2 - 0 Confessions Round 2
I opened my eyes, and there was a lapis lazuli staring back at me.
"What the—?"
No, it wasn't a gem—the smooth surface was reflecting the sunlight. I jolted back about five centimeters in surprise.
Right. It was an eye. A stunningly beautiful one, belonging to what seemed like a person.
"Please let go."
Her voice had a pleasant resonance, and it made me realize my left hand was gripping her wrist, pinning it hard against the wall.
"Oh."
I released her belatedly, and her small hand dropped with it. A red welt had risen on the back of her hand—looked like a minor scrape.
…She murmured a soft incantation and placed her hand over the injury.
—Shaaah.
The wound began to heal as if by magic. Wait, this is magic, right? Actual magic?
And this familiar face…
"…?"
As I alternated between the mystical sight and her face, she shrank back warily.
And before I could even apologize, instinct made me blurt it out.
"Aria? Healer Aria, right?"
"…?"
No way I'd forget the Clarice Academy cadet uniform or the silver-haired beauty with a faint purple tint. Aria Bluebell was a core character in [Reincarnated Hero].
She was an indispensable powerhouse in the hero party, faithfully healing until the final boss was defeated. The ultimate supportive, selfless archetype—no one could suspect her of being anything but the story's top good girl.
Of course, her ending was bittersweet…
But excitement aside, I needed to get a grip on this situation first.
Is this… actually a possession plot?
The buildings around mixed fantasy architecture with 19th-20th century European vibes, dotted with magic tools subbing for modern tech.
"No way… Clarice Academy?"
One thing was clear: this wasn't Earth anywhere.
"……"
She, a full head shorter than me, stared with a troubled look.
"…Please refrain from rough behavior. And that includes casually belittling others."
She was alive. Her clear, pretty voice pierced my ears again.
Classic possession scenario confirmed.
All because of that one comment… I'd possessed into the novel.
"This is nuts…"
My quiet mutter made her doll-like lips move.
"…I assume that's answer enough. And I'll pretend I didn't hear what you said, so don't worry."
"……Uh, sorry, what'd you say?"
At my question, Aria looked flustered, mouth slightly agape as she averted her gaze.
It was a description straight out of the novel.
"I didn't think you were the type to miss a hint like that."
"What the hell did I even say…?"
"…Do I really have to spell it out?"
Early-story Aria was curt, sure.
—Yes, understood.
—Very well.
—It's dangerous. Please come out.
Being younger than the characters she tangled with, she used polite speech. That subtle distance was part of it.
But right now, she seemed even more guarded.
I instinctively touched my face.
Hold up—who did I possess?
If I scraped her hand that bad… this wasn't a normal situation or relationship.
Still, it was bullshit. I just woke up like this.
As I floundered in confusion, a pink-haired cadet butted in.
"What the hell are you two doing…!"
"……"
I let out an involuntary sigh.
Melissa Prominence, the Prominence family's lady—a novel-original character. Pink hair? Never canon.
Whether she read my expression or just hated the vibe, shadows crept over Melissa's face.
She snapped at me.
"Aggressive posture, tense atmosphere. Care to explain what you were trying to do to Lia?"
"Nothing, really…"
I wanted to say it was nothing, but yeah, it looked bad. Aria was clearly wary.
Tricky.
False accusation vibes. One wrong word and this blows up.
"Clarice Academy's built on equality, but basic human decency in interactions is non-negotiable. If it's not what I think, why can't you answer?"
I couldn't understand the situation myself!
As I went silent in frustration, Melissa turned to Aria.
"Don't tell me this rude jerk tried to ask you out too…? Just like he did with me."
Melissa muttered quickly, voice low like she hated saying it.
"'Go out with me, go out with me. You don't care about anyone anyway, right? I'm good enough. No way you like that trash Edwin? He's just…' Something like that."
Her contemptuous glare hit me, and I waved it off.
"…Nah, come on. No one's dropping lines that lame."
"Aria, tell me. What did Lev Denek say to you…?"
"……"
And Aria's silent compliance.
"?"
…Fuck.
For real? Did I actually spit third-rate villain lines?
And Lev Denek? That my body now?
The air I breathed turned sharp; goosebumps prickled everywhere.
The unwanted picture formed in my head.
[Lev Denek]
Too bland and neutral to stick in memory. Not a core character—just the author's custom third-rate villain.
Handsome enough (maybe for BL bait), but classic bully: weak to strong, scorns commoners, womanizer stacking villain karma. Humiliated by Edwin in the entrance exam.
That crushes his inferiority complex to the max, contracts a demon, explodes as a Main…
Edwin inherits his executioner powers from it.
One-use protagonist awakener fodder.
Fuuuuck.
Timing sucks too. Sure, Lev needed max inferiority for demonization, some trigger… but no "blackens after serial rejections" scene in the novel.
Why do I get stuck cleaning up??
Lev you bastard… author you bastard…
This jerk used my body for irresponsible thrills.
"Silence is admission, right?"
Melissa crossed her arms, smug with the upper hand.
"I'll report this to the headmaster for a full investigation and action. With your track record, you can guess the outcome."
Outcome? Expulsion?
Then the mission window popped up again.
1 - Graduate from Clarice Academy without repeating a year or expulsion.
2 - Prevent the Kaeran ending.
Failure: Worldline collapse—you may be trapped in eternal timeflow.
Expulsion from the start? Game over.
Didn't do shit and I'm screwed.
As I resigned myself, Aria stepped up.
"Mr. Lev… didn't say anything in particular."
Aria…?
Melissa glanced between us, flustered.
"Lia? You're… defending this guy?"
"He just asked if there were any errors in the entrance exam results. Nothing like what you said, Melissa."
"……"
Melissa fell silent at her words.
Whoa, she tanked for me? True core character.
—And I'll pretend I didn't hear what you said, so don't worry.
She'd promised not to tell anyone, and she kept it.
Yeah, that's Aria. Keeps her word no matter what… Why'd the author shaft her?!
"Uh… er…"
Melissa looked like she had plenty to say, but Aria's purity was unbeatable. She sighed softly.
"Fine… I get it, Lia. Let's go—dinner soon."
"Yes."
"And Lev Denek, stay away from Lia. I'll be watching."
Ice-cold to me. How low-tier a villain am I…
"Y-yeah…"
Ignoring my reply, Melissa dragged Aria away.
"Insane…"
Head throbbed like a sledgehammer hit it. Still no reality check.
Has to be a dream… gotta be…
Author you fucking prick…
Didn't I ask if this was round one? Starting with this bullshit kill screen?
…
And so, with my zero-confessions round two…
Academy life began.
…
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