Chapter 47 (part 1) — The First Day Back
Morning, As Usual…
Morning sunlight slipped gently through the wide curtains of the Takahara mansion, painting soft golden lines across the polished wooden floor. Birds chirped outside, their sounds distant but steady, like a familiar background melody Haruya had heard his whole life.
Haruya slowly opened his eyes.
For a brief moment, he simply lay there, staring at the ceiling, feeling an unfamiliar warmth in his chest.
"…School," he murmured.
It wasn't dread.
It wasn't laziness.
It was excitement.
That alone surprised him.
Since coming to this world, school had always been… complicated. Attention, protection, stares, rules. But today felt different. Maybe it was because the holidays were finally over. Maybe it was because he had things to look forward to.
Or maybe it was because people were waiting for him.
Haruya stretched his arms above his head and sat up, brushing his hair back lazily. His phone lay on the bedside table, screen dark now, but his mind immediately replayed memories from last night.
The dungeon clear.
The cheering messages.
The endless debate about his gender.
And then—
"See you at school."
Saeko's shy message.
Reina's confident one.
A small smile escaped his lips before he could stop it.
"…Things really are getting busy," he thought, half amused, half puzzled.
He got out of bed and began his usual routine. Shower. Uniform. Tie. Everything the same as always.
Yet his steps felt lighter.
Downstairs, the dining hall was already lively.
Akaya Takahara sat at the head of the long table, tablet in one hand, coffee in the other, scanning reports with sharp eyes. Even at home, the aura of a powerful woman never fully left her.
Across from her sat Haruya's two sisters.
Aoi, elegant and composed, sipped her tea calmly. Sakura, more relaxed and expressive, leaned back in her chair while scrolling through her phone.
The moment Haruya entered, everything shifted.
"Haru," Akaya said instantly, looking up. "Good morning."
Her gaze swept over him from head to toe, sharp and assessing.
"…You look fine," she concluded, then paused. "No—wait."
She stood up.
Haruya already knew what was coming.
"Mom—"
She walked over and adjusted his collar. Then his tie. Then smoothed his hair. Then stepped back and frowned.
"Too thin," she muttered. "Did you eat properly last night?"
"Yes, Mom."
"Did you sleep well?"
"Yes."
"Did anyone bother you online?"
"…No?"
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
Aoi sighed softly. "Mother, if you interrogate him any more, he'll be late."
Akaya straightened, clicked her tongue quietly, then turned serious again.
"Remember. Straight to school. Straight home. Bodyguards stay close. If anything feels wrong—"
"I'll tell you," Haruya said gently.
Sakura laughed. "You say that every time."
Haruya smiled at them. "I'll be careful."
Akaya hesitated for just a second before nodding. "Good."
Outside, the familiar black luxury car waited. Two bodyguards opened the door immediately.
As Haruya settled into the seat, the mansion gates slowly opened.
He watched the city pass by, sunlight reflecting off buildings, people already busy with their lives.
Game.
School.
Friends.
"…Feels like everything is moving at once," he thought.
And somewhere deep inside, a quiet voice whispered—
Something is coming.
---
School After Holidays
The school gates stood wide open, welcoming students back after the long break. The campus buzzed with energy—laughter, chatter, footsteps echoing across stone paths.
The moment Haruya stepped out of the car, the air changed.
Whispers spread like ripples.
"That's him…"
"He's even prettier in person."
"Did you see his latest photoshoot?"
"He looks unreal…"
Haruya felt it immediately.
This wasn't new. He was used to attention.
But today… it was heavier.
Girls slowed their steps. Some stared openly, completely forgetting to hide it. Others pretended to look elsewhere while sneaking glances through phone screens.
Even staff members weren't immune.
A female teacher near the entrance froze mid-step, eyes widening before she quickly looked away, clearing her throat awkwardly.
"Good morning," Haruya said politely as he passed.
Her face turned red instantly.
"…G-good morning," she replied far too quickly.
Behind him, voices whispered.
"I saved all his modeling posts."
"My gallery is literally just Haru now."
"I showed my cousin and she didn't believe he's real."
"He's dangerous for mental health."
Haruya pretended not to hear any of it.
"…Is it because of the modeling?" he wondered.
Before the holidays, he'd been popular. Now, it felt amplified.
