Chapter Text
3:48 AM
Isagi Yoichi had successfully wasted another night’s sleep yet again. His best friend, Meguru Bachira, sent a novel with a message,
“LOLOLOL the villain has d same name as u !!! X3 go read it lmfao
Bachi 🐝 has attached a PDF to a message
The Commoner’s way to snag the Empire's heart.pdf ”
Isagi, being the idiot he actually is, knowing that he needed to wake up early for his training, complied.
That’s how he ended up straining his eyes reading some trashy BL with the most cliché plot ever. Kira Ryosuke, a commoner and the main lead, (and someone he knows in real life who he CANNOT STAND) gets bullied by Isagi Yoichi, the son of the Duke. Coincidentally, all his friends from Blue Lock are in the novel too, head over heels for Kira.
He concluded that whoever wrote this must have some deep hatred for the striker because of his feud with the blonde.
Sighing, he massaged his dark circles, already hearing Kaiser’s remarks about him not following an athlete’s healthy habits.
Opening the novel again and scrolling down to the review section. He typed furiously,
Review :
☆☆☆☆☆ (0/5)
He added one star.
⭐☆☆☆☆ (1/5)
“AI Slop. Kira is so predictable and a fucking pick-me. Rin would not grovel at anyone’s knees except if it's his brother berating him. Isagi didn’t need to be dismembered and thrown at the hound dogs just because he said Kira smelled like shit (which he probably did because I did not read a single passage about him taking a shower). If I were Isagi, I would’ve bullied him further for not knowing how to fold his clothes and needing Barou to do everything. This looks like a 13 year old wrote it. I would do 0 stars, but because of the football elements being accurate, I gave it a 1.”
Satisfied, he hit post.
Isagi went to Spotify and started to play rain sounds, not forgetting to set up his alarm, and finally set his phone on the night stand. Fatigue washed over him, making his eyelids weight with tiredness, assuredly drifting him off to dreamland.
In the quiet night, his device lit up, with a notification reading, “u’LL rEGRET SAYING THtA U BUM!!”
A loud knock echoed through the chambers, waking up the striker. He scrambled to sit up, satin sheets falling off his shoulders. High marble ceilings met him, with gold carvings on the walls, screaming wealth. Isagi blinked in confusion, but he quickly snapped out of his dazed state when another deafening knock came.
“Young master Isagi, open the door!”
Isagi hastily ran to the tall door, pulling it carefully so as to not damage the gold knob which is probably worth more than his monthly salary.
“Y-yes?” He stuttered, meeting the old butler with a polite stance.
The man bowed, “I sincerely hope the young master did not forget that today is his first day at the university.”
‘ What the hell is happening.. ‘ the striker thought. He pinched himself, wincing with pain. Finally believing that this wasn't a dream.
He’d read about people reincarnating into their favorite novel. Isagi had one, too– “The Journey to Becoming the Top Egotistical Striker in a World full of False Philosophy-” yeah, the title’s too long, but whatever! He could’ve reincarnated into that, yet he woke up in a horrendous one where he’s the revered villain. Lady Luck probably frowned at him, or the author of the novel. Isagi felt apologetic for his review now.
He nodded, telling the butler he was about to get ready. The old man bowed again, leaving him there. Isagi closed the door gently and strolled into the room. He stopped in front of a mirror, witnessing a figure staring right back at him.
The novel’s Isagi looked like him, but with softer features. Almost like a pretty boy, with long eyelashes fluttering against his cheek every time he blinked, and plush rosy lips. The walls were littered with portraits of him, and the bed he came out of was filled with plushies, lobsters and bunnies hugging the silk pillows. The air smelled like vanilla candles, which he was thankful for.
He went to the bathroom and caught sight of a luxurious interior. Damn, even the bathroom is fancy. Turning on the bath, he identifies the different products, a shampoo imported from the kingdom of PxG, vanilla bodywash from Manshine, and bath bombs from Ubers. Isagi didn’t miss the basket of rose petals with the label, “Bloomed in Barcha.” Once the tub was full, he waited for it to warm up and walked back to his room.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Isagi tries to recall the novel’s events. If today is the orientation at the academy, then there’s still a way for him to not end up being tortured by the male leads.
