The next morning sunlight leaked through the curtains, and Rito rubbed his eyes awake, already aware of the strange task on his plate. His mother's words from last night echoed in his head like a drumbeat.
"Just go to pick her up tomorrow, alright? She'll be living with us for a while."
He'd nodded then, but now that he sat at his desk, staring at the photo she had handed him, Rito couldn't breathe for a second.
"…You've got to be kidding me." That is what he had thought the previous night, but he held it back, given current him has no way of knowing this girl. After all, he was not an art enthusiast. And Ringo knew of that.
Plus, thinking about Ringo smile from the night. He knew that she was quite happy about her coming here and even gave him that look.
The glossy picture showed a girl with long, flowing golden hair like threads of sunlight, pale porcelain skin, and eyes that seemed lost in a dreamlike stillness—Shiina Mashiro.
'The Shiina Mashiro. The artistic prodigy of Sakurasou. The eccentric beauty who can flip lives upside down with just her absentminded gaze.'
Rito leaned back, one hand pressing over his mouth to hide the twitch forming at his lips. As he recounted all the anime girls that he had met in just few days, he was already starting to feel a bit overwhelm, given in To love ru frenchie, he could find many heroines, not to say this stupid world was adding more anime Frenchies to it.
He glanced at the system window hovering faintly in the corner of his vision. The quest tab pulsed dimly but did not open—mocking him with its secrecy.
"...And why here? Shouldn't she be at Sakurasou dormitory?" he muttered, brows furrowing. "That's literally her original setting! Did the script get scrambled, or… is this world mixing threads on purpose?"
His eyes flicked back to the photo. Mashiro's blank but strangely compelling stare almost seemed to look right at him, like she was silently waiting for his arrival.
"...Great," Rito sighed, dragging a hand down his face. "So now I'm babysitting an angel who can't even dress herself without help. Just what kind of event flag am I stepping into?"
Yet, beneath his complaints, a strange excitement flickered in his chest—the same thrill of a reincarnator watching the world unfold into something both familiar and alien.
Rito felt oddly refreshed after his shower, the steam clearing away the lingering thoughts of last night. He tugged on a clean set of clothes—nothing too flashy, just a crisp shirt and comfortable jeans—but enough to look presentable. With his hair brushed neatly and the faint mint of toothpaste still fresh in his mouth, he glanced in the mirror one last time.
"...Not bad. At least I don't look like some sleep-deprived zombie," he muttered, tugging at his collar.
The smell of breakfast greeted him downstairs. Mikan, already bustling around with her usual efficiency, had set out simple dishes before turning her focus to scrubbing and arranging a vacant room. He watched her for a second, her expression unusually cheerful as she hummed while dusting.
"That's for Mashiro-chan, right?" Rito asked.
Mikan glanced over her shoulder and nodded, eyes glinting mischievously. "Mm. So don't mess it up when you go to pick her up, Onii-chan."
"…I won't." He sighed, already sensing a teasing storm brewing if he gave her an opening.
By the time he'd finished breakfast, their mother, Ringo, came down the stairs in her usual composed manner. She handed Rito a small envelope stuffed with a few bills.
"Here," Ringo said with a knowing smile. "Pocket change. Take her somewhere nice if she looks tired or if she wants something to eat. Don't hesitate. I want her to feel welcomed."
Rito blinked, surprised, but accepted it. "That's… generous. Thanks, Mom."
Ringo's eyes softened as she clasped her hands. "Shiina Mashiro… her artwork is beautiful. To think such a prodigy will be under this roof."
Rito almost choked at the sparkle in her eyes. "Wait, even you're a fan?"
"Of course," she said simply, as though it was the most natural thing in the world.
Rito pressed the envelope into his pocket, shoulders sinking. "Great. No pressure, huh? Just escort one of the most famous artistic geniuses alive and make sure she doesn't starve. Easy."
He grabbed his bag, slipped into his sneakers, and waved once more toward the busy Mikan before heading out the door. The air outside was bright and clear, and the quiet buzz of cicadas followed him as he began the walk toward the station.
After travelling to the station, it took not much time for Rito to find Shiina Mashiro.
Rito scratched his cheek awkwardly as he stood a few steps away, watching the scene. Mashiro sat perfectly still, her long blonde hair swaying slightly in the afternoon breeze, her eyes empty yet strangely captivating as they stared off into nothing.
