[Kawai Residence!—Sakura Dormitory]
The name alone gave Rito a nostalgic tingle in his heart. A fusion between two dorms from entirely different worlds—one from a romance slice-of-life anime, the other a place brimming with chaos and comedy.
Although Rito couldn't recall every detail of the "Kawai Residence" anime anymore, the memory of its quirky, lively characters still lingered.
Each one had left an impression on him once—the kind that never really fades.
The dormitory's gate loomed before him, a sight so traditional that it looked out of place in the modern bustle of the city. A wooden structure with ornate carvings and weathered lanterns swaying gently in the breeze, carrying the scent of old sakura petals.
Walking alongside him, Chihiro-sensei led the way with her usual brisk confidence. Rito followed closely behind, the faint weight of the bag in his hands grounding him while his thoughts drifted elsewhere.
'Man... this place feels like stepping into another world. Traditional gates, tatami floors... If those anime characters were real, this might actually be their dorm!'
A wry smile crossed his lips. He couldn't help but imagine the comedic chaos if he really did meet one of them. A small laugh almost escaped him before—
[Condition met.]
[Host has created a small relationship with character from different anime Frenchy.]
[Scumbag System] [Activating.]
[Target name: Sengoku Chihiro.] [Has been registered.]
[Favorability: 10.] [Familiarity.]
[Erometer: 0]
[For first favorability benchmark.]
[Host will be rewarded with 3 different rewards.]
↦ [20 Million Dollar has been sent to host account.]
↦ [Kenichi Shiruhama Template] [Lv. 1]
↦ [Language Mastery] [Max.]
It was as if his brain exploded with information all at once. A sudden, bright pulse of light danced across his vision, filling his head with both confusion and an intoxicating rush of excitement.
Rito blinked several times, his heartbeat hammering in his chest. Did that just... really happen? The text still hovered in the air before slowly fading, leaving him standing frozen by the entrance.
'Twenty million? A martial arts template? What the hell is going on—?!'
"Rito! Are you alright?"
Chihiro's voice snapped him back to reality. She frowned, stepping closer as she noticed the beads of sweat trickling down his temple. "I can carry it from here if it's too heavy. You look pale."
"Ah, no, no! It's fine!" Rito quickly forced a smile, waving his free hand in denial. "Just... excited. This dormitory setup is really something you don't see often. It's got that old charm, you know?"
"Haha, you have a strange taste for a teenager," Chihiro chuckled. But before she could say more—
"Well, what a nice kid."
The new voice carried warmth and wisdom. Rito turned and found himself facing an elderly woman with kind, slightly wrinkled eyes and a gentle smile—Sumiko Kawai, the dorm's caretaker. Recognition struck him instantly.
'Sumiko-san...! So this is the Kawai Residence world!'
"Sumiko-san, this is Yuki Rito," Chihiro introduced. "He's one of my students. Helped me carry some things today."
"Oh my," Sumiko said with a soft laugh. "What a polite young man. Rito, was it? Such a nice name."
"Yeah, I think mother like fruits; my sister and I are named after fruits." Rito smiled. [Ri of Rito stand for pear, and to stand for Dipper, a constellation.] [While Mi (Mikan) stand for beautiful and Kan stand for Orange.]
Sumiko chuckled, the corners of her eyes crinkling. "That's quite a charming story. You have a good sense of humor, dear."
She motioned for him to come in and rest. "Put that down inside. I'll get you both something to drink." With a kind smile, Sumiko-san left toward the kitchen.
As Rito walked inside, the faint smell of tatami mixed with polish and detergent filled the air. Every creak of the wooden floorboards added to the old dorm's charm. From the hallway, the faint chatter of girls and a loud thud echoed—followed by a muffled apology.
Chihiro, meanwhile, was quietly studying Rito. It wasn't just his politeness that caught her attention—it was how naturally he fit in, even in a place so unlike his usual surroundings.
"You sure are good at talking, huh?" Chihiro remarked as Rito gently set the luggage down in her room. "That's the first time I've seen Sumiko-san that friendly with a boy from outside the dorm."
"Well, from my point of view, she's just really kind," Rito replied, glancing around curiously—and immediately froze.
Baseball bats. Wooden swords. Metal pipes. All carefully arranged along the gallery wall. As if waiting to be used to pummel someone. Well, definitely adding fullmark to the thrill.
A nervous sweat formed on his forehead.
"Uh... Chihiro-sensei... what's with all these weapons?"
Chihiro blinked, then smirked, leaning closer with that mischievous grin she was infamous for. "Oh, those? Just for... certain situations."
"Certain... situations?"
"You know—the kind that involve boys trespassing into the girls' dormitory." Rito's eyes widened. "Wait, what—" Before she could finish, he was already halfway down the hall, dashing out of the room like his life depended on it. Chihiro, looking at Rito running back, felt a bit speechless about that boy sudden action.
