Chapter 45

When a transfer student arrives, it’s only natural that people flock to them. Curiosity about the new student draws the crowd, and if they happen to have an exotic appearance, that’s a given.

That day alone, the transfer student enjoys popularity that surpasses even idols—that’s the dignity of being a new student. So, during the break after the first period, the scene where no one approaches the transfer student might as well be defying the natural order.

“Hmm, doesn’t she remind you of someone?”

“You were about to say she resembles Erica, right? She doesn’t look anything like her at all. She isn’t cute in many ways.”

Against the backdrop of Sora and Gain bickering, I couldn’t help but sneak a glance at the side profile of the woman who, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say, was creating this spectacle.

If there are no special occurrences, such as a celebrity visiting the school, this girl is undoubtedly someone most students admire.

Frankly, this is why when I heard there was a “queen” at school, I immediately suspected Inna. It seemed like students liked Inna a lot, probably due to her ability called “Empathy.”

Just from today’s incident where a popular student in the class declared their intention to take her place, and yet no one in the class approaches the transfer student—this clearly shows just how much the students heed Inna’s mood.

Even though the transfer student wore clothes made of what appeared to be expensive golden silk, had a mysterious appearance, and used a unique tone of voice, what did it matter? She had immediately set herself up in an adversarial relationship with the most popular girl in the class.

Normally Inna might have backed down a bit, but her discomfort with the transfer student wasn’t solely due to the threat of losing her position. It must have been because she suspected the person standing beside that position—that is, me—to be the transfer student’s target based on the earlier conversation.

However, the transfer student was smiling while watching the students who didn’t approach her. It was a smile hard to read, despite her unique way of speaking.

‘There it is.’

I was nearly convinced that the transfer student was the true heroine, and when she flashed that smile worthy of a true heroine, I wanted to approach her more than ever. However, Inna kept subtly pushing chairs and desks in a way that blocked my view and access to the transfer student.

Anyway, as today was just the start, I decided it would be fine to approach her later. When I shifted my gaze away from the transfer student, Inna finally stopped obstructing my view.

Blocking even the sight of the transfer student—her obsession was certainly strong. But as I stared directly into the eyes of the girl trying to block my view of the transfer student, I noticed something.

‘Although her obsession is strong, she seems to lack confidence.’

Many would scoff at the idea that Inna lacks confidence. After all, she wields the powerful supernatural ability called “Empathy,” which not only aids her in combat but also naturally garners others’ goodwill.

So the likelihood that it was a wrong assumption was high. However, her disbelief in my claim of memory loss naturally led me to this conjecture.

As for the sin Inna claims I owe her, I honestly don’t know how grave it is. It’s only speculation on my part.

It’s said to be a sin large enough to have reset the goodwill we accumulated as childhood friends to zero. Simultaneously, though, it’s small enough not to elicit the protagonist-level hatred from her.

This somewhat ambiguous sin constantly weighed on my mind, contributing to her behavior of physically blocking the transfer student, making me think that her apparent lack of confidence was another factor.

“Are you going to keep staring at me? Do you think I’m pretty?”

Occasionally hearing such comments from her made me feel like she wasn’t entirely lacking in confidence either.

Inna’s face, accentuated by placing her wrists together, was indeed beautiful. When I nodded in agreement, she pressed the back of her hand to my forehead.

“Is something hurting?”

“Why are you acting like I’m hurt?”

I hadn’t expected her to turn my acknowledgment of her beauty into pretending I was sick.

“It’s because I can’t imagine you admitting that I’m beautiful.”

I realized just how much she thought of me as a bad person. When I tried to glance at the transfer student in her moment of relaxation, she smiled and waved at me.

…Is she acquainted with this body? Inna couldn’t be unaware of this if she were my childhood friend. Yet, she treats me too familiarly.

Before I could confirm if it was just an illusion, Inna blocked my view with her body again.

*

In school, events inevitably happen even without the system generating them. For example, group projects.

The mere mention of group projects brings back terrifying memories from my previous high school, but they faded away.

