[Character: Yumi Souo]
[Potential: A]
[Loyalty: 85]
[Strength: 3.0]
[Agility: 3.3]
[Endurance: 3.5]
[Skills: Cooking LV4, Housework LV2]
[Evolution Charge: 32%]
[Status: Calm]
Recalling the data he had just seen, Akira was already certain: as the number of training sessions increased, the cooperation between the captured character and the Trainer would become more seamless, and the gains from training would also rise.
The first two times, Yumi Souo's growth had only been a few tenths.
But after this session, it reached a full point — with Endurance increasing by 1.5.
Of course, this kind of training only improved physical fitness and physical qualities.
There was no way to increase skill proficiency.
But if it could improve a target character's skills, that would be far too overpowered.
Naturally, his own skills did improve.
But aside from some of his inherent abilities, Akira confirmed that he needed to master a skill himself first, and then in turn teach it to the character.
Just like Saeko Busujima's swordsmanship.
He teaches her with a skill five times stronger than hers — that improves her swordsmanship, and his own skill becomes more refined in the process.
A virtuous cycle.
Unless one of his skills reaches its peak, or the target character's potential has already maxed out.
[Host: Akira]
[Occupation: Trainer]
[Strength: 40.8]
[Agility: 40.0]
[Endurance: 41.5]
[Skills: Trainer Basic Skill LV1 (Proficiency 40%)]
[Free Combat Mastery]
[Language Mastery (Proficiency 17%)]
[Perfect Swordsmanship (Proficiency: 1%)]
Looking at his own panel, Akira was very satisfied.
Today was another day full of gains.
Time to sleep. Time to sleep.
——————
"Ah~!"
Akira yawned and sat up, feigning surprise. "Huh? Why didn't that girl Yuki come to wake me up today?"
Yuki Souo, hiding under the bed, was overjoyed.
Hehehe.
Brother really cares about me.
Watch my special wake-up call today — it'll scare you.
Yuki seized the opportunity and suddenly grabbed Akira's ankle.
"Hey! Ouch!"
Akira hopped to the side and turned his head. "You girl, why are you hiding under the bed?"
"Surprised? Unexpected?"
"You should be grateful I didn't instinctively kick you in the face."
"But you dodged that kick — you can't escape these two slaps."
Akira rolled up his sleeves, spread his arms, and blocked Yuki's escape route.
Yuki, however, turned her head with a smile and bent over.
"Brother, if you have the heart to punish your dear little sister, then go ahead."
Slap! Slap!
"Ouch! Mom! Brother hit me!"
Yumi Souo appeared at the doorway. Her noticeably more fashionable attire made the two in the room stare.
"Mom, if you dress like that outside, I'd be too embarrassed to call you 'Mom.'"
"What are you saying? Hurry up and change. Come down for breakfast."
Yumi didn't say much more. She turned and went downstairs.
Yuki, on the other hand, was observing Akira's micro-expressions, trying to read something from them.
But with the same teacher, there was no way to break his composure.
"Brother, what's wrong with Mom?"
"How would I know? But… isn't this a good thing?"
"Alright, you hurry back and change. Go, go, go."
After chasing Yuki back to her room, Akira put on his clothes, quickly washed up, and sat down at the dining table.
"Mom, you today…"
Akira didn't continue. He just gave a thumbs up.
Yumi Souo awkwardly touched her nose, tucking her long hair behind her ear.
"Don't say things like that. Hurry up and eat. It's already a bit late today."
For a normal day, yes, it was late. But for going to class, it wasn't that urgent.
Yuki came running and sat down to eat.
Perhaps because she was used to Yumi's unadorned look before, today — suddenly all tidied up — Yuki felt a bit strange.
But just as Akira said, this was a good thing.
She didn't think much more about it.
"I'm done eating."
Akira picked up his bento and walked out. Yumi followed him.
"Are you coming home for dinner tonight?"
"No, I won't be back."
Akira changed his shoes, then stepped forward, embraced Yumi Souo, and whispered in her ear:
"Mom, you smell so good."
Those words made Yumi's heart tremble.
"I'm leaving."
"Be careful on your way."
Although it was a perfectly normal interaction, due to the subtle change in their relationship, the meaning was entirely different.
Yumi's feelings were complicated, but she didn't dwell on it. She went back to eat with Yuki, then left the house.
——————
"Guess who I am?"
"Bai-san, you really come up with something new every day."
Kato Megumi pushed Akira's hand away and turned her head.
"Oh, today's Megumi-chan is different from yesterday's again."
Akira stroked his chin, furrowing his brow in thought while scrutinizing her.
"Hmm, after my assessment, Megumi-chan is even prettier than yesterday."
"Please, Bai-san, don't you feel embarrassed saying things like that? Or has your skin become so thick that nothing can pierce it?"
"Hehehe. Those who are amused by me have no right to say that."
"I didn't!"
Kato Megumi herself might not have noticed, but the corners of her mouth had already curled up slightly into a smile.
The bus arrived just in time. Without Akira needing to tell her, Kato Megumi consciously stood in the innermost spot, allowing Akira to shield her.
Nothing unexpected happened today, but Kato Megumi was still very content throughout the ride.
However, when they got off the bus, a passenger's complaint stung her a little inside.
"Seriously, do high school students these days need to take up so much space? What do they need all that room for!"
Kato Megumi's presence was low, and she had long been used to it.
But if it was going to cause trouble for Akira, she felt she couldn't ignore it anymore.
"Bai-san!"
"Hmm? What's wrong, Megumi-chan?"
"…Nothing."
Kato Megumi knew that Akira could see her, and that in his eyes, she was no different from anyone else.
So asking him how to become more noticeable wouldn't yield any useful advice.
"Huh? That's strange. Megumi-chan, is something on your mind?"
"No. I still have duty today, so I'm leaving first."
Kato Megumi gave Akira a long, deep look, then quickly ran through the crowd.
"Wait for me, Bai-san."
No sooner had Kato Megumi left than a familiar voice came from behind.