(Gwen's POV)
Allen was gone...
Saying that it didn't make me feel lonely would be a lie, but I can't show him a sad face every time he leaves. If I do, he'll end up worrying about me while he's away.
He would face countless challenges and dangers and be thrown into unknown worlds under unfair circumstances… but even knowing that, I'm sure he'll push through and come back.
I looked down at the ring on my finger. It was the strongest proof that I had decided to spend the rest of my life by his side.
That's why I have to be strong. We all have to be strong… so that when he returns, he's greeted with smiles.
….
That entity who always helps Allen—and whom we affectionately call Big Sis—said that for a while, Allen wouldn't be able to communicate with us. Still, the Chat would remain active during the transmissions.
It's a bit lonely, but I understand. It's a punishment for us trying to sneakily give Allen "hints."
I sighed while waiting inside Allen's apartment… our apartment?
It's a little embarrassing, but realistically, I live here more than at my own house. Besides, I'm already twenty, so it's normal for me to move out. But my parents still don't know Allen's true identity, and I'm not sure how they'd react—especially my father.
No, that's not important right now. I need to focus on Allen, who must be speaking with Lucifer Morningstar at this very moment. Just thinking about that monster makes my blood boil.
Ten minutes later, I received the notification that the transmission was starting.
When the screen lit up, I saw Allen riding a motorcycle through the streets.
I smiled at the sight of him, even though it's only been a few minutes since I said goodbye, I already miss him.
Allen reached a park, beat up some thugs, and finally met a girl—though she was acting strangely. For now, the world seemed pretty normal.
"Gwen!" MJ slammed the door open.
"What's wrong?"
Her face carried a worried look before she spoke.
"I know where Allen is!"
Hearing MJ's words only made my heart tighten with nerves, but even so, I chose to believe in him…
(End of POV)
....
Allen opened his eyes in the morning. He had fallen asleep on the couch. Sleeping not out of choice but out of actual necessity felt strange.
"Tsk, it's already that late?"
Looking at the clock, he realized he only had thirty minutes to get to Fujimi High School. If he were late, they probably wouldn't let him in. That's how strict Japanese schools were.
Allen got up, walked to the bathroom, brushed his teeth, and washed his face. He felt a sting of loneliness remembering how someone had always been there to wake him up—someone who wasn't here now.
"System, what happened to my girls?"
[You'll find out in the future, but don't worry, they're all fine… though I recommend you compensate them, because they miss you more than you miss them.]
"That's impossible..." Allen protested, his face full of grief. "I miss them way more!"
[Yeah, yeah, I know -_-]
Allen had a simple breakfast, then went to his wardrobe and pulled out a black school uniform. He couldn't help but sigh. The young man was twenty-one years old—how was he supposed to pass as a high school senior?
[Host, you worry too much. There are high schoolers with thirty-year-old faces and bodybuilder physiques. In your case, it's the opposite. Maybe it's your good looks, or maybe you're just one of those people who'll always look young.]
"That sounded like an insult."
Allen frowned. That was a sensitive topic. Even before the System, Allen had never been prone to building much muscle, nor to growing much facial hair. So expecting a beard anytime soon seemed unlikely. That only made him look younger.
"Damn it, couldn't you have made me a teacher or something?" Allen complained. Being forced to attend school was unpleasant.
"Whatever…"
After giving up, Allen put on the uniform without buttoning the jacket, something that would surely earn him a scolding from the school. But he didn't care. He was only going to gather information about this world—everything else was secondary.
"What's this?"
While pulling his backpack from the closet, he noticed a rather large black suitcase. It also had a floating label that only he could see, but this one was gray.
[Locked]
"Something I'll need later?"
[Yes, sorry.]
Allen didn't blame the System—it had to be part of this world's setup. He also noticed that his motorcycle had three options: Storage, Modify, and Sell.
"I can guess what those are for, but can you at least tell me something about them?"
