(A/N: This will be my first-time writing novel, in the start there will be mistakes or maybe stiffness in the writing, so I would appreciate if you all point them out and be patient with me 🙏)
(A/N: Also all kinds of suggestions will be very much appreciated. If you find any inconsistency, any problem or anything, please comment. I will be sure to check it)
The morning sun filtered through the heavy velvet curtains of the Kamishiro estate, painting the room in muted gold.
The light did not simply illuminate the room, it seeped into every corner slowly, gently, as if the morning itself was reluctant to disturb the quiet luxury that surrounded him. The faint glow reflected off polished wooden surfaces, brushed against silk sheets, and settled over the vast space with an almost suffocating elegance.
But for Kamishiro Renji, the light wasn't just a wake-up call; it was a revelation.
Not a gentle one either, more like getting smacked awake by reality itself.
He sat up in his king-sized bed, gasping as if he had just surfaced from deep water. For a brief moment, his chest heaved uncontrollably, like someone who had almost drowned and barely made it back. The soft mattress dipped beneath his sudden movement, the expensive sheets sliding down his torso, but he paid no attention to any of it.
His head throbbed with a rhythmic ache, but it wasn't just pain, it was a stream of data, a stream of memories.
Not the kind you could sort through calmly either, this was a full-blown information overload, like someone dumping an entire hard drive directly into his brain without asking for permission.
Memories of a life spent in a completely different world.
A life that, in comparison to this absurd luxury, now felt almost comically miserable.
A life that was dull, suffocating, painfully ordinary.
A life where he was barely at the age of a college student, but couldn't afford to attend one if he wanted to keep his stomach full.
Tuition or food, pick one. That had been the reality.
A world of mundane, dead-end jobs, lonely nights, and an obsessive dedication to Galgames, which were his only real escape from a crushing reality.
And not just casual playing, no, this was full-on, borderline unhealthy dedication. Route analysis, dialogue memorization, optimization strategies… he had practically turned escapism into a part-time profession.
The last one he had been playing, Love Bloom Academy, flooded his consciousness… scene after scene replayed in perfect clarity — the routes, the heroines, the branching paths, the subtle flags that determined everything… merging seamlessly with the seventeen years of life he had lived in this world, changing him, or maybe just making him much more than he already was.
And soon, the headache faded, leaving behind a crystalline clarity in his mind. The pain receded like a tide, and what replaced it was something far more dangerous — confidence.
Renji swung his legs out of bed and walked to the full-length mirror standing in the corner of his expansive room.
His movements were slower now, controlled, almost experimental, as if he was still verifying that this body actually belonged to him.
The reflection staring back wasn't the tired guy of the memories of his "past life". It was a genetic masterpiece, his present-self, Kamishiro Renji.
The difference was almost insulting.
No, calling this a "difference" would also be an insult.
This was a complete overhaul.
He stood at a commanding 186 centimeters, and somehow, even just standing still, he looked like he belonged on a magazine cover instead of in a bedroom.
Every line of his body flowed naturally into the next and every feature existed exactly where it should. His frame defined by the lean, densely packed muscle of a swimmer, broad shoulders tapering down to a tight, V-line waist.
His skin was unblemished, holding a healthy, wealthy glow. His hair was jet-black, falling in artfully messy waves that framed a face carved from marble: high cheekbones, a sharp jawline, and piercing dark blue eyes that seemed to hold a calm, intelligent depth.
His gaze drifted lower, his past-life instincts demanding a full inventory check of his new reality. He hooked a thumb into the waistband of his silk boxers and pulled the fabric down slightly, revealing the package he had been gifted. A slow, smug grin touched his lips as he inspected the asset.
'Holy crap,' he thought, genuinely awestruck. 'The game developers really didn't hold back, did they?'
