He was already tired of all the stares he was getting. Sure, maybe it was his fault for talking to 'himself' in front of so many students.

  Well, Xuān didn't care about what these characters thought of him, anyway. They were just that—characters. Not humans with feelings or minds of their own. They were nothing but mere puppets.

  But he had to think of a plan now. Not that Xuān was interested in the stupid task. A part of him was curious about what the system would do if he refused to listen. But, he did want to live an easy life in this world. He didn't want to be an object of contempt for anyone. Especially not the system.

  He would try to be as subtle and invisible as he could. Something at the back of his mind nagged at him. This was going to be difficult.

  His sister had told him a lot about her favourite web novels. Had he known he'd get isekai'd into a game himself, he would have actually paid attention once in a while.

  He sighed. It was all no use now. But it wasn't THAT bad.

  He looked around himself, he saw students roaming around. They are all NPCs.

  Not alive. Just...a bunch of codes.

  That thought made him feel....something.

  Didn't that mean he was the only one who was actually alive in this world?

  He wasn't the one to ever feel lonely. But what was this weird feeling growing inside him? He didn't want to be alone.

  "What's wrong, host?"

  "I want to be alone," He thought.

  "Nothing. Why don't you leave? Go on. Rest. I won't cause trouble. I am a good kid."

  He muttered dryly.

  The hallway was too loud. No one would notice him talk to himself anyway.

  "Oh no. It's Syntar's duty to help and look after host all the time!"

  "You need to stalk me 24/7."

  He remarked dryly.

  He reached his class. Just as he went past the classroom door, he bumped into someone.

  He stepped back, about to say sorry. But when he looked up to see who the person was, the apology died then and there on his tongue.

  "Oh, I am sorry. Are you okay?"

  The other guy said. He was just slightly taller than Xuān.

  "Host! Don't just stand there! It's the best opportunity to make first impressions! Stay in character."

  "Can't you watch where you are going?"

  Xuān blurted out without thinking. The system was urging him to say something rude. What else could he do? His face was devoid of any expression. His cold eyes stared at Kaito.

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  The guy was definitely good looking. Which was to be expected of an Otome game's MC.

  He had slightly messy dark blue hair, and equally dark brown eyes.

  His not-so nice reply earned him a slight frown from the taller boy.

  "I am sorry?"

  Xuān walked past him, not bothering to engage in any conversation. It wasn't OOC, right? He said something rude.

  He sat down at his desk and saw Kaito exit the classroom.

  "Host, you were rude! It's good you are following your role well."

  "I thought I was being nice. Thanks for clarifying."

  Xuān opened his textbook and saw that it was practically as good as new.

  "Just what kind of character did you put me in. Does this kid not study at all? This book looks like it was never touched."

  "Host's character wasn't smart or the studious type."

  Syntar replied, still floating around his desk.

  Xuān skimmed through the content of one of the chapters from the chemistry book. He was proud when he realised he remembered everything as clear as day.

  The bell rang, students came back to class, and sat in their designated seat. Kaito returned too. The teacher came in soon after.

  Xuān was ready to answer any question asked by the teacher. It was his time to shine.

  ------------

  Was this a joke? The teacher didn't even look at him! He raised his hand for every question, but the teacher only looked at Kaito. And of course, the latter answered with ease.

  Was he invisible? Was it because Kaito was the protagonist of this world? That was not fair. He could have answered every single question that the protagonist did.

  This world was cruel. It wouldn't even let him shine in one thing he was good at.

  The bell rang and Xuān soon realised that it was the P.E lecture next.

  He hated P.E.

  The system was still present, talking to him. Rambling on and on about the plot and his role.

  Xuān ignored it.

  Why did he have to go experience everything so thoroughly? Nobody would like repeating a school year they just finished. Especially when their friends aren't there. And Xuān never had friends. Not even in the real world.

  Xuān sighed and went to the locker room along with the rest of the students.

  In a few minutes, all the students were gathered on the ground.

  He recognised only two. Lumi and Kaito.

  The P.E coach had told them to run a few laps around the track.

  Xuān wasn't the athletic type, and by the time he was down with the running, he was sweaty and gasping for breath. It kind of pissed him off because no one was as tired as him.

  Could it be because they weren't even humans? That must be it.

  He heard footsteps and looked up to see who it was.

  "You look like you ran a marathon," Lumi remarked, clearly amused by the boy's exhaustion.

  "Is that so?" Xuān straightened himself, he was a bit relaxed now.

  The girl looked completely fine. As if she hadn't just run at all.

  Stupid game. Stupid world. Stupid characters.

  The system giggled from behind Xuān, "host, she is right! You look like you are gonna pass out any minute."

  Stupid system.

  "Yes. I didn't know you were so weak."

  Xuān frowned at the 'insult', "I am not weak."

  Lumi observed him for a few more seconds before walking away.

  Xuān crossed his arms. "Just wait. I'll beat you in a test," he thought.

  The system spoke again, "Host remembers his task, right?"

  "Yes."

  "Watch out," he heard someone yell, and when he turned his head towards the voice, he was hit by a ball in the face.

  ---------

  That's how Xuān found himself in front of the infirmary. His nose was bleeding.

  When the nurse saw him, she had to stifle the chuckle that threatened to escape her lips.

  "Oh my, is it you again? It seems you got hit by a ball again."

  "Host has extreme bad luck, it seems," Syntar remarked.

  Xuān just nodded.

  "Don't worry. It's just a nosebleed. Lean forward a bit. I'll get you an ice pack."

  Xuān sat down on one of the beds, and leaned forward. The nurse returned quickly with an ice pack in her hand.

  Xuān took the ice pack and pressed it against his nose.

  The nurse sat back on her desk, going back whatever work she has been doing before he interrupted her.

  Xuān looked around infirmary and wasn't surprised to see the brightly coloured pink walls. It wasn't his first time here. He woke up here the day before.

  Once his nose stopped bleeding, he exited the infirmary. He was going back to the ground when he heard a strange sound.

  He looked in the direction of the sound. It seemed it came from the storage room.

  Now, Xuān had no business to go check the room. He was not obliged to. But, there were still a few minutes left till the P.E lecture ended. And after embarrassing himself, he'd rather not go back yet.

  So, he opened the storage room's door and was completely flabbergasted to see a certain pink haired girl sleeping on the floor, her back to one of the racks.

  She was even lightly snoring.

  Was this normal?

  "Don't worry, host. It seems it's normal for our female lead here," the system whispered from next to Xuān.

  "You can hear my thoughts?" Xuān asked, completely baffled.

  "Ah, did Syntar not tell you? It must have forgotten."

  "You made me look like a fool. You did this on purpose." Xuān said with an annoyed expression. As close to an annoyed expression he could make.

  "Don't be childish, host."

  Xuān saw the girl move slightly. They must have woken her up. Her eyes fluttered open and she moved a little. Her movement caused the rack behind her to shake, causing one of the small boxes full of art supplies to fall down.

  "Ow- Ow-!" Saeko squeaked in pain as the box fell on her.

  Saeko looked up at him and grinned, "Xuān! What are you doing here?"

  "That's my question," he said dryly.

  Saeko got up from the floor, still giggling.

  "I was playing hooky~!".

  "Why would you do that?" He crossed his arms.

  The girl smiled twirling a strand of hair in her finger, "It was math. I had to skip it!" She explained cheerfully.

  Suddenly she gasped, and her expression became even brighter—if that was possible, "Are you ditching class too?"

  "No," he replied.

  "Host! What are you doing? Why interact with the female lead? Let's just leave!"

  Xuān sighed at Syntar's voice. He glanced at the girl one last time before leaving.