I walked to the window and pulled back the curtain. Outside stretched a sprawling metropolis, crisscrossed with so many sky-ways that I couldn't even tell if I was looking from the ground or from high above.
My old world seemed primitive by comparison. The memories showed technology at least a hundred years beyond anything I'd known.
"Null, I have 1000 points—so what can I get for them?"
(Yes, Host, those points were in exchange for your original appearance, talents, and previous stats.)
"Is it big?"
(For a average human, yes. They would only have 60–100 points.)
"Open the system store."
A new window materialized, displaying five items available for purchase.
Timer ticked away in the corner, and Null explained that the items changed every day.
Most of the items were too expensive for me, so I focused on the ones that could help me immediately: the Attribute Packs, which cost 100 points each. Their effects were random, so I decided to buy just five for now.
I tore open the first pack. +1 Strength.
Not gonna lie, it wasn't terrible, and the only side effect was a weird heat spreading through my body. I half-expected my bones to start cracking, but apparently the change wasn't big enough for that.
Second pack. +1 Charisma.
Oh, fantastic. Pimples started shrinking immediately. Not exactly the charm boost hoped for, but hey, progress was progress.
Third pack—another +1 Strength. Seriously? Two Strength packs felt like a bad draw.
Fourth pack. +1 Stamina. Yeah, yeah, stamina, whatever. Body still looked flabby and miserable, thanks for nothing.
Finally, the fifth pack. + 1 Agility.
About time! Hot air released from my body immediately, followed by this weird, giddy tingle inside.
Few minutes later, I checked the mirror. Still fat, but somehow 10 pounds lighter. Not perfect, but it's a start.
"I'm tempted to buy more packs. What do you think?"
(It's up to you, Host. But just a reminder, points aren't exactly easy to come by.)
"You should've told me that before I spent them."
(Well, you did spend the points before asking, so technically, the system just rewarded your impulsiveness.)
My words failed because she nailed it. Back in my idol days, blowing money on luxury watches and cars had been routine. I never a second thought, always assuming one concert would cover it.
"Let's just forget about it. Tell me what I need to do."
(Okay. Your first mission is to earn some points from your stepsisters. Because of your special relationship with them, you'll receive an extra 100% reward if you manage to win them over.)
"Do I need to make them fall in love with me right away?"
(Not necessarily. You just need to improve their impression of you, and you'll earn points along the way.)
Relief filled my heart. Confidence to make them fall in love? Zero.
But improving their impression? That was doable. PR classes from my idol days had taught the art of acting perfectly on and off camera.
First priority: hygiene.
I made my way there, every step was a struggle, until I finally stepped under the shower.
Hot water cascaded down, drawing out a big, relieved sigh. The warmth relaxed tense muscles as months of accumulated dirt scrubbed away, bringing me a small comfort.
Next came brushing and flossing. Fortunately, the added charisma had whitened my teeth—a nice bonus.
Fresh clothes came next. Good thing, some decent outfits remained. White oversized shirt and black jogging pants.
Ironic, really, since jogging had been the last thing the previous owner ever cared about.
"My body's okay now, so it's time to clean this dump. I can't even think straight with all this trash lying around."
One look around made my stomach churn. Empty snack wrappers scattered across the floor, old clothes piled in corners like miniature mountains. This was a far cry from my old 1.5-billion-yen apartment.
Gathering the discarded clothing from the floor seemed like a good starting point. Except there was no mop, no vacuum, nothing to actually clean with.
creek!
I opened the door and stepped into a spacious hallway. The black marble floors gleamed under the light, and four doors lined the walls before the space opened up into the main living room.
Three rooms belonged to my stepsisters, while the main one was reserved for my father and stepmother. They hardly ever stayed here, preferring their unit closer to their work, so running into them was unlikely.
"What are you doing here?" The platinum-haired girl glared at me from the living room sofa. Her name was Alexa, and right now she was wearing a white sleeveless shirt and navy gym shorts.
"I'm just borrowing the mop and vacuum to clean my room," I replied, keeping my head low.
"It's in the kitchen. About time you learned how to clean after yourself," she said, turning back to her TV show.
Her smooth, delicate legs caught my peripheral vision. Other men might have stared with lust, but years of idol work made such sights routine. Besides, leering would only make her opinion worse.
(+ 1 Points)
'What happened, Null?'
(Host, you're a genius! How did you know she was baiting you to look at her so she could catch you? You dodged that like a real pro.)
'What do you mean? Isn't not staring just basic human decency?'
(Not for the old Hayashi, Host. He used to leer at his stepsisters… even fantasize about them at night. Once, he even went as far as stealing one of their underwear.)
'So he was so bad that just doing the right thing instantly boosts my points. I don't know whether I should be happy or sad about that.'
(It's good news, Host. It means that any small improvement you make in your life will be noticed by them. This is already good progress.)
Her enthusiasm almost made me laugh. She was clearly coping with the fact that I'd pointed out her mistake in choosing me.
Regardless, good news was still good news, no matter how small or ridiculously low the standard.
'Alright, time to rack up some points.'