Arthur sat on the edge of his bed, hands clasped, staring at the mission window like it was a bomb with a cute font.
Objective: **Flirt with Miyu using Japanese.**
Reward: **70 Points**
Penalty: *"I'll take something important. Don't test me."*Arthur swallowed hard.
"Important… like what?"
"System… please stop."
He threw himself backward, face buried in the pillow.
Four days until exams.
Zero progress in chemistry.
Zero progress in physics.
Zero confidence in flirting in any language.
And worst of all?
He needed those 70 points.
He was so close — so painfully close — to the Answer Exchanger, the key to surviving the exams without combusting.
"S-System… gimme something. A hint. A cheat. A—"
"I hate you."
"…Uncomfortable truth, but still."
The system giggled.
Yes — giggled.
Arthur wanted to uninstall himself.
---
Morning
He barely slept.
Every time he closed his eyes, the mission window flashed like a neon sign.
By the time he reached school, his heartbeat was doing acrobatics.
"Okay… okay Arthur… u just need to—"
"WHAT!?"
His knees almost gave out.
He stepped inside the school.
Miyu was there.
Right there.
Sitting near the shoe lockers, fixing the ribbon on her uniform, hair slightly messy like she rushed to school.
Cute enough to kill a man.
Arthur froze. Completely.
Miyu looked up… and her eyes widened slightly.
"Ah… good morning, Arthur."
He swore her voice got softer.
He swore she held eye contact for one second longer than normal.
He swore his lungs forgot how oxygen works.
"G-Good morn—"
He almost screamed.
Miyu tilted her head. "Are u okay? U look pale."
"I-I'm fine…"
<2>
"…Just… sleepy."
She giggled — a small, delicate laugh.
Something inside Arthur melted.
And the system whispered:
"CAN YOU—shut up—"
"Hmm?"
"N-Nothing."
<3.>
He inhaled sharply.
At this rate he was gonna fail before the mission even started.
---
After class
Arthur walked off
Haruka raised her head instantly, eyes sharp like a hawk that smelled secrets.
"…You're acting weird."
"I'm normal."
"No. You're definitely plotting something."
"I'm not."
"You're sweating."
Arthur wiped his forehead.
Why was she so observant? Why today of all days—
Her eyes narrowed.
"This is about Miyu."
"Wh— NO."
"It IS about Miyu."
"It's not!"
Haruka smirked.
"You're blushing."
Arthur touched his face.
…Damn it, he was.
He tried to defend himself but—
<4. One more and you're flirting with minus points.>
He clamped his mouth shut.
Haruka arched a brow. "Why are u so quiet now?"
"I— I'm—"
<5. Congrats. You're one stutter away from—>
"STOP COUNTING THEM!"
Haruka blinked.
"Who are u talking to?"
Arthur froze like a deer in headlights.
"…My conscience."
"Huh. Sounds annoying."
"You have no idea."
---
Lunch Break
He spent all morning trying to act normal.
He failed.
By lunch, he felt like throwing himself into a trash bin to avoid the inevitable.
But fate was a cruel author.
Because when he stepped onto the rooftop…
Miyu was there. Alone. Eating her lunch quietly, hair slightly swaying with the wind.
She looked at him, almost surprised… then smiled softly.
"…Wanna eat here with me?"
Arthur nearly ascended.
He sat down beside her, leaving a safe distance… which the system immediately judged.
"System, shut up—"
Miyu blinked. "Hm?"
"A-Ah— I mean— uh— nice weather—"
<6. You failed. But I'll be generous. Mission continues. Because this is too funny.>
"Can u PLEASE—"
"Arthur?"
Miyu's gaze softened.
"…Are u stressed?"
He froze.
She wasn't teasing.
She wasn't judging.
She was genuinely worried.
His chest tightened.
"…A little," he admitted quietly.
Miyu nodded, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Well… u don't have to talk about it. But u can… if u want."
Her voice was gentle.
Warm.
Arthur felt something unfamiliar.
A little ache.
A little calm.
A little terrifying.
He swallowed hard.
This was it.
This was the moment.
He had to flirt — even just a little.
Effect: +Small boost to charm, +Minor chance of embarrassing yourself, +High chance to regret later.Arthur whispered, "I-I didn't ask for that last one."
He inhaled.
Then, in the softest, most awkward voice:
"…Miyu… today… u look…
ちょっと…かわいい."
(A little… cute.)
Silence.
Wind moved.
Time paused.
Miyu froze — literally froze — chopsticks in midair, eyes wide like he just cast a spell.
Then—
Her cheeks turned pink.
"…A…a little…?"
Her voice cracked.
She covered her face.
"U… can't just say that out of nowhere…"
Arthur felt his soul leave his body and do a victory lap.
Miyu peeked between her fingers.
"…Say it again."
Arthur blinked.
"What?"
"…In Japanese."
His heart levitated.
But he held it in — barely — and whispered again,
"かわいいよ,Miyu."
She hid her whole face this time.
"No more…! I can't handle that…"
Arthur sat there, stunned, warmth spreading through his entire chest.
And the system muttered:
---
After School
Arthur walked down the street, still floating emotionally.
The system finally popped up again.
Reward: **+70 POINTS**Points Total: 90
Arthur gasped.
"NINETY. I DID IT."
"Answer Exchanger… I'm so close…"
"…Are u trying to motivate me?"
He sighed.
But he couldn't stop smiling.
Not after today.
Not after that rooftop moment.
Not after seeing Miyu blush because of him.
He whispered to himself,
"…I'm really changing."
The system responded softly this time.