Chapter 133: Green Ability Entry—Singer-Songwriter!
Monday morning.
As Ryohei Tanaka opened his eyes, the system panel automatically popped up in front of him.
[Infinite Entry System]
[Host]: Ryohei Tanaka
[Ability Entries]: Glowing Cuisine (Gold), Japanese Fluency (White), Luck (Blue, Inactive)
[Item Entries]: None
The sun has risen, and a new week has begun.
You have received one chance to draw an entry. Would you like to draw now?
Below the text was a faintly glowing "Draw Entry" button.
Ryohei first glanced at the "Luck" ability, noting that it was still "Inactive." He didn't mind; it had only been a week. If it activated this quickly, it probably wouldn't be a Blue-rarity entry.
His gaze moved to the "Draw Entry" button at the bottom.
'I wonder what I'll get today?' he thought, full of anticipation. He then initiated the new draw.
The background on the light screen turned black as countless points of light flew toward him. Finally, a bright, eye-catching green light filled the entire screen.
"Congratulations, you have received a Green Ability Entry—Singer-Songwriter!"
"Entry Effect: You are able to independently compose lyrics and music, possess a certain level of singing ability, and are capable of related music production."
His mind went blank as countless bits of information flooded his brain.
Brain: "I have attained enlightenment!"
His hands, feet, and throat also felt a strange new sensation, perhaps a buff from new muscle memory.
"..." Ryohei instinctively raised a hand, rubbing his temples, which were throbbing from the sudden influx of information.
'A singer-songwriter?'
He stared at the new entry on his system panel, completely surprised. This was a novel new ability. Ryohei rarely sang; the last time was back in high school, at a karaoke box with friends. He did, however, listen to music often.
He felt that with this entry, he could probably make it in the entertainment industry. But he had zero interest in doing so. Being a celebrity wasn't easy, especially a celebrity in Japan. The pay was low, the work was endless, and the standards were sky-high. Plus, there was always a chance you wouldn't be in control of your own body. It wasn't just the pretty female stars; the handsome male stars had it just as bad. One only had to look at Johnny's Entertainment for an example.
Ryohei would have to be brain-damaged to want to become a celebrity.
Still, playing around with it as a hobby would be fine.
He closed the system panel, making a mental note to go buy a guitar later. Having acquired a new skill, his hands were already itching to try it. Besides, he thought playing the guitar—singing and playing at the same time—was really cool. He wanted to show off his cool side.
In other words—he wanted to flex.
With that in mind, Ryohei grabbed the phone from his bedside table to check the time. It was only 6:30 AM.
'Guess I'll sleep in a little more.'
...
When Ryohei woke up again, it was already past eight. The feeling of brain-fog from absorbing so much knowledge was gone.
Ryohei got out of bed, changed his clothes, and went to wash up. Afterward, he headed downstairs.
He glanced around the living room and saw that everyone, including Lucoa, was already there. Ryohei casually asked her, "Hey, Lucoa, did you take Medusa to the station this morning?"
The BBQ had ended late last night, and the last train was long gone. Medusa had to catch the first train this morning, so Ryohei had asked Lucoa to see her off.
"Mhm. I took her there at 5:50 AM," Lucoa replied, looking at Ryohei with a dependable expression. The first train left at 6:00 AM, so the timing was perfect.
Ryohei nodded.
The moment Yurine saw him, she stood up from the sofa, walked toward the open kitchen, and said, "Jashin-chan made breakfast since you weren't up yet."
"Oh. Did you guys eat?" Ryohei asked, following her into the kitchen.
"We already ate." Yurine pressed the "keep warm" button on the rice cooker, indicating that his food was being kept hot. She then picked up a bowl and ladled some miso soup for him from the pot on the stove.
Jashin-chan had prepared a classic Japanese breakfast—rice, grilled fish, tamagoyaki, miso soup, and a side of the marinated seaweed Ryohei had made earlier.
Ryohei took the steamer rack out of the rice cooker, which held the plate of fish and tamagoyaki. He glanced at Yurine and said with a smile, "I woke up with a bunch of music theory and instrument skills in my head. It made my brain feel a little fuzzy, so I went back to sleep."
"That's your entry for this week?" Yurine asked, surprised as she handed him the soup. She then looked intrigued. "So what instruments can you play now? Can you show me?"
"Most of the common ones, nothing too obscure. I'm planning to buy a guitar later. I'll play something for you when you get home from school this afternoon," Ryohei said, scooping a bowl of rice. He picked up his plate and bowl and walked to the dining table.
"Mhm," Yurine replied, full of anticipation. She grabbed chopsticks and a spoon, the soup, and the small dish of seaweed, and followed him.
"..." Lucoa, who had overheard their conversation, looked at Ryohei with a strange expression. She got up from the sofa and walked over to the table on her long, black-stockinged legs. "What are you two talking about? How did you 'obtain' music theory and instrument skills?" she asked, tilting her head curiously.
"Just call it a 'cheat ability,'" Ryohei replied casually as he pulled out a chair. "I get a new ability or item every week."
"Eeeh—!"
Hearing this, Lucoa's eyes flew wide open in shock.
...
Time flashed forward to the afternoon.
The sky had darkened without them noticing. The pitter-patter of rain suddenly sounded outside. Ryohei walked over to the restaurant window and looked out at the street, only to see that a curtain of rain now enveloped the city. Fine droplets of water condensed on the glass, blurring the world outside.
"It's raining," he said.
"Mhm." Lucoa walked up beside him, crossing her arms under her ample bosom. She looked up at the gray sky. "It doesn't look like it's going to stop anytime soon."
"It is the rainy season, after all."
It was May 31st. The Tsuyu (plum rain) season had begun. Ryohei had checked the weather forecast earlier; it was supposed to rain for the next several days. Once the rainy season started, it felt like it would never end. It wouldn't clear up until mid-July.
A silver-white van suddenly emerged from the rain and pulled up in front of the restaurant. The door slid open—
A mature woman wearing a suit-vest, with her hair in a bun, and a young man with an eyepatch over his left eye got out.
They each opened an umbrella and walked straight toward the restaurant.
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