Fujiwara Ai had just stepped out of the abandoned park when the sky completely darkened.
The dim yellow glow of the streetlights spilled across the sidewalk, stretching his shadow into a distorted silhouette.
Inside his school bag, the dried leaf still seemed to retain the faint coolness of Takamatsu Tomori’s fingertips, and the melancholic atmosphere unique to that strange denpa girl still lingered faintly in his mind.
At that moment, the system, which had been silent for quite a while, suddenly rang out with an unusually cheerful notification tone, instantly breaking the quiet night.
[Ding!
Detected that the host’s recent conquest progress has been excellent, and Affection Value consumption has remained highly active.]
[To reward the host, this system has decided to unlock a brand-new feature section: [Daily Special Offer Mall]!]
[Description: Three random discounted items refresh at midnight every day.
Includes skill books, special items, and even certain unspeakable…
ahem, anyway, don’t miss out!]
Fujiwara Ai stopped walking and raised an eyebrow slightly.
Daily specials?
This sounds exactly like the limited-time discount systems from pay-to-win mobile games.
Still, considering the system’s previous items had all been absurdly expensive yet genuinely useful, like the Soul Fusion Acceleration Card, he decided it was worth checking.
“Open Mall.”
A pink light screen unfolded before his eyes.
Beside the original main interface, a small golden icon labeled “SALE” appeared brightly.
After opening it, three slots resembling mystery boxes appeared.
[Today’s Specials (Refreshes in 4 hours):]
[1.
Skill Book: [Flower Arrangement (Beginner)]]
[Original Price: 100 Affection Value -> Current Price: 10 Affection Value]
[Description: Although it looks useless, perhaps one day it can be used to impress your future mother-in-law?
Or demonstrate elegance at a funeral?]
Fujiwara Ai: “…”
[2.
Item: [Honesty Lollipop (Strawberry Flavor)] x1]
[Original Price: 500 Affection Value -> Current Price: 50 Affection Value]
[Description: Whoever eats it will become incapable of lying for one hour and will be forced to speak only the truth.
Whether for confessions or interrogations, it is a divine tool.
Side effect: The tongue turns red after consumption.]
Interesting.
If used on a tsundere, the effect would probably be devastating.
Unfortunately, there didn’t seem to be many tsundere heroines around him right now.
Someone thick-skinned like Ryo would probably only confess nonsense such as “I want expensive meat.”
[3.
Item: [Red String of Fate (One-time Use · Random Version)]]
[Original Price: 1000 Affection Value -> Current Price: 100 Affection Value (Deep Discount!)]
[Description: After use, for the next hour, the host’s chance of accidentally encountering “high-potential targets” will increase significantly.
Whether it’s bumping into love around a corner or colliding in a bookstore, fate will guide you toward a Shuraba…
ahem, toward happiness.]
[Note: Targets cannot be specified.
Everything depends on fate.]
Fujiwara Ai stared at the third item thoughtfully.
Random encounters.
Although it sounded suspiciously pseudoscientific, the heavy discount really was tempting.
Besides, while his current conquest progress looked stable, apart from Miko completely falling for him, the others were still somewhere between ambiguity and early affection.
If this item could trigger new events or accelerate existing relationships, it would not be a loss.
And with Miko around, Affection Value income was practically stable anyway.
“Purchase the third item.”
[Ding!
Purchase successful.
100 Affection Value consumed.]
[Item “Red String of Fate (One-time Use · Random Version)” has automatically activated.]
[Countdown started: 59:59…]
As the system notification faded away, Fujiwara Ai waited for some dramatic effect.
Nothing happened.
No red light.
No magical aura.
No romantic background music.
Not even a breeze.
“…That’s it?”
He suddenly felt like he had been scammed.
Still, since he had already bought it, he might as well test it.
After glancing around, he decided to head toward the bookstore he often visited with Miko.
He also happened to need a few new reference books.
Ten minutes later.
Fujiwara Ai pushed open the glass doors of a large bookstore.
Cool air conditioning immediately washed over him.
The bookstore was quiet, filled only with the occasional sound of turning pages and soft background music.
He headed directly toward the study materials section.
Only a few students in uniforms wandered nearby selecting books.
