Human Nature

She sat propped up against the headboard in her pajamas, staring blankly into space.

Her pajama bottoms hid the perfect curves of her legs, but left her equally perfect little feet exposed.

Her delicate little feet were small enough to fit in one's hands. Her flawless, snow-white feet glowed softly beneath the light. Her slender, rosy soles pressed absentmindedly against the soft bedsheets, and her round, adorable toes lined up neatly, one after another. Untouched by nail polish, her pale pink toenails were clear and lustrous as jade, radiating a natural beauty.

She didn't finally drift off until two in the morning. When her alarm rang the next day, she sat up, still feeling a little tired.

As a disciplined and capable girl, her body clock had always been healthy.

She picked up her phone to turn off the alarm, and couldn't help thinking about what had happened yesterday.

Huh?

Wait.

Why did I still remember?

Yukino froze for a second, then hurriedly checked the date.

April 10.

It wasn't April 9 at all!

With a cold expression, she tapped Fushimi Makoto's number, typed out a message, and sent it: You lied to me?

Meanwhile.

Fushimi Makoto had no time to care about Yukino's message.

He'd just discovered that he had actually come out of the time loop.

More importantly, he'd actually heard the system's notification.

[Intern System 4399 reporting in. I finally found you, my host!]

So I did have a system?

Chapter 4: Human Nature

[Intern System 4399 reporting in. I finally found you, my host!]

[Time anomaly detected. Oh no, how have you spent decades in this world, host?]

Hearing the system's mechanical voice, Fushimi Makoto was even more surprised than it was. "So after all that, I actually had a system?"

[That's right, host. The system was supposed to travel here with you, but I got lost.]

"You're even more useless than that FW sword."

[Please stop insulting me. I'm only an intern.]

"So the reason I got stuck in a time loop was because you couldn't find me?"

[That should be right.]

"Useless!"

Fushimi Makoto's feelings were complicated.

So this whole thing was the system's fault.

[Host, you've spent far too much time here, so the system's missions have been forcibly updated. Now I can't graduate. Woe is me.]

Fushimi Makoto thought for two seconds, then raised an index finger like someone in a meme. "I have a plan."

[Hmm? Please explain, host.]

"Just give me rewards according to your own rules, and I'll help you complete your missions and graduate. Doesn't that sound great?"

[That makes sense. But since you've been here for decades, host, all your missions have been forcibly updated.]

"That's fine. The strong never complain about their circumstances."

Fushimi Makoto sounded confident.

He'd learned a lot during the time loop. If his physical condition hadn't reset the next day, he'd probably have become a "superman" after decades of training.

Fortunately, all the skills and experience he'd learned remained with him.

With an intern system this useless, he had to rely on himself.

He even thought of a joke that summed up his situation: You've learned how to attack and defend. Great, now you can go challenge Genichiro Ashina.

[Host, the system's internship is all in your hands.]

[Beginner missions (choose one of three): You already know Yukinoshita Yukino. Become the elder she likes most. She must genuinely approve of you, and you must get her to address you as an elder.]

[Mission reward: Badge of the All-Rounder Girl.]

[Beginner Mission 2: You already know Nakano Ichika. Become the elder she trusts most. The requirements are the same as above.]

[Mission reward: Nakano Ichika's Potential Badge.]

[Beginner Mission 3: You already know Matsukaze Mayu. Become the man she likes most. You can complete this mission by becoming either her lover or her closest friend.]

[Mission reward: "Saint Matsukaze" aura.]

These beginner missions were this hard?

Fushimi Makoto suddenly felt lucky he'd entered the time loop. Otherwise, completing these missions would've been no easy feat.

But then again, the beginner missions had only been forcibly updated because the useless system got lost and couldn't find him.

As for "Saint Matsukaze" in the mission, he naturally knew what that meant.

Matsukaze Mayu had an exceptionally gentle personality. She treated everyone with that soft, earnest, and conscientious attitude, making her extremely popular at school.

Although the word "saint" was now used disparagingly online, for Matsukaze Mayu, it was genuine praise.

[Host, do you have confidence in yourself?]

The system sounded doubtful.

"Why do I have to choose one? I can accept all of these missions. That way, I'll complete all three at once, and you can finish your internship faster."

[Huh? Are you serious, host?]

I'll take on ten at once!

Fushimi Makoto summoned the spirit of Donnie Yen.

Under his firm insistence, he convinced the useless system. Eager to finish its internship sooner, it issued all three beginner missions at once.

There was also a beginner's gift pack.

