So this happened, I regret nothing! Nexon owns maplestory, my wallet, and them sweet sweet ikemens, please don't sue me.
Haru twirled some hair around her fingers idly and contemplated how she had ended up in this position exactly, as she stared down the double glass doors to her end goal.
Having been born again as a baby to a rich business tycoon of a father and a hyper beautiful supermodel of a mother really did come with its perks sometimes. Like being offered free drinks and snacks when toddling around the store for being oh so cute and afterwards numbers from guys she could hardly care about.. Thank you very much genetics. The negligence that came with the package could be swept under the carpet and forgotten about easily.
They really did try their best to be loving and doting parents but work always came first for them. Family would never be as important in their workaholic, jet-setting eyes.
If she had to say, she might even fit right in with the snobby rich brats of Ourxn Academy, living such a privileged life. But here she was, living in the glitz and glamour of a certain otherworldly but modern Seoul. Korea honestly wouldn't have been her first pick what with all the modern isekai novels popping up in her teenage lifetime. Hey, on the bright side at least she hadn't been born in Overwatch Seoul, though it would have been fun watching DVa blow up hostile enemies in her mecha. Or maybe not, if her life was going to be at stake.
Her English skills had made her some kind of a prodigal child though the less said about her Korean the better.
And yet somehow in all their busy lifestyle choices, her parents managed to find the time to get it going on, gifting her with an equally adorable baby brother, Seobin, who adored her to absolute pieces. Life could not be more wonderful.
Growing up in the same district as a certain psychic-powered super hero named Kinesis really helped to seal the deal that she wasn't exactly in Kansas anymore. She had almost spit out her cup of sweetened Earl Gray tea when her brother somehow dragged the aforementioned embarrassed Kinesis and an equally bashful Yuna up to their apartment to play, leaving the housekeeper to bustle around to prepare snacks and drinks.
Her brother animatedly described how he had been saved by the duo when he forgot to look both ways while crossing the street, she withheld the urge to plant her face in her hands as Kinesis insisted it definitely wasn't a big deal.
Or it might also have been the fact that she was offered a chance to enrol in Shinsoo International School when her parents casually brought in up in their email correspondence, being taught by the White Mage even if for a few months would certainly have been quite the wild experience.
She became casual acquaintances with the two other children, inviting both to her lavish birthday parties and sometimes getting their other friend Jay as an unashamed tagalong, because who could resist free food? Seobin was the one to continue to further his friendship with the trio and hang out with them after classes and cram school.
Haru decided to go ahead and enrol at the School for the Gifted because that also happened to be where her two buddies were headed. She was aiming to just casually coast along, keeping her head low during her school years. Ugh, she had to appreciate the wonders of math again.
Pretending to be a ditzy, carefree airheaded blonde put one out as a definitive target for school bullies, even in the school of "elites", bullies still existed, who would've thought? She still did have a few fair-weather friends to chat about shallow gossip and the hottest k-pop idols who recently debuted.
Watching Yuna, the vice student president drag actual student president Kinesis along the classrooms by the ear as he complained loudly about how the paperwork for the position seemed to be endless on a daily basis was great entertainment though.
But deep down inside she knew what her main goal in this life was. After having realized who Kinesis had been, and quickly calculating the timeline mentally, she had a chance to truly embrace her inner fangirl. To be able to meet with the suave and ever charming Phantom, even if just for a brief, fleeting moment.
And she knew just what she had to do in order to accomplish her self-imposed mission.
To the surprise of her family, she started throwing herself headfirst into drama and acting classes, she aimed to become one of Korea's leading actresses. A young starlet legend quickly emerged as she juggled between her grades and furthering her acting career. Starting slowly with small roles in dramas and being movie extras. Honestly, she didn't have to put in this much effort but she had already died once so trying new things was surprising and fun to experience.
When news of a large sinkhole appearing in the bustling streets of Seoul and subsequently Kinesis stopped regularly attending classes alongside student vice-president Yuna, Seobin was beside himself with worry, however, she braced herself for the best night of her life.
Getting an open invite to Dr Lim's official exhibition at the Cosmic Museum was easily obtained as she expressed interest to her parents and they readily agreed to get it for her. Score. Her brother just scoffed at the fact that she wanted to go to a museum exhibition and decided to kick back at home on the couch.
Unscratch that record and unfreeze that frame, let time continue to flow onwards.
So, decked out in pearls borrowed from her mom, she threw the fanciest white fur shawl she owned across her shoulders and adjusting her sparkling red cocktail dress (the one her brother had given the firm thumbs up to) slightly, scanning the crowded room for general activity while she held onto a black clutch in her free hand.
And then finally the real star of the show appeared, she could hardly hold back a squeal, instead opting to sip calmly at her glass of red wine. She had stationed herself near the door in hopes of catching the first glimpse of the elusive playboy and now here he was in actual flesh and blood.
Reciting lines she had practiced at home to the mirror, she went on to muse, "Who could have predicted such an outstanding landmark of a museum would be built right here in Seoul?" Hey she was taking creative liberties, sue her. "Oh! I heard the amazing Dr Lim was going to showcase some new exhibit here at this museum! What an honour to be able to witness this!" She tittered lightly, sipping at her red wine a little more, cheeks already flushing from the alcohol. She was technically of legal age though.
