SirG57

Hoshino Kaito wakes up in an unfamiliar world with no memory of how he got there—only to realize he's inside Love & Lies: Fateful Bonds, which is a high school romance visual novel he once played. But instead of being the protagonist, he’s just a minor side character: the main character’s best friend.

In this world, he enrolled in Shirakawa Academy. This academy enforces a Prestigious Partnering System, where every student must find a romantic partner by the first semester of their second year—or be randomly assigned one. With only few weeks until the deadline, Kaito must navigate this system, trying to find loopholes in the system, and maybe he also find his partner.

But when Fujimura Ren, the protagonist, receives a letter from Ayane, one of the main heroines, Kaito realizes that the world isn’t the same as the game settings anymore. If things keep changing, how much of the original story can he still rely on? And more importantly—what happens to a side character when the game starts breaking?

With his future uncertain, Kaito must decide: will he simply follow the script, or will he carve out his own path in this new reality?

Press Start To Love

The next morning arrived faster than I expected. My alarm buzzed loudly, pulling me out of a dream that I couldn't quite remember. I groaned, rubbing my eyes before reluctantly sitting up. Another day in this unpredictable world.

As I got ready, the fragmented memories from last night lingered in my mind. Pieces of Kaito's past were slipping into my consciousness, even though they were still unclear, I felt like I was slowly becoming more intertwined with this life.

After a quick breakfast and the usual banter with Reina, I headed out to school. The streets were bustling with students, and the cool morning air helped clear my thoughts.

Today, I decided to focus on something else—observing how this world truly functioned beyond what I knew as a game.

Upon arriving at school, I stepped into the classroom and immediately noticed the lively atmosphere. Students were chatting about the upcoming pairing system deadline, some still scrambling to find partners before the lottery system decided for them.

Just as I was about to take my seat, someone called out to me.

I turned around, only to be met with a light punch to my shoulder.

Standing before me was a girl with short, messy auburn hair, with athletic build, and easygoing smirk plastered across her face. She exuded confidence, the kind of person who was used to being loud and competitive.

One of the heroines in this visual novel. In the game, Asuka was known for her strong-willed nature, constantly competing against Ren in just about everything—sports, grades, even casual arcade games. She was never the type to sit still and always sought out challenges. To her, romance was secondary; her true passion lay in proving herself.

She clicked her tongue. "Tch, don't play dumb, you're always sticking around Ren, so I figured I'd check out his number one underling."

"Underling? Seriously?" I let out a small sigh.

"Unless you prefer 'loyal companion' or 'second-in-command'?"

"I prefer to just call me Kaito, thanks."

"Alright, alright. Just wanted to see what kind of guy you were." Asuka let out a hearty laugh.

"You don't seem all that special, though." She crossed her arms and tilting her head.

"Don't take it personally. I just don't get why Ren keeps talking about you like you're interesting or something. But hey, since you're part of his crew, I guess that means we'll be seeing each other a lot."

"And that's important… why?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Because Ren's my rival, obviously. I need to keep an eye on everyone around him." Asuka smirked.

I couldn't help but chuckle. This girl really was exactly as I remembered—straightforward, competitive, and full of energy.

"Alright, I get it. You and Ren have some ongoing war, and I'm just a background character in it."

Before I could respond, the morning bell rang, signaling the start of class. Asuka gave me a playful salute before heading to her seat near the window, resting her chin on her hand as if she were already planning her next competition with Ren.

As I sat down, I exhaled slowly. Meeting Asuka in person was… interesting. In the game, she had always been focused on her rivalry with Ren, never really acknowledging the protagonist much unless necessary. It was clear that in this world, things were similar—she saw me as nothing more than Ren's best friend.

I leaned back in my chair, watching as the teacher walked in and started the lesson. One more heroine down. And if my knowledge of this world was still accurate, I had a feeling I'd be encountering the others soon enough.

Ah, but I wonder... Is she sick yesterday? Hmm should I ask Ren about it?

Heh, I don't think I need to do that.

Chapter 5.5: The second Heroine Appeared!