Inside the Ayase family house, Momo bowed deeply on the tatami, performing a dogeza in front of her grandmother, Seiko, who was lying on her side watching a comedy show on TV.
"I'm sorry," Momo said, her voice heavy with guilt. "I was wrong... and because of me, I ended up hurting people who didn't deserve it."
She lifted her head with determination. "I'm the one responsible for this. So I have to help them. Tell me what I can do!"
Seiko slowly exhaled the smoke from her cigarette, letting the air fill with the scent of tobacco before speaking.
"Do you hear that? This girl really does care about you," she murmured, turning her gaze toward the two boys behind Momo. "So then... which one do you like?"
Hideo and Okarun, sitting on their knees, froze completely.
"Ken," Hideo replied without hesitation, pointing at Okarun.
"Eh?" Okarun blinked, utterly confused.
"Ah, I see," Seiko narrowed her eyes at Momo. "So that name isn't just a coincidence, huh?"
"You old witch, stop already!" Momo yelled, her face red with embarrassment.
Seiko exhaled once more before standing up and stretching.
"So much stress will ruin my skin... All right, let's go outside."
°°°
Outside, the air was crisp and cool. Sitting on the steps at the entrance, Hideo watched as Seiko examined Okarun's spiritual state. It seemed she wanted to "see" the spirit inside him before deciding what to do.
It was almost as if she were sealing something within that small wooden shrine.
Momo approached with a plate in hand and sat beside him.
"Here, eat something," she said, offering him an onigiri.
"I'm fine," Hideo replied, though his stomach disagreed.
"Rejecting everything doesn't make you look cool, you know?"
Hideo sighed. "All right..." He accepted the onigiri and took a bite. He wasn't sure if it was delicious or if he was just starving.
As he chewed, his mind drifted again—to the training, the curse... and the upcoming "battle with Turbo Granny."
Could he even handle it?
Even if he did, what would happen next?
How much of the plot had already changed because of him?
If he used his system points to buy another skill... would that be the best choice? Or maybe he should buy another manga volume to learn more about the world?
No, either way, the outcome was already written. They'd win even without his help.
"Try to relax a little," Momo said suddenly.
"Huh?"
"They didn't steal your thing, so you don't need to look that worried."
"Oh..." He gave a half-smile. "Just trying to take it all in."
Momo looked at him seriously.
"I didn't say this earlier because Okarun seems to trust you," she began. "But yesterday, when I barged into the classroom... you were there, weren't you?"
"That..." The memory flashed in his mind—that brief moment when their eyes met. He knew it wasn't exactly his fault, but he still felt like an accomplice.
"You seemed more... distant," she continued. "I even cursed all men like you for lacking empathy."
"I understand."
"Well, at least you went to help yesterday. You're not scum. I didn't think you'd be the one to jump in like that."
Was that supposed to be a compliment?
"Good to know," he said, taking another bite of the onigiri.
A thought struck him.
If the system hadn't appeared... would he have acted the same way?
"He's important to you, isn't he?"
Color rushed to Momo's cheeks.
"T-That's not what I meant!" she shouted, standing up. "Don't take it that way!"
She stomped off, her cheeks still glowing red. Hideo watched her go silently, finishing his onigiri.
'I didn't mean it that way either,' he thought.
Then, a familiar sound echoed in his head.
[¡Ding!]
[A new system function has been activated!]
[-Bond Meter-]
[When forming any kind of relationship with a character, your level of influence and connection will be measured. Each person is unique, so get to know them to earn different and better rewards!]
'Huh?'
A translucent screen appeared in front of his eyes.
[Name: Momo Ayase]
[Current Progress: █=========] [13/100]
[Observation: She seems to be starting to trust you!]
[Reward Unlocked: Passive Skill – Rank C – Aura Affinity (+5 Plot Influence Points)]
'What the hell is this?'
Was this... a dating sim? No, it didn't look like one. There were no dialogue options or romantic routes. It was more like... a "connection system."
Actually, it reminded him of something. He couldn't recall the exact name, but wasn't there a pretty popular game that used this as a main mechanic?
Still, that didn't make it any less confusing. Not long ago, he'd been just a background extra—now the system wanted him to get involved with everyone.
He clenched his teeth and sighed.
Fine, he'd just take it easy. Find the right moment. Interact. Earn rewards.
Simple enough... right?
He'd try, even if he wasn't sure he was the right person for it.
Standing up, he decided to return to the others.
In front of the shrine, Seiko was arguing with the yōkai inside Okarun.
"You old hag! You can't keep me trapped here forever!"
"Only for as long as necessary," Seiko replied, placing a charm at the entrance. The seal glowed with a bluish light, and the boy yelped in pain.
"Ah, it hurts, it hurts!"
"Oh? So that actually affects you? Where are your balls?"
"I-I already told you, I don't have any!"
"That's not a good excuse."
"Grandma, you don't have to be that rough," Momo said, approaching with a plate of food that Okarun gratefully accepted.
Hideo stepped closer, curious. "Have you decided yet?"
"You'll have to beat her in a race," Seiko said, leaning against the entrance and lighting another cigarette. "You don't have any other choice."
Hideo scratched the back of his neck. "From what I understand, Momo awakened psychic powers."
Seiko then pointed at Hideo. "And you? What kind of power do you use?"
"Let's say... I can transform part of my body." He raised his right arm; his skin began to glow red-hot, turning into living magma. "I can control fire to some extent." A small flame formed in his burning palm.
"It's an alien power!" Okarun shouted excitedly. "Combustion-based! I'm sure a race like that lives inside a star!"
"Sorry, I'm not sure how accurate that is," Hideo replied.
"An alien?" Seiko scoffed. "Don't talk nonsense. Aliens don't exist."
"I told you already, we fought aliens before!" Momo protested.
"Hmm... that looks more like an Oni's arm to me."
"Since when do Onis shoot fire?!"
"There are many kinds of Onis," Seiko muttered with a half-smile.
Hideo sighed. Having all eyes on him felt strange.
"Momo, pay attention," Seiko said suddenly.
"Huh? What is it?"
"Do you see it? His arm gives off an aura." She lit another cigarette. "Fire can't exist without fuel. Humans and spirits use aura as their fuel. In your case, Hideo, you're using your own aura to sustain that flame."
"So..." Hideo tried to process it. "You're saying I should use my ability as a base to channel my aura?"
"In a way," Seiko replied. "But you're still green."
He sighed, half-resigned.
"You need to learn the basics. That power of yours is similar to a curse—only without a will of its own," she added.
Okarun nodded with interest. "You mean he has to merge both concepts?"
"I can't give you any more hints," Seiko said sternly. "Figure out the rest yourself."
She turned to Okarun. "And you, boy, need to improve your endurance. A hundred push-ups, sit-ups, and squats. Now!"
"Eh??" Okarun went pale.
Hideo deactivated his arm, thoughtful. The system had mentioned a "growth margin." If he could spend points to train faster, he'd do it without hesitation. Too bad this wasn't an RPG.
He spent the rest of the day trying to channel his aura while training with his flames, receiving the occasional scolding from Seiko for his poor posture.
Beside him, Okarun was trembling as he struggled to hold a plank.
"Come on! Only thirty more for today," Momo encouraged.
The day ended in relative calm. Fortunately, Momo gave both of them a futon, so Hideo didn't have to worry about where to sleep. He just wanted to rest, remembering what awaited them the next day.