[The "Storage" option will appear on certain items, usually those belonging to the host or claimed by him. But don't confuse it with your future "Inventory." Storage only works for the specific item in question.]
Allen nodded. Since the suitcase didn't have that option, he couldn't take it, so he shoved it back into the closet and prepared to leave.
….
Allen got on his Hayabusa and drove his motorcycle to school.
He noticed a strange atmosphere—as if there were fewer people than usual. In the distance, he heard some screams. If he hadn't been in a rush to get to Fujimi, he might have investigated. He had to keep in mind the message his past self had left him: this time, Lucifer was seriously going to try to kill him. So the sooner Allen found clues about this world's future, the better.
Allen accelerated causing the Hayabusa's engine to roar, and within twenty minutes, he arrived at the gates of Fujimi High School. Unsurprisingly, the entrance was already closed.
He parked, took off his helmet, and looked at Fujimi High School—two large buildings making up the campus. This district was far from Tokyo's urban center, giving it a more natural feel compared to other areas. Something Allen didn't mind, despite being a city boy his whole life.
"Well, well, if it isn't our favorite troublemaker! Too bad you can't get in!"
Standing at the entrance was a tanned man wearing a blue sweater and black pants. He had short black hair styled upward, a strong physique, and a mocking grin.
[Daichi Teshima]
Allen noticed the floating label above the man's head and smirked.
"Come on, don't be so hard on the exchange student. You know it's easy for him to get lost~" Allen said, imitating someone. "That's what the principal would say, probably."
Teshima sneered. "Brat, how many times are you going to use that excuse? You've already been in Japan for two years, and you're still pretending you're an exchange student!"
Allen was surprised but didn't show it. With a name like his, clearly not Japanese, he figured his cover might be that of a foreign exchange student—or someone who had moved here. But two years? That was too long for an exchange program.
"You're not gonna let me in?"
"Of course not. And I told you before, don't bring that motorcycle to school. The parking lot's for staff only!"
Allen stayed quiet. The problem was that he hadn't actually lived two years in this world—he had just arrived. Lucifer had probably altered the world to give him a backstory. But that made things tricky since Allen had no way of knowing what people remembered about him.
He got off the Hayabusa and walked toward the gate.
"Teshima-sensei, no need to be so harsh…" Allen smiled.
"What? You think I'll just let you in?"
Teshima looked tough as stone, but Allen noticed one detail. If the gate was already closed, why was this P.E. teacher still hanging around at the entrance?
Allen, already a cunning fox, caught the way Teshima's eyes lingered on the Hayabusa.
"Half an hour," Allen said without context.
Teshima pressed his lips together. "One hour."
"Forty-five minutes. You pay for the wash and refill the tank," Allen mocked.
Soon, the gate opened, and Allen tossed the keys at the teacher as he walked in.
– Adaptability –
Allen agreed with Bane: more than intelligence, more than strength, adaptability is what keeps you alive the longest. So following that creed, Allen paid his way into Fujimi.
The Hayabusa's engine roared as the tires screeched.
"Teshima, I warned you. One scratch and it'll cost you a month's salary…"
Teshima went pale, deciding to drive carefully.
Allen laughed and walked toward the building—only to run into a young, beautiful, voluptuous woman with light reddish hair and amber eyes.
She wore a white vest over a yellow blouse that showed some cleavage, paired with a black office skirt and dark stockings that highlighted her figure.
[Kyoko Hayashi]
"Allen-kun, this is the fifth time you've managed to convince a teacher to let you in, but you need to understand that even if they allow it, it's still not right..."
The woman poked her finger against Allen's chest with a reproachful look. Despite being his teacher, the height difference made it so she only reached up to his chest.
Japanese people weren't exactly known for their height on average, so Allen, standing at 182 cm (6'0"), was taller than most teachers.
Allen took Kyoko's hand, surprising the thirty-year-old single woman.
