Chapter 1: The Reincarnation

(Today’s the day! Finally getting that promotion!)

(Five years working at this animation studio... I’ve been waiting for this moment forever. Me, Haruko Rumi—a pretty skilled animator. People even say my work stands out.)

(And now, with the old lead animator gone... I’m next in line. Easy win.)

Rumi hummed a little tune as she walked to the studio, completely lost in her thoughts.

(Man, it’s gonna be so weird sitting in the lead chair. I wonder if it’ll spin...)

She stepped onto the street without really paying attention.

BAM.

A car slammed into her. A drunk driver. And just like that—

She died. Tragic.

Somewhere in the void...

“Poor little soul, I shall send you to a world filled with happiness.”

“But Master, isn’t giving her that role kind of mean?”

“Shut up. What do you know? If you feel so strongly about it, go with her.”

“B-but—”

“No buts. You’ll stay with her until she gets a happy ending or whatever. No exceptions.”

(Huh... Where am I?)

“Haruko-sama! You’re finally awake!”

(Who’s she?)

The maid smiled sweetly. “I’ll bring some water. Please rest for a bit, Haruko-sama.”

Once the maid left, Rumi sat up, still groggy, and shuffled over to the mirror.

When she saw her reflection, her sleepy eyes went wide.

“Whoa... I look exactly like that character from my favorite novel!”

She blinked at herself, tilting her head.

“This is kinda awesome... Is this what happens when you die? I'd die like, a hundred more times if this is the reward.”

Her excitement faded as realization hit.

“Wait a second...”

“WHY DO I LOOK EXACTLY LIKE THE VILLAINESS?!”

Her voice echoed in the room.

(I know we have the same name but... Of all people... why her?)p

“The villainess is the worst character! She’s a total pain who makes life miserable for the MC and ends up with the most horrible ending ever!”

She groaned, flopping dramatically onto the bed.

“I wouldn’t even mind being a background character... but why do I have to be the one who ruins everything?”

(Why do I have to be a cat? This is such a pain...)

A small white cat with eyes of blue perched on the windowsill, lazily flicking its tail.

(Oh. She’s awake. Looks like she’s processing... badly.)

“Oi. What’s the big deal? Is being a villainess really that bad? The story hasn’t even started yet.”

“AAAH! A TALKING CAT!”

The cat flattened its ears in annoyance. “Could you not scream? My ears are fragile, you know.”

Rumi blinked, tilting her head in confusion. “I didn’t know cats could talk.”

“They can’t. I’m just special.”

The cat hopped down from the window, its tail curling smugly. “Name’s Kuru. And I’m not just a talking cat—I can hack life.”

“Huh. That sounds cool.” She tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Can you, uh... hack me into a background character?”

Kuru rolled his eyes. “Nope. That’s out of my control. But I can help you change the storyline.”

“The storyline?”

Kuru gave her a deadpan look. “You do know this novel, right? It’s your favorite.”

“Yeah. The main character meets this cool girl, and the villainess—who’s me—gets jealous and causes all sorts of trouble. Then she gets punished with, like, the worst ending ever.”

Kuru sighed. “That was... a terrible summary. But whatever. Here’s the deal: You’re not gonna be the villainess.”

Rumi’s head tilted again. “Wait... I’m not?”

“Nope. You’re going to be the girl the MC falls in love with.”

Her eyes widened in disbelief. “Wait—what?!”

...----------------...

...TO BE CONTINUED...

Kuru sighed. “That was... a terrible summary. But whatever. Here’s the deal: You’re not gonna be the villainess.”

Rumi’s head tilted again. “Wait... I’m not?”

“Nope. You’re going to be the girl the MC falls in love with.”

Her eyes widened in disbelief. “Wait—what?!”

Chapter 2: The Visitor

“Don’t give me that look. I said what I said—you’re going to become the female lead.”

“But... how?”

“By cheating the system, of course. You’re going to meet the MC before the original female lead does.”

“So... you want me to steal her place?”

“Exactly.”

“Doesn’t that just make me an even worse villainess?”

Kuru flicked his tail lazily. “Who cares? As long as you get a happy ending.”

“Can’t I just... not get involved with them at all?”

“Well, technically, you could. But isn’t that boring?”

“Boring sounds easier...”

“Nope. We’re doing it my way, whether you like it or not.”

Rumi sighed. “Fine. As long as the MC is okay with it.”

“Well... about that. He doesn’t know you yet.”

“Perfect! Let’s keep it that way—”

“Let's go introduce ourselves.”

“But what if he sees you?”

Kuru’s whiskers twitched smugly. “I’ll just hack myself invisible.”

“That’s... really cool.”

“Of course it is. Now, let’s get going.”

Kuru summoned a sleek vehicle—created, naturally, through his “life-hacking” abilities.

“Whoa, this ride is so comfy!” Rumi marveled, sinking into the plush seats.

“The seats are made with the finest cotton in the world. Nothing but luxury.”

......................

INFORMATION FOR READERS:

Villainess of the Novel: Haruko Rumi

MC of the Novel: Matsuda Aki

Love Interest of the MC: Ebina Mizuki

(Quick backstory...)

The MC, Matsuda Aki, is the third son of one of the most powerful noble families. His father, Matsuda Ryuji, is the mayor of Hiyenoto and the head of the Matsuda family. Aki lives in a grand mansion, as expected of noble lineage.

