It's truly unfortunate, but 2D illustrations are very difficult to recreate in reality.

Unless it's exceptionally well-made CG, there's always something awkward about it. When deforming real-life proportions to match illustrations on paper, the eyes become larger while the mouth becomes relatively smaller.

Even if an artist who pays attention to human proportions draws it, the body might look realistic enough, but the face is impossible to perfectly recreate unless you're wearing a doll mask.

As a result, when these characters appear in movies, they end up looking somewhat like cosplay.

Moreover, this world isn't even a movie, so recognizing characters from novels by face alone is extremely difficult. Maybe Yuka would be the exception? Yuka has certain "characteristics." At the very least, she's the only high school girl who carries a bag with a sword in it.

So it was somewhat strange that I was reminded of a certain character when looking at this "tall, pretty person" standing before me.

Yet somehow, I felt this person was that "senior heroine."

"First year?" the senior asked in a gentle voice. I nodded.

"Yes, I'm a first-year."

"I see."

She tilted her head slightly and stared at me intently.

Does she know me? If she's involved with the government, she might already know.

Her sudden appearance was suspicious... though I suppose this much could be coincidence.

...More importantly, I needed to confirm if this person was indeed that "senior."

After a brief silence, the senior spoke.

"That cat, is it yours?"

"Meow."

Feeling something pressing against my feet, I looked down to see a cat pushing its front paws against my shin.

I could feel its claws slightly protruding at the tips.

I bent down and picked up the cat.

"Meow."

The cat made a somewhat languid sound but didn't try to escape.

Well, I suppose we are taking care of it.

I looked toward Souta. He smiled wryly and held out his hands.

"Meow."

The cat nestled into Souta's arms while staring at me, but again, it didn't try to escape.

"We were trying to rescue it today."

"I see~ That's good. Small cats often can't survive very long on their own."

It feels a bit strange when she stares at me while saying that.

Isn't Koko more cat-like than me? Though not particularly aloof.

"...I'm late with introductions."

The senior placed one hand on her chest and smiled gently. It was exactly like the smile of some wealthy young lady.

For some reason, I wondered if I was the only one who thought she'd look good in a nun's habit.

"I'm Hagiwara Hana. I'm a second-year at the same school. And that child there, middle school?"

"Ah, y-yes!"

Shii was startled when suddenly addressed.

Hagiwara Hana.

Yes, that was her name.

With that keyword, my hazy memories gradually became clearer. One of the heroines who competed earnestly with Souta alongside Nanami.

To be more precise, Yuka was also competing earnestly within that range.

...

Nanami seemed to be a bit more at ease these days.

Since Nanami was openly showing her affection, her friends didn't bother Souta, and since Souta wasn't particularly interested in the Literature Club members, she seemed somewhat relieved.

The fact that she wasn't here today proved it. Shii was his sister, and Koko, Yuka, and I didn't seem to think we'd end up with Souta.

Well, Nanami has known us for quite a long time.

"Umm..."

It's a bit awkward.

I don't think any of the people around me are particularly lacking in social skills, but there's also no one outgoing enough to have an open conversation with a senior they're meeting for the first time.

Hagiwara's eyes turned to Souta again, then to the cat in his arms. Then she looked back at me and said,

"I'm curious about something."

"Curious... about what?" I asked blankly, having been standing there awkwardly, not knowing how to end the conversation.

"Hey, you two. Are you dating?"

That was the question that came back.

I was a bit tense, wondering if she might ask about my identity, but the question was something else entirely.

"No, we're not."

Souta and I answered simultaneously. It wouldn't be wrong to describe our voices as somewhat horrified.

Hearing our response, Hagiwara smiled brightly.

"Is that so?"

Come to think of it, wasn't she a nun?

I thought it was a bit strange in the original work too, but in light novels, religion is often nothing more than a plot device. Besides, Japan is one of the countries with a very small Christian population.

I've read books with setting errors like priests having sons, showing how uniquely religion is interpreted in this country.

...I guess there's no problem with a nun having a boyfriend.

"Then, are you going to take that child home and raise it?"

"Yes."

"That's a bit disappointing~ Even though we just met today, it's cute, isn't it?"

Hagiwara slowly approached Souta and gently stroked the cat's head with her fingertips.

"Hiss!"

Even seeing the cat hiss, Hagiwara wasn't scared at all.

"Can I come see it sometime?"

"What?"

"Fufu, I'm joking. Well then, goodbye. If we see each other at school again, let's at least greet each other~"

Hagiwara waved her hand with a very relaxed expression and walked away from us.

"..."

As I was blankly staring at her retreating figure,

"...Onii-san?"

Shii looked up at Souta with an incredulous expression.

I didn't think "why?" She was still Shii, even if to a lesser degree. In the original work, she was classified as a heroine.

"Huh?"

"Have you perhaps met that woman separately before?"

"Um... no?"

"...Why is your answer in the form of a question?"

"Ah, no, of course I've never met her. I don't really have any reason to go to the floors where other grade classrooms are."

Shii's eyes narrowed.

I thought she'd become a bit less intense than in the original work, but that wasn't entirely true.

But I wasn't particularly worried.

Because, well, how should I put it?

After my body became like this, I didn't have much interest in romance, and above all, since my life kept taking a nosedive just when things seemed to be improving, I didn't have the luxury to think about such things. I don't know how it would actually be, but for now, my memories from my previous life remain intact.

Much more clearly than my infancy in this world.

That means I probably won't have any reason to like men. I feel a bit envious of Souta's popularity.

Even if I don't tease him mischievously like Souta's friends, seeing Souta react this way was somewhat satisfying.

"Hey, guys? Say something."

"...You don't even come to club activities that much, right? So these days you go home separately more often. How would I know what you do after school?"

"That's true."

"Yeah."

Yuka and Koko nodded beside me. Koko was probably just nodding because I said so, but Yuka clearly had a teasing expression.

"Onii-san..."

Shii's expression became somewhat shocked.

"Ah, n-no, well, the Literature Club is all girls, so it's a bit awkward to visit every time..."

That's true.

Apparently, the gazes of his classmates get sharper each time Souta visits. If he keeps attending regularly for about a year, they might become as sharp as surgical knives.

Swoosh.

Shii's gaze suddenly turned toward me.

"Senpai, are you okay?"

"...Huh? Oh, yeah."

Seeing her gaze suddenly fly toward me, I answered like that. But for some reason, Shii covered her forehead with her hand and dragged it down her face.

"Onii-san... really..."

"Hmm?"

As I tilted my head at Shii's incomprehensible behavior,

"Hahaha!"

Yuka burst into laughter at the sight.

"Whoa?"

Koko tilted her head with a puzzled expression, just as confused as I was, while Yuka put her arm around my shoulder and laughed, holding her stomach.

No, seriously.

Why is everyone acting like this?

No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn't come to any conclusion, so I just stopped thinking about it.

...Alright, let's look for a pet shop nearby.

*

After buying cat supplies, carrying them together, waving goodbye to the cat, and returning home, the next day.

Tap tap.

I heard a strange sound from the window.

"Huh?"

Waking up and looking toward the window, I flinched.

Beyond the curtain, I could see some silhouette.

But soon realizing that the silhouette wasn't that big, I got up and went over.

Swoosh.

Opening the curtain, what I saw was:

"Meow."

A cat.

"...What are you doing there?"

I tilted my head, looking at the cat sitting tightly against the windowsill.

Wait, why is the cat that should be at the Sasaki house here?