Going to school was brighter than before.
I still didn’t know how to trigger the system but I had a feeling it related to specific characters.
Just having the system, even if it appeared randomly or not, just made life brighter.
I had ten thousand USD making money in stocks.
My charm increased which was a bonus.
Good looks get you in great places with minimal effort.
I already could tell the difference, as I walked with my fellow students looking at me differently.
Even someone who I would have never thought would pay attention glanced over.
A girl with the famous school title of “Ice Queen.” Our eyes met each other at the indoor shoe lockers, a sharp, brief contact.
It was a sight that wasn’t really that weird by itself since our lockers were right next to each other, making us neighbors in this specific instance.
Yukino gave a stiff, polite nod of her head and went on about her way, her long black hair swaying gracefully behind her uniform.
No words were spoken between us.
This wasn’t that much different from our usual silent routine, but the very slight, almost imperceptible pause she had when she first glanced over definitely was new.
‘Am I really that different?’ I knew my charm increased, but it kind of felt like people were exaggerating their reactions.
I mean, going from B to A wasn’t that much of a leap unlike something drastic like C to A.
It was just one letter difference.
When I stared in the mirror this morning, the only thing I could tell was that my facial features felt slightly more defined, but I couldn’t pinpoint the exact change.
[choices have appeared!] 1.
Talk to Yukino – random Reward 2.
Go to class – random reward 3.
Find Hiratsuka-sensei – random reward.
[…] ‘Come on.’ I felt my lips twitch slightly as I stared at the floating text.
The easier options were quite enticing, but running away from such an obvious loophole would be stupid (assuming it worked).
‘It just says “talk,” it didn’t say I had to hold a conversation.’ Feeling encouraged by my own logic, I decided to give it a shot.
“Good luck today, Yukinoshita-san.” The Ice Queen stopped dead in her tracks just before she turned the corner of the hallway.
Her neck turned back slowly as her blue eyes met mine again across the crowded corridor.
She tilted her head slightly, her pristine features clearly bewildered by the sudden friendliness, though she did her best not to show it outwardly.
“Sure.
Same to you, Sarukomi-san.” “Pfft, I didn’t expect you to actually reply.” “I’m not rude,” she countered smoothly, her voice cool and crisp.
She looked like she wanted to say something more, her lips parting slightly, but she closed her mouth, adjusted her bag, and walked off into the crowd.
‘I wonder what she wanted to say?’ I guess seven months of being locker neighbors finally paid off here.
That, or it could have been my reputation around the school?
I’m quite well known, I would like to admit.
It’s actually strange that the system hadn’t come into my life much sooner.
[Choice 1 was chosen] [Reward distributing …] [A grade increase to a random skill.] [General knowledge increased to A+] My mind felt like it connected the pieces to a puzzle.
Concepts from class and even some from my last life became picture clear.
Nothing crazily new, but now my head could see clearer what I was struggling a bit with.
‘I’m already at the top of the school… isn’t this just unfair?’ I wanted to laugh but I held it in.
I didn’t need others thinking I was a weirdo.
My good image would vanish in a heartbeat.
My feet carried me to the third-year classroom.
The timeline of this world was different.
It was like things were changed to make things make sense.
For example the average third year was 18 turning 19 instead of the normal 17 to 18 like back on my Earth.
But, I wasn’t a god or outer-level being, so I killed any questions about the logistics of this world when I adapted half-way to the transmigration.
“Good morning.
Why are you guys like that?” The moment I stepped in, the classroom went silent.
The girls especially were the most silent, but their eyes said a lot.
“Dude, Sarukomi, what did you do?!
How’d you get even more good looking?!” One of the males cried out.
He looked like he wanted to give up everything.
“I just take care of myself.” Making my way to my desk, I sat in the usual spot.
The window seat in the back.
“Good morning, Shikimori-san.” She turned around in her seat to face me, her signature light pink hair catching the morning sunlight filtering through the window.
“Good morning, Sarukomi-san.
You look…
much brighter today!” “Pfft, did I look completely dark and gloomy before?” “No!” she countered quickly, waving her hands in front of her face to deny it.
“You just seem…
different.” “More handsome?” “Hehe, arrogant much,” she teased, a soft laugh escaping her lips as she leaned slightly against her desk.
“I would be if I wasn’t sitting right behind someone as eye-catching as you.” The casual compliment hit its mark instantly.
Shikimori-san’s cheeks flushed a bright pink that matched the shade of her hair perfectly, her eyes widening in surprise.
“S-Stop teasing me,” she murmured, her voice losing its playful edge as she looked away.
“It’s not teasing if it’s just the objective truth,” I chuckled, resting my chin comfortably on the palm of my hand as I watched her reactions.
[Choices have arrived!] ‘Um??’ My eyes widened slightly as the familiar blue transparent panels materialized in front of my face, completely breaking my train of thought.
[choices] 1.
Pat Shikimori’s head – random reward 2.
Be more bold with your words – random reward 3.
Do both – random reward 4.
Do Nothing -nothing […] Staring at the prompt, I decided to be risky today.
Why not test one’s limits as they?
My free hand moved naturally, coming from the side and reaching across the small gap separating our desks.
“I’m incredibly lucky to be sitting by someone as beautiful as you, Shikimori-san.” Shikimori’s face… Well.
She snapped her head away so fast her hair whipped through the air, and she buried her face entirely into the crook of her arms, pressing her upper body flat against her desk to hide from my gaze.
She tried her absolute best to curl into a ball and disappear, but unfortunately for her, she couldn’t hide everything.
From my angle, I could still clearly see her exposed neck and the brilliant, dark pinkish-red hue completely overtaking her ears.
[Reward distributing…] [Reward: Major Critical Affection Hit] [Shikimori’s affability has reached 80%] ‘Affability?
Is there an affection meter with the system?’ [Affection tab unlocked.] The system panel switched by itself.
[ Affection ] – Miyako Shikimori: 82%; feels affectionate towards you as a very close friend.
– Shizuka Hiratsuka: 60%; feels goodwill towards you as a proud teacher – Kaoruko Waguri: 60%; feels goodwill towards you.
– Yukino Yukinoshita: 52%; feels slightly positive towards you.
[…] ‘Why is it only women?
And what the hell, Waguri-san???’ I knew she was nice but come on.
60% with one meeting and only 52% with Yukino and our plethora of meetings.
I kind of felt like that 2% came today!