The school day finally came to a close.
Dragging herself home, Yukinoshita Yukino tossed her bag to the side and sank into the sofa, exhaling a long sigh. Her body wasn't actually tired, but her mind? That was another story entirely. Mentally, she was completely drained.
After all, in order to push Hikigaya-kun into having more skinship with other girls, she had spent the entire day scheming, improvising, and forcing herself into awkward situations. Truly, being the mastermind was exhausting.
"Haa…" Yukinoshita brushed her hair back from her face and, with a slight frown, opened up the system interface to check Hikigaya's affection levels with the other girls.
Hikigaya's Affection for Isshiki Iroha: 70/100 (Good Friend)
Hikigaya's Affection for Eriri Spencer Sawamura: 10/100 (Ordinary Classmate)
Hikigaya's Affection for Kasumigaoka Utaha: 35/100 (More than a classmate, less than a friend)
"…Eh?" Yukinoshita tilted her head slightly, surprise flickering across her usually calm expression. How can Iroha's affection level actually be higher than Yuigahama-san's?
From her perspective, Hikigaya resisted Isshiki Iroha's advances almost every single time. He treated her laziness and sly tricks with cold indifference—or even irritation. So why was her affection rating sitting at such a high level?
"Could it be… Hikigaya-kun really is a closet masochist?" Yukinoshita muttered, pressing a hand to her temple. The possibility gave her an unpleasant chill.
Shaking the thought away, her gaze shifted to the other names on the list. Sawamura-san was still an unfamiliar factor, but Kasumigaoka-senpai… now that was different.
"My assist on the rooftop wasn't in vain, after all…" she whispered, allowing herself a small, proud smile.
But the memory of that rooftop scene at noon sent a shiver down her spine. Her heart still thumped when she recalled it. Haa… stalking people was truly nerve-wracking. It drained her energy and made her pulse race like crazy. If it hadn't been for her strong ability to keep a cool head under pressure, things could've ended in complete disaster.
Still… the outcome had been worth it. Hikigaya and Kasumigaoka-senpai had undeniably grown closer.
As she reflected on her small victory, the familiar synthetic tone of the system suddenly rang out in her head.
[Current System Points: 530]
[New item "Dream Simulation Card" unlocked in System Shop]
"Oh?" Yukinoshita's eyes lit up ever so slightly. "A new item, hm? Open it."
[System Shop opened for host]
Her gaze immediately landed on the new card glowing faintly within the interface.
Dream Simulation Card: Can simulate a realistic dream for a designated target while they sleep at night, increasing their affection for Hikigaya Hachiman. Points Cost: 100 PS1: This card is currently ineffective on Kato Megumi. PS2: The host can view both people's dreams.
"Hm. Another one-time use item…" Yukinoshita murmured, studying the description carefully.
Compared to the Morning Forced Cling Card, this Dream Simulation Card didn't seem as cost-effective. Just a dream? Was something like that really enough to significantly increase affection?
"And it even costs 100 points…" she frowned. That price tag made her hesitate.
Her mother's words came to mind. An employee must generate at least double their salary in benefits—otherwise, they're not worth hiring. By that logic, if this card didn't yield at least a twofold return, then it was nothing but a loss.
As if responding to her skepticism, the system chimed in.
[A beautiful dream can significantly increase the target's affection. With increased affection, opportunities for future clings can greatly improve. It is strongly recommended that the host buy one.]
"…Using dreams to deepen a bond between two people?" Yukinoshita tapped her chin in thought. "It does sound logical, like an investment. Haa… fine."
After several seconds of contemplation, she made her decision. She had over 500 points in reserve, after all. Spending a hundred wasn't unreasonable, and if the potential return was as high as the system claimed, it could pay off handsomely in the long run.
With a click, Yukinoshita purchased the Dream Simulation Card.
But as soon as the card materialized in her inventory, a new problem arose.
"Who should I even use this on…?" she muttered.
Her first thoughts were Yuigahama, Iroha, or even—cough cough—Komachi. But no. That line of thinking was flawed. Those girls already had considerable affection for Hikigaya-kun. Investing in them would bring diminishing returns.
Just as she was mulling it over, a single figure flashed across her mind.
"…Kasumigaoka-senpai."
Yes, it had to be her.
