Friday.
Sakurai Saki arrived at class to find everyone already in their sports uniforms. Most of the girls were dressed identically: hair tied back, white short-sleeved athletic shirts with blue long-sleeved jackets over them, and blue shorts that reached just above the knee. The boys' uniforms followed a similar pattern.
"Yo, Sakurai. Pretty late today. What happened?" Kazamatsuri Gou clapped him on the shoulder.
Sakurai Saki sighed. "If you went to a rainforest after dinner and then took a trip to the moon in the middle of the night, you'd understand why."
He was referring to yesterday's side effects.
"What's that? Some game?"
"Doraemon's Anywhere Door," Sakurai Saki replied flatly.
Then his gaze drifted to the top of Kazamatsuri's head.
[Financial Detective Assistant: Assistant to Financial Detective Echizen I, possesses extraordinary intelligence. Attribute: Intelligence +3]
[Brother Complex: Her love for her brother surpasses most people. Attribute: Charm +1]
Today's superpower. He'd started calling it the Title System—Potential Activator in theory, but in practice, it simply displayed attributes above people's heads. At least, that was the only function he'd discovered so far.
The side effect: he couldn't turn it off.
"You play some weird games," Kazamatsuri remarked, unconcerned. He nodded toward the blackboard. "Volleyball starts at ten. Men's soccer's an hour earlier. Women's volleyball prelims are at the same time as soccer."
"Some classes didn't sign up for volleyball. A full soccer team of eleven is rare too. Schedule's workable." Sakurai Saki assessed.
"We going for first this time?"
"You want to come in second? That'd be embarrassing."
Kazamatsuri grinned. "If we're in, we're aiming for first!"
"I don't really care about the championship," Sakurai admitted. "I just don't want to lose." He picked up his sports bag. "Talk later. I need to change."
He left the classroom, scanning idle titles as he walked.
[Lickspittle: Please, stop licking, okay? Attribute: Tongue coating thickness increased]
[Literary Girl: Today's wind is quite boisterous. Attribute: Charm +1]
[Tsundere: …]**
At the third one, Sakurai Saki's gaze dropped from the title to its owner.
"Shijo-kun. Good morning."
Shijo Maki had just finished changing. She turned, surprised. "Hmm? Sakura-chan? Why aren't you changed yet? The tournament's about to start."
"You're getting way too familiar with that nickname."
She placed a hand on her chest, tilting her head proudly. "You can call me Maki, you know."
"Any progress on that failed romance of yours?"
Her confident expression crumpled instantly. She mumbled, "No progress at all~"
The Shijo Maki Romance Support Group, established just last week, had generated plenty of ideas. None of them worked. Come to think of it, the Five Sisters were all love novices. What useful advice could they offer?
As for Sakurai Saki? He was purely an spectator, enjoying the show.
"You won't steal her away, and waiting won't change anything." He shook his head. "Good luck with that."
He headed for the stairs. If he'd arrived earlier, he could have changed in the classroom with everyone else. Now he'd have to use the first-floor changing room.
Shijo Maki hurried after him. "But Nagisa is my best friend! We've been together since kindergarten—ten years of friendship!"
Sakurai Saki stopped, turning to face her. "How about a different approach? You could fight Tanuma Tsubasa for Kashiwagi-kun instead."
"That's not funny at all!"
"Maki?" A voice cut in from behind them. "What are you two talking about?"
Sakurai Saki turned.
Kashiwagi Nagisa stood there, smiling curiously. The titles above her head, however, told a very different story.
[Tanuma Tsubasa's Girlfriend: For some reason, this exists as a potential attribute. One thing is certain: it is laden with malicious intent. Attribute: Love for Shijo Maki +200%]
[Tyrant: Her love and possessiveness for Shijo Maki have reached terrifying levels. She wants Maki to become just like her. Attribute: Love for Shijo Maki +300%]
[Yuri: Will not resist yuri events. Attribute: …]
[Yandere (Weak): …]**
Sakurai Saki swallowed.
He was genuinely startled.
For the first time since acquiring this ability, a set of titles genuinely unnerved him. The more he thought about it, the more a disturbing possibility took shape: perhaps a significant part of the reason Kashiwagi Nagisa had accepted Tanuma Tsubasa's confession was to ensure Shijo Maki wouldn't be taken by anyone else.
Hiss.
The more he considered it, the darker the implication became.
"We were talking about Kashiwagi-kun," Sakurai Saki answered truthfully.
Kashiwagi Nagisa's smile brightened considerably.
