The glow of the computer screen was the only light in the room, casting long shadows across the cluttered desk. Kaito leaned back in his chair, rubbing his tired eyes. The clock on the wall read 3:47 AM, but he couldn't stop now. He was so close. Just one more route to complete, one more ending to unlock.
Aether Academy, his favorite yuri visual novel, had consumed his life for the past month. The game was a masterpiece—beautiful art, compelling characters, and a story that tugged at his heartstrings. He'd spent countless hours exploring every route, unlocking every secret, and now, finally, he was on the verge of 100% completion.
"Just one more," he muttered to himself, clicking through the dialogue. His fingers moved on autopilot, selecting the choices he'd memorized by heart. The game's soundtrack, a soft piano melody, filled the room, lulling him into a sense of calm.
But as the final scene played out, something strange happened. The screen flickered, the music distorted, and the characters' faces twisted into grotesque expressions. Kaito frowned, leaning closer to the monitor.
"What the—?"
Before he could react, the screen flashed white, and a searing pain shot through his head. He gasped, clutching his temples as the world around him dissolved into chaos. The last thing he remembered was the sound of his own voice, screaming into the void.
When Kaito opened his eyes, he was no longer in his room.
The first thing he noticed was the softness beneath him. He was lying on a bed, the sheets silky and smooth against his skin. The second thing he noticed was the pain—a dull ache in his chest, as if he'd been punched.
"What…?" he mumbled, sitting up slowly. His voice sounded different—higher, softer. He looked down at his hands and froze.
They weren't his hands.
They were slender and delicate, with perfectly manicured nails painted a soft pink. He stared at them in disbelief, flexing his fingers as if they might suddenly morph back into his own.
"This… this can't be real," he whispered, his voice trembling.
He scrambled out of bed, nearly tripping over his own feet in the process. The room was unfamiliar—a spacious bedroom with pastel-colored walls, a vanity table cluttered with makeup, and a large mirror hanging on the wall.
Kaito stumbled toward the mirror, his heart pounding in his chest. When he saw his reflection, he nearly screamed.
Staring back at him was a girl.
She was beautiful, with long, flowing blonde hair that shimmered like gold in the sunlight streaming through the window. Her eyes were a striking pink, almost glowing with an otherworldly light. Her features were delicate, with high cheekbones and full lips that seemed to pout naturally.
But what really caught his attention was the outfit. She—no, he—was wearing a frilly pink nightgown that clung to her figure in ways that made his face burn with embarrassment.
"No way," he whispered, reaching up to touch his face. The reflection mimicked his movements perfectly. "This… this has to be a dream. Right?"
He needed to wake up. He had to. This couldn't be real.
His eyes darted around the room, searching for something—anything—to snap him out of this nightmare. Then he saw it. On the vanity table, next to a hairbrush and a bottle of perfume, was a small, ornate dagger. Its hilt was decorated with intricate carvings, and the blade gleamed in the sunlight.
Without thinking, he grabbed the dagger.
"This'll do," he muttered, holding the blade up to the light.
He hesitated for a moment, staring at his reflection in the mirror. The girl—Alice—stared back at him, her pink eyes wide with fear.
"Okay," he said, taking a deep breath. "Here goes nothing."
He pressed the tip of the dagger against his palm, wincing as the sharp point broke the skin. A bead of blood welled up, and he braced himself for the pain.
But the pain didn't come.
Instead, a strange, tingling sensation spread through his hand, warm and electric. He gasped, his cheeks flushing as the feeling intensified. It wasn't just pain—it was pleasure. A deep, almost euphoric pleasure that made his knees weak.
"What the hell?" he whispered, staring at the blood on his palm.
He pressed the dagger deeper, his breath hitching as the sensation grew stronger. It was like nothing he'd ever felt before—a mix of pain and pleasure that sent shivers down his spine.
"This… this is insane," he muttered, pulling the dagger away.
But even as he said it, he couldn't deny the thrill that ran through him. The wound on his palm began to close almost immediately, the skin knitting itself back together as if it had never been cut.
"Super regeneration," he whispered, staring at his now-unblemished hand. "So it's true. I really am Alice."
The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. He'd reincarnated as his own custom character, complete with all the traits he'd chosen. And one of those traits was masochism.
"This is a nightmare," he groaned, flopping back onto the bed.
But even as he said it, he couldn't deny the strange thrill that ran through him at the thought. The pain he'd felt when he stabbed himself had been… enjoyable. And that terrified him.
Before he could spiral further, a knock at the door snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Alice? Are you awake?"
The voice was soft and melodic, sending a jolt of panic through him. He recognized that voice—it belonged to Lyra Frostveil, one of the game's heroines.
"Uh… yeah! Just a second!" he called back, his voice cracking.
He scrambled to his feet, frantically looking around the room for something to wear. His eyes landed on a neatly folded uniform on the dresser—a white blouse, a navy skirt, and a pink ribbon.
"Great," he muttered, grabbing the clothes. "Just great."
He changed as quickly as he could, his hands trembling as he tied the ribbon around his neck. The skirt felt weirdly light, and he couldn't help but feel exposed as he adjusted it.
When he opened the door, Lyra was waiting for him.
She was even more stunning in person, with long silver hair that cascaded down her back like a waterfall and violet eyes that seemed to pierce through him. She wore the same uniform as him, but somehow, she made it look elegant and regal.
"Good morning, Alice," she said, her voice calm and composed. "Are you ready for your first day?"
"Uh… yeah," he stammered, his face burning. "Totally ready."
Lyra raised an eyebrow, clearly noticing his nervousness, but she didn't comment. Instead, she turned and gestured for him to follow.
"Come on. We don't want to be late."
As they walked down the hallway, Kaito—no, Alice—couldn't help but feel a strange mix of emotions. Fear, embarrassment, and… excitement?
This was going to be a long day.