Seven-year-old Karuizawa Kei lay flat on the ground, looking as if she were intently observing ants moving house.
She used a twig to clear away the thick fallen leaves under a tree, then brushed off several layers of dirt beneath them. Sure enough, there was a small leather wallet hidden underneath.
It should contain exactly 53,800 yen.
This was her father's secret stash hidden in their backyard. In theory, it wouldn't have been discovered until a month later when her mother would clean up the garden.
Karuizawa Kei sighed and buried the wallet even deeper. It had taken her over a month to slowly come to terms with the fact that she had been reincarnated with her memories intact.
After confirming the authenticity of her memories through a few key events, she began idly drawing shapes on the ground with her twig while thinking.
Perhaps because she'd left too many regrets in her previous life, the current Karuizawa Kei was more excited than anything.
There were two main problems she had to address:
1. She would experience severe school bullying in the future, which would ultimately twist her personality in extreme ways.
2. Where is Ryo now?
Kei was certain this wasn't the same worldline as her first memory loop, since she had never interacted with Kitagawa Ryo so far, nor was she his childhood friend.
If this were the second memory loop, then she should be attending the same middle school as Ryo.
But right now, she had only just started elementary school.
So far, it seemed that her fluttering wings as a butterfly hadn't changed much—even her father's secret stash remained in the same hiding spot.
But still, she couldn't wait to verify it. She wanted to confirm that Ryo existed here.
Karuizawa Kei wrote his name on the ground with her twig.
Or perhaps—she simply wanted to see him again.
Kei knew which elementary school Ryo had attended. In order to visit the school from her memories, she even skipped the last period of the afternoon.
She waited early by the school gates, sticking close to the security guard for safety, making herself look like a little girl waiting for her older brother or sister.
But she never saw him.
Many children ran out of the school after the final bell, and Kei watched each of their faces closely—but none of them looked familiar.
Among the older kids, some already seemed to be in early relationships. Kei saw several "couples" walking with blushing faces, sneaking hand-holding beneath their sleeves and schoolbags as they walked from the school building to the gate.
Karuizawa Kei couldn't help but wonder if Ryo had ever dated someone without her knowing. After all, he was the type girls would easily fall for.
She pouted slightly, feeling a little bitter.
After waiting for several days and ultimately being caught skipping class, which the school reported to her parents, Kei was finally forced to give up her meaningless attempt.
Maybe it just wasn't time for them to meet yet.
Kei comforted herself and tried to shift her focus instead to problem number one:
How to avoid the school bullying she would face in the future.
Playing the weak to gain sympathy, or pretending to be strong and acting tough—both of these failed strategies she had tried before were quickly ruled out.
Whether it was showing weakness or faking strength, they both stemmed from her own inadequacies. If she could become more like Ryo, maybe she could avoid it altogether.
So Kei started with basic physical training. Her physical ability had been rated D during the entrance assessment for Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School. Though she thought that rating was a bit too low, it wasn't far off the mark.
The student with the highest physical stats in her class was Horikita Suzune, who had a B+, a result closely tied to her highly disciplined lifestyle since childhood—something Kei remembered Ryo mentioning.
Now given another chance, Kei decided to take training seriously.
Studying, exercising, social skills.
Four years passed in the blink of an eye, and as Kei entered the upper grades, bullying began to rear its head in the classroom.
But thanks to her preparation and the many friends she had made, Kei wasn't targeted at the outset.
She recognized the girl who was being bullied. In her previous life, this girl hadn't taken part in bullying her but also hadn't stood up for her either—a stance shared by most of their classmates.
The girl now being shoved into a corner and verbally abused was surrounded, while other students casually flipped through textbooks or did homework. Some even hummed tunes, their feet tapping rhythmically under their desks.
It was like the classroom had split into two worlds. Everyone had built walls around themselves, separating bullying and the bullied from their own space.
Now, Karuizawa Kei stepped beyond that invisible line.
She understood perfectly: if she stood by and did nothing, she would remain imprisoned by her past.
She knew better than anyone how cruel bullying could be. She had both suffered it and inflicted it upon others.
Because human thought can never truly transcend the limits of the present, the pain of the past is always magnified in memory.
