(Transted/Edited/Slight Proofread: Snow)

  Let’s think about this rationally.

  Common sense tells us one thing: there’s no way a being from a comic or an animation could wake you up.

  However…

  What if it actually happened?

  Even if Taeil didn’t want to believe it, he would have no choice but to accept the truth that he had been reincarnated into that very world.

  The world of the manga and anime he loved so much— AKA Show Band or ~ Girls in a Band ~.

  Strangely enough, the person he had become wasn’t all that different from his past self.

  In particur, the fact that his name and face were exactly the same was unsettling.

  Many questions came up about this bizarre, seemingly strange phenomenon. Was it just a coincidence? Or was there some hidden reason behind it?

  For instance—what happened to the original owner of this body?

  And why, of all possible worlds, did he have to reincarnate into Show Band?.

  Even though more than ten years had passed since he had fallen into this strange yet oddly familiar reality, his doubts remained.

  It felt so unreal at times that he often wondered—had he truly been reincarnated? Or possessed?.

  Questions like this pgued him endlessly.

  ‘Did I die?’

  His past life hadn’t been very long. As far as he remembered, there was no indication of his death.

  If he had really died, then it must have happened when he was still very young.

  ‘Wow, now that I think about it… I died without serving in the military.’

  While lost in thought, trying to decide whether that was a blessing or a loss, a faint rattling sound reached his ears.

  Then came the soft patter of approaching footsteps.

  Taeil’s eyebrows twitched.

  He had a bad feeling.

  The school’s secret weapon had arrived—to interrupt his precious nap.

  “…Ha.”

  Taeil stubbornly pretended to stay asleep until the very end.

  “Shin-chan! Are you lounging on the rooftop again?.”

  A voice, sweet yet tinged with exhaustion, tickled Taeil’s ears.

  He turned his back to the voice, resolutely ignoring the person disturbing his nap.

  “Oh? Ignoring me? Such bravery!.”

  Before he could respond the nap-intruder snatched away the notebook he had been using as an eye mask.

  The sudden burst of sunlight made Taeil wince. His brows furrowed involuntarily as the summer-bright rays stabbed through his closed eyelids.

  “Ugh…”

  He rubbed his eyes carefully before blinking them open, adjusting to the gre.

  His gaze met the eyes of a schoolgirl in a bck sailor uniform, squatting beside him.

  She chuckled mischievously.

  “Awake now?”

  Taeil refused to respond. Instead, he simply shut his eyes again, stubbornly rejecting any form of communication.

  The sun bzed fiercely in the summer sky, its direct heat almost oppressive.

  Ayane, watching him groan in discomfort, found it amusing.

  With a cat-like expression, she gently poked his side.

  “Shin-chan… Still not awake? Should I wake you up with a kiss?.”

  “I’m awake. I’m awake. Thanks to you,” Taeil muttered irritably.

  Ayane pouted, feigning disappointment. But the act barely sted a second before it melted into a bright smile.

  Taeil didn’t notice.

  The green afterimage flickering in his vision obscured her expression for a brief moment.

  “Ugh. My eyes are killing me. If I go blind from this, it'll all be your fault, Ayane.”

  “Hehe. Who told you to ignore me?.”

  Taeil fell silent. He couldn’t argue with the undeniable truth.

  “And it’s fine even if Shin-chan goes blind,” Ayane teased. “If that happens, I’ll take care of you. Everything from cooking to undry!”

  “Ah, you’re making some terrifying decrations…”

  Taeil sighed as his barely adjusted vision settled on Ayane’s beaming face, her smile as bright as a blooming flower.

  Ayane Katsuragi.

  One of the four main characters of Show Band and Taeil’s childhood friend of over ten years.

  “What time is it…?.”

  “There’s still a long way to go until lunchtime, so hurry up and wake up, Shin-chan.”

  Ayane stood up, shaking her hips pyfully before reaching out her hand.

  Taeil hesitated.

  Her delicate hand, outstretched towards him, looked far too thin to offer any real strength.

  ‘Should I pull her towards me?.’

  A mischievous urge to drag her childhood friend into a nap hell tingled in Taeil’s mind. But no matter how little he cared about his own reputation, ruining someone else went against his principles.

  Some worries were better left as mere thoughts.

  With Ayane’s help, Taeil stood up.

  However, the moment he did, a wave of dizziness hit him. The heat had taken its toll, and he instinctively leaned against the barbed wire fence for support, as if on the verge of colpsing.

  The fence rattled softly, the sound oddly satisfying.

  “Are you okay?.”

  At Ayane’s worried question, Taeil gave a small nod.

