I slowly opened my eyes. In front of me was a room with blue walls and some very expensive furniture.
What the hell…?! I shot up from the bed. Looking around, I couldn't help but ask, "Where the hell am I?!" I'd only closed my eyes for a moment while waiting to finally reach Star City. But when I opened them again, I wasn't in the van anymore—I was in some unfamiliar room.
A sigh escaped my lips, followed by an ironic smile. Don't tell me… Did that stupid wish I made as a joke actually come true? Hmm? A phone? I hoped it had some answers. More importantly, I prayed I was still in my own body—not stuck as some faceless, ugly nobody.
I opened the camera app on the phone and checked my reflection. A sigh of relief escaped me. My face was still the same: black hair, blue eyes.
So… does this mean I'm inside the novel Academy with a Harem? Wow. I wouldn't believe I'd been transported into a novel I read unless I also had powers.
Hmm? A message? Who's it from?
Contact Name: [Elina]
Message: Akiro, are you coming to eat with the others or not?
What?! A message from one of the heroines in the novel?! Hold on. Am I just some extra… or the protagonist? That question stuck in my mind.
Something else I noticed—strange as it was—was that I felt more like a normal human. While I still had my memories, I felt emotions in a way I never had before. Back then, I thought emotions were pointless distractions. If this had happened to the old me, I would've taken it calmly and brushed it off.
For now, I needed to reply to Elina's message and figure out what role I had in this world. Whatever it was, I wasn't going to follow it blindly. I had one wish now: to live this life to the fullest—not the bleak existence I had before, trapped in a cell.
I glanced at the phone again. It was 7:13 PM. I typed out a response:
Contact Name: [Elina]
Elina: Akiro, are you coming to eat with the others or not?
Akiro: Sure, Elina. What time did you say we'd meet? Sorry, my memory's been a bit off.
(Thoughts: I might have perfect memory, but I'd just appeared out of nowhere in a novel, with a role I didn't know. Clearly, I wouldn't remember having spoken to Elina before—by phone or in person.)
Elina: Huh? How could you forget? You're always the best at remembering everything, and the top student in every subject. Are you feeling okay? Anyway, we're meeting at 8:00 PM, so get ready—we bought alcohol, and it's going to be fun. Yay!
Akiro: Haha, thanks for worrying about me, but I'm fine. Thanks for the reminder—I'll be there on time.
I sighed, exhausted from the conversation. I'm not used to talking to people yet. Even though I have human emotions, I hope I don't turn into a full-blown introvert.
Once that was handled, I started exploring my new home. It seemed like I was someone wealthy, given that this house was enormous—practically a mansion. But strangely, it seemed I was the only one living here. Apparently, I hired staff, as my phone contacts included people listed as cleaning staff.
After wandering for a bit, I finally found the bathroom in this labyrinth of a mansion and hopped in the shower. A few minutes later, I stepped out and grabbed a towel to dry off. When I glanced at the time, it was already 7:36 PM. Realizing I was running late, I quickly got dressed.
Five minutes later, I was ready: a black hoodie and blue pants—practical for a chilly, windy night. I sprayed on some cologne. Even if it was just a casual evening of drinking, one should always look presentable.
I called a taxi, using the address Elina had provided.
Taxi Driver: "Where to, young man?" The driver, a man in his early thirties, asked.
Me: "To XXX Street, sir."
Taxi Driver: "Of course, young man." He gave me a kind smile as I got in the car.
The ride lasted about 15 minutes.
Taxi Driver: "Here's the address you gave me."
Me: "Thank you, sir. Take care." I replied with a polite nod as he drove off.
Standing in front of Elina's house, I took a deep breath and tried to organize my thoughts. Okay. I'm in a romance-harem novel now. Just play it cool. Then, I knocked on the door.
When it opened, I was greeted by a young woman with chestnut-brown hair and a stunning face. For a moment, I couldn't help but admire her beauty. But I quickly pulled myself together and spoke.
Me: "Hey, Elina. How's it going? I came just like I said I would, didn't I?"
Elina: "Oh, Akiro! Welcome! It's the first time you've actually come to one of my parties. Usually, you'd just say, 'I can't' or 'I'm busy'—even though we all knew you had nothing to do." She pouted adorably.
Me: "Sorry, sorry! I really was busy with personal stuff. I hope you understand, Elina." I replied nervously.
Elina: "Hmph. It better have been more important than spending time with your friends. Anyway, come on in—everyone else will be here soon."
With an "Okay," I nodded and headed for the couch. I leaned back to relax, but then Elina hit me with a question that left me speechless.
Elina: "Hey, how's your engagement with Kenia going?" she asked, a strange nervousness in her tone.
Engagement? What engagement?!
Me: "Engagement? What do you mean?"
Elina: "Seriously? You don't even remember your own engagement, Akiro? Are you sure you're feeling okay?"
Me: "I'm fine."
(Thoughts: Kenia? If I remember correctly, she wasn't a heroine but a minor villain in the novel. She was engaged to someone she hated because it was part of a deal between her fiancé's grandfather and her father. The novel never mentioned the fiancé's name—he was just a jealous, petty character who ended up being humiliated.)
What kind of bad luck is this? I thought, letting out a sigh.
But then I noticed Elina's nervousness. Why is she so tense? I decided to press her for more details about the past. That's when she dropped another bombshell.
Elina: "You, Leonhardt, and I… we were childhood friends."
Haha. What a strange twist in the plot. I laughed to myself.