"Really?" She wrapped her arms around Shijo Maki, pulling her close. "Maki, you're so silly. Why are you talking about me even when you're chatting with Sakurai-kun?"
Shijo Maki blinked, caught off guard by the sudden embrace. "Nagisa?"
Sakurai Saki watched the scene unfold, the titles hovering ominously above Kashiwagi Nagisa's head like a warning sign he desperately wished he could unsee.
He really needed to get to that changing room.
Sakurai Saki glanced at the number floating above Shijo Maki's head—Love from Kashiwagi Nagisa +600%—and silently averted his gaze.
Sorry, Maki. I've doomed you.
Today, you're going to be thoroughly entangled by your most devoted—and most terrifying—number one fan.
Kashiwagi Nagisa, who had originally wanted Shijo Maki to date other boys, now had her affection increased sixfold. Sakurai Saki didn't even want to imagine what that looked like.
"Save... save me." Shijo Maki's voice came out strangled, breathless.
Today's Nagisa was unexpectedly enthusiastic.
So scary! Sakura-chan, save me!
Sakurai Saki remained frozen, a helpless spectator.
"Maki, let's go back together." Kashiwagi Nagisa smiled sweetly at Sakurai Saki as she dragged Maki away, then disappeared down the hallway.
Sakurai Saki watched them go, feeling a strange warmth in his chest.
Hang in there, Maki.
...Hope she survives this.
He clasped his hands together, offered a brief prayer for her safety, and finally headed to the changing room.
By the time he returned to the classroom in his sports uniform, Hayasaka Ai had arrived.
He walked over and greeted her. "Good morning."
Two titles hovered above her head.
[Sakurai Saki's Official Girlfriend: A girl favored by the gods. Attribute: Physical fitness +150%]**
...So being my girlfriend comes with a stat boost?
[Faceless Person: Possesses many forms and secrets. Attribute: Cannot be overly probed]**
This was the first time his own superpower had been blocked.
He'd been curious about his girlfriend's little secrets, but apparently, they were off-limits. What exactly hadn't she told him? The question lingered, but he didn't feel the need to press. When the time was right, she'd share. Everyone had secrets. Lovers needed space.
"Sakura-chan~ Good morning!" Hayasaka Ai leaned in close, her usual cheerful greeting intact.
...Hmm.
She paused, almost imperceptibly. Her nose caught something—a faint scent on his clothes. Another girl's fragrance.
Sakurai Saki noticed her hesitation. "What's wrong?"
He hadn't washed his uniform since yesterday. Some of Fujiwara Chika's scent still lingered, though very faintly. They hadn't hugged for long.
Hayasaka Ai's expression didn't change. "Nothing."
She smiled.
Sakurai Saki found the reply slightly puzzling, but before he could dwell on it—
"Saki-kun~" A familiar voice rang out from the classroom door.
Fujiwara Chika bounded in, already in her women's volleyball uniform, her energy undimmed by the early hour. She spotted them immediately and made a beeline over.
Hayasaka Ai's smile remained perfectly in place.
"Good morning, Chika."
"Good morning, Ai~ Oh, you're both here already!" Chika slipped effortlessly between them, looping her arm through Sakurai Saki's free one. "Saki-kun, did you sleep well? I slept terribly! I kept thinking about yesterday—"
"Ahem." Hayasaka Ai cleared her throat delicately.
Chika blinked. "What?"
"Nothing." Ai's tone was light, but her eyes flicked briefly to where Chika's arm connected with Sakurai Saki's. "You seem energetic despite the poor sleep."
"I'm always energetic!" Chika beamed. Then she sniffed the air, tilting her head. "Hey... Saki-kun, your uniform smells like—" She stopped mid-sentence, her own words catching up with her.
Silence.
Hayasaka Ai's smile widened by approximately two millimeters.
Sakurai Saki suddenly felt very aware of the fact that he was standing between his girlfriend and the girl he'd been kissing in a photo booth less than twenty-four hours ago.
"...It's nothing!" Chika recovered quickly, releasing his arm and taking a pointed step back. "Anyway! We should head to the gymnasium soon! The tournament's starting!"
She didn't quite meet Ai's eyes.
Ai didn't quite look away from her.
Sakurai Saki looked at both of them, then at the titles floating above their heads.
[Sakurai Saki's Official Girlfriend]
[President of the Sakurai Saki Fan Club (Self-Appointed)]
Today is going to be a long day.
"Shall we go?" he said neutrally.
"Mm!" They answered in unison, with identical smiles.
Somehow, that was more terrifying than Kashiwagi Nagisa's sixfold affection boost.
Patreon Rene_chan for advanced chapters