[Inside the Bathroom]
Kaito stood in front of the sink, brushing his teeth while staring at his own reflection in the mirror.
This time, however, he had made absolutely sure the bathroom floor was completely dry before stepping inside.
There was no way he was dying twice in the same manner.
As he brushed his teeth, his thoughts drifted elsewhere.
Yuki Rito…
The protagonist of To Love-Ru.
One of the most famous romantic comedies out there.
To be honest, Kaito had genuinely enjoyed the series in his previous life. Especially the Darkness arc.
Momo was definitely more of a main heroine than Lala during that part of the story.
The real issue was Rito himself.
Every time one of the girls actually made progress, he would immediately panic and retreat.
No wonder so many people found him frustrating.
Kaito spat into the sink before rinsing his mouth.
"…Still, he doesn't seem like a bad guy."
After drying his face, he returned to his room.
The morning sunlight illuminated the space as he sat down in front of his study desk—a desk he instinctively knew would almost never be used for studying.
Leaning back in the chair, he sighed.
"To be honest, I really did like To Love-Ru…"
His expression grew slightly complicated.
"But then that ending happened, and I tried to erase half the series from my memory."
Now he was literally living inside that world.
And somehow—
he had become friends with Yuki Rito himself.
"I seriously don't know how I'm supposed to react to this."
Kaito rested his chin against his hand.
"Maybe I should punch him once and tell him to stop being a coward…"
He paused.
"…No, that wouldn't be fair. He hasn't even done anything yet."
Earlier that morning, Kaito had already checked the neighboring house.
Everything seemed normal.
Which meant—
Lala hadn't appeared yet.
The story hadn't started.
"Well, whatever."
Kaito stood up from the chair.
"No point complaining about fictional characters before anything even happens."
He walked toward the wardrobe and grabbed the Sainan High uniform hanging neatly inside.
"I'll just keep an open mind and judge people properly."
After changing clothes, he tossed the ones he had been wearing into the laundry basket in the corner of the room.
The basket was already dangerously full.
"…I should probably wash those later."
Though knowing himself—
he probably wouldn't.
[Outside the House]
After leaving his room, Kaito headed downstairs and walked toward the entrance.
He slipped on a pair of simple shoes before grabbing his backpack from a nearby hook.
"Alright," he muttered. "Everything's ready."
Click.
He locked the front door behind him and stepped outside.
But instead of heading directly toward school—
he walked toward the neighboring house.
His breakfast destination.
Standing in front of the door, Kaito rang the bell.
Ding-dong.
A few moments later, voices came from inside.
"Big brother, open the door. It's probably Kaito," said a young girl's voice.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming," a boy replied.
Kaito quietly took a deep breath.
I guess this is where my new life really begins…
Then the door opened.
Standing there was Yuki Rito.
He looked exactly like Kaito remembered.
Brown hair slightly messy.
Brown eyes carrying a natural kindness alongside a permanent air of distraction.
His appearance was ordinary—almost painfully ordinary.
Even the way he wore the Sainan High uniform looked careless, like he had rushed while getting dressed.
Still—
there was something strangely approachable about him.
I guess that's the thing about romantic comedy protagonists, Kaito thought.
They always look kind of plain.
"Good morning, Kaito," Rito greeted with a friendly smile.
Kaito stared at him for a second.
Yeah…
He really doesn't seem like a bad person.
Even if he is unbelievably dense.
"Morning, Rito."
"Come in," Rito said while stepping aside. "Mikan's almost done making breakfast. She said she's making eggs and bacon today."
His eyes sparkled slightly.
"Just thinking about it makes me hungry."
"Same," Kaito admitted honestly.
He followed Rito inside the house.
[Rito's House]
The moment Kaito stepped into the living room—
someone emerged from the kitchen.
Mikan Yuki.
She looked around eleven years old, but the calm maturity surrounding her made her seem much older.
Her light brown hair rested neatly against her shoulders, framing a gentle face with warm brown eyes.
There was a comforting atmosphere around her.
At the same time—
there was also the unmistakable feeling that she was the one keeping the entire household functional.
Considering she lived with Rito…
that was probably true.
"Good morning, Kaito," Mikan greeted with a smile.
"Morning, Mikan."
Kaito looked at her for a second before tilting his head slightly.
"You seem happier than usual today."
Mikan blinked in surprise.
"Oh? You noticed?"
Then she immediately glanced toward Rito with visible disappointment.
"I've been waiting all morning for my brother to realize."
Rito looked confused.
"…There's something different?"
Mikan stood still expectantly.
Rito carefully examined her.
"…A hint?"
"No."
"…I give up."
Mikan sighed softly before patting his head like a disappointed mother.
Kaito almost laughed.
"It's the apron, right?" he said casually.
Both siblings turned toward him.
"The flower pattern is different from the usual one."
Indeed, small floral decorations were embroidered near the upper part of the apron.
Rito stared at it blankly.
"…There's a difference?"
"How did you notice?" Mikan asked, genuinely surprised.
"Well, unlike someone here," Kaito said while placing a hand on Rito's shoulder, "I actually pay attention to details."
