"This is the perfect club for maidens like us! Wow, even the refreshments are amazing!"
A cheerful voice rang in my ears, but it barely reached my mind.
"Huh?" I murmured, completely lost in thought, my eyes scanning the grand hall full of girls in colorful dresses. Which character am I? Who exactly did that cursed author put me into?
"Cousin Rin!"
My head snapped up. One of the maidens beside me was staring at me, tilting her head.
"Yes?" I replied quickly, forcing a polite smile.
"You haven't said a word since we arrived," she said, looking concerned. "You're usually the one talking the most."
"Ah…" I fumbled for an answer, then smiled wider. "What clan am I from?" I asked sweetly, though inside I was dying to know.
For a second, all four of the girls standing with me fell silent. Then one of them — a sharp-eyed girl with short purple hair — burst out laughing.
"Don't tell me you forgot your own name!" she said, cackling.
The others joined her laughter, and even I let out a small awkward laugh to keep the act.
"Of course not," I said with a grin. "I just wanted to see if you guys know me well enough."
"Pft," said the purple-haired one, still giggling. "You're Rin Kisaragi, from the Kisaragi clan. Everyone knows that."
"Right, right," I chuckled. "Stupid me."
But inside, my chest sank like a rock.
Rin… Kisaragi?
I froze. Kisaragi clan…? Wait. Wait a second. That name… isn't that…?
It finally hit me.
The Kisaragi clan. The weakest clan in the entire story.
No magic. No power.
The most useless noble family, famous for being a joke among the higher houses.
That devil of an author… she really stuck me into the weakest character?!
My eye twitched as I tried to keep my smile. Meanwhile, my face was heating up so fast, my cheeks were bright red.
The four girls noticed and looked at me curiously.
"Rin, are you okay? Your beautiful face is turning all red," one of them said, leaning closer.
"Oh, I'm fine, totally fine," I said quickly, waving my hands and laughing nervously.
Why couldn't she have put me in Akari's body? Or Rei's? Or even someone from the Hoshino or Arakawa clans?! Anyone but this powerless girl in a dangerous world full of magic and killers!
My stomach churned as I forced myself to laugh along with them, pretending everything was fine. But deep down, I was panicking.
I need to figure out who Rin Kisaragi really is. If I'm going to survive here… I have to blend in perfectly.
So I kept smiling, nodding at everything they said, but inside my mind was spinning.
Who is Rin? What does she act like? What does she know?
One thing was certain — if I made a single mistake, someone would notice.
And in a world like this… that could be the end of me.
"Hello, cousins~."
A soft, graceful voice floated through the hall.
I froze.
Akari Hoshino stood at the entrance, bathed in the soft golden glow of the chandelier. She looked… stunning. Her long, silky hair gleamed, her gown shimmered like moonlight, and her gentle smile made everyone sigh dreamily.
"Wow, Cousin Akari! You look amazing!" the other girls gushed, crowding toward her like bees to a flower.
I stayed quiet, watching her in awe.
Then her eyes landed on me. "Rin," she said warmly. "Shall we go?"
"Ah—" I stammered, feeling my cheeks heat up. "Oh. Okay!"
As I stepped up beside her, my heart was beating louder than it should.
Why am I blushing?!
We walked out of the hall, her soft footsteps just ahead of mine.
"Thank you for helping me today, Rin," she said sweetly, glancing back at me.
I blinked. "For what… Akari?"
She tilted her head slightly. "Hmm? That's odd. You normally address me as Cousin Akari."
I let out a small laugh, feeling the weight of her gaze. "Oh, Cousin Akari." I said, forcing a playful smile.
Her lips curved upward. "That's better."
She kept walking, then added softly, "Rei and I… we'll be eloping tonight. And it's thanks to you, Rin."
I froze mid-step.
What? Tonight?
Tonight is the day they die.
Slowly, my hand rose to cover my face, but my fingers were trembling.
It all clicked in my head. Oh no. Oh no no no… I know which character I am now.
Rin Kisaragi — the backstabber.
The girl who was Rei's first love. The one who betrayed Akari and Rei out of stupid jealousy.
I swallowed hard, my stomach twisting painfully.
It was Rin who told Akari's father and Selene about the secret meeting place. Rin who couldn't stand to see Akari happy with Rei. Rin whose petty jealousy led to the most heartbreaking death scene of the entire manga.
And judging by the way events were already unfolding…
That betrayal had already happened.
I felt my face go pale as the realization sank in.
No wonder the author made me Rin. The weakest, most hated, most pathetic character in the story.
I clenched my hands into fists, my heart pounding wildly.
If the story stayed on this path… Rei and Akari would both die tonight.
And it would be my fault.
Not this time.
Not if I can help it.
I forced a smile and spoke up:
"Oh, Cousin Akari… why don't we… postpone it? Just until tomorrow? Today might be… a bad day," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
Akari paused mid-step, then shook her head firmly.
"No. It has to be tonight," she said. Her eyes shimmered with determination. "Rei will already be waiting at the location. If we don't elope today… Rei will be forced to marry that witch Selene."
