Chapter 64

In the original work, the transfer student appears in Volume 8, after the New World League recognizes the protagonist Yuzi as an enemy and places an assassination request with the Kamia clan. The character who comes as a transfer student is Mako Kamia, the title heroine of Volume 8. As her name suggests, she is a typical female protagonist disguised as a boy, a common trope in light novels.

'Who could it be?'

I gaze at Mr. Mayuzumi's face.

“A transfer student?”

“Right before the mid-term exams?”

“The entrance exam for our academy is incredibly difficult!”

“Who could it be?”

The students murmur among themselves.

Thump thump.

Mr. Mayuzumi taps the lectern with a pointer.

“Please come in, Mr. Kamia.”

Her words reveal the surname of the transfer student.

Creak.

The classroom door opens, and the transfer student enters. A boy with a green short haircut that reaches his neck, emerald green eyes, and skin as white as snow, a style that looks like it could only come from a manga. But in reality, she is a girl disguised as a boy, a character with a large chest bound by bandages.

Mako Kamia, the assassin from the Kamia clan and the title heroine of Volume 8, has appeared. And much earlier than in the original work. The fact that the plot of Volume 8 has been advanced to Volume 3 means that the original story is essentially meaningless.

‘Now I can only use the original story as a reference.’

It’s good for my mental health.

Of course, there’s no need to be overly afraid.

After all, I know everything about this crazy world.

“The transfer student is handsome.”

“He looks like a prince.”

“He’s a total pretty boy!”

“Kurose is handsome too, but the transfer student is more my type.”

“Squeal!”

The girls' screams erupt from all over the room.

The typical cliché of a female protagonist disguised as a boy is being replayed in reality.

It’s almost unbearable to watch.

Is that even a boy?

No matter how I look at her, she’s clearly a girl.

Why isn’t anyone suspicious?

“Hi, I’m Mako Kamia, transferring from Osaka. Please call me Mr. Kamia.”

Mako smiles.

Her disguise as a boy is the typical prince-like style.

The classroom fills with cheers at her radiant smile.

“Squeal!”

“Mr. Kamia is the best!”

“Mr. Kamia, I’ll be your fan from today!”

The consistent reactions of the extras.

I know why Mako infiltrates the academy as a transfer student in Volume 8, even though the timing is much earlier. The protagonist Yuzi, who becomes a key target for the New World League in the story spanning seven volumes, is to be assassinated. The League places an assassination request with the Kamia clan, which controls the Japanese underworld. The clan head, Ritsuko Kamia, accepts the request and sends Mako, disguised as a boy, to infiltrate the academy as a transfer student. This is the introduction of Volume 8.

‘But from then on, it’s a predictable plot.’

Since Yuzi was the only student without a roommate, Mako naturally becomes his roommate. Shuei Academy has a system where a transfer student is taken care of by their roommate for a month to help them adapt. It’s a one-time, forced setup to create a cross-dressing episode.

During this time, Mako tries to assassinate Yuzi but gradually becomes moved by his kindness, as is typical in light novels, and fails. Eventually, she confesses that she is a girl, which is the core development of Volume 8.

‘But now I’m Yuzi’s roommate?’

How will the plot unfold?

Will she be paired with someone else, or will there be a room reassignment?

I don’t know how it will play out, but I need to plan.

The worst-case scenario is if I and Yuzi are not roommates, and a third person is assigned.

‘In that case, Mako would be out of my control, which is dangerous.’

The second-worst scenario is if I become Mako’s roommate.

‘If I become her roommate, I’ll be stuck with a lot of trouble...’

The best scenario is if Yuzi and Mako become roommates.

I must ensure that Yuzi and Mako are paired together.

Even though my attempt to pair her with Rin failed, Mako cannot fail.

‘I need to apply for a room reassignment.’

Shuei Academy has a system where you can apply for a room reassignment once a year.

In reality, it’s a defunct system, and there’s a 99% chance that the application will be rejected, but with the direct contact number of the principal, it’s possible.

[Principal]

[Did you call? Little one ヽ(✿ﾟ▽ﾟ)ノ]

The instant reply with an inevitable emoji.

I can’t even laugh anymore.

[I want to apply for a room reassignment.]

[Oh? Is Mr. Kurose not to your liking? (¬◡¬)✧]

[Kurose and I are still close friends, but I want to make new friends.]

I spout an excuse.

This should be enough.

[New friends, huh? Our little one is so cute. After all, for the sake of our little one’s new friend, I’ll approve the reassignment (*＾ー＾)v]

The principal, who falls for the word "friend" despite the ridiculous excuse.

Indeed, it’s a kind world.

[Thank you.]

I put away my phone.

It’s great to have such good connections.

“Hmm. Mr. Kamia, you can sit in that empty seat over there!”

“Yes, thank you, Mr. Mayuzumi.”

Mako smiles and walks to the designated empty seat.

Fortunately, it’s not next to me.

I hate getting too entangled with the heroine.

This time, I’m grateful to Nishizawa.

“Everyone, please get along well with the new transfer student! Got it? That’s all for today’s homeroom!”

While listening to Mr. Mayuzumi, I take out my first-semester textbook.

The protagonist.

This time, he’s going to have a tough time.

*

After school.

Shuei Hero Academy dormitory.

[The room for the new friend is 211 ＠＾▽＾＠]

I had already parted ways with Yuzi and was wandering with my luggage, following the room number in the principal’s message.

“211, 211... Here it is.”

I see the door with 211 engraved on it.