He walked deeper into campus, trying to focus on the familiar scenery—the trees, the classrooms, the benches.
And then he saw them.
At the school entrance ahead stood Saeko and Reina.
They were close together, talking quietly, but both looked… strange.
Saeko kept adjusting her bag strap nervously.
Reina stood confidently, arms crossed—but her foot tapped lightly against the ground.
Both of them looked excited.
And nervous.
Haruya smiled mischievously.
He slowed his steps, quietly approaching from behind.
"…Boo."
Both of them jumped.
Saeko let out a small gasp. Reina nearly spun around defensively.
"H-Haru-kun?!" Saeko squeaked.
Reina froze for half a second. "You—don't sneak up on people!"
Haruya laughed softly. "Good morning."
Saeko's face instantly turned pink. "G-good morning…"
Reina looked away for a moment. "…Morning."
Their reactions were almost identical.
And very suspicious.
"…What are they planning?" Haruya thought, amused.
---
Two Hearts, Same Timing (POVs)
Saeko POV
Calm.
Breathe.
Don't drop the bag.
Saeko clutched her school bag tightly, heart racing.
Inside it—carefully wrapped—was the charm she had prepared days ago. She had spent so much time choosing it. Not too flashy. Not too plain.
Just right.
"I'll give it to him at lunch," she told herself for the tenth time.
Not now. Too many people. Too many eyes.
Her mind raced.
What if he doesn't like it?
What if it's weird?
What if Reina gives him something better?
She glanced sideways.
Reina looked calm. Too calm.
That made Saeko more nervous.
She practiced the words silently.
"I thought of you when I saw it."
No, too obvious.
"It's just a small thing."
That sounds cold…
Her face burned.
Haruya walking beside her made everything worse.
His voice. His smile. The way he said her name.
Why is he like this…
She squeezed her bag again.
Lunch.
She just had to survive until lunch.
---
Reina POV
Okay. Calm.
Reina walked confidently, posture perfect, expression unreadable.
Inside?
Calculation mode.
Give the gift at lunch.
Private enough.
Not suspicious.
She wasn't stupid. Giving something publicly would only attract attention. And she absolutely did not want Haru surrounded by more people.
Especially girls.
She glanced at Saeko.
Nervous. Blushing. Easy to read.
"…So she's planning the same thing," Reina realized instantly.
A faint spark of rivalry flickered.
Fine. Let's see who handles it better.
Haruya glanced at her. "Reina, you seem quiet."
She straightened. "Just thinking."
"About?"
"…Classes."
That wasn't a lie.
But not the full truth.
I'll protect you properly, she thought.
Even from misunderstandings.
Lunch.
That was the battlefield.
---
Watching Eyes (Akari)
From the staff room corridor, Akari Hoshizuki stood quietly.
She held a stack of papers against her chest, posture perfect, expression gentle.
Her eyes followed a single figure in the distance.
Haruya.
Walking. Smiling. Laughing softly.
Her lips curved upward.
"…He's back," she whispered.
Seeing him at school again filled her with warmth. Her heart beat faster, fingers trembling slightly.
I just need an excuse, she thought.
Something natural.
A question. A form. A mistake.
Anything.
She adjusted her glasses.
"…Soon," she murmured happily.
---
Echoes From the Game
During the break between classes, Haruya overheard familiar words drifting through the hallway.
"Did you see the Haru clip?"
"Guilds are literally hunting him."
"They're waiting for him to log in."
"I heard three guilds already fought over him."
"He still hasn't confirmed his gender, right?"
Haruya paused.
"…They're still talking about that?" he thought.
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"…It really blew up, huh."
Students passed him, whispering again.
Both worlds—game and reality—were overlapping more than he realized.
---
Lunch Approaches
The bell rang.
Lunch time.
Saeko and Reina stopped walking at the same moment.
They looked at Haruya.
Then at each other.
Then back at him.
Almost unconsciously, they stepped closer—one from each side.
Haruya blinked. "…What?"
Both of them smiled.
Too calmly.
"Let's eat together," Saeko said softly.
"Yeah," Reina added. "We need to talk."
Haruya felt a strange chill.
"…Okay?"
And somewhere else in the school—
Akari smiled.
---
To be continued…