  Unlike the sun-scorched rooftop, the barbed wire felt surprisingly cool.

  The refreshing sensation against his skin made him loosen his lips in relief.

  “Shin-chan, did you stay up all night again?”

  Ayane, who had been silently observing him, noticed the dark circles beneath his eyes. Without hesitation, she closed the distance between them, pressing her upper body against his as if personal space didn’t exist.

  She rubbed her cheek against his with a soft hum.

  Most people would have been flustered, but Taeil remained calm.

  “Well, it just happened that way.”

  It wasn’t that he didn’t see Ayane as the opposite sex—after spending so many years as childhood friends, he had simply grown used to her antics.

  Even someone like Taeil, who prided himself on having an advanced mental age, couldn’t deny the effects of long-term contact. He sighed and gently pced his hands on Ayane’s shoulders, pushing her away.

  Ayane inwardly pouted, disappointed.

  Her true intentions remained unnoticed, thanks to Taeil’s conscious effort to avoid eye contact.

  Not that she seemed to mind if he figured it out.

  “Shin-chan, did you know that if you don’t get enough sleep during your teenage years—when you’re supposed to be growing—you won’t get any taller?.”

  “Oh, really?.”

  Taeil’s response was indifferent, as if the statement didn’t even graze his pride.

  In his previous life, he had barely reached 5’7.

  Back in Korea, his height had been a constant source of frustration. But after coming to Japan, he realized he wasn’t considered short, and he gradually became less self-conscious about it.

  Besides, in this life, he stood at 5’9—2 inches taller than before!.

  Despite leading a far more irregur lifestyle than in his past life, he had somehow still grown.

  Thanks to this, Ayane’s words failed to reach Taeil who had already surpassed his old self.

  “Anyway, a proper sleep schedule is essential for a successful school life. Got it.?”

  “…Should I stop drinking coffee and energy drinks?”

  “Shin-chan, that’s caffeine addiction. It’s not good for your health.”

  Ayane pced both hands on her waist, her stance firm as she admonished Taeil. She clearly disapproved of anything that interfered with his daily life.

  “It’s great that you enjoy your hobbies, but a student’s duty is to study. Right?”

  In short, she was telling him to stop nitpicking and just go along with it.

  Taeil, unwilling to back down completely, put up a timid resistance.

  “Can’t you just let it slide since my grades are good, even if I skip css?”

  “I’ll let it go if you don’t fail your Korean and Japanese history tests!.”

  “…So basically, you won’t let it slide.”

  Taeil let out an exaggerated sigh and picked up his bag, which had been rolling around on the floor.

  “A student’s duty is to study,” Ayane chimed, humming as if she had suddenly found a fun rhythm.

  Taeil considered arguing—telling her he had already lived over 30 years, including his past life, and was approaching 40—but when he saw Ayane’s bright smile, he decided to let it go.

  ‘Well, for a guy in his thirties, I’m still just a brat.’

  Like many reincarnation clichés, when Taeil was a child, people around him often called him a genius, saying he acted like an old man in a kid’s body.

  Now, he was just a high school sophomore with a so-called "chuunibyou disease."

  The weight of expectations had disappeared, and oddly enough, he preferred it that way. Being seen as a weirdo was far easier than carrying the burden of others’ unreasonable hopes.

  In short, it was a convenient escape.

  “Shin-chan! Hurry up! If you keep dragging your feet, I’ll give you penalty points with the authority as a member of the disciplinary committee!”

  When Taeil didn’t move fast enough, Ayane started compining, urging him to go downstairs.

  At other times, she would try to look intimidating, as if she was threatening him.

  But if a kitten tried to hiss menacingly, the only reaction it would get was ughter.

  “Alright, alright. Let’s take it slow.”

  “Nope! Do you think I don’t know that you’re trying to sneak away and skip more csses?.”

  “…Is that really the image you have of me?.”

  “Yep!”

  Ayane said without hesitation.

  It was Taeil’s own fault for not maintaining a better reputation. After pying pranks on Ayane for years, she had developed a peculiar kind of trust in him—one that assumed he was always up to something.

  And now, every time she misunderstood him, he had to correct her.

  Just like now.

  “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t run away after being caught by you, of all people.”

  “I—I see? So, that means I’m the only one who can find you, right? Hehe.”

  Ayane beamed, her smile pure and full of delight at his words.

  For a moment, Taeil felt an overwhelming urge to ruffle that warm, soft hair!

  ‘Okay, okay.’

  The protagonist’s ultimate skill—the one that always appears at least once in a romance or harem story.

