Logan's mind raced back to the Trainer's Manual. The first page was titled: [Tokai Teio Competition Plan].
Originally, he had assumed the system had auto-generated the schedule. But given the current situation, his entry into the "Real World" seemed directly tied to that book.
The chapter titled "Debut Race Training Arc" started today.
Crucially, it had an end date.
Does that mean my time here is temporary? Will I be sent back to the Glitch World when this arc finishes?
A sudden chill ran down his spine. Was this actually reality? Or was he living in a hyper-realistic cutscene? Perhaps the "Game World" was just the lobby, and this was the mission instance.
He was still just a Player. And Players need to verify their environment.
"Teio!"
"Yes!"
"Take off your clothes."
Teio blinked, freezing mid-step. "Huh?"
"Hurry up. Take them off. I need to check something."
"Wait... Trainer, suddenly stripping is... that's way too weird! What are you doing?"
"I want to see."
"Haaaah??" Teio stared at him, her massive blue eyes wide with shock.
The night before, while using Teio's thighs as a pillow, Logan had done a little... preparation work. He had left a few marks—hickeys, specifically—on her chest.
If this was just a cutscene rendering based on game data, her body model should be reset to default. But if the physical continuity was real, the marks would remain.
Seeing the uncompromising look on Logan's face, Teio bit her lip, her expression a mix of embarrassment and resignation. Slowly, she began to unbutton her uniform.
Her breathing grew heavy in the quiet room. Soon, she stood before him in just her pristine white underwear. Her skin was radiant, a soft pink flush spreading across her collarbones, the scent of fresh youth filling the air. She looked like a delectable dessert waiting to be plated.
She crossed her arms over her chest, her face burning.
"Why does it have to be in the office? Couldn't we go to your room... What if someone sees?" she mumbled, complaining even as she complied.
Logan took a moment to appreciate the view—she really was a work of art—but quickly focused on the task at hand. He leaned in, inspecting her shoulder and the soft swell of her chest.
There, faint but undeniable, were the reddish bruises.
"...Teio, how did you get these?"
Teio looked down at the pink spots, confusion replacing her embarrassment. She thought for a moment, then shook her head. "I don't know. Maybe I slept on something wrong?"
Slept on something wrong?
On your chest? Unless you sleep face-down in a very specific, compromising position, that's impossible.
Did the system rationalize the damage but erase the memory of the cause?
"Trainer, how long are you going to stare!" Teio's shame was reaching critical mass. He was just looking. Not touching. Just analyzing her chest like it was a math problem.
Either let me get dressed or put your hands on me! What is this? Torture? Do you like seeing me embarrassed?
If you don't make a move, I might just jump you myself!
Teio was getting restless.
"Okay, I'm done."
"Eh? You're not going to... do anything else?"
"Not now. Later."
Logan had verified the continuity. He wasn't in the mood for anything else this early in the morning. Tonight, however, was a different story. That was his nightly ritual.
Teio puffed out her cheeks and silently began dressing.
She was shy, yes. But the fact that her Trainer seemed so uninterested was infuriating. I am Tokai Teio! I am charismatic!
It was a little insulting.
A dark, impulsive thought flashed through her mind: I should just force him.
There was no logical reason for it. She just felt that she could do whatever she wanted to him. The Trainer was hers. Her property. Ever since they signed the contract, he belonged to her. She could use him however she pleased.
"The Debut Race," Logan said, breaking the silence. "How long until it starts?"
"One month."
Logan rummaged through the desk until he found the training schedule he had drafted out of boredom in the Glitch World.
Seeing the living, breathing Teio in front of him, he decided to commit. Even if this was a temporary instance, he wanted to experience a normal life. He was sick of the purposeless void.
"Today, we follow this plan."
"Okay..." Teio looked at Logan's face. He seemed disappointed, weighed down by something. She grabbed his hand. "Trainer, come with me to buy horseshoes! For the Debut Race!"
"Horseshoes... wait. We can leave?"
"Of course we can. Why couldn't we?"
We can leave!?
Logan's heart skipped a beat.
In the Glitch World, he was a prisoner. The invisible wall was absolute. If he could leave the academy grounds...
"Let's go!"
Trapped for over a hundred days, the prospect of walking out the front gate reignited his spirit. He grabbed his coat and headed for the corridor.
As students passed by, Logan threw out a casual greeting, a habit from his days of testing the NPCs. "Good morning, little ponies."
The Horse Girls froze. A blush crept up their necks. They dipped their heads, whispering, "Good morning, Trainer..." before scurrying away like frightened deer.
Oh ho?
Interesting.
Before, they were soundboards. Now, they had dynamic reactions. The AI had evolved.
Logan greeted everyone he passed, reveling in the novelty of genuine social awkwardness. Soon, he spotted a familiar face—one of the few he genuinely liked in the Glitch World.
The Slacker Genius herself, Seiun Sky.
Her short, leaf-green hair bobbed in the breeze, and her sky-blue eyes held a lazy, gentle warmth. She had the kind of soft, pinchable cheeks that made you want to squish them.
Seeing Logan, she drifted over. "Yaho~ Trainer Logan. Good morning."
"Good morning, Green Cat."
Her greeting was unique, just like in the game. Even in the Glitch World, she had personality. In a visual novel, she'd be a top-tier route.
Her behavior patterns were also distinct. In the other world, Logan would often find her sleeping in bushes or hidden corners. Finding her felt like unlocking a secret CG. It was one of his few joys—hunting for the sleeping Sky.
And then seeing what pose she was in.
She was the highest affection target outside the "Maxed Out" trio. Probably somewhere in the high 80s or low 90s.
"Is Trainer going out? When you get back, wanna take a nap with Sei-chan?"
"Sure, if you want to sl—"
"Trainer is coming with me. He has no time for you." Teio jumped between them, grabbed Logan's arm, and dragged him toward the exit.