"
Panic hit Ritsuka as he rushed forward.
"S-Sorry if I disturbed you!"
"COUGH—HAAK—COUGH—WHEEZE!"
"Here—water!"
Without thinking, he poured water into her cup and slid it over.
She grabbed it immediately.
"GLUG GLUG GLUG—"
Ritsuka watched her gulp it down hurriedly, her small hands gripping the cup tightly.
'Is she okay?!'
When she finally finished drinking, she placed the cup down and exhaled deeply.
She still wouldn't make eye contact.
"Sorry about that," she muttered.
Ritsuka rubbed the back of his neck.
"No, please. That was my fault."
His thoughts raced.
'I never thought I'd see a girl who eats this much… also, why is she so small?'
Then, suddenly—she lifted her head and looked at him again.
Their eyes met one more time.
And then—
"Thank you for the food!"
With shocking speed, she bolted out of the restaurant.
Ritsuka blinked.
"…You're welcome?"
He stared at the open door where she had disappeared.
Then, realization hit him.
'Damn, she's fast.'
He could instantly tell—
She was stronger than him.
Right now, at least.
But then—
Whispers.
Murmurs started spreading through the restaurant.
"Creepy."
"Did you see that? What a pervert."
"He probably freaked her out."
"Ugh, all boys are the same, chasing after pretty girls."
Ritsuka's stomach dropped.
'Shit.'
Now he really felt terrible.
He didn't even do anything, and now he looked like some creep who scared a girl off. And just as the whispers grew louder. A familiar voice cut through the air.
"Oi."
Ritsuka turned.
Karma Akabane was standing there. Grinning.And holding a knife from the table.
"I saw what happened."
He twirled the knife lazily between his fingers and let his sharp red eyes scan the crowd.
Then, in a casual tone—
"If you don't want your tongues cut off, stop talking shit about my friend."
The entire restaurant fell silent.
People stared.
Then—
"What the fuck, man?!"
"Psychopath!"
"He's crazy!"
The customers started openly cursing at him.
But Karma? He just grinned wider.
"God, I bet none of them could handle a Chad like me."
Ritsuka sighed and rubbed his temples. Oreki finally spoke up.
"You really know how to make people hate you, don't you?"
Yuji laughed nervously.
"Bro, I think you just made us all public enemies."
Karma shrugged.
"And? Let them talk. Doesn't change shit."
With that, the four of them sat down, ignoring the glares and whispers from the others. Ritsuka, still feeling a little uneasy, glanced back toward the door.
'Who was that girl…?'
After the waiter cleared the empty plates, I took the chance to observe the restaurant.
The atmosphere was simple but cozy—modest wooden tables, soft lighting, and a gentle breeze filtering in through the windows. A small TV in the corner quietly played some random show, adding to the comfortable mood.
Around us, a mix of families and students were enjoying their meals.
It was a peaceful place—the kind of spot where you could relax without worries.
Then, the lady returned with our food, setting down each dish with a warm smile.
"Here you go. Enjoy."
"Thank you, ma'am," we said in unison.
I picked up my chopsticks and took my first bite of the tteokbokki.
The moment the spicy, rich flavor hit my tongue, I paused.
'Holy… this is amazing.'
The heat, the slight sweetness, the chewy texture— it was unlike anything from my old world. Simple yet addictive.
"Damn, this food is really the best," I muttered, taking another bite.
"Definitely," Yuji agreed, grinning. "I could eat this every day."
Karma smirked. "Maybe if you train harder, you won't gain weight."
Yuji choked on his rice. "Oi! What's that supposed to mean?!"
Oreki, as expected, ate in silence, but from the small nod of approval, I could tell he liked the food too.
The meal felt good. The lighthearted atmosphere, the warm conversation…
For a moment, the tension from earlier disappeared.
Then, Yuji spoke up, his voice curious.
"Man, what's our future after this?"
Karma leaned back, resting his arms behind his head.
"Dunno. Hard to say."
"We could just go with the flow," Oreki muttered, poking at his food lazily.
"How about becoming mercenaries?" Yuji suggested.
Karma raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Sounds fun. Killing for money?"
Yuji quickly waved his hands. "No, no, I meant like a badass team doing dangerous jobs!"
I set down my chopsticks.
"I want to create a guild."
The table went silent.
All three of them looked at me.
Karma's grin widened. "A guild, huh? Ambitious."
Yuji tilted his head. "You mean like those big-shot guilds in Korea and Japan?"
I nodded.
Ever since I arrived in this world, I knew I wouldn't be satisfied working under someone else.
My past life taught me that relying on others blindly was dangerous on personal life.
If I wanted to control my own future, I needed my own guild—one where I could shape my own path.
I had the power to make it happen.