Right! He’ll just let Kira be the protagonist he is and live a peaceful life drowning in kintsuba and money, considering that his parents, Duke Issei and Duchess Iyo, are the top manufacturers of sweets in the kingdom of Bastard München.
With a newfound purpose, he grinned, imagining all the things he would do once he avoided all the death flags, but that fantasy was interrupted by another knock.
“Young master Isagi, I am your assigned companion for your stay at the academy, academy,” came from a muffled voice outside.
Isagi mused, finding the person outside's mannerism familiar. He responded, “Please come in.”
A pale pink haired man with a braid hanging off on one side marched with practiced ease, holding a suitcase. Isagi remembered that he was one of the main contributors for his death, since Novel Isagi quite literally tormented Kira every waking day, and the man standing before him became so enraged that he betrayed him. Also, he was one of his closest friends back in his world.
Kurona Ranze, son of Count Kurona, bowed to him. A small detail the novel mentioned was that they were once childhood friends, yet drifted apart when Kurona’s father was affiliated with a scandal involving the neighboring kingdom. Isagi took a mental note to be nice to him starting today.
“Kurona-san, good morning!” Isagi exclaimed, waving his hand in greeting, his sprout wiggling, donning a smile so bright it could rival the sun.
The latter gazed at him, taken aback at the sudden acknowledgement, not expecting his former confidant to remember him.
Kurona answered, eyes wide, “A-ah yes, good morning, morning…”
Moments before…
Kurona sat upright on a navy velvet arm chair, responding courteously to the Duchess’ questions.
“My, I’m glad your family accepted my invitation! Yocchan here is so lonely, and I want his first year at the university to be a memorable one!” Duchess Iyo fretted, her hand resting against her cheeks in a worrying manner.
The salmon haired teen responded, his gaze stern yet polite. “Your family has helped us at our lowest point, madame. We are forever indebted to yours, yours.”
Duchess Iyo gazed into the man adoringly, “Oh shush! You needn’t be indebted, your mother and I are great friends, are we not? And that’s what friends do.”
“I just hope that Isagi remembers you, but i think not. You’ve grown into a fine man, Ranze, I don't mind you being my son-in-law,” clasping her hands together with his.
Kurona flushed into a color almost the same as his hair, suddenly finding the potted monstera beside the window very interesting. His former puppy love’s mother saying that so casually isn’t very good for his heart.
“Madame, I don’t mind if Isagi doesn’t remember me,” he stated, sharp teeth peeking ever so slightly.
In a whisper under his breath he added, “After all, I have all the time in the world to make him experience it all again, again.”
Isagi stood up from his bed, patting his sleepwear down from the small dust that collected. Staring at the man in front of him, he reminisces about his Kurona. God, it hasn’t even been an hour yet he’s homesick.
Isagi notices his face flushed with pink, and scurries to check his temperature. Fortunately, he isn’t sick.
“Young m-master.. Is there something on my face..?” Kurona inquired, his posture shifting slightly.
Isagi retorted, pulling his hand back. “Nope, just thought of something. I missed you, Kurona,” he smiled gently.
Kurona froze, his pupils shrinking. No one would notice that, with the sole exception of Isagi Yoichi’s vision, of course. “Missed.. me, me?”
Isagi blinked.
“Huh..?”
Oh.
Wrong person, wrong world. Isagi’s face was drained of color, his sprout stood upright. Crap, how do you explain that without sounding clinically insane?!
“C-cause we were friends back then, right?” Isagi stammered, hoping that this Kurona would buy his white lie.
Kurona’s heartbeat filled his own ears.
So he does remember.
The years we spent under the trees of his garden, the chefs we pissed off by stealing bread to feed to the cats, and the promise we made before my family was forced out of the capital.
“We’ll grow old together, Kurochan!”
“Yocchan, don’t forget, forget.”
“I see,” Kurona muttered. His voice was steady, yet his face was not. You could catch a ghost of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I’m glad, glad.”
