Hiro Saitou still didn't know the full plot.
He figured the author intended the story to begin once the protagonist entered high school. So after the doctor—a top student—was reborn, and after Ai Hoshino's death, the plot went quiet. No major developments, no leads. If things moved too quickly, the story's timeline would break.
The early pacing was slow—probably on purpose.
If Hiro Saitou had known what came next... how Ai kept her flawless idol image until the end, untouched by scandal. How her own son, Akuya, was blindsided by the fact she had children. How the supposed "scandal" was nothing, and how foolishly it was handled...
He'd realize the doctor wasn't mentally dull—just consumed by emotion.
Akuya claimed to love his mother and wanted revenge. Yet, he never confirmed the killer's identity. Instead, he let rumors twist Ai's image after death.
What a waste.
Hiro Saitou had spent years in the entertainment world. He knew how rare true insider intel was. Even if the mastermind was eventually unmasked, the damage was already done.
And that monster... he was still out there, still killing.
There was no need to drag Ai's past into it.
If the doctor thought using Ai's "intelligence" posthumously could unravel the conspiracy and destroy the murderer... it was like trying to bring down a mountain with a sponge.
He wasn't ready—not mentally, not emotionally. He didn't even know how to properly support others, let alone seek justice.
Humans were flawed creatures. Even in groups, they sometimes failed to see the obvious...
"Saitou? Yo, Saitou?"
Kento Yamazaki snapped his fingers in front of Hiro's face. "You spaced out again. What's going on?"
"It's nothing. Just some family stuff," Hiro said, shaking off the thoughts.
"That sucks. You free after school tomorrow?"
Before Hiro could answer, the bell rang.
"Not tomorrow. Maybe later. I'll treat you next time," Hiro said, brushing it off casually.
He knew he probably wouldn't have much time to hang out from now on—but he still needed to keep up appearances.
"Treat us right, okay?" Toru Sato laughed as they headed back to their seats.
The two boys returned to their desks. The girls who'd gathered around Ai slowly drifted away too.
Hiro slid his notebook toward Ai and scribbled:
"Make any new friends today?"
Ai glanced at the note, wrote her reply, and handed it back.
"They're really enthusiastic. They just want to hear more of the story."
Hiro raised an eyebrow and jotted another message:
"You know the ending. Why didn't you tell them? And how's the new school feel so far?"
Ai responded:
"They're just curious because you told the story. As for the school… I don't know yet. It's only the first day."
"What's there to envy?" Hiro thought to himself.
They exchanged notes for a while, and time slipped by.
Only two girls stayed near Ai after class. A few boys stopped to talk to Hiro, and then it was time for lunch.
"I'll take some bread and tea," Hiro said to Yamazaki as the boys got ready to head to the store.
Sato joined them, and the three of them went to buy food. They usually rotated who ran errands. Hiro went the least; Yamazaki went the most.
Lunch breaks weren't long in Japan—barely enough time to eat, let alone go home.
Most classmates stepped out to grab food nearby.
Ai, however, took out a homemade bento. None of the girls who had been friendly earlier came back.
"What's wrong?" Hiro asked.
"Nothing," Ai said, opening the lid. "I just don't feel like talking."
That was a lie.
Not wanting to talk and not being able to talk were different things.
She didn't want to share. That much was clear.
Hiro peeked at her lunch, expecting rice and vegetables. But inside were sandwiches.
"Not many friends are needed. One or two are enough," Hiro said quietly. "But school's pretty boring when you're alone."
"Is that so? Isn't it enough to have you?" Ai replied casually, taking a bite.
Her calm tone made Hiro chuckle.
"Then I'm honored to be the sole friend of a genius idol destined to shine like a star."
They didn't have time to talk more. After lunch, classes resumed.
When school ended, Ai packed up the day's homework and got ready to head to Berry Pro for training.
Hiro decided to go with her. He had plans to visit the training center anyway.
They didn't speak much on the way. The silence wasn't awkward—it was just... quiet.
Hiro scrolled through his phone as they walked, checking the list of names the president had given him.
Each search either turned up nothing... or didn't match what he was looking for.
"Do I really have to wait for the right timing...?"
Dozens of searches. Still nothing.
Hiro sighed inwardly and glanced at Ai beside him. Her plain gray-and-black outfit blended into the background.
He thought she could dress better. Maybe something with color. But then again...
What's wrong with plain?
Plain doesn't stand out—but maybe that's the point.
His thoughts spiraled.
They passed by street stalls selling snacks. Ai's gaze flickered toward one selling taiyaki.
She didn't say anything—but Hiro noticed.
Buy it and see what happens.
"Let's get something."
Before Ai could answer, Hiro was already walking toward the stand. He ordered a large bag of seabream-shaped taiyaki and paid in full.
"Why'd you get so many?" "Ai?" he asked as he handed her the bag.
"For a gift," Hiro replied. "First time visiting somewhere, you bring something."
"You seriously bought too much," Ai said, even as she accepted the bag.
Hiro turned back to the vendor. "Another pack, please."
This time, he held the package himself.
(Author's Notes:
While writing this chapter, I found myself getting annoyed all over again at the doctor's choices in the manga. I won't rant here, but yeah... you'll understand when we get deeper.
Some people think Saitou only beat his bullies because he had martial arts skills. Not quite.
I wrote earlier: after reincarnating, he remembered everything clearly. He didn't train in martial arts—he watched movies and remembered moves. That's different.
Fighting isn't about talent. It's about instinct, timing, and survival.
He won because he fought dirty—scratching, ambushing, and hitting with sticks. That's how real fights go.
Also, he doesn't have dozens of allies. Everything he did was solo—quiet retaliation in the shadows.