Miyamizu Mitsuha's designated seat was in the last row, the one closest to the window—the proverbial seat of honor in countless coming-of-age stories. Next to her sat her good friend, Natori Sayaka, who at this very moment was staring at Miyamizu Mitsuha with wide, incredulous eyes.
"Are you really Mitsuha?" Sayaka asked, her voice laced with disbelief.
Hozuki Nozomi, still comfortably inhabiting Mitsuha's body, tilted his head and deliberately arranged his features into an expression of puzzled innocence. "Who else would I be if not Mitsuha?"
"Uh... you're nothing like your usual self!" Sayaka's lips twitched with the effort of processing what she'd just witnessed. "Just now, I almost thought you were some kind of playboy with extensive dating experience. Look at Mami-chan—she's still blushing!"
Indeed, across the room, Yamauchi Mami sat at her desk, her cheeks maintaining a persistent rosy hue. Being approached by Miyamizu Mitsuha, having her chin gently pinched by another girl, then being leaned into with that teasing "curse"—no matter how you interpreted the scene, it came across as flirtatious. The poor girl hadn't recovered.
Hozuki Nozomi's lips curved into a satisfied smile at Sayaka's observation. "This is my awakened state," he declared smoothly. "You'll get used to it."
He found himself exceptionally interested in completely demolishing Miyamizu Mitsuha's usual meek persona. And so, throughout the day, he continued his campaign.
During physical education class, he made several impressive dunks that left the boys gaping in astonishment. A confident girl was inherently charming, and Miyamizu Mitsuha was already naturally beautiful. Adding confidence to that equation elevated her feminine allure to entirely new heights.
By the time a few classes had passed, boys throughout the school were stealing glances at her whenever they thought no one was watching.
Meanwhile, back in Tokyo, Miyamizu Mitsuha's soul was experiencing its own bewildering adventure.
She woke groggily to find herself in an unfamiliar place—a room that was clearly not her own, not part of the shrine, not anything she recognized. Before she could properly process her surroundings, several stunningly beautiful girls had appeared, intimately taking her hands and announcing they would walk to school together.
By the time her thoughts cleared enough to form coherent questions, she was already seated on a train, flanked by two gorgeous young women who held her arms as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Miyamizu Mitsuha's mind buzzed with confusion.
She looked at the girl on her left—apparently named Shiina Mahiru, if she'd heard correctly—and the one on her right—Ogiwara Sayu—both holding onto her with casual intimacy. Her gaze drifted to the train window, where she caught her reflection.
A handsome, dashing young man stared back at her.
"Has the divine finally answered my prayers and transformed me into a handsome Tokyo boy?" she wondered wildly. "Since this is a dream, can I go to a café for coffee? That would be nice..."
Before she could pursue this line of thought further, a soft pressure against her arm reminded her that the girls were still there. Still touching her.
Miyamizu Mitsuha stiffened instantly.
If this was a dream, it was far too real. The warmth, the weight, the subtle fragrance—all of it was too vivid to be mere imagination.
Moreover, this handsome Tokyo boy she'd become seemed to be something of a philanderer. Besides Shiina Mahiru and Ogiwara Sayu flanking her, there was another cute girl named Yukino Yukinoshita sitting on the bench, positioned next to Shiina Mahiru. And beyond Yukino sat two absolutely stunning young women with perfect proportions and striking beauty—apparently named Sanshokuin Sumireko and Nichiji Sumire, if she was keeping track correctly.
Miyamizu Mitsuha fell into profound confusion.
Was she, in her true nature, secretly a promiscuous woman? Why else would she wake up transformed into a playboy surrounded by beautiful women?
She shook her head violently.
This is a dream! This is definitely, absolutely a dream!
Shiina Mahiru hadn't initially noticed anything unusual about "Hozuki Nozomi" that morning. But by the time they arrived at school, she knew something was fundamentally wrong.
Because "Hozuki Nozomi" didn't even know where his shoe locker was.
