……Huh? Before I knew it, I was in a classroom I didn't recognize. Outside the window, the sea sparkled brilliantly, and the scent of the tide gently tickled my nose. The soft April sunlight shone on the brand-new textbooks lined up on the desks. "Where… is this?" My head's a mess. I was just at home playing games a second ago, so why am I here? A uniform—I'm wearing a blazer I've never seen before. On the chest pocket, a school emblem reading "Meichou Academy" gleams. Meichou Academy? The moment I recognized that name— My heart *thumped*. (No. This place is—) The view of the hilltop from the window, the sound of the tide, the giant camphor tree standing in the schoolyard. Every single thing feels nostalgic, for some reason. But this should be my first time here. Excited voices echo from the hallway. The morning of the entrance ceremony. Classmates, their hearts racing with anticipation for their new lives. An ordinary high school, an ordinary scene. (Right, it's ordinary. Nothing's weird about it.) I'm Kakeru. 16 years old. Starting today, a first-year at this private Meichou Academy— "Owie!" The classroom door burst open with force. Something pink came charging in at incredible speed. "[excited]Darling! I finally found you!" A fluffy, peach-colored bob cut swayed right in front of my eyes. Big amber eyes, opened wide and round, reflected my image. Petite, her uniform skirt fluttering, this girl— "Whoa!" She threw herself at me. Completely ignoring the fact that we're in public, she squeezed me tight. A sweet shampoo scent hit me, and my heart started pounding like crazy. "W-Wait a second! Who are you!?" "[surprised]Huh? Darling, did you forget Anko?" Anko. Hearing that name sent another sharp pang through the back of my head. (Anko… Do I know her? No, but this should be the first time we've met…) Ignoring my confusion, Anko wrapped her arm around mine and nuzzled her cheek against me. "[gentle]Geez, I looked everywhere for you, you know? I got lost in this huge school. But I could sense your presence, so I came right away." Presence? "[sad]I was so lonely. I wanted to be with you the whole time…" Her amber eyes grew moist, looking like she was about to cry any second. What am I supposed to do here? "Hey, Anko! Get off him!" This time, a dignified voice rang out. Turning toward the voice, I saw a girl standing there, her black ponytail swaying. Her waist-length black hair was tied up high, and her sharp, narrow black eyes glared intensely at Anko. "[angry]What are you doing first thing in the morning!? Hugging him in the classroom—aren't you embarrassed!?" "[sarcastic]Not really. Anko was just happy to see Darling, that's all. You actually want to hug him too, don't you, Youou?" "Wha—!" Youou's face turned bright red. "[angry]N-No, I don't! I don't feel that way at all…!" She looked at me, and for just a moment, her face looked like she was about to cry. But she immediately turned away with a huff. "I just… felt a little relieved, finally finding you." Her voice was trembling. (…Youou?) That name made my chest stir, too. I moved my hand to my hip, trying to grasp something—and realized there was nothing there. (What am I reaching for?) "Oh my, everyone's so lively." Another new voice. This time, from the back door of the classroom, a girl with long black hair entered. She was tall. Probably around 170 centimeters. Her lustrous black hair, falling straight down to her waist, swayed smoothly with every step. Her deep green eyes narrowed gently. "[gentle]It's been a while, Kakeru-kun." She's wearing a second-year's uniform. A senpai. "Congratulations on your enrollment. I'm glad—we ended up at the same school after all." Smiling, she walked smoothly over to me. (Kyouka… senpai?) That name was the final key. —*Boom*. Something burst inside my head. The scenery warped. The classroom vanished, replaced by a dark sky and a desolate, ruined land. Youou swinging a sword. Purple lightning racing out. Anko clad in wind, summoning storms. Kyouka manipulating gravity, pinning enemies to the ground. And— "I am…" The Wanderer. One who traverses other worlds, fighting. Memories of fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with them all came flooding back at once. "[scared]…Huh? What? Wait, hold on!?" I wasn't just a normal high schooler!? My legs wobbled, and I put a hand on the desk. "[worried]Are you okay?" Kyouka peered at me with concern. "You're pale. Should we go to the nurse's office?" "[scared]No, uh… I'm fine, really…" There's no way I'm fine. But how am I supposed to explain this? I can't exactly say I thought they were just game characters until a minute ago. The chime rang. An ordinary sound, signaling the start of homeroom. The teacher came in and started explaining the entrance ceremony. Anko secretly moved to the seat next to mine and grabbed my hand under the desk. She won't let go. Youou, from her seat by the window, keeps glancing over here. But whenever our eyes meet, she immediately looks away. Kyouka went back to her own classroom since she's in a higher grade, but on her way out, she whispered in my ear. "[whispers]Let's talk a little after school. Just the two of us." (Just the two of us!?) A shiver ran down my spine. She has such a gentle smile, but