"Rito! Hey, I was joking!" Chihiro called after him, but her laughter filled the air before her words did. Outside, Rito leaned against the wall, heart racing, his thoughts a wild mix of fear, thrill, and disbelief. 'Okay... scumbag system or not, I really need to watch my steps from now on…'
It was at that moment that Rito finally noticed a girl standing near the corner of the corridor—a calm, serious-looking girl holding a thick book in one hand and, much to his concern, a wooden bokken in the other. Her steady gaze was piercing, unblinking, as if she was silently judging every move he made.
Rito froze on the spot. Sweat slid down his cheek as he instinctively raised both hands.
"Wait! Wait! It's not what it looks like! I was just helping Chihiro-sensei bring something to her room, that's all! I didn't try to break any rules — please, understand!"
His words tumbled out in a panic, hands waving defensively as the silent girl slightly tilted her head, frowning as if weighing the truth in his words.
Before the tension could thicken any further—
"Ritsu-chan! He's telling the truth, so cut him some slack, okay?"
Chihiro's voice came from the room behind him, calm yet slightly amused.
The girl—Ritsu Kawai—turned toward Chihiro, her expression softening for a moment. She exhaled quietly, lowering the bokken in her hand, and without another word, she walked away toward the hallroom with her book pressed against her chest.
"Ah… another unique character, huh..." Rito muttered under his breath, shoulders finally relaxing as the threat level dropped from 'instant death' to 'safe zone.'
Chihiro stepped out a second later, a grin already forming on her lips. "Sorry, Rito! Didn't think Ritsu-chan would be on guard duty right at that time."
"Right… guard duty," Rito said dryly, though there was a faint, exhausted smile tugging at his lips.
"Tell you what," she added, lightly nudging his arm, "tomorrow I'll treat you to something in the cafeteria. My treat, okay?"
There wasn't much he could do but sigh and nod. "Sure, sensei…"
He was just about to make his exit when Sumiko-san appeared at the hallway's end, her calm, motherly voice calling out, "Rito-kun, would you come to the hallroom for a moment?"
Invited by Sumiko herself, Rito could hardly decline.
When he entered the spacious hallroom, the first thing he noticed was the cozy, lived-in atmosphere—cushions on the floor, soft lighting, and the faint scent of tea drifting through the air. There were already three women seated comfortably inside, chatting animatedly over a tray of snacks.
Two of them immediately drew his attention—one, an office lady with mid-back-length light brown hair, emerald-green eyes, and an undeniably attractive figure. The other had a cute, slightly playful face—her makeup a bit more vibrant than usual, matching the gleam in her bright eyes.
Their conversation stopped the moment Sumiko entered the room.
"Sayaka, Mayumi..." Sumiko's tone was soft yet carried a firm authority. The two women instantly straightened their backs like schoolgirls caught gossiping in class.
"Sumiko-san, we were just... um, taking a small break while chatting!" Mayumi Nishikino stammered, laughing awkwardly.
Sayaka, the smarter of the two, simply kept her mouth shut — though she subtly adjusted her half-loosened blouse with an embarrassed tug.
"At least, try to keep your clothes in check when there are guests," Sumiko said lightly, not scolding too harshly but enough to make both women glance at each other guiltily.
Rito stood at the side, scratching his cheek with a helpless smile. So, the dorm really does have all of them… Sayaka Watanabe and Mayumi Nishikino — exactly as in the anime. This is insane…
Chihiro, standing beside him, was clearly struggling to hold back her laughter at the scene. Even Ritsu, seated quietly near the bookshelf, had a small, hidden smile on her lips — though it quickly disappeared behind the cover of her book.
"Ritsu," Sumiko called again, her tone warm but expectant. "You too, dear. Come out of that book and greet him properly. He's from the same school as you."
The girl let out a barely audible sigh, closing her book with reluctance. She stood gracefully, her movements calm and precise, then gave a small polite bow.
"Hello. My name is Kawai Ritsu."
Her introduction was brief and formal. Without missing a beat, she lifted the book again and quietly resumed reading, retreating into her literary fortress.
"Ahaha… n-nice to meet you too," Rito managed with a wry smile.
Before the awkward silence could thicken again, Mayumi perked up.
"Ohh~ you're new here, aren't you?" She rose from her cushion, brushing off imaginary dust from her skirt before leaning in close, her elbow playfully resting on his shoulder. Her tone carried that confident, teasing lilt that only seasoned senpais seemed to master.
"I'll teach you the rules about this dorm. Every single one of them."
Rito blinked, half nervous, half intrigued, as Sayaka groaned beside her. "Mayumi, don't scare him off already. We need at least one decent male visitor who doesn't sprint for the exit."
Chihiro chuckled softly from the background, while Sumiko merely shook her head, her patience clearly tested by the group's energy.
As for Rito… he couldn't help the small grin tugging at his lips.
'Yeah… definitely another dorm full of chaos. Just my luck.'