Kurumi's School Life Reincarnation: A Sweet and Bitter Love Triangle!?
During an after-school piano session in the music room, Kurumi suddenly finds herself transported to another world. She arrives at 'Kurumi Academy,' a slightly peculiar high school, retaining only the memories of her original life.
Enrolled as a first-year student with the same name, Kurumi Hazakura, she begins a new life full of heart-pounding and exciting events with new friends, all while thinking she used to be a normal high schooler with no special powers.
The most popular boy in class, T
Kurumi's School Life Reincarnation: A Sweet and Bitter Love Triangle!? - Damn it, he wasn't just my Takuto.
The gymnasium was wrapped in heat.
A constant buzz, a restless murmur.
Over a hundred students crowded together, their eyes fixed on the stage. The lights were too bright, hot enough to prickle against the skin.
In the wings, Kurumi clutched the hem of her skirt.
Her fingers were trembling.
"Ugh, I knew it... I can't do this..."
Her voice shook faintly.
Deep in her chest, her heart pounded wildly.
"What are you talking about?! You've totally got this, Kurumi!"
Takuto clapped her on the back.
The silver walnut earring on his left ear glinted under the stage lights.
"I'm right here with you! Come on, deep breath! In... and out!"
Takuto's voice didn't sound nervous at all.
If anything, he sounded like he was having fun.
"Takuto... how are you so calm...?"
"Because I'm in the audience! But you—you practiced so hard on that piano, didn't you?"
"...Thank you."
She murmured the words quietly.
Then, Kurumi took a step onto the stage.
—So bright.
The blinding spotlight washed her vision pure white. The faces of the audience were lost in the backlight, impossible to see.
But even without seeing them, she knew.
Everyone was watching her.
Her legs shook. Her knees wobbled.
Even so, she took one step, then another.
She stood before the large, black grand piano placed at the center of the stage.
This wasn't the piano in the old school building. This was the gymnasium's piano. The sound might be just a little different.
But.
It was the song her mother had taught her.
Kurumi quietly sat down on the piano bench. She placed her fingers on the keys. The cool, cold sensation of the white and black keys seemed to seep gently into her palms.
At the very back of the audience.
Leaning against the wall, Kurogane Reiji stood in silence. His jet-black, slightly long, straight hair. His sharp, cool eyes gazed straight at Kurumi. His mouth was set in its usual firm line.
But deep within his eyes, a faint, gentle light flickered.
Kurumi's fingers moved.
—The first note.
A soft, plinking sound resonated throughout the gymnasium.
The murmuring stopped dead.
Her mother's favorite song. The one she always played on rainy days. Whenever the rain pattered softly against the window, her mother would play the piano as if the world belonged only to the two of them.
(Mom...)
Kurumi closed her eyes.
Her fingers moved on their own across the keys. Her body remembered. This song she had played alongside her mother.
Gentle, and just a little bit heartrending.
A song like the scent of fallen leaves at the end of autumn.
The notes spread out like waves.
A quiet beginning. Like a single drop falling onto the surface of water.
Then, little by little, it grew.
—The chorus.
Her fingers struck the keys, fast and strong.
Memories came flooding out. Her mother's smile. The taste of the cookies they made together. The curtain swaying beside the piano.
All of it became sound, born from her fingertips.
In the wings.
Takuto clenched his fists and bit down hard on his lip.
His usual bright smile was gone. His slightly drooping brown eyes grew moist, welling up rapidly.
"...Incredible."
His voice trembled. A sharp ache stung the back of his nose.
"...Kurumi... you were this amazing all along."
The scene before him blurred.
Kurumi's small back. Every time her fluffy black hair swayed, the walnut hairpin on the right side sparkled. From that small back, an overwhelming torrent of sound poured forth.
(Compared to me, she's so much—)
Takuto bit his lip hard.
Just then.
The performance reached its climax. The moment Kurumi's fingers were about to strike the highest keys—
They stopped.
Her fingers nearly froze.