it's somehow terrifying. Like, that smile itself is just scary now. After school— I stood frozen in the middle of the classroom. "The seat next to Darling is mine!" "[angry]Why!? You've been glued to him the whole time!" "[excited]It's not enough! I want to be even closer to Darling!" The two of them glared at each other across my desk. The classmates who'd stayed in the room had long since fled. Can't blame them. I mean, Youou's right hand is starting to glow purple. "[angry]Anko, you've been way too close. Why don't you back off a little?" The air crackled with tension. Inside Youou's hand, a purple light flickered like surging electricity. "[cold]No. I won't back off." The air around Anko started swirling. At first it was just a gentle breeze, but it gradually grew stronger, sending the printouts on the desk fluttering wildly into the air. "H-Hey, both of you, calm down!" I tried to stop them, but it was already too late. "[angry]Anko, I'm not losing to you, of all people!" *Crack!* A bolt of purple lightning shot from Youou's hand. The electricity passed right by me and struck the blackboard. "Eek!" The moment Anko dodged out of the way— *Whoosh!* A sudden, violent gust of wind raged through the classroom. It wasn't just the printouts anymore. Textbooks, pencil cases, bags—everything was flying through the air. "[scared]Whoa, whoa, whoa!" I clung to my desk. (This is definitely not normal! Their powers from their past lives are still here!) I've seen this in the game. Youou's "Violet Lightning Sword Aura," Anko's "Storm Voice." But this is reality! It's nothing like a game! "[calm]That's no good, you two. Fighting like this." Kyouka was standing at the classroom door. When did she get here? She's smiling. A really, incredibly gentle smile. But— "[gentle]Everyone, let's calm down a little, shall we?" The moment she said that, my body grew heavy. "Huh?" I can't do anything. My body feels like it's turned to lead. I can't move. No, I *can't* move. Youou and Anko both slumped to the floor where they stood. "[gentle]Just bear with it for a little while." Kyouka's "Binding Law"—her gravity manipulation power. That one's still here too!? Keeping the three of us pinned to the floor, Kyouka slowly approached. "[gentle]You mustn't fight over something as trivial as who gets to sit next to Kakeru-kun. We've finally been reunited at the same school, so we have to get along." (Reunited… says the person who was fighting alongside us just a moment ago, right!?) I screamed internally. In our past life, wasn't Kyouka the type of character who'd crush enemies en masse with gravity? "[gentle]But still, we do need to properly decide who sits next to him." Huh? "[gentle]I think it's only natural that I, as his senpai, look after Kakeru-kun. First-years must have so many things they don't understand, after all." "[angry]H-Hey, Kyouka! That's not fair!" "[sad]Sneaking ahead just because you're a senpai is so mean…" Still pinned to the floor, the two of them protested. But Kyouka's smile didn't waver. "[gentle]It's not sneaking ahead. It's my duty as a senpai. Right, Kakeru-kun?" Please don't throw the conversation to me. I have no idea what to do anymore. (Is this even allowed!?) All I want is a peaceful school life. Why is it such a battlefield on the very first day? "…I can't take this anymore." Night. Wrapped up in my futon in my apartment, I muttered as I stared up at the ceiling. Apartment Shiozake, Room 203. It's an old, 25-year-old building, but the 45,000 yen rent is a lifesaver for a high schooler living alone. My parents transferred to Osaka for work and send me an allowance. A six-tatami-mat room with a desk, a futon, and a small TV. "Why is it only around me that things get like this…?" Looking back, this single day was absolute chaos. Chased around by three beautiful girls who aren't my childhood friends or lovers, all of whom have memories of a past life and are, on top of that, superpowered. "If I choose one of them, the other two will go berserk…" Just imagining it is terrifying. Youou getting jealous and filling the classroom with electric shocks. Anko getting angry and blowing the whole school away with a gust of wind. Kyouka smiling while pinning everyone to the floor. "It's impossible. Absolutely impossible." This is no time for romance. First, I have to ensure my own safety. "Alright, it's decided. Starting tomorrow, I'll absolutely keep my distance from those three—" The next morning. I opened the classroom door and froze. Someone was sitting in my seat. Long, silver hair. Her silky silver hair, flowing down to her back, sparkled brilliantly in the morning sun. It's a girl. I've never seen her before. Who? She—was staring intently at me. Silently. Straight at me. She had beautiful eyes. I couldn't tell what color they were, but they were incredibly deep, like I could get sucked into them. "Um… who are you?" She doesn't answer. She just looks at me. (What is this, some new kind of harassment? Or is it—) My heart is pounding. Probably not a good sign. "[scared]Give me a break, please…" My humble wish was in vain. The silver-haired girl tilted her head just slightly. And then— The moment she seemed about to say something, The chime rang. Another noisy day was about to begin.