Oh no… tonight is also Rei and Selene's arranged wedding.
I clenched my fists behind my back, screaming inside. Akari, please… just listen to me!
"Our families are mortal enemies," she continued, smiling softly at me. "They'll never let me and Rei be together. This is the only way — we'll go far away from all this chaos and bloodshed. We'll finally be happy. We'll start our own family."
Her voice was so full of hope, it stabbed me in the chest.
Oh, Akari… if you go tonight, the only place you'll end up together is the afterlife.
She stopped and frowned. "Rin? You haven't said a word. Is something wrong?"
I swallowed hard, then forced a nervous laugh.
"Akari — no, Cousin Akari — Rei… changed the plan," I lied.
Her eyes widened. "What? Why?"
"She said… the location changed. We're meeting at Mount River instead. We'll take a boat and leave from there," I said quickly.
Akari looked confused for a moment but then smiled. "Oh… alright. If that's the new plan, lead the way, Rin."
I nodded, hiding my shaking hands.
Good… at least she still trusts me. If I'm going to save you both, I'll use that trust — to protect you this time.
When we reached a quiet clearing by the river — far from the original elopement spot — she turned to me with a puzzled expression.
"Cousin Rin… where is Rei? Why are we here?"
I bowed my head and whispered, "I'm sorry. This is for your own safety."
Her eyes widened as her father stepped out from behind the trees, flanked by guards.
"Take her to her room," he ordered.
Two guards moved in and grabbed Akari's arms.
"Rin?! Please! You have to let me see her! She's waiting for me!" Akari cried as they dragged her away.
I bit my lip until it bled, my hands trembling at my sides, but I stayed quiet and lowered my head.
Her father gave me a satisfied nod as he passed. "Good girl. You may go to your room now."
But as soon as he turned his back, I slipped away.
There's no way I'm going to my room. Not until I make sure Rei is safe, too.
I ran to the original meeting spot — a lonely dock by the water — and arrived just before Selene and her dragon.
There she was.
Rei stood under the moonlight, looking impatient and annoyed, her fiery tattoos faintly glowing.
When she saw me, her golden-brown eyes narrowed.
"Rin? Where's Akari? The fisherman is waiting," she called out.
I stopped, catching my breath. "…She's not coming."
Her expression froze.
"…What?" she said, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
"Her father locked her up. She… she won't be able to come tonight," I said quietly.
Rei laughed bitterly, shaking her head. "I knew it. You've always been jealous of us. This is your revenge, isn't it? Because I chose her over you?"
"No!" I said, stepping closer. "This is the only way to save both of you. If you love Akari… then fight for her! Make everyone accept your love! Don't run away — stay and end this stupid rivalry. Make her your wife, Rei. Don't give up on her!"
Her eyes widened slightly at my words.
"…What are you saying?" she asked softly.
I clenched my fists. "Go home. The wedding is probably cancelled by now. Tell everyone you love her. Fight for her. End this hatred between your clans. Don't leave her alone in that house."
Rei stared at me for a long moment, then her lips curved into a small, fiery smile.
"…Fine. I'll fight for her. And I'll marry her in front of everyone, with both our clans present."
She whistled, and a massive fire dragon erupted behind her. She climbed onto its back, her tattoos glowing like embers.
"I don't know what you're up to, Rin… but this time, I'll win her properly," she said with a wink before flying away in a blaze of flames.
I let out a shaky laugh and sank to my knees in relief.
"…Thank goodness," I muttered, my heart pounding.
I finally stopped it. I finally saved them. My favorite characters… they're going to live to see another day.
But then—
The air suddenly turned icy.
My breath caught in my throat.
Something cold — bitter and sharp — wrapped around me.
I looked up slowly.
There she was.
Selene Kurosuki, perched on her enormous ice dragon, her silver hair glittering under the moonlight like a blade.
I froze.
"…Ah…"
I forgot… Selene was coming here tonight, too.
She landed gracefully in front of me, her long hair sweeping the ground as she stepped closer.
"Where are they?" she asked calmly, her voice carrying the weight of a winter storm.
"…W-what?" I stammered, already backing away.
"You heard me," she said, her silver-blue eyes narrowing. "You told me they were eloping here tonight. So where are they?"
I swallowed hard. "They… they already left," I lied, shivering.
Her gaze darkened.
"…Kisaragi. Did you just lie to me?"
"N-no…" I said weakly.
She didn't even blink.
With a flick of her fingers, invisible force wrapped around me and dragged me straight into her cold hands. Her icy fingers closed around my neck.
"I hate being lied to," she whispered, her breath like frost against my skin. "You're an obstacle. And every obstacle… must be eliminated."
I gasped, but my lips still curled into a weak smile.
"…I don't care what you do to me. I gave them a tomorrow. If it costs me my life… so be it."
Her eyes narrowed into thin slits of silver.
"…So be it," she murmured.
And that was the last thing I heard as everything faded into darkness.