I Want to Completely Avoid Troubled Girls, but It Seems I’ve Reincarnated as a Background Character in the Most Dangerous Yandere Academy - Chapter 29

Chapter 29: The Transcenders of Time Understand

Ruriko-san had repeated the loop countless times.

This fact defied common sense, yet, in my current state, I could accept it.

After all, I had been reincarnated into the world of The Most Dangerous Yandere Academy, retaining my memories and unexpectedly reuniting with my ex-girlfriend Satsuki.

“I understand your feelings, Ruriko-san.”

“You do? Then, will you come with me after all?”

“It’s a good proposal, but I can’t agree so easily.”

“Why not?”

This world was riddled with bad endings.

Having an ally like Ruriko-san and choosing to live with her alone was one possible option.

“Maybe you’ve seen countless futures and concluded that being alone with me is the best outcome.”

“Yes, because I’ve seen and know about the other timelines.”

“You know, huh? In that case, so do I.”

“You do?”

“This version of me came from an entirely different timeline.”

“!?”

Her expression showed surprise, as though caught off guard.

Naturally so.

Believing oneself to be unique, only to discover someone else in a similar situation, would be shocking.

“I know this world. I also know it leads to ruin at the hands of the girls on this island.”

“…So that’s why. That explains why this time, Issei-kun is so different, and unexpected events keep occurring.”

“You noticed the anomalies too, Ruriko-san.”

“Yes. The appearance of Kurokawa is a first. Until now, the trio of beautiful girls included Rukawa Hyouka instead.”

That matched my understanding.

Come to think of it, where did Rukawa disappear to?

I’d dismissed it as an irregularity, thinking Kurokawa replaced Rukawa as Satsuki’s vessel.

But for now, I had to talk about myself.

“Since we’re at it, I’ll lay it all out. Kurokawa was taken over by another personality for two days after the cooking class. By the soul of my ex-girlfriend, who killed me.”

“That’s…”

“You look like you can’t believe it. Neither can I. When one incomprehensible event after another piles up, you can’t help but start believing in fate.”

From Ruriko-san’s perspective, it seemed like too much to grasp at once.

“Let me process this for a moment.”

That’s what she said.

“Issei-kun, just how much do you know? Who exactly are you?”

Her tone was cold, laced with suspicion.

“If you’re a transcendent being beyond this world’s laws, then so am I.”

“That’s vague.”

“I know this world is created. I know about you, Yuu, and Yami Island. I also know that most of the endings result in the protagonist’s downfall.”

I hesitated for a moment, wondering if it was okay to reveal this much, but my mouth moved faster than my thoughts.

Ruriko-san seemed to know more about me than I did myself. To balance the scales, I had to lay my cards on the table.

“In short… I’m a fictional character?”

“In my world, yes. You’re a character in a school game.”

“Heh.”

She chuckled, amused.

“That makes sense. The reason I keep redoing the same point in time. The reason the world branches off.”

“You’re smart.”

“Honestly, it’s a shock. But… fascinating.”

“Seriously?”

Her reaction was unexpected.

“Amid a seemingly endless loop, I’ve found a sign of its end. A ray of light has pierced through.”

The way she spoke was like an actress performing on stage.

“Fictional? I don’t care. I’m a living, breathing human. Even if my emotions are fabricated, my love for you, Issei-kun, isn’t a lie.”

Her tone sounded like she was convincing herself. I felt guilty for telling her this.

Even so.

To carve out my future, I had to rely on what I could, in whatever way possible.

“So, if you’re not going to be with me, what will you do, Issei-kun?”

“I’ll live normally. While trying not to get too involved with anyone else.”

“You can’t. I’ve seen it. Issei-kun, you attract trouble like a magnet. Whether you want to or not.”

“That’s the old me you’re talking about.”

“!?”

When I declared that, Ruriko-san’s mouth fell open in surprise.

I continued.

“The former Shimizu Issei didn’t know his circumstances. That’s why he inevitably ended up in bad endings.”

“And this time, you think you can win because you know the situation?”

“Exactly.”

“A fresh start with strength on both sides. It might work.”

Even so, Ruriko-san refuted it.

“With your method, Issei-kun, the chance of a happy ending remains slim. If you’d just commit to being with me forever…”

“You’re saying that would guarantee my safety? That’s not necessarily true.”

“No way.”

I began explaining.

For Ruriko-san, me staying exclusively with her might be a happy ending.

But for me, it would be like being caged, given something labeled as “freedom” while actually losing it.

A false happy ending—more like a bad ending in disguise.

Think about it. Turning my eyes away from the future and shielding myself from threats would only lead to emptiness.

“I’ve already died once. And after talking to the one who killed me, I realized something.”

“What’s that?”

“That you can’t give up on possibilities. I didn’t understand her. If I’d made an effort to meet her halfway back then, the worst might’ve been avoided.”

This was my truth.

People naturally have differing opinions, and conflict is inevitable.

But you can’t fear conflict. Sometimes, you have to clash to find common ground.

“I want to understand people. That’s why I can’t prioritize your proposal, Ruriko-san. I want to bet on the possibilities.”

“…You’re such a reckless fool, Issei-kun.”

Ruriko-san spoke in an exasperated tone.

“This is the first time you’ve expressed such a strong will. Strange. After looping dozens of times, I find myself being persuaded by a second-life Issei-kun…”

Repeating the same days over and over again. It was enough to drive anyone insane.

If I failed, it was game over for me.

And Ruriko-san would be forcibly returned to her reset point.

I understood her urge to resort to extreme measures.

Ruriko-san glanced upward, then looked back at me.

“Fine. I’ll leave this confinement room as a last resort.”

“Thank you.”

She replied lightly, “Yeah.”

“Honestly, I still have tons of questions about your ex-girlfriend who killed you or the other worlds.”

“Yeah, I figured.”

“Tell me more about it sometime.”

“As much as I can.”

“Then, one last warning.”

I braced myself for her warning.

“This academy is a battlefield. It’s fine to want to understand others, but you never know who might be aiming at you from where.”

“I’ve seen enough of the game to know. I’m well aware.”

“That’s good. But remember, this isn’t a game. If you die here, it’s over.”

I etched Ruriko-san’s warning into my heart.

That’s right.

I’ll try to live peacefully and build relationships with others.

That said—

—If things seem dangerous, I’ll avoid them at all costs.