Fujiwara Ai casually picked up a mathematics reference book and flipped through it.
With Gods Eye active, scanning the surrounding area had become instinctive.
No familiar faces.
No Marin.
No Bocchi.
No Ryo.
“It really is a scam system.”
He shook his head lightly and prepared to leave.
Just as he passed through the light novel section.
Clatter.
A book suddenly slipped from a high shelf and fell directly toward the head of a girl standing below.
Fujiwara Ai reacted instantly.
Before his brain fully processed the situation, his body had already moved.
He stepped forward and stretched out a slender arm, catching the falling book smoothly.
“Careful.”
He spoke quietly.
The girl trembled slightly in surprise before slowly turning around.
Smooth black bob-cut hair.
Gentle, pleasant features that somehow remained easy to overlook.
And the unmistakable Sobu High School uniform.
Kato Megumi.
Fujiwara Ai paused briefly.
It was actually her?
So this was the Red String of Fate?
Among an entire bookstore, it had precisely arranged for him to catch the book before it hit Kato Megumi.
Kato Megumi looked at the suspended book, then at Fujiwara Ai holding it, and blinked calmly.
Her expression barely changed, as though nearly getting hit on the head by a hardcover novel was not worth reacting to.
“Ah, thank you, Fujiwara-san.”
Her tone remained soft and flat, though genuine gratitude could still be heard within it.
“This is already the second time you’ve caught me.”
She was referring to their rooftop meeting.
“Just a coincidence.”
Fujiwara Ai returned the book to the shelf and glanced at its title.
“Love Metronome.”
So Saint Megumi also reads this sort of light novel.
“Maybe.”
Kato Megumi closed the book in her own hands, another popular romance novel, and quietly observed him.
“Fujiwara-san isn’t wearing a mask today.”
“Have you finally accepted it?”
“What?”
“That even if you try to hide yourself, everyone will still notice you anyway.
So instead, you’ve chosen to calmly accept it.”
Her insight cut directly through his recent change in mentality.
Combined with her naturally low presence, it made her feel less like a heroine and more like some invisible observer silently watching everything.
Fujiwara Ai looked at her quietly.
His overwhelming 85 Charisma Aura seemed strangely weakened around Kato Megumi.
Unlike other girls, she neither blushed nor became nervous.
She also lacked Miko’s dangerous possessiveness.
She simply remained calm.
Like a quiet flower blooming unnoticed beside the road.
And because of that calmness, being around her felt unexpectedly comfortable.
[Ding!
“Red String of Fate” effect triggered successfully.]
[Target: Kato Megumi]
[Favorability increased by +5 (Current: 20/100)]
[Description: Although this was only a small accident, you have left behind the impression of being “reliable.” For a mob heroine, subtle infiltration is the most effective conquest strategy.]
“Fujiwara-san, if you aren’t busy…”
Kato Megumi pointed toward the reading area nearby.
“Would you like to read together?”
“There are still empty seats.”
Was this an invitation?
Although her tone sounded as casual as discussing the weather, for Kato Megumi, this already counted as proactive behavior.
“Sure.”
Fujiwara Ai accepted without hesitation.
Going home right now only meant facing Miko’s excessive affection anyway.
Spending some peaceful time here sounded far more relaxing.
The two walked to the reading area and sat across from each other at a small round table.
Kato Megumi lowered her head and quietly resumed reading.
Fujiwara Ai also opened a reference book, though his gaze occasionally drifted toward the opposite side.
From this angle, Kato Megumi’s profile looked soft and delicate beneath the warm lighting.
Her eyelashes cast faint shadows across her cheeks while her fingers gently turned each page.
The more one looked at her, the more attractive she became.
It was a strangely dangerous type of charm.
“Fujiwara-san.”
Kato Megumi suddenly spoke without looking up.
“You’ve been watching me this whole time.”
“…”
Caught red-handed, Fujiwara Ai remained completely calm.
“Observing.”
“Observing what?”
Kato Megumi finally raised her eyes toward him.
“Observing how to make you stand out a little more.”
Fujiwara Ai casually made up an excuse.
In reality, he was thinking: observing how to conquer the hardest heroine here.
