An Unexpected Incident
Life always kicks off with something totally unforeseen.
"Whoa!"
Like, for instance, smashing into a girl who's sprinting ahead without looking, only for her to tumble right on top of you and strike some weird pose.
In a past life, that'd be the last thing you'd expect.
Who the hell runs to school with bread in their mouth during rush hour, anyway?
Whoosh!
But flip that around.
If you dodge even the unpredictable stuff just right...
"Ugh, that was close..."
"Watch where you're going."
"Y-Yes!"
...you can sidestep a charging Bread Girl without breaking a sweat.
Meaning you can fend off unexpected crises too.
"Sky's fucking gorgeous today."
Even tossed into a cliché-packed Rupko, that truth doesn't change.
So I head to school, stepping into that world where other kids live out their vibrant youth.
With the cheat sheet of clichés and the original story still fresh in my mind—
"What's with that pouch? Lend me some~"
"You catch yesterday's baseball game? It was insane."
The classroom buzzes with zero study vibes.
Maybe one or two kids have self-study books open. And they're all hardcore glasses-wearing nerds.
This is a Rupko world, through and through. A textbook Japanese one at that.
My seat's the classic back-row window corner...
Staring out at the clouds with a sigh, or maybe self-intros are looming. The pressure hits.
You inherit the back-row window corner seat, what can you do?
But I'm no big shot anyway.
Just a guy with a prime spot. So I tune out all the clichés.
Instead, I crack open a book and carve out my own space.
Studying? Hell no.
In a classroom where the academic atmosphere is dead, that's suicide.
Self-studying at home is way more efficient. Plus, I already looped through Korea's hell-mode high school curriculum three times up to third year.
Bottom line: I don't even need to try, and the grades roll in.
So today, I spin the gacha.
Homework games exist even in Rupko worlds, after all.
"Yo, Jun. Gaming again?"
"Yeah, you're here."
The guy calling my name and sauntering over? Rupko's male lead.
Special trait: He wasn't around until I fired up the game, then poof—spawned.
"Ishikawa, perfect timing. Hit this for me."
"Why? You hate people touching your screen when you're playing."
"Just do it. I know you."
"Alright, this one?"
Another special trait...
Press— Flash! Pop pop pop!!!
"Whoa! Dude, did I win?"
"Knew I could count on you, Ishikawa. Come here for your kissy reward."
"For real...?"
He's ridiculously lucky in the dumbest ways.
Fortune slips always hit big auspicious, or when seats shuffle, he snags the spot next to the girl he likes.
And I knew it all ahead of time.
Brains mean fat wallets, am I right?
SSR pulls for days, baby.
Gulp.
Now, back to the game.
Wired earbuds kinda suck, but whatever—pop 'em in and...
"Hey, Jun. Got something I wanna talk about."
Yeah, figured that was why he bolted back here.
"Nah, pass."
"C'mon! Why not? You're my only friend, you otaku...!"
Why rub in the otaku thing?
It's barely past midterms in first semester freshman year, and you're dumping this on me out of nowhere?
Gotta be love advice. Nope. Rejected.
"Jun..."
But with puppy eyes like that, I look like the asshole...
"Fine, let's bet. I guess your issue right now. Nail it, and you leave me alone."
"Leave you alone...? Alright, you won't get it."
Like hell I won't.
I've binged the original twice. A decade-plus in this body ain't erasing that.
"You like her, right? Probably fell when she lent you that eraser."
"...!!!"
I jab my finger straight at the girl in the seat next to Ishikawa.
There she sits: long black hair cascading to her waist, skin pale as glass.
The window's inexplicably open, white curtains fluttering.
A breeze lifts her hair, exposing her nape. She turns toward the window.
Side profile screams volume, eyes haughty like is she even a student? Long lashes, sharp nose.
"Your conscience is in your libido. Bet on it."
"What the hell does that mean!?"
"How do you even think of liking a girl like that?"
Ruri Mitsune, one of the school's top idols.
So, you like her, huh? Whew, three more seconds and I'd be smitten too.
I duck my head back to my phone, but Ishikawa's jaw drops.
