Travelling through worlds to heal hearts

Joey had never imagined his life would take such a turn. One moment, he was sprawled on the floor of his bedroom, gazing at the ceiling and contemplating his next steps, and the next... well, here he was. He couldn't recall how he ended up in this situation, but when he opened his eyes, everything had changed.

The environment around him felt oddly familiar, like a distant memory from a dream—an unsettling mix of recognition and confusion. The crisp school uniform he wore was definitely not his. His body, while still his in shape and form, felt different, as if it had been borrowed for the day and not returned.

"Welcome, Host." The system's voice was mechanical and cold, its words echoing in his mind.

Joey blinked and sat up. His new surroundings—a modern high school with sleek lockers and sterile walls—felt almost claustrophobic. It was a far cry from the small, cozy room he had left behind. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to make sense of it all.

"What is happening?" he asked aloud, fully aware that a straightforward answer was unlikely.

"This is your first mission," the system replied, devoid of any warmth. "You have been transmigrated into a supporting character in a novel. Your task is straightforward: Make Rael, the tragic side character, happy."

Joey frowned. "Rael? I don't think I've ever heard of him."

"Rael is essential to the storyline," the system clarified. "His tragedy enhances the narrative of the original male protagonist. You need to change that."

Joey gazed out the window, attempting to wrap his head around the bizarre mission he had been assigned. He had no clue who Rael was, but if making someone happy was the goal, he was all in. That was just who he was—he had an innate desire to spread joy. Now, he just needed to find this Rael and figure out how to help him.

Rael turned his head slowly, his eyes meeting Joey's for a brief moment. His gaze was distant, yet not unkind. "Can I help you?"

Joey's grin widened. "Maybe you can. I'm Joey," he said, extending a hand in greeting.

Rael hesitated before shaking it, as if he were sizing Joey up. There was a flicker of something in his eyes—curiosity or annoyance? Joey couldn't quite tell.

"Rael," he replied softly. The way he said his name felt almost like a sigh, as if the weight of the world pressed down on it, leaving little room for anything else.

Joey dropped his hand, deciding not to push for a handshake just yet. Instead, he leaned casually against the locker next to Rael, keeping his eyes fixed on the other boy's face.

"You know, I've been watching you," Joey continued, maintaining a light tone. "You don't smile much. That's a shame. A guy like you should be smiling all the time."

Rael raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the unexpected comment. "Why do you care?"

Joey shrugged, not missing a beat. "I care because you're the type of person who doesn't let anyone in. I bet no one's ever really seen the real you."

There it was. The faintest hint of something—almost like a crack in Rael's emotional armor. Joey noticed it in the way Rael's shoulders tensed, how his eyes briefly darted to the ground before meeting his gaze again.

"You don't know anything about me," Rael replied, his voice flat. But Joey could see through the facade. He sensed the vulnerability that Rael was desperately trying to hide.

Joey leaned closer, his mischievous grin unwavering. "Maybe not yet. But I will. And I'm going to make sure you start smiling a lot more, Rael."

For the first time, Rael seemed to hesitate. A flicker of something—reluctance, curiosity, maybe even a hint of hope—crossed his face before he masked it once more.

"Let's see if you can," Rael said quietly.

Joey didn't say anything, but the confidence in his mischievous eyes spoke volumes.

Rael turned his head slowly, his eyes meeting Joey's for a brief moment. His gaze was distant, yet not unkind. "Can I help you?"

Joey's grin widened. "Maybe you can. I'm Joey," he said, extending a hand in greeting.

Rael didn't shake it right away. He seemed to assess Joey, as if sizing him up. There was a flicker of something in his eyes—was it curiosity or annoyance? Joey couldn't quite tell.

"Rael," came the soft reply. The way Rael said his name felt almost like a sigh, as if the weight of the world had pressed it down, leaving little room for anything else.

Joey dropped his hand, deciding not to push for a handshake just yet. Instead, he leaned casually against the locker next to Rael, keeping his eyes fixed on the other boy's face.

"You know, I've been watching you," Joey continued, maintaining a light tone. "You don't smile much. That's a shame. A guy like you should be smiling all the time."

Rael raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the unexpected comment. "Why do you care?"

Joey shrugged, not missing a beat. "I care because you're the type of person who doesn't let anyone in. I bet no one's ever really seen the real you."

There it was. The faintest hint of something—almost like a crack in Rael's emotional armor. Joey noticed it in the way Rael's shoulders tensed, how his eyes briefly darted to the ground before meeting his gaze again.

"You don't know anything about me," Rael replied, his voice flat. But Joey could see through the facade. He could sense the vulnerability that Rael was desperately trying to conceal.

Joey leaned closer, his mischievous grin unwavering. "Maybe not yet. But I will. And I'm going to make sure you start smiling a lot more, Rael."

For the first time, Rael seemed to hesitate. A flicker of something—reluctance, curiosity, maybe even a hint of hope—crossed his face before he masked it once more.

"Let's see if you can," Rael said quietly.

Joey didn't say anything, but the confidence in his mischievous eyes spoke volumes.