Worse, those eyes—usually so charming, so full of warmth and knowing affection—had become clear and almost foolish, like those of an innocent country boy seeing the city for the first time. When she moved a little closer, he—or rather, whoever was inhabiting his body—would instinctively shrink back, looking nervous and uncertain.
Ogiwara Sayu noticed it too. She knew her man better than anyone. The way he looked at her now lacked the usual affection and passion; instead, she saw distance, panic, and the guilty expression of someone who didn't belong.
Shiina Mahiru quietly provided the location of the shoe locker. After he'd changed his shoes, she turned and headed toward the classroom without further comment, though her mind was working overtime.
Miyamizu Mitsuha—for it was indeed her soul stumbling through Hozuki Nozomi's daily routine—quickly followed. Along the way, she couldn't help but survey her surroundings with curious, almost awestruck eyes. So these were the buildings of a big city? And city high schools were this amazing?
The moment she stepped into the classroom, an energetic pink-haired girl with a distinctive dumpling-shaped ponytail bounded over and greeted her enthusiastically.
"Hozuki Nozomi! Ya-ha-lo~!"
Miyamizu Mitsuha startled, instinctively shrinking her neck. Was this person talking to her? And what was "ya-ha-lo"? Some kind of special city greeting?
When she didn't respond immediately, Yui Yuigahama puffed out her cheeks indignantly. "Hey, Nozomi-kun, you're ignoring me?"
Miyamizu Mitsuha quickly waved her hands, producing an awkward but polite smile. "Sorry, sorry! I was thinking and didn't notice. Uh... ya-ha-lo?"
Yui blinked at him, confusion replacing her mild irritation. Normally, Hozuki Nozomi never greeted her that way—he was more formal, more like Yukino, offering a polite "good morning." What was wrong with him today? And why did he look so timid?
After exchanging that awkward greeting, Miyamizu Mitsuha made her way to Shiina Mahiru's side and began glancing around, trying to orient herself. When other classmates arrived and took their seats, she noticed that the desk next to Mahiru was empty—clearly the seat for whoever's body she currently inhabited. She quickly sat down.
"Hmph~!" A distinctly tsundere sound came from behind her. "Some people only care about the new and ignore the old. They can't even be bothered to greet people properly anymore."
Miyamizu Mitsuha turned, bewildered, to find another incredibly cute girl staring at her—this one with golden twin-tails and blue eyes, clearly mixed-race and absolutely beautiful.
Wait. Was this person talking about her? About the body she was currently inhabiting?
Just how many beautiful women had this handsome Tokyo boy entangled himself with?
Miyamizu Mitsuha's lips twitched. After a moment's hesitation, she turned fully and offered a tentative smile. "Um... good morning?"
"Why is that a question?" Eriri Spencer Sawamura frowned at him unhappily. "And where's my name? Did you just forget to include it?"
"Ah! This..." Miyamizu Mitsuha's expression grew troubled, a hint of grievance—genuine grievance—creeping into her features.How was she supposed to know this girl's name? She'd only just arrived!
Fortunately, Shiina Mahiru interjected with a gentle smile. "Eriri Spencer Sawamura, Hozuki Nozomi didn't sleep well last night, so he's a bit out of sorts. But if you visit Sakura Dormitory today, I'm sure he'll be very happy to see you."
Miyamizu Mitsuha silently thanked Mahiru—now she knew the golden-haired beauty's name.
"Who... who said anything about visiting?! I'm busy!" Eriri's cheeks flushed, and she stole a quick glance at "Hozuki Nozomi," seemingly waiting for him to add something.
Miyamizu Mitsuha: "..."
What was she supposed to say? Follow Mahiru's lead and invite this girl home? Would that be appropriate? Expected?
She could only manage another awkward smile.
Shiina Mahiru watched the exchange with sharp eyes, her hand coming up to stroke her chin thoughtfully. The pieces were falling into place.
Whoever—or whatever—was inhabiting Hozuki Nozomi's body right now, it definitely wasn't him.