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The first class had begun.
Well, to be exact—it was the morning self-study period.
Mayumi Tōgō told everyone to study on their own for a bit and mentioned there'd be a quiz today, then left the classroom.
She had to prep for class too, after all.
"Hey, Andrew, what's it like getting hit by a car?"
Andrew was checking out the girls in class, noticing a few familiar faces, when suddenly, a flashy-looking guy with shoulder-length hair and a headband leaned over with a cheeky grin and posed that rude question.
"Haha, Sho, don't ask stuff like that—it's kinda rude! It's not like Andrew wanted to get hit by a car!"
The blonde guy sitting in front of the flashy one turned around with a friendly smile and gave Andrew an apologetic look.
"Sorry about him, Andrew. Sho didn't mean anything by it—he's just curious."
"Hey, I'm Hayama Hayato. Nice to meet you."
The blond guy offered a handshake.
Andrew smiled politely and shook it.
"No worries, Hayama. It's not like I'm hiding it or anything. Getting hit by a car on the first day of school was pretty damn unlucky, though."
"As for how it felt... I think I passed out. Just remember a loud clang in my head, then nothing."
Hayama sighed.
"Honestly, you were kinda lucky. Someone else got hit with you and they're still in the hospital."
When he brought that up, Hayama's mood got a little complicated.
"Oh... there's someone even unluckier than me? Who was it?"
Andrew couldn't help but ask. He thought the unluckiest guy had to be Aki Tomoya—who choked on water and died before a doctor could even get there. Who do you even complain to about something like that?
Hayama let out another sigh, clearly feeling down.
"Not sure if you know her... Yukinoshita."
"Huh?! Yukinoshita?" Andrew was stunned.
The moment he saw Hayama Hayato and that flashy guy Tobe Sho next to him,Andrew had already recognized them from the anime My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU.
And Yukinoshita Yukino—she was one of his favorite female leads.
But now Hayama was telling him Yukinoshita Yukino got hit by the same car and ended up in the hospital too?
Seriously?
"Yeah... she's still unconscious. No idea when she'll wake up."
Hayama didn't seem to want to talk about it anymore and instead introduced the flashy guy next to him.
"This is Tobe Sho. He's actually a good guy—please get along with him, Andrew."
"No problem. Nice to meet you, Tobe."
Andrew wasn't upset or anything. He already joked about being a walking disaster himself—what's there to get mad about?
Though... someone like Tobe Sho? Probably better to keep a little distance. Hanging around him might lower your IQ.
After chatting a bit with Hayama, Andrew pulled out his textbook to start reviewing. But his eyes kept sneaking glances around the classroom.
He was trying to spot more familiar faces.
And pretty soon, he did.
There was a girl with pink hair tied in twin buns sitting in front of Mashiro Shiina. Her skirt was folded up a centimeter shorter than regulation, showing off her long, slender legs—definitely an attention-grabber.
Her blouse was slightly open at the collar, a little messy, and the way it stretched across her chest made her really stand out in the class.
She had a great figure and gave off this lively, flashy vibe.
No doubt about it—she had to be Yui Yuigahama, one of the heroines from My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU.
And right in front of Hayama was a blonde girl with wavy hair and queen-like aura—Miura Yumiko.
Next to her was a black-haired girl with glasses—Ebina Hina.
All excellent picks for future "contracted followers."
Andrew's gaze kept scanning the room, looking for his main target, when he suddenly locked eyes on the girl sitting right in front of him.
Short hair down to her ears, calm expression.
"Kato Megumi?"
Andrew couldn't help muttering.
The girl had sharp ears and immediately turned her head, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Well, well... Andrew finally remembers me."
"Uh... what do you mean finally? Did we know each other before? Are you really Kato Megumi?"
That Kato Megumi?
Faced with his question, Kato just sighed and replied with a perfectly calm face.
"We've been sitting in front of each other since elementary school. And now, even after saying my name, you still ask me this."
"Is my name really that hard to remember?"
Her flat voice echoed in his ears, and maybe it was just his imagination, but Andrew swore he heard a hint of sadness in it.
"Haha, of course not! I swear I'll remember your name from now on, Kato Megumi."
Andrew scratched his cheek awkwardly but replied seriously.
According to the setting, Kato Megumi had this kind of passive presence that made people naturally overlook her.
That's why she was the ultimate "background heroine."
Back then, he probably couldn't remember her because he hadn't awakened his memories yet. Being around her made it hard to focus—like she had this weird magnetic field that disrupted one's perception.
But now?
Now he'd awakened his memories as a transmigrator and gained demonic powers.
Kato Megumi was definitely a top-tier candidate for a contracted follower too.
Hearing Andrew's reply, Kato just gave a noncommittal nod and muttered softly:
"Hope you mean it."
Honestly, she was used to being forgotten.
Can you believe it?
Her parents had forgotten about her so many times—they'd literally leave her outside and lock the door.
Once, when they went to the zoo, they left her behind entirely and went home like nothing happened.
A police officer had to take her back.
This kind of low presence, this pain of always being overlooked—only Kato Megumi truly understood what that felt like.
"..."
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