The setting sun stretched long shadows across the school buildings of Sobu High School.
Fujiwara Ai walked alone down the slope leading away from campus while holding a pink envelope marked with a bleeding eye.
Although his expression remained completely emotionless on the surface, internally he was already questioning the system nonstop.
“System, explain this thing.”
A pale pink holographic screen unfolded before his eyes.
This time, the system finally behaved properly and displayed a detailed explanation.
[Ding!
Low-Level Supernatural Item detected: [Resentment Chain Letter]]
[Description: A cursed letter formed from the resentment of repeatedly rejected girls, accompanied by a low-level imp that enjoys causing trouble.]
[Effect: Causes the target to experience minor bad luck for three days, including choking while drinking water or discovering empty toilet paper at critical moments.]
[Daily Mission Triggered: King’s Scorn]
[Mission Description: As the future God of Romance, how can a mere low-level curse act arrogantly before you?
Without using direct exorcism methods, suppress the attached imp using only your presence and temperament until it loses confidence and dissipates voluntarily.]
[Reward: Charisma +1, 5,000 yen cash reward]
[Failure Penalty: Charisma -1]
[Note: Becoming uglier is the greatest punishment for the host.]
Fujiwara Ai’s lips twitched slightly.
Making ghosts feel inferior?
This system really understood psychological warfare.
He stopped beside a roadside trash can.
Fortunately, nobody was nearby.
Fujiwara Ai activated [Spiritual Vision].
Instantly, a small dark blob emerged from the envelope.
The creature resembled moldy mochi with twisted little limbs while emitting creepy giggling noises.
“Hee-hee-hee…”
The imp attempted to smear misfortune onto him like sticky mud.
Fujiwara Ai remained silent.
He simply lowered his eyelids slightly and stared quietly at the creature with his dark emotionless eyes enhanced by 73 points of Charisma.
There was no fear inside his gaze.
No disgust.
Only absolute indifference.
As though he were looking at something completely insignificant.
The suppression created by his transmigrator soul combined with the cold temperament forged through constant soul-tearing pain formed a terrifying pressure against low-level spiritual beings.
One second passed.
Then two.
Then three.
The imp’s creepy laughter slowly stopped.
While staring into Fujiwara Ai’s eyes, an instinctive terror suddenly spread through its tiny spirit body.
He…
He’s not afraid of me?
He looks down on me…
Waaah!
I’m such a useless ghost!
I can’t even scare anyone!
The imp’s bloated body rapidly shrank.
Its dark color faded into pale gray before it finally let out a miserable squeak and dissolved into green smoke out of pure shame.
[Ding!
Mission “King’s Scorn” completed!]
[Reward Issued: Charisma +1]
[Current Charisma: 74]
[5,000 yen has been transferred successfully.]
[System Notice: Tonight, the increase in Charisma will trigger deeper cellular optimization.
Please ensure sufficient sleep quality.]
Fujiwara Ai casually tossed the now ordinary envelope into the combustible trash bin.
“Boring.”
Leaving behind those cold words, he turned and headed home.
The next morning.
Fujiwara Ai woke naturally at his usual time.
The moment he opened his eyes, he immediately sensed the difference.
His body felt lighter.
Even the faint tearing discomfort caused by his incomplete soul synchronization had eased somewhat.
Walking toward the sink, he calmly looked into the mirror.
Charisma: 74.
This was a watershed point.
If 70 represented an unnoticed passerby and 73 represented handsome, then 74 combined with his unique cold temperament could already be considered captivating.
The youth reflected inside the mirror possessed skin smooth enough that his pores were nearly invisible.
His naturally messy eyebrows had subtly sharpened into cleaner and more heroic lines.
Most noticeable were his eyelashes.
They had become longer and thicker, naturally casting soft shadows beneath his eyes whenever he lowered his gaze slightly.
Combined with his detached expression, he now carried an almost melancholic beauty.
“This system really does have god-tier cosmetic surgery skills.”
Fujiwara Ai touched his own face.
Then, out of curiosity, he attempted making a funny expression.
Instantly, the familiar tearing pain stabbed through his mind.
He immediately returned to his expressionless state.
Fine.
Maintaining the aloof persona remained mandatory.
After washing up, Fujiwara Ai entered the kitchen.
Since his Charisma had increased again, it was time to strengthen another one of his major advantages.
[God-Tier Cooking: Home Cuisine]
“If I’m going to conquer them, I need attacks from every direction.”
Opening the refrigerator, he removed fresh eggs and milk purchased the previous evening.
Today’s target was tamagoyaki.
Simple.
Common.
Yet surprisingly demanding in terms of actual skill.
He beat the eggs carefully before straining them and adding dashi stock along with a small amount of sugar.
Heat.
Oil.
The moment the egg mixture touched the specialized rectangular pan, [God-Tier Cooking] activated automatically.
Fujiwara Ai’s wrist moved fluidly while the chopsticks inside his hand seemed almost alive, rolling the soft egg layers repeatedly into perfect folds.
There were no glowing lights.
No explosive visual effects.
Yet as steam rose into the air, an indescribable aroma instantly spread throughout the kitchen.
It wasn’t merely the scent of food.
It was closer to the smell of comfort itself.
The kind of warmth capable of reminding people subconsciously about family and home.
Ten minutes later.
Perfectly golden tamagoyaki rested neatly inside the bento box.
Each layer looked flawless.
Fujiwara Ai nodded with quiet satisfaction.