"Sorry, Kyoko. I'll try to be more punctual," Allen said with a sincere look.
Kyoko, being the classic Japanese woman who focused on her career and suddenly found herself in her thirties without a boyfriend, got flustered. Allen wasn't just tall, he was handsome, with an aura that mixed bad boy and mature man, which made the teacher blush.
"It's fine, you can go... but at least call me Kyoko-sensei," Kyoko said, trying to convince herself to push away any impure thoughts because in front of her was still a student.
"Thank you, sensei. I'll make it up to you by inviting you to dinner one of these days," Allen smiled faintly, releasing Kyoko's hand as he walked past her.
Kyoko couldn't respond to Allen's blatant flirting.
He was her student!
Kyoko glared at Allen's back as he walked inside. 'Now that I think about it, Allen-kun is in his final year, which means soon he'll graduate, and then we won't be teacher and student anymore—just a man and a woman.'
Her eyes widened and she quickly shook her head. "What am I even thinking?!"
...
Allen arrived at the Japanese version of a school locker, where students had to switch their shoes for something called uwabaki. After changing, he climbed the stairs to the second floor of the main building.
"Wait... which class is mine?"
Allen glanced out the window, realizing it was truly difficult to pretend you know a lot when you actually don't.
"I should've asked the sexy big sister..." he muttered just as a column of smoke rose in the distance.
'A fire? Possibly...'
Allen pulled out his phone and sent a message to Ponytail. She had to be part of this school. From what he had gathered about Fujimi High School, the girls' uniform matched hers.
– Hey, I need your help. I'm near the main entrance.
Allen didn't know what his exact relationship with her was, but after carefully analyzing Rei Miyamoto's behavior, he felt it was one of convenience. She paid him for something—and that something had to be important or dangerous, otherwise a two-thousand-dollar monthly payment would be excessive.
– Huh? We're in class!
'As expected, she won't come...'
– Give me five minutes :(
Allen was surprised that she agreed. This confused him. If their relationship was purely professional, she shouldn't have accepted something like this.
Having a plan now, he returned to the entrance and waited. Five minutes later, Rei Miyamoto appeared, panting.
"Did you run?"
"Of course. The teacher thinks I went to the bathroom, so I have to hurry," Rei said, frowning. "So what do you want?"
'This girl is strange...' Allen thought before laughing inwardly.
"I need to know which class I'm in..."
Allen thought about being subtle, digging for information discreetly. But after analyzing their relationship, he realized it seemed like one bound by mutual interest, so he could afford to be suspicious since she seemed obligated to help him.
"Huh?! What kind of question is that?! You made me run all the way here just for that?!" Rei snapped, pointing a finger at him and leaning forward, unintentionally—or maybe intentionally—showing off her large chest.
"I'd also like to know everything you know about me..."
"Are you drunk?"
"Do I drink?" Allen widened his eyes.
Rei did the same, noticing Allen was acting very strange. Then a thought struck her, something she had only ever seen on TV dramas.
"You... did you lose your memory?!"
'I know it's not the smartest move, but I've got a bad feeling. I need information. I can't spend the day playing mind games,' Allen thought, making a decision.
"Yeah"
"...!" Rei froze in shock at his silence. Allen figured it would be faster if he had someone who knew him.
A couple of minutes later, Rei came back to her senses and stared at him in silence. She circled around him, watching his expressions, realizing he felt like a completely different person.
"It's true..." Rei gasped.
"Well, now that you're satisfied, I need to know everything you know about me..."
Rei hesitated, and when Allen's eyes met hers, she quickly looked away.
"Fine... but you should go to the infirmary first."
Allen, not wanting to waste more time, agreed. On the way, Rei explained what she knew.
"You've always been very solitary and isolated. From what I know, during your first years here you rarely involved yourself with others..." Rei paused, glancing at Allen's profile. "That didn't stop you from being the most popular guy, though. Not only did you have that foreigner's charm, but people say your looks are above average... not that I see it that way."
