Chapter 1: New Life

The roar of the car engine blended with the whispers of horns and the city's hustle outside. I stared at my reflection in the window, seeing those golden-amber eyes—just like my grandparents once had. They were the only legacy left, besides the apartment where I now lived.

I saw my new self, the figure who had replaced the "fat pig" of the past. A figure that was a stranger, yet also familiar. I didn't know how I felt about this change. All I knew was that I was no longer a weak person.

"Hey, don't space out," Kazuki-nii's cheerful voice broke my reverie. He was driving with one hand, while the other casually patted my shoulder. "We're here."

I looked out the window. The grand gates of Tokyo University stood majestically before me. Students were pouring in, some looking excited, others nervous. I took a deep breath.

Remember, you're here to become a lawyer. Don't pay attention to anything else, I told myself, steeling my resolve.

Kazuki-nii stopped the car next to a busy sidewalk. "Well, get out. Starting today, you're no longer a high school kid, you're a university student. Take care of your sister, okay?"

"I will," I replied curtly, grabbing my backpack.

As I opened the car door, a strange sensation enveloped me. The sounds around me seemed to subside, replaced by quieter, more focused whispers.

Why is there a guy there? He's so handsome...

That silver hair, and his eyes... they're gorgeous!

Is he a new student? Where is he from?

My ears caught every murmur, but my face remained flat. These were things I had often experienced since I changed. The attention I had once desperately dreamed of now felt bothersome. This wasn't praise. This was the ironic aftermath of my revenge.

I got out of the car, giving Kazuki-nii a wave without expression. "I'm going," I said softly.

"Good luck, Akira! Don't let those women make you forget your goal, okay!" Kazuki-nii called out, followed by a light chuckle.

I ignored his final jab, focused on one goal. To enter those gates. To leave the past behind, and face the future ahead.

But I didn't know it then. The gate I thought would lead me to success was instead leading me to problems I never wanted. Problems that now wore mini-skirts and carried tote bags, staring at me as if I were their new prey.