"Huh, a wish?"
Sena Ajisai tilted her head, genuine puzzlement softening her features. She didn't understand why Kazama Haru had suddenly brought up such a topic.
"You know, something you want to achieve," Kazama Haru clarified, thinking perhaps she hadn't quite grasped his meaning. "Or rather, do you have any dreams you want to realize?"
"If I tell you, will Haru-kun help me achieve it?"
Sena Ajisai lightly tapped her chin with one slender finger, a pleased smile blooming across her lips.
"Maybe."
Kazama Haru shrugged, returning a similarly cryptic smile.
"Ajisai's wish—I want to know."
"Then…"
Sena Ajisai's brow creased slightly, her expression settling into something genuinely contemplative.
She wouldn't be thinking of becoming the president of some massive corporation, or even the Prime Minister of Japan, would she?
Her serious demeanor stirred an anxious curiosity in Kazama Haru's chest.
Under his watchful gaze, which concealed a thread of worry, Sena Ajisai spoke softly:
"I hope this peaceful life can continue forever. Everyone around me—whether it's my parents, my younger brothers, or you, Haru-kun—all of them remain safe and healthy."
"Is that all?"
"That's all."
"Well, can it be realized?"
Sena Ajisai flashed a mischievous grin.
Kazama Haru rubbed the back of his neck. "The wish sounds simple enough, but objectively speaking, it's actually pretty greedy, you know?"
"However—this is also my wish."
His gaze locked with Sena Ajisai's, and his voice carried an unmistakable sincerity.
Not just Sena Ajisai, but the entire Sena family—his neighbors of ten years—Kazama Haru held genuine gratitude for them deep in his heart.
After his parents passed away, their household had extended considerable support, both emotionally and financially. They would occasionally prepare extra food, delivering it with the flimsy excuse of "Ara, we accidentally made too much again~" And during holidays, they frequently invited him to join family gatherings so he wouldn't spend them alone.
"Mm, after all, Haru-kun is already completely part of my family," Sena Ajisai said warmly.
He's always been family to me... even if he doesn't fully realize it.
She also understood that the wish she'd expressed was too vague, so she didn't press further about whether it could truly come to pass.
Time slipped away quietly in that delicate atmosphere.
It was already late, but Sena Ajisai showed no intention of leaving.
"Um… Ajisai, aren't you sleepy?"
Kazama Haru couldn't help but ask. After all, tomorrow marked the first day of his new school life, and showing up late because he'd stayed up too long would leave a terrible impression.
"Oh? Is Haru-kun trying to chase me out?"
Sena Ajisai puffed her cheeks like an aggrieved hamster, feigning indignation.
However, her acting was painfully transparent—Kazama Haru saw through it instantly.
"How could I? Rather, I'd love for Ajisai to spend the night with me."
He returned the favor, deliberately letting his words carry a suggestive edge.
Before the blush on her cheeks could spread to her ears, Kazama Haru grinned and added: "Just kidding. What I mean is, my house has plenty of spare rooms. If Ajisai's really tired, she can pick whichever one she likes."
"Mou~! You shouldn't tease a girl like that! What if she gets the wrong idea…"
Her cheeks puffed out even rounder than before.
Yet this theatrical annoyance— clearly masking her embarrassment —faded quickly, replaced by her usual gentle expression.
"Anyway, it's getting late. To stay healthy forever, the first step is not staying up past midnight, right?"
Sena Ajisai smiled brightly, scooped up Kazama Haru's cleaned lunchbox from the table, and made her way toward the entrance.
Kazama Haru followed close behind. Even though their houses stood less than two hundred meters apart, letting a beautiful girl like Sena Ajisai walk alone through the darkened streets felt wrong.
"Alright, Haru-kun, hurry back and get some rest."
"Okay. Goodnight."
After escorting her to her doorstep, Kazama Haru turned to leave.
But the instant he moved to step away, a faint tug on his sleeve stopped him cold.
Sena Ajisai had caught his wrist.
"Haru-kun."
Her gaze fell somewhere around his collar, avoiding direct eye contact. The scent of night-blooming jasmine drifted from a nearby garden, mingling with the relentless drone of cicadas.
Kazama Haru noticed immediately—her breathing had grown unsteady.
"I also know that such a wish is too vague. This kind of happy life... it can't last forever."
"So, can I change my wish?"
Kazama Haru was surprised she was still dwelling on this.
"Tell me."
"I… I hope…"
Just say it. I've already come this far—
Her voice emerged barely above a whisper, nearly swallowed by the cicada chorus.
