"Big sis, Chihiro. You look as beautiful as ever."
A black-haired boy in his teens smiled brightly as he greeted the woman standing before him. With her reddish-brown hair swaying lightly under the station lights and eyes of the same color, Chihiro Sengoku carried herself with a mature aura that naturally stood out in the bustling crowd.
It wasn't surprising—she was Chihiro Sengoku, after all. The same side character Jun once knew only from the anime Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo. Now, standing before him in the flesh, she felt more real, more striking than the screen had ever captured.
"Look at that… you and your cheeky mouth," Chihiro replied, her lips curling into a wry smile.
Although she sounded exasperated, Jun knew better. His playful compliment had landed, as always. The next second, her hand reached out, and his cheeks were being stretched mercilessly between her fingers.
"Ow, ow, ow—Chihiro-nee, that hurts!" Jun protested, though the grin never left his face.
After all, in this world, his mother and Chihiro were old acquaintances. Chihiro had once been a junior to her, which meant Jun had been able to meet this woman far earlier than the timeline in the anime ever suggested. Over the years, she had become something like a big sister figure to him, though to her, he was probably still just "that cheeky kid."
"Hehe! I wasn't flattering at all," Jun said, his tone playful but his gaze flickering with something deeper. His eyes darted upward, above Chihiro's head, where a faint, translucent shimmer danced for only him to see.
A small glint of amusement flashed in his eyes.
"…Let's go. It's getting crowded here," Chihiro said, finally releasing his cheeks and turning away.
Rubbing his cheeks, Jun hoisted his luggage, following behind her through the busy station. Even in the flow of students and travelers, his presence drew attention. Several girls passing by sneaked glances at the handsome boy walking with Chihiro.
Chihiro noticed those gazes too, her lips twitching into a half-smile. "Honestly… how many girls will this kid end up spoiling in the future?" she thought with a sigh. Still, she felt oddly reassured. Jun wasn't the type to lose himself over fleeting admiration. His character was stronger than that.
After all—he was Takihira Mina's son.
"Wow… this is amazing."
Jun couldn't help but whisper aloud as he stepped out into the city streets. Having spent most of his life in the quiet countryside, this was his first real glimpse of Tokyo after his reincarnation. The towering buildings, flashing billboards, and streams of people rushing past painted a vivid picture of a world alive with energy.
It wasn't just bustling—it was dazzling.
And, of course, there was another thing he noticed almost immediately.
Beautiful girls. Everywhere.
From fashionable high schoolers in sailor uniforms to office ladies in neat suits, it seemed like every second person passing by could have been a heroine out of a story.
Jun almost laughed to himself. This isn't Earth anymore. No way this number of beauties just casually walk around in one city. This is definitely… an anime world setting.
"What do you think?" Chihiro's voice cut through his thoughts.
She had been watching him quietly, and now her lips curled into a knowing smile.
Jun chuckled, scratching his cheek a little sheepishly before answering honestly. "It's amazing. Really… it's simply amazing."
Those words came from the bottom of his heart. No need for exaggeration.
He picked up his pace to walk beside her, his eyes still darting around curiously. "So, Chihiro-nee… what about the dorm I'm staying at? Is it close by?"
At that, Chihiro's expression stiffened slightly. Her playful smile vanished, replaced by something more serious.
"…The dorm, huh? Well… let's just say you'll need to be careful."
Jun tilted his head. "Careful?"
"You're going to be living in Sakura Dormitory," she explained. "It's not exactly… normal."
At first, Jun's heart skipped a beat. Sakura Dorm. That meant the place from Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo. But when Chihiro continued, he realized something was different.
The building she described wasn't just the Sakura Dorm he knew—it had somehow blended with another familiar location from a different anime: the old Kawai Complex. The place where a quiet bookworm girl once lived, alongside her quirky dormmates.
Jun's eyes widened slightly. "So it's… both?"
Chihiro gave a small sigh. "That's right. Think of it as a… hybrid version. You'll meet people from both."
And what a lineup it was.
There was Shirosaki, the self-proclaimed pervert and lolicon, who also happened to be a published novelist. Then there's Mayumi, a perpetually single woman at twenty-nine with a fondness for alcohol. And Sayaka, the manipulative beauty who always seemed three steps ahead of everyone else.
Calling them "weirdos" didn't even begin to cover it. They were… beyond weirdos.
And that wasn't even counting the Sakurasou side of things. Misaki Kamiigusa, the eccentric but loveable animation genius. Jin Mitaka, the smooth-talking playboy. And, if fate really followed the anime's flow… Shiina Mashiro.
