I stared blankly into the far distance, sitting quietly beneath the shade of a cherry blossom tree. The wind gently rustled the branches above, sending a few petals drifting down around me.
With an exaggerated sigh, I slumped forward a bit.
"Alright, enough sulking for now..." I muttered.
Time to gather what little information I had.
I... Mi—No. I am Shinohara Yukito.
That's right. I now carry both his memories and emotions. Whatever force did this—whatever freakish miracle or curse—it didn't just throw me into this world. It fused me with him.
Our memories, feelings, regrets... it's all tangled up in here. But he's gone now. I'm the one in control.
I've been transmigrated.
Into a different world. A different life.
But why? For what purpose?
Who the hell did this?
I have no clue. No signs, no mystical light, no truck-kun. It just... happened.
Sure, I've read transmigration and isekai stories before—plenty, actually. But that was always just fiction, some fantasy escapism stuff I scrolled through late at night. Never did I think I'd actually become one of them.
And this uniform I'm wearing...
A collared shirt layered with a cardigan, formal trousers, and a red tie—your standard clean-cut Japanese school uniform.
And her—the girl from earlier.
Hayasaka Miyuki.
The female lead.
My "childhood friend" and the so-called crush of this body's former owner.
Snow-white hair that cascades like silk. Eyes so blue they shimmer like diamonds. She's the textbook definition of a manga heroine. Probably a year younger, give or take, but already the center of attention.
She's also the one destined to lead this version of me—Shinohara Yukito—down a spiral of heartbreak.
Looking back at how this guy acted... I can't say I blame him. I mean, anyone would've fallen head over heels for her. Hell, if I didn't know how the story ends, I probably would've too.
Frustrating as it is... it is what it is.
I stood up and looked up at the sky. The clouds were slowly turning orange.
"It's getting late…"
Brushing the dust off my pants, I let out another sigh and began walking away from the tree.
The name of this school: Goshogawara Nishi High School.
Just your typical Japanese high school...
And then—my knees buckled. I dropped down to the grass, fists clenching around the blades like I was trying to crush them.
"Damn it! Resetting my school life from second year!?"
Starting over again? Are you kidding me!?
Okay, not from year one at least... but still. Having to go through high school again!?
No use whining about it.
I got up again, this time with resolve burning in my chest.
"Well, okay. So that's how it is, huh? Fine. This time... I'll change things."
A grin pulled at my lips.
"This time—I'll live as one of the background characters. No more spotlight. No more chasing dreams that aren't mine."
I stood tall, raising my voice to the heavens like a theatrical idiot.
"I shall not be tainted by the plot! I shall escape the gravity of this cruel world and live life in peace!"
"MY DREAM—IS TO BECOME A BACKGROUND CHARACTER WHO WATCHES THE LEADS GET TOGETHER FROM AFAR!"
Are you proud of me, Shadow-kun?
A single exaggerated tear rolled down my cheek as I screamed into the sky.
...
Okay, yeah. That was a bit dramatic. But hey—that's my premise now. That's the new me.
I can't keep being the same guy I was in my previous life. That personality didn't help me then, and it won't help me now. Usually in these stories, the MC either becomes a better person... or a worse one.
As for me? I'll do my best to stay sane.
Anyway, I still needed to grab my bag from the classroom. Time to go home.
---
Walking back toward the school building, I passed through the halls like a ghost. Familiar, but distant. Room 3-11 was just ahead.
I slid the door open—and stopped cold.
What I saw was... an envious sight.
Miyuki and Makino Kichiro. Laughing. Flirting.
Out in the open.
Of course they were.
Inwardly, I was absolutely seething. Jealousy? Yeah, it was there. I wanted to walk up to the male lead and choke him out right there.
Makino Kichiro—same year as us. Childhood friend. A decent guy overall.
He actually once tried setting me and Miyuki up. Ironically, that whole attempt did him a favor. The moment he realized his own feelings for her... well, it was already too late for this poor sap, Yukito.
That's the thing. I—no, Yukito—tried to kiss her. During a hangout. What kind of brain-dead move was that? That stupid impulse killed whatever shot he had left. Instead of being the main character, he became the sad extra in his own love story.
I was the one unintentionally setting them up. All while crashing and burning.
So yeah, it was only natural.
"Ah, Yukito! You're here!" Kichiro called out, waving. "Why don't you both head home together? Maybe hang out for a bit?"
Right... This scene. I remember this from the original timeline. At this point, Kichiro hadn't realized his feelings yet. He was still just playing wingman.
Yukito—our poor boy—accepted that invitation with all the hope in the world. Even after getting rejected 27 times.
Twenty-seven.
I forced a small smile, waving my hand.
"Ah... no, really. I'm not in the mood to hang out today. If anything, I just wanna head home alone."
Their eyes widened. It was subtle, but I saw it—that shock. Like they couldn't believe I'd say no.