'This isn't just a morning wood; it's a fricking sword waiting to impale someone…'
It wasn't just impressive; it was, what could be called a weapon designed for conquest. The shaft was thick and heavy, resting with a dormant, substantial weight against his thigh that promised a "Magnum" standard far beyond his old life, easily twenty-three centimeters of vascular, threatening potential. Beneath it, a heavy, full set completed the picture of absolute virility, hanging with a weight that promised endless stamina. He let the waistband snap back into place, the satisfaction settling deep in his gut. He was built to dominate in every sense of the word.
'This is dangerous…'
'Like… genuinely dangerous…'
'If this is the standard, I might accidentally ruin someone's life just by existing.'
He exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple.
'Stay calm.'
'We are not abusing this immediately.'
'…'
'Probably.'
"So that's what I, Kamishiro Renji supposed to do..." he whispered, testing the name.
He said it like he was reviewing a job description he had no intention of following.
"The Perfect Best Friend-type character. The rich, handsome, ultra-reliable guy who never gets the girl because he politely steps aside for the protagonist."
Simple translation — the guy who does everything right… and still loses.
He ran a hand through his hair, laughing out loud. Not loudly, not wildly, but genuinely, as if the absurdity of it all was too entertaining to ignore.
"To think that I will have this kind of experience… But honestly? My old life was worth shit, and this... this is the most massive upgrade in human history."
"And for some reason I am not a least bit bothered about all this."
He paused, thinking for a moment, then shook his head lightly.
"Maybe because that life was worth shit..."
The conclusion was simple.
The script of the game flashed in his mind as he compared the timeline. Today was the First Day of the Second Year at Kosei Academy.
According to the original game, this semester was pivotal.
The dense protagonist, Hoshino Takumi, the classic protagonist — kind, oblivious, frustratingly effective, would complete establishing acquaintances with all the heroines soon. He would even stumble upon Renji's two beautiful younger sisters, sparking the "Imouto Route" where his clumsy kindness would somehow win their hearts while Renji smiles supportively from the sidelines.
Renji's expression flattened slightly.
"...Yeah. No."
That part would not happen.
Just as Renji was thinking, his phone buzzed on the nightstand.
The sound was sharp against the quiet room, immediately pulling his attention.
[Takumi]: YO RENJI!!! Wake up!!! New semester starts today! Youth awaits! Also, can I borrow your math books? I forgot to do buy it lol.
Renji stared at the screen. In the original timeline, he would have sighed, smiled a helpless but fond smile, and texted back a confirmation, already planning to fix Takumi's mess.
But now, Renji simply shook his head and deleted the text.
"No…" he said, a slow, amused smile touching his lips. "Though, I'd like to think I'm done with the "best-friend" script, at the end of the day, it's just about the choices I make going forward."
"There's no need, to completely change my ways just based on what become of me in that game."
He focused on the mirror again. As he did, something strange flickered in his vision. A translucent blue window, like a game UI, popped up next to his reflection.
[Greetings]
[Unique Skill: Empathy Insight (Unlocked)]
[Goodbye]
Renji blinked, and leaned closer to the glass to make sure he wasn't hallucinating because of being overwhelmed by the situation. But the window remained, hovering in his peripheral vision.
"Insight?" he murmured. "Insight about what now? Is it like a stat check on emotions or something?"
He focused on his own reflection.
[Target: Kamishiro Renji]
[Status: Awakened]
[Current Mood: Amused / Angry / Ambitious]
[Hidden Desire: Domination]
"…Wow."
Renji blinked once.
Then again.
"…We're just putting that out there, huh?"
But then, he laughed quietly.
Honestly, he couldn't even argue with it.
This changed everything. In the game, Renji was made "perfect" simply so the protagonist would look better by comparison when the girls eventually chose the clumsy guy over the flawless Prince.
But here, he now, not only had memories and an unbelievable physique, but also a cheat. If he's right, he could see the emotional state of everyone around him not just himself as that would be pointless. He could see what they needed, what they feared, and even something that they were hiding.