Isagi sighed internally. Proud of himself for saving an embarrassing moment. He had absolutely no idea that he’d just reignited a flame inside Kurona’s heart that was supposed to be extinguished years ago.
“I’m gonna get ready then, Kurona-san,” the bluenette said, wandering off to the bathroom. Once he stepped in, he peeled off the pieces of sleepwear he wore, revealing a pale and lean figure in the mirror. Novel Isagi’s body was flawless, no blemishes or scars, in contrast to his that was defined due to the rigorous training that his mentor, Noa, forces everyone to do.
Putting a foot in the bath, he sank in, the warm water drowning all of his worries. Isagi plopped an Iris scented bath bomb and leaned his head into the tub as he watched it swirl the water with a shade of lavender in fascination, letting out a sigh of contentment.
…Okay.
He had somehow transmigrated into a novel he berated. There was no point dwelling in it. Panicking wouldn’t send him back, and if he learned something in the isekai’s he’d read, it was that the protagonist always adapts. Isagi Yoichi always adapts, it’s his greatest weapon after all.
So, time to make a game plan.
Rule #1 : Stay as far away from Kira as possible. He could build a whole ass harem, have his happy ending with all the male leads, Isagi doesn’t care.
Rule #2 : NEVER provoke the love interests. Novel Isagi somehow managed to piss off every single one of them, it was honestly impressive. No wonder the novel spiraled out of control, they all held grudges over everything.
Rule #3 : Graduate peacefully. Get the diploma, inherit the duchy, and eat kintsuba everyday. That’s it. Simple.
A grin spread across his face. As long as he minded his own business, the world is his oyster.
A muffled voice came from outside, “Young master, I have already packed your clothes. The Duke and Duchess are waiting for you in the dining hall.”
“Coming!” Isagi rose from the water, reaching for the neatly folded towel embroidered with the initials Y.I. After he dried himself, he took the university’s uniform; a white dress shirt, a navy blazer almost the same color of his hair, lined with gold and the Isagi family crest embellished in its breastpocket, with straight black slacks. The uniform looks like it was made just for him, with exact measurements and all.
Dressing himself up, he didn’t forget to put on a tinted lip balm he found in a drawer earlier, a habit he picked up on because of his chapped lips from training.
Once he got out of the bathroom, Isagi was met with Kurona holding his luggage, the latter seemingly had his breath taken for unknown reasons.
“Kurona-san, that seems heavy. Please let me carry mine,” Isagi fretted, reaching out to grab it but the latter already started walking.
“This is nothing, young master. Let us go now, the food must be getting cold, cold.” The salmon haired teen replied, chuckling. Isagi followed quickly, catching up to jaunt beside him.
After they’d reached the dining hall, the butler opened the door for the pair, revealing a grand room with high windows. In the middle, Isagi’s parents were already there, chatting happily.
Kurona bowed first, “Duke Isagi, Duchess Isagi.”
Duke Issei laughed, “Boy, do just call us Issei and Iyo. No need for formalities.”
“He’s right! You were already part of our family back then,” Duchess Iyo beamed, leaning into her husband, putting a piece of steak in her mouth.
Kurona stiffened, “...I couldn’t possibly, possibly.”
"Nonsense!" Duchess Iyo waved her fork dramatically. "You've been calling us Duke and Duchess ever since your family returned to the capital. It's far too stiff."
Duke Issei nodded in agreement. "This house isn't a royal palace. Relax."
"Then..." Kurona hesitated.
"Lord Issei... Lady Iyo."
Iyo clasped her hands together with delight. "There! Doesn't that sound much nicer?"
Watching the exchange, Isagi couldn't help but smile. So this is what they were like...
The novel barely mentioned Duke Issei and Duchess Iyo outside of political meetings. They were always described as "loving yet indulgent parents," but seeing them in person made Isagi realize just how doting they truly were.
"Yocchan."
His mother's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "Why are you standing there? Come eat before your father finishes the bacon."
Isagi let out a small laugh before taking the empty seat across from them.
The table was excessive. Fresh bread, soup, steak, eggs, fruits, pastries, and at least eight different kinds of sweets. Is this a breakfast or a royal banquet?