[Your beginner's gift pack has been issued (Time Loop Card *3): You may choose any day to start a time loop, and end it whenever you're satisfied.]

Great. Now he could "farm experience" endlessly again.

Three Time Loop Cards for three beginner missions.

The advantage was his.

This confirmed his theory even further: because the system hadn't found him in time, he'd ended up in a time loop.

He should have been in control of this ability from the start.

Fushimi Makoto finished washing up before he saw the message Yukino had sent.

The simple words "You lied to me" clearly held the girl's anger and confusion.

She might have suspected that Fushimi Makoto had hired actors to stage everything she'd experienced yesterday. But if he had, too many things wouldn't have made sense.

Faced with a confused Yukino, he glanced at his beginner missions.

Fushimi Makoto promptly replied with a smiling emoji.

It was the kind of smile that looked polite, yet seemed to have so much left unsaid.

After all, the more he said in this situation, the more trouble he'd cause.

But if he sent just a smiling face, Yukino's curiosity would remain piqued.

Maybe she'd come looking for him today.

Romancing girls was all about playing your cards right.

After breakfast, Fushimi Makoto headed out and happened to run into Matsukaze Mayu on her way to school.

They lived on the same floor of the apartment building, which was why she'd been so friendly and chatted with him yesterday.

"Good morning, Teacher Matsukaze."

"Good morning, Fushimi-kun~"

Matsukaze Mayu was wearing her usual light-colored, fitted top and long skirt again today.

Since she was so short, the long skirt hid her less-than-long legs while accentuating her mature, feminine curves. The fitted top further emphasized her full bust, and its snug waistline flowed downward, outlining an astonishingly perfect waist-to-hip ratio.

"Do your best in art class this afternoon~"

Matsukaze Mayu's voice was always so sweet.

"Perhaps I'll surprise you in art class," Fushimi Makoto said.

"Really? You're that confident?"

Fushimi Makoto didn't explain Matsukaze Mayu's surprise any further.

He'd studied painting during the time loop, and he'd spent a long time at it.

Because painting could "unlock" Matsukaze Mayu.

Just as he'd studied screenwriting and photography during the time loop to unlock Nakano Ichika.

Working hard to win over a beautiful girl was only human nature.

When they arrived at school, Fushimi Makoto parted ways with Matsukaze Mayu and headed to his classroom.

He knew plenty of people in his class. Hayato Hayama and Miura Yumiko were there, along with Nakano Itsuki, who was dozing with her head on her desk.

"Good morning. You look like you're in a good mood today."

Hayato Hayama came over with a smile to greet him. He was friendly to everyone.

"Yeah, something good happened," Fushimi Makoto replied with a nod.

"I see."

Hayato Hayama tactfully didn't ask what it was. Unless Fushimi Makoto brought it up himself, he wouldn't pry into someone else's personal business.

More classmates arrived one after another. Whenever anyone greeted Hayato Hayama, he responded warmly.

So warm. He was just too warm.

With nothing else to do, Fushimi Makoto watched for a while, then noticed Nakano Itsuki, seated to his right, staring at him.

When he turned to look, Nakano Itsuki awkwardly shifted her gaze away.

After a moment's thought, he figured out why and asked her directly, "Did Ichika tell you about me last night?"

Nakano Itsuki clearly froze, as if she hadn't expected him to strike up a conversation.

She answered with some curiosity. "Yeah, Ichika mentioned you over dinner. By the way, are you two friends already?"

"I'd like to be friends with her, but I'm worried she wouldn't want that," Fushimi Makoto said with feigned helplessness.

That immediately piqued Nakano Itsuki's curiosity. "Why?"

Fushimi Makoto seemed even more helpless. "Because I accidentally found out her secret. I have a feeling she might come talk to me about it today."

"Huh?"

Nakano Itsuki's pretty eyes were full of surprise. Covering her rosy lips, she whispered, "She really did mention that yesterday. She said she wanted to talk to you, and to that famous Yukinoshita girl, too."

Then she unconsciously leaned a little closer to Fushimi Makoto. A pleasant fragrance wafted from her. "Fushimi-kun, what secret of Ichika's were you talking about?"

She made no attempt to hide her curiosity.

After all, they were quintuplet sisters who'd grown up together. They should all know one another's secrets.

Now Nakano Ichika wanted to discuss a secret alone with a boy. Of course she was curious.

But she had no idea that Fushimi Makoto had said it on purpose.

Under her eager gaze, Fushimi Makoto gave her an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Ichika hasn't given me permission to tell anyone, so I don't dare let it slip just yet."