Cherry blossoms fluttered in the air, and pollen tickled the noses of passersby.
The warm spring sunlight bathed everyone below.
[The weather’s so nice today!]
"…Yes, it is, author-nim."
With stiff, unfamiliar steps, I followed the uphill path where people were walking.
This body still wasn’t used to me.
When I accidentally bumped into a student walking the same path, they reacted sharply.
"Hey, watch where you’re—!"
"Ah, sorry."
"Oh, n-no… It’s fine!"
The moment they saw my face, their tone turned respectful.
Maybe it was because they’d hurried away so quickly—one of the students’ wallets had slipped from their pocket.
They didn’t seem to notice.
I might as well practice my ability while I was at it. I decided to use it naturally.
The threads of my half-gloves unraveled and surged toward the wallet.
…Hm, success. I should get used to using this more often.
With a light snap of my fingers, I reeled in the wallet like a fishing line, then looked back at where the boys had been.
"Oh dear, they’re already gone."
I smiled faintly to myself.
Judging by their uniforms, they were definitely students from the Academy I’d be attending soon.
I should return this quickly.
Even if they were just extras, building connections now might come in handy later.
Just as I was about to head in the direction they’d gone—
Thump.
Someone’s hand grabbed my arm.
"Excuse me."
"Yes?"
"You shouldn’t steal other people’s things."
Tsk.
I clicked my tongue softly.
Damn this face. No matter what I do, I get misunderstood.
I glanced at the person holding my arm—he was handsome. Very much so.
…It’s unfair. Some people get turned into women and have to deal with constant misunderstandings.
My mood soured slightly, and my tone sharpened.
"…Let go."
"Eek—?!"
Huh, why is he so surprised?
Did I do something?
"Don’t worry. I just wanted to return this to its owner."
To clear up the misunderstanding, I forced a smile, even though I didn’t like it.
The boy made a dubious face.
Well, he probably just misjudged me based on my appearance.
I did look kind of suspicious, didn’t I?
To get away quickly, I walked briskly, and fortunately, I spotted a group of kids not too far away.
"Hey, you there, can you stop for a second?"
"W-Why? I already apologized!"
"Is this wallet yours?"
"My wallet?! Give it back!"
"Here, take it."
I tossed the wallet to the startled boy.
Good, now I could start building connections with these kids…
[That boy from earlier—he’s the protagonist! Wow, he’s so handsome. Protagonists are supposed to be good-looking, right?!]
"…Huh?"
My attention, which had been on the boys, snapped to my ears.
What did the author just say? …Protagonist? That handsome kid?
"Author, that boy from before…?"
[Yes! Exactly what you’re thinking! The protagonist of the novel, Yu Siwoo! Isn’t he cool?!]
"…So it’s already begun."
Finally, the start.
The journey to carry this novel to its conclusion.
[Hehe, the protagonist really is so cool~!]
I grabbed the author writing this novel and shook them.
I had to turn this unpredictable story, where I couldn’t see even an inch ahead, into a happy ending.
Because I didn’t want to die.
"Alright, let’s do this, Author."
[Huh? Y-Yes! Let’s go all the way to the end! Come on, come on!]
First, immediate goal number one.
Yu Siwoo—I had to get close to him.
"This is suspicious…"
The boy, Yu Siwoo, thought.
Suspicious beyond suspicious.