The first period began.
Oh, to be precise, it was the morning self-study period.
Kirisu Mafuyu told the students to review on their own, mentioned there would be a quiz today, and then left the classroom. As a teacher, she had her own lessons to prepare.
"Hey, Lin Mu-san, what does it feel like to be sent flying by a car?"
Lin Mu was in the middle of observing the girls in the class, having already spotted a few familiar faces. Suddenly, a rather flamboyant-looking boy next to him with ear-length hair and a headband struck up a conversation with a cheeky grin.
The question was quite impolite.
"Haha, Sho-kun, don't ask such rude questions! It's not like Lin Mu-san wanted to get hit!"
The handsome blonde boy in front of the flamboyant one turned around and said with a smile, looking at Lin Mu with an apologetic expression.
"Sorry, Lin Mu-kun. Sho-kun doesn't mean any harm, he's just a little curious."
"Hello, I'm Hayama Hayato. It's a pleasure to meet you."
The handsome blonde boy extended a friendly hand as he spoke.
Lin Mu smiled faintly and gave it a polite shake. "It's alright, Hayama-kun. It's not something that can't be talked about. It's true I was pretty unlucky to get hit on the first day of school."
"As for what it felt like, well, I think I passed out. I just remember a 'clang' sound in my head, and then I don't remember anything else."
Hearing this, Hayama Hayato sighed.
"Actually, you're quite lucky. Someone else was sent flying with you, and they're still in the hospital."
Speaking of that person, Hayama Hayato's mood became very complicated.
"Oh? Someone even unluckier than me? Who is it?" Lin Mu couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.
He thought the unluckiest person should have been Aki Tomoya, who choked to death on water, his breathing stopping before the doctors could even attempt to save him. Who could you even complain to about that?
Hayama Hayato sighed again, looking somewhat sad.
"I don't know if you know her. It's Yukinoshita-san."
"Huh? Yukinoshita?" Lin Mu was stunned.
The moment he saw Hayama Hayato and the flamboyant Tobe Sho behind him, Lin Mu had recognized them as characters from the anime Oregairu. And Yukinoshita Yukino was one of his favorite heroines.
And yet, Hayama Hayato was now telling him that Yukinoshita Yukino was sent to the hospital by a car on the same day he was?
Did it have to be like this?
"Yeah, she's still in a coma at the hospital. We don't know when she'll wake up."
Hayama said, then seemed unwilling to speak further on the matter. He introduced the tactless, flamboyant boy.
"This is Tobe Sho. He's a really good guy. Please take care of us in the future, Lin-san."
"Of course, of course. Please take care of me, Tobe-kun."
Lin Mu wasn't angry. He had already joked about being an unlucky bastard himself, so what was there that couldn't be said? However, it was probably better to have less contact with students like Tobe Sho; it could easily affect one's IQ.
After chatting with Hayama Hayato for a few more sentences, Lin Mu took out his textbook to study. His gaze, however, was quietly observing the students in the class. He wanted to confirm who the familiar characters were.
Soon, he saw some very familiar people.
Sitting in front of Shiina Mahiru was a girl with her pink hair in a dango-style bun. Her uniform skirt was intentionally folded to be a centimeter shorter, revealing a pair of long, fair legs that were very eye-catching. The bow on her blouse was slightly open and a bit messy, and the rounded curve of her chest, which stretched her uniform taut, stood out in the class. She had a great figure and looked like the flashy, cheerful type.
If he wasn't mistaken, she should be Yui Yuigahama, one of the heroines from Oregairu.
And in front of Hayama Hayato was a beautiful girl with wavy blonde hair and a haughty, queen-like aura, Miura Yumiko. Next to Miura Yumiko was a black-haired girl with glasses, Ebina Hina.
All very good candidates for a familiar contract.
Lin Mu's eyes scanned the room, searching for his targets, when he suddenly fixed his gaze on the student at the desk in front of him. A girl with ear-length short hair and a calm expression.
"Kato Megumi?" Lin Mu couldn't help but mutter.
The girl's hearing was sharp. She subconsciously turned around and raised an eyebrow at him.
"What a surprise. Lin-kun finally remembers me."
"Uh... what do you mean, 'finally remember you'? Did we know each other before? Are you really Kato Megumi?"
The Saint Megumi?
Faced with his question, Kato Megumi had a helpless look on her face, yet her expression remained completely placid, making her seem very calm.
"We've been sitting in front of and behind each other since elementary school. And yet, Lin-kun, you clearly just said my name but are still asking me this kind of question."
"Is my name that hard to remember?"
The girl's flat voice sounded, and Lin Mu thought he detected a trace of melancholy grievance in it, though he wasn't sure if it was his imagination.
"Haha, of course it's not hard to remember. I think I'll remember you from now on, Kato Megumi-san."
Lin Mu gave an awkward laugh and immediately replied in a serious tone.
According to her character setting, Kato Megumi possessed an ability that made people subconsciously ignore her. This was the reason she was the "passerby heroine." He probably couldn't remember her before because his memories hadn't been awakened, and interacting with her meant being affected by the special magnetic field around her.
But now, he was a man who had awakened the memories of a transmigrator and inherited the powers of a demon.
Kato Megumi was also a very high-quality candidate for a familiar.
In response to Lin Mu's promise, Kato Megumi gave a noncommittal nod and muttered under her breath, "I hope you can."
In truth, she was already used to being ignored.
Can you believe it? Several times, her parents had come home and forgotten they had a daughter, locking her outside. And one time, during a trip to the zoo, her parents completely forgot about her there and just went home as a couple. In the end, a police officer had to bring her home.
This kind of distress, caused by a low presence and being constantly overlooked, was something only Kato Megumi herself could truly understand.