Yuu 276-280

Title: Doing This and That Together

The strange stalker-like behavior lasted for quite a while.

“Hatchi!” Masuzu suddenly sneezed. She rubbed her nose and sat up. Her eyes glazed over slightly as she muttered, “Oh yeah… I need to take a bath after getting caught in the rain. Otherwise, I might catch a cold.”

“He also used to order me around like that. I can’t let him worry because I got sick.”

Masuzu set her pillow aside. Just as she was about to grab her clothes and head into the bathroom for a warm soak, an idea popped into her head. Her steps halted, and she touched her chin, deep in thought.

“If I accidentally get sick, the natural next step would be a visiting scenario… I, Masuzu, won’t let even the smallest opportunity slip!”

The visiting scenario was a staple plotline in romantic comedies.

Though cliché, from another perspective, when such a plot actually happened to her—when she’d do this and that with Yuu in this room…

It sounded a bit perverted, but Masuzu had to admit she felt a little excited!

“Well, I’m a normal woman, so it’s only natural to have thoughts like this!”

Though there was no one nearby, she explained herself with a flushed face, proudly rationalizing her hopeful feelings: “And even though I say this and that, I won’t actually let him go all the way… Things like that should be done gradually. I must preserve my dignity as a woman!”

“If he really can’t hold back and turns into a wild beast, at most I’ll only let him do this and that up to… a certain point. The rest, I’ll have to reject with all my strength! Hmm, if I can’t resist, that’s the problem—it has nothing to do with me being weak and pitiful.”

After muttering to herself, Masuzu sighed and shrugged her shoulders in resignation.

“But with Yuu’s personality, something like that probably won’t happen.”

Even though they’d made a transactional promise and would belong to each other—this virgin demon, this virgin monster, who was only skilled in kissing—even in a girl’s room with no one else around, he might still act like a true gentleman due to principles, attitudes, persistence, or some other reason.

“Right, just like a shōnen manga protagonist! He really is the kind of man I like!”

With a proud and relaxed feeling, Masuzu entered the bathroom. After taking a cold shower, she didn’t dry her hair—instead, she turned on the fan and the air conditioner. She kept this up for half an hour.

After confirming her body began showing various negative reactions, she turned off the lights and other appliances, then curled up under the blanket, shivering. She turned on her phone’s flashlight.

The white light illuminated the dark space under the blanket. Her blue eyes stared at the sticker photo pasted on her phone case. It was their first intimate photo.

She naturally brought her face closer, rubbed it a few times, then sighed dissatisfiedly: “Only able to rub a photo… so empty… Next time, I’ll secretly swap his house slippers or take his chopsticks…”

While thinking about the mischiefs she’d commit, as Masuzu placed her phone on the nightstand, her consciousness suddenly felt dizzy. She coughed several times; her throat felt dry and hot.

Her whole body felt cold, but her face started to feel warm. Her lips trembled unconsciously—Masuzu knew, these were all symptoms of the flu.

In fact, given her physical condition, she might develop a high fever shortly. If it got worse, she might not recover until Monday and would have to take time off to visit a doctor.

“Too reckless…” Thinking about the consequences of catching a cold while living alone, Masuzu clicked her tongue, regretting her poor decision. “If he can’t come because he’s busy, maybe no one would even know if I died at home… I need to prepare some strategies to deal with this.”

Even so, there was no chance to regret now. Then, might as well go all the way!

Struggling hard not to faint, Masuzu took several deep breaths, then sent a message.

After Yuu read it and replied with a caring message, “If you’re really sick, I’ll come visit you. After taking a warm bath, rest well—don’t torture your body just to make me come.” Masuzu placed her phone on her chest with satisfaction and closed her eyes peacefully.

“I hope tomorrow comes quickly… I hope I can survive and see tomorrow’s sun…”

Then, she could press her face against him as much as she wanted!

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Time rewinds slightly, around dinner time.

At the Tenkuji residence.

While swinging his chopsticks, Yuu shared various interesting things that happened today with his sister at the dinner table.

“Our group was randomly assigned. I happened to be in a group with two girls… One of them you know.”

“Yuigahama Yui?” Sora glanced at him, lowered her head, and continued eating.

