That morning, Kiyoharu headed to school earlier than usual again.
Fortunately, the game ban only lasted three days, so this situation would not continue for long.
While waiting for the light to turn green at the intersection, Kiyoharu thought of Takagi Akane.
That girl... had come back. She really was a nuisance.
And then there was Kitahara Ayano. Lately, school had truly become a dangerous place.
Fortunately, Kiyoharu had already used the system last night to analyze how Kitahara Ayano's Time Stop worked.
The system's mission, Shimaura Hitomi's Weakness, had somehow been completed. Thanks to Kitahara Ayano's prank, Shimaura Hitomi had leaned against Kiyoharu's shoulder.
Having obtained those hard-earned 50 Energy Points, the system practically wanted to weep. Did he know how long it had been poor before finally receiving such rare income?
In return, Kiyoharu had exchanged them for information on Time Stop.
Activated using a specific catalyst; its number of uses replenishes once every natural day.
In other words, if he wanted to stop Kitahara Ayano from using Time Stop, he needed to find and take away that "specific catalyst"?
That seemed difficult to pull off. Kitahara Ayano looked highly practiced at stopping time, clearly a repeat offender. She would definitely keep the item required to activate her ability under tight guard.
The fact that she could only stop time once a day reassured Kiyoharu considerably. At least it meant Kitahara Ayano could only harass him once per day at most.
Come to think of it, Miss Kitahara really was pathetic. Manga protagonists who got Time Stop could practically conquer the world, yet Kitahara Ayano used it to harass her best friend's fiancé. Was that remotely reasonable?
As his thoughts churned, the system's irritating loli voice suddenly rang out. "Hehe, Host, thinking about me?"
"Not at all. Get lost... no, wait, don't get lost yet." Kiyoharu pondered for a moment. "Did you scan any special information about Takagi Akane?"
"Uh..."
"Then you didn't."
"Wouldn't that need the Host to have some deep interaction with Takagi Akane before my scanning could really do its job?"
"Tch. Useless."
"Host, I really think you're far too conservative! Even if there are lots of potential yanderes around you, I can still help you come up with plans and avoid bad endings!"
"You? Help me come up with plans?" Kiyoharu dug at his ear in disbelief.
Of course, communicating with the system was a consciousness embedded in his mind and had nothing to do with hearing. Still, that gesture was immensely humiliating to the system. It protested indignantly, "Why can't I help you come up with plans?! I trained through ten whole parallel worlds! I've seen it all! I can definitely make sure the cleaver is always one step behind you! Back when I was—"
The useless system was bragging about its glorious past again.
Kiyoharu hurriedly cut it off. "Stop, stop. I don't want to hear about your old crap. Just answer me this: am I the first Host you've ever served?"
"You're right, but I won the 12306th Best Intern System Award..."
"Oh? Then tell me, if you're so outstanding, how did you end up assigned to a weakling Host like me? Logically, capable systems should be assigned to ambitious Hosts, shouldn't they?"
"Exactly the opposite! It's because I'm so capable that I have to serve a deadbeat Host like you!" The system wore an expression of bitter disappointment as it took the opportunity to urge him on. "Host, I have a plan that will let you deal with your current predicament more calmly."
"Go on."
"Look, as long as I can get Energy Points, I'm still pretty useful. So if the Host finds a safe way to farm Energy Points, you'll have more cards up your sleeve..."
"Is there really such a thing as a safe way to farm Energy Points?"
"Just do Shimaura Hitomi's missions! The Host said it yourself—Shimaura Hitomi is an absolutely safe target. We can farm Energy Points from her and use them against the likes of Kitahara Ayano. Wouldn't that be perfect?"
Well, he couldn't deny it.
The trash system's suggestion actually had some merit this time.
With supernatural powers now in the mix, Kiyoharu could no longer perfectly fend off girls' advances just by relying on his status as the Chihaya family's live-in son-in-law. To get some powerful tools from the system, he needed Energy Points, and those could only come from Shimaura Hitomi.