Rito looked mildly offended.
"You see Mikan every day," Kaito continued. "That's why you stopped noticing small changes."
Mikan smiled brightly.
"Hehe. As a reward, I'll give you extra bacon."
Kaito's eyes widened instantly.
"…You truly are an angel."
"So I lost bonus food…" Rito muttered sadly.
"Yes," Mikan answered mercilessly.
[Kitchen]
The kitchen smelled incredible.
Fresh eggs.
Crispy bacon.
Warm rice.
The atmosphere felt peaceful in a way Kaito hadn't expected.
The three sat around the table while Mikan placed the dishes down.
"Alright," she said. "You can eat now."
"Thanks for the food!" Rito said enthusiastically.
"Thanks, Mikan," Kaito added.
The meal began quietly.
For several moments, only the sounds of eating filled the room.
"…This is really good," Kaito admitted honestly.
"Of course it is," Mikan replied proudly. "I made it."
"She always cooks well," Rito added with his mouth half full.
"Don't talk while eating."
"Sorry…"
Kaito watched their interaction silently.
It felt…
comfortable.
Warm.
"So," Rito suddenly asked, "are you ready for school?"
"More or less," Kaito replied. "It's not like the first day is anything special."
"I think it is," Mikan said. "New classes, new teachers… maybe even new friendships."
Or new disasters.
Kaito wisely kept that thought to himself.
"Aren't you excited, Rito?"
"A little," he admitted while scratching his cheek. "But it's basically just another year, right?"
Mikan sighed.
"You two are incredibly unmotivated."
"It's part of our charm," Kaito answered immediately.
"I don't think that counts as charm."
After finishing breakfast, Rito stood up.
"I'm gonna grab my stuff."
"Don't take forever," Mikan replied.
Rito quickly headed upstairs, leaving only Kaito and Mikan in the kitchen.
Silence settled over the room.
Kaito absentmindedly rested his cheek against his hand while staring at the table.
And slowly—
his thoughts drifted toward his previous life.
Toward his mother.
The peaceful atmosphere somehow reminded him of home.
And only now did the reality truly sink in.
His mother had probably found his body lying on the bathroom floor.
The image alone made his chest tighten painfully.
…I hope she doesn't cry too much because of me.
He lowered his gaze.
And now that I think about it…
…I'll never eat her cooking again.
For some reason—
that thought hurt more than expected.
Without realizing it, tears began gathering in his eyes.
"Kaito?"
Mikan called softly.
No response.
"Kaito?"
Still nothing.
Seeing his distant expression, Mikan quietly stood up and approached him.
Then she gently placed her hand against his cheek.
"Kaito… are you okay?"
The warmth of her hand snapped him back to reality.
He looked up.
Mikan was staring at him with obvious concern.
Kaito quickly forced a small smile.
"Yeah. I'm okay."
He lightly placed his hand over hers.
"I was just thinking about my mom."
He slowly lowered her hand.
"…And realizing I miss her more than I expected."
"You miss your parents?" Mikan asked gently.
"A little," he admitted awkwardly. "Kind of embarrassing, huh?"
"Of course not."
Before Kaito could react, Mikan suddenly hugged him.
His head rested lightly against her chest as she gently stroked his hair.
"Sometimes I miss mine too," she whispered quietly. "But I usually distract myself by taking care of the house…"
A brief pause.
"…And Rito."
Kaito laughed softly.
"You really are mature for your age."
"Flattery won't get you anywhere."
"Not even a special breakfast next time?"
"Maybe."
She smiled innocently while placing a finger against her lips.
At that exact moment—
"I'm back!"
Rito returned downstairs completely ready for school.
Kaito immediately stepped away from Mikan and stood up naturally.
"Alright," he said. "Let's go before we're late."
He picked up his backpack and turned toward Mikan.
"See you later."
"Wait a second."
The two boys stopped.
Mikan hurried into the kitchen before returning moments later carrying two lunchboxes.
"These are your lunches."
At the same time—
"Thanks, Mikan."
"Thanks, Mikan."
The synchronized response made both boys glance at each other awkwardly.
Then, before leaving, Kaito quietly leaned closer to Mikan.
"About earlier…"
He smiled slightly.
"Let's keep it between us, okay?"
Mikan responded with a cheerful thumbs-up.
And finally—
the two boys left for school.
[On the Way to School]
The streets were already crowded with students heading toward Sainan High.
Some chatted energetically.
Others looked half-asleep.
Kaito walked beside Rito with his hands in his pockets, silently observing the scenery around him.
It still felt surreal.
Just hours ago, this world had only existed beyond a screen.
Now he was walking through it himself.
"You're unusually quiet today," Rito commented.
"Hm? Oh. I'm sleepy."
"You're always sleepy."
"Because sleep is important."
"You sound like an old man tired of life."
Kaito glanced at him.
"Maybe I am."
Rito laughed nervously.
"…That was weirdly scary."
Eventually, the massive gates of Sainan High came into view.
Students flooded through the entrance in large groups.
"So today's the class assignment announcement, right?" Rito suddenly remembered.
"Yeah."
"I hope we're in the same class."
