Kei Karuizawa—a girl in the springtime of youth who should have led a perfectly normal adolescence—had suffered a rather humiliating episode of school bullying back in middle school.
Not only had it left indelible scars on her body, it had also carved a PTSD-like psychological shadow into her mind.
To say her life had been ruined would not be an exaggeration.
Because her head was now filled entirely with the fear that someone might bully and humiliate her again, and as a result, deep in her subconscious the notion of finding a strong person to cling to like a parasite had already taken root and sprouted.
Even now, having enrolled at the Advanced Nurturing High School, even having learned to fake a domineering front, even though there was no one at this school who knew about her past, even though she could have started a completely new life—the experiences of her past and the shadow on her heart still led her to choose a way of survival that meant clinging to the strong.
“Karuizawa-san, let’s go shopping together?”
“Karuizawa-san, want to grab something to eat later?”
“Karuizawa-san…”
Kei Karuizawa, who was faintly on her way to becoming the core of a little clique of girls, was actually in a pretty good mood right now—after all, her transformation had produced visible, tangible results.
But the question Suzune Horikita had raised during homeroom had stirred up some suppressed thoughts in her.
Why was the teacher unwilling to answer?
Was there something wrong with this school?
She badly wanted to ask, but she didn’t dare, and in the end she could only choose to go with the flow, hoping for the so-called safety of “the law can’t punish everyone.”
“But we still don’t know whether we’ll get another 100k points next month, so I think for the first month it’d be better to be a bit careful with money.”
That was what she ought to say at a moment like this.
But she was afraid that the sliver of “prestige” she’d only just built up within this little clique would vanish because of such a remark, so in the end she chose to keep silent and go along with it.
Watching the personal point balance displayed on her student terminal slowly tick downward with each purchase, the unease in Kei Karuizawa’s heart quietly mounted as well.
Yet the other girls seemed utterly immersed in the joy of spending freely—some were even suggesting they go to a KTV to have fun that night.
Kei Karuizawa was inclined to refuse, but if she didn’t take part in an activity like this, she would basically be branded as someone who couldn’t read the room, and end up isolated.
Just as she was about to grit her teeth and agree—
“Sorry to bother you…”
“Excuse me, are you Karuizawa-san?”
The newcomer was, naturally, Axel End.
Ever since the opening ceremony had ended, he’d been tailing Kei Karuizawa’s group, waiting all this time for the right moment to make his entrance.
“End-kun?
Is there something you need?”
Because Kei Karuizawa intended to find a reliable boy to protect her, Axel End—with his fine appearance and extraordinary presence—had naturally caught her attention.
And now that he was approaching her of his own accord, could it be that he was interested in her too?
Mm… if that were the case, her heart couldn’t help but drum with a little worry—he wouldn’t happen to be the playboy type, would he?
Never mind.
Let’s hear what he has to say first.
“It’s like this.
Back in my hometown there’s a saying that goes ‘a new look brings a new spirit.’ Now that I’ve moved up to high school, I’d like to make some changes to my image.”
Axel End spoke according to the script he’d prepared in advance: “But I’ve never been any good at putting outfits together, so I was hoping Karuizawa-san and your friends could do me a favor and help pick out a set of clothes for me.”
“As thanks—and since it’s almost noon anyway—I’ll treat all of you to lunch.”
After hearing him out, Kei Karuizawa was inclined to agree.
It would spare her from piling on any further expenses while also scoring a free meal, and all it would cost her was helping to coordinate one outfit for a boy to wear.
She could even use the opportunity to have a bit more contact with Axel End, the better to judge whether she should choose him as her protective umbrella.
But just as she was about to open her mouth, a pale-blue, semi-transparent panel suddenly appeared in her field of vision.
[Ding, Perfect Life System binding in progress…]
[Current Task: Agree to Axel End’s request and coordinate an outfit for him.]
[Upon completing the task you will receive Points; Points can be exchanged for items in the Exchange Store.]
[Punishment for task failure: In front of your friends, beg Axel End to become your master.]
Kei Karuizawa couldn’t help freezing for a moment.
What was this thing?
Was it a hallucination?
“Karuizawa-san?
What do you think?”
