Chapter 1
If Yu Narukami were to describe present-day Tokyo in one word, it would be: absurd.
Tokyo, a bustling metropolis, inclusive and complex, young and vibrant, its colors woven from the diverse tapestry of its people. Logically, the word “absurd” shouldn’t apply.
Yet, what was this current situation?
Wearing his new school uniform, Yu stood before the television, watching the morning news. The anchor solemnly reported the latest important information.
“Latest developments in the Shujin Academy former Olympic champion Kamoshida repentance incident.” “Detective Prince’s live broadcast preview: Tune in at 8 PM!”
“Mental shutdown incidents are spreading. Are train derailments also related to mental shutdowns? Police have declined to comment.” “Does the Phantom Thieves of Hearts exist? And are they the cause of the mental shutdown incidents?” Staring at the scrolling text, Yu felt lost in thought. He wondered if he had ever truly left Inaba. How else could he see such unreal news in Tokyo? The last time he felt this bewildered was when Inaba was shrouded in fog, a fog that brought death.
But hadn’t the fog disappeared?
“Yu, aren’t you ready yet?”
An elegant female voice called from downstairs. A woman in professional attire ascended the stairs.
Yu quickly turned, a smile on his face. “Mom, I’m ready.”
“Sorry, your father and I are too busy with work to take you to your new school.” Seeing the smile on Yu’s face, the woman looked apologetic.
“It’s okay.” Yu shook his head, seemingly unconcerned.
Considerately, he said, “I can go by myself.”
In reality, Yu had long grown accustomed to this. Born and raised in Tokyo, he had never been particularly close to his parents. They were always busy with work, even spending the last year on a business trip abroad, forcing him to live with his uncle for the entire year. However, this had also allowed Yu to forge irreplaceable bonds.
Therefore, Yu was prepared for his parents’ inability to accompany him after returning home.
And he was no longer the boy who feared loneliness.
“Yu is such a good child,” the woman sighed. “Well, don’t be late. Be careful on your way.”
“You too.”
Preoccupied with work, the woman quickly left. Yu let out a soft breath, double-checked his bag to ensure he hadn’t forgotten anything, then turned off the television and left for the nearest subway station.
His new school was Sōyō High, located near Shujin Academy. Initially, his parents had considered Shujin, but the sudden “Kamoshida abuse scandal” tarnished the school’s reputation in their eyes, leading them to choose Sōyō instead.
As he entered the crowded subway station, Yu checked the route signs while walking. Before he could find the correct platform, someone bumped into him. Distracted by the map, Yu didn’t react in time.
“Hiss…” A gasp of pain followed the collision.
“Meow!” A cat cried out in fright.
Wait? A cat?!
“Sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going!”
Yu quickly steadied himself and reached out to help the boy he’d knocked down, and… a calico cat on the ground.
The boy wasn’t very old, dressed in Shujin’s winter uniform. Tall but surprisingly thin, the uniform accentuated his long legs and slender waist. He seemed quiet, wearing black-framed glasses and remaining silent after falling, not uttering a word.
And the cat, it seemed to have tumbled out of his bag.
…He didn’t look like someone who would carry a cat in their bag.
“Are you alright?” Yu knelt beside him, looking genuinely concerned.
The boy shook his head, rubbing his temples. He accepted Yu’s help in getting up. The calico cat obediently darted back into his bag, vanishing in a blink.
Clearly not wanting to make a fuss, the boy accepted Yu’s apology and, without further ado, headed into the station.
Watching him go, Yu felt he had underestimated Tokyo. It had only been a year, yet it felt like a decade.
Sighing, Yu entered the station, heading towards the platform for a train in the opposite direction.
Meanwhile, Ren Amamiya waited for his train, bag slung over his shoulder.
“That was close,” Morgana whispered to Ren. “That person just bumped right into you.”
Having just experienced the awkward encounter, Ren didn’t want to talk.
“But he had a really good attitude. Luckily, he didn’t question why you had a cat in your bag. Though, Ren, you’re also at fault. If you weren’t looking down all the time, you wouldn’t have bumped into him.”
Ren pushed his glasses up his nose. “Did you see his uniform?”
“Huh? Uniform?” Morgana recalled the scene.