(Huh...?)
She didn't know the next note. Her mind went completely blank for an instant.
The murmuring of the audience sounded distant. Her hands trembled.
(What do I do—)
That was when she lowered her gaze.
Right beside the piano. Tucked away in the corner of the wings, she spotted a water bottle. A small, pale pink water bottle. On the cap, a walnut mark was drawn.
(That's—)
Kurumi caught her breath.
That was her water bottle. And inside was her favorite milk tea. It shouldn't have been there a moment ago.
Someone had placed it there for her.
At the very back of the audience.
Reiji quietly closed his eyes.
He hadn't missed the moment Kurumi's fingers nearly stopped. So, just ten minutes ago, hidden in the shadows, he had quietly placed it there.
(I thought you might need a drink.)
That was the only reason.
—But.
A small flame lit within Kurumi's heart.
(That was Reiji.)
She was certain. Even without any words, she recognized that silent kindness immediately.
(I'm not alone.)
Kurumi lifted her fingers once more.
And then—
She struck the final note with all her strength.
The finale chord rang out, high and clear.
The lingering resonance wrapped around the gymnasium.
Silence.
For a moment, it was as if time itself had stopped.
—The next instant.
Deafening applause shook the gymnasium.
"「「「WHOOOOAAAA!!」」」"
"「「「BRAVO!!」」」"
"「「「Amazing! That was amazing!」」」"
Applause and cheers swirled into a vortex.
Kurumi stood up unsteadily. Sweat trickled down her temples. Her legs wobbled, and she couldn't stand properly.
But.
She had done it.
Just as she bowed her head to take a bow—
"Kurumiiii!!"
Takuto burst out from the wings. He waved both arms wildly, his face a mess of tears and snot.
"That was incredible! Really! It was so amazing!!"
"T-Takuto! Your nose! You're getting snot everywhere!"
"Who cares about that! You were just too amazing, Kurumi, I can't even—!"
Takuto moved to hug her just like that.
But he stopped just short. Flapping his arms, he spun around in circles instead.
The sight drew laughter from the audience.
At the very back of the audience.
Reiji quietly wiped the corner of his eye with a finger.
(Thank goodness.)
He murmured the words without a sound.
The next moment, his expression returned to its usual blankness as he leaned back against the wall.
But.
The corners of his mouth had relaxed, just a little.
The contest ended.
The overall winner was a third-year senpai who excelled at dance. But Kurumi received the "Special Award." The student council president, Shiina Yuzuki, presented her with a certificate and a small trophy shaped like a walnut.
"That was a wonderful performance."
Yuzuki smiled quietly. Her amethyst-colored eyes gazed steadily at Kurumi.
"Th-thank you very much...!"
"Fufu, your piano had a very special sound. Congratulations, Kurumi Hazakura."
After Yuzuki left, Takuto rushed over.
"Special Award! You did it!"
"Yeah! It's all thanks to you, Takuto."
"Huh? Me?"
"Because you were cheering me on the whole time, right? Making the costume, practicing with me..."
When Kurumi smiled, Takuto scratched his head, looking embarrassed.
"...I'm glad."
A quiet voice came from behind.
It was Reiji.
Kurumi turned around.
"Reiji! You put this here for me, didn't you?"
Kurumi held out the water bottle.
Reiji's eyes widened just a fraction. Then, looking awkward, he averted his gaze.
"...I thought you might need a drink."
"Thank you! It helped so much!"
When Kurumi thanked him with a beaming smile, the tips of Reiji's ears seemed to turn just a little red.
"Ah, no fair! Only Reiji gets to do something! I should've done something for Kurumi too!"
Takuto shouted, and the three of them looked at each other.
—And then.
Laughter naturally bubbled up.
Takuto's bright laughter. Kurumi's small laugh. Reiji's quiet but unmistakable laugh.
(Ah, I'm so glad I came to this world.)
Kurumi thought so from the bottom of her heart. She was spending the best time with the best friends.
