That first day was an infernal blur of moderate effort.
Kaito fulfilled his 'Mission: Paradox Assistant' with the reluctance of a condemned man. He followed Mai Sakurajima at a precise ten-meter distance. He watched her buy a skinny latte and a cream bun, the cashier accepting her money and handing back change as if she wasn't even there, a functional ghost. He followed her to a park, where she sat on a swing set and ate in silence.
He stood stock-still, pretending to be an apathetic tree, while Fia buzzed in his ear.
"Kaito, this is terribly boring! There are no 'bonds' being formed! The affinity bar is stagnant!" she complained, materializing beside him in a sundress (which he promptly ignored). "You should, I don't know, offer a handkerchief! Or trip and fall in a cute way! That always works!"
"If I trip," Kaito murmured, "it will be over your foot. And it will be on purpose."
"You're so mean to me!"
The day dragged on. Eventually, the sun began to set. Mai stood, threw her trash away, and walked toward a luxury apartment complex. She stopped at the front gate, looked across the street at Kaito, who was standing under a lamppost, and gave the slightest nod.
It was a nod that said, "Thanks for being a silent, non-creepy stalker. You're dismissed."
Kaito interpreted it as: "Today's contract is over. You're free to go."
He didn't nod back. He just turned.
"Fia. Portal. Home. Now."
"But what about dinner?! The 'walking home together' event!"
"Now."
With a dramatic sigh, the goddess opened the portal right there on the sidewalk. Kaito stepped through without a backward glance, leaving the world of Bunny Girl Senpai behind for now.
He collapsed onto his beanbag chair. His foot throbbed. His head throbbed. His soul was exhausted. He slept for twelve hours straight.
He woke to the sound of a notification. Not a phone notification. A System notification.
[Daily Mission: 'Normal School Life'] [Objective: Attend classes at Minegahara High School.] [Bonus: Interact with Target (Mai Sakurajima) in an academic setting.] [Penalty for Failure: Inner Peace (Rank F). The System will materialize Fia in your apartment every 15 minutes for 'moral encouragement' until completion.]
Kaito read the penalty. "The System will materialize Fia... every 15 minutes..."
This wasn't a mission. It was a threat. Divine blackmail.
"GOOD MORNING, KAITO!" Fia popped into existence beside his bed, wearing a full, frilly, pink Japanese school uniform that was definitely not standard issue. She held a teacher's pointer. "Time for school! The System has determined your 'ghost assistant' approach is inefficient for gathering 'Bond Points'! We need to immerse you in the environment!"
Kaito glared at her. "You did this."
"I suggested it!" she said cheerfully. "The System agreed! The logic is sound! How can you form a harem if you're not even in the same building as the targets? Now, up and at 'em! The System already prepared your documents and... oh!"
She pointed to the foot of his bed.
There, perfectly folded, was a uniform. A dark blazer, plaid trousers, and a tie. The Minegahara High male uniform. Beside it, a new backpack with a student ID card clipped to it.
NAME: Kaito Tanaka CLASS: 2-1
"I'm not going," Kaito said, pulling the blanket over his head.
"Oh, but you are," Fia sang. "Because if you don't... Kaito, have you ever heard about the importance of a balanced breakfast? Nutrients are essential for..."
Kaito threw the blanket aside. "Fine. I'll go. But you stay here."
"Agreed!" Fia beamed, victorious. "I'll be monitoring your 'Bond Points' remotely! Do your best!"
Fifteen minutes later, Kaito was on the street, looking like a prisoner on his way to execution. He hadn't bothered to tie the tie, just stuffed it into his blazer pocket. His shirt was wrinkled. He was limping slightly from his still-sore foot. The expression on his face told the world: "Do not talk to me. Do not look at me. Do not exist near me."
The System, in its infinite, irritating wisdom, had enrolled him. His apartment now existed in some suburb of this world. He had to take a train.
So problematic.
He arrived at the train station platform, following the flow of students. The noise was grating. Cheerful chatter, laughter... it was all auditory effort. He leaned against a pillar, as far away from everyone as possible, and closed his eyes.
"Excuse me."
The voice was calm, familiar, and directly in front of him.
Kaito opened his eyes.
Mai Sakurajima was standing right there.
She wasn't wearing the bunny outfit. She was wearing the immaculate Minegahara High uniform. Hair tied back, subtle makeup, perfect posture. She looked like a model student, except for the fact that... no one else on the crowded platform seemed to notice her presence.
They were stuck in the same bubble of invisibility as yesterday.
The two stared at each other. Yesterday's agreement was "don't talk to me." He hadn't. She had.
[Affinity (Mai Sakurajima): -1 Point (Violated silence agreement)]
Kaito scowled. The System punished him because she spoke to him?
"You..." Mai began, looking genuinely confused. She glanced at his rumpled uniform, at his apathetic face. "You go to Minegahara?"
Kaito sighed. He pointed to the school crest on his blazer. "Apparently."
"What a coincidence," she said, skeptical.
"Trust me," Kaito replied, his voice monotone. "It's not. The universe (and my useless goddess) is forcing me to interact with you."
[Affinity (Fia): -10 Points (Divine Insult)]
Mai seemed to absorb this. "I see. So your... problem... is ongoing."
"Unfortunately."
The train arrived with a hiss. The doors opened. The students around them, oblivious to the famous actress and the dimensional traveler in their midst, flooded in.
Kaito and Mai entered through different doors but ended up in the same car. It was packed. Kaito pressed himself into a corner, trying to become as two-dimensional as possible.
Mai stood near the center, holding a strap, perfectly balanced.
They didn't speak. They didn't look at each other. Kaito fulfilled his "mission" to ignore her. Mai appeared to be doing the same. And yet, Kaito could feel her. Her presence was like a high, sharp note in his monotone symphony.
[Bond Points: +1... +1... +1...]
The System was giving him points just for breathing the same recycled air in the train car. What a broken system.
They exited at the school station, walked through the gate (him limping, her gliding), and went to the main building.
"Well," Kaito said, stopping at the shoe lockers, looking at the number on his student card. "Class 2-1. Time to find the furthest corner and sleep until lunch."
"Wait," Mai said, stopping beside him. "What's your class?"
"2-1," he repeated.
The expression on Mai's face was a complex mix of horror, resignation, and something that looked vaguely like amusement.
She said nothing. She just started walking.
Kaito followed her with his eyes. She was heading in the same direction he was.
"Oh, no," he muttered.
He limped down the hall, found the "Class 2-1" placard, and slid the door open.
The room was half-full. He scanned the layout. Back row. Near the window. The perfect seat.
Except it wasn't empty.
Mai Sakurajima was sitting in the window seat. And the only empty seat in the entire back row was the one directly next to her.
He looked at the chair. He looked at her.
She looked back at him, a ghost of a smile playing on her lips.
Kaito heard Fia's voice in his head, so cheerful it hurt. "Welcome to your first day of school, Kaito-kun! The System made sure you'd have a study partner!"
"How," Kaito sighed, dropping his bag onto the chair, "problematic."
________________________________________
Get rewarded for helping with our community goals!
🚀 Tier Reward: Help us reach 10 members for +5 chapters on all stories!
👻 Join the crew by searching patreon.com/c/ThePriceofaBond10 on (P). You know the spot! 😉