He picked up a fork, silently thanking whatever deity had decided that this kingdom used utensils identical to Earth's.
"How did you sleep?" Duchess Iyo asked.
Isagi answered, "Really well."
"I'm relieved." She smiled warmly. "You seemed nervous all week about entering the Imperial Royal Academy."
That's because your son was about to become public enemy number one...
"I'm feeling much better now." Isagi muttered, eating away to his heart’s content.
"That's wonderful," Duke Issei looked up from the newspaper in his hands. "I heard His Highness will also be attending today's orientation."
The sentence made Isagi choke on his juice.
"Yoichi!" Duchess Iyo immediately pushed a glass of water toward him. "Slow down.."
"I'm okay." No, he wasn't. The Crown Prince, Michael Kaiser, was one of his biggest death flags.
"So," Duke Issei continued casually, completely unaware of the internal crisis his son was having, "you'll finally be spending more time with your future husband."
"Excuse me?"
The dining hall fell silent. Duke Issei frowned, dropping his newspaper. Beside him, Kurona stared at his own plate with an unreadable expression. "...Your fiancé?"
"Yocchan... don't tell me you forgot?" Duchess Iyo blinked, covering her mouth with her hands in shock.
Isagi's smile froze. I'm engaged already?!
Right. Of course he was. The novel was literally called The Commoner's Way to the Empire’s Heart. The main reason why Isagi was killed was because he was jealous of Kira for stealing his fiance. How had he forgotten the single most important detail?
Only the faint clinking of silverware against porcelain and the crackling of the fireplace filled the room. Kurona's fingers tightened around the handle of his utensils. It was subtle, yet Isagi caught it immediately. Was Kurona upset?
The expression vanished as quickly as it came, replaced by the same composed smile Kurona had worn since entering the manor.
"Congratulations, young master," he said softly, lowering his gaze as he poured freshly brewed tea into Isagi's cup. "The Crown Prince is fortunate, fortunate."
Something about the words sounded hollow.
Isagi scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Thanks... I guess."
Across the table, Duchess Iyo clasped her hands together with a dreamy sigh. "Oh, hearing it aloud still makes me emotional." She dabbed at the corner of her eye with a napkin despite there being no tears to wipe away.
"Our little Yocchan is all grown up." Duke Issei chuckled from behind the morning newspaper spread open before him.
"The engagement has been arranged for nearly thirteen years now. You've had plenty of time to get emotional." Duchess Iyo shot her husband a playful glare before turning back to Isagi.
"You were only six when Their Majesties visited the estate." She smiled at the memory.
A kid Isagi Yoichi was playing with Kurona in the grass, giggling as the sun kissed his cheeks. He brought up a berry he picked earlier and put it up to Kurona’s mouth, the latter biting it off his fingers.
Suddenly, a kid with glowing blonde hair, eyes so blue it makes anyone who stares into it become entranced, seemed a little older by 2 years strolled into the garden, gazing right into the pair messing around in the grass. The two stared back.
Isagi was the first to stand up, running up to the blonde, “You’re so pretty! Your eyes are like.. the sky!” He rambled, clasping his hands with the kid. Kurona’s gaze darkened with jealousy, directing it to the stranger.
“Come play with us!” Isagi’s teeth shone like diamonds, the azure eyed stranger flushed with fascination. Leading the kid into their make-shift picnic set-up, Isagi grabbed another plate from the basket and placed it beside him, patting the blanket to signal the stranger to sit down. “My name is Isagi Yoichi, and this is my best friend, Kurochan!”
“Yocchan, my name is Kurona. That’s my nickname, nickname,” the lychee-eyed kid responded, aggressively chewing the berry.
“My name is Michael Kaiser. I am the Crown Prince,” Kaiser responded, his posture straight and balanced, hands behind his back.
Isagi patted the blanket again, “Okay, Michael Kaiser the Crown Prince, what a long name! Sit down here! Mama said it’s rude to keep guests standing.”
Kurona’s berry fell out of his mouth, while Kaiser’s eyes widened in shock, no one had talked to him like that before.
“Eeew Kurochan! Yucky!” The bluenette exclaimed, grabbing a towel and handing it to his friend.
