Everything fell apart the moment that kid showed up!!
Aihara Yamato shot a venomous glare at Satoru, his eyes practically screaming I'll tear you apart.
The shift was so abrupt that Yotsumoto Ryoka couldn't keep up. Bewildered, she glanced at Yamato. "Uh… Aihara-san?"
Yamato's fists creaked, knuckles popping like firecrackers.
Sure, he wasn't strong enough to take down a whole gang of delinquents single-handedly, but those muscles weren't just for show. Smashing this scrawny interloper into the pavement? Child's play!
But then—
"Eh?"
Satoru scratched the back of his head with a sheepish grin. "You're not leaving? Cops'll be here any second, y'know. Getting away after that's gonna be a hassle."
Yamato got the message loud and clear.
This kid's tone—he'd seen through the plan. That's why he called the police! If they dragged him to the station for questioning, even if Ryoka still saw him as her "savior," the cops would sniff out his ties to the delinquents in no time!
"You're dead meat!!" Yamato jabbed a finger at Satoru, his voice dripping with venom.
Then he bolted, legs pumping like his life depended on it.
He'd carve this failure into his memory—and next time, he'd make this punk pay.
Ryoka stared at Yamato's retreating figure, dumbfounded.
Her emerald eyes flicked to Satoru, who let out a relieved sigh.
"So… when are the police coming?" she asked, still piecing things together.
"Praise the light, I just pulled off the bluff of the century. If that guy had stuck around a second longer, I'd be toast…" Satoru muttered to himself, then turned to Ryoka. "They're not coming. I didn't call the cops."
Truth was, he couldn't.
He'd patted down every pocket—no phone. Nada.
"…What just happened?" Ryoka's brain was still playing catch-up, though she sensed something shady behind it all.
"In simple terms…" Satoru started to explain, but Ayumu cut in. "Kobayashi, what are you doing here?"
Kobayashi…?
Who's Kobayashi? …Wait, me? Am I Kobayashi?
Oh, right—my name's Kobayashi Satoru, isn't it?
A flood of unfamiliar memories surged into his head, disorienting him. His vision blurred, consciousness teetering on the edge.
"Kobayashi!?"
As Satoru's body went limp, about to collapse, Ayumu shouted, trying to snap him out of it.
But Satoru didn't stir. Just as he was about to hit the ground, Ryoka lunged, catching him in her arms.
"Kobayashi? Bu, is this your classmate?" she asked, cradling him.
"Y-yeah…" Ayumu nodded.
"Call an ambulance! He's passed out!"
"R-right, got it!"
Satoru's consciousness was fuzzy, but he wasn't completely gone. He could still feel his cheek pressed against something soft and warm, a faint whiff of shampoo tickling his nose. His mind, though, couldn't process what it was—or see it clearly.
And then, in his ears…
No, in his mind, a voice echoed.
[Mission Complete: "Rescue the Karate Girl!"]
[System Activation Initiated]
[Scanning Host Status…]
[Host: Kobayashi Satoru… Binding…]
[99%… 100%… Binding Successful]
[Congratulations, Host! You have received the "Newbie Starter Pack"]
[Opening "Newbie Starter Pack"]
[Skill Acquired: Swordsmanship Mastery EX]
[2060 Pure Love System: At Your Service]
My name is Kobayashi Satoru.
Seventeen years old, high school student.
Second-year at Shirao High.
Parents deceased, no immediate family. Guardian: an aunt working in Hawaii.
Friends? Barely any. Harem? Nonexistent.
Just your average, unremarkable high schooler.
…
"Gah!!"
Satoru jolted awake, bolting upright in bed, staring at an unfamiliar ceiling.
And…
White walls. The faint, familiar-yet-strange scent of disinfectant.
"…A hospital?" His head throbbed like a drum.
"Yeah, you passed out, so we brought you to the nearest hospital."
The voice came from his bedside. Satoru turned, sitting up slowly.
"Yotsumoto… Ryoka?"
Ryoka handed him a cup of water. "You… know me?"
"Uh, yeah, Yotsumoto-san, you're kinda famous at school. Who doesn't know you?" Satoru said quickly. The bizarre flood of memories during his blackout confirmed it: he'd definitely isekai'd. In this world, he was Kobayashi Satoru, a fellow Shirao High student alongside Ryoka.
Ryoka gave a soft chuckle.
Up close, with no "hero act" or chaos to distract, Satoru finally got a good look at the real-life Ryoka. Back in his old world, he'd seen her in every detail—down to her armpits, thanks to those doujin panels.
No denying it: Yotsumoto Ryoka was drop-dead gorgeous. Her slender frame hid the monstrous strength that'd floored three delinquents. Her face was small, delicate—untie that ponytail, and her black hair would probably swallow her whole. Her skin was creamy white, every faint blush on her cheeks crystal clear.
"…Oh, sorry." Satoru realized he'd been staring too long.
"No, it's fine…" Ryoka's eyes dipped shyly. "The doctor said to take care of yourself."
"Got it…" Satoru nodded.
"You and Ayumu are classmates, right?" Ryoka asked. "Kobayashi Satoru… Can I call you 'Kobayashi'?"
"Sure, or 'Satoru' works too." Satoru shrugged. I'm a purebred HuaXia soul—Japan's naming rules ain't my thing.
Ryoka's cheeks flushed a bit more. "I'll… stick with 'Kobayashi-kun' for now. Anyway, thank you for earlier."
"Huh?"
"When you were out, I pieced it all together. I think I get the gist of what happened."
"Oh, yeah." Satoru grinned. "No biggie. I just… obliterated some NTR scum—er, I mean, stay safe, Yotsumoto-san."
He fiddled with the bed controls, adjusting the backrest to sit up straighter. Lying down was getting old.
"But how'd you know?" Ryoka pressed.
"Passed by, overheard them scheming," Satoru said, tossing out the ultimate catch-all excuse. "I don't need to stay here, do I?"
Ryoka waved a hand. "Nah, doc said you fainted from heatstroke. You're good to go once you're steady."
"Pfft—"
Satoru spat out the sip of water he'd just taken, soaking the blanket on his chest.
Heatstroke?
He glanced at the wall thermometer. It read…
15°C indoors.
Outside? Probably not past 20.
…
…