The morning air outside the Kamishiro estate was crisp, carrying the faint, sweet scent of cherry blossoms that lined the path to Kosei Academy. It was the kind of weather designed for new beginnings, for main characters to run with toast in their mouths, and for fated encounters.
Kamishiro Renji walked with a relaxed, fluid grace, his school bag slung effortlessly over one shoulder. He adjusted the cuffs of his blazer, feeling the familiar weight of his new reality settling in. Outwardly, he was still the perfect best friend, but beneath it, he had already changed.
He reached the usual intersection; a cliché spot etched into his memory from playthroughs of galgames.
And there he was.
Hoshino Takumi, the Original Protagonist.
Takumi was bouncing on the balls of his feet, looking exactly like his archetype. His brown, gravity-defying hair was a mess of spikes that looked like they hadn't seen a comb in days.
He had a small, square bandage on his chin, likely from shaving too fast, and his tie was pulled loose in a way that screamed energetic youth rather than style. Moreover, his uniform despite being neat and clean, looked like he had slept in it.
He was radiating the kind of boundless, unrefined energy that the world seemed determined to reward with lucky accidents and undeserved affection.
'Seeing him after getting the memories of my past life, really gives a different feeling. He literally looks like he just rolled out of a shonen manga.' Renji thought, highly amused.
"Renji!" Takumi shouted the moment he spotted him, waving frantically as if they hadn't seen each other yesterday. "You're late! Youth waits for no man! By the way, did you finish buying all the books? I kind of... forgot to buy some of them."
Renji approached him, his expression shifting seamlessly into a warm, tolerant smile.
"Good morning, Takumi," Renji said, his voice smooth and steady. "And yes, I have all the books. But you're buying lunch."
"Deal! You're a lifesaver, man! Seriously, I'd fail without you." Takumi laughed, slapping Renji on the back with zero hesitation. He had no idea he was standing next to a changed Renji.
"Sigh… You really should check a mirror before you leave the house." Renji chided gently, reaching out to brush a few toast crumbs from Takumi's collar. It was a practiced move, the helpful best friend cleaning up the mess. "You look like you fought your breakfast and lost."
"Details, details!" Takumi grinned, unbothered. "Come on, let's go! I wonder what class we're in. I hope we're together again!"
They turned the corner toward the main road leading to the school gate. And there she was.
Aihara Hina, the Childhood Friend-type Heroine.
She was standing by the gate, fidgeting with the hem of her skirt. To anyone else, she might have looked like just another student, nervous about the start of a new session. But Renji with his ever-observant nature and gifted memory, saw the details instantly.
'God bless the character designers of this world.' Renji thought, feeling a deep, appreciative thrill.
She wasn't wearing her usual plain hair clip. She had styled her chestnut brown hair into a softer, more mature side-tail that draped over her shoulder, giving her a gentle, almost housewife-like vibe. Her uniform was pressed perfectly, without a single wrinkle in sight. And her lips... they shimmered with a faint, peach-pink gloss.
But it was her body that drew the eye, even hidden under the uniform. Hina possessed the legendary "marshmallow body". In her loose beige cardigan, she looked slightly chubby to the untrained eye, but Renji knew the truth. Underneath that fabric was a soft, heavy, G-cup chest that defied physics, paired with wide, child-bearing hips and thick, soft thighs. She was a creature of pure comfort and softness, possessing a warm, hazel-eyed gaze that made men want to protect her.
Renji knew that she was waiting for Takumi, and she was trying for Takumi.
[Empathy Insight] Activated.
A translucent blue window flickered into existence above Hina's head, invisible to everyone but Renji.
[Target: Aihara Hina]
[Status: Anxious / Hopeful]
[Current Thought: "Will he notice? I spent an hour on this..."]
[Frustration Gauge: 85%]
Takumi stopped. "Oh, hey Hina! Morning!"
Hina looked up, her eyes lighting up instantly. She stepped forward, a shy, expectant smile playing on her lips. "Good morning, Takumi-kun. Renji-kun. I... um... ready for the new semester?"
She tilted her head slightly, highlighting the new hairstyle. She licked her lips nervously, highlighting the gloss.
Takumi blinked and squinted at her face.
"Whoa," Takumi said, his voice loud and confused. "Hina, you have something greasy on your mouth. Did you eat fried chicken for breakfast?"
He reached out with his sleeve to wipe her lips.
Hina froze. The light died in her eyes instantly, and she immediately slapped his hand away, her face crumbling into a mix of humiliation and anger. "It's... it's lip gloss, you idiot! It's fashion!"
"Huh?" Takumi looked genuinely baffled, scratching the back of his head. "But it's too shiny. Why would you want sticky lips? That's weird. And your hair looks kinda messy on one side."
Hina looked down at her shoes, her shoulders shaking. The text box above her head flashed red.
[Status: Crushed / Frustration: 99%]
[Desire: To be seen. To be validated.]
She looked ready to cry or scream. Takumi had taken her effort and turned it into a joke due to his oblivious nature.
On the side, Renji couldn't take it anymore.
'The sheer, gravitational density of this guy is a marvel to witness. It would be incredibly rude not to score some good points when given the chance.'
He stepped smoothly between them, using his height to block Takumi from Hina's view. He didn't say anything to Takumi, that guy was genuinely clueless about such things; so, he focused entirely on Hina.
He leaned in slightly, invading her personal space just enough to be noticed, but keeping his hands in his pockets. He looked at her with a calm, and soft gaze that was entirely devoid of mockery.
"Don't worry about it, it's not messy." Renji said, his voice quiet enough that Takumi, who was already looking at a passing car, didn't hear. "The side-tail suits you, Hina. It frames your face well."
Hina gasped, a small sound escaping her throat. She looked up, her hazel eyes wide and watery. "Renji-kun?"
"And don't mind Takumi's words, you know how clueless he is about such things. The gloss isn't greasy or shiny," he continued, his tone matter-of-fact but warm. "Rather, the colour works perfectly. It brings out the warmth in your eyes."
He smiled then, a small, genuine quirk of his lips that felt like a secret shared between them.
"It shows the effort you put in," Renji said softly. "And it looks good on you."
Hina's face flushed a deep, vivid red and her breath hitched. She stared at him, her lips parted, the hurt from Takumi's obliviousness was completely forgotten, replaced by a sudden, overwhelming heat pooling in her chest. It was the first-time when someone, other than her close relatives, had noticed and seen the work she had put in.
"I... thank you." she whispered, her voice trembling.
"Renji?" Takumi asked, popping his head around Renji's shoulder, completely oblivious to the atmosphere shift. "What are you guys whispering about? We're gonna be late!"
Renji straightened up, his usual expression sliding back into place effortlessly.
"Just explaining fashion to the uninitiated," Renji said smoothly, turning to walk. "Come on, Takumi. Hina needs a second to recover from your lack of taste."
"My lack of taste? I have great taste! I picked this tie myself!" Takumi grumbled, starting to walk toward the school. "Girls are so confusing."
Renji fell into step beside him. He didn't look back; he didn't need to.
Behind them, Hina was still standing at the gate, her hand touching her hair where Renji had praised it. The [Frustration Gauge] had vanished, replaced by a new, pulsing status window.
[Target: Aihara Hina]
[Heart Rate: Elevated]
[Interest: Piqued]
[Status: Confusion / Validated]
Renji shoved his hands into his pockets, a relaxed, satisfied smile on his face.