Kaiser sat down beside Isagi, choosing to ignore the heated gaze the other kid was conveying to him. A strawberry shortcake was immediately fed to him by the kid with a sprout. Damn, it was too sweet. He tried to hide his expression of appallment.
Suddenly, an unfamiliar maid ran to the garden, gasping. “Crown Prince! Don’t wander– haa– around so suddenly… Your Majesty, we found him..” The maid slumped against a pillar, wiping off her sweat.
The King of the Bastard Munchen Kingdom, Noel Noa, strided with a graceful yet commanding demeanor. The one who commanded and drove a military to victory, and the one who novel Isagi Yoichi adores the most. At least this one fact didn’t change.
“Kaiser. I have been looking for you,” King Noa dictated, his face flat.
Isagi and Kurona stood up from the mat, bowing at the King. It as if the navy-haired kid was fanboying on the inside as he suppressed a smile.
Kaiser responded, pointing a finger at Isagi, “Old fart, I want to marry this twerp.”
Noa’s face showed slight amusement, a rare smile plastered onto his face.
“Alright, I’ll see what I can do.”
Isagi stared at his idol, starstruck, on the other hand, a certain sharp toothed kid was clenching both his jaw and fists in rage.
Isagi stayed silent throughout the whole recalling. The Duke and Duchess exchanged looks, laughter bursting throughout the room, even Kurona had to hide the slight curve of his lips behind his palm.
Meanwhile, Isagi froze in his chair. What kind of first impression was that, Novel Isagi?!
“I was an interesting child, huh?” He sighed defeatedly.
“Oh, you still are,” Duchess Iyo reached across the table and affectionately pinched his cheeks, “My little troublemaker.”
“Mother, I am nineteen.”
“And?”
“Point taken.”
The warmth of the room settled over him like a blanket. Watching his– no, the Novel Isagi’s parent’s bicker over old memories, listening to the gentle hum of the servants move about in the manor, on his first day in this new world, he already felt at home, it’s scary.
His chest tightened. The faces of his real parents flickered through his mind, not the Novel’s Iyo and Issei, but his Iyo and Issei. His mother who always reminded him to eat breakfast before practice. His father who never missed a single match, even if he had to leave work early.
Did they know he was gone? Would they think he'd disappeared overnight?
The thought stung far more than he expected.
"...Yocchan?"
Iyo's gentle voice pulled him back. "You've gone quiet."
Isagi blinked, realizing he'd been absentmindedly staring into his tea.
"Sorry," He forced a small smile. "I was just thinking."
“What about?” Duke Issei lowered his newspaper completely this time, giving his son his full attention.
Isagi’s gaze drifted toward the tall windows overlooking the estate gardens. Beyond them, the academy awaited. The beginning of every death flag in the novel.
A slow breath escaped his lips. "I think I’d like to focus on my studies this year."
The words lingered in the air, simple yet unexpectedly weighty.
"I don't want to concern myself with politics... or the engagement."
The smile on Duchess Iyo's face slowly faded, not into disappointment, but into surprise.
Even Duke Issei looked up from his newspaper, studying his son as though seeing him for the first time that morning.
Across the room, Kurona's eyes widened almost imperceptibly.
The silence was shattered by a soft sniffle, "My son..."
Her eyes shimmered. "...has become so responsible!"
Before Isagi could react, Duchess Iyo stood up and wrapped him in a crushing hug. "My little Yocchan wants to study!"
"M-Mother—"
"I've waited years to hear those words!"
Duke Issei let out a small chuckle, "Very well. If that's what you want, then focus on your studies."
Isagi’s face twisted into one of shock. "...Really?"
"The engagement isn't a chain around your neck,” The Duke added.
Wait. That was easier than I thought.
"If you wish to keep your distance from His Highness while you're at the academy, no one will object."
"Seriously?" Isagi wondered, his breathing still getting cut off by his mother’s tight embrace.
The Duchess was the one who replied now, “Of course, anything for our dearest son.”
Isagi was internally jumping for joy now. He resisted the urge to pump a fist into the air.
