Dinner that night was prepared by Sumiko-san, and it was nothing short of delicious. She had only cooked because it was Jun's first day at the dorm—normally, the residents either made their own food or ordered something. Still, she asked Jun with gentle insistence whether he would like her to prepare breakfast or a lunchbox for him from now on.
Although the offer was tempting, Jun politely declined. He didn't want to burden her at her age, especially when she had already been so kind. Besides, he was confident he could cook for himself if needed—or simply eat out. Since Sumiko-san usually handled dinner for everyone, he would only need to manage breakfast and lunch on his own.
After finishing the meal and exchanging thanks, Jun returned to his assigned room on the first floor.
(Note: Ground floor comes first, then the first floor above it.)
It took him about an hour to unpack everything—his clothes, course books, and the school uniform that Chihiro-nee had already provided for him. That saved him the trouble of visiting Sumei Art High School beforehand, something he appreciated. Once everything was in place, he finally lay down on his futon, ready to relax.
Knock. Knock.
At first, he thought someone was at the door. But the sound was odd—not a wooden knock, but the faint clinking of glass.
"…Eh? That's strange."
Growing more curious than annoyed, Jun turned his head toward the window. What he saw made him blink. Hanging from two ropes outside were two very familiar figures.
"…Ahh, right. This dorm does have a combo like that."
He couldn't help but chuckle at the ridiculous sight of Misaki and Shirosaki dangling outside like burglars.
Opening the window, Jun gave them both a helpless smile. "What are you two doing? Just use the front entrance like normal people."
"Sorry, sorry. I just wanted to greet you," Shirosaki said, climbing in awkwardly. With his beard, rough face, and somewhat unkempt look, he resembled an old man at first glance. But Jun knew from Chihiro-nee's warnings that behind his eccentricities—a novelist, a lolicon, and a masochist—Shirosaki was, at his core, a good person. Strange, but kind.
"I'll bring out some tea and snacks," Jun said calmly, already moving toward his bag. Having worked countless jobs in his past life, he was no stranger to handling all kinds of personalities. Customers, bosses, coworkers—he'd seen them all. His demeanor, steady and composed, was something only years of experience could shape.
Shirosaki waved his hands quickly. "No, no, it's alright. I only came to greet you. I didn't want to bother you so late."
Jun gave him a gentle smile. "It's fine. I have paper cups and tea bags from home—it won't take a moment. Having a sip together will relax us a little."
Since the setup required no washing afterward, Shirosaki couldn't refuse. The three of them shared a quiet cup of tea in the room.
"Alright then," Shirosaki said at last, standing up with a lighter expression. "Welcome to the Kawai residence, Jun."
Jun smiled and bowed his head slightly. "Thank you."
While the two men spoke, Misaki had already made herself at home. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, she munched on a cookie Jun had set out, her cheeks puffed up like a hamster. Strangely, she wasn't talking much this time—her usual energy seemed subdued, and her eyes looked heavy with sleep.
"Misaki-senpai," Jun said as he noticed her drooping posture, "you should rest after this. I don't know if you have work to do, but sleep is important too."
"…Hmm. I'll do that," she murmured, nodding faintly as she nibbled the last of the cookie.
When the two finally left, Jun closed the window and let out a small sigh. Yet there was no irritation in his expression—only a faint smile.
"I actually like this kind of lively atmosphere…" he thought, stretching before lying back down again.
After that, Jun slept like a log. No one disturbed him during the night, and before he knew it, morning light was already filtering through the curtains. His body stirred naturally at 5 a.m., the time he had long been accustomed to.
"Fuwaaah…"
He let out a long yawn, stretching his arms and twisting his waist until his bones cracked softly. His early-riser habits hadn't changed, even after reincarnation.
Once fully awake, his gaze turned toward the invisible panel only he could see. The system tab opened with a soft shimmer, and the sight that greeted him made his brows lift slightly.
Five lottery chances were glowing in the menu.
'Huh? Five? Yesterday I only had two from Chihiro-nee. Did her favorability… increase automatically while I was asleep?'
It seemed that once a character's favorability rose past a certain threshold, it naturally granted him more lottery draws.
Chihiro's favorability, which had been around 21 yesterday, now rested at 25. That alone gave him two pulls.
Misaki-senpai's had climbed to 22, granting him another two.
Even the quiet Ritsu-senpai, who had barely spoken more than a few sentences, was sitting at 19, just one point shy of another bonus.
The panel neatly displayed the results:
— Chihiro Sengoku. [Favorability: 25.] → [2 Lottery chances.]
— Misaki Kamiigusa. [Favorability: 22.] → [2 Lottery chances.]
— Ritsu Kawai. [Favorability: 19.] → [1 Lottery chance.]
[Targets in Vicinity Detected.]
— Mayumi Nishikino
— Ouka Shiunji
— Seiha Shiunji
— Kotono Shiunji
Jun's lips curved into a small smile. "Looks like today will be interesting."
Without hesitation, he pressed down on the glowing button.
All five chances vanished in a ripple of light, replaced by five gacha cards that materialized before him. Three were pitch black, faintly shimmering like obsidian. The remaining two gleamed with a bronze metallic sheen, clearly of a higher grade.
"Three black, two bronze… Not bad for a first pull."
The cards began to flip one by one.
— [1st Black Card: Reward – 20,000 Sakura Dollars.]
— [2nd Black Card: Skill – Badminton Lv.1 (0/10).]