Yes, those are cursed memories I should forget. A teacher once said that when five people gather, one is bound to be a slacker. In one of those projects, four members out of five tried to hitchhike on my efforts.

Realizing my situation, the teacher deducted points, stating that doing all the work alone didn’t reflect teamwork. Ha… thinking about that memory, I smiled while looking at our assigned group members written on the blackboard.

Rao Ha, Kim Ha-neul, Kim Da-seul, me, and Inna.

With Inna and Rao Ha in the team, it’s already headache-inducing, not to mention Kim Ha-neul subtly trying to pursue Inna, completely unaware that Inna might likely continue cooperating with Yu Inna. Maybe my responsibilities weren’t limited to the group project.

After rearranging the desks into a makeshift round table for our five members, I brought up the topic that needed to be addressed before starting the history project altered by the existence of supernatural ability users.

“Once we get on the bus, there will be headbutts.”

“Huh?”

The Bus Rusher Eradication Plan. Given that the head is one of the hardest human body parts, even I, who lack strength, can make it hurt for anyone, especially students with sturdy physiques.

Thus, announcing a headbutt is tantamount to saying I’ll deliver a painful strike. I stared intimidatingly at the group members, who I expected to be somewhat frightened.

“Don’t disappoint me. If you do…”

I will deliver an extremely painful headbutt. Based on past experiences, warnings should be issued from the get-go so everyone knows upfront. To establish a fearful atmosphere, I lowered my tone while speaking.

If the warning fails and someone neglects their duties? That person must be either devoid of a conscience or simply unafraid of my headbutts.

Though I thought I’d successfully created a chilling mood, my teammates’ faces showed no trace of fear, only hints of smiles.

“…I’ll cry.”

“You?”

“Yup, I’ll cry really loudly and expose all of you as terrible people.”

When asked by Inna, I nodded exaggeratedly, almost involving my waist. If headbutts don’t scare them, their social reputation sure will.

Inna’s strength originates from public support, so my crying may not break their trust. But for the others, it could.

“I don’t have a choice anyway, I planned to work hard.”

Kim Ha-neul, sitting opposite me, grimaced slightly while declaring he’d avoid the bus to ensure his image isn’t smeared if he’s rumored to bully female students—a rumor that might hinder his pursuit of the true heroine.

If they dare jeopardize the heroine conquest with absurd actions, I’ll just cry to punish them. Though students may not sympathize much with my tears.

When I shifted my gaze to the remaining three, each revealed their stance.

“Hehe, spreading the Ice Princess’s Tear Show article without doing the assignment I usually ignore? Profit! Total profit!”

A girl from the newspaper club who seems to want to be labeled a slacker.

“Will you get mad if I say I won’t do it because I want to see you cry?”

A girl idol-like who seems to want to be labeled a slacker too.

“Um! I’ll do the assignment. But I’d like to spend time with you after it’s done!”

Surprisingly, the girl I assumed would need me to approach her first actually wants a meeting in exchange for working hard on the project! She seemed to fit the mindset of the presumed true heroine.

“Alright, I’ll give you that.”

I didn’t expect her to be so rational about it, increasing the probability that the transfer student is indeed the true heroine. Just then, the girl sitting next to me poked me on the shoulder.

“Me too. Me too.”

A request for dating rights in exchange for working hard on the assignment? While obviously not equal to the girl who clearly wanted to be friends, it was better than witnessing my tears, so I accepted it without hesitation.

“I want an interview! I would love to interview you! I have so many questions~! Interview! Interview!”

” Nope.”

Despite rejecting the arm-waving girl’s interview proposal—since it would undoubtedly expose my lost memories—I winked at the leader.

“In that case, I entrust you, the leader.”

“Why me…?”

It’s a national rule that the protagonist be the leader. If I were to conquer this world, academic performance would be critical, which made selecting the leader a carefully considered decision.

Isn’t a single wink from the leader worth the effort? While I contemplated this, I gazed out the window for a moment.

“Hold on…”

It was one fine day in late spring, nearing summer.