It had been three days since he'd woken up in this body. Three days since he realized he was not dreaming. Everyone called him "Kaichou." He had some of Shirogane's memories like folders someone had stuffed into his brain—but he still felt like an imposter thumbing through someone else's life.
Morning sunlight spilled through the window blinds of the student council room, casting long stripes of gold across the polished floor. It was quiet—too quiet. Shirogane Miyuki, or rather, the person now wearing his face, leaned back in his chair, fingers drumming the desk with restless energy and then curiously pulled out the strange gadget
"What is this gadget?" Shirogane tapped a few buttons on the strange device—and suddenly, a light-blue haired goddess shimmered into existence before him, floating a few inches above the floor.
"Hello, MC-kun," she said with a wink. "You must be confused."
He blinked. "That's one way to put it."
"You were selected by the higher-ups," she continued. "A chance to live a life you once dreamed of. Transmigration protocols vary—some wake up as infants, others keep bits of their past. You? You got lucky."
Shirogane crossed his arms, half-skeptical. "Why me? Is there a way back?"
She paused, her smile faltering just a bit. "Classified. I'm just your handler, not the one pulling cosmic strings."
He frowned, but said nothing.
"The device you're holding," she gestured toward the gadget, "lets you level up. You'll gain experience by completing missions. No time limit. Take it at your pace."
Shirogane eyed the gadget again. "So it's like an RPG system?"
"Exactly. But one rule: don't press the red button."
"Which means I'm going to *really* want to press the red button," he muttered.
The goddess chuckled. "Typical. Oh, and yes—it can transform. Car, mech suit, rice cooker. Just visit a hardware shop."
He blinked. "Seriously?"
She grinned. "Seriously. But don't be an idiot. You'd be surprised how many blow themselves up because they skip the manual."
Before he could ask anything else, she began to fade.
"Wait, hold on—!"
"Good luck, MC-kun," she sang, vanishing into motes of light.
Mission: Help a student in need.
"Mmm… Where can I find a troubled soul?" he murmured to himself, stepping into the bustling corridors of his school.
The hallway was alive with the chatter of students and the steady hum of fluorescent lights overhead. As Shirogane ambled along, lost in thought, he accidentally bumped into a slender girl with striking red eyes, long flowing black hair, and flawless porcelain skin—her hair neatly tied with a ribbon. The collision sent her sprawling to the ground.
"Oh, Shinomiya, I'm so sorry—I didn't see you; I wasn't paying attention," Shirogane apologized, his voice filled with genuine concern as he knelt to help her up.
The girl, none other than Kaguya herself, brushed the dust off her clothes and winced as a sharp pain flared in her leg. "Ouch, ouch," she murmured, steadying herself against the wall.
"Don't worry, Kaichou," Kaguya reassured, noticing a small bruise forming on her leg. Anxiety crept over him, and sweat gathered at his brow as he contemplated her injury.
Taking several deep breaths to regain his composure, Shirogane hurried off to fetch ice and a first aid kit. Meanwhile, as he disappeared around the corner, Kaguya's eyes darkened with a secret, malicious delight. A sly smirk tugged at her lips as she quietly chuckled to herself.
'I can't believe Kaichou fell for that feeble stumble—it went perfectly according to plan. These bruises? They're nothing but clever makeup. Thanks to my acting skills, they look utterly convincing. Soon, he'll be so worried about me that he'll overcompensate—and maybe even confess his love!'
Shirogane was scanning the supply room when his eyes caught something troubling outside the other room. A girl was being cornered by a male student. His expression was twisted with worry, and just as his hand raised to strike, Shirogane didn't hesitate.
Without thinking twice, he sprinted toward the scene. The air was thick with tension, an oppressive weight pressing down as emotions flared. Just as the man's hand was about to land, Shirogane intercepted, gripping his wrist with force. The impact echoed slightly in the empty hallway.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Shirogane's voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a blade.
The student, now facing him directly, yanked his arm back with a scowl. "It's none of your business. Move along, or you'll get caught up in this too."
Shirogane didn't flinch. His gaze was firm, unwavering. "You know you can get expelled for this, right?"
The man's anger didn't subside. Instead, his jaw clenched as he spat out, "You wouldn't understand what it's like for a big brother to see his little sister bullied."
Shirogane's eyes narrowed. He was beginning to understand the situation. "I get it. You're angry, frustrated. But violence won't solve anything. It won't change what happened."
The student's fists trembled. "How would you know?! How could you possibly understand what I feel?!"
Shirogane let out a slow breath. "Because I have a little sister too," he said, his voice softer but no less firm. "She hasn't been bullied, but if she ever were... I'd do anything for her. Without violence." His lips curled into a faint smile. "Even if we don't get along, even if I don't always show it, I care about her."
The tension began to wane. The young man's eyes flickered with hesitation before they landed on the girl he had been harassing. Regret washed over his face, but she merely looked away, saying nothing.
Shirogane took a step back, adjusting his blazer. "As the student council president, I expect you both to meet me at 5 PM. We need to talk about this."
At that moment, his gadget beeped—Mission Successful.
With the supplies in hand, Shirogane hurried back. When he arrived, Kaguya was standing outside a classroom, peeking inside. It seemed like she was watching Hayasaka.
"Shinomiya," he called.
She flinched, startled. Spinning around, she immediately clutched her leg and sank to the floor with exaggerated frailty.
"Kaichou," she whimpered, looking up at him with large, shimmering eyes. "What took you so long?" Her voice was sweet, laced with just enough vulnerability to make any man's heart waver.
Shirogane, however, was lost in thought. How could I be so reckless? Not only did I hurt her, but I made her wait. The old me would never forgive me for this. He'd probably kill me. He paused, his expression shifting slightly. Wait… how could he kill me if I'm him?
He quickly shook off his ridiculous thoughts. "Here, let me treat your bruise," he said, kneeling beside her.
Completely missing the trap Kaguya had laid, Shirogane's focus was absolute. His hands moved without hesitation, gently placing the cold compress against her leg where the bruise had formed which is fake.
Kaguya's eyes widened. She had expected him to be flustered, to at least hesitate or stutter—but no. His expression was serious, completely oblivious to any underlying meaning. He was just… treating her injury.
Her face burned. She turned away, suddenly unable to meet his gaze.
Once he finished, Shirogane stood up. "Let's get you to the school clinic," he said, offering her a hand.
Still flustered, Kaguya silently took it, allowing herself to be led away.
Today's Battle Outcome: Kaguya loses.