The last day of September.
Haru originally planned to head home early and max out his [Jumping] skill, eager to see what new surprises the system would throw at him after leveling up.
However, shortly after school ended, he received a call from the production crew.
The filming for 'High School Return Of A Gangster' had officially started yesterday. Not only were the three high school boys from their group cast, but a few of their classmates had also been pulled into the project.
Haru welcomed this wholeheartedly. Despite their usual antics, the boys from that high school were surprisingly reliable when it came to serious matters.
"I have to stop by the 'High School Return Of A Gangster' set later, so I won't be heading home right away," Haru explained to Yukino and the others in the clubroom.
Lately, Yukino had been staying at his house—essentially on surveillance duty. Meanwhile, Utaha and Megumi had planned to join them for dinner today.
"So, those high school actors ran into some trouble, and you want to see if you can help?" Yukino summarized.
When Haru nodded, she immediately followed up, "I'll go too. It's a good opportunity to observe how a film crew works up close."
Utaha and Megumi also chimed in their interest.
Haru wasn't surprised. Even before mentioning it, he had already guessed they would all tag along.
With this unexpected errand to run, today's club activities wrapped up earlier than usual. As soon as the four stepped out of the school gates, their ride was already waiting. The driver opened the door, and they all got in.
Haru took the front passenger seat, while the three girls sat in the back.
"Did they tell you what exactly is going on?" Yukino asked, clearly invested in the matter.
"It's pretty straightforward," Haru replied. "Since it's their first time acting, Tanaka and the others are struggling to get into character quickly, and they're extremely stiff on set."
The three girls didn't look surprised. They had more or less expected as much.
"That's a common problem for first-time actors," Utaha remarked, watching Haru through the rearview mirror. "What I'm more interested in is—how do you plan to handle it?"
Yukino glanced at Utaha, surprised that she had been thinking the same thing.
Megumi, who had previously heard about High School Return Of A Gangster from Haru, tilted her head slightly. "The script itself seems pretty difficult to act out, right? The exaggerated expressions and body language... They're complete beginners. Can they really pull it off?"
Haru smirked, putting on a wise, all-knowing expression. "This script was practically tailor-made for them. They just need to be themselves, and filming will go smoothly."
The three girls exchanged glances, the same thought running through their minds: How do you know they just need to be themselves?
And tailor-made? That claim was even more suspicious.
As far as they knew, Haru hadn't spent much time with those high schoolers, so how could he possibly be so sure?
Haru was aware of their doubts, but it wasn't something he could explain easily. He couldn't exactly tell them that he already knew these guys from his past life, and that they had once brought excitement to his otherwise mundane days.
So, he settled for a simple excuse: "I occasionally chat with them online."
The girls clearly didn't buy it, but they didn't press him further.
Upon arriving at the film set, the group greeted the staff before spotting a blond-haired boy chatting with the director.
"What... is that hairstyle?" Yukino's normally composed face showed genuine shock.
Since she had only read the script from Haru but never seen the character designs, the sight of the sea-urchin-like hairstyle of one of the lead characters left her momentarily stunned.
Utaha also fell silent, taken aback by the sheer absurdity of the look.
Only Megumi, ever composed, quietly asked, "Is this show meant to have an exaggerated manga-style aesthetic?"
Both Yukino and Utaha turned to look at her.
Haru was equally surprised. "You figured that out already?"
"A classmate of mine lent me a comedy manga recently, so I had a feeling." Megumi's tone remained calm and unhurried.
"That makes sense. This series is indeed styled after comedy manga. That's why everything—from facial expressions to body movements—is over-the-top, and even the hairstyles are ridiculous." Haru explained while observing the set.
The boy playing the role of the sea-urchin-haired protagonist was Tanaka, a sharp-featured high schooler.
This was unexpected even for Haru. Tanaka didn't seem like a natural fit for the role, but in the original story, he had a kind personality and a razor-sharp wit when it came to delivering snappy retorts—practically a "master of comebacks."
"Haru, you guys made it!" A bespectacled boy, Hidenori, approached with a friendly greeting.
His appearance hadn't changed much, save for his new school uniform. Behind him, a few other high school students stepped forward, bowing in gratitude.
"Thank you so much for giving us this opportunity to act!"
Haru smiled. "It's nothing. As long as you don't blame me for taking time away from your studies, we're good."
"Studying? No way!" One of them grinned. "We absolutely love this part-time gig."
"Our boring high school lives finally have something to get excited about. We should be thanking you!"
"Yeah, yeah! We never knew working on a film set could be this much fun!"
A group of teenage boys, full of energy, were quick to adapt to new experiences—far faster than most adults.