"Forget that— you're a mind reader or something."
"And next you'll say, 'I dunno how to talk to her.'"
"Wha...?"
His face says I nailed it.
"Jun—you can see the future?"
I drop it in stiff textbook Korean style, and laughter erupts.
This guy's reaction voice is straight-up fraudulent. I'd scout him for comedy if I could.
Ishikawa parrots my line exactly.
"I seriously have no idea how to talk to her...!?"
Honestly, even I couldn't approach a beauty like that.
She'd probably see me as a bug.
But you're good.
Not just 'cause I know the original.
Glance over—Ishikawa's got average-but-sharp features, striking eyes.
That's how others see him: likably handsome, not too much either way.
He's head over heels for real.
And here's the view only I get.
The aura wafting around people.
A hazy pink steam rises around Ishikawa, visible just to me.
No scouter-style power levels.
Just emotional vapor rising like heat haze—current feelings only.
Pretty sure I got this when I possessed "Jun."
Makes sense with my original role.
"You're a love guru...! Sure, 15-year virgin, but you're famous for setting up like twenty couples."
Yamada Jun: glasses otaku glued to games.
But dishes out bone-deep advice to the protag like a mystery consultant.
In the original, a bit sleazier delivery.
- Ask for cosplay.
- Bait an indirect kiss.
- She has a cold? Get your ass over there, idiot!!
Shit advice that hits near 100%.
I figured the author hid some secret power.
Never revealed by end—side story just mentions him becoming a grand mage post-70.
Now in his body? Probably used this aura sight.
"Alright, one solid tip."
I glance at Ruri—her eyes flick over.
Pupils lock on Ishikawa's head.
Bright red aura blooms around her.
She likes you too. Or she's pissed.
Pure hot pink's rare. Bright colors mean good vibes, dull the opposite. That's how it works.
Right now, Ruri's leaking bright red just staring at his head.
"Go propose with a ring right now. Marry me."
"For real?"
Not Rupko or not, that's a bullet-magnet line.
And I know it damn well.
"Nah."
This world's real to me, clichés or not.
Ishikawa: Jun's childhood friend slot.
Me: now Jun.
Thought I'd hate the guy at first—knew too much already.
But hanging out? He's a real bro.
Just a world with weird clichés.
Reality at the core.
"Figure it out solo."
"I'm slow on the uptake, huh. Gotta sell my charm better."
Respect people's hearts, y'know?
Can't spill Ruri's dark backstory, make her conquer trauma with homework.
You two are in for sweet flirting ahead—find your own answers.
I'll stick to the original as much as I can.
For your future happiness, Ishikawa.
......
Ugh, cringey as fuck.
Gah, I'm no love sensei!
Shove Ishikawa off my back.
Refocus on the game.
Rattle.
Continues till the suspiciously buff PE teacher barges in.
"Jun!! Earbuds out!!"
Wahahaha—
That's my morning routine.
Bore through classes, hit the school store with Ishikawa for chit-chat, perfect day.
"Oh yeah. Jun, follow me."
Or so I thought.
Life starts with the unexpected.
Never forgot for a second.
Homeroom ends, teacher calls me to the staff room.
Then, something I never imagined unfolds.
"Jun, you up for this?"
Before feasibility, let's recap.
"So, you want me to visit a senior one's year ahead who's skipping school. Convince her to come back... that it?"
"Spot on! She's your next-door neighbor—that's why I'm asking you special."
Flip through the original cheat sheet, scan for clues—nada.
Never cared who lived next door anyway.
Maybe should've.
"Ring any bells now?"
"Dunno, but she's smoking hot."
"Kids don't say it like that."
Silver hair, sharp eyes, smile like a celeb. Model proportions.
She's been right next door this whole time?
Bullshit. Met at five, we'd be childhood sweethearts in a pure love story. Shame.
"Good you're man enough! Go chat her up—lucky you! Right?"
"Sure! Call the cops now?"
"Yeah~ So spirited! If it goes well, great connection... H-Huh!?"
Two months of truancy? Total delinquent senior.
Scary as hell—better borrow some authority.
Pfft, why bother meeting her myself?