Chapter 2: Arrival
The distant hum of the city filled my ears. The faint sound of cars passing below, the occasional chirping of birds—everything felt too real, too vivid.
A sharp ray of sunlight pierced through my eyelids, making me groan. That was strange. I always closed the blackout curtains before sleeping.
Frowning, I sat up, rubbing my eyes.
The bed felt different.
It wasn't the familiar soft, thick mattress I was used to. Instead, it was firmer, more refined—like something straight out of a luxury hotel. Even the sheets felt different. Silky smooth, cool against my skin.
I blinked a few times, trying to process what I was seeing.
A massive open space.
The walls were lined with floor-to-ceiling windows, giving a breathtaking view of the sprawling cityscape below. Skyscrapers towered in the distance, their glass exteriors reflecting the golden morning sun. The interior was sleek and modern—marble floors, expensive furniture, a chandelier hanging above the lavish living area.
This… wasn't my room.
It wasn't even my apartment.
"What the hell…?"
I muttered, slowly pushing myself up. My legs felt weak, my body strangely light.
Had I been drinking last night? No, that didn't make sense. I didn't even go out.
Then why was I here?
I moved toward the glass windows, my reflection coming into view.
I froze.
The person staring back at me… wasn't me.
Golden blonde hair, striking red eyes—this wasn't my face. It looked familiar, like I had seen it before, but it wasn't mine.
A sickening feeling crawled up my spine.
I needed answers.
My gaze darted around the penthouse, searching for anything that could explain this situation. That's when I spotted it—a sleek black wallet resting on the coffee table.
My heart pounded as I picked it up and flipped it open.
An ID card slipped out.
And there it was.
A name I knew all too well.
[Shiranami Ryo]
I felt my blood run cold.
I knew this name.
Shiranami Ryo.
The villainous side character who tried to steal the heroine and ended up getting completely destroyed by the protagonist. A stepping stone character, a disposable pawn.
And now… I was him.
A sharp pain suddenly shot through my head.
"Ghh—! Aghhh!"
Memories that weren't mine flooded in, forcing their way into my mind. Ryo's past, his thoughts, his life—everything unraveled like a broken reel of film playing at full speed.
I clutched my head, gasping for air.
And when the pain finally stopped…
I knew.
This wasn't just a dream.
I had become Shiranami Ryo.
And if the story followed its original path…
I was doomed.
* * *
Fortunately, the pain didn't last long.
Memories settled into place as smoothly as syncing a phone, rapidly boosting my adaptability to this new reality. Thanks to that, I had already adjusted—almost too well. I exhaled calmly and lifted my gaze to the bathroom mirror.
A face stared back at me. One that was mine, yet unfamiliar.
Short, tousled blonde hair, slightly messy but effortlessly stylish. Crimson eyes that seemed to glow under the dim light.
Sharp, defined features—high cheekbones, a strong jawline, and lips that curved naturally into an expression of quiet confidence.
His skin was pale, almost porcelain-like, contrasting with the slight shadow under his eyes that gave him a rogueish, almost dangerous appeal.
To put it simply, he was striking. The kind of handsome that made people do double takes. The kind that looked effortlessly cool, yet carried an air of rebellion.
I took a deep breath, then stepped out into the living room and yanked open the fridge. Grabbing a bottle of water, I downed it in one go, the cold liquid grounding me in the reality of my situation.
I had no idea why this happened to me.
Maybe the developers of SDA (Spring Dreams Academy) were actually gods, saw my scathing review, and decided to smite me into their world as a punishment. It was a ridiculous thought, but after waking up here, nothing seemed impossible.
Still, what reason did they have to be mad? I only pointed out the obvious truth - SDA was a dumpster fire of a game, and the writer behind it was even worse.
But now, none of that mattered. Because I was here. And that meant—
I could meet them.
Miyu, Ren, Aoi.
The heroines I had spent hours watching on-screen. The ones who made the suffering of playing through this broken game worth it. I could finally see them in real life, talk to them, and—most importantly—make sure they didn't waste their time on that oblivious idiot, Kenta.
Going back? Not interested.
Finding a way home? Not even a priority.
This world was mine now. My story to rewrite.
I grinned, a low chuckle escaping before I even realized it. I needed to get moving.
In this world, my name was Ryo. A delinquent. Someone who skipped classes like it was a sport and had a reputation for hanging out with the wrong crowd. Naturally, that meant the heroines had a terrible impression of me.
But that was fine.
Because right now, the timeline was perfect.
I had entered before any real bonds had been formed. Before Miyu had set her sights on Kenta.
And that gave me the perfect opening.
Every romance game had key events that raised affection levels. And unlike the idiot protagonist of SDA, I knew every single one of them.
This time, I wouldn't be watching from the sidelines.
I would be the one standing at the center of it all.
Throwing on the academy uniform, I stepped outside. Instantly, my mind filled in the gaps—where to catch the bus, where to switch to the subway, the quickest routes to campus.
I inhaled the crisp summer air, stretching my arms with a smirk.
A new life in the perfect world.
And this time, I wasn't going to waste it.