Time becomes meaningless when you're lost in perfect moments.
The sound of rain against the windows created a constant white noise backdrop that seemed designed to make you forget the outside world existed entirely. Minutes could have passed, or hours—I honestly had no idea and didn't particularly care.
I was still trying to catch my breath and process what had just happened between us when something completely unexpected occurred.
What the hell?
[Beauty Favorability System Activated...]
[Target: Kobayakawa Kana's favorability +15, reward: 15,000 yen]
[Current target: Kobayakawa Kana, favorability: 100]
Full favorability.
[Current target's favorability is maxed. This target will provide a fixed reward of 5,000 yen daily going forward.]
[Current favorability targets achieved: Matsumoto Tomoko, Kobayakawa Kana]
[Congratulations on your system achievement]
Achievement unlocked, apparently. Like I'm playing some kind of romantic RPG.
[Congratulations on unlocking new skill: Super-speed Recovery]
Wait, what?!
A skill? An actual skill? What is this, a video game?
I focused on the skill and a new panel emerged before my eyes.
[Super-speed Recovery: Rapidly restore physical stamina after exertion, greatly reduce skill cooldown periods. Skill can be activated up to 5 times daily.]
Physical stamina recovery with reduced cooldown times. Five uses per day.
Oh.
OH.
I concentrated, trying to mentally activate whatever this "Super-speed Recovery" ability was supposed to do.
Please work. Please don't let me be having a psychotic break.
Instantly, I felt an inexplicable surge of energy flowing through my entire body.
Holy shit. It's real. It's actually real.
My rapid breathing immediately steadied, and the pleasant exhaustion that had been settling into my muscles vanished completely. Instead of feeling drained, I felt incredible—like I could run a marathon or bench press a car.
This is impossible. This violates every law of biology I know. But it's happening.
I have superpowers now. Actual superpowers.
Just as Kana was beginning to shift away from me, probably planning to clean up or get some water, I gently pulled her back against me.
Time for field testing.
"Sou... Sousuke?" she asked, confusion mixing with renewed interest on her flushed face.
She could sense the change in my energy. The way she was looking at me —like she's realized something fundamental has shifted.
Before she could fully process what was happening, before she could ask questions I had no reasonable way to answer...
If I'm going to have impossible game-like abilities, I might as well make the most of them.
Besides, Kana deserves to experience the full benefits of whatever bizarre system has apparently taken over my life.
Five uses per day, huh? Challenge accepted.
The rain continued its symphony against the windows, providing the perfect soundtrack for what was about to become a very thorough test of my newfound capabilities.
The blue system panel faded away, leaving just me, Kana, the sound of rain, and five full charges of an impossible ability that promised to change everything.
Game on.