[Beep.][System Activated, Game Start][Player and Target Achieve Friendliness: Reward Points Granted][Target Must Meet System-Recognized Standards (Details in Appendix)][Complete Temporary Activities to Purchase Additional Special Items; Encourages Active Participation][Panel: Activated][Shop: Activated][Load Complete, Enjoy Your Game][Manage Your Time Wisely; Protect Yourself; Beware of Scams; Make Genuine Friends; Stay Away from "Chopsticks" (Redacted)]
Watanabe Tetsu stared intently at the blackboard. Amid the math teacher's wildly scribbled handwriting, a faint, almost transparent pale blue panel suddenly appeared.
He blinked, then looked down at his notebook and wrote: Methods of representing sets—enumeration, description.
Click.
The pencil lead broke, leaving a small black smudge on the pristine page.
Watanabe Tetsu pressed the pencil's end, but no lead came out. He retrieved a spare 0.5mm lead from his pencil case, threading it into the tip like a needle, and carefully completed the "description" character in his notes.
During all this, the faint blue, nearly transparent panel stayed squarely in his vision.
Awakening now… didn't it feel a bit too late?
Watanabe Tetsu had been reborn in a remote village where buses came only once every two hours. By the time he reached kindergarten age, he had already abandoned unrealistic fantasies like "systems," "awakening substitutes after being shot with arrows," "aliens," "future people," or "psychics."
He had decided to study diligently.
At a tiny village school with only five people including the teachers, Watanabe Tetsu taught himself and, through effort, passed the entrance exam for his current private cram school in Tokyo, ranking third overall.
His next life goal: a top high school in Tokyo.
After graduation, pass the civil servant exam, and let taxpayers support him for life.
But now, despite all his long-term efforts, despite planning his future carefully and preparing for hardships, a system appeared?
If you're coming, come early. If not, don't bother. This in-between state is maddening.
Watanabe Tetsu focused on finishing math class properly—luckily, the panel didn't block his view, or he really would have lost his temper.
The last time he'd gotten angry had been yesterday, when the homeroom teacher announced that all students were required to join a club—no early departures allowed.
He thought ruefully that it would've been better to go to the neighboring, brighter cram school.
The girls there wore super-cute sailor uniforms, and students could even join the "Going Home Club." The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became.
Conclusion: No matter how many times life restarts, there are always regrets.
Those who preach that a second chance erases all regrets? Watanabe Tetsu could say bluntly: liars, or idiots with terrible memories.
Math class ended the morning, and as the teacher announced the end of the lesson, the classroom still held the quiet of class in session.
Kunii Osamu shouted loudly:"Watanabe! Saito! Let's go eat!"
The math teacher, preparing to leave, squinted at Kunii through his reading glasses."Could you keep it down a bit, kid?"
Saito Keisuke laughed and replied:"So, what are we eating today? Set meal? Ramen? Or bread?"
"Ramen!""Good, then it's decided—we're having bread.""Saito, you fool! Prepare to die! Ora ora ora ora!""Wood! Wood! Wood!""Damn, he caught them all! Witness my Evil Spirit Cling Strike!""Not enough yet, Osamu! Taste my Hell's Burial Hand Chop!""Eh, my neck?! Keisuke, you're not supposed to attack physically!"
Watanabe Tetsu closed his textbook, stood up, and walked out with them amid the curious glances of his classmates.
These two friends were from his cram school days—eating together, discussing anime, manga, light novels, and cute girls. On weekends when he didn't work, they would hang out too.
At the cafeteria, the three finally ordered the ¥400 grilled meat set meal—grilled meat, mushrooms, salad, rice, and miso soup.
Kunii Osamu dug into his rice with large bites and slurred:"Going to the arcade after school?"
"I can go," Saito Keisuke nodded."By the way, Watanabe, aren't you going to work after school on Wednesday?"
"Supposed to be," Watanabe Tetsu replied, taking a bite of the mediocre grilled meat.
"Supposed to? Did something happen?" Saito asked."Could it be a date? Finally, the day has come!" Kunii Osamu wailed. "Watanabe's going to be the first of us three to become a man of romance!"
Saito Keisuke leaned in, curious:"Really? Who is it? What class? How does she look?"
"No such thing. Koizumi told me—today I must join a club."
"That, huh… tsk, boring." Kunii Osamu continued shoveling rice, only starting on the grilled meat and salad after finishing. Quite a strange guy.
Saito Keisuke suggested:"How about the Computer Research Club? No cute girls, but tons of games for free."
"Come to the baseball club, Watanabe! I'll lead you to Koshien and make you tomorrow's star!" Kunii Osamu said with full intensity.
Watanabe Tetsu replied coolly:"Aren't you still delivering water and towels to the seniors?"
"That's temporary! The captain promised I can join practice next week!"
"Is that so…" Watanabe Tetsu thought the salad was decent; the vegetables were fresh.
"I'm serious! The captain really said so!""Alright, alright, shut up," Saito Keisuke said, sipping soup.
After lunch, there was an hour-long break. Usually, the three would hang out, but today Watanabe Tetsu decided to check out the club first.
"You want us to come with you?" Saito asked."No, you guys go back to class," Watanabe Tetsu waved them off."Fine."
Walking to the club building alone, Watanabe Tetsu took the opportunity to study the system.
[Panel] and [Shop] glowed.
He mentally activated the panel—it opened smoothly.
[Character: Watanabe Tetsu][Intelligence: 7][Charm: 8][Stamina: 3][Items: None][Skills: None][Points: 100][Money: ¥154,650]
Average stats: 5.
Clearly, he was smart, handsome, and no problem keeping up in a long run with the girls.
Skills? So far, he hadn't discovered any special talents.
He opened [Shop].
[Items: Detector (Original: 1000 / Sale: 100)][Money: 100 yen / 1 point][Intelligence: 1 / 100,000 points][Charm: 1 / 10,000 points][Stamina: 1 / 5,000 points][Skills: Beginner—Writing (100), Proficient—Photo Editing (1000), Expert—Cooking (10,000), Master—Fishing (100,000)]
With only 100 points, it seemed meant to buy the detector of uncertain purpose.
After a minute, he found the nearly invisible [Appendix] button.
Clearly, the game had rules designed to trap players.
[Appendix]{1. Player death has no relation to the game; no revival guaranteed. (Injury repair possible, explore yourself)}{2. Before targeting someone, use the detector to check if they are eligible (detector purchasable in shop)}{3. Monthly, a new item becomes available}{4. Money has no exchange limit, usable freely in reality}{5. Intelligence, Charm, Stamina: beyond 10 points, exchange points grow double}{6. Skills refresh randomly at month-end}{7. Each refresh gives one skill at each tier; price unchanged}{8. Beginner = high school graduate level, Proficient = industry standard, Expert = elite, Master = human limit}{9. When exchanging intelligence, choose specific skill; potential can exceed master}{997. Player must maintain game secrecy}{998. Player may choose to pursue targets freely}{999. After success, consequences are on player}{1000. All interpretation rights belong to the game}
Ten dense pages. Watanabe Tetsu stood dumbfounded in the corridor between the classroom and club building for over ten minutes.
After reading carefully, he roughly understood the game:
To gain points, make a target sincerely agree to be friends. Points could allow almost anything—but luck mattered: whether the skills rolled were what he needed.
Basically, the game encouraged players to act selfishly.
Watanabe Tetsu didn't know what to think, but with no punishment, he exchanged points for the [Detector].
[Detector: Can view information (3/3 uses)]
Just then, a female student passed in front of him. He clicked to use it.