Obito, Don't Get the Wrong Idea

[Nohara Rin has completed the initial conquest and established an ambiguous relationship]

[The host has received the first tier of points: 3,000]

[The bond has not yet been confirmed. Please advance the relationship as soon as possible to forge the bond and receive the second reward]

Shinji looked at the latest notification that had just appeared in the system message bar.

"So I got the first tier of points just like that?"

"I thought it'd take a lot more effort!"

He couldn't help glancing to his right at Rin. They were walking side by side, but she was half a step behind him.

Staring at the system's "ambiguous relationship established" notification, Shinji frowned and fell into thought.

He felt that this "ambiguous relationship" was essentially a sense of recognition.

Once that recognition reached a certain threshold, it unlocked the first stage. If it continued to grow, it would unlock the second stage.

Shinji silently called up the Personal Info Panels for Uchiha Mikoto and Rin, and they appeared in a corner of the Light Screen.

Uchiha Mikoto's conquest difficulty was listed as "extremely high," while Rin's was "low."

Seeing this, Shinji thought he had a rough idea.

"Rin and I have known each other for years, and we've stayed in touch since graduation. She already had a high level of recognition for me."

"By contrast, Uchiha Mikoto and I are just ordinary clanmates, so her recognition score is low."

Humans were social animals.

There were three kinds of bonds that made people inseparable: having gone to school together, having fought together, and having split the spoils together.

"So it's not just Rin. The other students from our year should be easy to win over too, right?"

Shinji's thoughts immediately started racing. But then it occurred to him that the True Love System might make him pursue men, and he was suddenly torn.

[Targets can be anything in the world, not just humans. Please explore on your own.]

After seeing the message, Shinji swallowed and muttered under his breath,

"This True Love System is way too crude. If I really form a bond with a man, will we both end up going gay?"

At the thought, Shinji—who had only just gotten the system and hadn't even had time to enjoy it—felt the corners of his mouth sink despite himself.

Shinji led Rin and soon reached the Uchiha Clan's residential district.

Even Shinji wasn't as familiar with the area as Nohara Rin was. She often came by to look for Obito, who was always late.

The two soon stood in front of the slightly weathered wooden door of Obito's house.

"Shinji, we shouldn't do this."

"Do what?"

"I mean... my hand. C-could you let go?"

Nohara Rin turned her face away and lightly bit her lower lip, unable to look Shinji in the eye.

The walk had been fine. He was only holding her hand, and they hadn't run into anyone. But now they were right outside Obito's house, and her heart was pounding wildly.

Shinji smiled and teased her on purpose. "Then after I let go, can I hold it again sometime?"

At that, Nohara Rin gazed at Shinji with watery eyes, looking as if steam might start coming off her head. Her lips moved a few times, but she couldn't manage a complete sentence.

"I, I..."

Nohara Rin was gentle by nature and found it hard to turn people down. Shinji didn't want to embarrass her too much, so he gently released her hand, brushed her knuckles lightly, then grinned triumphantly and chuckled.

There was no rush. Good girls were too precious to pass up. As for Obito, he could be put aside for now.

Only then did Nohara Rin realize he had been teasing her. Yet the moment he let go, a faint, inexplicable feeling of reluctance swept through her.

"Huh? Rin? What are you doing here?"

The door in front of them creaked open, and Obito stepped out. His gaze landed right on their hands, which had just parted.

"Wait, no! Shinji, why are you here too? What did you just do to Rin?!"

"Shinji, did you... h-hold Rin's hand?"

Obito rubbed his eyes hard, as if he'd imagined it. Unable to believe what he was seeing, he practically shot out of the doorway and rushed over to Shinji in a few strides.

He first turned to Rin. Seeing her flushed cheeks and evasive gaze, his heart sank.

"It's not like that, Obito! D-don't get the wrong idea!" Nohara Rin quickly waved her hands, her voice flustered. "I happened to be in the Uchiha Clan's district, ran into Shinji on the way, and we came here together."

"But I clearly saw Shinji holding your hand..."

As he spoke, Obito clasped his hands together to mime holding hands, his voice full of agitation and resentment.

Someone had held Rin's hand, right in front of him. And he hadn't even touched her hand once.

Obito abruptly turned back to Shinji, his eyes bloodshot. He pointed at him, his voice trembling. "Hey! Shinji, did you bully Rin?!"

People always wanted to believe what they wanted to believe, and they could always find reasons to comfort themselves.

That was exactly how Obito was now. He couldn't take in any explanation. He'd instinctively decided that Shinji must have forced himself on Rin and bullied her, which was why he felt so justified in accusing him.

His lips trembled, and the muscles in his face contorted. In his mind, Rin and Shinji weren't supposed to have much to do with each other.

"No, it can't be! Why, why should Shinji get to be with Rin?!"

Nohara Rin spread her arms and stepped in front of Shinji, shielding him as she said sternly, "Obito! Don't bully Shinji! It's not what you think!"

Seeing Rin still protecting Shinji, Obito's expression immediately fell, and he asked plaintively, "Rin, then what were you two just...?"

Rin felt a headache coming on. She didn't know how to explain, and deep down, she almost didn't want to. She couldn't even understand why Obito was reacting so strongly.

Seeing Rin step in front of him, Shinji felt a warmth in his heart. Had she instinctively shielded him?

He shook his head, gently patted Rin's arm, then stepped out from behind her of his own accord, deciding to get her out of this.

He was already way ahead.

Shinji gently pulled Rin behind him.

"Hm? Shinji?"

Rin looked at him in confusion.

Shinji gave her a reassuring look, then turned to Obito and said slowly, "I just ran into Rin on the way."

"As for earlier, we were chatting and didn't notice she was about to trip, so I just steadied her."

"Don't believe me? Look here, Obito. You really ought to fix the path outside your house."

"Rin was embarrassed, so she didn't say anything!"

Perhaps by coincidence, there was a small, uneven pothole right where Shinji was pointing. Someone could easily trip on it!

As he spoke, he deliberately stepped forward and stomped hard on the hole. The ground gave a dull thud, as if silently confirming his story.

Nohara Rin and Obito both looked where he'd pointed. Sure enough, there was a hole!

Obito in particular seemed to have found a lifeline. Looking at Shinji, he eagerly asked for confirmation:

"So... I got the wrong idea?"