6:00 AM
Takumi Yuuya was woken up by Yukino Yukinoshita.
Last night, she had taken a single drop of the basic constitution-enhancing potion.
Following Yuuya's advice that exercise could accelerate the potion's effects, she had dragged him out for a morning run.
During the run, Yukino could clearly feel her body changing.
The exercise activated the potion's effect, gradually enhancing her constitution.
By the time they finished, though exhausted, Yukino was thrilled.
Yuuya was even happier.
He carried Yukino back home and headed straight for the bathroom.
"Yukino Yukinoshita disgust +30""Yukino Yukinoshita disgust +30""Yukino Yukinoshita disgust +30""Yukino Yukinoshita favor +10"
After breakfast, Yuuya packed the lunchboxes Yukino had prepared.
At the entrance, ready to leave, he called out:
"小雪乃."
"Hm?"
Yukino looked at him.
Yuuya embraced her and kissed her.
"Yukino Yukinoshita favor +30""Yukino Yukinoshita favor +30""Yukino Yukinoshita favor +50"
After a long moment, he lifted his head to look at her.
Her small face was flushed.
"My little Yukino is so cute."
"Hmph, you hopeless fool," she muttered.
Riding his bike with Yukino, Yuuya arrived at the gates of Sobu High School.
Students around them stared in disbelief.
Last time it was Eriri Sawamura.
Now it was Yukino Yukinoshita.
What right did he have? Just because he was handsome?
Yukino's small hand clutched his jacket.
She didn't want to be so conspicuous.
But Yuuya had no intention of stopping.
They rode all the way to the bike shed before he finally parked.
"How do you feel?"
"Everyone staring… it's really uncomfortable."
"Eriri seemed happy about it last time."
"I don't need you to show off our relationship."
"Want me to stand in front of the school building and confess out loud?"
"You don't have to do anything. Just knowing is enough."
"But I don't know if little Yukino likes me. Yesterday, you said so many times you don't like me, and it hurt my heart."
"I like you. More than anyone else. Is that enough?"
Blushing, Yukino whispered softly.
Yuuya smiled and pointed to his cheek.
She hesitated for a moment, then tiptoed to plant a quick kiss on his face.
A few students walking by saw it and collided into each other, bikes scattering.
When Yuuya reached his classroom, it had fallen silent.
It seemed the news about Yukino kissing him had already spread.
"Good morning, Yui, Yumiko, Hina," he greeted.
"Good morning, Saki," he continued.
"Good morning, Tamura-san," he said politely.
"G-Good morning," Yui Yuigahama mumbled quietly.
"Good morning, Yuuya-kun," Miura Yumiko smiled.
"Morning, Yuuya-kun," Hina Ebina pushed up her glasses.
"Morning," Kawasaka Saki's voice was gentle.
"Good morning," Manami Tamura said softly, thinking Yuuya had deliberately greeted her.
Other students watched the girls, unable to tell who had a connection with Yuuya and who didn't.
Not everyone could be connected to him… then it wouldn't be called dating multiple girls. It would be… a chain of ironclad relationships.
Yuuya sat down and pulled out his phone, sending a message to Eriri Sawamura.
Lunchtime
Eriri Sawamura came to Yuuya's classroom.
Roka Aki also noticed her and felt confused.
Was Yuuya really dating multiple girls, or was it just a rumor?
Everyone had seen Yukino kiss him at the bike shed.
Surely Eriri had heard too.
"Yuuya-kun!" she greeted cheerfully.
"Eriri Sawamura favor +50"
"Let's go," Yuuya said, picking up his lunchbox.
The two walked out together.
Inside the classroom, students whispered.
Roka considered sending a message but remembered what happened last time and put her phone away.
In the corridor, Yuuya held Eriri's small hand.
Eriri knew about the morning incident but pretended she didn't.
He had invited her to lunch; dwelling on the morning would make her seem immature.
On the rooftop, they sat against the wall.
Eriri opened her lunchbox and glanced at Yuuya's.
"This one was prepared by little Yukino," Yuuya said, opening his own.
"Yukino-san's cooking should be great… I'm not very good at cooking myself," Eriri said, looking down.
"Everyone has things they're not good at. Your cooking is already good, and I like it."
"Next time I go to my place, I'll cook for you there."
"Great, I'm looking forward to it."
"Want to try my lunch?"
Yuuya opened his mouth eagerly.
"Eriri Sawamura favor +50"
After lunch, Eriri mentioned her virtual avatar.
She was designing it to almost perfectly resemble her real self, taking about a week to complete.
She had made many fun expressions and movements and had chosen a platform for streaming.
Yuuya had mentioned that virtual streaming was a booming industry with little competition. Getting in early could claim a big slice of the market, especially abroad.
"I did some research. There's a site that frequently buys official anime. It could become a hub for otaku. I plan to stream there as a virtual avatar—mainly drawing and promoting my new artist identity," Eriri explained.
"If you succeed, I can use your success as leverage to get Yukino's mom to invest. I could invest myself, but I don't like managing a company, and I don't have the time," Yuuya said, staring at the sky.
There was another reason he didn't mention: making money was slow. It was faster to just raise favor or disgust points daily.
"Miss Yukinoshita hasn't taken over the family construction business, but her connections make her a strong partner," Eriri said softly.
"If I can win over little Yukino, I can fully entrust my business management to her," Yuuya said seriously.
Eriri blinked at him.
Yuuya smiled.
"What is it?"
"N-nothing…"
"I already said I'm terrible."
"But this…"
"Even if you regret it now, it's too late."
"I don't regret it, I just worry about your relationship with Miss Yukinoshita."
..
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