The after-party ended long after the sun had completely set.
In the classroom, they had a small celebration with their classmates, with juice and snacks Takuto had bought. It was fun. Really, truly fun.
But Kurumi realized she had forgotten her bag in the classroom and decided to go back alone.
The school building was already pitch dark. Only the sound of her own footsteps echoed in the hallway.
(Ahh, that was so much fun.)
The sweetness of the walnut-filled bread still lingered in her mouth. Today, even Reiji had talked just a little bit more than usual. Takuto, of course, had been loud the whole time.
—Suddenly.
She heard voices coming from the courtyard.
(I wonder who's out there at this hour?)
Kurumi peered out the window into the courtyard.
Beneath the large walnut tree—the Great Walnut.
There, she saw Takuto.
And two girls. Both wore the Kurumi Academy crest in their hair. They were probably third-years.
"You know, Takuto, you're always so nice to transfer students like that."
"Yeah, yeah. It's not like they're special or anything. You're just equal-opportunity nice, right?"
Their voices echoed in the darkness.
Takuto scratched his head.
"Eh, do I really seem like that? Well... everyone's important to me, after all!"
Takuto grinned mischievously and stuck out his tongue. The same bright Takuto as always.
—Thump.
Something in the center of Kurumi's chest made a loud, ugly sound.
(...Everyone's important.)
Her mind went completely blank.
Her fingertips turned cold.
(I'm—)
I was just one of "everyone."
Her vision blurred, hot and wavering.
"...I see."
The words came out. A very small, hoarse voice.
Takuto wasn't only kind to her. He gave that same face, that same smile, to every transfer student.
(What was I even misunderstanding?)
Had I really thought I was special? Even though Takuto's kindness was something he gave out equally to everyone.
Kurumi ran from the spot.
"...Huh?"
She thought she heard Takuto's voice behind her, but she didn't turn around.
Tears spilled over. They ran down her cheeks, hit the cold wind, and turned cold immediately.
Just one of the transfer students.
Everything was just simple kindness.
"...No."
She murmured as she ran.
It wasn't that Takuto was at fault. If anything, he was kind. Incredibly kind.
—But.
That kindness now stabbed into her chest like a blade.
"I'm so stupid..."
She dashed into the old school building.
The old fluorescent lights in the hallway flickered and blinked. The floorboards creaked with an unpleasant, grating sound. She ran up the stairs to the third floor.
The music room.
She threw the door open with a bang.
Only the moonlight illuminated the room in a pale blue. The old grand piano, "Capella," stood there in silence.
Kurumi closed the door and collapsed on the spot.
She hugged her knees and curled up.
"...Hic... uu..."
She stifled her voice and cried.
I was just one of the transfer students. To Takuto, I wasn't special.
I was so happy. Making the costume together. Being told to enter the contest. Having him always beside me, laughing.
Just from that, I had convinced myself I was special.
(...Like an idiot.)
Tears fell to the floor, forming small stains.
I'm all alone. I came to this world, and I had Takuto and Reiji—
"...Reiji."
Reiji's face floated into her mind, and more tears spilled over. Was Reiji just being kind, too? The way he was gentle with me in the library. Drawing the design sketches for me. Placing the water bottle for me today.
—She didn't know anymore.
She didn't know, and so she just cried and cried.
Creak.
The door opened quietly.
She couldn't lift her head.
Silence continued for a while. The moonlight slowly hid behind a cloud, darkening the room. Then it brightened again.
A white handkerchief was held out before her eyes. A clean, neatly ironed white handkerchief.
Kurumi lifted her head.
Kurogane Reiji stood there.
With the moonlight at his back, his expression was hard to see. Only his sharp, dark eyes gazed down steadily at Kurumi.
He said nothing. He just stood there, holding out the handkerchief.
"...Reiji."
Her voice trembled.
Reiji didn't answer.
Silence.
Kurumi couldn't take the handkerchief. Instead, she looked down and pr
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