Don’t Look Back, Megumi Kato [2]

Kato Megumi stood at the top of the hill, raising one slender, fair hand to brush a strand of hair behind her ear. She looked quietly down at Izumi Yuu, calm and composed—like a painting come to life.

He’s probably heading to school too, she thought, guessing that they were walking the same route. So instead of heading down, she simply waited for him to come up.

From below, Izumi Yuu glanced at Kato Megumi and—ignoring the garbage narration echoing in his mind—started walking up the slope.

As the distance between them closed, a translucent screen suddenly shimmered into view above Kato Megumi.

It displayed a series of stats:

[Name: Kato Megumi]
[Age: 16]
[Measurements: B:84 / W:57 / H:83]

Izumi Yuu instinctively gave her a quick visual scan.
Accurate. Uncannily so. The numbers lined up exactly with his own mental estimate.

This thing’s way more reliable than that scummy narrator...

[Current Status: Lost in how to become a proper galgame heroine.]
[Affection: 22 (Emotionless stranger)]

Note: Affection ≤ 0 = Hatred; ≤ 10 = Hostile; ≤ 20 = Dislike; ≤ 30 = Stranger; ≤ 40 = Acquaintance; ≤ 50 = Friend; ≤ 60 = Confidante; ≤ 70 = Likes you; ≤ 80 = Love; ≤ 90 = Infatuation; > 90 = Till death do us part; > 100 = ???

Note 2: Affection score is unstable and for reference only. Host should not place undue trust in it.

[Available Endings]:

[① Fallen Background Heroine — Conditions: Use the beret to force her into submission as your loyal pet or forcefully take her by any means.]
(Reward: ¥500,000 and +1 Physique)

[② Tool Used and Discarded by a Scumbag — Conditions: Stay away from Kato Megumi, never interact again, let her fall into Aki Tomoya’s orbit.]
(Reward: None)

[③ Heroine Who Finds Happiness Anew — Conditions: Raise her affection to 70+, help her see through Aki Tomoya’s true nature.]
(Reward: Master-level Music, Master-level Martial Arts, ¥1,000,000)

Note 3: Rewards may scale with performance. Additional affection or developments (e.g. kissing, cuddling, snuggling, etc.) may increase bonuses.

Yes—this was Izumi Yuu’s second cheat since reincarnating: the Affection System.

Until now, it had only ever shown him basic affection numbers. This was the first time it had revealed branching outcomes and extended features. Had he accidentally triggered some kind of switch?

From what he remembered about stories like this, a long-dormant system suddenly activating usually meant...

Don’t tell me this is because we’ve finally reached Chapter 1 of the actual plot?

Izumi quickly brushed the thought aside and focused on the screen in front of him.

This affection system… is it connected to that scummy narrator?

The two did seem to share the same moral depravity.

But at least the affection system offered some decent options.

Unlike that narrator, whose brain was stuffed with nothing but H-rated trash.

A million yen. Master-level music. Master-level martial arts.
Now that’s tempting.

Izumi’s resolve began to stir. All three rewards were things he sorely needed right now.

As a self-proclaimed champion of pure love, nothing disgusted him more than scumbags who toyed with sincere girls.

Which meant it was his righteous duty to rescue the girl in front of him—from Aki Tomoya’s greasy claws.

And with that, Izumi Yuu made up his mind.

“Eh?” Kato Megumi tilted her head slightly in confusion, seeing Izumi suddenly stop mid-step and stare blankly at her.

Is there something weird about me?

She checked herself over—everything was in order. Clothes neat, face clean, and her long, fair legs wrapped snugly in white knee socks. Honestly, they looked like twin popsicles just waiting for someone who appreciated the flavor.

As she began to question her entire existence, Izumi Yuu resumed walking—snapping her out of her spiral.

“Sorry for the trouble, Izumi-kun.”

Megumi bowed slightly and offered a gentle apology as he approached.

“Here,” Izumi said as he stepped forward, handing her the beret she’d dropped.