As if I was expected to chase after her no matter what.
Give me a break, fate. I know how this ends. Screw off.
"Eh? What's wrong?"
Kichiro looked genuinely surprised.
"Usually you'd be all over Miyuki right now," he said, scratching the back of his head. "You always accepted right away... even after, y'know... what happened."
Change? Yeah. That's right.
I'm not acting as Shinohara Yukito anymore. I'm Miyasato Yasuo now.
I know what's supposed to happen today.
The infamous 'date.' Yukito saw it as a romantic moment. He tried to kiss her. She slapped him. Ran away crying. Kichiro 'coincidentally' found her walking alone. Comforted her. Walked her home.
Then they kissed.
Made out.
Roll the credits.
Bullshit plot development at its finest.
Just roll the credits right there, you don't have to make my boy suffer any more!
But i wasn't going to play that part.
"Nah, I'm just... feeling a little under the weather. You two go on ahead."
With a soft, tired smile, I grabbed my bag and walked out of the classroom—leaving the two of them behind, blinking in confusion.
Let them wonder. Let them stare.
They'll end up together anyway, with or without me.
They always do.
---
I left the scene and began my walk home. Now that I think about it…
My home—not the one from my original life, but his home. Shinohara Yukito's.
I remember it clearly now. He has a loving family.
And I… I just took that away from him.
They're sweet. Wholesome. The kind of family you only read about in novels or see in cheesy drama shows. The type of family people like me only ever dreamed of.
I… don't really know what it feels like—to truly have a family. To be part of one.
In my original life… I was an orphan. An unwanted child. Grew up without anyone ever choosing me. Alone.
But maybe… in this life…
I reached the front door and stared at the handle for a moment, my hand hovering mid-air.
I sighed, deeply.
"Well… here goes nothing."
I stepped inside.
The house was clean. Neat. Lived in, but warm. Familiar.
"I'm home…"
Words I never used before. Not when returning to an empty apartment, or a silent dorm room. Not when there was no one to greet me.
But—
"Yukito, welcome back!"
"Ah, welcome home, Yukito!" my mom called out cheerfully from the kitchen. "I made your favorite tonight! Go change your clothes, then come eat dinner. And call your sister down too!"
Dad was lounging in the living room, half-focused on a TV show, waving lazily without even looking up.
And Mom—she walked over to me, smiling.
What I saw was a sight I never thought I'd witness firsthand. A family. A real family… and it was mine.
"Ah… thanks… okay, Mother…"
She narrowed her eyes and glared playfully. "Hey! Don't get all formal on me now! Get your butt upstairs, change, and come eat at the dining table like a proper human being! No eating in your room today!"
Well… not exactly 100% wholesome, but still. It's there.
I chuckled, a little caught off guard. "Alright, alright, Mom. I'll call sis."
I headed upstairs, changed clothes, then made my way to my lil sister's room. I knocked lightly on the door.
It opened—barely.
Standing there in her pajamas was a girl with a slim figure, gothic black hair, and resting bitch face for days. Shinohara Sakiko.
"Tsk. What are you looking at, you perv?!"
SLAM!
The door slammed right into my nose. Pain. My fault for staring. That's on me.
I groaned, holding my nose. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry! Just go downstairs and eat with us, will you?"
I'm not a siscon or anything. Just… validating her appearance, alright?
"IN A MINUTE!!!" she shouted from behind the door.
I rolled my eyes and made my way back downstairs. Geez. Such a brat. But… not a bad feeling. Having a sister. I found myself smiling.
"Did you get your sister?" Mom asked, already setting the table. "It sounded like she slammed the door."
"Yeah, she says she'll be down in a mi—ah, speak of the devil."
Sakiko trudged down the stairs, shot me a death glare, then sat down at the table like nothing happened.
I took my seat next.
And then Mom came out of the kitchen holding plates of hot, savory food in both hands.
"Our menu for tonight is~ tonkatsu! Your favorite, Yukito~!"
My eyes widened as I stared at the plates being laid on the table.
This… was a family. A real one. Laughing, eating, together.
A man could cry.
And I did.
Just one tear.
"Ah, Yukito! What's wrong? Is it not to your liking?" Mom asked, worried.
"Why are you crying, you weirdo," Sakiko muttered, annoyed but not unkind.
I shook my head and wiped my face.
"No… it's nothing. Just… happy, I guess. To have a family."
Mom gasped softly, her expression melting as if I just punched her in the heart with love.
"Oh, Yukito~!" she cried, pulling me into a warm, suffocating hug.
"Eugh… so cringe…" Sakiko groaned, already chewing on her food.
Dad laughed heartily and raised his chopsticks. "Looks like you finally realized what's right in front of you. Good for you, son."
I smiled to myself softly, but genuinely this time.
Yeah…
It's not a bad feeling at all.