— [3rd Black Card: I Reincarnated as a Slime—First 5 Light Novel Volumes]
Jun blinked. "…Eh."
Each reward manifested in its own unique way. His phone buzzed with a notification—his account balance had increased by 20,000 yen. The second card dissolved into warmth, flowing through his veins and seeping into his muscles. Knowledge flooded his mind—the stance, the grip, the snap of the wrist, the rhythm of the serve, the sharpness of a smash. His body felt lighter, as if it had always known badminton.
Then came the third. In his head, he could suddenly see every word, every page of the first five volumes of a light novel series he once loved back in his previous life. The memories weren't hazy—they were sharp and exact, down to punctuation.
'Now this… this is practical.'
The system had already assured him: in this world, no one had written these works. For at least the next three years, he could publish them freely and take credit. A guaranteed income stream, if he played it right.
Excited, Jun rose from his futon. He picked up an imaginary racket and swung. Whish. The air cracked as his body instinctively moved through a perfect serve. Then a return, then a smash. His muscles flowed as though they had been trained for years.
"…Unbelievable. It's like the skills are engraved into my body. All that's left is practice."
A satisfied smile lingered on his lips.
His new life had only just begun, but with money in his account, skills in his hands, and an unpublished bestseller in his memory, Takihira Jun felt his path widening before him.
The two remaining bronze cards hovered before him, glowing faintly with an elegant sheen. Compared to the plain black ones, they gave off an almost regal air, like treasures waiting to be unveiled.
"Alright, let's see what you've got."
Jun touched the first card. It dissolved into golden sparks that seeped into his body—another skill.
Information flowed into his mind, clearer and stronger than the black-tier rewards. It wasn't overwhelming, but the quality was sharper, deeper, almost as though the system itself was telling him: This is something you'll truly need.
The second card pulsed brightly before flashing into reality. A full set of professional golf clubs materialized in front of him, polished silver shafts gleaming under the faint morning light.
Jun froze. "…Eh? A golf set?"
He blinked at the clubs, the neatly packed bag, and the array of balls that came with it.
'What the heck am I supposed to do with this? I don't even play golf…'
In his previous life, he had occasionally seen business executives bragging about their golf equipment, some worth millions of yen. At the time, he'd only thought of it as an expensive hobby of the wealthy. Now, one such luxury had just been dumped into his lap.
'Well… maybe it'll be useful later. If I get a golf skill someday, this could come in handy.'
For now, he simply tucked the entire set into his system bag, its weight vanishing instantly as though it had never existed.
With the draws complete, Jun exhaled deeply. "Not bad for my first morning gacha."
He decided to wash up. A hot shower sounded perfect before breakfast.
The dorm's shared bath was large, built to accommodate multiple residents, with a faint trace of steam already curling up from its surface. He grabbed his towel, stepped inside, and was immediately met with another presence.
Shirosaki, the eccentric novelist, was already there, a towel loosely tied around his waist. He greeted Jun with a lopsided smile.
"Jun-kun, up so early? This is the first time I've seen someone awake before me."
Jun gave a short laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Haha, just an old habit. Hard to get rid of once it sticks."
Shirosaki chuckled, his voice calm despite his rough appearance. "It's a good habit. Most of the tenants here… well, let's just say mornings aren't exactly their strong point. Some work through the night, some just laze about. Everyone has their own pace, of course."
Jun nodded, sliding into the bath and letting the warm water soak into his skin. His muscles loosened instantly, tension slipping away. "Though honestly, I didn't expect you to be an early bird, Shiro-san."
The older man leaned back against the edge, his beard dripping slightly with steam. "Mornings are the best time to think. Quiet, peaceful… no distractions. Perfect for writing." His tone softened, almost contemplative, and he closed his eyes with a faint smile.
The two of them lapsed into silence, simply enjoying the warmth of the bath. The water rippled gently, reflecting the first rays of the rising sun.
After the refreshing bath, Jun decided against making breakfast for himself. Instead, he planned to grab something outside on his way to school. By the time he stepped out of his room, he found Chihiro-nee already awake, dressed neatly and preparing to leave for work.
"Jun, want to ride with me?" she asked casually, jingling her car keys.
He smiled, shaking his head. "Thanks, but I'll pass today. I want to take the train. A light jog in the morning feels nice."
Chihiro tilted her head knowingly, then gave him a small wave before heading off. Jun adjusted his bag strap and began his walk, enjoying the crisp morning air.
The streets of Tokyo stretched out before him, touched with the soft glow of the rising sun. Sakura petals drifted down from the trees lining the road, catching on his shoulders and hair. With every step, the cityscape blended with a kind of anime-like charm—so picturesque that it almost felt unreal.
By the time he reached the railway station, students in various uniforms were already gathered, filling the platform with a lively buzz of morning chatter. Jun glanced around. Though there were plenty of people his age, none of them were familiar. His gaze swept idly across the crowd—until he noticed a cluster of students subtly pointing and whispering.
Curious, he turned his eyes in the same direction.
There, standing together like a scene ripped out of an illustration, was a group of five beautiful girls. Each had her own distinct aura, yet together they drew all attention without even trying.
Jun blinked once. Ah… right. That's the Shiunji sisters.
He let out a faint breath, half in awe, half in amusement. Even though he had expected this, seeing them in person—radiant and commanding the attention of an entire station—was another thing altogether.