Still, an accident like yesterday's only happened if he got lucky. Otherwise, he would have to find a way to complete the mission through clever tricks without making Shimaura Hitomi suspicious.
"Anyway, let's see if there are any new missions for Shimaura Hitomi first."
The system immediately presented him with freshly generated information:
Mission Name: Shimaura Hitomi's Image Makeover Mission Description: Shimaura Hitomi has always been easily ignored or even bullied by those around her due to her overly childish and unfashionable appearance. As her senior, you have decided to change that. Mission Objectives: ① Ask Shimaura Hitomi to go shopping with you and find a way to raise her Charm value (Current: 65, Target: 80) ② Lavishly praise Shimaura Hitomi's figure after she changes outfits, making her blush shyly Mission Reward: 100 Energy Points, Title Skill Lottery Ticket x1
Good grief, another mission that was obviously asking him to get himself killed.
Kiyoharu closed the system interface after one glance, prompting the system to hurriedly coax him. "Hey, hey, hey, Host, don't lose heart! Actually, aside from the Shimaura Hitomi series of missions, there's another mission target who's absolutely safe..."
"You wouldn't happen to mean Chihaya Airi, would you?"
"Hehe! As expected of the brilliantly intelligent Host—"
Kiyoharu Chihaya has muted the system for 1 hour.
That felt good.
He could focus on driving now.
Chihaya Academy.
Kiyoharu entered the faculty office as usual and saw an unexpected creature.
Besides Shimaura Hitomi across from his desk, someone was sitting in his own seat as well. It was Kitahara Ayano, smiling as she waved at him. She looked gentle and dignified, without the slightest shame over occupying someone else's seat.
"Good morning, Teacher Shimaura, Miss Kitahara." Kiyoharu greeted them without changing expression, then looked inquisitively at Kitahara Ayano. "Did you need something from me?"
"Not at all. I merely wanted to chat and catch up with Hitomi. Teacher Chihaya doesn't mind if I borrow your seat for a while, does he?"
"Be my guest."
Kiyoharu made himself a cup of black Americano coffee and leaned against the windowsill, gazing into the distance.
Looking at distant scenery was an excellent way to rest one's eyes. Especially for someone like Kiyoharu, who taught during the day and stared at a screen playing games at night—his eyes were under heavy strain, so he needed to take special care of them.
"I really envy Hitomi. She got to witness Teacher Chihaya and the Young Lady's love firsthand. Did Hitomi contribute to the development of their relationship back then?"
"No... They liked each other from the beginning, so I didn't need to do anything..."
"Then at least you must have helped your best friend defend her position? A wonderful man like Teacher Chihaya must have never lacked girls pursuing him. Even after becoming a teacher, there are people harassing him. Hitomi, you help chase away those bad women coveting Teacher Chihaya, don't you?"
Kitahara Ayano's eyes sparkled, and her innocent tone was so pure she could have ruled Litang with it. Yet the content of her words made Shimaura Hitomi feel guilty.
After all, she was a despicable person who had stolen from the one she was supposed to guard.
Kiyoharu caught the implication in Kitahara Ayano's words. Based on what she had muttered to herself during Time Stop, she seemed to believe Shimaura Hitomi had a crush on him and had even accused her of sneaking around with him... All he could say was that this scheming little artist saw darkness in everything. There was definitely something wrong with her way of thinking.
What a joke. Shimaura Hitomi was the purest girl he knew. How could she possibly have a crush on Kiyoharu?
As a scumbag who had been with countless women in his previous life, Kiyoharu had absolute confidence in his insight into women.
No one understands girls better than I do!
"Sorry to interrupt, Miss Kitahara." Kiyoharu cut in. "I'm fully capable of handling anyone who harasses me. I don't need anyone else's help."
"Oh, really? You can truly handle it yourself? Teacher Chihaya is so impressive~"
Looking at the smiling curve in Kitahara Ayano's eyes, Kiyoharu really wanted to punch her twice.
He couldn't handle it—wasn't that because of this cheating supernatural being right in front of him?
Before you continue