The Gacha Addict of the Academy

As the study group ended, Hyeon-ah suggested we go out for a meal together. Everyone agreed and started packing up to leave.
What surprised me was Reina deciding to join us.

Normally, she would have declined, saying there was no need to eat together or giving some excuse, then gone off on her own. But now, she was following us without hesitation.
Everyone looked surprised that Reina was coming, too. She stayed close to me, ignoring everyone else.

Up until yesterday, she hadn’t been this kind to me. But since I cried in her arms earlier, she seemed to have softened, at least toward me.
Now, as she smiled and talked with me, the change was hard to miss.

“What kind of food do you like?” she asked.
“Uh… I like pretty much everything, but… I don’t eat much…” I mumbled.

She glanced at me, nodding as if my answer made sense given my small size.
Even I couldn’t deny it. I was small. At just over 150 cm, I had to look up at almost everyone.

“If there’s something you want to eat, just tell me. I’ll treat you.”
Wait… what?
I had just gone grocery shopping yesterday, planning to cook at home. But judging by how she asked about my preferences, it seemed like she intended to eat with me.
Can someone really change this much overnight?

Yesterday, in the teacher’s office, she had acted exactly like her character in the novel. But now, seeing this drastic change in her behavior, I couldn’t help but feel that this wasn’t just a fictional world—it was real.

It wasn’t a bad change, but her personality felt so different from what I knew, and it made me uneasy. What if something went wrong?
To be clear, I wasn’t hoping she’d go back to her old self. I just felt nervous about what this new dynamic might lead to.
After all, she is the main heroine…
That aside, I could pay for my own meal.

“I-I can… pay for my meal… myself…” I stammered.

Reina stopped in her tracks, her face suddenly serious.

It wasn’t her usual coldness toward others. This felt different—like she was genuinely scolding me.
“And another thing,” she said, her voice firm. “No stammering when you talk to me. And stop using honorifics.”
“…?”
What…?
Wow.
Could it be that the novel wasn’t as reliable as I thought?
At this point, it was hard not to question it. Her actions and personality were completely different from what I remembered.

In the story, once she fell for the protagonist, she forgave him for everything. But now… she seemed so different.

“Answer me,” she said.
“Y-yes…”
“Good!” she replied, breaking into a bright smile as she patted my head.
I froze, startled. This was the first time anyone had patted me on the head like that.

Except for that one time when Hyeon-ah hugged me out of nowhere, claiming she just needed to, I hadn’t had much physical contact with girls. This moment felt overwhelming.

And Reina wasn’t just anyone—she was an elf.

In the novel, she was known for her beauty, and now, seeing her up close, I couldn’t deny how stunning she was. Her smile was so bright, and her touch so gentle, it almost felt unreal.

Could it be… am I popular?
…No, that’s ridiculous.

My body has been female for a while now, so popularity doesn’t even apply.

All I could do was pray that my inner awkwardness didn’t show too much on the outside. I just wanted to be seen as a shy, quiet girl.
That’s how I came across, right…?

Honestly, I haven’t done anything particularly noticeable, so most people wouldn’t even know who I am. This kind of worrying is probably unnecessary.

“…Reina, by any chance…”

“I don’t recall giving you permission to call me by my name,” she interrupted.
“…”
Maybe she hasn’t changed after all.
It seems her new attitude is only directed toward me.

“I’m kidding. Call me Reina,” she said with a smirk.
“Oh… okay, Reina.”

“That’s better.”
Or… is it?

Right now, I honestly can’t tell what kind of person she is.

“So you really weren’t exaggerating about not eating much, huh?”
“Yeah…”

In the end, I couldn’t finish the food Reina bought for me.

“Now that I think about it, you didn’t finish your meal yesterday either…” she added.
“Uh… yeah…”
She remembered that?
Wait, shouldn’t I be impressed by her memory instead?
After all, most people wouldn’t notice something like that unless they were genuinely paying attention to someone.