“Kuru-san...”

“What now?”

“I’m starting to feel kinda nervous...”

Kuru groaned. “You’re on your own now.”

“Noooo! Don’t leave me!”

(This girl... Ugh, if I don’t help her, she’ll just keep whining.)

“Fine. But stop being annoying.” He sighed heavily. “I’ll project an invisible script for you—just follow it, word for word. It’ll help, so try not to mess up.”

“I’ll do my best!”

“Close enough. Just act confident.”

(Man, this cat is surprisingly good at comforting people...)

“We’re here.”

(I’m still way too nervous...)

“So, do we knock?”

Kuru rolled his eyes. “The doorbell’s right there, genius.”

“Oh! My bad.”

Rumi pressed the doorbell.

A butler answered immediately, his face neutral and polite. “Excuse me, miss. May I ask who you are and why you’re here?”

(Okay... The script says...)

“I’m Haruko Rumi. I’d like to speak with Matsuda Aki-san.”

The butler bowed slightly. “My apologies, but the young master isn’t in at the moment.”

Rumi smiled as confidently as she could. “That’s fine. I’ll wait for him at the park nearby. Please let him know when he returns.”

“Certainly, miss.”

(That was easy. Now I just have to wait and—)

“Who’s this?”

Rumi turned to see a young man standing at the entrance—tall, with dark hair and an air of quiet indifference.

The butler straightened. “Ah, Third Master! This lady wishes to speak with you.”

Matsuda Aki’s gaze drifted to Rumi, his expression unreadable. “Sure. Come inside.”

Rumi followed him into the grand mansion, her steps feeling both heavy and light. She sat gracefully on the fancy couch—just as the script instructed.

Aki sat across from her, still wearing that aloof, detached expression. “Now, what did you want to talk about?”

...----------------...

...TO BE CONTINUED...

Rumi followed him into the grand mansion, her steps feeling both heavy and light. She sat gracefully on the fancy couch—just as the script instructed.

Aki sat across from her, still wearing that aloof, detached expression. “What did you want to talk about?”

Chapter 3: The Meeting

"I'd like to propose an offer to you."

"Please, go ahead."

"I've heard that your family is looking for someone for you to marry. Is that true?"

(Is this really okay?)

"...Yes, that's right."

"May I have the honor of marrying you?"

"Excuse me?"

(This is really messed up. What is with this script?!)

"...Sure, I'll think about it. Is that all you wanted to discuss?"

"Yes. Please let me know your thoughts. I'll take my leave now."

Once outside, Rumi confronted Kuru, her frustration bubbling over. "Kuru-san! What was that script? You can’t just ask someone to marry you out of the blue!"

"It’s fine! As long as he didn’t freak out, right?" Kuru shrugged, a playful smirk on his cat face.

"But like, how did he not freak out? That’s so random!"

"Hehehe..."

"Kuru-san, did you do something to him?"

"N-n-no! Not at all!" Kuro claimed in a very not so convincing tone.

"Kuru-san" Rumi narrowed her eyes, her voice with traces of suspicion, topping it all off with a glare.

"Ugh, fine! I may have pulled a few strings with him."

"You little!" Rumi exclaimed, incredulity mixing with anger, tickling away at Kuru's cat ribs the next moment.

"Hey! That tickles! Move it, stupid villainess!"

"Hey, don’t call me that!"

"Well, I’m not wrong, am I?"

"Hmph." Rumi pouted, crossing her arms.

"Look at you, acting all cute. If only you’d act like that in front of your fiancé."

"He probably thinks I’m a total weirdo now because of your crazy script! And he’s not my fiancé!"

"Well, not yet, at least." Kuru smirked, clearly enjoying the banter.

"You little!"

"Okay, okay, we’ve made it to the main road now. All that’s left is to wait for a random car to show up and take us home..."

"Can’t we just use that magic car of yours?"

"No way. Absolutely not."

"Why not?"

"I don’t have unlimited magic, you idiot! I’m literally on the verge of collapsing."

"You can use magic?"

"Of course! Are you really that dense?"

"But you said you’re a cat that can hack life."

"They’re practically the same thing."

A while later…

"My legs hurt from standing," Rumi complained, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

"Sorry, no magic. Can’t help you," Kuru replied nonchalantly.

"If you fall asleep, maybe you can regain your magic!" Rumi suggested hopefully.

"Fall asleep on the sidewalk? Have you lost your mind?"

"It’s not like we have a choice!"

"Fine, wake me up if something happens," Kuru said, closing his eyes.

"Sure."

Before long, both Rumi and Kuru were snoozing away on the sidewalk...

yawn

(Did Kuru-san regain his magic yet?)

Rumi awoke to an unfamiliar room, the decor lavish yet foreign.

"This doesn’t look like the sidewalk at all!" she said, looking around in confusion.

"Congratulations, you just hit the jackpot!" Kuru chimed in, appearing beside her.

"Kuru-san, where are we?"

"We’re at your fiancé’s mansion. He found you sleeping on the sidewalk and carried you here."

"How do you know that?"

"That doesn’t really matter. I was invisible, so he didn’t see me. After I woke up, I searched for you and found you here."

Rumi’s heart raced. "What do we do now?"

"Like I know! Your prince charming is waiting outside. Go meet him."

"But—"

"No buts! He helped you. It’d be super rude not to say hi."

...----------------...

...TO BE CONTINUED...