The loading screen glowed gently across my monitor in the dimly lit room as it reflected against my eyes.
Three beautiful girls stood under falling cherry blossoms, each reaching out toward the player, the only male allowed inside Aurelia Girls Academy, the most ridiculous, most degenerate dating sim ever created.
I sighed and leaned back in my chair.
"One more route before bed…"
It was supposed to be a quick nostalgia run.
I had already cleared all routes years ago, the childhood friend idol, the cold genius prefect, the yandere nurse who absolutely needed therapy.
Every time, the premise stayed the same.
[You are the only boy in a prestigious all-girls academy.
Your job: survive the attention of dozens of love-starved heroines.]
It was supposed to be simple, familiar and comforting.
I clicked "Start New Game."
The opening cutscene played, girls giggling, skirts fluttering, the usual fanservice.
The protagonist introduced himself with a slight smile on his face.
"Hello, I'm Kaito, the only male student allowed in Aurelia Academy!"
I smirked looking at the screen with heavy eyes, what a lucky bastard.
Slowly my eye lids began closing as the soothing game music played, the screen turned blurry.
I didn't even remember falling asleep.
Suddenly a soft voice sounded.
"—excuse me? Sir?"
My eyes snapped open and Immediately noticed that I wasn't in my gaming chair anymore.
I was sitting on a leather sofa, in a bright, elegant office that smelled of fresh flowers.
Tall bookshelves lined the walls, and sunlight streamed through polished windows.
A woman sat behind a mahogany desk, her long silver hair tied neatly, her glasses sharp and professional.
She looked like an adult version of one of the heroines in the types of dating Sims I usually played.
And beside me were two people I did NOT recognize.
A hansome matured man in a business suit and a beautiful woman smiling proudly.
The woman held my hand making me feel a warm and unfamiliar feeling from her touch
"Our son is very excited to join your academy," she said.
…Son?
Academy?
The silver-haired woman, the principal, adjusted her glasses and offered me a polite smile.
"We're honored to welcome a second male student," she said.
"A truly historic moment for Aurelia Girls Academy."
Second male student.
Aurelia Girls Academy?
My breath suddenly hitched as soon as I heard the name of the school.
No, no, no, no,—
There was only supposed to be one male in this academy.
The protagonist.
The player.
I gulped hard as I cleared my throat.
"Ma'am," I said carefully, "there must be a mistake. I'm not supposed to be—"
She leaned forward.
"According to your transfer documents, you've been admitted under special exception. Starting today, you and Kaito will be our academy's only male students."
Kaito.
That was the protagonist name.
My blood ran cold as I slowly realized this possibly wasn't a dream.
I had reincarnated into the eroge, but… I wasn't the protagonist, I was an Extra that the game had never added or accounted.
A new addition the original dating sim never created in any of the routes played.
A glitch in paradise.
The principal smiled warmly, completely unaware of my internal meltdown.
"Welcome to Aurelia Girls Academy," she said.
"We hope you enjoy your stay."
I stared at the office door, knowing that once it opened, I would no longer be stepping into school rather I would be stepping into chaos.
The door clicked softly as the principal rose from her seat.
"You may explore the campus once the orientation guide arrives," she said. "She should be here any moment."
Great. An orientation guide.
In this world, that could only mean one thing:
A heroine.
I swallowed, keeping my expression neutral even as my insides twisted into a pretzel.
The "parents" beside me, whoever they actually were in this borrowed life, stood proudly. The mother squeezed my hand again, warm, gentle, and far too affectionate for someone I had zero memories of.
"We're so proud of you," she said, her eyes shimmering with joy.
I forced a polite smile. "Thank you… Mom."
The word felt heavy and foreign on my tongue.
The father nodded approvingly, arms crossed confidently. "Do your best, son. Aurelia Academy is an opportunity most boys can only dream of."
Yeah.
An opportunity to get murdered by obsessive yanderes or seduced into stamina depletion until my soul left my body.
Totally a dream.
The principal glanced toward the door. "Ah, that must be her."
There was a knock, light, polite, and musical, almost like a sound effect.
"Come in," the principal said.
The door slid open.
And my heart nearly jumped out of my throat.
A girl stepped inside, her long pink hair swaying behind her like silk. She wore the academy's uniform, white blouse, pleated skirt, ribbon tied elegantly at the collar, and carried a clipboard hugged to her chest.
Her eyes were bright, soft, and unmistakably familiar.
Kaori.
The childhood friend route heroine.
Except she was even prettier in real life, less glossy, more alive. Her smile wasn't a perfectly drawn CG asset; it was warm, living, radiant.
And it was directed at me.
"Hello!" she said cheerfully, bowing slightly. "I'm Kaori Mizuhara, second-year. I'll be your personal guide today!"
I froze.
Kaori.
Kaori.
KAORI.
In the game, meeting her early was impossible unless you chose her route. The protagonist always met her alone on a cherry blossom path.
But here she was, greeting me instead.
My "mother" squeezed my arm excitedly.
"She's lovely, isn't she?"
Lovely was one word.
Terrifying was another.
Kaori walked toward me, her steps light and graceful. The scent of strawberries drifted from her hair.
"I've prepared a special tour just for you," she said, eyes sparkling. "The academy is huge, so I'll make sure you don't get lost."
Lost?
Lady, I was already spiritually lost.
My "parents" began saying their goodbyes, oblivious to the existential disaster happening inside me.
"Study hard," my father said.
"Eat well," my mother added.
Yes, because malnutrition was my biggest concern here.
They left the office, the door closing behind them with a final, echoing thud.
And suddenly it was just me, Kaori, and the principal.
Kaori turned toward me with a bright, almost too-bright smile. "Um… are you ready? I can show you the dorms, classrooms, garden, or… anywhere you'd like, actually."
She tilted her head, cheeks turning faintly pink.
"I'll be taking care of you from now on."
A shiver ran down my spine.
This girl was supposed to be in love with Kaito.
Not me.
Not the extra.
This could disrupt the entire balance of the game. Events, flags, jealousy triggers, everything could collapse.
The principal clapped her hands gently.
"Well then. I'll leave you both to it. Please enjoy your first day."
Kaori stepped closer, her eyes meeting mine.
"Shall we go?" she asked softly.
I stared at her outstretched hand, my throat dry.
That door wasn't just the exit of an office anymore.
It was the threshold to hell wrapped in cute uniforms and romantic music.
I stood up slowly.
"Yeah," I managed, my voice barely steady.
"Let's… go."
Kaori beamed, the kind of smile that could start a route, spark an event, or trigger a jealous rival.
And with that, she led me toward the door.
When it opened, the hallway beyond was filled with sunlight, distant chatter…
…and the beginning of chaos I had absolutely no idea how to survive.