Around her, a few high school boys lingered at a distance, whispering to each other, some daring to take glances, others even trying to work up the courage to approach.
(Just like the anime… she doesn't even notice the stares, huh?) Rito thought, almost sighing. He quickly walked up before things could escalate.
"Mashiro-chan?" he called out carefully.
Her gaze shifted slowly, those golden-brown eyes landing on him. "Rito?" Her tone was soft, almost questioning, as if she had already been expecting him.
"Yes, it's me. I'm here to pick you up. My mom… Ringo-san… she told me about you staying with us for a while," he explained with an awkward smile, scratching the back of his head.
Mashiro blinked once, twice, then gave a small nod. "…Hungry."
"…Eh?" Rito tilted his head, a little lost.
She pointed lightly at her stomach. "Hungry. Food."
"…I knew it." Rito sighed, remembering Ringo's words about letting Mashiro eat what she liked. It wasn't even five minutes, and the girl was already true to her reputation.
But even as he prepared to escort her, he couldn't shake the thought that something—or rather someone—was missing. Her caretaker, the tennis escort his mom mentioned, wasn't anywhere in sight. Rito's eyes scanned the crowd, wondering if she was running late… or if things were about to get even more complicated.
Mashiro sat there like a painted doll given life, her stillness so unshakable that even the noise of the station seemed to curve around her rather than touch her. Rito was already fighting down the dumb smile tugging at his lips. So it really is her… Shiina Mashiro, in the flesh.
Just then, the system's interface pulsed to life in the corner of his vision:
[System Notification]
— New Character Encountered: Shiina Mashiro
Rewards Acquired:
Talent Awakening: Ei-chan Template (Maruo Eichiro)
— All analytical and observational tennis-related abilities unlocked at full mastery.
— Learning efficiency and note-taking skills drastically enhanced.
Passive Skill Upgrade: Learning Lv. 3 (0/300), Tennis Lv. 5 (0/3000) [Restricted], Dynamic vision Lv. Max.
Rito froze. His eyes almost popped out of his skull.
"Oi! I am sorry; i just went to get some drink..." And just at the moment Rito was thinking of calling to ringo, he found a blond-haired girl jogging their way. With blond hair and a cheerful personality, the girl was catching on to them quite quickly.
"Hello!" Although Rito was again surprised, he held it in quite well this time, as he was starting to get the hang of it.
"Sorry, sorry! I told you to wait right here, didn't I? I shouldn't have left you alone, Mashiro-chan…" Her tone carried the warmth of someone who naturally took responsibility, almost like an older sister.
Mashiro, however, only blinked at her and tilted her head slightly, the kind of reaction that could make even time itself hesitate. "You said orange juice."
Natsu stopped just a step away from Mashiro and bent slightly forward, hands on her knees as she caught her breath. A faint bead of sweat rolled down her cheek, but her bright, sunny smile didn't falter for even a second.
Rito, who was standing a bit awkwardly beside the scene, almost laughed but quickly disguised it with a cough. Watching the two was like watching a perfectly mismatched painting—the vibrant, high-energy brushstroke of Natsu beside the tranquil, dreamy stillness of Mashiro.
He muttered under his breath, "…the anime lineup is growing faster than I expected."
The system interface flickered before his eyes:
[System Notification]
— New Character Encountered: Takasaki Natsu
— Special Talent Resonance Detected.
Reward Acquired:
Manga Artist Lv. 5 (0/3000)
Rito's eyes widened ever so slightly. Level five right off the bat…? That was absurd. He hadn't even worked his Writing skill to that level, and now the system had just thrown an advanced profession at him out of nowhere. His fingers twitched with the sudden urge to grab a pen and test it, but he resisted, glancing back at the girls.
Natsu noticed his gaze and gave him a curious look. "Ah, you must be Rito-kun, right? Ringo-san told me you'd be here. Thanks for coming to pick Mashiro-chan up."
Her tone was casual and friendly, but the sincerity behind her smile made it hard for Rito to brush off. He scratched his cheek and nodded, "Y-Yeah. No problem. It's better than leaving her alone anyway."
Mashiro, still seated with her small suitcase by her side, looked at Rito with her glassy eyes and said softly, "He found me first."
Natsu laughed at that, her ponytail swaying as she straightened up.