It was April, and Tokyo's cherry blossoms were in full bloom.
Pink and white petals fluttered down through the breeze, clinging to the windows of a speeding bus before the wind stirred up by traffic swept them away.
Today was the day new students entered Advanced Nurturing High School. Kazami Saku leaned back in a window seat, drowsy, only for a trait system to suddenly appear in his mind.
The rules were straightforward: collect other people's Emotion Points, and every thousand points accumulated would unlock one random trait draw.
Emotion Points: 0
Starting from zero meant he had to actively seek opportunities to gather enough Emotion Points.
After being ordinary for so long, was it finally time for me to rise...?
Before Kazami could picture his bright future, a crisp system notification abruptly rang out in his mind.
Beginner gift pack activated: Big Brain Trait effect: When someone voluntarily calls you "Big Brain," you may randomly copy one of their abilities.
Kazami: ...So it's social suicide.
Most of the passengers were new students heading to school to register, just like him. Dressed in brand-new uniforms, they chatted quietly about their hopes for high school life, creating a relaxed, lively atmosphere. That peace lasted until a stooped elderly woman slowly boarded the bus.
The old woman had graying hair and an unsteady gait, and she carried a heavy cloth bag. Every seat on the morning rush-hour bus was occupied, and the interior was cramped and crowded. All she could do was hold on to a handrail and stand in the middle of the aisle, swaying slightly as the bus jolted along. Her elderly body could barely keep its balance, and she looked as though she was struggling terribly.
Everyone saw her, but most chose to avert their eyes and pretend they had not.
A blond boy with a swaggering air sat in the bus's most conspicuous priority seat.
The silence lasted several seconds before an office lady in smart work clothes finally could not hold back. Her clear voice carried unmistakable displeasure and reproach:
"Excuse me, could you give up your seat? At her age, it's far too dangerous for her to stand. You're sitting in a priority seat. Those seats are meant for the elderly and infirm."
As she finished, many of the passengers turned their eyes toward the blond boy.
Faced with everyone's stares and the office lady's direct criticism, the blond boy showed no guilt whatsoever. Instead, he chuckled and said flippantly, "My dear working lady, a priority seat means giving others priority, not making it compulsory to give up your seat. There isn't a single law anywhere stating that anyone sitting in a priority seat must unconditionally surrender it to an elderly person."
He raised his eyes slightly, surveying the passengers' varied expressions, and continued his unruffled rebuttal. "Why should I do a good deed that offers me nothing in return? Waste my own time resting to make things more convenient for a stranger? I have absolutely no reason to do something with no benefit."
His well-reasoned yet utterly cold remarks left the office lady speechless. She opened her mouth, wanting to argue but unable to find the right words, and could only close it again in frustrated anger.
Just then, a soft, gentle female voice spoke up. Wearing a perfectly measured, sweet smile, her eyes curved and her manner gentle and approachable, a girl appealed to the other passengers.
"Could someone please give this elderly lady a seat? She really looks like she's struggling to stand."
Kazami, who had been watching silently all along, sighed. Japan is doomed sooner or later. But before that, my reputation is going to be doomed too.
Without any unnecessary movements, he walked straight to the old woman and gently reached out to steady her swaying body. His voice was calm and mild. "Ma'am, come sit over here."
The old woman thanked him over and over, her face filled with gratitude as she settled into Kazami Saku's seat.
At the sight, Kushida Kikyo immediately sighed in relief. A bright smile bloomed on her face again as she turned toward Kazami Saku, her eyes brimming with sincere gratitude. "Thank you so much! It's a good thing you helped. Otherwise, I really wouldn't have known what to do. My name is Kushida Kikyo, and I'm a new student this year too. What's your name?"
Once the girl came closer, Kazami caught a lovely scent. What a cute girl. But I might lose any chance of finding a partner for the next three years.
He looked up at the sweetly smiling Kushida Kikyo, still struggling inwardly. Do I really have to go down this road?
"No need to thank me. Please address me as Big Brain."
The air instantly fell silent for half a second.
"Huh?"
Kushida Kikyo's smile froze, her eyes blank with surprise. A visible crack appeared in her sweet, gentle expression. She had imagined he might give his name or respond politely, but she had never expected such a baffling reply. For a moment, she thought she had misheard.
Emotion Points from Kushida Kikyo +9.
A handful of Emotion Points came in, and Kazami's expression did not change.
Kushida Kikyo blinked and gave two awkward little coughs, trying to ease the atmosphere. "Ahem. Um, are you... are you joking?"
"No." Kazami Saku's tone was firm as he repeated his request. "Please call me Big Brain, Kushida."
This time, his voice was especially earnest, without the slightest hint of a joke.
Her initial gratitude instantly vanished, replaced by utter speechlessness and a subtle urge to snark. She had spent years mingling with people and maintaining connections, meeting all kinds, but this was her first encounter with someone so inexplicable, so inherently bizarre.
Kushida Kikyo was completely speechless. She could not stop herself from inwardly ranting. Where did this lunatic come from?! Instead of giving me his perfectly good name, he insists I call him Big Brain. That's way too weird!
Emotion Points from Kushida Kikyo +8.
As his accumulated Emotion Points steadily rose, Kazami sighed. Farewell, my ordinary life.
Looking at his utterly serious expression, Kushida Kikyo knew he was not joking. After agonizing for a few seconds, she simply could not hold out against him and could only lower her voice to whisper the words:
"...Big Brain?"
The instant she finished speaking, a system notification abruptly rang out.
Randomly copying target's ability... Ability obtained: Typing Lv3 (maximum Lv5; Lv1: beginner, Lv2: proficient, Lv3: expert, Lv4: master, Lv5: a level humans cannot reach)
Kazami: Does this girl have tentacles? She's actually that good at typing? She won't have to worry about finding work after graduation.
Although he did not know Kushida Kikyo well, with the ability he had just obtained as a clue, it was not hard to guess that this girl was definitely skilled at online socializing and managing information,
Current Emotion Points: 17
Although he was still quite far from the thousand points needed for a trait draw, his initial gains had already far exceeded expectations.
Kushida Kikyo looked at Kazami Saku, whose face was calm, as though nothing had happened. Should I bring this friend into the fold...? Damn it, don't throw someone this difficult at me right from the start.
Before you continue