"Interesting~" Kyle muttered under his breath, staring at the game case in his hands. The cover art was striking—an academy building under a glowing sky, flanked by beautiful
students in elaborate uniforms, each with that classic, too-perfect anime charm.
Lately, academy genre games had exploded in popularity, filled with romance, slice-of-life fluff, and lighthearted comedy. But Kyle He had never played one. Not once.
This was his first.
And oddly enough, the only copy available was tucked into the dusty back shelf of an old, half-forgotten game shop he randomly stumbled into after getting lost on the way home.
He glanced at the price sticker.
"$150?!"
"That will be one hundred and fifty dollars," the cashier said flatly, not even bothering to glance up.
Kyle blinked, thinking it had to be a mistake. A joke, maybe.
"A-Are you joking?"
The cashier sighed deeply and finally raised his dead-eyed gaze, gesturing lazily.
"If you can't afford it, put it back where you found it don't waste my Time."
His voice was firm, cold, like he'd heard this question a thousand times and cared exactly zero times.
Kyle's eye twitched. So he wasn't joking.
Still… something about the game tugged at him. A weird pull in his chest. It was probably a rip-off, sure, but this was his one day off work.
The cashier scoffed as Kyle reluctantly handed over his crumpled bills.
"Hot-headed jerk," Kyle muttered once he stepped outside, holding the game close like it might escape.
He started walking home. The city streets were nearly empty. The sky had dimmed into a cloudy charcoal gray, and the flickering streetlights cast eerie halos on the cracked pavement.
Kyle's apartment was about a fifteen-minute walk. He passed a dim corner store, a stray cat darting under a car, and then crossed the road as he pulled out his phone for light.
The way home was darker than usual tonight. Power outages had been happening in this part of the city, and sure enough, even the street lamps ahead were flickering.
He glanced at the game again, studying the back of the case.
"Tragedy?" Kyle raised a brow. That wasn't common in academy games. They were usually cheerful—full of crushes, club activities, and awkward misunderstandings. Tragedy didn't belong. Or rather, it shouldn't belong.
Still, the synopsis intrigued him
That line gave him some interest. He nodded slightly, satisfied "Hmm~ it looked like a Typical one ."
Just as he finished reading the last sentence
Ding… ding…
A distant bell rang. No, not just rang—blared, echoing unnaturally through the silent streets.
Kyle clutched his ears as a sharp, almost metallic sound pierced through his skull. His phone flickered and died in his hand, plunging him into pitch-blackness.
"What the hell?!" he gasped, trying to look around, but the darkness was too thick—alive, almost.
Then, without warning, everything vanished.
The pain in his ears exploded. A pressure like his brain was being sucked through a vacuum. He screamed—or tried to—but his voice didn't come out.
When he opened his eyes again, the world was different.
He was seated inside a luxurious carriage.
The seats were velvet, trimmed with gold. The gentle clatter of hooves echoed in the air. Outside the windows, a pristine countryside blurred by.
Across from him sat a stunning girl.
Amber eyes, soft as honey. Long blond hair tied into elegant waves. She wore an immaculate Academy uniform,
Her gaze was locked on him—no, on Rin.
"Rin, is something wrong?" she asked gently, tilting her head with grace
Kyle glanced down at himself. Lean body. Pale hands. Black and white formal school
uniform. He leaned forward to the window and caught his reflection in the glass—handsome features, sharp jaw, deep blue eyes, long azure hair.
He had become the protagonist.
"What the… am I dreaming?" he whispered under his breath.
To be sure, he pinched his leg hard. Not a dream.
He knew this setting. It was exactly like the opening sequence of the game. The academy. The elegant companion. But not the worried tone from Samminah—Rin's childhood friend and one of the Main heroines.
He forced a calm expression and smiled. "I'm fine. Don't worry."
Samminah's eyes softened, but only a little. Her smile remained bright, almost too bright.
But behind that smile, a flicker of suspicion.
"Hm? That's strange," she thought, still smiling. "He's not even flustered. Usually, Rin would be red in the face just sitting across from me. He didn't even compliment my hair today."
Her lips curled, but in her heart, a darkness stirred.
Still, she kept up the cheerful facade. "Look, Rin! It's the academy!" she chirped, leaning toward the window.
Kyle glanced outside—and his breath caught.
It was breathtaking.
The Royal Crown Academy stood like a palace of marble and glass. A grand fountain in the courtyard sprayed glimmering arcs of water. Towers rose into the sky like the spires of a cathedral. Elegant students—some in carriages, others stepping down from floating platforms—moved with an aura of dignity
This is actually The Academy it's even more Breathtaking than the Description Kyle Thought.
The carriage slowed to a halt. Kyle was the first to move—but unlike the real Rin, he didn't offer his hand to Samminah.
She noticed.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, though her expression didn't change. Normally, Rin always helped her down. He never forgot.
Kyle stepped outsidd, and Samminah followed with a graceful step.
"Wanna grab a treat?" she asked, lacing her fingers around his wrist with a warm smile.
Kyle smiled back awkwardly, nodding. "Sure, why not?"
Samminah's touch sent shivers down his spine. Was this how the game started? He didn't remember her being this… intense.
She gently pulled him toward the academy gates.
But Kyle had no idea—Samminah had already begun her test.
She knew Rin better than anyone. His tastes, his dislikes, the way he smiled when he was tired, or sulked when teased.
If this was really him… he'd pass with flying colors.
If not…
Well.
Even an angel Could Fall in her acting.
Kyle forced himself to smile again, thinking, Maybe that 'tragedy' tag was just a glitch… right?