Above average? Allen was more handsome than actors and K-pop groups, but she wouldn't say it out loud.
Allen smirked mockingly. "I see..."
Rei pressed her lips together, blushing, knowing Allen had seen right through her lie.
Finding her reaction oddly adorable, Allen didn't tease her further and kept digging.
Allen hadn't revealed much about himself, so there was always a layer of mystery surrounding him. He had a reputation for being a rebel, often skipping class, often getting into fights—which usually weren't even fights, since the only one who ever ended in a draw against him was the captain of the Kendo Club, Saeko Busujima. The rest were beaten by him without any opportunity to defend themselves.
Strangely, Allen wasn't a failing student. His grades stayed high, which made many guys envious and spiteful. He had looks, strength, and intelligence—in other words, a winner at life. The only comfort was that he didn't use it to be a womanizer.
"I see," Allen said, stopping in front of the infirmary. He looked at Rei. "Tell me, what's our relationship?"
Rei blushed, but her face quickly turned melancholic and a little dim.
"A long time ago, you helped me when no one else would. But as you've noticed, it wasn't for free. So even though I'm grateful... our relationship has always been one of mutual interest..."
When she finished speaking, Rei smiled, but it was a fake smile. She turned around and walked away, looking strangely dejected.
Allen scratched his head. He was still confused, but at least he had a clearer picture thanks to her. Letting her leave like that left a bitter taste in his mouth.
"I guess I was an idiot. Sorry."
Rei froze and turned back in disbelief. Was this cold bastard, who hadn't shown emotion in two years, actually apologizing?!
Allen gave her a smile. "You don't even have to pay me anymore... and thanks for the info."
He opened the door and stepped into the infirmary, leaving behind a Rei with her mouth agape, who sank to the floor, unable to believe she had just heard both a thank you and a sorry from Allen Walker.
"Idiot..." Rei Miyamoto muttered.
....
When Allen entered the infirmary, he didn't expect a pair of massive breasts to come crashing down on him.
"Careful," said the voice of a woman who was falling off a chair she had been standing on.
"That's my line," Allen said, catching the woman in his arms.
"Hehe~"
The woman laughed as if she hadn't just nearly hurt herself. Allen immediately picked up the same vibes as Orihime and Meninas.
[Shizuka Marikawa]
A woman with a head full of cotton.
....
(Somewhere in Tokyo)
A fifty-year-old man in a suit and tie had been cornered in an alley by a young woman.
"Oh, what's this, young lady? Do you like older men, hehe~?"
The dirty old man had a wife and daughter, but he didn't miss the chance. Without hesitation, one of his hands slid down the woman's waist to grab her ass. But when he touched it, he felt moisture instead of softness. For a moment, he grinned like a pervert, imagining she was just impatient for some aged whiskey.
"So girls these days are this bold~" he said, raising his hand—only to realize it was covered in red.
He froze, unable to understand. Then, without warning, the woman raised her head and sank her teeth into his neck, ripping half his throat out. Blood sprayed across the alley.
"Agh..."
Wracked with intense pain, he tried to scream but couldn't. Looking at the woman, he realized a terrifying truth—she was missing a large part of her leg.
Like a predator on the savanna, she crouched at his side, and before he died, he felt even more pain as she began eating him alive.
The man screamed in his mind, it was the only thing he could do.
'SOMEONE HELP ME! AHHH IT HURTS A LOT!!'
The man pissed himself, convulsed, tried to escape, but couldn't. He could only endure the unbearable agony of being eaten alive for a few minutes before finally dying.
But it didn't end there...
Soon, the man opened his eyes and stood up, his intestines dangling from his stomach. Yet he didn't seem to care. He rose, and together with the woman, they walked out onto the street.
Soon, the desperate screams of terror filled the city.
====
A/N: I like to write Japanese names with the surname first as it really is, but I decided to adapt them so it wouldn't be confusing.
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