“Stand out…”
Kato Megumi tilted her head slightly as though considering the idea seriously.
“But I think things are fine like this.”
“No need to be noticed by too many people.”
“And no need to carry heavy expectations.”
She paused briefly before looking at him again.
“Just like Fujiwara-san.”
“Even though you’re very dazzling now…
it must feel exhausting, right?”
There it was again.
That ability she had to casually see through other people’s hearts.
Fujiwara Ai lowered his book.
“…Yeah.”
He admitted it honestly.
“So sometimes…
“Then…”
Kato Megumi slowly closed her book.
The corners of her lips curved upward ever so slightly into a faint but genuine smile.
It was the first truly vivid smile Fujiwara Ai had seen from her.
“If Fujiwara-san gets tired next time, you can hide behind me.”
“Because I’m a background character.”
“When people look at me, they’ll naturally stop noticing you too.”
What was this?
A confession?
Or simply kindness?
Fujiwara Ai stared at her smile, feeling his heartbeat subtly skip.
[Ding!
Key emotional fluctuation detected.]
[Kato Megumi Favorability +10 (Current: 30/100)]
[Status: Willing to become your cover / Developed mixed emotions of sympathy and curiosity toward you.]
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
Fujiwara Ai replied softly.
Just as the atmosphere between them became strangely subtle.
“U-Um…
excuse me…”
A timid voice suddenly interrupted.
Both Fujiwara Ai and Kato Megumi turned simultaneously.
Standing beside the table was a plain-looking girl with twin tails and glasses.
Her face was completely red while she clutched an art book tightly against her chest.
“T-That…
are you Fujiwara-san?”
“I…
I’m from the class next door…
I’ve always been paying attention to you!”
“C-Could you please accept this?!”
She shoved the art book toward him.
It was an extremely explicit doujinshi.
Fujiwara Ai: “…”
So this is the side effect of Red String of Fate?
Not only attracting hidden heroines, but also bizarre random fans?
And why are you giving him this specifically?!
Kato Megumi quietly watched the entire scene.
The faint smile on her face disappeared immediately, returning to her usual calm expression.
“It seems Fujiwara-san is very popular.”
Her voice remained flat.
Fujiwara Ai sighed.
He accepted the doujinshi awkwardly before standing up.
“Sorry.
I should head home now.”
Then he looked toward Kato Megumi.
“See you next time.”
“Mm.
See you next time.”
Without raising her head, Kato Megumi lightly waved one hand.
Walking out of the bookstore, Fujiwara Ai glanced at the suspicious art book in his hand before checking the system timer.
Five minutes remaining.
Surely he wouldn’t run into another heroine within only five minutes, right?
As he walked past a vending machine near the station, his footsteps suddenly paused.
Beside the vending machine crouched a familiar black-haired girl.
Long black hair.
Sobu High School uniform.
And currently talking seriously to a stray cat.
A black-and-white cow-pattern cat lazily licked its paws while completely ignoring the girl trying to feed it cat treats.
“Nyano…
why are you ignoring me today?”
The girl’s cold voice carried faint loneliness.
Fujiwara Ai froze briefly.
This hairstyle.
This voice.
And this strange habit of talking to cats.
Yukinoshita Yukino?
“System, is this also part of the random encounter?”
Fujiwara Ai asked silently.
[Ding!
Red String of Fate effect countdown ended.]
[Good luck, host.]
Fujiwara Ai looked at the familiar cat and finally understood.
That wasn’t just any stray cat.
It was the shameless cat constantly rubbing against his legs every day at school.
“It doesn’t eat that.”
Fujiwara Ai finally spoke.
Yukinoshita Yukino’s body stiffened slightly before she turned around.
Her icy eyes widened faintly upon seeing Fujiwara Ai standing there.
“You…”
“Meow!”
Before she could finish speaking, the previously aloof cow cat suddenly let out an extremely clingy cry, abandoned Yukino’s expensive cat treats without hesitation, and pounced directly toward Fujiwara Ai’s legs while rubbing against him affectionately.
Yukinoshita Yukino: “…”
Fujiwara Ai: “…”
So this is what they mean when they say humans are inferior to cats.