“That’s right, Yuigahama Yui.” Yuu nodded, showing no trace of oddness. “Me and the other group members debated about where to go first. If not for her mediating, our group might’ve disbanded at the very start of the field trip…”

“We took a light rail to the mountains, played at an amusement park, then hiked the mountain, and met friends from the same club along the way…”

“The Service Club?” Sora lifted her bowl and casually drank her soup.

“That’s right, the Service Club.” Yuu laughed. “They were all girls. Since most of them knew each other, we ended up teaming up afterward… We went to the mountain peak to take photos, then went to a cat café at the mountain’s base to pet cats while eating.”

“Pretty lively. Good, field trips should be fun like that.” Saying it emotionlessly, Sora set down her bowl, lazily propped her head, and glanced at him with clear eyes.

“So, Yuu, you spent your whole day with girls?”

“Generally, yes. But why does your tone make me sound like a scumbag?” Yuu tapped the table dissatisfiedly, defending himself. “Stupid sister, you don’t get it! Can you imagine how tough it is—being the only guy surrounded by so many pretty girls?”

“Don’t talk about enjoying being hugged from left and right. I was just ignored when they chatted. And when I got a chance to speak, I was called gross. Do you understand that suffering? I’d rather hang out with my one and only male friend!”

“That Totsuka guy?” Sora narrowed her eyes, a hint of wariness visible in them.

“That Totsuka guy!” With a relaxed motion, Yuu finished all the dishes in front of him. After swallowing, he continued, “One day, when I invite him over to play, you can peek from the upper floor… Then, you’ll understand what I mean by being hundreds of times cuter than girls.”

“I don’t want to know.” Sora rolled her eyes, muttering, “Even though he doesn’t bring girls home, why does this anxiety keep growing? Could Yuu’s orientation actually be problematic?”

“Don’t worry, my orientation won’t be a problem—wasn’t off before, isn’t now, and won’t be in the future.” After hearing his sister’s muttering, Yuu stood up to clear the plates, loudly declaring, “Probably!”

“Don’t say ‘probably’ here!” Sora showed her tiny fangs.

“Hahahaha, just kidding~”

-

Title: Risky System, Transactions Must Be Careful

Of course, Yuu’s sexual orientation wasn’t problematic. The proof was his various hidden websites and hard drives—types of things he’d have to ask someone to throw his computer into water and delete all his accounts before he died.

However, after obtaining the system, although his stamina increased, his “drive” actually decreased. He also gained better control over his desires—in simple terms, he became more stable and made far fewer late-night video calls with distant “virtuous women.”

He could do it ten times in one night, but he didn’t need to.

He could control himself, be gentle, be firm. Now that was a real man.

Yuu was very satisfied. Drowning in lewdness wasn’t good. This was a healthy man’s life.

After teasing his cutest little sister in the whole world, he tidied his things and returned to his room.

“Hmm…”

After closing the door, Yuu looked around his room.

For some reason, that strange feeling that someone had visited returned.

Yet, the bed, floor, and everything else were as neat as when he’d left the room in the morning, without any sign of disorder or obvious evidence like stray hairs.

Although he had some suspicions, since he couldn’t prove anything and didn’t want to make a fuss over small things, Yuu just stayed slightly vigilant, then ignored it and began doing what was important.

First, using the Finance skill he’d gained today, he allocated seventy percent of the large sum provided by the system to be invested in the market.

The effectiveness wasn’t visible yet, but he’d already spent time registering an internet tech company at a law office. He could use the remaining funds and the company name to start rolling the snowball.

For example, tedious tasks like outsourcing website development, ad promotions, internet marketing, and bank loans. He worked on all these from six in the evening after dinner until ten at night, only finishing a basic prototype… After all, procedures took time. No matter how powerful the system was, it couldn’t make him succeed overnight.

Looking back, the boy who once said he wanted a relaxed life and only needed to support his lazy little sister was now busy struggling to build a business.

“From an intern handing out flyers to becoming a company CEO. If you ignore the system’s influence, this story is actually quite inspiring, right?”

Looking at the large text 〈Tenkuji Network Co., Ltd.〉 on the website, Yuu laughed and shook his head, feeling quite moved.

