System: Good morning, soldier. Hormonal spikes detected. Suggest cold shower.
Also, Rika Fujimoto will be alone in the staff room in twelve minutes. Opportunity unlocked.
I hated this voice.
Mostly because it was right.
The moment I walked past the classroom door, I saw her. Ms. Fujimoto.
Leaning over the teacher's desk.
Not seductively or anything—just… tired. That kind of tired that seeps into your bones and makes your soul sit down and quit.
Coffee in hand. Hair up. Blazer half on.
No makeup. No energy.
She didn't even notice me watching.
"She's running on caffeine and spite," the System whispered.
"Her ex cheated. The divorce took her apartment, her dog, and her self-esteem. And she still shows up every day at 7:00 AM sharp."
"Tragic. Hot. Perfect."
I snorted.
"Jesus. You sound like a horny therapist."
"You sound like a man who hasn't seen tits in two lifetimes. Go in."
I entered the staff room.
Door slightly open.
I knocked, then peeked in. She was sitting at her desk, rubbing her temple like her brain was trying to crawl out.
"...Yes?" she said without looking up.
I stepped in, hands behind my back like a goddamn cadet.
"Sorry, sensei. Just wanted to ask if you could recommend something... poetic. I finished the assigned book already."
She blinked. Looked up.
First pause.
Then...
"You read all of In a Grove last night?"
"Twice. Kind of a Rashomon fan. Unreliable narrators, y'know?"
Her lips almost twitched.
Almost.
System: Emotional ping +3%. Progress: 5%.
She stared at me like I had horns.
Then, out of nowhere:
"How old are you really?"
My heart stuttered.
Shit.
Was it that obvious?
"I'm sixteen," I said slowly. "Why?"
"Because I teach hormonal morons. And none of them ask about symbolism unless they're trying to get into my pants."
I choked on my breath.
Then laughed. Loud. Genuine.
She didn't smile.
But she did stare.
"Leave," she said, sighing. "Before I make a mistake I can't recover from."
I gave her a lazy salute and stepped out.
System: Observation. She didn't say she wouldn't make a mistake. She said she shouldn't.
She's thinking about it.
New Quest: Break through her walls. Reward: Affection tier unlocked.
Back at my desk, my best friend Haruki leaned over, grinning.
"Bro. You were in there for, like, ten minutes. What'd she say?"
"She called me a hormonal moron and told me to leave."
"Daaamn." He laughed. "She hates you already."
I glanced out the window.
She didn't hate me.
She was just... rusted shut.
And I was the motherfucker with the key.
Lunch came. I wasn't in the mood to eat with the others, so I found my rooftop again. Wind in my hair, concrete under my ass, and quiet. Peaceful.
I sat cross-legged, opened my bento. Cold rice, fried chicken, a slice of orange. Pretty decent. Haruki's mom had packed extras, bless her MILF heart.
System: Irrelevant thought detected. Refocus.
"Eat my ass."
System: No thank you. That will come later with MILF #14. Spoiler: she likes it messy.
I nearly dropped my chopsticks.
"You're kidding."
System: Never.
I rubbed my temples. This system was gonna kill me faster than the first bullet.
The door creaked.
I froze.
Then she walked in.
Ms. Fujimoto.
In heels. Holding a thermos. Looking very much like she didn't want to be up here.
She spotted me. Her eyes narrowed.
"You."
"Me," I said, mouth full of rice.
She hesitated. Looked around. Then sat at the far end of the rooftop. Didn't say a word.
We sat there. Quiet.
A breeze rolled in. Her skirt fluttered.
She clutched it down fast. Glared at me.
"Didn't see anything," I said with a smirk.
She didn't answer.
But her ears were pink.
System: +4% Emotional ping. Progress: 9%
She unscrewed her thermos and took a long, slow sip.
Then, quietly:
"Why are you actually here?"
I shrugged. "Better view."
"Of what?"
I met her eyes.
"Of things I never thought I'd get to see again."
She blinked.
Then turned away.
System: Ping spike. Progress: 12%.
I smiled to myself. Yeah. This was gonna be fun.
System: Get ready. She's your first. But not your last.
20 women. 20 stories. 20 broken hearts.
This is the MILF System. And you, Renji, are about to become their salvation... and maybe their sin.
[To be continued...]