I Was Reincarnated As a Man who Steals The Protagonist’s Childhood Friend

Two weeks had passed since the Sports Festival, yet the aftermath of what happened that day persisted. The buzz about the races, club booths, and festival images had mostly subsided, but one topic continued to dominate conversations in the halls: me and Hoshino.

“Did you hear? Takeshi and Hoshino are dating now.”
“Seriously? How did that even happen?”
“I mean, they were always hanging out… but still!”

It was tough to ignore the whispers as I walked to class. Even when people weren’t gazing directly at me, I could sense their curiosity. I wasn’t used to this level of attention—even though I’m a bit popular guy myself.

How did they find out about our relationship, you ask? Since the confession, Hoshino has grown increasingly close to me, like reeeeallly close, which I don’t hate it, and a reasonable person would quickly understand why.

I tightened the strap on my backpack and fixed my gaze forward, determined not to let it get to me. I stepped inside the classroom after sliding the door open. A few students looked up, bringing their conversations to a standstill before continuing on as usual. I groaned gently and took my seat by the window. After coping with the morning’s chaos, the usual familiarity of my desk seemed reassuring.

The school bell rang, signaling the start of class. I leaned back in my chair, letting the monotone voice of our homeroom teacher fade into the background as my thoughts wandered.

It still felt surreal. Just two weeks ago, everything had been… normal. Hoshino was my close friend, someone I admired quietly from afar. And now? Now we were officially a couple. The thought still made my chest tighten—not from anxiety, but from something closer to disbelief.

I thought back to that day. It was a whirlwind: the photo sessions with Akira running around like a madman, the relay race that pushed me to my limits, and then the confrontation with Naoki. His words had stung, dredging up old wounds I wasn’t ready to face. And yet, by the time the festival ended, everything had shifted.

I could still see it in my mind—the moonlit rooftop, the cool night air, and Hoshino standing beside me, her expression soft yet expectant.

“I love you,” I had said, the words tumbling out before I could second-guess myself.

Her smile—bright and radiant—was something I would never forget. I love you too.

A small smile tugged at my lips as I replayed the memory. It had taken everything in me to confess, but hearing those words in return had made it all worth it.

My attention shifted across the classroom to where Hoshino sat, her pencil gliding over the paper as she took notes. She was entirely absorbed, her forehead wrinkled with concentration. It was a simple sight, yet it made my heart go full beating.

Almost as if sensing my stare, she suddenly turned around to where I am. Her eyes met mine, and a smile spread across her face—bright and warm, the same smile that had knocked me off balance on the rooftop.

I smiled back, giving her a small nod. She turned back to her notes, but the glow of her smile lingered in my chest like a spark that refused to fade.

But not everything had returned to normal.

My attention moved to another part of the classroom, where Naoki sat. He, too, was concentrating on his notes, his pen moving in precise, purposeful strokes. On the surface, he appeared to be the same as always: calm, composed, and in control. But there was something different about him now, something that felt… heavier.

His typical confidence, the comfortable attitude of someone who has everything figured out, appeared diminished. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I had the impression that something was simmering beneath the surface.

The teacher’s voice droned on in the background, but my thoughts were elsewhere. My mind drifted back to Natsu’s words during the festival cleanup—his offhand mention of “that day.”

The memory of the middle school disaster was foggy and fragmented at best. But Natsu’s thought that someone had tampered with the ladder was like a spark, kindling questions I couldn’t ignore.

I’d tried to find answers. I’d searched through old class photos, racked my brain for anything that might jog my memory. But the truth remained elusive, always just out of reach.

A soft sigh escaped me as I tapped my pencil absently against my notebook. For now, all I could do was wait—for a clue, a spark, anything to make sense of the shadows lingering in my, or rather, this body’s past.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the morning classes. Chairs scraped across the floor as students packed their things, their voices blending into the usual post-lesson chatter. I tucked my books into my bag and slung it over my shoulder, my eyes briefly drifting to Hoshino’s desk.

She was already talking with some classmates, her smile as warm as ever. Seeing her like this—so radiant, so natural—made it hard to believe how much had changed in just two weeks.

I gave her a quick wave as I walked by. “Heading to the clubroom. See you later?”

She nodded, her cheeks pink. “I’ll catch up after the meeting. I’ll see you there!”

I grinned. “Yeah, see ya.”