  However, unlike in fiction, where it’s actively used to great effect, reality is quite different. Most women don’t particurly enjoy having their hair stroked. Some get annoyed because it messes up the hairstyle they spent time perfecting, while others dislike the feeling of being treated like a pet.

  If the reaction is positive, it either means the person likes you a lot or that your appearance is at least passable.

  Taeil knew this well.

  ‘But knowing is one thing… resisting is another.’

  A fool who learns too te fails to realize the consequences of their actions. The otaku culture Taeil discovered ter in life had completely corrupted him—he had officially become a great otaku.

  And, as always, reason is powerless in the face of desire.

  The problem was, when he was younger, he had absentmindedly stroked Ayane’s head, thinking of it as something straight out of a manga.

  Yet for some reason, Ayane had liked it more than expected. And Taeil, despite knowing better, enjoyed it too—finally experiencing firsthand what had previously existed only in his imagination.

  A perfect win-win situation.

  So, without explicitly discussing it, they had fallen into an unspoken agreement: whenever they were bored, they would engage in such embarrassing skinship.

  It was only possible because they were true childhood friends—like a perfect childhood friend cliche.

  These days, however, Ayane seemed to have realized how embarrassing it was. She never asked to be patted on the head anymore.

  Not that the frequency had simply decreased, it had disappeared entirely.

  And now, Taeil—who had developed the habit of stroking hair—was suffering from withdrawal symptoms.

  As he stared longingly at his frustrated right hand, Ayane suddenly grabbed his arm and pulled him forward.

  "Okay! Let’s hurry up and get to css.”

  "Yeah, yeah."

  "Answer only once!"

  Exchanging their usual, cartoon-like banter, Taeil slung his bag over his shoulder as Ayane took the lead, heading down the rooftop stairs.

  "Do you know I get called out by the teachers every single day because of you, Shin-chan?."

  "If it's that annoying, just ignore me and live your life."

  "What's wrong with you?! We're good childhood friends!"

  Taeil’s steps came to a halt.

  Childhood friend.

  A phrase that had never been relevant in his past life was now second nature to him.

  But Ayane’s gaze toward Taeil was slightly different from that of normal childhood friends or just friends of the opposite sex.

  In the original story, she was emotionally fragile—far more than most. And even in childhood, she had been no different.

  Though, thanks to Taeil who had naturally ended up by her side, always looking after her, ensuring her delicate heart wouldn’t shatter.

  And, in return, she had always leaned on him.

  ‘Back then, I was so clingy—like a cicada—that other kids teased me relentlessly.’

  Taeil bmed himself for it, thinking that being Korean only made things worse.

  Children are innocent.

  Too innocent.

  They don’t know how to distinguish between right and wrong, so they say whatever comes to mind—blurting out their true feelings without a second thought.

  And in doing so, they don’t hesitate to say things that can wound others deeply.

  The teasing and whispers from those around her had only made Ayane retreat further into herself. Already timid, she had clung to Taeil even more, relying on him as her sole refuge.

  A vicious cycle.

  But it’s better now.

  The Ayane Katsuragi who once built walls around herself, who lived inside a shell of her own making—she’s no longer there.

  She’s grown.

  Unlike in the original story, she no longer pushes people away. Instead, she reaches out to them first.

  Taeil was proud of her growth.

  But at the same time, he was starting to feel uneasy.

  Time was moving quickly, and before he knew it, summer was approaching—the summer of his first year of high school.

  The summer when everything was supposed to begin.

  ‘The original timeline is approaching. Is this okay?’

  Now, Taeil was starting to regret having interfered with the original story.

  Ayane must have noticed his sudden shift in expression because she gnced at him, concerned.

  Without a word, Taeil let her take his hand.

  "Shin-chan, you've been acting weird tely..."

  "Have I?"

  "You keep trying to put distance between us."

  Taeil forced himself to stay calm, but his throat tightened as if she'd struck a nerve.

  When she puffed out her cheeks and pouted at him, her crimson eyes sparkled, catching the sunlight just right.

  Taeil felt as though he was being pulled into them—hypnotized. Overwhelmed, he turned his head away, unable to hold his gaze any longer.

  Like a scene straight out of a manga.

  ‘She’s so pretty it’s almost unfair.’

  Some might argue that Ayane was being overshadowed by Iris, one of the four main characters in the original story. But to Taeil, both of them were stunning—so beautiful they could outshine any idol or celebrity. Their appeal was just different.

  If Iris had an alluring, mature beauty, Ayane had a charm that was undeniably cute.

  "Ah! You're avoiding eye contact again! That’s exactly why Shin-chan has no friends!" Ayane huffed.