Jun exhaled slowly. Life at this dorm was going to be anything but quiet.
"So definitely stay away from that pervert," Chihiro added, her voice firm. "He's not a bad guy, but still…"
Jun raised a hand in mock salute, smiling as he tried to ease her worry. "Got it, Chihiro-nee. I'll be careful."
But inwardly, he was already sweating a little at the thought of living in such a chaotic environment.
Even so, it wasn't all bad.
Take Misaki, for example. Sure, her explosive energy made her look like a handful, but Jun remembered her character well. Beneath that hyper exterior, she was actually sensitive and deeply caring. If he approached her the right way, he was sure they could become good friends—maybe even allies.
And then there was Jin Mitaka.
Jun's smile thinned slightly. In the anime, Jin was portrayed as a complicated character, stringing Misaki along with his careless behavior while hiding behind excuses.
To most, it was just "drama." But to Jun, who had lived more than fifty years before this reincarnation, it was something else entirely.
Tormenting someone you care about under the guise of pushing them away… That's not romance. That's just cruelty.
If Mitaka turned out to be the same in this world, Jun had no intention of sitting by and letting history repeat itself.
Anime or not, this was reality now.
And in his reality, there were some things he just couldn't forgive.
"We're here…" Chihiro announced as she eased the car into a small parking lot, not far from the Kawai Sakura Dormitory.
Jun tilted his head, wondering aloud, "Why do they even call it a dormitory when people who aren't students live there too?"
Chihiro only smiled knowingly.
As he stepped out of the car, Jun took in the scene before him. The area was nothing like the bustling station they had just left behind. Traditional houses lined the quiet street, their wooden frames glowing softly under the sunlight. Towering trees swayed gently in the breeze, and the crisp, fresh air filled his lungs.
"Oh, this is nice. Is this really Tokyo?" Jun murmured in surprise.
Chihiro grinned. "It is. One of the few places close to the city where you'll still find this kind of atmosphere. There are even residences here for wealthy families, so don't be surprised if you come across a few stunning beauties around." Her eyes glinted with playful mischief.
Jun chuckled at her teasing. "Well, I'll believe it. After all, there's already one standing right in front of me."
The words caught Chihiro off guard. She blinked, then pinched his cheek with mock irritation. "Look at you, smooth talker."
"But it was Chihiro-nee who started it," Jun protested lightly, only to yelp when she grabbed his other cheek as well.
In the end, it was Chihiro's victory, and Jun could only sigh in defeat.
"It's a big-sis privilege to tease her little brother," she declared triumphantly, her excuse leaving Jun speechless.
First Impressions
Putting that aside, Jun gathered his luggage and made his way toward the residence.
Kawai Complex, though the local students had taken to calling it the "Kawai Sakura Dormitory." Sumiko, the landlady, never objected to the nickname, so the title had stuck despite the original still being carved above the gate.
"So this is it," Jun whispered, pausing to take in the nostalgic sight. Even after being reincarnated, moments like these reminded him why he loved the cultural richness of this new world.
"It's amazing as it is…" he murmured, a genuine smile tugging at his lips.
Just then, a voice interrupted his thoughts. "That's true…"
Jun turned, startled, to find a familiar figure waiting at the door. A small, kind smile rested on her face—one he recognized immediately from the anime.
It was Kawai Sumiko, the gentle landlady of the complex.
Jun quickly straightened up and bowed politely. "Hello, Miss Sumiko. My name is Takihira Jun. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"What a polite boy," Sumiko said warmly. "No need for such formality. Come in, come in."
She moved with slow, steady steps toward the entrance, her presence radiating the same calm comfort as the house itself.
"I'm sure you must be tired from traveling," she added kindly.
Jun flexed an arm with a playful grin. "Not really. I work out a lot, so I can handle it."
"Idiot." Chihiro smacked him lightly on the shoulder, earning a chuckle from Sumiko.
"Sumiko-san, it's fine. I'll show him around," Chihiro offered, giving the elderly woman a reassuring nod. "You should go rest."
"Very well, if you insist." With that, Sumiko retreated inside, still smiling at the exchange.
Chihiro turned back to Jun, hands on her hips. "Alright, kid. Let's go. I'll show you your room."
"Sure thing!" Jun replied, following closely behind, his heart pounding with a mixture of nerves and excitement. His new life at the Kawai Sakura Dormitory was about to begin.