Kaito looked at him quietly.
"You're saying that now, but before long you'll probably be surrounded by girls."
"…What?"
"Nothing."
The two approached the crowded bulletin board.
"Ugh… it's packed," Kaito muttered.
Rito immediately began searching through the list.
"Found it!"
"And?"
"Class 1-A!"
Kaito scanned the board until he found his own name.
"…Same."
Rito smiled brightly.
"Seriously? Nice!"
Kaito sighed internally.
You have no idea how dangerous that actually is.
"Well," he muttered quietly, "my school life is officially doomed."
"Hm? Did you say something?"
"No."
[Sainan High — Hallway]
The noise inside the school was overwhelming.
Conversations echoed through every corridor.
Students hurried between classrooms while greeting old friends.
Kaito quietly observed everything around him.
At some point, many of these unfamiliar faces would probably turn into recognizable characters from the series.
And honestly—
that thought was terrifying.
When they reached the shoe lockers, Rito immediately opened his.
"Ah, still clean."
"You're way too happy about a locker."
"And you complain too much."
"It's my natural talent."
Rito laughed while changing shoes.
Then—
"Good morning, Yuuki-kun."
Rito froze instantly.
Kaito slowly turned his head.
And there she was.
Sairenji Haruna.
One of the main heroines of To Love-Ru.
Her short blue hair shimmered softly beneath the morning light, framing a delicate face with gentle violet eyes.
Unlike flashy beauties, Haruna possessed a calm and comforting kind of attractiveness.
The kind that naturally became someone's first love.
And judging by the way Rito completely stopped functioning beside him—
the effect was devastating.
"G-Good morning, Sairenji-san," Rito stammered.
After greeting him, Haruna politely nodded toward Kaito before walking away.
Kaito returned the greeting with a small nod of his own.
The moment she disappeared around the corner, Rito finally breathed again.
"…Do you think she thought I was weird?"
Kaito immediately answered:
"I think you're weird regardless."
"Hey!"
"Relax, I'm joking."
Then Kaito smirked slightly.
"…So, do you like her?"
Rito instantly turned bright red.
"O-OF COURSE NOT!!"
And then—
he fled.
"I'M GOING AHEAD, KAITO!"
Kaito watched him run down the hallway.
"…He's easy to read."
Then—
50%
A strange voice echoed near his ear.
"Ah! What was that?"
Kaito immediately looked around.
Nobody.
"…Weird."
Shrugging it off, he headed toward the classroom.
[Class 1-A]
The classroom was already filling with students.
Kaito quickly noticed Rito sitting near the back window.
The protagonist seat.
Of course.
Haruna's seat was nearby as well.
Naturally.
Kaito checked the seating chart posted on the board until he found his own name.
Kazama Kaito.
Front row.
"…Seriously?"
The seat of maximum teacher attention.
80%
A sudden headache struck him.
It wasn't nearly as painful as before, but it still made him wince slightly.
Ignoring it, Kaito sat down.
Students continued entering the room.
Nobody approached him.
Which honestly wasn't surprising.
I've never really been good at socializing…
Then—
100%
An overwhelming pain exploded inside his head.
Kaito instantly covered his mouth to stop himself from screaming.
The last thing he needed was to embarrass himself on the first day.
Then a voice echoed inside his mind.
{ System integration complete. Welcome, Host Kaito. }
Kaito froze.
What the hell?!
{ It is a pleasure to meet you, Host. I am the system granted to you by the God of Reincarnation… your starting gift. }
Kaito blinked.
So there really was a starting bonus.
…I owe that god an apology.
{ Host, may I call you simply "Kaito"? Repeating "Host" repeatedly is rather tedious. }
…Yeah, that's fine.
Kaito leaned slightly against the desk.
And I only need to think in order to talk to you, right?
{ Correct. }
Alright then…
What should I call you?
{ You may choose any name you wish. }
Kaito thought for a moment.
I don't even know if you're male or female…
"…Kaoru?"
{ My name has been updated to Kaoru. }
That was fast.
{ Now then, before I explain further, please say the word "Status." }
Kaito hesitated briefly before whispering:
"Status."
The moment the word left his mouth—
a translucent blue screen appeared before him.
NAME: Kazama Kaito
AGE: 15
HEIGHT: 1.78 m
SKILLS: None
SPECIAL PHYSIQUE: None
BROKEN DESTINIES: —
Kaito stared at the final line.
Broken Destinies?
What's that supposed to mean?
{ That relates directly to the nature of my system. }
Kaoru's voice sounded strangely calm.
{ I am the Destiny Breaker System. }
…That sounds incredibly suspicious.
{ The details will become clear over time. }
Another blue screen suddenly appeared before Kaito.
INITIAL MISSION ACTIVATED The Pink-Haired Girl
Objective:Prevent Lala Satalin Deviluke from meeting Yuki Rito in the bathroom.
"…Ah."
Kaito stared blankly at the screen.
"…Ahhh."
His eye twitched.
"But why are you already trying to ruin my life, System?!" he screamed internally.
And in that exact moment—
Kaito realized something important.
The peaceful life he wanted?
It was already completely impossible.