When My Classmate Turned Out to Be the Reincarnated VTuber Kokage - The transfer student was a crybaby and tasted like a boxed lunch.

The classroom was filled with the usual pre-homeroom buzz. "Hey Minato, is it true we're getting a transfer student today?" 　Minato's best friend, Toudou Kakeru, leaned over from the seat in front of him. His eyes behind his glasses were gleaming with curiosity. A game otaku, he was the type to latch onto events like this more than anyone. "No idea. But I did hear something like that." 　Minato answered from his window-side seat, placing his textbook on the desk. The October morning light slanted in through the window. Third floor of the main building at Misaki Hill High School, east-side classroom. Outside the window, the Pacific Ocean glimmered faintly in the distance. 　Something deep in his chest felt restless. *(That girl from yesterday... I hope she's okay.)* 　Yesterday evening, the crybaby girl he'd met on Misaki Hill. The small hands that had lifted a tear-streaked face and clung tightly to the hem of Minato's clothes, refusing to let go. 　That sensation still seemed to linger at his fingertips. "The transfer student's a girl, apparently. And she's supposed to be pretty cute." 　Kakeru said in a hushed voice. "Where do you even get this stuff?" "Some girls in our class saw her outside the staff room! She's petite, with fluffy hair, and like... the type you just want to protect!" 　The type you just want to protect. 　At those words, the image of yesterday's girl surfaced in Minato's mind. Fluffy black hair with a moss-green inner layer. Big light-brown eyes. An anxious expression that looked ready to burst into tears at any moment. *(No way.)* 　There was no chance of such a coincidence. "Kakeru, you're too loud for the morning." 　Rena turned around from the seat diagonally in front of him. Long, straight black hair. Her bangs were cut in a neat line just above her eyebrows. Her strong-willed black eyes glared sharply at Kakeru. 　The class vice-representative. Minato's childhood friend. 　They'd grown up together since they were little—practically family. She was smart, took good care of others, and was trusted by the class. She just had a habit of being oddly naggy around Minato. "Rena-chan's as strict as ever, huh. Right, Minato?" "Well, Rena's right. You're loud." "Even you, Minato? This is because you never get your act together." 　Rena turned back to the front with a huff. But her ears were faintly red. A habit she had when she was embarrassed. Minato didn't notice. 　The bell rang. 　The classroom's buzz quieted all at once. 　The homeroom teacher entered the room, holding an attendance book and a single sheet of paper. "Alright, take your seats. I've got something to introduce during homeroom today." 　Minato straightened his back. *(A transfer student, huh.)* 　His heart beat just a little faster. He didn't know why. It was because yesterday's girl's face wouldn't leave his mind. 　The teacher stood at the podium and looked around the classroom. "Well then, starting today, a new classmate joins us. Everyone, make sure to get along." 　The air in the classroom went taut. 　Minato unconsciously looked toward the classroom door. 　The door slowly opened. 　A small figure stepped in. 　Fluffy black hair. Curled inward at the shoulders, with a moss-green inner layer. Petite, slender, with a delicate frame that looked like it might break at any moment. 　Minato's breath stopped. *(It's her.)* 　The girl who'd been crying on Misaki Hill yesterday. 　The one who'd grabbed his clothes and wouldn't let go. 　The one whose name he'd never gotten to ask. 　The girl stood before the podium and gave a small bow. "...I'm Tsumugi Kokage." 　Her voice was trembling. Even from here, he could tell how nervous she was. 　Beside Minato, Kakeru let out a small gasp. "Whoa, she's seriously cute..." 　Rena glanced over at Minato. 　Minato didn't notice. 　Kokage lifted her head. Her big light-brown eyes were glistening with tears. An anxious expression that looked ready to burst into tears at any moment. 　And then, Kokage's gaze wandered across the classroom. 　As if she were searching for someone. 　Her eyes met Minato's. 　Kokage's eyes widened. 　And then. 　As if relieved, she gave a small wave. 　Something in his chest tightened sharply. *(It really is her.)* 　Minato unconsciously waved back. "Minato, you know her?" 　Kakeru whispered. "...No, just... yesterday, a little." 　Minato answered vaguely. 　Rena's gaze was painfully sharp, like needles. 　But right now, that wasn't what mattered. 　Kokage was trembling slightly at the podium. With tension and anxiety, tears looked ready to spill at any moment. 　The teacher pointed to an empty seat for Kokage. "Your seat... ah, the one next to Mashiba is open. Over there, by the window in the back." 　The seat next to Minato. 　Kokage gave a small nod. 　And then, she walked toward Minato. 　Step by step, slowly. 　Just a few seconds until she reached the seat beside him. 　But to Minato, it felt like an eternity. 　Kokage sat down, turned toward Minato, and gave a smile that was half-crying. "...You're Minato-kun, right?" 　Her voice was still trembling. "Yeah. Mashiba Minato. Were you okay after yesterday?" "Yeah... thank you. Um... for helping me." 　Kokage said that, then gave another small wave. 　Her hand was still trembling. 　Minato stared at Kokage's small hand and thought: *(I really can't leave her alone.)* 　Homeroom began. 　The teacher, using the transfer student's arrival as an excuse, announced that everyone would do self-introductions. "Since we have a transfer student today, let's do self-introductions again. In attendance order." 　The classroom stirred slightly. 　Minato glanced over at Kokage. 　Kokage was gripping the hem of her skirt tightly. Her face was deathly pale from nerves. *(Is she going to be okay?)* 　Until his turn came, Minato thought about Kokage the entire time. 　How could he ease this girl's tension? 　How could he make this girl smile? 　And then, Minato's turn came. 　