(Riku POV)
***
"What....is happening right now?"
Had I finally gone completely insane?
What was this floating screen in front of my eyes?
What was that cold, robotic voice within my mind?
I considered a thought, a dangerous one.
But I wouldn't dare to think that was really the case, because this wasn't a web novel.
[Welcome, Host]
The voice repeated itself, like it was waiting for me to proceed.
So I held my breath and asked nervously.
"Uh..... Wh-What are you?"
[I am the Strategic Program for Interpersonal Communication Efficiency]
'...Huh?'
"What does that even mean?"
She said the words in English, and my English was elementary at best.
[Detecting Incompetent Host, simplifying language parameters]
[DING]
[I am a system that can help you increase favorability with the Heroines]
"Hey, did you just call me incom-..... WAIT, A SYSTEM???"
I stood up hastily, a surge of disbelief and excitement coursing through my veins as my wildest thought was somehow the most accurate one.
[Indeed. In simple terms, I am what you would call a system]
My breathing grew heavy and ragged, and I completely ignored my grass-stained uniform and sweaty appearance as I tried to grab the screen with unconcealed eagerness.
But my fingers went right through the blue window.
[I am intangible and can only be seen by the Host]
"O-Oh, that makes sense!"
I slapped my cheeks a couple of times, trying to calm down the racing heartbeat that felt like it would leap out of my chest.
[Detected that the host is a masochist]
[That information has been recorded]
"What the fuck?? I'm not a masochist!" I snapped loudly.
A woman walking along the riverbank with her toddler froze at those words, and when she saw my infuriated face, she quickly turned around and ran off after picking her child up.
"Wait, I'm not! ugh!!"
I watched as she escaped in fear, and turned my attention back to the screen.
"Look what you did!"
But the screen didn't reply this time.
"Never mind, I'll forgive you since I'm a magnanimous host! Tell me, you said something about heroines?" I asked with my hands on my hips, remembering the strange part of its introduction.
[Indeed. This world has three heroines with immeasurable potential]
[The host is advised to raise favorability with them to restore balance]
".....Balance? Right, you said something about the balance shifting?"
[Indeed. Unauthorized interference has been detected]
"What do you mean by interference?"
[There is @#%#*@^$#^@&^**&]
"AGH!"
I plugged my ears as the system started spouting incoherent noises, but since the voice was coming from within, it didn't help at all.
"What the hell?"
Seeing the system go quiet again, I had an idea of what went wrong.
Either the system or I didn't have enough permissions to access some sort of high-level information, which was a common trope in web novels.
I hated being in the dark, but I boxed my frustration away since it wouldn't help me in any way.
"Whatever, what are your functions, system?"
I thought about all the web novels I'd read.
And since it said something about favorability, a few ideas came to mind.
[Below are the listed functions of the system:]
[1. The system will offer choices in communication scenarios]
• The choices may raise or lower favorability
• Not all scenarios will provide choices
• The system can not reveal the optimal choice
[2. The system will provide tasks/quests]
• The quests are important events that can help raise favorability
• Some quests may put the Host in physical danger
• Failure to fulfill quests may lead to punishments
[3. The system will assign rewards when:]
• The favorability of a heroine rises by 10 (excluding negative values)
• The Host successfully fulfills a task
• The Host thwarts the plans of external interferences (villains)
***
"..... Whoa."
There were quite a lot of abilities the system had, but it essentially boiled down to raising favorability with these so-called heroines.
However, the part about punishments, physical danger, and villains cooled down all the upbeat and confident energy I had.
I had forgotten that with the system comes a host of problems, and my mood soured when I thought about the fact that it might not all be sunshine and rainbows.
"Oh, right! Newbie Pack! There's always a Newbie Pack! System, give it to me right away!" I exclaimed, rubbing my hands in anticipation.
[This system only rewards effort, Host]
[Please work hard to earn rewards in the future]
".....Eh?"
That's not how it's supposed to go?
Where was my novice protection perk?
"This shitty system!!"
[DING]
[Detected yapping from Incompetent Host]
[Administering punishment]
*BZZTTT*
"AHGSHJAKHGHAJKSDHGBK!"
I howled in agony, rolling around on the grass as a jolt of electricity suddenly shot through my body, zapping me from the inside.
"WHAT THE FUCCCKKKKK!??"
Thankfully, the electrocution only continued for about 5 seconds, and the pain slowly started to fade away as I stared at the thick clouds with wide, bloodshot eyes.
