Arc 1 : Chapter 1

Joey had died at the young age of twenty-six, but he had no regrets.

His life had been short, but he had lived it the way he wanted—enjoying the little things, helping those around him, and never letting hardships weigh him down for too long. If anything, his only complaint was that it had ended too soon.

But fate had other plans.

Instead of reincarnating, he received an invitation from the Transmigration Bureau. They offered him a chance to continue existing, not as himself, but as a transmigrator who would enter different worlds and change the fate of certain characters. Among the various departments, Joey had chosen the Saving Tragic Characters Department—a division that many overlooked because it offered fewer rewards. But Joey didn't care about points or prestige. He just wanted an easy, peaceful life, and this seemed like the perfect fit.

After weeks of training, today was his first mission.

Excitement buzzed in his chest—not just for the mission itself, but also for meeting his system, the AI companion who would guide him throughout his journey. He had read about systems in training, but experiencing one firsthand would be something else entirely.

As the familiar sensation of transmigration washed over him, Joey closed his eyes, surrendering to his new reality. When he opened them again, everything had changed.

"Hello, Host."

A mechanical voice echoed in Joey's mind.

He blinked and looked around. The scene before him was unmistakably a school—hallways lined with lockers, students in neatly pressed uniforms, and the faint hum of chatter in the air. Or rather, there should have been.

But everything was frozen.

Students stood still in mid-conversation, footsteps suspended in motion, a pen halted mid-fall in a student's grasp. Time itself had paused.

Joey wasn't surprised. He had been trained for this. The Transmigration Bureau had prepared him for what to expect upon arrival in a new world. A frozen moment before integration, a brief period to receive information, and then—the world would resume as if nothing had changed.

He took a deep breath, then smirked. "Alright then, System, give me the details."

"Your name is Joey Sinclair in this world. You are a student at Westwood Academy, a prestigious private school. Your mission is simple—make Rael Carter happy."

Joey frowned. "Rael Carter?"

The system continued in its usual robotic tone.

"Rael is a side character in the original novel. In the original timeline, his life is filled with loneliness and heartbreak. His strained relationship with his parents, lack of close friends, and unreciprocated love for the main protagonist leave him emotionally devastated. He was meant to serve as a tragic stepping stone in the story."

Joey's golden eyes gleamed with interest. "So all I have to do is change that?"

"Correct. However, the world will not recognize your interference. The events will naturally adjust around your presence."

Joey grinned, tossing his light blond hair over his shoulder. "Sounds easy enough. By the way—what's your name?"

The system paused. "I do not have a name."

Joey gasped dramatically. "No name? That's tragic! Should I give you one? How about Bubble?"

"No."

Joey snickered. "Wow, no hesitation. Alright, how about something cool? Titan? Shadow?—"

"No need, Host. I am simply System."

Joey pouted. "Fine, fine. At least change your voice! Maybe something nice, like a soft, bubbly tone? Or deep and mysterious?"

"No."

Joey sighed in defeat. "You're no fun."

"Shall I continue the mission details?"

"Yeah, yeah," Joey muttered, waving a hand. "Continue, my soulless companion."

The system ignored him.

"Rael Carter is right behind you."

Joey turned—

And his breath caught.

Standing just a few feet away, leaning against a locker with an air of quiet detachment, was Rael Carter.

His dark hair fell over his forehead, slightly tousled, framing sharp yet delicate features. His icy blue eyes were cool and distant, as if he existed in a world separate from everyone else. His lean frame was draped in the school's crisp uniform, but unlike the polished appearance of the other students, there was something distinctly untouchable about him.

An aura that kept people away.

Joey could tell—it was his way of protecting himself.

Before he could move, the world resumed.

The background noise of students chatting and lockers slamming filled the air in an instant. Conversations picked up mid-sentence, as if nothing had ever paused.

A pen slipped from a nearby student's fingers—

Joey caught it effortlessly, twirling it between his fingers before handing it back with a bright smile.

The student, a boy with round glasses, blinked at him blankly, his ears turning crimson.

Joey chuckled. This is going to be fun.

With a mischievous grin, he strolled up to Rael, who was just closing his locker.

"Hey," Joey greeted, his voice light with excitement.

Rael turned his head slightly, his gaze falling on the unfamiliar boy in front of him.

His blue eyes flickered with quiet surprise.

The boy had soft, light blond hair, neck-length and slightly messy, with strands falling over his forehead. His eyes were a striking shade of gold, warm and lively, filled with an easygoing mischief that stood out in the dull school hallway.

Joey's slender frame was relaxed, his uniform slightly ruffled as if he hadn't bothered fixing it properly.

Rael frowned slightly. He didn't know why such a socially confident person would approach him.

"Can I help you?" Rael asked, his voice low.

Joey's grin widened.

Today was this body's first day, which meant he was a new student. It was the perfect excuse—It was like being handed a cushion to land on.

"Maybe," Joey said playfully. "I'm new here. My name's Joey."

Rael didn't respond right away. Instead, his eyes flickered across the hallway, taking in the many other people Joey could have approached.

And yet—he chose him.

A pause.

Then, finally—

"Rael."

His voice was soft, almost reluctant, as if even saying his own name was a burden.

Joey's golden eyes twinkled.

"Oh, I like that name. It suits you."

Rael's brows twitched slightly, but he didn't reply. He had already decided—this person was strange.

But before Joey could say anything else—

A loud voice called out his name.

"Joey!"

A shadow loomed over him, and as Joey turned, his golden eyes widened.

Standing just a few steps away, a boy with sharp amber eyes and neatly styled chestnut hair stared at him with excitement.

Joey didn't even need the system to tell him.

He already knew who this was.

Noah Wright.

One of the original story's major characters.

And from the look in his eyes—he knows Joey.