And with my Shadow Monarch abilities, I would become the strongest guild master in the future.
Karma chuckled. "Alright. Sounds like a pain in the ass—but I like it."
Yuji grinned. "Hell yeah! Count me in, boss!"
Oreki sighed. "Ugh… I don't really care, but I'd rather follow you than work for some corporate suit."
I smiled.
"Thanks."
A small but important step.
After finishing our meals, we thanked the lady and left the restaurant.
As we walked, Karma stretched. "Man, that was good food. We should come here again."
Yuji nodded. "Yeah, but next time, I'm ordering even more."
Oreki muttered, "Just don't choke like that blonde girl did."
Yuji gasped. "Bro! That's cold!"
Ignoring them, I looked ahead.
The road to our future guild was still far away.
But for the first time—
I wasn't walking it alone.
And that meant everything.
We headed toward our Cube-assigned apartments. As we walked, I couldn't help but admire the area. Even though I'd never been to Korea before, I knew this world had changed. Whether this was normal or a result of those changes, I couldn't say. But damn, was it beautiful. The cool breeze, the fresh air, the distant glow of city lights—it felt strangely peaceful. At the apartment entrance, I inserted the identification key into the slot. A soft beep confirmed the door unlocking.
I turned to my friends. "Good night, guys."
Karma gave a lazy salute. "Try not to wake up dead."
Yuji laughed. "If you do, at least haunt someone interesting."
Oreki just sighed. "Too much energy for bedtime. Good night."
I shook my head and stepped inside.
A Quiet Space
"I'm home," I called out, the words swallowed by the emptiness of the room.
The dim lighting revealed a tidy space...minimal furniture, but clean and organized. Flicking the switch, the soft glow illuminated the apartment fully. The living room and kitchen were connected in an open design. Simple. Practical. Livable.
"Cube really put effort into this."
I wandered around, checking if there was anything useful. Nothing personal stood out. Just food. Lots of food. Glancing at the wall clock, I saw the time: 8:25 PM.
"Guess I should eat."
I wasn't too hungry, but a habit was a habit. As I set up ingredients, I remembered. I promised to call home every day. Dialing the number, I waited.
Dad picked up.
"Oh, look who finally remembers his family."
I smiled. "Hey, Dad. I—"
"IDIOT!"
I pulled the phone away from my ear as my little sister's voice exploded through the speaker.
"You were supposed to call earlier! We were waiting!"
"Sorry, sorry!" I chuckled.
I started cooking as I talked, keeping my voice steady while my sister ranted about school, games, and how she totally wasn't worried about me.
Dad just laughed in the background.
I told them about my day—the restaurant, my friends, the new routine.
But I left out the girl incident.
As I finished cooking, only Mom remained on the phone.
Her voice softened.
"Ritsuka. Did something happen?"
I froze.
'Damn it. I can't hide anything from her.'
I sighed. "Uh… kinda. I saw a girl eating. She saw me and freaked out. Then she ran off."
Silence.
Then—
"You stared at her while she ate, didn't you?"
"...Uh."
"Ritsuka. You NEVER stare at a girl when she's eating."
"But Mom! She was eating a LOT—"
"Doesn't matter. It's rude. If you see her again, apologize."
I sighed. "Fine, fine. Good night, Mom."
"Good night, sweetie."
Click.
I leaned back, staring at the ceiling.
'Seriously? I have to apologize for watching someone eat?'
Still…
I did feel bad.
After finishing my meal, I got to work. The system's daily quests were a pain, but worth it. I allocated my stat points to strength, making the physical exercises easier. Push-ups, sit-ups, running. Each movement burned less than before. The fatigue and stress still hit, but not as bad as yesterday.
'I'm getting stronger.'
After showering, I collapsed onto my bed. The softness pulled me in instantly. Before I drifted off, one last thought crossed my mind.
I should apologize to her.
The apartment fell silent, the darkness embracing me.
And just like that—
Sleep took over.
---
(To Be Continued...)
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Note: Hey again. How was the chapter?
Surprised to see New characters. Yeah, I added New Characters or Should I say New protagonists. Anyway, I know you guys may like this or not. But let me hear out frist. Aren't you guys got Tried of reading Same Concept again and again. Maybe not but Why don't you give This direction a try.
Actually I not interested in doing Harem stories right now. So I added interesting Three MC and each will get the heroine.
Also Yuji and Oreki will get more Development in later chapters not now.
Also For All Readers. This Novel Is missing of Peak Romance , Anti Gonner, Wholesome stuffs, because I took inspiration From Kaoru Hana wa Rin to Saku. I hope everyone smiles when they read Wholesome Love stories here.
But I promise you This story makes you forget Rent-a-girlfriend shit is exist.
Take care and be safe.
Sayonara!