Honestly, if not for the system, he wouldn’t have taken this path. Simply living a stable life with Sora forever would’ve made him extremely satisfied.

But now, to have sufficient capital to speak with successful adults and avoid being looked down on or blocked by social status compatibility issues during his mission, he was working hard to accumulate wealth.

Though useless beyond being rich, merely establishing his own company was a qualification that could make others see him differently. Yukinoshita-san was still uncertain, but at least Yuuki Kyoko valued this, and Masuzu’s father might feel the same.

Regarding this person, Yuu already had a preliminary understanding after several days of operation:

Natsukawa Ryoji, head of the fairly well-known Natsukawa family in Chiba city. Once, he was as famous as the Yukinoshita family and had significant influence in the city council. His power and wealth couldn’t be underestimated. He’d long traveled overseas and now used Sweden as his second base, developing a fairly large multinational corporation. Judging by capital, he could be said to surpass the Yukinoshita family.

There were rumors of marriage scandals, but the information was deeply hidden. It seemed he cared greatly about his reputation. Yuu spent a lot of money but couldn’t get accurate information, let alone any dirt…

Of course, no matter how much he investigated, he wouldn’t know more than the young lady of the Natsukawa family.

But he wasn’t that stupid to directly ask about family matters. Clearly, there were hidden issues, even affecting his worldview. Only Masuzu could reveal them when she wanted to talk. Anyone who asked would be seen as disrespectful.

In short, Yuu had done all he could. He calmly waited for the day Masuzu could face him. He wouldn’t repeat the mistake of only being able to argue emptily when questioned.

And now…

“Alright, let’s begin the experiment.”

Yuu shifted his gaze from the computer screen and opened the system panel.

He’d already gained a good understanding of the You Are Looking At Me status. His lost stamina had also gradually recovered. The hollow, exhausted feeling finally left him, making him nostalgic for the times when he had to stand upright despite weak legs.

Wait, maybe there was nothing to miss.

He focused on the status list, and at the very bottom, he saw the new status he was about to test—Miraculous Transaction.

But before that, he noticed something odd.

“Didn’t I also have Heart’s Intent Technique (Limited)? Why isn’t it here?”

While touching his chin, Yuu narrowed his eyes in thought, carefully checking the status list in front of him.

He truly didn’t see that strange status he’d obtained from Asuna and never used.

“System, what else are you doing behind my back?”

Since his memory wasn’t wrong, the fault must lie with this system that always wanted to cause trouble.

System: “Due to special reasons, this status has been used and cannot be restored, so it has been removed from the list.”

Yuu’s eyebrows twitched slightly: “So, I’m asking, what special reasons?”

System: “On the night of September 21, the Host experienced strong emotional waves within the game, which automatically triggered Heart’s Intent Technique.”

“…”

He calmly waited several seconds, but there was no further continuation.

“Just tell me, what were the consequences?” Rubbing his temples, Yuu gave up arguing with this useless system. He directly asked the thing he cared about most, “Don’t tell me, like that wooden comb, something was left near Asuna, right?”

System: “That should be the case.”

“Should be?” Yuu frowned. “By the way, whether I use Injure Time or not causes problems, so why did I bother doing it…”

System: “If that status hadn’t existed, Injure Time could have prevented timeline deviations and fully restored overflowing emotions and energy.”

“You’re the one saying that.” Yuu clicked his tongue, too lazy to argue. “Fine, explain what ‘should be’ means. I’m almost used to your buggy system.”

The system remained unaffected: “Due to the massive energy provided by Heart’s Intent Technique, the wedding ring in the game could become physical and appear in the real world, specifically beside Yuuki Asuna.”

“Hmm, then?”

Although Yuu wanted to curse, he at least already had Yukinoshita Haruno’s wooden comb as a lesson. He merely raised his eyebrows, crossed his arms over his knees, and calmly waited for the system to finish speaking.

System: “However, when it was about to be placed on Yuuki Asuna’s ring finger, due to the other party’s subconscious rejection, the ring judged that Yuuki Asuna didn’t need this heart’s intent, and disappeared by itself in the real world.”

“Disappeared? Thank goodness…” Yuu sighed in relief. “Although I don’t know why she rejected it, at least no other problems arose… A comb is fine. I don’t want someone coming and introducing me with a ring.”

