Reborn As An Extra In My Own Novel

"Huh!?" Matt's voice rang loudly through the Cha-Kim family's house as all eyes turned on him. "I'm on TV?"

Kai and Hari facepalmed.

Matt stared at the two, then at the rest of their family, his eyes literally sparkling with joy.

Cha Jinwoo, who was sitting next to Kai on a long sofa, shifted to Ha-joon, who lapped Ha-eun. The both grinned to themselves.

And without saying a word, sent a message, as Ha-joon pointed at Matt with his thumb, and Jinwoo said telepathically, "Look at this kid."

The two of them laughed loudly while Matt, who sat on the floor with Hari, turned to them, then to Kai's mom, who sat next to Kai on the left.

He shook his head, then turned back to the television. 'Why didn't Kai tell me that I had an anime?'

He sighed, as Ji Eun, who was hooked to her phone, spoke up. "Looks like it is going to rain."

The entire family took a moment of silence as Matt, who was feeling left out, also kept quiet. Even the television's volume was turned down.

After about a minute, Cha Jinwoo spoke out. "Okay, guys." He clasped his hands. "Time for bed."

Kai yawned a little. "Yeah, good night."

He too had completely forgotten that he didn't sleep before the incident with Reni happened, and with the excessive emotions he had just felt, added with his memory and the instant brightness he felt, he was honestly tired and spent.

'Can't do it all in one day, right?'

Kai glanced at Matt as he stood up, and his friend also stood up.

"Your family is fun."

Kai glanced at Matt, a smile playing at his lips. "Yeah, they are."

Matt stared blankly in the air as they passed the passage. "I can see where both you and Ha-rin got your looks and character from." He scoffed. "No wonder you put so much trauma on me. It was because you hadn't felt it before, right?"

Kai spread his hands. "Who knows? A pretty boy like me doesn't need to think about those unnecessary stuff."

Matt frowned. "Aren't you being too narcissistic?"

"Huh?" Kai's eyes widened, then he placed his hand on his chin. "Come to think of it, that does sound narcissistic."

Matt nodded, but Kai grinned. "But I am pretty, aren't I?"

Matt's face twitched. "God dammit, Kai."

Kai laughed loudly as the two of them entered his ash-coloured room.

-----

Two hours slipped away in a blur as the two of them lay on the floor, looking at the sky through the medium-sized window.

"Hey Kai..."

"Hmm..."

Matt lingered for a moment. "I think..."

"Yes..."

"Well, I think I like your cousin Ha-rin."

"Is that so."

"Yeah..."

Matt took another long pause, then glanced beside him, where Kai was meant to be, but no one was there. "Kai?..."

He quickly stood on his knees, then as his gaze darted around the room, a sharp killing intent struck him, making him roll back.

Behind him was Kai, his eyes glimmering with mana. His steps weren't even, like some kind of ghost or zombie.

"Hey Kai..."

Kai's eyes, which were invisible except for that pale lilac glow, intensified. "Oi, Matt, do you think our friendship is meant to reach my sister?"

Matt felt sweat build up on his forehead. "Uhmm... No."

Kai chuckled. "Then tell me..." He dropped a dagger in between Matt's now spread legs. "Why the hell are you saying you like Hari? If you answer wrongly, I will slice off your manhood."

Matt swallowed hard. "It was a joke, Kai." He laughed awkwardly. "Nothing but a joke... I just wanted to know how your feelings for Amy and Reni were going."

Kai stared at him as his eyes turned back to normal. With a gentle smile, he picked the dagger up. "I thought so..." He rubbed his temples. "Don't make such jokes, Matt."

Matt laughed a little. 'Don't you want your cousin to get married?'

Kai closed his eyes briefly, then lay down next to Matt again.

Tapping the space next to him, he gestured Matt to come over. Matt sighed but still moved next to him. This time, though, he decided to sit upright, just in case something happened.

Taking in a deep breath, he asked, "So do you like Amy?"

Kai lingered for a moment, but as if he had already come to a conclusion, he answered. "No."

Matt raised a brow. "That was rather quick."

Kai sighed. "Well, meeting my family put my head in order, and I realized what I felt for Amy was just the feeling any author would feel when they met their character."

Matt shifted slightly. "Does that mean you love me?" he said, his eyes widened.

Kai stared at him in the eyes. "Not even a chance."

Matt looked the other side. "Well, that was harsh coming from my best friend."

Kai shook his head. "Being best friends doesn't mean loving each other, does it?"

Matt lingered for a bit. "I guess..." He added, "But if someone told me if I loved you or not, my answer would be yes."

