Switching gears, things were miserable for Koushi.
[Koushi Hōoin's Residence]
After closing the apartment door, completely shutting out all external gazes and noise, Phoenix-in Chinatsu.
Or rather, the existence whose core was still Koushi Hōoin.
The facade of the "aloof and delicate little sister" she had put on instantly receded like a tide.
She practically stumbled and collapsed onto the living room sofa, throwing herself onto it like a sack of potatoes that had lost its dreams, letting out a long sigh filled with humiliation and exhaustion.
"Aaaah—! Just kill me! Right now! Please, kill me!" (In the voice of Kenneth)
A silent roar echoed frantically inside her skull.
Everything that happened during the day, especially the details from gym class and the walk home, played on a loop in her mind—a 4K Dolby Atmos playback of the highest definition humiliation tape.
The almost materialized looks of shock from the girls in the locker room.
The countless scorching gazes on the field that felt like they could ignite her.
The "Slime" that violently bounced, defying the laws of physics, while running!
Her completely unselfconscious and utterly Idiotic masculine movements while playing basketball, and that final, embarrassed "Ah!" followed by curling up and covering her head!
(Koushi Hōoin! Where is your masculinity?! Did Aha eat it as a snack?!)
She fiercely covered her face with a pillow, her body curling up from the intense shame, her feet kicking weakly in the air.
(And on the way home! Shido, that idiot! His interrogation skills are zero! He looked so foolish covering his ears and waiting for commands!)
(But... those guys on the Fraxinus... especially Kotori... that final roar, tsk, it was truly music to my ears...)
Thinking of how Kotori was probably hopping mad, she felt a slight sense of balance restored, even cracking a small, vindictive smirk.
But this small bit of happiness was quickly overshadowed by the greater shadow of social death.
(Origami... she was definitely following me today.
That feeling of being watched couldn't be wrong.)
Thinking of that AST elite, Chinatsu's mood grew slightly serious.
(Being targeted by her is much more troublesome than being gawked at by ordinary students... I need to be even more careful.)
The subtle lingering fatigue in her body, along with the heavy, undeniable weight of the foreign objects on her chest, constantly reminded her of a cruel truth: this was not a dream, and it would continue tomorrow.
She dragged her feet into the bathroom, intending to wash away the exhaustion and embarrassment.
Looking at the blue-haired beautiful girl with the explosive figure and delicate face in the mirror, she still felt a strong sense of dissonance.
(Inside is clearly an old man's soul... fine, a young man's soul... how did it turn out like this...)
The process of bathing was still an awkward contest with an unfamiliar body.
The warm water flowed over her skin, bringing comfort while making her even more clearly aware of how different this body was from her past one.
Every curve, every sensation, emphasized one fact: Koushi Hōoin was experiencing a different life in an utterly ridiculous manner.
(Aha... the price of this enjoyment is too heavy...)
(I just wanted to be a quiet spectator, watching Shido conquer his harem and occasionally making a comment or two... why did I have to be pushed onto the stage!)
After drying off and changing into loose, conservative loungewear, wrapping herself up tightly, she finally felt a slight sense of "self" security return.
Lying back on the bed, she stared at the ceiling, her thoughts gradually drifting away.
(Speaking of which... Tohka should be arriving soon, right?)
(Once the actual heroine appears, attention shouldn't be focused entirely on me anymore... right?)
(Then I can continue my grand plan of surviving and watching the show...)
Clinging to this faint hope, and the slim chance of "maybe I can catch a cold and take tomorrow off," Chinatsu, utterly drained mentally, finally succumbed to sleep.
Only in her dreams did she seem unable to escape the shadows of the day—one moment she dreamed of being chased and smashed by a giant basketball, the next she dreamed of Kotori chasing her with a massive lollipop, and finally, the image froze on Shido's flushed, stunned face, accompanied by the seemingly endless loop of her own embarrassed... "Ah~!"
Moonlight filtered through the gap in the curtains, quietly illuminating the sleeping girl's (?) face.
Only at times like this did the carefully maintained mask of indifference completely vanish, revealing a subtle trace of fatigue and helplessness belonging to the soul of the original prankster.
The stillness of the night temporarily smoothed over the day's turmoil, conserving strength for the next round of "battle" tomorrow—whether she wanted to participate or not.
---
Just as Chinatsu's consciousness completely sank into the depths of her dreams, that annoying and gaudy system interface activated silently within her sleeping sea of consciousness, accompanied by a faint electronic sound effect with a cheerful rhythm.
[Ding-dong! Today's 'Enjoyment' settlement begins ~ ♪]
[Currently assessing today's contribution to fun... Calculating...]
The interface background showed Aha's comical smiling face pattern continuously scattering confetti.
[Aha's Enjoyment Gift System - Evening Settlement Report]
User: Koushi Hōoin
Current Form: Herrscher of Reason (Spirit Form - Phoenix-in Chinatsu) <<
Status Description: "Cackle cackle! Fun is the best cleansing agent! You did well today; a good amount of chaotic data in the core has been flushed out! Keep up the good work; more enjoyment awaits!"
