"I didn't have a choice before. But now, I want to be a good person."
As the train rocked gently along the tracks, Shimizu Jian leaned back in his seat, silently making up his mind.
Two and a half years ago, after eating a plate of mushrooms at home, he inexplicably transmigrated into a romance simulation game titled Everything I Had Was Taken Away.
With a name like that, you can probably guess the kind of game it is.
Set in Tokyo, the game featured him as Shimizu Jian, a student at Haikawa Advanced Academy — a side character in the story.
He accidentally awakened the "Blond-Haired System," and one by one, snatched away the five heroines who were supposed to be with the protagonist.
And all the scenes and events that were too indecent to be shown in public? Shimizu Jian did them all alone. Right up until the final ending, the protagonist remained a virgin.
"If it's not Jian, I don't want you! I'm not some parasite childhood friend!"
That was what the protagonist's childhood friend said after he caught Shimizu Jian and her in the act.
After hearing that, the protagonist fell into despair, walked away in a daze, and the game ended.
Shimizu Jian never had any real interest in stealing girls. But if he didn't do it, not only would his life be in danger, but even those he cared about would be taken from him.
At one point, thanks to this cursed Blond-Haired System, he was even kidnapped in his sleep and dumped into Yokohama Bay by someone seeking revenge.
But now, the missions were all complete. The system had been uninstalled. He had spent all his reward points to rewind time to the beginning — two and a half years ago — to start a second playthrough.
All to give the protagonist a proper happy ending.
This time, he wanted to do the right thing.
"There's a killer on the train! Everyone run!"
A girl's scream yanked Shimizu Jian back to reality.
Opening his eyes, the first thing he saw was a crowd frantically fleeing from something.
Through the gaps in the panicked passengers, he spotted a man with a center-part haircut in the last car. He was holding a mature woman tightly, pressing a fruit knife to her throat.
But the scream from earlier hadn't come from her. It came from a girl facing the man — a student in a blue high school uniform, standing between him and his hostage.
"Tch, dressed so nicely, and you've only got 2,000 yen on you? Whatever. At least you've got a pretty little face. Hey! If you don't want anything to happen to your mom, start undressing!"
The man swung his knife dramatically in the air, threatening her.
That girl — Shimizu Jian knew her all too well.
Her refined features were like something out of a shoujo manga. Long, glossy black hair, soft pink lips, delicate eyebrows, and sapphire-like eyes that sparkled beneath them. Her figure beneath the uniform was… noticeable, to say the least.
With those traits, the name that immediately surfaced in his mind was — Amamiya Iori.
"So it begins again…"
Two years ago, this was where he saved the protagonist's childhood friend, Amamiya Iori, with help from the system.
Afterward, he followed the system's path and gradually conquered her. But this time, to avoid that outcome, he would act differently.
"Iori, don't!"
The mature woman being held hostage was Amamiya Iori's mother. Tears were brimming in her eyes.
Iori clenched her fists, nails digging deep into her palms. If her mother weren't being threatened, she probably would've rushed forward to fight the man without hesitation.
No — knowing her, she absolutely would.
"Hurry up! Little girl, unless you want your mom to get hurt!"
The man again used her mother's life as leverage.
"You'll really let my mom go… right?"
Iori's voice trembled, each word forced out like a stone.
"Of course — as long as you do exactly what I say," the man leered, grinning viciously.
"…Fine. I understand."
Her voice came out hoarse as her hands moved toward the buttons of her uniform blouse.
"Damn it, where is he!?"
Shimizu Jian turned sharply, searching the shrinking crowd behind him.
He was looking for someone — Kondou Yuuichi, the protagonist of the game. He and Shimizu Jian had met at a cram school and were close friends.
Kondou Yuuichi and Amamiya Iori were childhood friends who lived near each other. They walked to school together every day — he should be on this train too.
Soon, Shimizu Jian's gaze landed on a boy wearing the same blue uniform as him.
That was Kondou Yuuichi. Compared to the handsome Shimizu Jian, Kondou looked fairly ordinary — his personality was gloomy too, the type who would disappear in a crowd.
If it weren't for the school uniform, Shimizu Jian might not have noticed him at all.
"What the hell are you doing hiding back here? Get up and save Iori!"
Shimizu Jian pulled a baseball bat from his backpack and shoved it toward him.
Having cleared the first playthrough, he knew this event was coming — which is why he brought it.
According to the script, this criminal was weak.
Even with a knife, he was trash — combat level 5 at best. Anyone with courage could save Amamiya Iori.
Shimizu Jian planned to let Kondou Yuuichi be the one to save her. If he did, the storyline would change.
"Jian… shouldn't we call the police and wait for them?"
Kondou didn't take the bat. Instead, he shakily pulled out his phone, and Shimizu noticed his whole arm trembling.
"The police won't arrive until the next station. Are you really just going to watch Iori get hurt until then?"
"But… he's got a knife. If I mess up… I might die."
Kondou shook his head desperately, refusing outright. Shimizu could even see tears welling in his eyes.
Shimizu looked back — Iori had already unbuttoned the top two buttons of her blouse, exposing her pale neck.
Damn it, there's no time—
"Stop crying and swallow it down! Isn't Iori your most important childhood friend!?"
Shimizu tried to provoke him. He knew Kondou had always harbored feelings for Iori, waiting for the day he could confess.
Maybe it worked — Kondou finally took a hesitant step forward, slipping out of the huddled crowd.
Mt. Fuji didn't erupt… or anything that dramatic.
"…Jian, I still can't do it."
Kondou barely took two steps before bolting, disappearing back into the crowd.
That bastard…
"Heh heh… now, time for me to have some fun."
The man grinned lasciviously as he slowly advanced toward Amamiya Iori.
No — at this rate, the worst might actually happen.
But if Shimizu saved her himself, the ending would only repeat again.
What should I do…
"Someone… please, save me…"
Shimizu didn't know if it was an illusion, but he suddenly heard a desperate cry for help.
Even though Amamiya Iori's lips were tightly shut — he heard it.
And with that, Shimizu Jian's body moved on its own.