“Reincarnation isn’t real, guys!!” is what I would have shouted at the top of my lungs if I hadn't literally been reincarnated into another world. Guess Mom wasn’t wrong after all.

  But there was a much bigger elephant in the room: how the hell did I end up in the world of a light novel? If it was some random planet in the corner of the cosmos, I could have blamed it on cosmic bullshit and accepted it. But Kōrō no Grairu?

  And why me? Out of eight billion people in my original world, it had to be me. What are the odds? How could I possibly have hit that 0.0001% jackpot? And at that, the worst possible one.

  Kōrō no Grairu,

  In the first place, I’d been a fan of Kōrō no GrairuIsinagawa Natari.

  Just thinking about all of it: this world, the future and the absurd luck that dumped me there. I couldn’t stop freaking out. I paced in back-and-forth to relieve the tension.

  Then it hit me.

  My first encounter with Kiyara Aryavane, one of five heroines of this novel series and the most tragic of them all.

  “She’s here too, huh” I muttered, a smile cracking across my face before I could stop it.

  The memory of when I first saw her was crystal clear. It felt like thousands of suns exploding at once, a wash of light and heat that swallowed everything else. Just recalling it settled my nerves. For a moment no longer than a minute, every other worry faded away.

  But I knew this calm wouldn’t last. The smile slipped from my face and my lips tightening as reality crept back in. If this world followed the story of the novel exactly, then she was doomed.

  Yes. A terrible fate awaited her. In the last volume, I’d read. She gets corrupted and forced to stand against the hero himself. And even though the hero cared for her, truly sincerely, as a friend, he had to save the world over her. With one final strike of his blade, she was defeated, her body crumbling into dust, as tears ran down her face.

  But what no one knew, not the hero, not the world was that even in her corrupted state, she retained some of her consciousness. And during the final battle, the hero’s voice reached her, and she regained her will. And fully aware about her end, asked him to strike her down.

  Followed by one of the most unforgettable moments I’d ever read. Her final monologue. Her regrets of never confessing her love, her gratitude for the hero’s kindness and her memories of him brightening her days. For meeting her.

  At the end of the arc, the hero cried for her, and carrying the courage he got from her, he saved the world. In the final epilogue, he married the lead heroine, the tsundere daughter of Linea-Corp’s CEO.

  Another tsundere win, tch. Overall, the story had gripping action and decent harem with its fair share of fun moments, but who cares about all that? Curse you, Isinagawa watari. How could you write such a tragic ending for the best girl of the series?

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Damn it. Just thinking about it made me sad. But if this world really followed the novel’s arc, her fate would also become reality. NO. NO. My ten-year old heart can’t accept that.

  Yet, what could I even do? What option do I have? Maybe if I’d been reborn as a high- ranking official in one of the five major corporations that ruled humanity. Then, I might have stood a chance. But I was a twelve-year-old child living in Zone 010, and my father was just a debugger in a small, random facility. I had no chance. Forget changing her destiny. I couldn’t hope to even stand next to her.

  Man, I’m a piece of shit, aren’t I?

  I lost myself into the spiral of self-hate and helplessness. I banged my head on the table in a rhythm, rolled on the floor like a snake on the ground, flopped about like dying fish. In short, I didn’t know what to do but create ruckus.

  Just then hearing the ruckus my mother stormed inside my room with a bang from her kick.

  “Will you give it a rest? You’re making too much noise. Your father is in the study” she snapped.

  “Sorry” I muttered.

  “And what is this mess? Clean it up, okay.”

  “And Ren, don’t forget to study. If you don’t, you won’t get into a decent research institute.” “Mama,” she half smiled, “will pound your ass if you slack off, okay.”

  I gulped. “Yeah, don’t worry,” I said, and she left with that impossible smile.

  Research Institute huh… They really mattered in this world.

  Then, it came, like a light bulb switching on. I grasped something. There was a chance. Maybe I couldn’t change her fate in one sweep, but there was a way to alter the story a bit and, in the end, save her.

  Though, I am not too sure it was possible to change a death flag. But I wouldn’t know until I tried. And to do that I have to be able to be somewhere where I could be close to her.

  And for that there was a place that would bring the perfect opportunity: Spear of Aegis Institute- a research and training facility created by the five major corporations. Situated in Zone 100, it was one of leading facilities that trained humans to fight against deviants.

  Being the premiere institute of education, combat, and technology, it attracted students even from elite households. This also was the place all five heroines attended and where the protagonist first met each of them. The institute also offered scholarships for genius students. If I could pass the entrance exam and get in, I’d have a chance. I could get the chance to be close to Kiyara and make a plan so she would not meet the death flag.

  LET'S GO!

  Though, there was still time. The institution admitted students only after the age of sixteen, which meant I had four years to prepare. That’s Easy. I just needed an elaborated plan and study like my life depended on it.

  Hmm…… something is missing. Uh yea, a name. I need a name. How I could have not thought of that. It isn’t a real mission, if it has no name after all.

  Let’s see. This one sound perfect:

  HOW TO SAVE YOUR FAVORITE HEROINE FROM HER BAD END.

  …

  “GAH! It’s already past ten. I should sleep," I muttered as I flopped onto the bed.

  Still, I can’t believe that I’m actually doing something crazy like that. In my past life, I was someone who had bold dreams and principles, but I always pushed them down under the carpet of reality.

  I never thought, I could ever agree to do something this dangerous. I guess being born again really changes how you are supposed to be. But when I think about it, I was this close to giving up to hopelessness. If mom hadn’t said that thing about studying and institute, I probably would have quit right then.

  Mom. Huh...

  Ever since I got my old memories back, I wondered what would happen to this life I have been living. But maybe I was worrying for nothing. Still, there’s a certain ache in my chest that won't go away.

  I think of it sometimes, about what happened after I died. I was far away from my parents, living in another country called Japan. Did the news of my death reach them? I mean I died, right? Afterall, I saw the truck hit me. It’s funny that truck-kun really could isekai someone?

  Ha…ha.h

  …

  I wonder how mom reacted. I bet she cried. Also, how was dad doing? His health had always worried me. And my sister, I hope she is taking care of them. She was a handful, but she always tried.

  It feels strange. I don’t remember everything clearly. I don’t even know if all these memories are truly mine. Still, I couldn’t stop these emotions and the tears slipping from my eyes.

  “Sorry, Mom...” I whispered.

  I couldn’t really do much for you back then. That's why, I want these words reach you.
  So, I won’t cry. I’ll do what you always told me: reach out to those you love and help them.