Minato slowly stood up. 　His classmates' eyes gathered on him. 　Minato took a small breath and spoke. "I'm Mashiba Minato. My special skill is trading side dishes from lunchboxes." 　A moment of silence. 　The next instant, the classroom erupted in laughter. "What's that supposed to mean?!" "Trading side dishes? What are you, an elementary schooler?!" 　Minato continued with a grin. "I believe that trading karaage for tamagoyaki can save the world." 　The classroom's laughter grew even louder. 　And then, beside Minato. "...Hehe." 　Kokage let out a small giggle. 　A little color returned to her face, which had been deathly pale just moments ago. 　Seeing Kokage's smile, Minato did a mental fist pump. *(Yes, she laughed.)* 　Rena was watching Minato intently from the seat diagonally in front. 　What was in her eyes? 　Minato still didn't notice. 　Kokage's self-introduction was quiet and halting. "...I'm Tsumugi Kokage. Um... I just transferred here. Please take care of me." 　Her voice nearly faded away at the end. 　But beside Minato, Kokage had definitely finished. 　Minato noticed that Kokage's hands were still trembling. 　Homeroom ended. 　A short break before first period. 　Minato was debating whether to talk to Kokage. 　But his classmates began crowding around her, so he held back. "Kokage-chan, where did you transfer from?" "Your hair's green on the inside! So cute!" 　Kokage, flustered, was still doing her best to answer. 　Minato watched from a short distance away. *(She seems okay.)* 　He felt a little relieved. 　Lunch break. 　Minato was about to eat lunch with Rena as usual. 　But Rena didn't sit down next to him. "Rena, we're not eating together today?" 　When Minato called out to her, Rena answered without looking at him. "...Aren't you eating with her today?" 　Her voice was a little cold. "Her?" "The transfer student. Kokage-chan." 　Rena glanced toward the window-side seat. 　Minato followed her gaze. 　Kokage was in the corner of the classroom, trying to open a small lunchbox by herself. 　All the other classmates were gathered in groups with their friends, eating. 　Kokage couldn't join those circles, so she was alone. 　A sharp pang went through Minato's chest. "...She's trying to eat alone." "That's what I said. You're the type who can't leave that alone." 　Rena's voice sounded somehow dismissive. 　Minato looked at Rena's face. 　Rena wasn't looking at him. 　She was looking out the window. "...I'll be right back." 　Minato stood up, holding his lunchbox. 　Rena said nothing. 　She just gripped her skirt tightly under the desk. 　Minato walked over to Kokage. 　Kokage noticed him approaching and flinched, her shoulders trembling. "Hey, Kokage. Eating alone?" 　Minato spoke as gently as he could. "...Minato-kun." 　Kokage looked up at him. 　Her big eyes were glistening again. "Hey, want to trade a bite?" 　Minato held out his lunchbox. 　Inside, his mom's special karaage was fried to a perfect golden brown. 　Kokage looked back and forth between Minato's lunchbox and his face. "...Trade?" "Yeah. I trade one of your side dishes for my karaage. I'll have you know I'm a master of side-dish trading." 　Minato said with a grin. 　Kokage hesitated for a while. 　But perhaps the smell of Minato's karaage stirred her appetite. 　Kokage picked up a small piece of tamagoyaki from her lunchbox with her chopsticks. "...Is this okay?" "Oh, tamagoyaki. Nice." 　Minato accepted Kokage's tamagoyaki. 　Then he placed his karaage into Kokage's lunchbox. "Here, try it. My mom's karaage is the best in the world." 　Kokage gently brought Minato's karaage to her mouth. 　She chewed softly. 　In that instant. 　Kokage's expression lit up brilliantly. 　As if light had poured into a dark room. 　Tears spilled from her big eyes, one after another. "...It's delicious..." 　Kokage said in a trembling voice. "It's delicious, Minato-kun..." 　Seeing her like that, Minato felt a warmth spreading through his chest. *(Why does she cry so much?)* 　But it didn't feel bad. 　If anything, he wanted to feed her more. 　He wanted to make this girl smile more. 　He wanted to protect this small body. "Yeah. I'm glad." 　Minato lightly patted Kokage's head. 　Kokage looked up at him in surprise. 　But she didn't pull away. 　If anything, she leaned slightly toward Minato. 　Diagonally across the classroom. 　Rena was watching the two of them intently. 　In her hands was an unopened lunchbox. 　Rena's lips trembled faintly. 　But Minato didn't notice. 　After school. 　Minato had been meaning to ask Kokage about yesterday. 　Why she'd been crying on that hill. 　What she'd said she'd lost. 　But he couldn't find the right moment, and time just kept passing. 　Minato saw Kokage leaving the classroom and chased after her. "Kokage!" 　He called out in the hallway. 　Kokage flinched and stopped. "...Minato-kun." 　Kokage turned around. 　Her face was a little pale. "I want to ask about yesterday. What happened on that hill? What did you say you lost?" 　Kokage's expression stiffened. 　Minato continued. "Back then, you were about to say something. Something about 'having memories of a past life.'" 　Kokage's body trembled. 　Kokage averted her eyes from Minato. "...That was..." 　Her voice was shaking. "...That was... nothing." "Nothing? What do you mean?" "...It's nothing...!" 　Kokage nearly shouted, then turned her back on Minato. 　And she ran. "Hey, Kokage!" 　Minato hurried after her. 　Kokage ran through the hallway and out of the school building. 　Minato chased desperately. 　Kokage went out the school gate and down Misaki Hill. 　Minato followed. 　The October wind blew between them. 　The leaves of the cherry trees rustled. 　Kokage stopped halfway down the hill. 　She leaned against the wall, shoulders trembling. 　She was crying. 　Minato slowly approached. "...Kokage." 　Minato stood beside her. 　

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Episode 2

Name: When My Classmate Turned Out to Be the Reincarnated VTuber Kokage
Author: Novelia

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