Golden sunlight seeped through the narrow gap in the curtains, casting slanted rays across the room. Dust particles danced in the air, visible in the soft glow. Slowly, Shirogane stirred from his sleep, his mind still foggy with lingering dreams.
As his vision cleared, he caught sight of something—or rather, someone. A shadow flitted past his doorway, small and quick. He barely had time to register it before the figure disappeared down the hall.
'Was that… Kei?'
A strange feeling settled in his chest. According to the memories in his head, she was his little sister—Kei Shirogane. But something about the way she had peeked at him, the uncertainty in her gaze, made him uneasy.
Pushing off the covers, he stepped out of their room and found her again, standing stiffly by the dining table. She was eyeing him, not with her usual bratty indifference, but with something more… probing. Like she was analyzing him, trying to confirm a suspicion.
'Does she sense something's off?'
Shirogane forced a casual smile. "Morning, Kei. Want me to take you to school on my bike?"
Her expression immediately twisted in disgust. "Heck no! My friends would die of secondhand embarrassment if they saw me riding with you."
Shirogane blinked. "What's the problem with that?"
"Nothing!" she huffed, crossing her arms. "Just eat your breakfast already. It's getting cold!" With a dramatic *hmph*, she spun around and grabbed her bag.
He watched her go, a strange mixture of amusement and unease bubbling within him. 'So this is what the real Shirogane had to deal with every morning? Not that I'm complaining, but…' His eyes narrowed slightly. 'Does she think I'm acting differently?'
Kei, still sending glances over her shoulder, eventually gave up and stormed out the door.
As soon as he finished eating, Shirogane prepared his bag and wore his uniform. He grabbed his bike and hurried after her.
'I need to gain her trust.'
The crisp morning air bit against his skin as he pedaled down the familiar streets of town. Store shutters were rolling open, the scent of fresh bread wafting from a nearby bakery. The occasional student in a school uniform passed by, some on their own, others chatting in small groups.
'She couldn't have gone too far…'
Then, just a few blocks ahead, he spotted her walking alone. Smirking to himself, he decided to tease her a little. He rang the bell on his bike and called out, "Watch out! Watch out!"
Kei flinched, startled, before whipping around with a glare. "What the hell is wrong with you Onii-chan?!"
Her words hit harder than he expected.
"You've been acting *weird* lately, Onii-chan." Her voice was lower now, more serious. "Did something happen to you? I can't imagine you being this careless… or this carefree."
Shirogane's grip on the handlebars tightened. His heart pounded in his chest.
"Did she figure it out?"
He swallowed. The weight of her gaze pinned him in place, and for a moment, he felt exposed—like she was staring straight through him.
He forced a shaky breath and lowered his head. "Sorry," was all he could manage before pedaling ahead, leaving her standing there, watching his retreating figure.
As he rode toward school, a single thought refused to leave his mind.
"If she's already this suspicious… how long before everyone else starts to notice?"
The city's morning rush had faded as Shirogane slowed his bike, turning onto a quiet street where only a handful of people passed by. The air here felt calmer, a stark contrast to the bustling school district just a few blocks away. A convenience store sat at the corner, its neon sign flickering slightly in the daylight. Pigeons pecked at crumbs left on the pavement, undisturbed by the occasional pedestrian.
He exhaled, glancing around to make sure he was alone before pulling out the mysterious device from his pocket.
The screen blinked to life.
And just like that, she appeared.
"Hello there, Shirogane-san. How have you been?"
The voice was smooth, almost teasing. The ethereal glow surrounding her form shimmered as she leaned slightly forward, amusement dancing in her eyes.
Shirogane groaned. "Do you really appear 'every' time I open this thing?"
"Ohhh, not necessarily," the goddess mused, twirling a strand of her light blue hair. "It depends on my mood. And today, well… I'm 'bored'." She stretched, then smirked. "So, have you leveled up any of your stats yet?"
Shirogane glanced back at the screen, his brow furrowed. "Wait a moment"
After some time of tapping the gadget. 'This thing is easier to navigate than I expected… but it still feels strange.'
He scrolled through the displayed skills:
- Efficiency
- Social
- Flow State
- Crafting
- Tactics
- Endurance
- Analytical
His eyes scanned the list. Something was missing—there were no max skill level, no numerical indicators. "It doesn't show a limit on any of these, no bars," he muttered.
The goddess chuckled. "That's for you to figure out."
He shot her a wary glance. "Why do I get a bad feeling every time I talk to you?"
She only smiled—an infuriating, knowing smile—before dissolving into thin air, her laughter lingering in the space she had just occupied.
Shirogane sighed, rubbing his temples. He needed to make a decision.
'If I want to navigate this world smoothly, I should focus on Social. It'll help me communicate better… and win people over.'
Just as he was about to tap the "Upgrade" button, the screen flickered.
The goddess reappeared.
"Wait, wait, wait—are you sure about that?"
"GAH!" Shirogane flinched, nearly dropping the device. His heart pounded against his ribs. "Stop doing that! At least give me a warning—like a blinking light or something!"
She shrugged playfully. "No promises. But more importantly, you should know that as you complete missions, your experience bar will expand. It'll take longer to level up each time, and you won't be able to upgrade another skill right away."
Shirogane silenced, absorbing the information. "So I just need to keep completing missions to level up and unlock upgrades, huh?"
"That's the gist of it. If you ever need me, just call."
And with that, she vanished once again.
Shirogane stared at the empty space where she had been.
"...Call you? How? You never even told me your name!"
His voice echoed through the quiet street, but there was no response. Just the hum of the city in the distance and the soft chirping of birds.
He sighed, slipping the device back into his pocket.
"It' gonna be a long day"