Of course, there were still many things he wanted to ask—like whether “disappeared in the real world” was just wordplay, or whether the same thing would happen again in the future.

However, the system was vague or didn’t give definite guarantees, giving a suspicious impression as if “even though I can’t lie to the Host, System-chan also doesn’t want to reveal what conspiracy she’s planning~”

System: “As long as it doesn’t violate rules, the system won’t do anything harmful to the Host. This is a reward for completing the mission—the Host can rest assured.”

After leaving this sentence, the system fell silent.

“Easy for you to say…”

Yuu shook his head. He truly couldn’t do anything with this creature in his mind.

After all, this wasn’t a “Host is my dad” system like in Fei, nor could it be considered a “Host is my husband” Cattail system before its form was realized—now he could complete missions by his own will, refusing to be a puppet and tool was already very good. If he wanted to challenge this dog system, he’d have to wait until he found the system’s weakness or became strong enough not to fear time reversal.

Cheating wasn’t easy. Yuu sighed.

“Back to the main topic.” For now, he set those things aside. Yuu opened the small fridge in his room and took out a bottle of water. “Miraculous Transaction, let’s see just how miraculous you are.”

He placed the water on the computer desk, then activated the status.

A prompt box appeared:
[Do you wish to perform a transaction with this item? (Note: Once per day. Energy consumed is proportional to the item obtained, results are random.)]

“What can be exchanged for this bottle of water?”

>Groundwater, drinks, Nongfu Spring, computer components, energy supplements, type B blood, holy water, ○ juice, ○ juice, dirty potion…]

Before even finishing reading, Yuu couldn’t help but complain:

“Hey, hey, hey, why are there so many weird things mixed in here?!”

As a note, the two juices were different, only given the same censor, not duplicates.

In short, he couldn’t trust the system’s promises. With the intention of trying, Yuu confirmed the transaction.

Light flashed, and the mineral water disappeared before him.

[First use of transaction function. Transaction program will execute in five minutes. Please prepare, Host, for energy loss.]

“Even takes five minutes? Useless system, get out of the group!” He waved his hand in disgust. Just as his phone vibrated, Yuu brought it to bed. While replying to Masuzu’s messages, he waited for the five minutes to pass.

“She got caught in the rain. She won’t catch a cold tomorrow, right… Or did she intentionally get sick?”

After chatting briefly with his girlfriend, the five minutes passed. Yuu put down his phone.

[Transaction initiated. Item will appear tomorrow morning at six.]

After this system message appeared,

Yuu’s eyes widened in shock, as if all his blood was sucked out by a vacuum cleaner. As his energy drained completely, the world before him began to blur, and his hands and feet slowly grew weak.

“T-t-this familiar feeling…”

“A-am I going to be exhausted again?!”

“W-what item was transacted that required so much energy from me…”

Heavy sleepiness enveloped his entire consciousness, leaving only this faint thought. Yuu closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

“I hope… it’s something good.”

“If it’s ○ juice, I’ll lock this status forever.”

-

Title: Suddenly Turning into a Fantasy Style

When Yuu woke up, dawn had already broken.

He slowly sat up, massaging his temples. First, he closed his eyes and assessed his physical condition—no discomfort, except for hunger.

Seemed like just sleeping was enough to refill his stamina. The exhaustion he’d experienced twice yesterday was gone. Today, he still felt energetic. Even right after waking up, he felt like a superhuman who never tired.

“Morning, buddy.” Giving a salute to the tent-like bulge under the blanket, Yuu turned from the bed, looked around the room, and his gaze finally settled on the computer desk.

Where the mineral water bottle used to be, a strange small crystal bottle now appeared. It radiated a mysterious aura different from its surroundings, as if odd and not from this world.

Yuu approached and picked up the crystal bottle. He shook it and could feel liquid inside.

“Is this the item exchanged for mineral water and… damn, my stamina?”

He didn’t open it or smell it. Instead, he carefully asked, “System, explain. Don’t tell me I have to guess what’s inside myself?”

The system didn’t respond. Only a description box appeared beside the crystal bottle, like in a game.

[Life Elixir: A precious potion produced in another world. Just one drop can enhance human physical condition, achieving miraculous effects such as extending lifespan, beautifying skin, and curing all diseases.]