Breakfast came and went amidst lighthearted chatter, most of which Isagi responded to with awkward nods and the occasional laugh. Fortunately, his parents chalked up his unusual behavior to first-day nerves rather than suspecting their son had been replaced by someone from another world.
The carriage ride to the academy was far quieter, Isagi's mind was anything but.
He sat by the window, chin resting against his palm as the scenery rolled by. Cobblestone roads gradually widened into bustling streets, lined with elegant boutiques, cafés overflowing with nobles in tailored suits and extravagant dresses, and confectioneries bearing the unmistakable crest of House Isagi.
Right... we're filthy rich.
Every few blocks, another store proudly displayed rows upon rows of kintsuba, chocolates, pastries, and colorful candies.
I could actually eat kintsuba every day.
"Young master,"
"Hm?"
Kurona looked up from the book resting on his lap. "You've been smiling to yourself for quite some time, time."
"Have I?"
"You have."
Oops.
He coughed into his fist, hastily replacing the grin with what he hoped was a dignified expression befitting a duke's heir.
Outside the window, the city slowly gave way to sprawling greenery, towering iron gates soon came into view.
Isagi leaned forward instinctively.
Beyond the gates stood a campus so enormous it could've been mistaken for a royal palace. White marble buildings stretched across rolling hills, each connected by ivy-covered bridges suspended over crystal-clear streams. Massive stained-glass windows glittered beneath the morning sun, while countless students wandered the grounds in navy uniforms embroidered with their family crests.
At the very center stood a clock tower so tall its peak disappeared into the clouds. Even someone who had attended Blue Lock, a facility worth billions, couldn't help but stare.
"So this is the Imperial Royal Academy..."
"It is the kingdom's pride," Kurona replied. "Only the heirs of noble families and the highest-scoring commoners are admitted. Every minister, general, scholar, and royal advisor has graduated from this institution."
The carriage rolled through the gates. Almost instantly, heads turned. Whispers spread from one student to another faster than wildfire.
"Is that him?"
"House Isagi's heir..."
"I heard he made a viscount's son kneel for touching his gloves."
"No, I heard he had a gardener fired because a rose bloomed the wrong color."
"They say he's obsessed with His Highness."
"Poor commoners..."
Isagi's smile twitched. What the hell kind of reputation did this guy have? He knew Novel Isagi was a villain. He didn't realize he'd become an urban legend.
The carriage came to a graceful stop before the grand staircase leading to the academy's main hall.
A servant opened the door, the moment Isagi stepped out, conversations died almost completely.
Hundreds of pairs of eyes settled on him. Some curious, some fearful, and some openly disdainful.
He suddenly felt like prey dropped into a den of predators.
Don't panic.
Rule number one, avoid Kira.
Rule number two, avoid the male leads.
Rule number three, graduate.
Easy.
He took a steadying breath and descended from the carriage.
"Beautiful."
The whisper wasn't meant for him. Yet, in the sudden silence, it carried surprisingly well.
Isagi blinked.
Huh?
A few first-year students quickly looked away, embarrassed after realizing they'd spoken aloud, others continued to stare unabashedly.
The novel hadn't exaggerated.
House Isagi's heir truly possessed an ethereal sort of beauty. His navy blazer hugged his slender frame perfectly, the gold embroidery catching the sunlight with every step. Soft strands of dark blue hair framed his face, while his bright cerulean eyes—clear and striking despite his usual sleepy expression—made him seem almost unreal. Soft lips, vivid like roses, enchanted anyone who accidentally looks at it.
They're staring because of the original owner's reputation, Isagi assured himself.
Definitely not because of me.
"Young master." Kurona stepped beside him, voice laced with hidden possessiveness, lowered his voice just enough that only Isagi could hear. "The orientation will begin shortly."
Isagi nodded. "Let's go."
Neither of them noticed the figure watching from the second-floor balcony. Azure eyes embraced by red eyeliner followed Isagi's every movement with detached curiosity.
The Crown Prince rested one gloved hand against the stone railing.
"So that's my fiancé."
His expression remained unreadable. Yet for reasons he couldn't explain, the person walking through the academy gates felt different from the one he'd known all these years.