"Congratulations on completing the first chapter of main quest. Please choose your reward."
Rewards! Jin liked the sound of that. If you were Isekai'd and was aiming for the top, you needed a real boost.
Three options appeared in Shirogane Jin's head:
Master the Zone (usable ten minutes per match).
Death's Eyes - widen your field of vision and read opponents' movement (ten minutes per match).
Super Wish Fragment (collect three pieces to make one Super Wish.)
First and second were straightforward power-ups. Either could push him toward the top right away. The last was vague, mysterious, and only worked after collecting three pieces.
The system also said each chapter had five stages, and the first stage could drop such rich rewards. Miss it here and who knew when the next chapter of main quest would offer another chance.
"Damn, this system really trips you up." Jin muttered, thinking it over.
He hesitated, then picked the last Super Wish Fragment. Maybe it was mysterious, but that what made it attractive.
With the Asahi task done, it was time to follow through on his promise to Kiyoko.
Hitoka Yachi had been shy before she became the team manager, timid and cute. Jin figured he could use simple, practical moves to get her to join the club properly. Once she was inside the club, she'd naturally stick around.
He smiled, already planning how to handle it.
*Ding-dong-ding!*
After school, Jin did not go straight home. He waited near the school gate, wearing sunglasses and a cap so the volleyball club members wouldn't recognize him.
Finding Hitoka in the crowd was easy. She was obvious, a side ponytail, small frame, the way she walked just a little faster than everyone else.
"There she is." he whispered, and followed.
Hitoka's house wasn't that far. She always walked the same route after school, same road, same quiet evening, same little shadow against the sunset. High school or middle school, the rhythm hadn't changed. Nothing exciting, nothing scary.
"It's so quiet on the way home… kind of boring to walk alone," Hitoka muttered.
Right after she spoke, Jin accidentally kicked a stone behind him. The sound cracked underfoot.
Kiyoko froze. She glanced back. Besides the long shadow of the setting sun, another shadow stood close, taller than hers.
"Someone's following me? A pervert? Ah!" Hitoka's mind flashed to all the scary scenes from on TV. Her legs trembled.
She shook her head and quickened her pace, thinking if she could just get home everything would be fine.
Jin, a few steps back, matched her speed and kept following.
No matter how fast she walked, the person behind her stayed on her tail. Hitoka grew more certain someone was following her.
"I'll turn on the main road soon, I'll be fine… just get home…" she repeated in her head.
Jin wondered to himself, 'Is she trying to lose me? Did she notice me?'
Just as Kiyoko stepped toward a side path, a pair of big hands grabbed her shoulders and yanked her back into the darker shadow between buildings.
"Ah! Hel-hmmp!"
Jin clapped a hand over her mouth before the shout could let out. There was no one else nearby, but the load shout could caused trouble.
"Shh! Don't scream, I'm not a bad guy," Jin whispered.
Hitoka nodded, her eyes wide open. When Jin loosened his grip, she tried to shout "Save…!" And again, he had to cover her mouth a second time.
He leaned in, tipped his sunglasses down with one finger and gave a hard look. In a low, cold voice he said, "If you scream again, I'll rip your clothes to pieces."
*Whoosh!*
Hitoka froze completely, too shocked to move.