After leaving behind her haughty words of forgiveness, Celestine turned her back and walked away. The sound of her leather shoes echoed softly on the tiled floor as she exited the classroom, her golden hair swaying gracefully behind her.
Ren stood up in silence, shoved his hands into his pockets, and quietly followed after her.
I lifted my head from my fake sleeping posture, let out a small yawn. Guess it's lunchtime already.
I stood up and headed out of the classroom, going the same way they did.
---
The cafeteria was as crowded as usual during lunch. The chatter, the clattering of trays, and the aroma of food filled the air.
I ordered curry rice and a bottle of apple juice, then scanned the room.
Ren was sitting alone at a table near the window, the one with a view of the sunny school yard. It was his usual kind of spot—quiet and away from the crowd.
Celestine wasn't around. Maybe she chose a different seat.
I carried my tray over and stopped in front of him.
"Hey, mind if I sit here?"
Ren looked up at me for a moment, then gave a small nod.
"Sure."
I sat down and began stirring my curry, letting the sauce soak into the rice. After a while, I spoke up.
"That thing this morning… pretty intense."
Ren glanced at me, not saying much.
I gave a light chuckle and continued, "I heard everything. The so-called 'fateful accident' yesterday."
Ren rested his chin on his hand, staring out the window. His expression didn't change much, but there was something thoughtful in his eyes.
"Didn't expect it to turn into such a big deal…"
I took a bite of curry and nodded slowly.
"A noble-looking blonde girl and a public misunderstanding? Classic visual novel opening right there."
Ren looked at me, frowning slightly.
"You talk like you're writing a script."
I shrugged.
"Who knows, maybe I am."
I grinned and studied him a bit more closely. Even though I knew everything was unfolding like one of those "destined encounters" in a game, I wasn't about to forget the most important thing:
Getting close to the protagonist… is always a smart move.
---
After lunch, I wandered around the school campus. Just walking off the meal while taking in the sights. It was a new school, but oddly familiar,I'd seen it hundreds of times in the game.
I was about to head back to class when I heard a voice call out.
"Hey Hiro, help me out here~!"
I turned my head. Ayaka.
She was standing near the library, waving at me with a bright smile. The sunlight lit up her soft brown hair, making the scene look like something out of a movie.
I nodded slightly and walked over.
"What's up?"
Ayaka pointed at a tall stack of books on the stone bench beside her.
"Help me carry these to the Literature Club room? I was looking for someone to help, and lucky me, I found you."
I looked at the tower of books. It was like a mini fortress.
"…Alright, sure."
I grabbed more than half the stack and walked beside her. She carried the rest, walking slowly so as not to drop anything.
We took a turn past the hallway behind the library, heading for the Literature Club room—a quiet, tucked-away part of the building.
But as we walked, a strange feeling crept into my mind.
Wait a second… this scene—it's supposed to be Shun's.
In the game, this was the first real interaction between Shun and Ayaka. A casual request, a few awkward lines, and from that moment, Shun's feelings began to blossom.
But now…
I was the one here. I was the one Ayaka had asked for help.
I had unintentionally replaced Shun's role.
I glanced at Ayaka. She was still smiling, her expression gentle and kind.
We stepped into the Literature Club room.
The room wasn't very big, but it felt neat and peaceful. At the center was a large wooden table where Ayaka and I set down the books. A soft thud echoed as the books landed, a light cloud of dust rising under the afternoon sun.
To the right was an old but tidy bookshelf, holding a few classic novels and leftover literary magazines. To the left was a long sofa, enough for three people, with a cat-shaped pillow resting at one end. At the front, a wide table sat under the windows, a few small potted plants basking in the sunlight. The walls above were decorated with posters—some for the cultural festival, others vintage film ads.
It felt calm and warm, like a space someone had quietly loved.
Ayaka turned to me and smiled brightly.
"Thanks for the help, Hiro."
I shook my head and smiled back. "It's nothing."
She tilted her head slightly, voice soft but cheerful.
"By the way… would you like to join the club?"
I blinked. "Join? Like, right now?"
She nodded with a slightly shy look.
"Last year, the club was all third-years. After they graduated, no one was left. I've just re-applied to reopen it, but the condition is that we need at least five members…"
She counted on her fingers, her hopeful eyes looking right at me.
"Right now, it's just me."
I was quiet for a moment, looking around the room again, then met her eyes.
In the original game, Ayaka never even considered inviting Shun to the club. She had once said, "He seems lazy and not really into books." And Shun had hesitated when she asked for help. Only after he changed and because of her—did she finally accept him.
But this time, everything was different.
I had helped her without complaint. I didn't look lazy. And I was already here.
Maybe I'd shifted the course of fate the moment I agreed to carry those books.
I took a quiet breath and said,
"Sure, I'll join."
Ayaka's eyes lit up, and she gave me the warmest smile yet. The kind that makes your chest feel a little lighter.
"Thank you, Hiro!" she said, bowing her head slightly in gratitude.
She turned away to sort the books while I sat quietly on the sofa, gazing out the window. The afternoon light filtered in, bathing the room in a calm, golden glow.
I thought to myself…
Including me, the club now had only two members. We needed three more to make it official.
Fortunately, I already had a couple of perfect candidates in mind.
The first was Kaori—your classic bookworm. Always buried in thick novels at the library, totally the literary type.
Then there was Ren.
He was known for his mystery short stories on the school forum, even won a few writing contests. He might be quiet and reserved, but there was no doubt literature brought him to life.
I turned to Ayaka and smiled.
"Hey Ayaka, for the other members… why don't you ask Kaori? I'll handle Ren."
She blinked a few times, then nodded eagerly, hope lighting up her face again.
"Okay! If it's Kaori, I'm sure she'll be interested. Thanks, Hiro!"
"No problem," I replied with a shrug.
After all, I didn't know many people yet. We still needed one more member and we'd better find them soon.