Friday night was a prelude to a carnival for most students, but for Fujiwara Ai, it became a simultaneous refinement of both body and spirit.
After returning to the apartment, a dry heat originating deep within his bones grew increasingly intense.
It wasn’t the heat of illness.
Instead, it felt more like a sign that his very life form was about to evolve.
On the system panel, the number beside the charisma stat, “79,” flickered continuously as though it could break into the next stage at any moment.
Unexpectedly, Yotsuya Miko behaved quite obediently tonight.
Aside from stubbornly leaving behind a “goodnight kiss” on his cheek and repeatedly confirming tomorrow morning’s meeting time several times over, she reluctantly returned to her own house.
Of course, Fujiwara Ai was absolutely certain that she would remain standing for a while at the intersection where she could still see the light from his apartment window.
After taking a shower, Fujiwara Ai lay on the bed, yet no matter how hard he tried, sleep simply refused to come.
Every single cell in his body seemed to be cheering excitedly.
The sensation resembled being submerged inside some high concentration energy liquid.
Numb.
Tingly.
Slightly painful.
Yet carrying an indescribable comfort at the same time.
“System, what’s happening?”
[Ding!
Detected that the host’s charisma value is about to break through the threshold of 80.]
[Explanation: 80 charisma points is the theoretical limit an ordinary human can naturally reach.]
[After surpassing this limit, the host will gain the characteristic “Otherworldly” and unlock the passive skill: [Succubus Aura (Pseudo)].]
[The process may cause some discomfort.
Please endure it, host.]
“Succubus Aura?”
Fujiwara Ai’s eyelid twitched slightly.
That name sounded suspicious no matter how he looked at it.
Unfortunately, the overwhelming drowsiness crashing into him left him without the energy to continue complaining.
He could only allow the burning sensation to completely drown his consciousness.
The next morning.
When the first ray of sunlight pierced through the curtains and landed on Fujiwara Ai’s face, he slowly opened his eyes.
The world seemed different.
His vision had become far sharper than before.
Even the tiny dust particles drifting through the air appeared clearly visible.
His hearing had sharpened too.
The sound of the neighbor next door brushing their teeth and the rustling noise of a stray cat stepping through the grass downstairs entered his ears distinctly.
However, what he cared about most was his own reflection in the mirror.
Fujiwara Ai walked toward the sink before raising his head.
Then he froze.
Previously, he could already be described as strikingly handsome.
Now?
Now the only suitable description was monstrous.
His facial features themselves hadn’t changed.
Yet every tiny detail had been optimized to perfection by the system.
His brow ridge became slightly more defined.
His eye sockets appeared deeper.
Those black eyes that once resembled lifeless dead fish eyes now looked like they contained an endless sea of stars.
Even a completely expressionless gaze now carried a deep and soulful attraction.
His skin looked fair and delicate like finely polished porcelain while faintly reflecting the morning light.
But the truly lethal part was his temperament.
That mixture of coldness, abstinence, and subtle danger made him resemble some kind of beautiful spirit from legends that existed solely to devour human souls.
[Ding!
Congratulations to the host for surpassing 80 charisma points!]
[Current Charisma: 80 (Otherworldly).]
[Passive Skill obtained: [Succubus Aura (Pseudo)].]
[Description: Your very existence itself is temptation.]
[Initial favorability from the opposite sex will greatly increase, and it will become easier to trigger emotions such as “love at first sight” and “possessiveness.”]
[Please conceal yourself appropriately in public settings to avoid causing large scale disturbances.]
Fujiwara Ai touched his own face silently.
“This is going to become troublesome.”
Becoming handsome was naturally a good thing.
But for someone with social anxiety, this side effect practically resembled a disaster.
He quickly found a black mask and put it on.
Then he dug out a baseball cap and pulled it low over his head, covering himself tightly from top to bottom.
After tidying himself up, Fujiwara Ai sat down on the sofa and summoned the system interface once more.
Today’s Comic Convention was destined to become a battlefield.
Not only would he need to deal with Marin’s enthusiastic attacks, he also needed to keep Miko, whose mental state was becoming increasingly unstable, under control.
Especially Miko.
That gaze from last night that practically screamed “I want to eat you alive” still left lingering fear in his heart.
If her yandere tendencies continued developing unchecked, the consequences would definitely become terrifying.
“System.
Open the shop.”
The pink system interface expanded instantly.
Fujiwara Ai skillfully scrolled through the item list while searching for something capable of solving his current problem.
[Item: Sanity Recovery Spray]
[Description: Can instantly calm targets who are frantic, yandere, or mentally unstable, restoring rational thought for 24 hours.] This chapter was copied from novelping.com without permission.
[Price: 5000 Affection Value]
“5000?”
Fujiwara Ai glanced at his miserable balance of only a few hundred points and nearly coughed blood.
This system was absolutely a daylight robber.
With his current savings, he probably couldn’t even afford the bottle cap.
“Do you have a cheaper substitute?”
[Ding!
Budget alternative recommended.]
[Item: Pure Heart and Few Desires Tea (Tea Bag)]
[Description: While incapable of instantly restoring sanity, it can effectively reduce emotional fluctuations and make the drinker calmer and more peaceful.]
[Price: 200 Affection Value per bag]
200 points.
It still hurt slightly.
But at least it remained barely affordable.
Fujiwara Ai hesitated briefly before finally gritting his teeth and exchanging for one.
After all, bringing a powder keg capable of exploding at any moment to a Comic Convention was simply too dangerous.
[Ding!
Exchange successful.]
A small tea bag appeared instantly in his hand.
Fujiwara Ai immediately entered the kitchen to boil water before brewing the tea.
The fragrance carried a faint lotus scent that naturally calmed the nerves.
Just as he finished placing the tea into a thermos.
