As a transmigrator, Kazama Haruka had always felt that his golden finger—his so-called system—had arrived far too late.
Because of this, his early life in this world had been painfully difficult.
When he was only ten, Haruka's parents died in a sudden accident, leaving him with nothing but an empty detached house and an inheritance that was neither large nor small. Combined with the government pension, it was barely enough to keep him fed and clothed. Forget luxury—he didn't even dare dream of simple indulgence.
For a transmigrator, such a life felt almost humiliating.
There was a time when Haruka grew so frustrated he even considered "starting over" again, if such a thing were possible.
Fortunately, the world he had landed in was interesting enough to pull him away from those dark thoughts.
Here, he encountered many beings he had known only through screens and pages in his past life.
Two-dimensional girls—real, living, breathing—walked the same streets he did.
Characters who had once existed only in anime and manga appeared right before his eyes.
Yet Haruka had spent most of his early years simply trying to survive. Outside of his childhood sweetheart, he had hardly interacted with girls at all.
Everything changed three months ago, when a golden finger finally descended into his life:
the "Maiden Wish System."
As the name suggested, this was a positive-reinforcement system created to help girls fulfill their wishes, deepen emotional connections, and grant Haruka a continuous stream of rewards in return.
Money, skill proficiency, physical strengthening—almost anything could be purchased with Wish Points, which he earned after completing assigned tasks.
The idea was beautifully simple: by helping girls achieve their dreams, he would, in turn, achieve his own.
The system's awakening had been triggered by his coworker, Toyokawa Saki.
That day, Haruka had simply wanted to take a part-time job at a café to earn a little more for his living expenses. But he never imagined that the person interviewing him would be none other than the eldest daughter of the powerful Toyokawa Group—a girl so popular that almost everyone in the city knew her name.
The moment their eyes met, the system chimed to life.
However, even after working together, Haruka remained cautious. He didn't fawn over her like the desperate boys who had never spoken to a girl before.
Tonight's gesture—bringing her a cup of her favorite black tea—was purely because he had seen the exhaustion and bitterness hidden in her eyes. Remembering her tragic circumstances, which were not unlike his own, he wanted to offer her something warm.
To his surprise, the effect was remarkable. Not only did Saki open up to him, but the system rewarded him with 1,000 Wish Points.
If he remembered correctly, 1,000 points were enough to exchange for a Level 3 skill—a professional-tier ability—or a monetary reward of 500,000 yen.
And that was merely for completing a small task.
If he managed to deepen a bond, resolve emotional knots, or fulfill a girl's heartfelt wish, the rewards would be even greater. The thought filled Haruka with new motivation.
In a world where hard work didn't always guarantee results, having goals clearly defined—and being rewarded for achieving them—was a blessing he would never waste.
Even for his own sake, he would seize every opportunity, lift his spirits, and address the troubles weighing on the hearts of the girls he encountered.
Lost in thought, Haruka finally returned home.
He lived in an ordinary detached house in Suginami Ward—a modest, two-story place with about 100 square meters of space and a tiny garden just big enough for a small car.
The living room lights were already on, but Haruka didn't find that surprising.
When he pushed open the door and stepped into the entryway, a sweet voice greeted him.
"Welcome back, Rina."
Haruka lifted his head and rubbed his tired shoulders.
Standing before him was Sena Ajisai, her slightly wavy, flax-colored hair cascading gently over her shoulders. Her light brown eyes focused on him with such soft warmth that his heart trembled.
She had an angelic face—almost unreal in its purity.
Tonight, she wasn't wearing her school uniform. Instead, she had on a milky-white camisole dress that clung softly to her figure. The gentle fabric stretched over her chest in a natural yet stunning curve, radiating a quiet allure she herself seemed completely unaware of.
Thin white calf-length socks hugged her long, slender legs.
Haruka found his gaze lingering—just for a moment—on her smooth arms and softly rounded thighs.
Food grade.
Not only did she possess the beauty of an angel, but one glance at her could make someone remember the meaning of life.
Ajisai also carried a warm, maternal tenderness that matched her appearance.
Yet despite greeting Haruka like a loving wife welcoming her husband home, the two weren't actually married.
She was his childhood sweetheart.
Their families had been close for as long as they could remember, close enough to exchange house keys.
That explained why she came and went so freely.
"I'm back," Haruka said as he removed his coat. "Don't your younger siblings need you at home?"
"They're already asleep," Ajisai replied with a sleepy smile, covering her mouth as she yawned softly. She followed Haruka into the living room, still holding his coat.
"After dinner, I noticed your house was still dark. I thought maybe you were working again, so I came to check on you. You must be starving."
Her brows tightened with concern. Then, as if performing a magic trick, she placed a stainless-steel insulated lunchbox on the dining table.
"We made hamburger steak at home tonight. I know Rina loves it, so I saved you my portion."
A wave of warmth washed over Haruka.
"I'm not that hungry, but… Ajisai, are you sure it's fine for you to skip dinner?"
"I'll be alright," she said cheerfully. "I'm trying to lose a little weight anyway."
Her sweet smile made his heart tremble once again.
Haruka stopped refusing and sat down. When he opened the lunchbox, a rich aroma rose into the air—beef and pork mixed into a Japanese-style meatloaf, grilled and drenched in savory sauce. It came with shredded cabbage, mashed potatoes, and seasonal vegetables. She had even added extra rice to make sure he'd be full.
"I'm digging in," he said, then bent over the box and began eating earnestly.
To someone like him, this was a rare treat—the kind of meal used to celebrate a child's success or to brighten a weekend.
He didn't want to disappoint Ajisai, so he ate every bite with gratitude, not wasting a single grain of rice. He even cleaned the lunchbox spotless.
Across the table, Ajisai rested her chin on her hands, watching him with a soft, happy smile. Simply seeing him enjoy her cooking seemed to fill her with warmth.
When Haruka finished the last grain, wiping his mouth with a napkin, a sudden thought returned to him.
"Oh, right."
He looked up at her.
"Ajisai… do you have any wishes?"