That's why people crave a second chance, to make up for their regrets.
Is she just seeking attention?
Confusion, resentment, suspicion, doubt.
Kei felt the weight of the pressure as she stepped in to shield another.
But she knew: no matter how much pain she faced now, it could never compare to the suffering she endured in her past life. The irreversible pain of that time now guided her to take action.
She remembered the moment when Kitagawa Ryo stood in front of her and took that knife aimed at her with full malice.
Even if he wasn't standing behind her now, when the day came that she would see him again, she wanted to be able to proudly tell him about this moment.
Not as someone who had been bullied.
Not as someone who had bullied others.
But as—
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"A guardian, huh?"
Faced with Kitagawa Ryo's slightly stunned question, Karuizawa Kei simply flashed a carefree smile and replied:
"Yeah. If I had to choose, I really like the black-and-white guardian cat from Cats."
As a musical filled with fairy-tale elements, Cats naturally featured a confrontation between good and evil. At one point, a villain cat named Macavity kidnaps the tribe's elderly leader, but thanks to the help of the other cats, his plot is foiled. One of the heroic moments includes Munkustrap, the guardian cat, stepping up to bravely fight off the villain.
"But if I remember correctly, that character doesn't have a solo, right?"
Kitagawa Ryo frowned in thought. One of the defining traits of Cats was its diverse and vividly unique feline cast. The guardian cat was indeed a pivotal character for the storyline, but unlike others who had solos to show off their personalities, Munkustrap only appeared in ensemble numbers. His fight with Macavity was more of a physical scene than a musical one.
"But I just really like that character, nya~"
Kei swung her restless legs and even added a deliberately cutesy sound at the end of her sentence.
She stretched with a yawn, and the arc of her developing figure traced a gentle curve before Ryo's eyes.
"Even if you're the director, the actors should have the right to choose their roles too, right?"
She tapped the table teasingly—a phrase Kitagawa Ryo himself had used many times in the past to talk back to the theater troupe leader.
"I'm just messing around with it, anyway. Wasn't planning to be too formal."
Kitagawa twirled the pencil in his hand. Originally, he just wanted Horikita Suzune to rehearse the lead role from Cats in case she needed to stand in for her brother, Horikita Manabu. But rumors began to spread like wildfire, claiming that the drama club was officially planning a revival of Cats.
Things escalated even further when a student council member confirmed that Kitagawa Ryo, the club president, had indeed submitted an official request related to the musical. The rumors became even more believable, and he even received words of encouragement from the school board chairman.
Yet his original plan was simply to find a valid reason to bring Hotaru to school legally and have someone take care of her.
Sighing deeply with a frown, Ryo considered a new issue and said:
"But the guardian cat's appearance is black and white. Kei's hair color might be too eye-catching."
"I could just tie it up."
Kei shook her head, and whether intentionally or not, her long ponytail swung directly into Ryo's face.
"Fair enough."
Ryo rubbed his nose—there was a very distinct scent of shampoo, probably citrus.
"Actually, I think acting is more important than the costume or makeup for this role."
As Kei spoke, she undid her hair tie. Her honey-colored hair cascaded gently over her shoulders. Though it was just a simple hairstyle change, it somehow added a touch of elegance to her demeanor.
"I really like characters who are kind to their companions, harsh to their enemies, and still brave enough to protect others when danger comes."
[The version of myself I once longed to be]
She silently added in her heart.
"So that's why people call you the guardian cat."
Ryo instantly saw through Kei's intentions. In her first simulation, she had exaggerated her experience of being bullied in order to gain his sympathy and latch onto him completely, hoping to become utterly dependent on him—a parasite. But in the end, she chose to let go.
In her second simulation, Kei had tried to grow into a fabricated version of strength through his orchestrated designs. Even though she managed to clear the game, it didn't truly mean her life had changed.
Because in both simulations, she had essentially been playing the role of someone who was protected—a puppet on strings. Maybe slightly better than a useless parasite, but still incredibly limited.
"Do you remember the first time we met at the theater?"
Ryo's sudden question made Kei pause for a moment, but she quickly nodded with determination:
"Of course I do!"