Repair Condition: Accumulate "Enjoyment" energy.
Repair Progress: 46% (↑ 29%! Massive improvement!)
---
[Core Authority]
Bound Core: herrscher core of reason (herrscher core of reason)
Authority Level: Lv.2 (12.0%) (↑ 0.0%)
· Current Effects: Construction Strength ↑ | Understanding Feedback ↑ | Consumption Reduction ↓ | Buildable Energy Constructs (Unlocks usage rights for the [Anti-Entropy Basic Armament Blueprint Package])
· Notes: Keep it up! Using reason and knowledge to cause chaos—that's the art Aha wants to see!
[Energy Reserves]
Path Resonance Energy: 168% (Fullness → Surging!) (↑ 18%)
Enjoyment Level: Lv.3 (35%) (↑ 30%)
Enjoyment EXP + 7%
· [The Calamity of Gym Class] (Locker room, track, and court continuously exuded irresistible charm, causing large-scale mental interference) -> Enjoyment EXP + 7%, Path Resonance + 8%
· [The 'Brother-Sister' Love Performance] (Successfully disguised identity and staged a touching reunion scene) -> Enjoyment EXP + 5%
· [Fraxinus Frequency Modulation] (Detected surveillance, performed reverse operation, precisely provoked the Commander, and caused bridge chaos) -> Enjoyment EXP + 6%, Path Resonance + 5%
· [The Pure-Hearted Youth Who Fled in Panic] (Completed a critical strike, resulting in the target's social death + 1) -> Enjoyment EXP + 5%, Path Resonance + 5%
[Ding! Congratulations on unlocking a new achievement! Rewards have been issued to the item inventory!]
· [Achievement: All Eyes On Me!]
· Description: Successfully became the absolute sole focus in a non-combat scenario!
· Reward: Cleansing Value + 5%, [Gadget: Never-Tilting Hairpin (Blue)] x1
· [Achievement: Succubus's Unintentional Seduction]
· Description: Caused multiple individuals to fall into a state of confusion merely by existing, without any explicit intention on your part.
· Reward: Cleansing Value + 3%, [Title: Willow Planted Unintentionally Grows into Shade] (Slightly increases others' initial favorability, but is more likely to attract strange attention)
· [Achievement: Master, I Am Enlightened!]
· Description: Successfully made AST elite Tobiichi Origami develop a strong interest in you and initiate continuous tracking and investigation mode.
· Reward: Path Resonance Energy + 5%, [Information: Origami's Observation Notes (Fragment)] x1
· [Achievement: Overture to Reverse Conquest]
· Description: Successfully caused the target of conquest's favorability toward you to significantly increase, while simultaneously driving his guardian into a furious panic.
· Reward: Cleansing Value + 5%,
(Cleansing value has been incorporated into the calculation)
---
[Equipment/Item Inventory]
· [all-encompassing drive] (Bound) - A limited-edition cross-universe transformation belt!
· [mask of the fool] (Equipped) - Disguise effect remains active, good work!
· [Heavy-Duty Stain Removal Bubble Gun] - Staying clean is a good habit!
· [Anti-Entropy Basic Armament Blueprint Package] - Contains basic blueprints for Titans, Thunder Mechs, drones, etc.
The face of the operation!
· [Declaration of War Generator (Trial Version)] - Enter keywords and generate a high-class declaration of war with one click!
· [DEM Cafeteria Menu (Next Week)] - Useless Information + 1.
'Wednesday Strawberry Cake' has a big red circle drawn around it.
· [Unsent Strawberry Cake Coupon] - A cursed object.
Using it might attract the pursuit of the world's strongest.
· [Never-Tilting Hairpin (Blue)] (New) - Even if the Slime revolts, the hairstyle must not be messy!
Aha pays attention to detail!
· [Information: Origami's Observation Notes (Fragment)] (New) - Hurry and see what nasty things the master wrote about you!
[Special Status Bar (One-Time Use)]
· [Ellen's Gaze] x 1 - When used, makes the designated target feel the aura of 'being watched by something terrifying' for 1 minute.
---
[System Message]
Excellent performance today!
Massive fun value harvested, and cleansing progress is delightful!
Please continue to maintain this talent for creating chaos (scratch that) spreading enjoyment!
Make flexible use of your wisdom and power (and your newly acquired gadgets).
We look forward to your even more spectacular performance tomorrow!
♪ ♪ (Aha gives you a thumbs up!) ♪ ♪
The system interface vanished as silently as it had appeared, leaving only the sleeping Chinatsu, whose lips seemed to curl up unconsciously into a small arc, as if she had seen something amusing in her dream (like Kotori losing her temper), while she murmured a vague sleep talk:
"...Heh... idiot... Worth... it..."
The moonlight remained serene, but the energy within her body quietly grew under the nourishment of enjoyment, silently charging up for tomorrow's unknown (and certainly not peaceful) routine.