“How do you even get by eating so little?” she asked, sounding concerned.
Even Kang Ji Hyuk chimed in, looking surprised.
“Seriously, how do you survive on that?!”

He’d seen how little I ate yesterday, but now he was bringing it up.

Then again, with everything going on, maybe he hadn’t had the mental space to think about something like that.
I guess it’s because I’m small. My body doesn’t need much to keep going. Honestly, I’m curious about why I eat so little too, but it’s not like I want to force myself to eat more. Besides, I’ve gotten kind of… cute like this, so why ruin it by gaining weight?

“I don’t know… I’ve just never been able to eat much,” I said quietly.
Ever since I became like this, my appetite has been really small.

It’s like my stomach has a limit, and once I hit it, it practically screams, “Stop! No more!” refusing to take another bite.
“That’s just how it is. Why are you killing her vibe over it?” Reina said sharply, glaring at Kang Ji Hyuk.
“When did I kill her vibe?!” he asked, looking confused.

What the…

All I did was answer a question, and now Reina and Kang Ji Hyuk are arguing.
Is this really something to argue about? Either way, their fight was so petty it was almost embarrassing to watch.
“Guys…?” Hyeon-ah tried to step in, but she couldn’t stop them.
From what I could see, Reina was scolding him, while Kang Ji Hyuk was defending himself, and from a distance, it probably looked like they were really fighting.

Reina is acting weird today.

What’s going on with her?

One thing is clear—she really cares about me.
From comforting me earlier to buying me food, and even smiling at me… her behavior might be strange, but it’s clearly coming from a place of concern.
“Sigh…”

Still…
This is a bit much.
The way she’s getting so worked up over something so small makes her seem like one of those overly protective, overly emotional people—like a helicopter mom.

When it was time to go home, I had to part ways with the group since most of them lived in the dorms.
When Reina said, “See you tomorrow,” as we said goodbye, I got goosebumps.

Just yesterday, she didn’t care whether I came or went.

“She’s not going to suddenly change again tomorrow… right?”
Surely today wasn’t just a one-time thing, right?
I couldn’t help but hope.
“Hehe…”
Even so, today was filled with nothing but happiness.

Becoming close to someone like Reina, someone I never thought I’d get along with, was beyond unexpected. Spending time with the protagonist, having dinner together, and studying in the same group were things I never could have imagined.
Still, we’re not best friends yet. I’m just happy we’re on good terms.

Honestly, as long as I don’t get involved in unnecessary drama, things should be fine.
The academy is a place full of experiences and opportunities to grow. There’s plenty of room for challenges and development here.
As the protagonist grows in fame, he will face bigger and more important events, eventually becoming a global hero.
It’s like a perfect mix of powerful action, personal growth, and classic shonen tropes.

I looked down at my hands.

These delicate, small hands weren’t mine—or at least, not the ones I used to know.
I couldn’t help but laugh softly, almost uncontrollably, like I was losing touch with reality.

It made me happy to see Reina care about me, but at the same time, I kept asking myself, Why me?
Was it because of this body?

Had she changed her attitude toward me because of my new appearance? That thought wasn’t easy to ignore.
Even as I grew closer to her, I couldn’t stop wondering if I even deserved this connection.

It’s not like they know anything about who I used to be.
Is this… right?

When I got home, the first thing I did was stand in front of the mirror.
Dressed in my academy uniform, I saw a small girl with silver hair that shimmered like moonlight and sparkling, star-like eyes staring back at me.
This is me now.

But it’s not the me I used to know.

No matter how many times I look, this reflection still feels unfamiliar. It’s almost funny. My old self wasn’t bad-looking, but acting like this would have made anyone uncomfortable.

If Reina had ever seen my original form, I doubt she’d treat me the same way she does now.
With that thought, I stepped away from the mirror and unpacked my things.

On some level, I know Reina’s behavior toward me is influenced by how I look now. Maybe she’s not even seeing the real me.
But in the end, this version of me is still me, just as much as the old version was.

I haven’t changed at all.

Yes.

That’s all that matters.