I woke up at midnight. Not because of a nightmare, not because I was hungry, and not because I suddenly remembered some embarrassing memory I'd rather forget. No. I woke up because the system had decided it was prime time to ruin my life.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]"NEW TASK: ASK MIYU TAKEDA ON A DATE.""DIFFICULTY: 150/100""REWARD: 20 LIBIDO POINTS"
I nearly choked on my own saliva. The room was silent, except for my brain screaming, "WHAT THE FUCK, YOU BLUE SCREENGEDDON?" I flopped back on my bed, muttering every curse I could think of, including a few that didn't exist yet.
"Ask her out? Are you insane? Who do you think I am—some charismatic hero from a dating sim? I'm Riku Hayami, master of embarrassment, king of pathetic small talk, virgin extraordinaire!"
Eventually, sheer mental exhaustion dragged me back into unconsciousness, my pillow soaked with tears of fear and existential dread.
The next day. School. Again. My life was officially a repetitive cycle of misery punctuated by system-induced terror.
And there she was. Miyu Takeda. Blonde goddess, angelic aura, untouchable. Sitting at her desk, reading, her calmness radiating like sunlight through clouds. My heart attempted an unauthorized escape from my chest.
I swallowed. Deep breath. Small breath. Deep breath again. My legs moved before my brain could intervene, slowly—like a cat sneaking up on a bird, if the cat were pathetic, terrified, and probably going to embarrass itself in spectacular fashion.
"Uh… hey, Miyu," I stammered. Real smooth, Riku. Real smooth.
She looked up. Blinked. Smiled. A small, subtle curve of her lips that somehow short-circuited my brain. Not a grin that would melt me on the floor—but enough to make me feel like someone had just thrown me into a volcano of anxiety and longing.
We talked. About homework, about books, about… somehow Big Bears. I have no idea how that came up, but somehow we were discussing the ferocity of bears versus their cuteness. My brain, for once, felt slightly functional.
Then, fueled by the slight boost in charisma from the last task, I felt… bold.
"Uh… Miyu… would you, um… want to go out with me… like, for a… date?"
Silence. My life flashed before my eyes. I imagined a dozen horrifying scenarios: her screaming, throwing a chair, calling the police… or laughing at me in a way that would haunt my dreams forever.
Then she smiled. And said:
"Sure."
Somewhere, my soul left my body for a solid five seconds. Apparently, even a minuscule increase in charisma can perform miracles.
Evening. A café. I sit across from Miyu. And I have to admit… she looks unexceptionally gorgeous. The kind of gorgeous that feels natural, effortless. Her outfit deserves a paragraph because my brain refuses to function otherwise.
A soft, cream-colored blouse tucked neatly into a high-waist skirt, clinging just enough to highlight her figure without screaming for attention. Boots that made her legs look absurdly long, casual elegance that somehow made the world feel unbalanced. She sipped her tea, and my heart nearly stopped.
We ordered. Coffee. Small talk. Slightly awkward silences. My heart hammering like it wanted to escape my ribcage and run for its life.
"So… um… you read a lot, huh?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
Miyu smiled, tilting her head. "Yeah, I guess. I like stories… different worlds, you know?"
"I—uh—I like… books too," I muttered, wondering if she noticed the sweat forming on my palms.
She laughed softly. "Really? I wouldn't have guessed."
My chest tightened. Did she just… tease me?
We laughed at stupid things: a barista dropping a tray, me spilling sugar, her poking fun at me for nearly toppling a chair. Miyu's laugh… it was soft, genuine, like music my brain had long forgotten existed.
Desserts arrived. She chose a chocolate tart. I… probably something embarrassing. Couldn't remember—her laugh had already permanently embedded itself in my ears.
"So… your cat," I ventured, "trapped in a tree?"
"Oh, don't remind me," she said, rolling her eyes but smiling. "I had to call the fire department. Pompous, heroic firefighters, all grinning like they were saving the world. My cat… just looked at them like, 'Really? You needed me?'"
I laughed too hard, choked on my coffee, and nearly decorated the tablecloth with it. She giggled. GIGGLED. Someone save me. I die.
Mid-dessert, the screen appeared.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]"TASK COMPLETED: ASKED MIYU ON A DATE""LIBIDO POINTS EARNED: 20"[CURRENT STATS]Strength: 0Intelligence: 0Charisma: 1 → 2Pervertness: 87
I froze. My face melted. My brain whispered: Increase charisma. NOW.
I complied. Click. Charisma went up. Confidence rose slightly. I felt… functional. Slightly less like a potato. Maybe.
We left the café, walking down quiet streets. Typical storybook cliché: the rain came suddenly. Big, inconvenient rain. My hair. My clothes. My dignity. All soaked.
Miyu laughed. Not mockingly, but that soft, airy laugh that made my lungs seize and my heart reconsider its very existence.
We rushed to her house, slipping, laughing, splashing through puddles. Convenient for plot, inconvenient for me.
Inside, awkwardness hit immediately. Clothes soaked. I had nothing dry to wear. Miyu, practical as ever, handed me a pair of jeans.
"Uh… thanks?" I muttered, holding the pants, feeling ridiculous. My upper body was covered only by a towel she handed me, but it slipped slightly. Panic set in.
She didn't flinch. Just laughed lightly. That laugh. My knees went weak.
We dried off, changed, and sat on the couch. Small talk. Giggles. Silly commentary about the rain, her cat, Big Bears. Somehow, it was… comfortable. Human. Warm.
Then.
A moment. Slow. Natural. Neither of us spoke at first. Eyes met. Time seemed to pause.
"I… um…" I started, voice barely above a whisper. My brain short-circuited.
She leaned slightly closer. "It's okay, Riku."
My chest felt like it would explode. And then… our lips met.
Soft. Warm. Slightly sweet. Her lips tasted faintly of balm and something else—something intoxicatingly familiar. Gentle pressure, yielding just enough to make me think this is heaven or a dream I'll never wake from.
The world disappeared. Just her. Just the kiss. And I—utterly, hopelessly—sank into it.
When we finally pulled back, breathless, my voice was a croak.
"I… wow… that was… I mean…"
She laughed softly, shaking. her head. "Relax, Riku. It's just a kiss."
Just a kiss. My brain went Oh no, oh yes, oh no, oh yes