The sound of Maya Sato and the others asking her reached her ears, which made Kei Karuizawa realize that they apparently couldn’t see this semi-transparent panel before her eyes.
“Sure, let’s agree—it’s not like it’s any big hassle, and we even get a free meal out of it.”
She hadn’t intended to refuse anyway, so she might as well seize the chance to agree and see just what this so-called system really was.
“End-kun, this is going to cost you quite a bit, isn’t it?”
“I beg you lovely ladies to go easy on my wallet~”
Although Axel End hadn’t dealt much with the opposite sex in his past life, he at least understood the basics of casual conversation.
Add to that the fact that he was facing rather simple-minded high school girls, and on the psychological front he was already fighting from a dimensional advantage.
The group arrived at a clothing store.
Kei Karuizawa and the others had, in fact, only just walked out of a clothing store earlier—but this time they were paying it a second visit for Axel End’s sake.
“End-kun, do you have a preferred style?”
“No, just nothing too flashy.”
Having confirmed the man’s own opinion, Kei Karuizawa and her little clique set about picking out clothes for Axel End.
Although what they normally studied was women’s fashion, coordinating an outfit ultimately came down to the same principles by different roads.
Worst case, it wasn’t as if they’d never laid eyes on a handsome guy before—surely they could just copy off the answer sheet?
Soon.
A whole heap of clothes had piled up in Axel End’s arms.
“That’s all of them.
Hurry and try them on.”
Amid their urging, Axel End stepped into the fitting room.
The old saying really did have a point.
Clothes make the man, just as a saddle makes the horse.
His already above-average looks, combined with a passable outfit, effortlessly achieved a visual effect where one plus one was greater than two.
Axel End was quite satisfied with this himself.
“Thank you so much for your help, ladies.
Kei Karuizawa and the others were delighted too.
On top of getting to mooch a lavish meal for free, they’d also enjoyed a fashion show put on by a Tokyo hunk—not only were they not at a loss, they’d come out way ahead.
She was about to say something, but once again that pale-blue, semi-transparent panel popped up before her eyes.
[Task Complete]
[Task Reward: Host gains 100 Points.]
[The System Exchange Store has been unlocked.]
The System Exchange Store?
What was this now?
In the very instant this thought flashed through Kei Karuizawa’s mind, the image on the panel before her shifted, and a dazzling array of merchandise laid itself out before her eyes.
[Youth-Preserving Pill: After consumption, freezes your appearance at its peak state.
Points required for exchange: 100,000]
[Perfect Body-Shaping Serum: Repairs all bodily flaws and sculpts a perfect figure of golden proportions.
Points required for exchange: 5,000]
[Flawless Skin Cream: Erases all scars, acne marks, and blemishes, granting you flawless skin.
Points required for exchange: 1,000]
…
Row after row of them, all items of the utmost temptation to a woman.
Of course, there were other types of items as well, but Kei Karuizawa’s gaze was locked, dead-still, onto the product called [Flawless Skin Cream].
1,000 Points!
As long as she had 1,000 Points, could she erase that scar on her body that clung to her like a maggot to the bone?
Kei Karuizawa found it a little hard to believe.
Could all of this be real?
Or was it all just a hallucination brought on by too much mental strain?
But proving whether it was real was actually quite simple.
Kei Karuizawa quickly zeroed in on something she could just barely afford to redeem right now—
[Cash Exchange: 1 Point = 1,000 yen / points]
[Note: The cash will not materialize out of thin air, but will be gifted to you through some absolutely reasonable and plausible means.]
“If it’s real, then don’t disappoint me…” Kei Karuizawa murmured as she tapped to redeem, pouring the entire 100 Points she’d just obtained straight in.
And in the very instant she tapped to confirm the exchange, the phone in her pocket buzzed in sync.
Could it be…
Kei Karuizawa swallowed, and, feigning nonchalance, drew the phone from her pocket—whereupon she saw a transfer notification text bearing a note with a line of writing—
[Congratulations on being the first person among this year’s new students to enter our store.
Here, in accordance with the event rules, we present you with a New Student Gift Package, containing 100,000 personal points.]
[We wish you a pleasant life and success in your studies!]