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"Ha..."
A faint sigh, yet it miraculously reached every ear in the audience.
"Though bound by blood, we are not the same."
It's... Ryo!
Karuizawa Kei recognized that familiar figure on stage. After a brief moment of surprise, tears unexpectedly welled up in her eyes.
Even beneath the makeup, his familiar brows, mouth, nose, and the way he spoke and sighed were unmistakable.
She had the sudden, almost uncontrollable urge to rush onto the stage.
Fortunately, the dim lighting in the audience hid her expression from her parents. Kei quickly wiped away her tears.
She had considered the possibility that this world might not contain a Kitagawa Ryo, or that they might never meet again.
But she had waited, and now she had seen him.
Ryo's eyes were just as dark and deep as she remembered—like a bottomless pool.
And within them, Kei could still find a sense of peace.
She held back her emotions and focused all her attention on him.
As the story reached its climax, Hamlet, poisoned by a tainted sword, carried out his final revenge. On stage, he forced the king to drink the poisoned wine. The light in his eyes burned with a chilling hatred, completely erasing the image of the once elegant prince. In that moment, he was nothing more than a vengeful specter:
"Go now, you incestuous, murderous, tyrannical King of Denmark!"
His eyes held no emotion—only the raw, primal gaze of a beast.
"What amazing acting," her father unconsciously praised.
But Kei could only stare in awe at the Hamlet who seemed on the verge of madness.
"Follow my mother into death!"
His hoarse voice roared with fury.
Kei didn't know much about theater, but even she could imagine how much effort it took for a child actor to deliver such a performance.
After the play ended, she clung to her father until he bought her a bouquet for the cast.
"Ryo! Your performance was amazing today!"
Karuizawa Kei had wiped away her tears and now wore the brightest smile she could muster in front of Kitagawa Ryo.
"Thank you for your kind words. I will continue to do my best."
This was their first exchange of words in this world. After a brief pause, Kei heard Ryo's next announcement.
"Thank you all for attending today's performance. Our next production will be Sophocles' Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex."
"Within it lies the Oracle of Delphi, and I'd like to offer it to you all—and as a reminder to myself."
"γνῐ θεαυτόν—Know thyself."
It sounded like a promotional line, but Kei instantly knew that those words were meant for her.
Because Kitagawa Ryo was looking straight at her.
He remembered.
In that moment, Karuizawa Kei truly felt reborn.
And so, she made her choice:
"I want to become an actor like Ryo!"
"Director! Director! Are you still accepting apprentices?!"
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"Honestly, I never expected you to join the theater troupe back then, Kei... and even less that you'd stick with it longer than me, the so-called half-hearted one."
"If you're considered half-hearted, then I doubt there are many true professionals left in the acting world."
Karuizawa Kei chuckled softly, covering her mouth.
"We can deal with the script and casting tomorrow. No need to rush. Go get some rest."
She glanced at her phone. The time was nearing 11 p.m. As she changed her shoes, preparing to leave, she added:
"I'll call you at midnight to make sure you're sleeping."
"Is that really necessary?"
"Well, you do have a tendency to worry people sometimes... like last time."
Waving her hand casually, Kei was just about to close the Kitagawa family door behind her.
But Kitagawa Ryo, in his slippers, quickly stepped over.
"It's already so late... why not just stay here for the night? Hotaru's room is free. You can just tell your parents you're staying at the troupe."
"Alright."
Kei nodded and stepped back inside.
And then...
The two of them happily spent the entire night writing the script.
"I'm dying of exhaustion..."
Kei collapsed onto the bed without any grace. This was Hotaru's room. Though Hotaru was currently overseas receiving treatment, the room had been well maintained and was perfectly suitable for guests.
On the headboard, there was still a poster advertising one of Kitagawa Ryo's performances:
"Explosive Rising Star – Critically Acclaimed Acting!"
Starring:
Macbeth – Kitagawa Ryo
Lady Macbeth – Karuizawa Kei
Kei drifted off to sleep in a daze.
[It really has... been such a long journey, hasn't it?]
She still had growing to do—growing until she could become someone capable of protecting Ryo.
But for now, this was enough.
Just being there beside him.
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