  Taeil sighed.

  "You’re enough as a friend. Making more would just be a hassle."

  Taeil scratched his head, visibly annoyed.

  It wasn’t as if he hadn’t tried to make friends. If their son became a loner, his parents would surely worry, so he made an effort for their sake.

  But to Taeil, friends were nothing more than insurance.

  Considering how things pyed out in the original story, he figured he wouldn't always be able to stick with Ayane once they reached high school. So, he thought it best to establish an escape route early on.

  But he failed.

  Back in his previous life, he’d had plenty of friends.

  So, it wasn’t that he was socially awkward or naturally shy.

  The real reason he had no friends in this life—besides Ayane—was simply that being Korean in Japan made it difficult.

  Whether she was aware of his struggles or not, Ayane’s face suddenly turned bright red.

  "...What’s up with you?" Taeil narrowed his eyes.

  Ayane flinched, then quickly straightened her posture.

  “O-oh, I can’t help it! For the time being, I’ll be Shin-chan’s only friend! hahaha!”

  Her usual speech pattern broke, her words stumbling as if she'd momentarily forgotten how to talk.

  She didn’t seem to notice her slip-up and continued down the stairs, her movements stiff, like an unoiled robot.

  Seeing her wobbling so dangerously, Taeil instinctively grabbed her hand.

  “Heeeeek!”

  It was a reflex.

  She always did stuff like this—almost tripping, almost falling, almost getting hurt.

  Ayane shuddered as if she’d just been electrocuted.

  "Ayane, are you seriously about to trip and fall again?."

  “O-of course not! The invincible disciplinary committee member, Ayane, has no weaknesses!”

  "Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say. Just hold on tight so you don’t fall."

  It was obvious to anyone that her cim was full of holes, but Taeil pyed along for her sake.

  “It’s true!” she huffed.

  "Sure, sure."

  As he guided her down the stairs—half coaxing, half scolding—Ayane grumbled, but she didn’t shake off his hand.

  Instead, she acted as if she hadn’t noticed and subtly leaned closer.

  Their arms brushed against each other.

  Unlike Ayane, who was clearly excited by the romantic situation, Taeil frowned.

  ‘...This is kinda annoying.’

  His eyes kept drifting toward the armband on her sleeve—the one that constantly brushed against his shirt.

  The one that read ‘Disciplinary Committee.’

  In the original story, Ayane had never been a part of the disciplinary committee.

  She was just a member of the homecoming club.

  However, the Ayane standing before him now was proudly wearing an armband—the unmistakable mark of the disciplinary committee.

  It had a strangely ominous ring to it.

  More often than not, those tasked with upholding morality were often the first to shatter it.

  ‘Even in Show Band they’re a group that’s far from righteous.’

  Vilins who were better at causing chaos than cleaning it up.

  In any manga, the Disciplinary Committee is always an antagonistic force, constantly sabotaging the four main characters at every turn.

  In fact, in Show Band, they had a particur vendetta against Iris and always decred her to be in the wrong—fueling conflict at every opportunity.

  Of course, since the committee was a student-run organization, much like the student council, it made sense that its members were immature and emotionally driven.

  Still, in the original story, the Disciplinary Committee eventually grew past their fws and parted ways with the main characters on a bittersweet yet beautiful note.

  Taeil gnced at Ayane.

  Sensing his gaze, Ayane blinked and met his eyes.

  "...What? Shin-chan?."

  "Just thinking. That armband suits you."

  "Really? The other committee members don’t think I'm worthy of respect... but Shin-chan does! As expected!"

  Her eyes sparkled with unrestrained joy.

  Feeling a bit embarrassed by her reaction, Taeil averted his gaze.

  His mind felt tangled.

  The words ‘different from the original’ clung stubbornly to his thoughts.

  In the original story, Ayane had been a high school girl leading a dull, gray life.

  Before she became entangled with Iris, she was a girl with no friends, low grades, no dreams—just a vague hobby of enjoying music.

  But now?

  She was a respected member of the disciplinary committee, an excellent student, someone admired by her peers.

  Taeil had thought he was doing well as a friend.

  And yet, the knowledge that he had warped the story’s course weighed heavily on him, feeding his growing anxiety.

  For him, the destruction of the original, long before it had reached this point, tormented him endlessly.

  Meanwhile, the person in question—Ayane—remained irritatingly carefree.

  ‘So frustrating’.

  Without thinking, Taeil brought his hand down and flicked her forehead.

  “Ouch!”

  Ayane flinched, clutching her head. “That hurt, Shin-chan!”

  “…Sorry.”

  There had been no malice in it.

  And there never would be.