Now that they saw Haru was easy to talk to, and with the three-man gang from his high school vouching for him, the group of boys naturally fell into conversation.
Yukino and the others didn't interrupt. Instead, they tactfully took a few steps back, giving them space.
Utaha suddenly chuckled as if she had just thought of something. "You know… he's actually the most fitting choice for this show."
Yukino paused for a moment before unexpectedly agreeing. "True. He has those occasional dumb moments that would blend right into this story's style."
After speaking, they both realized something was missing. They turned their heads in unison—only to confirm that Kato Megumi was still standing beside them, not having mysteriously vanished.
"Why so quiet, Megumi?" Utaha asked, studying her curiously.
Megumi blinked. "I was just imagining what Amamiya-kun would look like with that hedgehog hairstyle. I think it'd really suit the exaggerated style of a gag manga."
Both Yukino and Utaha froze.
"That's a very constructive suggestion," Utaha said, laughing. "Now I really want to see it."
Yukino, on the other hand, shook her head with disdain. "I don't. Just picturing it already feels stupid."
"But it's two against one now, Yukinoshita," Utaha teased.
"Senpai, have you finally descended into this level of foolishness? Otherwise, why would you say something so ridiculous?"
As the two started bickering, Megumi glanced at the hedgehog-haired protagonist in the distance, then back at Haru chatting with the high school boys. Unconsciously, she started picturing the transformation in her head.[1]
—
Meanwhile, having wrapped up his conversation with the group, Haru turned back toward Yukino and the others.
But just then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a familiar figure within the set.
The person was wearing a mask and a baseball cap, hiding their face completely. Judging from the silhouette, it was clearly a woman. Beside her stood someone who appeared to be an assistant.
"What is she doing here?"
Haru immediately recognized the woman and walked straight toward her.
Yukino and the others noticed his movement and instinctively followed.
"Where are you going?" Utaha was the first to ask.
"See that woman in the mask? That's Ninagawa-san. Yukino and I met her before—I thought I'd go say hello," Haru explained.
Yukino's eyes lit up. "You mean Ninagawa Mika?"
Utaha, who had never met her before, looked puzzled.
Megumi, still holding her phone, quickly searched the name and read aloud, "So she's a film director."
Utaha leaned in to glance at the screen.
Haru chuckled. "A few years ago, a certain phrase went viral online— 'I'm sorry for being born as a human being'."
"From No Longer Human?" Yukino immediately understood.
Haru nodded. "The film adaptation of that novel was directed by Ninagawa Mika."
This time, Yukino gazed at the masked woman with a newfound admiration in her eyes.
It was the look of someone who deeply respected another.
Utaha was quietly astonished. She had always known that the person she liked was exceptional, but she hadn't expected him to be acquainted with such a renowned director.
Megumi, too, was studying Haru, her eyes glimmering with intrigue.
Since Ninagawa Mika had positioned herself in a secluded corner, clearly trying to stay out of sight, Haru avoided approaching from the front. Instead, he took a detour, skillfully bypassing the gaze of the crew.
Once they reached her, he greeted her casually.
To his surprise, Ninagawa Mika looked at him in astonishment. "Amamiya-kun, you could recognize me even like this?"
"I've seen a lot of your photography work before, so I naturally ended up learning about you as well," Haru admitted honestly.
Ninagawa Mika chuckled. "To be admired by such a talented young person—what an honor."
"What brings you here?"
"I heard from Miss Haruno that this drama was your project. Since I happened to be in the area, I thought I'd drop by and take a look."
"That makes sense."
With that, Haru's curiosity was satisfied.
He recalled seeing her and Yukino's mother chatting amicably at a banquet some time ago—that must have been when they became acquainted.
"This drama has an absurd, comedic style, right?" Ninagawa Mika remarked. "I watched a bit just now, and I think a lot of young people will love it. It's impressive—you're still in high school, yet you already have such a well-developed concept for a script."
There was undisguised admiration in her voice.
After speaking, she shifted her gaze to the three girls standing beside him.
"Hm?"
She blinked in surprise before smiling teasingly.
"Now that I think about it, every time we meet, you always seem to be surrounded by very cute girls."
Haru remained composed. "You've already met Yukino before, haven't you?"
"I have, of course. But these two lovely young ladies—I haven't had the pleasure."
For the first time, Ninagawa Mika displayed the mischievous wit of an experienced adult as she asked with a knowing smile:
"So, which one of them is your girlfriend?"
Haru froze.
Because at that exact moment, his [Auto-Aim] skill picked up on the fact that three pairs of eyes were now locked onto him.
Megumi, why are you staring at me too?! Are you just here for the drama?!
He screamed internally.
[1] Image here