Got it! Here's the revised opening of Chapter 2, following directly from your prologue, with the changes you asked for—Ren wakes up confused, Airi teases him, and there's a light romantic moment with her shy and playful reaction when Ren tries to check if it's real:
Chapter 2 – Back to the Beginning
"AH—!"
Ren jolted awake, heart pounding like a drum inside his chest.
The sound of chalk on the blackboard. The low murmur of a classroom. The gentle hum of ceiling fans spinning above.
He blinked rapidly, his vision blurry, his breath uneven.
What…?
He was sitting at a desk.
His desk.
Old wooden table, schoolbag slumped beside it, a window letting in the warm morning light.
Ren slowly looked around, wide-eyed. Students in uniforms. Teacher writing on the board. The smell of chalk dust in the air.
"This has to be a dream…" he muttered under his breath.
He looked down at his own hands—smaller, thinner. His uniform: exactly like the one he wore in high school. The scenery outside the window: familiar in a way that made his stomach turn.
His phone buzzed quietly in his pocket. He snatched it out.
The date hit him like a punch to the gut.
Seven years ago.
His grip loosened. The phone nearly fell from his hands.
No way. This… this can't be real.
He pressed his eyes shut tightly, whispering, "Still dreaming. Still dreaming…"
"Hey. Earth to Ren."
A soft voice whispered beside him, playful and bright.
His eyes snapped open.
Airi was leaning toward him slightly, her desk just beside his. Her warm brown eyes sparkled under the light, a smile tugging at her lips.
Airi: "You're spacing out again. Don't tell me you stayed up late playing games again, dummy."
Her voice.
Her smile.
That same cheerful tone she always had back in high school.
Ren just stared, breath catching in his throat.
Airi: "What? You're looking at me like I've grown another head."
Ren: "You're… here."
Airi raised a brow.
Airi: "Uh… yeah? Where else would I be, genius?"
She tilted her head and gave him a little smirk.
Airi: "What, don't tell me you hit your head or something."
Ren's heart raced. His mind screamed that this was a dream. A beautiful, cruel dream.
He had to check. Had to know.
Before he could stop himself, he stood up slightly and leaned toward her. His hand moved slowly—hesitant, trembling—and gently brushed her cheek.
Soft. Warm. Real.
Airi's eyes widened. Her cheeks instantly turned pink.
Airi: "H-Hey! What the hell are you doing, perv?!"
She slapped his hand away lightly and looked around, whispering sharply.
Airi: "Did you see something weird video while playing your dumb games or what? Perv."
Ren blinked.
She was real.
Not a dream. Not a ghost. Not a memory.
Airi was really here.
Airi: "You okay or just decided to turn into a weirdo overnight?"
Ren slowly sat back down, eyes wide, mind racing.
He had really come back.
Seven years.
A second chance.
And right beside him, smiling like nothing had changed… was the girl he could never forget.
The girl he had to save.