Chapter 1: Zero Dating Experience, But Now I Have an Ex-Girlfriend

On the first day of school, I hit the jackpot.

Uh, physically speaking.

When I came to, I found myself in a world I’d never known.

It was a cheesy, clichéd setup—swords, magic, and all sorts of nonsense.
For details, go watch Mushoku Tensei or Re:Zero.

Just as I realized a young man’s mission is to forge ahead, slay dragons, vanquish evil, rummage through villagers’ chests, and maybe marry a princess…

I noticed people around me started calling me—Your Majesty, the Demon King.

…

“Achoo!”

Back in the classroom, sitting at my desk, I sniffled.

After sprinting and then entering the air-conditioned auditorium, the temperature shift left my nose feeling off.

I reached for my bag to grab a tissue, but a clean white one appeared in front of me.

“…Here.”

I looked up.
Ye Qingshu had somehow made her way to my desk.

“Huh? …Uh, thanks?”

I took the tissue, feeling a bit dazed.

Can’t blame me for that.
The last time we talked, in her memory, was last week.
In mine, it was back in the Shang Dynasty.

—And that was online.
In person? Might as well have been the Zhou Dynasty.

“So polite? You’re acting kinda weird this morning.”

Ye Qingshu said this, tilting her head slightly, eyeing me oddly.

“You’re the weird one. Since when do you talk to me at school?”

I shrugged, wiping my nose with the tissue.

“Uh… W-Well, we’re in high school now. Everyone’s more mature, so they probably won’t gossip or anything…”

To be fair, even though we grew up together, I had to admit Ye Qingshu was stunning.

Her smooth hair tied back in a ponytail, her dark green eyes somehow reminding me of a bamboo grove at dawn.

Even in the plain school uniform skirt, she had that youthful vibe unique to our age.

If Shen Yingxu weren’t in our class, she’d probably be the undisputed class beauty of Class 7.

No wonder I used to have a crush on her.

“So, I figured we don’t need to hide our childhood friend thing like we did in middle school.”

She said this, looking at me with a hint of expectation.

Like she was waiting for my reaction.

“…Oh, really?”

I nodded, crumpled the tissue, and tossed it into the trash can behind me.

If this were me from this morning, before I got isekai’d, I’d probably be thrilled.
A girl I’d crushed on for ages suddenly getting friendly? Dream come true.

But man, I spent way too long in that other world.
I almost forgot her name, let alone why I liked her in the first place.

In other words, I’m like an old man looking back on a teenage crush—nothing left but nostalgia.

Well, my “busy life” was mostly spent destroying the world.

…Maybe a bit too busy.

“…” Probably not getting the reaction she expected, her expression stiffened.
After a moment of silence, she tapped my desk lightly.

“Hey, speaking of which, do you know Shen Yingxu?”

“No, not really…”

I added silently in my head, At least not in this world.

“But at the entrance ceremony this morning, you two seemed pretty close?”

“She just asked me for directions.”

And tried to harvest my kidneys.

“Oh, is that all?”

Ye Qingshu visibly relaxed, then spoke as if it were obvious.

“Yeah, makes sense. We grew up together—there’s no way you’d know a cute girl like that without me knowing!”

“Uh-huh. That’s more like it.”

Ye Qingshu nodded repeatedly.

What a vicious person.
Knowing I’ve got no game with girls and mocking me with that smug tone.

“Not really. Didn’t we barely talk in middle school—”

I started to point out the flaw in her logic when a cheerful greeting came from behind.

“Talking about me?”

—Eek!!

I snapped out of my lazy slouch, straightened my back, and put distance between me and the source of that crisp voice.

“S-Shen Yingxu?”

Ye Qingshu called out, surprised, then glanced at me, frowning slightly.

“Why do you look so scared? Like you’ve got a guilty conscience?”

“No way! I’ve never done anything to feel guilty about!”

I said this while glancing at Shen Yingxu, who was smiling sweetly.

Where’s the knife?!

Left hand?!

Right hand?!

Or maybe—!!

“Uh, Zhu Hanqi?”

The creepy ghost girl in front of me gave a troubled smile.

“Staring like that… it’s a bit embarrassing…”

I twitched my lips.

Hah, the one who threw a knife at me in the corridor is talking about embarrassment?

You were chasing me with a blade, hair all wild like some vengeful spirit, and now you’re embarrassed?!

I used to think Ye Qingshu was such a gossip?

Shen Yingxu blinked, looked at Ye Qingshu, who’d spoken first, and smiled.

“It’s fine. I just wanted to say hi.
Are you and Zhu Hanqi old friends?”

“Yeah, we grew up together. Childhood friends, I guess?”

Huh?

I stared at Ye Qingshu, dumbfounded.

Did she take the wrong meds today? Or was she the one who got hit by a car and isekai’d?

Her using a sweet term like “childhood friends” to describe us?
Feels like I ended up in the wrong world.

Am I really back? Is this girl a monster in Ye Qingshu’s skin?

“Real-life childhood friends? I’m so jealous!”

Great, after Ye Qingshu’s over-the-top lines, the freshman flower, Shen Yingxu, delivers her own award-worthy melodramatic performance.

I’m telling you, don’t let influencers try acting—our lives are at stake!

“It’s more like a cursed bond. We’ve fought more than we’ve gotten along,” Ye Qingshu said, straight-up lying to my face.

After middle school, we barely interacted except online, and even then, I was the one reaching out.
Where’s this fighting nonsense coming from?

“That’s just because you’re so close, right?”

Shen Yingxu said with a smile.

You believe that? So, does your knife-throwing stunt mean you fell for me at first sight?

That’s some heavy love, Hatsune Miku.

I side-eyed the girl with the pure, innocent smile.
She hasn’t pulled out a knife yet—what’s her game?

No way she’s actually here to make friends, right?

“I feel like we’re going to get along great, Ye Qingshu.”

Shen Yingxu said earnestly to her, then turned to me.

“And you too, Zhu Hanqi.”

She smiled brightly.
My smile was forced.

“R-Really? Haha…”

I opted for a noncommittal response, staying cautious.

“We definitely will.”

She smiled gently, then let out a soft sigh, her expression turning slightly melancholic.

“Even if I’m just your ex-girlfriend now, please don’t push me away too much—it’d be lonely.”

Silence rippled through the class, starting from those around me, spreading like a wave.

Then, I felt icy glares slicing my way, including from Ye Qingshu.

And one pair of eyes, smiling sweetly but brimming with venomous mockery.

What a fast knife.

Shen Yingxu went for the jugular, and it hit hard.