Itsuki Hayama walked down the road unhurriedly, hands in his pockets, whistling faintly.
Late for school? Big deal.If you're one or two minutes late, it's nerve-wracking.Ten or twenty minutes late, it's anxiety.But two and a half hours late? At that point, what's there left to fear?
By now, the entrance ceremony at Ginkgo High was long over. Students had returned to their classrooms, introducing themselves one by one.
Inside Class 1-4, Ninomiya Nanase, the homeroom teacher, checked her watch. Two students were still missing, and one of them was about to make his grand entrance.
Itsuki reached the school and found the old wooden gates firmly shut. The school itself was a relic of another era—wooden corridors, sliding doors, even the gate looked like something out of a Taisho-era postcard. Oddly enough, he liked it.
But the gate wouldn't budge.So, he shrugged. "Guess I'll just climb."The wall wasn't built to stop villains, after all.
Minutes later, Itsuki stood outside the sliding doors of Class 1-4. Inside, the sound of introductions echoed. He was undeniably late—so late that he almost felt there was no point coming in at all. But since he was already here… might as well.
He slid open the door.
Heads turned.What they saw was a tall, black-haired boy, strikingly handsome, with an eyepatch over his right eye. He nodded politely in apology.
And then… Itsuki froze.
Sitting in the middle rows was a familiar face. Togashi Yuuta.Not just a random student—Yuuta Togashi, the protagonist of Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! A character Itsuki had once watched on screen in his previous life. But now, in this world, Yuuta was also someone buried in his own inherited memories—an old childhood friend, a neighbor, acomrade-in-arms.
Wait a minute... comrade-in-arms?
Memories surfaced, and Itsuki's expression stiffened. In this life, he and Yuuta had once been fellow Chuunibyou. They'd fought imaginary battles together until Itsuki's family moved away three years ago.
Both boys locked eyes, dumbfounded—but for very different reasons.
Itsuki thought: Crap… how did I end up here? And worse, I used to be one of them? These memories feel way too real… it's so damn embarrassing.
Meanwhile, Yuuta's thoughts spiraled: No way… Itsuki?! And that eyepatch… don't tell me he's still stuck in chuunibyou? Oh no, first Rikka… and now him?
Speaking of which, in the front row, Takanashi Rikka turned, her gaze narrowing at the sight of another eyepatch. Her right eye burned with "forbidden power"… but how dare anyone else carry the same mark?
Her hand slammed onto the desk. She rose dramatically, crossing her arms and pointing at Itsuki.
"You vile thief from the Mirror World! Come forth! Draw your blade!"
Itsuki: …
He tilted his head toward the ceiling. Sometimes, life truly left you speechless.
Choosing to ignore Rikka's theatrics, he scanned the classroom for his seat. Two desks sat empty.
"Hayama-kun," Teacher Ninomiya called cheerfully, "your seat's by the window inside."
Itsuki bowed politely in thanks, earning Yuuta's cautious sigh of relief. Maybe Itsuki wasn't as far gone as Rikka.
…Or so he hoped.
Rikka, however, refused to let up. She glared daggers at Itsuki, eyes locked, challenging him silently until it was his turn to introduce himself.
"My name is Itsuki Hayama, from XX Junior High. My hobbies are video games. As for this eye…" he tapped his eyepatch, "there's a reason I keep it covered. It's not convenient to explain, so I hope you'll understand."
Polite applause followed. Ninomiya smiled, "Welcome, Hayama-kun. Just… try not to be late next time, alright?"
Itsuki chuckled sheepishly. "Yes, sensei."
The introductions wrapped up, timetables were handed out, and students were dismissed early. Yuuta was about to approach Itsuki when Isshiki Makoto, his seatmate, pulled him into conversation and invited him to lunch.
Before Itsuki could step in, a girl sitting ahead of him turned around.
"Hayama-kun… would you like to… um… join us later?" stammered Miyako Komiyanagi. She wasn't a main character, just another classmate. But her cheeks flushed as she glanced at Itsuki's handsome face.
Itsuki shook his head gently. "Sorry. I know what you want to ask, but I've got something important to take care of. Please forgive me."
Disappointment flickered in her eyes. "Ah… but your eye…"
"An old injury," Itsuki explained smoothly. "It can't handle light for long, and it looks strange, so I cover it up. I need to stop by the hospital later for a check-up."
Miyako nodded, still flustered, though unable to hide her admiration. "He's… so cool…" she whispered to her friend.
— — — A dividing line — — —
By the station, Yuuta and Rikka were preparing to leave together. Itsuki finally caught up.
"Yo, you two," he called casually.
Rikka spun around, eyes blazing. "Thief! You dare show yourself before me? Dark Flame Master! Unleash your black flames!"
Yuuta groaned, pressing her head down. "Rikka, stop it already…" Then he glanced at Itsuki with complicated eyes. "…Don't tell me… you're still—"
Itsuki smirked, lifting his eyepatch for just a moment. The crimson Sharingan spun faintly.
"This? Just one of the gifts from my system. It sharpens my sight, boosts reaction time… nothing too dangerous. Covering it is just… safer."
Yuuta paled. "That's… not cured at all!"
Rikka, triumphant: "I knew it! A rival chosen by fate! Prepare yourself!"
Itsuki: "…"
Looking up at the sky, Itsuki wondered if it was too late to request a refund from the Cosmic Gacha System.