He walked to his closet, selecting his uniform. He didn't just put it on; he styled it. He left the top button of his shirt undone, exposing just enough collarbone to be suggestive without being sloppy. He rolled his sleeves to mid-forearm, highlighting the vascularity of his wrists and hands, then spritzed on his signature cologne, a mix of cool mint and expensive citrus.
Since he knew about many things now, he wasn't going to be the wingman. It was time to take this life for a joyride. He would live according to his desire and live his life it's meant to be not how it's made to be.
...
Renji descended the grand staircase to the dining room. The smell of grilled fish and miso soup filled the air, prepared by the family chef, though Renji was a better cook.
Seated at the table were his two sisters.
The older was Kamishiro Akari, his younger sister by one year. She was already dressed in her Kosei Academy uniform. She was a "Cool Beauty" in the making. She had sleek, glossy black hair cut in a sharp bob that framed her elegant neck. She was tall for a girl her age, standing at 168cm, with a slender, model-like build. Her chest was a modest but shapely B-cup, perfectly proportionate to her long, slender legs encased in black high-socks. She had Renji's piercing blue eyes, usually hidden behind a mask of indifference.
The younger one was Kamishiro Yume, three years younger than him and still in middle school. She was slumped over her bowl. She was the opposite of Akari, a "Petite Devil". She was small, barely reaching 150cm, with a flat A-cup chest but soft, squishy thighs that were currently hidden under oversized pajama shorts. Her long black hair was tied in messy twin-tails, and her big, expressive eyes were currently half-closed with sleep.
Renji paused in the doorway, activating his new skill.
Above Akari's head, a window shimmered.
[Target: Kamishiro Akari]
[Status: Nervous]
[Desire: To look mature for her High School Debut.]
[Frustration: 40% (Self-conscious)]
There was another window above Yume:
[Target: Kamishiro Yume]
[Status: Sleepy / Needy]
[Desire: Attention from Onii-chan]
'So, I was right. It works on everyone.' Renji thought. 'This is almost unfair.'
In the game, he would have always played the role of the loving but strict brother, keeping a respectful distance, which would allow Takumi to fill the void.
But today, he chose a slightly different path.
Renji walked past his chair instead of sitting on it. Rather, he walked up behind Akari.
"Morning, Akari." he said, his voice dropping an octave lower than his usual strict brotherly tone, making it sound smooth as silk.
He reached out and simply hovered his hands near her collar, fixing the red bow she was worried about.
"Your ribbon was a little crooked," he said softly. "There, now it looks perfect."
Akari flinched, looking up at him with wide eyes. Her cool facade cracked, a faint blush dusting her cheeks due to the sudden care . "N-Nii-san? Uh... thanks."
"I know that the first day of the school is an important event, so let me tell you. You are looking beautiful today," he murmured, leaning down just enough to be in her peripheral vision. "If you want to worry, then just worry about breaking too many hearts on your first day. I feel bad for the boys."
Akari stopped breathing for a second. The [Frustration] gauge above her head vanished, replaced by [Status: Flustered / Happy].
"I... I'll try my best." she muttered, looking away to hide her smile.
"Onii-chan!" Yume whined from across the table, slamming her spoon down. "What about me? You didn't even say good morning to me!"
[Desire: Attention] flashed red above her head.
Renji turned his attention to Yume. He walked over and, and patted her head showing his doting nature, giving her his full attention.
"Good morning, Yume." he said, smiling gently. " You're awfully loud for someone who's half asleep. But you need to eat properly. Look, you even have rice on your cheek."
He reached out and wiped the speck of rice away with his thumb.
"Eat up. If you don't finish your breakfast, you'll stay pint-sized forever." he teased.
Yume beamed while enjoying Renji's headpat, her jealousy vanishing instantly. "Okay!"
Renji chuckled, straightening up. "I'm leaving early. Don't be late for your first day in school."
He walked out, leaving his sisters pleased and giggling.