‘I don’t know who my new roommate will be, but I hope it’s Ishihara.’

He’s the easiest to manipulate and the most convenient.

Even if it’s not Ishihara, I’d be satisfied with a nice extra.

Beep.

The door opens when I swipe my student handbook on the door lock.

Creak.

I pull my luggage into the dorm room.

The familiar structure of a two-person dorm room.

There, my new roommate is waiting.

“Ah, you must be my new roommate. You look a bit pale. Is something wrong?”

Mako, the cross-dressing girl, approaches me with a concerned expression and a neutral voice.

She must have read my name from the name tag.

A faint floral scent wafts from her.

Meanwhile, I have reached the final stage of the five stages of grief: acceptance.

‘It’s a dog’s life, but what can I do?’

The water has already been spilled, the dice have already been rolled.

There’s no way to reverse it.

No matter how much I curse, the train that’s left won’t come back.

‘At least it’s better than the worst-case scenario.’

I managed to avoid being roommates with a third person, not Yuzi.

At least she’s within my sight now.

The only problem is that I’m going to be a lot more bothered.

I thought I could finally rest, but it’s the exam period, and now a cross-dressing girl?

I take a deep breath to calm my raging heart.

Click.

I close the door.

“What’s wrong? Is there something bothering you?”

There’s a lot, and that’s the problem.

What am I supposed to do with her?

I rack my brain.

“Can you tell me what’s wrong? If it’s not too much trouble, of course.”

Mako naturally approaches me.

I don’t know why she’s doing this, but it’s giving me a headache.

“I’m your roommate, Kim. Even if I’m not entirely trustworthy, I’m still your roommate.”

Thump.

She gently takes my hand.

Oh, come on.

Look at her, trying to maintain her disguise by using "boku" instead of "watashi."

It’s ridiculous.

I pull my hand away.

“...Ah, sorry! Kim! I overstepped.”

Thump.

Mako bows with her hands clasped.

Oh, great.

I just told Yuzi to stop bowing, and now a cross-dressing girl is bowing.

“Stop it, really.”

“...Got it.”

Mako sits awkwardly next to me, glancing at me occasionally.

I ignore her and get lost in thought.

In the original Volume 8, Mako’s purpose is to assassinate Yuzi.

‘But now that the original story has lost its meaning, there’s no guarantee that her purpose is the same as in Volume 8.’

So I need to find out the real reason why Mako infiltrated the academy as a transfer student.

I recall Mako’s character background.

‘Mako has been raised as the successor of the Kamia clan since childhood.’

She lost her parents at a young age and was raised by her aunt, Ritsuko Kamia, the Black Rose.

Ritsuko Kamia forced Mako to dress as a boy and raised her as a boy, believing that boys have more advantages in the underworld.

As a result, Mako was treated as a tool for the Kamia clan, enduring abuse and neglect throughout her childhood.

‘In a way, her background is similar to Rin’s.’

The difference is that while Ichiro rehabilitates Rin, Ritsuko Kamia is a rare 100% pure villain in this story.

To completely enslave Mako, Ritsuko implanted a nanomachine bomb in her body.

If Mako disobeys, Ritsuko can detonate the bomb and kill her at any time.

This bomb is the key point.

While Rin is a tool, Mako is a slave.

Only after receiving the bomb inhibitor and engaging in a fierce battle with Ritsuko, and then ascending to the position of clan head according to the Kamia clan’s rules, does Mako find salvation.

‘Given her character, it’s highly likely that she infiltrated as a male student without a specific order to do so.’

Ironically, this means that Mako has a deep longing and obsession with femininity, womanhood, Yamato Nadeshiko, ordinary daily life, and school life.

So, just because she’s disguised as a boy, I can’t assume her purpose is the same as in the original.

It’s probably 90% the same, but there’s a 10% chance it’s different.

I need to be cautious.

To find out Mako’s purpose, there are slow and fast methods.

The slow method is to spend a month with her, taking care of her and gradually moving her with kindness, as the protagonist did in the original.

‘But I have no reason to do such a frustrating thing.’

So, the fast method is what I’ll use here.

Having made my decision, I call out to Mako.

“Mako.”

“Kim, did you call me?”

She tilts her head and smiles brightly.

I look at her and place my hand on the Durandal at my waist.

“Are you a boy or a girl?”

For a moment, just a moment, her emerald eyes waver.

A slight tremor in her expression, almost imperceptible if I hadn’t been focused.

Professional assassin training, indeed.

‘Even though she’s a bumbling assassin who has never actually assassinated anyone, according to her character setting.’

A professional assassin with no killing experience and a bumbling nature, and a kind personality that doesn’t fit her profession.

Well, in the original, Ritsuko planted the bomb to utilize Mako’s talent, but it’s a truly light novel-worthy contradictory setting.

I suddenly realize how crazy this world is, being based on a light novel.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying. Hahaha... I get told I look like a girl and am cute a lot, but I’m a boy like Kim, right?”

Mako deftly dodges my question.

It’s absurd to see her confidently and shamelessly lie, knowing her true identity.

“Is that so? Then, since we’re both boys, we should bond by taking a bath together. Right now.”

“That...”

Mako’s eyes waver slightly.

She’s caught off guard by the unexpected question.

“I’m... I’m a bit shy... I don’t like showing my body to others... I’m sorry, Kim!”

Thump.

Mako bows again.

I can’t help but laugh bitterly.

Yes, in the original, Mako made a similar excuse in a similar situation.

Yuzi, being a pushover, just let it go, but I’m not like him.