Confrontation with Shizuka
"Shizuka-sensei… what do you mean by 'first Yukinoshita Yukino'?"
"You joined the Service Club, didn't you? Wasn't it for Yukinoshita Yukino?"
"You've got me wrong. Sure, Yukino is beautiful, but I'm not that kind of person."
"Do you think I'd believe that?"
Takumi Yuuya sighed and looked Shizuka straight in the eye.
"Fine. I admit it—I am juggling a few girls."
"That's all right. Then make a choice. You have to pick one among these three," Shizuka said seriously.
Yuuya shook his head and met her gaze.
"Sorry, Shizuka-sensei… I want all of them."
"Oh? You mean you want to be a scumbag? Do you know what I hate most?"
"Please wait—hear me out first."
"There's a reason? Fine. Let's hear it."
Shizuka frowned.
Yuuya looked toward Kawasaki Saki.
"Before Saki met me, she worked here and came home every day at five in the morning. During lunch breaks, she slept on the rooftop of the storage room."
"She was pushing herself hard for university, giving it her all."
"I hired her, paid her three thousand yen an hour. At the time, I just wanted to help."
"But over time… I realized I liked Saki."
"Even though Saki knew about the other girls and accepted it, all I could do was give her material compensation."
"After graduation, the house I live in now will be hers. I'll also give her at least 100 million yen, or let her become a shareholder in my company."
Shizuka, hearing this, couldn't help but say,"Then why not just choose her?"
"Yukino is called a 'high-class flower,' but in reality, she's just a clumsy girl who doesn't know how to make friends. Next week, I'll introduce her to new friends and work on getting closer to her."
"And Miura Yumiko?"
"We've already broken up."
"Can't you just be friends with Yukinoshita?"
"Shizuka-sensei, if you were Yukino, and a guy was always helping you, would you just see him as a friend?"
Yuuya countered a question with a question.
Shizuka stared at him, silent.
Yuuya finished his drink in one gulp.
"Shizuka-sensei, thanks for your concern, but since you've never been in a relationship, please don't interfere."
"I… I may not have dated, but I understand the proper way to love," she said.
"I know, you're very proper. That probably explains why every man you've met so far has been problematic."
"You…"
"Anyway, I won't bother you while you drink, and don't think about walking us home," Yuuya said, turning to leave.
Shizuka was furious but knew deep down that persuading Yuuya was practically impossible.
At his age, he had already established a company and had significant cash on hand. He was not as simple as he seemed.
Besides, he had already explained:
Kawasaki Saki: officially together.
Miura Yumiko: broken up.
Yukinoshita Yukino: nothing yet.
So calling him a player wasn't really fair.
Video Call with Yukinoshita
Back at the hotel room, Saki asked,"What did Shizuka-sensei say?"
"He told me not to juggle girls," Yuuya said, sitting on the sofa.
"She knew?" Saki asked.
"She thought I joined the Service Club for Yukino," Yuuya replied.
"Not entirely wrong," Saki smiled.
"You go to the bathroom first. I'll talk to Yukino," he said, pulling out his phone.
Saki chuckled and walked into the bathroom.
Yuuya didn't call; he started a video chat instead.
Half a minute later, Yukinoshita Yukino appeared on the screen, wearing pajamas.
"What's up?" she asked.
"I was on a date at a bar with a girl and ran into your sister and Shizuka-sensei," Yuuya said.
"Bar? You can drink?"
"We had two drinks. The bar was fancy—guys in suits, girls mostly in evening gowns."
"And then?"
"Your sister was fine, but Shizuka-sensei accused me of juggling girls."
"Since she said that…"
"She said, 'first Yukinoshita.'"
Yuuya reminded her.
Yukino froze."Me?"
"Yes. Shizuka-sensei thinks I joined the Service Club for you."
"Well… not entirely wrong," Yukino admitted.
"Where did your confidence come from, Yukino?"
"You watch me every day. Don't think I don't know what you're thinking."
"What am I thinking? Tell me."
"Hmph, you know perfectly well."
"Yukino, I admit… before I had a girlfriend, I dreamed of you every night."
"Disgust Level from Yukinoshita Yukino +10"
Yuuya saw the virtual notification and continued.
"It's a pity, though—every time I dream of you, at the crucial moment the material disappears… maybe because I've never touched you."
"Disgust Level from Yukinoshita Yukino +30"
"When you become my girlfriend, I will definitely tease you, Yukino."
"Disgust Level from Yukinoshita Yukino +50"
Her eyes went icy, expression unreadable.
"You'll never defeat me. When that day comes, I'll send you to the hospital."
"Yukino, I will win."
"Anything else to say?"
"Don't give up, Yukino… there's hope."
Yuuya ended the video call.
"Disgust Level from Yukinoshita Yukino +50"
Silver Chest Reward
In the bathroom, Yuuya checked his points: 1080 points.
Enough to open a Silver Chest.
He muttered quietly, and the virtual screen appeared:
Silver Chest: Open!
"Congratulations, host has obtained a Basic Constitution Elixir."
Yuuya blinked, then retrieved the elixir.
"Consumption will purge impurities from the body. Use only in a bathroom."
He gazed at the clear liquid, opened the cap, and drank it all.
The bottle disappeared. He turned on the shower.
Gradually, the impurities washed away, and his whole body felt light.
Thirty minutes later:
"Consumption of Basic Constitution Elixir, combined with training, can achieve the level of a Basic Warrior."
Yuuya read the virtual notice. He had worried about mastering his new physical abilities too quickly, but now he had time to adapt.
Still… what exactly was a "Basic Warrior"?
The screen flashed a training montage:
A young man lifted a car effortlessly. Next, he sprinted on a track.
The timer displayed: 4 seconds.
100 meters in four seconds.
Yuuya gasped. Humans supposedly maxed out at over 9 seconds.
Four seconds… this was beyond human limits.