Reijin POV
Today, I needed to pick up something I ordered a while back.
Skipping class seemed like the easiest option.
Lunch break sounded like the best time to sneak out—less suspicious.
But then I had a bigger problem...
How the hell do I explain this to Momo without her blowing up at me?
I raised a hand to my forehead, trying to come up with an excuse.
But wait—why do I even care so much?
I glanced over at her.
She was sitting across from me, eyes locked on her textbook, brows furrowed in full-on serious mode.
That intense face... it made me chuckle a little.
Just a few minutes ago, she was poking my cheek like a child.
And now? She's acting like she's prepping for a national exam or something.
Ah well, I'll ditch during lunch.
Hopefully Aizawa doesn't catch wind of it.
.
Lunchtime
I rushed through lunch with her like I was trying to win an eating contest.
Momo looked genuinely startled.
Momo: "Why are you in such a hurry?"
Reijjin: "I'm hungry, duh. What, did your ponytail mess with your ears or something?"
I scarfed down the last bite and jumped up from my seat.
Reijjin: "Anyway, see you tomorrow."
Momo: "Huh? Wait, what do you mean 'tomorrow,' Kazuma?"
Before she could get an answer—
I was already gone.
.
Momo: "Ugh, that idiot... what's that even supposed to mean?"
Her cheeks puffed out again, clearly annoyed.
She always did that when I left her hanging.
.
.
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Reijin POV
I vaulted over the school fence in one clean motion, landing lightly on the pavement outside.
No alarms. No teachers. No Momo yelling at me.
Perfect.
I reached into my dimensional pocket and pulled out a change of clothes.
Reijjin: "Man... dimensional bags are seriously the best."
A few seconds later, I was in full stealth mode:
Black hoodie
Black jeans
Black Nike sneakers
And the best part—my signature Oni-face mask that hid everything but my eyes
I checked my reflection in a nearby window and grinned under the mask.
Reijjin: "Damn, I look good."
One last look around—coast was clear.
Then I started moving.
My destination?
Chiba Prefecture.
It was about an hour from here, give or take. I'd placed a very specific order with a "friend" who owed me a favor. This wasn't something I could have delivered to UA. Too risky.
Whatever.
No turning back now.
Time to hit the road.
Chiba Prefecture. Somewhere near the central district.
I checked the menu screen of the system again to confirm my order. All that was left now... was to wait.
Yeah, I'd custom-ordered a mask. Something no store ever seemed to carry. Everything out there was either too flashy, too basic, or just plain ugly.
But this?
This one was perfect.
The delivery came, and I opened the box with a spark of anticipation. Inside was a jet-black mask, a little creepy, a little sinister—just the way I like it.
I slipped it on and glanced at myself in a window reflection.
Reijjin: "Not bad. Not bad at all."
It fit like a glove. Detailed, hand-crafted. Worth every yen.
Momo had once said I looked better these days. Not that I cared about compliments from someone who squishes my cheeks every damn morning...
I spotted a coffee shop across the street. Quiet, chill. The vibe was perfect for killing time.
So I went in, grabbed a drink, found a seat by the window, and started gaming on my phone—thank you, free Wi-Fi.
For once, I was totally relaxed.
.
15:30 – Trouble Incoming
Three schoolgirls were walking toward the café, laughing and chatting. I glanced up from my phone just long enough to recognize one of them.
Wait... was that Mina Ashido? The one from the database?
Just then, a system prompt appeared:
[ Social Link System Unlocked]
Social Link? No clue what that was about, but I had a feeling it wasn't just for decoration.
I stretched, stood up, and was about to leave when something massive caught my eye.
A giant figure was heading straight toward the girls. The air itself felt heavier. My right eye twitched.
That thing... it looked strong. Too strong.
Reijjin: "Am I... afraid?"
I shifted my stance. No—this wasn't fear. This was tension. If that monster wanted to fight seriously, I'd be toast.
It stopped in front of the girls, casting a massive shadow over them.
???: "Where is Springer's Office?"
The pressure in his voice made the girls drop to their knees. He placed a hand on the concrete ceiling above their heads.
???: "I said... WHERE is Springer's Office?"
Cracks spread across the ceiling.
I acted on instinct.
Reijjin (shouting): "It's straight down the road! Outside the city limits—keep going past the highway!"
Silence.
The kind of silence that makes your heart pound louder.
Then the giant turned his head in the direction I pointed.
???: "...Thanks."
He started walking away.
Relief flooded me—too soon.
Because then, he turned back.
???: "How do I know you're telling the truth?"
Before I could react, he grabbed me, lifting me into the air like I weighed nothing.
Now that I was up close, I could feel it—this guy wasn't just big. He was a beast.
Reijjin (internally): "Holy sh*t, why's he this strong?!"
???: "You better not be lying."
His grip tightened. It hurt. I couldn't move. I struggled, but it was useless.
So I did the only thing I could.
I ran my mouth.
Reijjin (yelling): "If you don't believe me, then you're dumber than a cow I plowed the fields with, you damn black ox!!"
Reijjin: "With your body type, why the hell would I lie?! Dumbass ogre!!!"
He paused. Then... dropped me.
I hit the ground hard, coughing up blood.
The beast grunted and walked away, finally vanishing from sight.
.
.
The three girls ran over. One of them—Mina—immediately hugged me tight, tears streaming down her face.
Mina: "I-I'm so sorry I couldn't help you!"
She trembled. She was scared too—I could tell.
Reijin (internally): "Okay but seriously... please stop rubbing your snot on my shirt..."
I led them back into the café for drinks to calm down.
Eventually, she let go. Her nose finally stopped running, thank god.
We sat and talked. Mina finally introduced herself properly.
Mina: "Sorry I forgot to say earlier. I'm Mina Ashido."
Girl #2: "I'm ___!" (Reader gets to name her)
Girl #3: "And I'm ___!" (Same here!)
I wiped the last of Mina's tears—and her snot—with a napkin, and chuckled.
Reijjin: "I'm Reijjin Kazuma. But hey, call me whatever you want. I don't really care."
Mina (smiling brightly): "Okay, Reijjin!!"
She held out her phone, blushing slightly.
Mina: "Can I... have your number?"
Cute. I typed it in and handed it back, flashing her a crooked smile.
She turned even redder.
I stood up, checked my barely-working watch.
Reijjin: "Five o'clock, huh?"
I sighed, then glanced at the system window again.
[ Social Link System – UNLOCKED]
Looks like this day wasn't just chaos after all.
Social Links System – Guidebook Summary
"Build bonds, gain power!"
What is the Social Links System?
The Social Links system represents the relationship values between the Player and characters they've interacted with. These links provide bonuses, unlock abilities, and may trigger special events.
You can currently have a maximum of 5 active Social Links.
More slots will unlock after a special event marked as "???".
Each Social Link can provide unique bonuses, including stat boosts, passive abilities, and daily rewards.
The stronger the bond (such as Rank A or S+), the greater the benefits.
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Social Links SummaryMomo Yaoyorozu
Bonuses granted to Player:
Intelligence +2
10% chance to reveal enemy skills
Daily bonus: 2000 Coins (due to being close friends)
Tea Talk: 20% chance to peacefully negotiate with villains
Success: Gain 500 coins + 500 EXP
Failure: The villain gets a 2x power buff for 1 minute
Requirement: Momo must be in the team
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Mina Ashido
Bonuses granted to Player:
Speed +2
10% chance to eavesdrop from long range
Passive resistance to low-level acid damage (because Mina is an acid-type user)
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Shota Aizawa
Bonuses granted to Player:
[Locked/Unavailable]
5% chance to evade an attack completely (passive)