Decked out in an expensive looking tuxedo, royal blue scarf tossed casually around his shoulders and pinned to the breast pocket was a couple of blue tinged feathers, she could understand why Aria managed to get her heart stolen by this particular individual. His brilliant amethyst eyes met hers as she carried on speaking to thin air and she couldn't help but blurt out, "Hey could I get your number? Or even just a selfie? Are you a celebrity from a foreign country?"
His head tilted slightly in confusion, resembling a curious puppy. "A selfie? What's that?"
She whipped out her phone instantly, doing a mental fist bump, swiping open to the camera function and pointed with her free hand at their faces currently being shown on screen. He nodded his head in bemusement, and his smile could've melted butter, as she gestured to look at the camera on her phone before tapping the screen again to make the current moment an eternal one.
Then he was off again, chatting politely with the other attendees to gather more information. She had went off to the side to immediately set the picture as her new wallpaper. After a while, he disappeared into the other section of the museum and she started to explore on her too.
Bumping into a journalist for the popular M Journal who had come to cover the event, they exchanged brief pleasantries and she even took a photo of her, "Wow! I heard you are quite the awesome up and coming actress, it's a pleasure to be able to meet you in person!" She smiled and dipped her head in embarrassment, waving off her praises.
Then it was time for a rather shaky Dr Lim to go up the stage in order to give a short speech about the new material he had discovered, flashing images of various ancient artefacts before the final slide showed the mysterious substance that had been found due to the sinkhole. There were audible gasps at how amazing these discoveries were before everyone burst into applause as Dr Lim nervously smiled and bowed once before stepping off the stage for a short break before Director Oh would come to speak about how his funding had contributed towards these discoveries.
Now for Act 2 of this little phase, watching Phantom slyly disappear into the drinks room, she trailed slowly behind him, probably startling him when she shouted, "Hey handsome! Where do you think you're going?"
Pretending she definitely did not see his eye-catching head of blond hair just peeking out from under the cocktail bar, biting back a grin and stifling her laughs to the best of her ability, her black stiletto heels clacked onwards into the other room in a futile search for the person she knew was right there.
"Huh, could've sworn he was just here. Did he go that way?" The woreds she uttered caused the bar to breathe an audible sigh of relief when she left.
All according to Keikaku. Which did meant plan in Japanese. She was a meme lover at heart you know.
Going by the plot line, the blackout caused by Luminous should happen... Right... About... Now! The museum and its precious exhibits were enveloped in darkness surrounded by confused screams and glass shattering.
Amidst the confusion and chaos, she spotted two shadowy figures slinking stealthily past security to unlock the door to where the Transcendence Stone was located. Now for Phase 3. Jogging quickly before the security doors closed again, she tugged Dr Lim along with her, putting a finger to her lips as the emergency lights kicked in to stop his startled yelps.
"Hi again handsome!" She winked saucily, waving her fingers carelessly as the duo turned trio got caught red-handed in the act of stealing museum property. Getting twin bowguns pointed right at her face as a response was an experience she would gladly never want to encounter again as she smiled internally before letting out an ear-piercing screech, Dr Lim following suit, exclaiming loudly about terrorists trying to steal a precious exhibit.
She could hear the two males arguing with the other very attractive blonde about how weapons had been completely unnecessary in the face of two innocents. Now picking up the pace, she dashed out the museum with the throngs of harried visitors, wide-eyed as bolts of light, shining arrows, and cards got shot out of the newly opened museum. Magic was truly a sight to behold.
"I heard you were the one responsible for noticing this terrorist threat? Would you please kindly provide your eye witness account?" The police officers who had been called to the scene and journalists clamoured for her attention as she did her best to give a shaken and frightened look. "Yes! It was utterly horrible! I was threatened by some madwoman with two bowguns who attended the exhibition!" Clutching at the blanket thrown around her shoulders for comfort, adrenaline already wearing off in the chill of the night, she spotted the giant Abraxas jetting off in the sky back to the other dimension.
So. Totally. Worth. It.
The messages blowing up her phone from an appropriately concerned brother might not be though.
Phantom couldn't help but wonder if that woman who had pestered him before knew more than she let on. The suspicious twinkle in her eye was highly disturbing when she barged in with Dr Lim on their activities to snag the Transcendence Stone.
But that was all in the past, and it was time to face Damien before everything was consumed by Chaos and all worlds were overwhelmed by the Black Mage's scheme.
So the Black Mage has been defeated, level cap's been increased again and I'm considering if its worth selling my kidney to buy some level 200 equips to deck out. Wbu? Add me as a friend if you play in the Maplesea Bootes world, Yumeriki is the ign!
I hope you enjoyed this crazy fic, it was pretty fun to throw an SI!OC into an existing minor character jist for fun. The pacing does seem pretty awkward though, I'm not sure how to fix that oops. Let me know your thoughts if there's anything to be improved. Peace out!