Chapter 2: Um, do i have to go to the academy?

“Anyone… there?”

I peeked out, hiding my body behind the wall, only sticking my head out slightly to look around.

“No one’s here…?”

My voice came out all shaky, and after scanning the surroundings multiple times to confirm no one was around, I slowly started stepping out.

Even then, I kept looking around, checking for people.

‘It’s… kinda scary.’

Anyone else would probably laugh and call this pathetic, but I was dead serious.

This place looked like a house, but whether it was really my house was anyone’s guess. Even if it was, I had zero info about this character’s family, so I approached with extreme caution.

It’s definitely not because I’m a coward or a total loser. Seriously.

It’s dark. My eyes were starting to adjust, but I still couldn’t see clearly, so I began groping the wall as I moved forward.

“Where’s… the light switch?”

It’s 5 a.m. right now.

Still way too early for the sun to rise.

“Ughhh…”

My body started trembling.

In this pitch-black place, not knowing where I was or what it looked like filled me with fear.

“I need… to find the switch quick…”

I kept feeling along the wall, inching forward. Surely I’d find the switch eventually.

As I moved slowly, I kept scanning my surroundings.

“Ow…!”

Then, I bumped into something and fell backward.

“My butt hurts…”

Landing on my backside, it hurt like hell.

I started thinking about what I’d hit.

A wall? No, it was too soft, almost cushiony.

Yeah, like a person wearing clothes—

Wait, a person?

A shiver ran through me as I turned to look at what I’d bumped into.

“Eek…!”

My body froze.

I needed to run, but my legs, still sprawled from the fall, wouldn’t move.

Red eyes? This is an academy, so it’s probably a fantasy world—could it be a vampire?

What the hell? This character’s a heroine, so why’s she in a dangerous place like this? Was there some episode in the novel where she gets kidnapped by a vampire horde?

My thoughts spiraled, and the idea of getting drained by a vampire made me grit my teeth and drag myself away using my arms as fast as I could.

“I… I-I don’t taste good! Please, no bloodsucking…”

“…”

The red eyes kept staring at me.

Did my reaction make it more interested? Should I have just stayed still?

The worst-case scenario started forming in my head.

A vampire binding me, feeding on me whenever it’s hungry—the most horrific scenario imaginable.

“Haa…”

“Eek, hiiik…!”

The more I thought about it, the more desperate I became to escape, using every ounce of strength to drag myself away.

If only my legs weren’t frozen, I could’ve run by now.

“…What are you doing?”

Thankfully, my worst-case scenario didn’t come true.

“Ugh…”

The lights flicked on, and the sudden brightness made me squint reflexively.

I started looking around.

A sofa, a TV, a dining table, a fridge, and a sink nearby—the typical setup of a living room.

And right in front of me, a guy with red eyes.

“Look at you, can’t even recognize your own brother.”

“…Oh.”

It hit me right then—this character I possessed also has red eyes.

So… I was trembling, thinking my brother was a vampire, dragging myself away with my arms, saying my blood tastes bad…

Realizing this, I immediately hung my head.

I don’t know for sure, but my face must be burning red with shame. My skin’s super pale, so it’s probably obvious.

“Man, I should’ve grabbed my phone. That would’ve been perfect to record and laugh at later.”

“…”

Should I just die now?

If I run back to my room, open the window, and dive onto the asphalt below, would that ease this humiliation?

I thought about it, but the idea of my cause of death being “embarrassment-induced suicide” felt even more humiliating, so I went to my room, climbed into bed, and pulled the blanket over my head.

I… have to go out there later to eat. What do I do?

Maybe I should just skip breakfast.

*

“Hey, you’re here?”

“…Yeah.”

Seeing him again—my brother, I guess?—two hours later, I couldn’t meet his eyes as my earlier actions came flooding back.

“Talking kinda short, huh? Mom—”

“…Ugh.”

“Watch yourself.”

This guy… is the heroine’s brother?

Aren’t most heroine’s brothers supposed to be total siscons?

Normally, a super overprotective brother glares at the protagonist, puts him through trials, and eventually accepts him, right?

Or is that just my preconceived notion?

Now that I think about it, he’s kind of like my real brother, which is low-key annoying.

Come to think of it, this situation feels like that time long ago when my brother stood in front of the light switch, scaring me in the dark.

…Do I have to treat him like my brother?

“Your eyes look kinda fierce.”

“…Sorry.”

Back then and now, I’m just a pathetic mess in front of him, tail between my legs.

Why couldn’t this character be an only child? If I ever get out of this novel, I swear I’ll leave a 5,700-character comment on every chapter, pouring my heart out.

It’s just too much. Can’t they exaggerate a bit for the sake of the story?

“What’s up with you two? Did you fight?”

“No, it’s not that…”

“Huh? No?”

“But the vibe… Never mind, it’s always like this.”

What’s with this treatment? She’s my mom, right? Even if I’m a daughter now, not a son, shouldn’t she care a bit more? Oh, wait, he’s her son too.

‘Let’s just eat…’

It’s my first day possessed, and my mental state’s already crumbling.

I decided not to care about this anymore and focus on preserving what’s left of my sanity, shoving the food in front of me into my mouth.

“…It’s good.”

“Really? Who’d my daughter take after to say such sweet things? Want more meat?”

“No, I’m good.”

Meat stir-fry for breakfast? I don’t know about anything else, but the food here’s way better than my mom’s, who’s such a bad cook I’d rather make my own.

…Being called a daughter feels super weird, but what’s the point of saying I’m a guy? It wouldn’t change anything.

These people have known this character forever, so if I suddenly said I’m a guy, they’d think I’m crazy or something.

Swallowing my tears, I stuffed more meat into my mouth.

“Mom…”

“Yeah? What’s up, Jiyeon?”

“I think there’s too much food…”

By the way, the amount of rice in my bowl is insane.

Like… twice what I’d normally eat. Even eating that much usually makes me sick, so my stomach’s probably even smaller now.

“I gave you less than usual…”

How much does this character normally eat? Then again, I eat less than most people, so I let it slide.

“What, you on a diet? Finally becoming human, huh?”

“…Shut up, qui— I mean, be quiet.”

“Shut?”

His reaction pissed me off so much I almost let a curse slip out with all my heart.

Good thing I saw Mom and stopped myself, or saying “shut up” might’ve caused a disaster.

“So, Jiyeon?”

“Yes.”

“You getting ready for the academy? Packed your uniform? It’s your first year, so you gotta prepare thoroughly!”

“…Oh.”

So… the story hasn’t even started yet?

I don’t have great feelings about the academy.

For one, I’m a hikikomori, a loser, and a loner who doesn’t like or do well with talking to people and prefers staying holed up at home.

‘Why would I go to an academy where I might get blackened?’

There’s a chance I could end up as the “blackened” character. To me, the academy is a minefield where I could turn into that.

Just thinking about it is exhausting.

‘…Come to think of it, I don’t even know the protagonist’s face or name.’

I’ve never read [Academy’s Harem Hero] or even its reviews, so I don’t know the protagonist’s name.

Does that mean I have to be paranoid, wondering where the protagonist might pop up, and avoid every guy while ignoring the girls?

“…Mom.”

“Yeah? What’s wrong, Jiyeon?”

Just thinking about it was horrifying. No matter how I looked at it, that wasn’t happening. I’d rather drop out of the academy altogether.

“I… um, can I not go to the academy…?”

With all my heart, hoping she’d feel my sincerity, I conveyed my wish to Mom.

It was my first day possessed.