He had intentionally prepared an extra portion.
As for who it was intended for…
The answer was obvious.
Lunch break at Sobu High School.
Fujiwara Ai remained seated beside the window as usual.
Meanwhile, Yotsuya Miko sitting in front of him had already been restless since first period ended.
The reason was simple.
The smell was far too dangerous.
What exactly had Fujiwara Ai brought today?
Why did his bag smell like heaven itself?
The moment the lunch bell rang, Fujiwara Ai calmly removed the bento from his bag.
Almost reflexively, Miko spun around in her seat while gripping the chair backwards.
Her large eyes stared directly at the lunchbox in his hands.
“Fujiwara-san…”
She swallowed nervously.
“Did you make this yourself again today?”
Fujiwara Ai glanced calmly toward her.
Today, Miko’s complexion looked much healthier than before.
She had probably slept peacefully last night.
Without speaking, he opened the bento lid.
Boom.
Metaphorically speaking, it felt as though a bomb called deliciousness exploded directly inside Yotsuya Miko’s senses.
Golden tamagoyaki glistened beautifully beneath the classroom lighting while red octopus sausages and green broccoli completed the arrangement.
That comforting aroma instantly shattered her psychological defenses.
“Want some?”
Fujiwara Ai asked coldly.
Miko nodded so rapidly she almost resembled a pecking bird.
“Yes!
I really want some!”
Internally, Fujiwara Ai chuckled.
The system hadn’t exaggerated.
[God-Tier Cooking] truly functioned like a finishing move against girls starved for warmth and affection.
He picked up a piece of tamagoyaki.
However, instead of handing it over normally, he held it suspended in front of her.
“Open your mouth.”
Objectively speaking, that request crossed normal boundaries slightly.
After all, they remained inside a classroom filled with students.
Under ordinary circumstances, Miko would probably have become too embarrassed and attempted taking it herself.
But beneath the combined influence of [Charisma 74] and [God-Tier Cooking], her brain had already stopped functioning properly.
Almost unconsciously, she leaned forward slightly.
Fujiwara Ai smoothly fed the tamagoyaki directly into her mouth.
Soft.
Tender.
Warm.
The rich egg flavor mixed perfectly with the dashi stock before exploding inside her mouth.
Warmth traveled directly down her throat before spreading through her body.
The long-term tension caused by constantly seeing evil spirits melted instantly.
Miko covered her mouth while her eyes widened dramatically.
It was too delicious.
So delicious she nearly cried.
It wasn’t merely the taste itself.
Rather, it resembled the comforting warmth of being cared for.
Like warm porridge made by family while sick.
Like a hug during a thunderstorm.
[Ding!
Yotsuya Miko Affection Value +60]
[Favorability Increased!]
[Current Favorability: 52/100]
[System Evaluation: Excellent.
Combining superior cooking skills with direct feeding successfully transformed appetite into emotional desire.
The target will likely never enjoy convenience-store bentos again.]
“Good?”
Fujiwara Ai withdrew his chopsticks calmly.
“It’s…
it’s amazing!”
Miko nodded desperately while tears gathered slightly at the corners of her eyes.
“This is the best tamagoyaki I’ve ever eaten!
Fujiwara-san…
in the future…
can I eat this often?”
The meaning hidden within that sentence was already dangerously obvious.
Eating together often.
Spending time together often.
Depending on him more often.
Fujiwara Ai quietly met her hopeful gaze.
He neither agreed immediately nor refused directly.
Instead, he calmly replied:
“Depends on my mood.”
Four simple words.
Neither rejection nor acceptance.
Perfectly preserving control of the conversation.
At that exact moment, another system notification suddenly appeared.
This time, however, it wasn’t related to Miko.
[Ding!
Random Side Mission Triggered: Pink Resonance]
[Mission Description: The effect pedal gifted to Goto Hitori is currently being treasured carefully.
However, due to incorrect settings, her guitar tone now resembles sawing wood, causing severe self-doubt.]
[Mission Objective: Visit the live house “STARRY” after school and encounter Goto Hitori naturally while providing technical guidance.]
[Reward: Charisma +1]
[Additional Reward: Skill Acquired: [Guitar Shredding: Mastery]]
Fujiwara Ai paused slightly while holding his chopsticks.
STARRY.
The famous live house from bocchi the rock!.
The holy land of Shimokitazawa rock culture.
It seemed he was finally about to enter Bocchi’s main storyline officially.
More importantly, the reward included [Guitar Shredding].
Combined with [Soul Resonance], it would completely cover his current lack of technical guitar skill.
“Yotsuya.”
Fujiwara Ai suddenly spoke.
“Yes!
Present!”
Still floating emotionally from the tamagoyaki feeding earlier, Miko instantly sat upright obediently.
“I have something to do after school today.
We won’t be going home together.”
One sentence instantly shattered her fantasy.
“Eh…”
Miko visibly wilted.
However, after several seconds, she forcibly cheered herself back up.
After all, she had already eaten handmade tamagoyaki personally fed by Fujiwara Ai.
She couldn’t act too greedy.
“T-then…
please be careful on your way home, Fujiwara-san.”
Her voice softened.
“See you tomorrow…”
Fujiwara Ai nodded calmly before continuing lunch.
Meanwhile, internally, he was already organizing his plans for the afternoon.
Shimokitazawa.
STARRY.
And that socially anxious pink-haired Guitar Hero.