I Was Reincarnated As a Man who Steals The Protagonist’s Childhood Friend - Extra Chapter: Akira

Akira POV

The evening air was crisp as Hibiki and I strolled toward the station. The vivid chaos of the Sports Festival had finally ended, leaving behind a pleasant tiredness that weighed on me like a comforting burden. The school grounds were mostly silent now, with the last few stragglers walking home beneath the lamps.

“So, what do you think those two are up to?” Hibiki asked, her tone light as she tucked her hands behind her back and glanced up at the darkening sky.

I smirked and adjusted the camera strap on my shoulder. “Who knows?” Maybe Takeshi is going to do something that will change the path of his life.”

“And you’re sure about that?”

“Call it photographer’s intuition,” I replied, tapping the side of my head. “You can see it in his eyes as he looks at Hoshino. “The guy has been preparing for this moment; we just give him a little push.”

Hibiki hummed thoughtfully. “Well, I hope you’re right. I think they’d be good together.”

“It’s about time those two figured it out, don’t you think?”

Before Hibiki could respond, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows of the school gate. Kagami Hana, the Student Council President, walked toward us with her usual air of quiet authority. Her short white hair gleamed under the streetlights, and the stack of papers in her arms looked almost comically large for this late in the evening.

“President!” I called, waving as she approached. “Still at it? Burning the midnight oil again?”

Hana stopped in front of us, adjusting her grip on the papers. “Unfortunately, that’s just how the life of a Student Council President goes,” she said with a small smile. “But I’m already done for the night. What about you two?”

“We’re heading to the station going home for the night.” Hibiki replied. “Don’t you have more work to do Kagami-san?”

“Well, thanks to Naoki’s assistance with the paperwork, work has become lot easier. Honestly, I didn’t expect him to keep with it, but he’s been surprisingly dependable,” Hana remarked.

“That doesn’t sound like the Naoki I know,” I said with a laugh.

Hana chuckled softly. “It’s true he didn’t want to do it at first, but he’s been a lifesaver. I couldn’t have managed the festival without him.”

“You’re having fun being around him, huh?” I teased, nudging her lightly with my elbow.

Hana arched an eyebrow, giving me a look that could rival a parent’s disapproving glare. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing!” I said quickly, though the grin tugging at my lips probably gave me away. “Just saying that you seem… happier the last time I saw you.”

She narrowed her eyes at me but did not respond quickly. Instead, she gives Akira a serious stare, her silence stronger than any words she could have uttered.

After a moment, she finally said, “Akira, you’re one to talk about other people’s happiness. Whose fault was it that I spent last year nursing a broken heart?”

“Alright, I’ll take the blame for that one.” my grin faltered, and I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly.

Hibiki, who had been watching the exchange with growing confusion, suddenly spoke up. “Wait, what are you two talking about? Broken heart? Fault? Can someone fill me in?”

Hana turned to Hibiki, her lips twitching upward in a sly smile. “Didn’t he tell you? Akira and I used to be a couple.”

“What???” Hibiki’s eyes widened as she turned to me, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief. “Seriously? You and the President?”

“Former President,” I corrected, holding up a finger. “And yes, it was a long time ago. Ancient history.”

“Not that ancient,” Hana interjected, her tone dry. “You dumped me for this club, remember?”

Hibiki stared at us, her gaze bouncing back and forth like she was trying to piece together a puzzle. “Wait, wait, wait. You broke up with her for the Photography Club?”

“It’s not as dramatic as it sounds,” I said quickly, raising my hands in defense. “We just… grew apart. And I was busy with the club.”

Hana sighed, though her expression was more amused than annoyed. “To be fair, I didn’t make it easy for him either. Admittedly, we were both stubborn.”

“Well, that explains a lot,” Hibiki muttered, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Like what?” I asked.

“Like why you’re terrible at interacting with girls,” she shot back with a grin.

“Hey!” I protested, though I couldn’t help but laugh.

Hana shook her head, her smile softening. “Don’t worry, Akira. I’m over it. Besides, Naoki’s been surprisingly good company lately.”

“You deserve it, I guess?”

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze softening. “Thanks, Akira. And for what it’s worth, I think you’ve found your place too.”

I glanced at Hibiki, who was still smirking at me, and then back at Hana. “Yeah,” I said, nodding. “I think I have.”

The three of us walked together for a while, the conversation shifting to lighter topics—festival highlights, funny moments, and the occasional joke about Akira’s so-called “relationship advice.” As we reached the station, Hana waved goodbye, her silhouette disappearing into the soft glow of the departing train.

Hibiki and I lingered on the platform for a moment, the quiet settling around us once more.

“So, how come you didn’t tell us that both you and Kagami-san were a thing?” Hibiki asked abruptly, shattering the silence.

I glanced at Hibiki, her arms crossed and a mischievous smirk playing on her lips. Her question hung in the cool night air, and I felt the faintest trace of heat creeping up my neck.

“It didn’t seem important,” I said, trying to keep my tone light. “Ancient history, like I said.”

“Ancient history doesn’t get that reaction from a girl like her,” she retorted, arching an eyebrow. “She clearly enjoyed watching you squirm.”

“She always did have a flair for the dramatic,” I admitted with a chuckle. “But honestly, it wasn’t that big of a deal. We were young, and we were both too stubborn to make it work.”

Hibiki studied me for a moment, her smirk softening into something closer to curiosity. “Did you really dump her for the club? Or was there something else?”

I hesitated, my hand instinctively reaching up to adjust the camera strap on my shoulder. “It wasn’t just the club. I think we both realized we wanted different things. She wanted someone who could match her intensity—someone who could keep up with her ambitions. And me?” I gestured to the camera. “I just wanted to capture moments, not fight over them.”

Hibiki nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. “Makes sense. But you know, she didn’t seem bitter about it.”

“She’s not,” I replied, smiling faintly. “Hana is the type of person who learns from everything but soon forgets about it. I knew she would be OK without me. And honestly? “Seeing her now, it appears that she has found her balance.”

Hibiki tilted her head, her playful smirk returning. “What about you? Have you found your balance?”

I blinked, the question catching me off guard. “Me? What do you mean?”

“You’re always so busy taking pictures of everyone else’s lives,” she said, gesturing vaguely with one hand. “Do you ever think about your own?”

I opened my mouth to respond, but the words caught in my throat. Did I? My life had always been framed through a lens—capturing smiles, laughter, fleeting moments that I could freeze in time. But when was the last time I’d really been part of those moments instead of just observing them?

Hibiki’s voice softened, her teasing tone giving way to something more genuine. “You should think about it, Akira. You’re good at seeing other people’s stories, but maybe it’s time you started living your own.”

The train’s faint whistle echoed in the distance, a reminder that time never stopped moving. I let her words sink in, turning them over in my mind.

“Maybe you’re right,” I said.

Then, another train pulled into the station, its doors sliding open with a soft hiss. Hibiki stepped inside, turning to look at me as the chime sounded.

“Don’t spend too much time behind the lens, okay?” she said with a wink.

I nodded, watching as the doors closed and the train began to pull away. Her words lingered in my mind as the platform grew quiet once more.

“What a great kouhai she is.”