“Your hat, Kato-san.”

[Ding! You gained +1 Strength.]

In the next moment, Izumi felt a surge of power in his limbs. His muscles firmed slightly, his grip instinctively steadier.

Kato Megumi accepted the beret with a pale, delicate hand and carefully placed it back on her head.

“Thank you,” she murmured, then blinked—surprised. “Wait... Izumi-kun, you know me?”

Her reaction made Izumi chuckle a little. He nodded and replied casually, “We’re classmates, after all. Of course I know you. Don’t you know my name too?”

“Well... that’s true,” she said, a little hesitant.

“But unlike popular people like you, I’ve always had a weak presence. Most of our classmates don’t even recognize me. We’ve never spoken before, so I didn’t think you’d remember me.”

There was a trace of conflicted emotion in her voice.

This was the first time someone had called her by name so confidently.

Even classmates she’d met more than once often got her name wrong—or didn’t remember her at all.

Take Aki Tomoya, for example. He’d mispronounced her name the second time they met at school, and it had honestly bummed her out for days.

“Kato-san isn’t ordinary at all. Quite the opposite—you’re a stunningly beautiful girl. It’s just that your gentle personality and quiet aura tend to hide how dazzling you really are,” Izumi said, shaking his head with a calm smile.

“Huh?! If you say it like that, Izumi-kun, you’re going to embarrass me~!”

Kato Megumi shifted slightly, caught off guard by the direct praise.
It was the first time anyone had called her a bijin so openly.

Especially compared to what Aki Tomoya had said before—something about her “character settings being dead.”

Izumi’s version definitely felt nicer.

After all, no matter what a girl says, deep down, compliments always hit home.

Wait—why am I even comparing Aki-kun and Izumi-kun?!
Kato Megumi felt a little flustered.
They had nothing to do with each other.
It felt kind of rude to even think that way.

“Hmm?” Izumi blinked.

Kato’s affection score, which had been at 22, had suddenly jumped up to 35.

That’s... pretty fast.

[Name: Kato Megumi]
[Affection: 35 (Mildly fond classmate)]

So girls really are creatures powered by emotional value...

All I did was compliment her a little, and her affection shot up.

Still, he was glad. Kato Megumi was a normal, emotionally balanced girl.
A few kind words were enough to improve their relationship.

If it had been a less principled type, he’d probably have to burn through ¥500,000—or even ¥5,000,000—just to see the same result.

Like that bastard Aki Tomoya, who only saw girls as resources to be drained.

“Crap! We’re gonna be late!”

Suddenly remembering the time, Izumi turned to Kato in a mild panic.

Normally, based on his calculations, he should’ve arrived at the classroom on time.
But thanks to this little detour, they were now behind schedule.

“It’s okay. There’s a shortcut,” Megumi said casually.

She pointed to a narrow alley branching off from the main road.

“Eh?! There’s a shortcut here?” Izumi looked where she was pointing, surprised.

“Of course. Hardly anyone uses it—no people, no cars. We won’t lose any time.”
Megumi nodded and stepped lightly into the alleyway.

Izumi hurried to catch up, following her inside.

Guess I never really embraced the explorer’s mindset, he thought.
Didn’t even know there was a faster route to school.

The alley was quiet. Almost too quiet.
No pedestrians. No barking dogs.

[You glance at the girl walking just ahead of you—so relaxed, so trusting. Your eyes trace the delicate line of her back. And in that moment, a bold thought flashes across your mind.]

[No one comes this way. No one would interrupt you. You could overpower her, take her right here, bend her to your will. All you need is the strength to make it happen—and once you do, she’ll belong to you. You can mold her into whatever shape you desire...]

Oh wait—there is a dog barking.

Izumi Yuu, face blank, silently added the correction in his mind.

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T/N: bijin means beautiful girl!! 美人, before u guys freak it is a JAPANESE WORD

This is a fan translation of 加藤惠别回头，我是伦也君 by 故人归 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!