First period started.
Well—technically, it was just homeroom.
Kirisu-sensei told the class to preview the material on their own and mentioned there would be a short quiz today, then headed out to prep her lessons.
Even teachers needed time to prepare, after all.
"Hey, Hayashi Maki, what's it like getting hit by a car?"
Hayashi Maki had been casually scoping out the girls in class—some of them looked really familiar.
Suddenly, a flashy-looking guy with chin-length hair and a headband leaned over with a grin and tossed him that question.
Yeah… not exactly polite.
"Haha, come on, Kakeru-kun! Don't ask such rude stuff. It's not like Hayashi Maki wanted to get hit by a car, right?"
A handsome blond guy sitting ahead of the loudmouth turned around and smiled apologetically at Hayashi Maki.
"Sorry about that, Hayashi Maki. Kakeru didn't mean any harm—he's just curious."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Hayama Hayato."
The blond guy reached out with a friendly hand.
Hayashi Maki smiled and shook it politely.
"No worries, Hayama-san. Honestly, it's not a big deal. Yeah, getting hit by a car on the first day was pretty unlucky."
"As for what it felt like… I think I blacked out. Just remember a loud thud and then… nothing."
Hayama let out a sigh.
"Actually, you're kind of lucky. Someone else got hit too—and they're still in the hospital."
There was a complicated look in Hayama's eyes as he said that.
"Wait, seriously? Someone had it worse than me? Who was it?"
Hayashi Maki asked, genuinely curious.
He still thought Aki Tomoya was the unluckiest of them all—choking on a sip of water and dying instantly, not even giving the doctors a chance.
Talk about unfair.
Hayama looked even more somber.
"Not sure if you know her… Yukinoshita."
"Huh? Yukinoshita?!"
Hayashi Maki was stunned.
As soon as he'd seen Hayama Hayato and the flashy guy behind him—Tobe Kakeru—he knew they were from My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU.
And Yukinoshita Yukino? She was one of his all-time favorite heroines.
And now Hayama was saying she was the one who got hit by the same car and was still in a coma?
Are you serious with this?!
"Yeah… she's still unconscious in the hospital. No idea when she'll wake up."
Hayama clearly didn't want to say more.
He then introduced the flashy boy who'd spoken earlier.
"This is Tobe Kakeru. He can be loud, but he's a good guy. Try to get along."
"Got it. Nice to meet you, Tobe-san."
Hayashi Maki didn't take offense. He'd already been joking about how unlucky he was—no big deal.
Still, it was probably better to keep his distance from someone like Tobe. Guy didn't seem like a brain trust.
After a few more words with Hayama, Hayashi Maki pulled out his textbook to start reviewing…
But his eyes kept wandering across the classroom, observing the students.
He was trying to spot characters he recognized.
Before long, he did.
A girl sitting right in front of Shiina Mahiru—pink twin-buns, school skirt rolled a bit short to show off her long legs.
Her loosely fastened bow tie gave a peek at her generous chest, making her stand out in the class instantly.
Judging by the vibrant energy and curves, she had to be Yuigahama Yui, another heroine from SNAFU.
Then there was the gorgeous blonde with wavy hair and a queen-like aura—Miura Yumiko.
Next to her sat a bespectacled black-haired girl—Ebina Hina.
All excellent candidates for future contracts.
Hayashi Maki's gaze continued sweeping the room… until it stopped at the desk directly in front of him.
A calm-faced girl with ear-length short hair sat there quietly.
"...Kato Megumi?"
He blurted her name before he could stop himself.
But the girl had sharp ears—she turned her head and raised an eyebrow at him.
"Wow, Hayashi-kun. You actually remembered me. I'm shocked."
"Uh… what do you mean 'remembered'? Did we know each other? Wait—you really are Kato Megumi?"
As in, that Megumi—the one from Saekano?!
Megumi looked at him with a blank expression, her voice flat but clearly tinged with sarcasm.
"We've been front-and-back deskmates since elementary school. And now you're acting like this? Even after saying my name?"
"Is my name really that forgettable?"
Her tone was neutral, but Hayashi Maki could hear the hint of bitterness behind it.
"Haha… of course not. I'll definitely remember it from now on, Kato Megumi."
He smiled awkwardly and tried to sound sincere.
In her original setting, Kato Megumi had an aura that made people subconsciously overlook her.
That was why she was the quintessential "background heroine."
Before, he hadn't remembered her because his transmigrated memories hadn't awakened yet—and her presence-suppressing "field" likely affected him.
But now? He was a transmigrator with full memory and demonic powers.
Kato Megumi was an absolutely top-tier contract target.
She didn't respond to his vow. She just gave a small nod and muttered quietly:
"I hope you mean it this time."
She'd gotten used to being overlooked.
Can you imagine?
There were times her own parents forgot she existed—leaving her locked outside the house.
Once, on a trip to the zoo, they straight-up left her behind. She had to be brought home by the police.
That kind of deep-rooted invisibility…
Only Megumi herself truly understood what it felt like.