She hesitated, as though steeling herself for some monumental decision, then continued:
"I hope Haru-kun can always be taken care of by me. And I hope… to be with Haru-chan like this—forever!"
"Can such a wish be realized?"
Forever?
This was Sena Ajisai's wish?
Kazama Haru never imagined that the desire which had made her so conflicted was actually tied to him.
"Ahaha… Is that too heavy?" Catching his stunned expression, Sena Ajisai seemed to belatedly grasp the weight of her own words.
"No—rather, I'm really happy that you'd make such a wish."
Kazama Haru spoke honestly, letting the warmth in his chest flow into his voice.
"I can't promise forever. But I can guarantee that if Ajisai ever needs me, I'll rush to her side without hesitation—no matter what."
"Ah… That's right, isn't it."
Sena Ajisai exhaled, relief softening her features. Her earlobes flushed a vivid crimson at a pace visible even under the dim porch light.
His wrist regained its freedom. When he looked up again, Sena Ajisai had already turned and slipped through her front door.
Only a faint trace of citrus shampoo lingered in the cool night air.
[Host Name: Kazama Haru]
[Stamina: 5]
[Intelligence: 7]
[Luck: 9]
[Charm: 10]
[Skill: Drink Mixing LV4 (Master)]
Lying in bed, Kazama Haru continued studying the translucent system panel hovering before his eyes.
Skills were divided into four tiers: LV1 through LV4—corresponding to Beginner, Proficient, Professional, and Master respectively. Besides direct purchase, upgrades could also be steadily ground through the system's built-in focus mechanic. As long as one put in the effort, results would follow.
The baseline for adult male attributes sat at 7.
This meant his Luck and Charm exceeded the norm considerably, while his Intelligence hovered around average—nothing remarkable.
But Stamina at 5?
Was he so frail that a stiff breeze might knock him over mid-stride?
Still, this made sense upon reflection. Despite possessing a decent appearance and reasonable build, Kazama Haru had rarely exercised deliberately.
First, he lacked the time. Second, he lacked the money.
But now, with the system as his cheat code, he resolved to forge himself into someone who could shatter bricks barehanded—through honest sweat, relentless effort… and the system's attribute points.
Speaking of which.
Kazama Haru opened the exchange page, scrolling through its contents until he located [Attribute Point].
The price read clearly: 10,000 Wish Points per point.
He rubbed his eyes, confirming he hadn't miscounted the zeroes.
Frustration crept in.
He'd assumed 1,000 points was a respectable sum, yet apparently it couldn't purchase anything beyond currency and a handful of low-tier skills.
The root problem was simple: he'd completed too few tasks.
His only interaction so far involved a single target—Togawa Sakiko.
Although Sena Ajisai had also appeared in the anime from his previous life, she always seemed utterly without selfish desires. More than her own happiness, she prioritized the wellbeing of those around her.
Such a nebulous wish left Kazama Haru uncertain how to proceed.
Yet even without obtaining wish points, he refused to ignore the feelings she'd expressed. The promise he made would never be broken.
"Exchange."
His finger hovered over the money section.
The smallest denomination available: ¥500,000 for 1,000 wish points.
Buzz!
His phone vibrated on the nightstand. The banking app confirmed ¥500,000 had been successfully deposited.
He had no intention of hoarding points. Converting them into practical value as quickly as possible suited his current situation far better.
Besides, the new semester began tomorrow—walking around without pocket money wouldn't do.
He refused to find himself unable to afford even a Pocari Sweat while chatting up key characters.
Of course, even with this windfall, he still planned to continue his part-time job at the coffee shop.
That establishment remained the sole intersection point between himself and Togawa Sakiko.
Furthermore, he'd already reviewed the enrollment roster several days prior.
His own class alone contained multiple familiar names.
As long as he could interact with them, a steady stream of wish points would follow.
Envisioning his future plans, Kazama Haru's consciousness gradually dimmed, and he drifted into dreamland.
The following morning.
Bathed in golden sunlight, Kazama Haru departed from western Tokyo and navigated several train transfers before finally reaching the academy nestled in Bunkyo Ward.
Students clad in crisp new uniforms—just like himself—found their gazes drawn irresistibly to the sakura-pink sea flanking both sides of the school path. Petals drifted lazily through the spring air, carrying the faint sweetness of cherry blossoms mixed with fresh-cut grass.
Simply walking this route lifted the spirits.
With unhurried steps, Kazama Haru entered the classroom.
Many students had already arrived, most of them radiating first-day excitement as they chatted animatedly with newly acquainted companions.
Among them, a certain short-haired figure with bubblegum-pink locks—laughing brightly while surrounded by several girls—immediately captured Kazama Haru's attention.