Kai locked gazes with him. "Eww... Someone might think I'm gay if they hear our conversation."

Matt held his stomach like he was about to vomit. "Nah man, I like girls."

"I hope those girls you like don't have any ties to my blood whatsoever."

Matt looked away from Kai. "Yeah..."

The two of them stayed in silence for a moment longer. "So do you like the princess?"

Without hesitation, he answered. "Yes..."

"You didn't even take a second to answer." He paused, then added, "But... What if it is the same author-character feeling?"

Kai's expression turned dark. "Unlike Amy and you, Reni wasn't a main character. She was more like a character made for convenience... But," he continued, "I think I want to understand her way more than I want to with Amy."

He looked at the glimmering stars. "Isn't that what love is? When one person wants to understand the other?"

"I guess you're right."

Kai smiled. "Aren't I?"

----

The night passed by rather quickly. Both Matt and Kai had refused to stay together on the bed because of certain reasons, though to them that had mana, sleeping on the floor wasn't that uncomfortable, even with the rain that fell in the night.

That day broke, and it was time for their first day at high school. For Kai though, it was his third time in high school.

One when he was on Earth, the other in Noctis, and now in Reni's soul sea.

"Jin-sung, Ha-rin, Matt, come take your meals."

Kai, who had finished wearing their new sky-blue uniform, entered the living area and helped his mom pack the food for the three of them.

After which they all prepared to leave.

Kai, who had finished first, stared at the breakfast on the table and smiled. "Hey, Hari."

Hari, who stood next to Kai, grinned too. "I know what you're thinking."

They both turned to Matt, who was on the other side of Hari. He nodded, then addressed Kai's mom. "Miss Ji-ae, can you just give us a toast of bread? We are a bit late to school."

His mother turned to the clock, back at them, then smiled. "I understand."

The three of them took a slice of toasted bread that was coated with egg and placed it in between their teeth, then rushed out the door.

Matt laughed loudly then said, "I have always wanted to do this since I was a kid..."

Kai, who was behind the group, pointed at a shortcut he and Hari used to take as kids.

As the three proceeded through the alley, they couldn't help but notice that the street and layout were changing the more they moved forward.

Kai, who was still rushing with the blazer coat of his uniform flying like some sort of cape, thought, 'Seems Hari and my arrival to Reni's soul sea changed the area surrounding us to resemble Seoul.'

He stared at a massive wall that blocked their paths. From his memory, he was more than certain that nothing like that existed in their world.

But still, a grin found its way to his lips. Rushing in front of the group, Kai jumped as high as he could without the help of mana, a feat that to Earthlings would have seemed impossible.

He rested one palm on the apex of the wall, then bent his body slightly, just like the stuntmen he usually watched in TV shows. His body raised over the block effortlessly, but in the process, his hair, which he tied up, loosened slightly, making the wind fly his hair back.

He smiled and, like a cat, landed on his legs, the bread still clenched between his teeth.

Taking in a deep breath, he stared at the figures in front of him, then smiled softly. Both girls, boys, men, and women felt their faces flush red at the sight of the man.

He quickly darted his gaze around only to see Matt and Hari come out from a door that was close to the wall.

A sudden embarrassment fell on him, but he couldn't deny how fun it was jumping over the high wall. His smile softened even further as he rushed over to the two, simultaneously pulling out another hairband from his blazer's pocket.

"That was uncalled for, wasn't it?"

Matt nodded while Hari grinned. "But it was still badass."

Kai and Hari, who were next to each other, slammed the side of their clenched fists together.

It didn't take long after then for the three of them to reach the school they were going to be attending.

Nameless—not because it was a name given by anyone, but because the school was actually a nameless, normal school unlike Noctis.

However, for Kai, things were different from the moment he stepped into his classroom.

It had been long since Kai had entered a normal classroom.

The normal-sized classroom brought back nostalgia. He wanted to check out different things. Even then, his gaze, which could have landed anywhere, fixed on a particular girl who sat on the second row close to the window.

The classroom resembled a sky full of stars—a vivid contrast of colors—but to him, only one single figure whose hair swayed slightly in the gentle breeze stood out.

Just like the saying that went, "In a room filled with beautiful art, my eyes will always find you," his eyes also found the person he was searching for.

Even though she had a different color of hair and eyes, and the presence she exuded was a bit different, he still couldn't forget it.

Kai tried to pull himself away from the pull her beauty brought to him, but nevertheless, his gaze instinctively found the young woman again. Her white hair glistened in the sunlight, and her moonlight-gray eyes looked like a second sun. She was breathtaking, to say the least.