Speaking of which, among all the points Yukinoshita had gained today, Kasumigaoka-senpai accounted for the most. Not only that—the cling point conversion rate with her was absurdly high. If Hikigaya-kun could continue having more "skinship opportunities" with Kasumigaoka-senpai in the future, just her alone would generate a massive daily income.
"Good. Then it's settled. I'll choose Senpai." Yukinoshita straightened her back and declared with conviction.
Cough, cough! Of course, she wasn't just doing this for the points. Absolutely not!
One must remember—Kasumigaoka-senpai wasn't just beautiful and composed. Her academic performance was the best among all third-year students. If she and Hikigaya grew closer, she would naturally be able to help Hikigaya-kun with his studies. His grades would improve, Yukinoshita would gain points, and the entire situation would be nothing short of killing two birds with one stone.
The more she thought about it, the more Yukinoshita realized Kasumigaoka-senpai was a perfect investment. Truly, it was elegant and practical—exactly her style.
Time passed quickly, and before she knew it, the clock ticked past eleven at night. Yukinoshita sat at her desk, the faint glow of the system interface illuminating her face in the otherwise quiet room.
"…Senpai really is a night owl, isn't she?" Yukinoshita muttered to herself, sighing as she waited. The Dream Simulation Card could only be activated once the target had fallen asleep, so all she could do was check the time, glance at the card, and wait.
Finally, the notification popped up.
[Do you want to use the Dream Simulation Card?]
"Yes. Use it," Yukinoshita replied softly but firmly.
[Please enter the designated target for dream simulation—]
"Kasumigaoka Utaha," she answered without hesitation, clicking confirm.
[Kasumigaoka Utaha dream simulating…]
[Host, do you choose to watch?]
Yukinoshita hesitated, fingers hovering in the air. "…This… I'll watch. At least a little."
Her curiosity got the better of her. She wanted to see what kind of dream scenario the system would weave to increase Kasumigaoka-senpai's affection for Hikigaya.
The dream began.
[Four years after Kasumigaoka Utaha graduated from university, she encountered Hikigaya Hachiman, her former high school junior, on a quiet street.]
[The two old acquaintances struck up conversation. After some catching up, Kasumigaoka learned that, due to a financial accident, the Yukinoshita family had gone bankrupt and fallen into crushing debt. As the son-in-law, Hikigaya was forced to borrow money everywhere.]
[Out of sympathy, Kasumigaoka Utaha voluntarily offered him financial help.]
So far, it sounded almost reasonable. But then—
[During the lending process, Kasumigaoka Utaha suddenly developed a mischievous thought. She demanded that Hikigaya accompany her to a hotel.]
"…Ehh?!" Yukinoshita's eyes widened as she leaned closer to the screen.
[Hikigaya Hachiman, pressured by his circumstances, reluctantly agreed. The two checked into a love hotel.]
[An hour later, Kasumigaoka, still unsatisfied, once again pulled him into another round.]
[Another hour passed. Hikigaya gradually got into the swing of things, their relationship becoming more intense. From then on, they maintained a secret and improper connection.]
"…"
"Wha—Whaaat?!" Yukinoshita shot to her feet, nearly toppling her chair, her voice trembling with disbelief. "What kind of degenerate soap opera is this supposed to be?!"
Her face flushed red, her breath short. She gripped the edge of her desk tightly, trying to calm herself. "Calm down, Yukino. Calm down. It's just a dream… just a simulated dream… these aren't real events."
Still, her heart thumped wildly. Watching her beloved Hikigaya-kun entangled with Kasumigaoka-senpai in such a way—no, it was beyond unbearable.
Grinding her teeth, Yukinoshita glared coldly at the system. "Answer me, System. Are you seriously telling me that such an… obscene, shameless dream will increase Kasumigaoka-senpai's affection for Hikigaya? You're not joking with me, right?"
[Please do not question this system.]
The mechanical voice cut her off bluntly. After that, no matter how much Yukinoshita fumed or muttered, the system remained silent, leaving her to stew in her own frustration.
Meanwhile, far away, Kasumigaoka Utaha tossed and turned in her sleep. Beads of sweat clung to her forehead, and a faint, almost inaudible "hmph…" escaped her lips as she sank deeper into the simulated dream.
Yukinoshita could only stare at the display, her expression frozen between jealousy, outrage, and helplessness.
"…This system is seriously the devil."