Sora had already observed this high school girl earlier.
The uniform she was wearing was not Toyogasaki Academy’s uniform.
As for which school it belonged to, he didn’t know.
The memories provided by the system didn’t contain that information.
Curious about her identity, Sora lowered his voice and asked, “You’re not a student at Toyogasaki, are you?
I’m a first-year transfer student at Toyogasaki High School.
My name is Sora Harumi.” Before asking someone else’s name, introducing yourself first was basic etiquette.
It also made the other person more willing to respond.
The somewhat shy high school girl paused briefly before softly answering, “No, I’m from Class 1-4 at Sakakino Academy.
My name is Kotonoha Katsura.” Kotonoha Katsura…Damn School Days.
Then she really was a heroine.
Sora silently recalled what he knew.
In that series, Kotonoha was introverted.
Because she had developed early physically, she had suffered discrimination and harassment since childhood, eventually developing mild androphobia.
Her life at home wasn’t easy either.
Her mother was extremely strict with her.
The reason Kotonoha chose Sakakino Academy was because her mother had promised that if she got accepted there, she would no longer be forced to attend countless extracurricular lessons and could finally have some freedom.
However, because of her personality, she struggled to fit into her class and was often bullied and isolated by classmates led by Otome Katou.
All of these circumstances laid the foundation for her tragic future.
She was a girl worthy of sympathy.
Sora lowered his gaze and looked at Kotonoha’s face.
Although she appeared timid and shy, there was no fear or disgust in her eyes.
The two of them were practically standing shoulder to shoulder, yet she wasn’t nervous at all.
Which meant the Kotonoha standing before him likely didn’t have androphobia.
That was different from her original characterization.
Could this be another change caused by multiple anime worlds merging together?
Perhaps this version of Kotonoha had never experienced harassment during childhood.
If that were true, it would be good news for her.
But for Sora, it meant something else.
The future events he knew from anime might no longer happen due to these altered timelines.
His so-called advantage of “future knowledge” could end up being far less reliable than he had hoped.
After introducing themselves, the two chatted casually on the train.
Although Kotonoha didn’t have many friends, she wasn’t actually as withdrawn as she appeared.
Perhaps because Sora had just helped her, she naturally trusted and liked him.
Or perhaps it was because, mentally, Sora was much more mature than an ordinary high school student.
His words and actions were polite.
There was none of the frivolity or desire she often sensed from boys.
Instead, there was concern and sympathy in his eyes.
For a girl who had grown up lacking a father’s affection, that naturally made her want to lean a little closer.
Whatever the reason, Kotonoha gathered her courage and started a conversation herself.
“So you’re really a transfer student, Harumi-kun?” “That’s right.” “That’s amazing.
Your Japanese is really good.” “Is it?” “Yes.
I thought you were Japanese.” “Thank you for the compliment.” The common knowledge provided by the [Identity Card] was truly useful.
Sora mentally gave it a five-star review.
It worked just as naturally as his native language.
The train was approaching another station.
Kotonoha was preparing to get off.
She looked at Sora hesitantly.
Sora understood what she wanted and took out his phone first.
“How about we add each other on LINE?
We’re both first-year students.
If we have trouble with our studies, we can help each other.” “Okay!” Kotonoha immediately nodded and hurriedly took out her phone.
After exchanging LINE IDs, she carefully put her phone away.
The train arrived.
Sora protected Kotonoha as she exited, then waved goodbye.
The doors closed.
Standing on the platform, Kotonoha watched the departing train.
A trace of loneliness appeared on her face.
It was a shame they didn’t attend the same school.
She turned and headed toward the station exit.
Her phone suddenly buzzed.
Kotonoha looked down.
A message from Sora.
[Sora Harumi: Kotonoha-san, do you know Makoto Itou?] Kotonoha blinked in surprise and replied while walking.
[Kotonoha Katsura: Makoto Itou?
I don’t know him.
Who is he?
Is he a friend of yours?] After sending the message, she continued walking.
A few steps later, another notification arrived.
She quickly looked at the screen.
[Sora Harumi: He’s not my friend.
He’s a student at your school, probably a first-year as well.
I’ve heard classmates say that he’s dating several girls at the same time.
He’s the type who likes playing with girls’ feelings.] [Sora Harumi: You’re so pretty, Kotonoha-san.
He’ll definitely set his sights on you, so please don’t let yourself be fooled.] Kotonoha’s face instantly turned red.
Pretty…
Harumi-kun had been so calm and mature during their conversation on the train.
Why was he suddenly so bold on LINE?
After calming herself down, she carefully typed a reply.
[Kotonoha Katsura: I understand.
Thank you for the warning!
If he shows up in front of me, I won’t pay any attention to him.] —— On the train.
After reading Kotonoha’s response, Sora put away his phone.
This should count as changing Kotonoha’s future, right?
Whether the story would still try to follow its original course remained to be seen.
After another stop, Sora got off as well.
Cherry blossoms still drifted through the air along the road.
He walked leisurely by himself.
He didn’t step on any ants.
Whether they dropped money or not wasn’t important.
Mostly, he just felt that it wasn’t easy for them to be out searching for food so early in the morning.
His phone suddenly buzzed.
Kotonoha had sent him a picture.
[Sakakino Academy’s front gate.jpeg] During their earlier conversation, Sora had shown some curiosity about Sakakino Academy.
Apparently, Kotonoha was satisfying that curiosity now.
She was quite attentive to small details.
After thinking for a moment, Sora took a photo of Toyogasaki beneath the cherry blossoms and sent it to her.
A fair exchange.
—— During math class that morning, Sora didn’t pay much attention to the lesson.
Instead, he wrote something on a piece of paper and sealed it inside an envelope.
During break, he walked over to Megumi’s desk in the back row.
“Kato-san.” Megumi looked up from her textbook.
“Hm?
Harumi-kun?” Sora extended a hand holding a stick of chewing gum.
“Here, have some gum.” Megumi looked at him suspiciously but didn’t take it.
Sora didn’t insist.
He casually placed the gum on her desk and then produced a white envelope.
He handed it to her.
Megumi froze.
A white envelope.
At school, those usually contained love letters.
A confession from one person to another.
Does Harumi-kun like me?
Is he trying to confess?
Why me?
Megumi’s thoughts became slightly chaotic.
“Kato-san, I’d like to ask you a favor.
Could you deliver this envelope to Eriri-senpai in the second year?” “…” Megumi fell silent.
Sora pressed his palms together.
“Please!
If you’ve accepted my gum, then you have to help me!
People who break promises have to swallow a thousand needles!” Megumi glanced at the gum on her desk.
“I haven’t accepted it.” Sora immediately changed tactics.
“Then if you’ve accepted my coin, you have to help me!
People who break promises still have to swallow a thousand needles!” Megumi felt speechless.
So the coin from yesterday had been advance payment for today’s favor…
She sighed.
“Fine.
I understand.” She reached out and accepted the envelope.
Sora was holding it near the front.
Their fingers brushed lightly against each other.
The next moment, Sora heard the familiar sound of coins dropping into a pouch.
He smiled.
“Thank you so much, Kato-san.”