The last day of September.
Haru originally planned to head ho early and max out his [Jumping] skill, eager to see what new surprises the system would throw at him after leveling up.
However, shortly after school ended, he received a call from the production crew.
The filming for 'High School Return Of A Gangster' had officially started yesterday. Not only were the three high school boys from their group cast, but a few of their classmates had also been pulled into the project.
Haru welcod this wholeheartedly. Despite their usual antics, the boys from that high school were surprisingly reliable when it ca to serious matters.
"I have to stop by the 'High School Return Of A Gangster' set later, so I won't be heading ho right away," Haru explained to Yukino and the others in the clubroom.
Lately, Yukino had been staying at his house—essentially on surveillance duty. anwhile, Utaha and gumi had planned to join them for dinner today.
"So, those high school actors ran into so trouble, and you want to see if you can help?" Yukino summarized.
When Haru nodded, she imdiately followed up, "I'll go too. It's a good opportunity to observe how a film crew works up close."
Utaha and gumi also chid in their interest.
Haru wasn't surprised. Even before ntioning it, he had already guessed they would all tag along.
With this unexpected errand to run, today's club activities wrapped up earlier than usual. As soon as the four stepped out of the school gates, their ride was already waiting. The driver opened the door, and they all got in.
Haru took the front passenger seat, while the three girls sat in the back.
"Did they tell you what exactly is going on?" Yukino asked, clearly invested in the matter.
"It's pretty straightforward," Haru replied. "Since it's their first ti acting, Tanaka and the others are struggling to get into character quickly, and they're extrely stiff on set."
The three girls didn't look surprised. They had more or less expected as much.
"That's a common problem for first-ti actors," Utaha remarked, watching Haru through the rearview mirror. "What I'm more interested in is—how do you plan to handle it?"
Yukino glanced at Utaha, surprised that she had been thinking the sa thing.
gumi, who had previously heard about High School Return Of A Gangster from Haru, tilted her head slightly. "The script itself seems pretty difficult to act out, right? The exaggerated expressions and body language... They're complete beginners. Can they really pull it off?"
Haru smirked, putting on a wise, all-knowing expression. "This script was practically tailor-made for them. They just need to be themselves, and filming will go smoothly."
The three girls exchanged glances, the sa thought running through their minds: How do you know they just need to be themselves?
And tailor-made? That claim was even more suspicious.
As far as they knew, Haru hadn't spent much ti with those high schoolers, so how could he possibly be so sure?
Haru was aware of their doubts, but it wasn't sothing he could explain easily. He couldn't exactly tell them that he already knew these guys from his past life, and that they had once brought excitent to his otherwise mundane days.
So, he settled for a simple excuse: "I occasionally chat with them online."
The girls clearly didn't buy it, but they didn't press him further.
Upon arriving at the film set, the group greeted the staff before spotting a blond-haired boy chatting with the director.
"What... is that hairstyle?" Yukino's normally composed face showed genuine shock.
Since she had only read the script from Haru but never seen the character designs, the sight of the sea-urchin-like hairstyle of one of the lead characters left her montarily stunned.
Utaha also fell silent, taken aback by the sheer absurdity of the look.
Only gumi, ever composed, quietly asked, "Is this show ant to have an exaggerated manga-style aesthetic?"
Both Yukino and Utaha turned to look at her.
Haru was equally surprised. "You figured that out already?"
"A classmate of mine lent a cody manga recently, so I had a feeling." gumi's tone remained calm and unhurried.
"That makes sense. This series is indeed styled after cody manga. That's why everything—from facial expressions to body movents—is over-the-top, and even the hairstyles are ridiculous." Haru explained while observing the set.
The boy playing the role of the sea-urchin-haired protagonist was Tanaka, a sharp-featured high schooler.
This was unexpected even for Haru. Tanaka didn't seem like a natural fit for the role, but in the original story, he had a kind personality and a razor-sharp wit when it ca to delivering snappy retorts—practically a "master of cobacks."
"Haru, you guys made it!" A bespectacled boy, Hidenori, approached with a friendly greeting.
His appearance hadn't changed much, save for his new school uniform. Behind him, a few other high school students stepped forward, bowing in gratitude.
"Thank you so much for giving us this opportunity to act!"
Haru smiled. "It's nothing. As long as you don't bla for taking ti away from your studies, we're good."
"Studying? No way!" One of them grinned. "We absolutely love this part-ti gig."
"Our boring high school lives finally have sothing to get excited about. We should be thanking you!"
"Yeah, yeah! We never knew working on a film set could be this much fun!"
A group of teenage boys, full of energy, were quick to adapt to new experiences—far faster than most adults.