As I made my way down the hall, passing past groups of students, I couldn’t help but note how much lighter everything seemed these days. Despite occasional whispers about me and Hoshino, things were… getting better.

The familiar creak of the Photography Clubroom door greeted me as I slide it open. The smell of old books and faintly developing film hung in the air, an oddly comforting scent that made me feel instantly at ease.

What didn’t feel at ease was the scene that greeted me.

“You can’t just decide these things on your own, Akira!” Hibiki’s voice rang out, sharp and annoyed. She stood near the editing desk, arms crossed and glaring at Akira, who was sitting on the edge of a table with his camera in hand, looking like he couldn’t care less.

“It’s not a just a decision, Hibiki. it’s an idea!” Akira shot back, holding his camera up like it was his badge of honor. “There’s a difference.”

“No, there isn’t!” Hibiki retorted, throwing her hands in the air. “Every time you come up with one of your ‘brilliant ideas,’ it ends up being ten times more work for the rest of us.”

“Okay, that’s unfair,” Akira said, grinning. “The last time I had a brilliant idea, it was a hit. Remember the ‘Life in Focus’ project? Everyone loved it.”

“Yeah, and we were pulling all-nighters to finish it on time!”

Clearing my throat, I stepped further into the room. “Am I walking into something I shouldn’t?”

Both of them turned to look at me, their heated argument momentarily paused.

“Takeshi!” Akira exclaimed, his grin widening. “Perfect timing. Back me up here—photo contests are a great idea, right?”

“It depends,” I said cautiously, setting my bag down on the nearest chair. “What’s the contest for?”

“School-wide contest,” Akira said, practically bouncing with excitement. “Students submit their best photos, and we hold an exhibition during the when the school festival comes in. It’s genius, right?”

Hibiki let out an exasperated sigh. “And guess who’ll have to organize all the submissions, plan the exhibition layout, and deal with all the complaints? Us. That’s who.”

“Hey, you’re the one who loves planning,” Akira joked. “I’m just giving you material to work with.”

“You’re impossible.” she muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose.

Before the argument could escalate further, the door opened again, and a new voice cut through the tension.

“Good afternoon, Photography Club.”

All three of us turned to see Kagami Hana standing in the doorway, her usual composed expression paired with a stack of neatly organized documents.

K-Kagami-san,” Hibiki said, straightening up slightly.

“President!” Akira greeted with a wave. “What brings you to our humble clubroom?”

“I have a request from the Student Council.” Hana walked inside, place on what looks to be documents on the desk.

“Request?”

She nodded. “In the next week, all of the second-year students will be having a school field trip. With the school field trip coming up, the council has decided to organize an event that highlights student creativity and experiences in the trip. And we’d like the Photography Club to curate a photo exhibit. The theme will be ‘Memories in Motion,’ and it should capture the essence of the trip.”

Akira’s face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. “An exhibit? That’s perfect! I was just saying we needed a new project, and this is it!”

“Of course. And that means more work for us ughhh.” Hibiki groaned audibly, slumping into her chair.

“Uhmm, Kagami-san? After we completed this request, what’s in it for us?”

“How about establishing a budget for your club activities?”

“A budget???”Hibiki exclaimed, appearing surprised by what she had heard from Kagami-san’s mouth.

“We enthusiastically accept your request, President! We vow not to let you down!” Akira replied, shaking Kagami-san’s hand.” Uhh? Akira-san? Aren’t you too close to the president?

“Good decision.” Hana said, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “I’m confident you won’t.”

She turned to leave but paused at the door. “By the way, submissions from the photo contest could also be used for the exhibit. Just a suggestion.”

With that, she was gone, leaving us with a stack of papers and a mountain of expectations.

As the door clicked shut, the room fell into a brief silence. Akira broke it first, rubbing his hands together like a mad scientist. “Alright, team. Let’s get to work!”

“Not so fast,” Hibiki said, shooting him a glare. “We need to actually plan this out before you start going rogue with your camera The event hasn’t even started yet.”

“This could actually be fun,” I said. “A field trip and a chance to show off everyone’s work once again? I say it’s another good opportunity.”

“I’m a genius, right Takeshi?” Akira said, flashing a toothy grin.

A budget for the club as a reward huh. Wait, how did this club survive without a budget?

A/N: Starting at this chapter, every upcoming chapters will be called “V2 Chapter (what chapter number – [ Name of the chapter].