Ding dong.
The doorbell rang.
Fujiwara Ai inhaled deeply, adjusted his mask and cap, then walked toward the entrance.
Standing outside the door was exactly who he expected.
Yotsuya Miko.
Today, Miko had obviously dressed herself up carefully.
She wore a light purple dress that reached just below her knees, revealing her slender calves.
Her long black hair draped softly over her shoulders while the beauty mark beneath her eye looked particularly alluring.
As long as one ignored the way her eyes stared fixedly at Fujiwara Ai like she wanted to swallow him whole, she looked like the perfect girl next door.
“Good morning, Ai kun!”
Miko smiled sweetly.
Unlike before, she didn’t immediately cling to him.
Instead, she stood there with both hands behind her back while tilting her head slightly toward him.
“Is this our matching outfit for today’s date?”
She pointed curiously toward Fujiwara Ai’s fully armed appearance.
“We’re going to a Comic Convention.”
Fujiwara Ai corrected calmly.
“And this isn’t a date.”
“It doesn’t matter.
To me, it’s a date.”
Miko automatically filtered out every word she disliked hearing before reaching forward intending to grab his arm.
Fujiwara Ai subtly dodged her movement before handing over the thermos instead.
“Drink some water.”
“Eh?
Ai kun prepared this specifically for me?”
Miko held the thermos like some sacred treasure.
“I’m so happy!
Did Ai kun personally make this?
Does it smell like Ai kun too?”
“…It’s tea.”
Fujiwara Ai felt slightly speechless.
This girl’s attention always focused on strange places.
Miko opened the thermos before taking a small sip.
“Mm…
the flavor is pretty light.”
She frowned slightly, clearly not enjoying the taste much.
“I want something sweeter.
Like the milk tea from China that Ai kun bought yesterday.”
“That’s unhealthy.”
Fujiwara Ai casually invented an excuse on the spot.
“This tea is for calming your mind.”
“Calming my mind?”
Miko blinked.
Although she still seemed reluctant, since Fujiwara Ai personally gave it to her, she would probably drink it even if it were poison.
She obediently took another large gulp.
Miraculously, the madness flickering faintly within the depths of Miko’s eyes actually weakened slightly.
Her gaze toward Fujiwara Ai still overflowed with love.
“I feel like…
my heart has become quieter.”
Miko muttered softly.
[Ding!
Item effect active.]
[Target: Yotsuya Miko.
Emotional fluctuations reduced by 30%.]
Fujiwara Ai quietly sighed in relief.
Those 200 Affection Value points had indeed been worth spending.
“Let’s go.”
After checking the time, Fujiwara Ai walked out first.
Miko obediently followed behind him while tightly hugging the thermos in both hands and occasionally taking small sips from it.
Although she no longer clung to him like a koala, the way she stayed closely behind him still strongly conveyed ownership.
The two boarded the train heading toward the Tokyo International Exhibition Center.
Since it was the weekend and Comic Convention day, the train was packed tightly.
Many passengers wore cosplay outfits from various anime and games while photographers carrying heavy camera equipment crowded the aisles.
Fujiwara Ai lowered his hat and mask, trying desperately to minimize his presence.
Unfortunately, the unique aura created by his 80 charisma points still made him stand out like a firefly in the darkness.
Girls nearby continuously stole glances at him.
Some secretly raised their phones, attempting to take photos.
“Tsk.”
Fujiwara Ai lowered his cap further in annoyance.
At that moment, a hand suddenly blocked the side of his face, shielding him from the camera lenses.
It was Miko.
She stood directly in front of him, using her relatively small body to shield him from the surrounding gazes while her amber eyes coldly swept across every girl trying to stare at him.
A clear warning filled her gaze.
Don’t look.
Even after drinking the Pure Heart and Few Desires Tea, her possessiveness hadn’t vanished entirely.
Fujiwara Ai was her treasure.
Nobody else was allowed to covet him.
Fujiwara Ai looked quietly at the girl trying her best to protect him.
A complicated feeling rose within his heart.
Although it was somewhat heavy, this sensation honestly didn’t feel too bad.
“We’ve arrived.”
The train announcement sounded.
Finally, the two reached their destination.
After stepping out of the station, an enormous sea of people greeted them at the convention grounds.
The air overflowed with excitement and restless energy.
Fujiwara Ai pulled out his phone before checking the location Marin had sent him.
“East Hall 3…
Area C…”
“Ai kun, are we going to meet that blonde cow now?”
Miko suddenly asked.
A faint jealousy lingered inside her voice.
That Kitagawa Marin only relied on those two vulgar pieces of meat being larger than hers.
Yet she still dared to seduce Ai kun.
Absolutely unforgivable.
Even after drinking the tea, her instincts toward a potential romantic rival remained deeply rooted.
“I’m just delivering something.”
Fujiwara Ai lifted the large bag containing the cosplay outfit slightly.
“I’ll leave immediately after handing it over.”
“Really?”
Miko looked at him suspiciously.
“Really.”
Fujiwara Ai nodded calmly.
However, deep inside, he knew perfectly well that the Shuraba mission issued by the system would never let things end so easily.
The two entered the convention venue side by side.
Meanwhile, not far away inside the changing room area, a blonde girl anxiously checked her phone repeatedly while muttering to herself.
“Why isn’t he here yet…?
He absolutely has to make it in time…”
At the same time, on the opposite side of the venue.
A girl wearing a pink tracksuit while carrying a guitar bag trembled pitifully as she became surrounded by an excited crowd of photographers.
“Little sister!
Look over here!”
“Is this an original character cosplay?
That gloomy socially anxious atmosphere is incredible!”
“Wuuuuu…
help…
I want to go home…
Master…
where are you…”
At that very moment, the gears of fate began turning once more.