Now that they saw Haru was easy to talk to, and with the three-man gang from his high school vouching for him, the group of boys naturally fell into conversation.
Yukino and the others didn't interrupt. Instead, they tactfully took a few steps back, giving them space.
Utaha suddenly chuckled as if she had just thought of sothing. "You know… he's actually the most fitting choice for this show."
Yukino paused for a mont before unexpectedly agreeing. "True. He has those occasional dumb monts that would blend right into this story's style."
After speaking, they both realized sothing was missing. They turned their heads in unison—only to confirm that Kato gumi was still standing beside them, not having mysteriously vanished.
"Why so quiet, gumi?" Utaha asked, studying her curiously.
gumi blinked. "I was just imagining what Amamiya-kun would look like with that hedgehog hairstyle. I think it'd really suit the exaggerated style of a gag manga."
Both Yukino and Utaha froze.
"That's a very constructive suggestion," Utaha said, laughing. "Now I really want to see it."
Yukino, on the other hand, shook her head with disdain. "I don't. Just picturing it already feels stupid."
"But it's two against one now, Yukinoshita," Utaha teased.
"Senpai, have you finally descended into this level of foolishness? Otherwise, why would you say sothing so ridiculous?"
As the two started bickering, gumi glanced at the hedgehog-haired protagonist in the distance, then back at Haru chatting with the high school boys. Unconsciously, she started picturing the transformation in her head.1
—
anwhile, having wrapped up his conversation with the group, Haru turned back toward Yukino and the others.
But just then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a familiar figure within the set.
The person was wearing a mask and a baseball cap, hiding their face completely. Judging from the silhouette, it was clearly a woman. Beside her stood soone who appeared to be an assistant.
"What is she doing here?"
Haru imdiately recognized the woman and walked straight toward her.
Yukino and the others noticed his movent and instinctively followed.
"Where are you going?" Utaha was the first to ask.
"See that woman in the mask? That's Ninagawa-san. Yukino and I t her before—I thought I'd go say hello," Haru explained.
Yukino's eyes lit up. "You an Ninagawa Mika?"
Utaha, who had never t her before, looked puzzled.
gumi, still holding her phone, quickly searched the na and read aloud, "So she's a film director."
Utaha leaned in to glance at the screen.
Haru chuckled. "A few years ago, a certain phrase went viral online— 'I'm sorry for being born as a human being'."
"From No Longer Human?" Yukino imdiately understood.
Haru nodded. "The film adaptation of that novel was directed by Ninagawa Mika."
This ti, Yukino gazed at the masked woman with a newfound admiration in her eyes.
It was the look of soone who deeply respected another.
Utaha was quietly astonished. She had always known that the person she liked was exceptional, but she hadn't expected him to be acquainted with such a renowned director.
gumi, too, was studying Haru, her eyes glimring with intrigue.
Since Ninagawa Mika had positioned herself in a secluded corner, clearly trying to stay out of sight, Haru avoided approaching from the front. Instead, he took a detour, skillfully bypassing the gaze of the crew.
Once they reached her, he greeted her casually.
To his surprise, Ninagawa Mika looked at him in astonishnt. "Amamiya-kun, you could recognize even like this?"
"I've seen a lot of your photography work before, so I naturally ended up learning about you as well," Haru admitted honestly.
Ninagawa Mika chuckled. "To be admired by such a talented young person—what an honor."
"What brings you here?"
"I heard from Miss Haruno that this drama was your project. Since I happened to be in the area, I thought I'd drop by and take a look."
"That makes sense."
With that, Haru's curiosity was satisfied.
He recalled seeing her and Yukino's mother chatting amicably at a banquet so ti ago—that must have been when they beca acquainted.
"This drama has an absurd, codic style, right?" Ninagawa Mika remarked. "I watched a bit just now, and I think a lot of young people will love it. It's impressive—you're still in high school, yet you already have such a well-developed concept for a script."
There was undisguised admiration in her voice.
After speaking, she shifted her gaze to the three girls standing beside him.
"Hm?"
She blinked in surprise before smiling teasingly.
"Now that I think about it, every ti we et, you always seem to be surrounded by very cute girls."
Haru remained composed. "You've already t Yukino before, haven't you?"
"I have, of course. But these two lovely young ladies—I haven't had the pleasure."
For the first ti, Ninagawa Mika displayed the mischievous wit of an experienced adult as she asked with a knowing smile:
"So, which one of them is your girlfriend?"
Haru froze.
Because at that exact mont, his [Auto-Aim] skill picked up on the fact that three pairs of eyes were now locked onto him.
gumi, why are you staring at too?! Are you just here for the drama?!
He scread internally.
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