“Wait, I remember!” Morgana’s eyes widened. “Isn’t he from the same school as that Detective Prince?!”
Of course, it was just a coincidence. Shujin and Sōyō, while not in the same location, were close by, and it was normal to take the same train. He had run into Goro Akechi at the station before. Admittedly, he didn’t particularly want to see Akechi’s face.
Thinking about it, Morgana was right. He was partly to blame for the collision.
Ren had a secret: he was reliving his life.
In his previous life, for the sake of his friends’ happiness, he had accepted Maruki’s reality. But it had been a false happiness, everyone manipulated into abandoning their true desires.
His friends had lost all their memories, leaving him alone to infiltrate Maruki’s palace, fighting desperately to steal the final treasure. He had succeeded, but at the cost of his life. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself back on the day he first arrived in Tokyo.
Fate had played a cruel joke on him, but it had also opened a window of opportunity.
This time, he would definitely change the future.
“The train’s here!”
Just then, Morgana reminded him. “What book are you going to read on the train today?”
Ren: …
A second-playthrough, max-stats protagonist only reads travel magazines to unlock maps.
The new school was much as Yu had expected. His classmates were friendly but not overly enthusiastic. Unlike Inaba, a small town where a transfer student might arrive once a year, if that, Tokyo schools frequently saw new students, even those from overseas. This was nothing unusual.
Yu didn’t feel neglected. He had prepared himself mentally; after all, he had just transferred.
After class, Yu sat by the window, gazing outside. Suddenly, his phone vibrated on the desk. He picked it up.
Before checking who had messaged him, Yu noticed a strange app on his phone’s home screen.
A black and red, eye-like icon was mixed in with his other apps. He was certain he hadn’t downloaded anything unusual, and his phone didn’t seem to have a virus.
Though curious, Yu wondered what he should do if it was a virus. Thinking this, he long-pressed the icon and deleted it, then cleaned up his phone before checking his messages. He was surprised to find the sender was Lavenza.
Lavenza, resident of the Velvet Room, a woman in a blue uniform. They had met in Inaba, where she and Igor, the master of the Velvet Room, had offered him much assistance.
But truthfully, Lavenza was elusive, sometimes nowhere to be found even in the Velvet Room. Especially now that Yu had returned to Tokyo from Inaba, he couldn’t even find the entrance to the Velvet Room. Yet, today, Lavenza had contacted him.
With this in mind, Yu quickly checked the message.
Lavenza had sent him an address.
[Lavenza: Location.]
[Lavenza: Is this the legendary invigorating elixir? Though somewhat bitter, it possesses a delightful flavor. Highly recommended!]
Yu clicked on the location and saw it was a slightly out-of-the-way cafe.
He replied.
[Yu Narukami: Are you in Tokyo?]
[Lavenza: I can be anywhere. Of course, this is merely a routine business trip. No need to mind me.]
[Lavenza: However, I still recommend this place. You see, it’s a fateful journey across time.]
Yu pondered these words for a few seconds.
He thought: It seems this cafe’s coffee must be truly exceptional for Lavenza to personally visit and recommend it to him. He would go check it out tonight.
[Yu Narukami: Okay, I’ll go after school.]
[Lavenza: That’s wonderful.]
After school, Yu informed his mother that he would be home late, then followed the directions to the cafe.
Leblanc, located in an alley in Yongen-Jaya. Fortunately, despite being away from Tokyo for a year, the city hadn’t changed drastically. He was still a Tokyo native and wouldn’t get lost.
While navigating, Yu noticed the black and red, eye-like app had reappeared on his phone. This time, no matter how he tried, he couldn’t delete it.
After several failed attempts, Yu sighed and decided to ignore the app for now.
He pushed open the cafe door, the bell above jingling. A man with a goatee greeted him warmly from behind the counter.
“Welcome!”
“Hello.” Yu politely approached the counter. As he reached it, he stopped, surprised by what he saw.
Behind the counter, a familiar boy wearing an apron was cleaning. Yu recognized him—the Shujin student he had bumped into at the station!
Seemingly hearing the commotion, the boy looked up, and their eyes met.
“It’s really you. What a coincidence,” Yu greeted him with a smile. “The one from this morning…” The boy who carried a calico cat in his bag.
