Call of Friendship

"You're almost too honest, aren't you?"

Hasebe Haruka gaped at him.

In Sakura Country, hypocrites made up the majority. Everyone was always being polite to one another.

Ye Yunchuan was the first truly shameless villain she had ever met.

"But surprisingly, I don't dislike that side of you. You said you'd keep beautiful girls all to yourself forever. So, can you protect me forever, too?

"In exchange, I'll give you everything I have."

As she spoke, the girl moved closer to Ye Yunchuan.

She gazed at the boy with her emerald eyes.

Her long hair was alluring, and her breath was sweet as an orchid.

The girl seemed determined to use every bit of her tenderness to ensnare his soul.

"I'm very selfish and domineering. Once you're dyed in my colors, you'll never escape my clutches, not in this life or the next. Even if you die, I'll drag you back from hell.

"Knowing that, are you still willing to stay with me?"

Ye Yunchuan had never liked such cheesy promises, but this time, he found himself a little tempted.

"Somehow, this actually seems pretty romantic."

Hasebe Haruka scratched her head and smiled foolishly.

"I don't have a choice anymore, so I hope you won't let me down."

As she spoke, the girl leaned in of her own accord. Her silky blue hair fell like water onto the boy's shoulder.

Though she was as cold as snow, she suddenly stirred an endless blaze.

"Hey, Yunchuan, can we be friends?"

After they finished playing the game, Hasebe Haruka unexpectedly said this.

Ye Yunchuan was completely baffled.

They'd already finished the game, and now she was telling him they'd only be friends?

"What do you mean?"

Even with his quick wits, he couldn't figure out Haruka's train of thought.

"How should I put it? Yunchuan, you have lots of women, don't you? And I don't want to act submissive toward you like they do. Can we get along like friends?

"After all, you have lots of women, but you only have one good friend like me who'll listen to you speak from the heart."

"Differentiation as a competitive strategy, huh? You know your stuff."

Ye Yunchuan glanced at Hasebe Haruka in surprise.

This girl was much smarter than she seemed.

When it came to scheming, she couldn't match the other girls, since she didn't have many friends.

As for looks, her score of eight put her second only to Horikita Suzune.

But she didn't like relying on her looks, so sincerity was all she had to offer.

She would trade her heart for Ye Yunchuan's and get along with him like a friend.

"I don't want to get involved in palace intrigue. I just want to be alone in peace, and I want things between us to be relaxed and easy, too.

"Of course, if you want to get naughty, I won't say no."

"That does sound kind of appealing."

Ye Yunchuan stroked his chin.

He was getting more and more girls.

And most of them had come to him through less-than-honorable means.

Having them all act so deferential toward him was getting a little boring. Having an oddball like Haruka around might make things more fun.

"In that case, let's be friends, Haruka."

As he spoke, Ye Yunchuan pounced on her like a tiger and pinned her down.

"Huh?" Hasebe Haruka froze for a moment, then said with a bright red face:

"Isn't that a little inappropriate? Is this really the right way to... communicate?"

[ Ding~ Congratulations, host. You have successfully sown your seed and received 1 random draw. ]

As it turned out, Ye Yunchuan and Hasebe Haruka really were a good match.

They'd only talked twice.

Yet they'd already become good friends who had shared a bed.

[Name: Hasebe Haruka

Appearance: 8 (Meets requirements)

Spirit: 6

Comprehension: 6

Strength: 4

Agility: 4

Constitution: 4

Luck: 6

Trait: Friend or Girlfriend? (For a period of time after successfully befriending her, you have a high chance of drawing items or abilities that can be used by friends.)]

Ye Yunchuan hadn't expected Hasebe Haruka to have such a strange trait.

"System, draw!"

After thinking it over, he decided to see whether this buff really was as miraculous as it sounded.

[ Ding~ Congratulations, host. You obtained 10 Super Power Potions. (The power of friendship came into play, granting you an item that will help you make even more friends.) ]

[Super Power Potion: After use, removes all side effects and illnesses, strengthens the body and mind, and randomly grants a superpower. (Note: It can forcibly increase Spirit, Strength, Constitution, and Agility by 5 points each. The host is advised to use it after each stat reaches its limit. In addition, each person can only take one in their lifetime.)]

What a great item!

Ye Yunchuan's eyes lit up.

He hadn't expected the power of friendship to be so effective.

After all, it hadn't said the potion could only be used by friends.

He could use it, too!

Honestly, he could hardly wait to try it.

But his good friend was fast asleep, so in the end, he gave up on the idea.

"I've got good news for you. You won a prize, friend."

When Hasebe Haruka woke up, Ye Yunchuan, brimming with excitement, gently tapped her forehead.

"Already? Does that mean I'm going to be a mother?"

Delight, surprise, and confusion passed across Hasebe Haruka's face.

But she soon realized what was going on and grabbed Ye Yunchuan's hand.

"So you've already obtained a new ability? Is it the kind that can make me stronger?"

Chapter 25: Call of Friendship

"You do have something you want. Do you want it?"

"Do I even need to say? Of course I do."

Hasebe Haruka rolled her eyes.

As a woman, naturally at a disadvantage, she longed for strength.

"Wouldn't you feel bad taking such a precious thing from your friend for free?"

"Uh, what do you want, then?"

Hasebe Haruka puffed out her cheeks. She'd clearly realized that Ye Yunchuan was up to no good.

"Shouldn't you reward your good friend a little?"

Ye Yunchuan grinned mischievously.

"Oh, you're so mean."

Despite saying that, Hasebe Haruka eventually blushed and gave her sly, naughty friend a few little perks.

After they fooled around some more in the bathroom and finished showering,

they picked a suitable spot outside.

Only then did Ye Yunchuan take out the Super Power Potion.

It was a colorful potion, as beautiful as a rainbow, and it had an indescribable air of mystery.

Ye Yunchuan didn't take it himself first.

After all, the Super Power Potion could forcibly raise Spirit, Strength, Constitution, and Agility by five points each.

And each person could only use one.

Until he broke through the limit of twenty points, using it would be a complete waste for him.

But Ye Yunchuan also wanted to see what the Super Power Potion could do.

After thinking it over, he decided to let Haruka try it first.

After all, his good friend had put in plenty of effort to get the Super Power Potion.

She deserved to be the first to use it.

"This is a Super Power Potion. After you drink it, your Spirit, Strength, Constitution, and Agility will all improve, and you'll also get a random superpower."

"This is way too amazing! Are you sure it's okay to give something this good to me? Shouldn't you let your official number one, Shiina, use it first?"

Hasebe Haruka was stunned.

She really hadn't expected Ye Yunchuan to give her something this good first.

"It's fine. Shiina won't care about something this trivial. Besides, I did get this reward through you, so there's no problem with you using it first."

"Oh, then I'll drink it."

"Go ahead."

Hasebe Haruka hesitated only briefly before taking the potion from Ye Yunchuan. Then she tipped her head back and downed it in one gulp.

[ Ding~ The host's spouse, Hasebe Haruka, has taken a Super Power Potion. Spirit, Strength, Constitution, and Agility each +5. Superpower obtained: Call of Friendship. ]

[Call of Friendship: You can summon mysterious creatures from another dimension to fight for you. You can summon up to two.]

[Name: Hasebe Haruka

Appearance: 8 (Meets requirements)

Spirit: 11

Comprehension: 6

Strength: 9

Agility: 9