"Ughh....." I panted, catching my breath with a hint of fear.
'.....I need to watch my mouth!!'
This was supposed to be the start of my ascension, not my funeral!
I brushed my hands all over my body and sighed with relief when I realized there was no actual damage.
But that scared me more.
It was able to cause that much pain without leaving a mark?
I shivered and decided to move on in case it randomly decided to find another fault.
"Forget that, who are the heroines? Can you tell me that at least?"
[DING]
[Unlocking status panel]
Name: Kazama Riku
Age: 16
Height: 169 cm
[Favorability Panel]
• Sakuraba Hina: 10
• Yuzuki Haruna: -21
• Fujikawa Noa: -9
[Status: Incompetent Jerk]
***
I stared in disbelief at the values on the screen, thinking there had to be some mistake.
"They're the heroines?"
I sat back down on the grass, my legs giving way from the sudden shivers that ran down my spine.
"No... this can't be! I can understand the president's value being so low, since we've barely talked and I didn't leave the best of impressions today, but the other two have to be fake!" I cried out.
[Please don't insult the system, Host]
[I make no errors]
"But.... Yuzuki-san is a good friend, and despite the problems recently, it shouldn't be in the negatives! And Hina is my childhood friend, the one who's stuck with me for so long, there's no way her value is only 10!"
[DING]
[Below is the favorability one month prior]
[Favorability Panel]
• Sakuraba Hina: 73
• Yuzuki Haruna: 15
• Fujikawa Noa: 3
[Please reflect, Host]
***
The values sent a metaphorical thunderbolt through me, wondering how the hell they'd decreased so much in just a month.
'.....What have I been doing?'
Especially Hina, whose favorability dropped by over 60 points!
I sat there for a good ten minutes, thinking back on all our interactions to see if I really did make such a big mistake.
Sure, there were times when I might've taken my teasing too far, but if you can't joke around with your friends, then where's the fun?
"Do those values have specific parameters?" I asked curiously.
[DING]
[Below are the parameters for favorability values:]
• <0 → Dislike/Hatred
• 0-10 → Acquaintances
• 11-30 → Regular Friends
• 31-50 → Really Good Friends
• 51-70 → Best Friends
• 71-80 → Crush/Liking
• 81-90 → Intense Liking/Love
• 91-99 → Till Death Do Us Part
• 100 → ???
[Note: raising favorability becomes exponentially harder as the value increases]
***
"You mean....Hina really did have a crush on me? Before I fucked it up? WAIT! Now she doesn't even see me as a friend?"
I'd always liked to tell myself that she would be easy to get and already liked me, but seeing it confirmed by the system was a whole different thing.
'It shows just how stupid I must've been to fuck up a done deal! But also, they're just really sensitive....'
I wiped the sweat off my face and made a decision.
'From now on, I'll be more wary about the things I say to them!'
This wasn't the endgame; with the system, I'd definitely make a comeback!
"But..... why is this balance thing even related to the heroines?"
[Host has insufficient permissions]
'So it really was a problem with the permissions.'
"Then can I find out in the future?" I inquired, rubbing my chin thoughtfully.
It really didn't make much sense to me.
Three supposed heroines in the world, but they were all in the same country, same city, and same school?
And they were somehow related to the balance of something?
[If favorability of all Heroines satisfies the following intervals:]
• 20+ provides one piece of Information
• 50+ provides a second piece of information
• 90+ Unlocks all Permissions
***
"I see..... Should be doable, the first two at least. Since we're going to be partners-in-crime, maybe I should name you? Calling you 'system' sounds so generic," I chuckled.
[Host, I already have a name]
"Oh, right. The Strategic whatever whatever."
[You may call me SPICE]
".....Spice. That's a strange name, but I like it. I needed a bit of Spice in my life."
I now had the support of the system, the choices it provided, as well as the rewards, so it would be difficult for me not to achieve these goals.
After brushing off the grass on my uniform, I stretched my arms and took a long, deep breath.
The fresh air from this small area away from all the pollution, the calming sounds from the running river water, and the bright sun that had broken free from the shackles of the clouds, just like I did.
I thought back to all the humiliation I'd faced recently, the pain and injustice I'd been through.
No longer would I just sit back and watch Yagami, who I now knew for sure was a Villain through and through, steal my harem from right under my eyes.
I would take back what's mine.
And more.
Because I am Kazama Riku.
The Protagonist of my Story.