[Note: Ordinary people can only drink one drop. Current capacity: 10/10.]

“The explanation is so brief and clear, just like a small ad on a utility pole.”

After complaining, Yuu sat on the computer chair. While observing the crystal bottle in his hand, he pondered.

There was no need to doubt its authenticity. The system still had credibility in this regard.

Besides odd statuses, physical items like the JOJO volume the system gave him had perfect printing quality, layout, and even the scent of a brand-new premium book. Even the volume received by Araki himself might be slightly lower in quality.

In other words, he’d truly obtained a treasure only found in another world, and it was of the highest premium quality. And the price was just a good night’s sleep—

This transaction was too profitable to the point of being suspicious. He had to worry if there was a trap behind it, or if he’d actually paid for something else without realizing it.

“System, this potion doesn’t have side effects, right? Like changing gender or becoming immortal?”

[No side effects whatsoever. Effects are exactly as described. The Host can drink it with peace of mind.]

The system once again emphasized its principle of “never harming the Host,” combined with its updated soft voice, indeed made one feel slightly relieved.

Yet, Yuu still frowned, and like a nagging housewife, repeatedly sought confirmation from the system. After he questioned all possible loopholes, he carefully opened the bottle cap and brought his nose close to sniff.

No smell. Inside was a milk-like white liquid. The bottle neck was very narrow, likely designed to pour only one drop at a time.

“Will this also be useful for me?”

[Confirmed. The Host’s physical quality hasn’t reached superhuman level. This potion can help the Host take one step closer to true strength, but it’s still not recommended to drink more than one drop. Risk of energy overload exists.]

“If I drink this, can I use magic?”

[In the other world where this potion is produced, magic does exist. But before being transacted, the system has already removed all magical energy and accompanying side effects from the potion. Currently, it only has basic effects like strengthening the body.]

“What a pity… Wait, so this potion does have side effects?” Yuu clicked his tongue dissatisfiedly. “Dog system, why didn’t you say so from the beginning! The most taboo thing in information processing is ignoring obvious things. Even though I’m not afraid to drink it, the mental preparation when informed or not is very different, you know!”

[…] The system didn’t speak, only listened calmly to his complaints.

Yuu just ranted as usual. He quickly flipped the crystal bottle and poured it into his mouth.

Exactly one drop of milky white liquid came out, landed on his tongue, and quickly melted.

“Hmm…” He pursed his lips and tasted it carefully. But he only felt emptiness. No strawberry flavor, nor any warm surge rising from within his body. No black dirt and stench emerging from under his skin.

As he closed the bottle, he touched his chin and murmured thoughtfully: “Is this a slow-acting type? It tastes just like drinking plain water, no changes…”

The system agreed: [The Host can consider it a supplement. Effects are slow and long-lasting. And since the Host has a strong body, the benefits of the potion are relatively less compared to ordinary people, so the sensation is thinner.]

“I see.” Yuu thought for a moment, then asked again, “Can I give this to others? Do the remaining nine drops have to be discarded?”

[Confirmed. However, the Host is forbidden from revealing any information about the system.]

“Yeah, yeah, I know~” Yuu waved his hand, like a child bored with his mother’s advice. “Geez, anyway no one would believe me if I said it, why so afraid of information leakage? Really easy to die if found out.”

While complaining about the system, he looked at the Life Elixir with nine drops remaining. An idea had already formed in his mind.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

A precious potion, like the elixir of immortality or magical brews in legends—capable of extending life and curing diseases—was now in Yuu’s hands.

Of course, three ideas emerged—using it himself, giving it to family, or selling it.

Fortunately, thanks to the system suddenly becoming generous, Yuu didn’t need to make a difficult choice. Even if he chose “I want it all!”, plenty would remain.

After asking the system, he even briefly considered taking a few drops to send for composition analysis—don’t talk about whether it could be replicated. As long as he could make a version diluted ten times, he could develop his business to unimaginable levels.

But that was just a thought. Selling it or sending it for analysis wasn’t suitable for his current situation.

“If I sell it, no one would believe me, and there’s no guarantee I could get the same potion again in the future. Explaining its origin is also very troublesome, let alone if the issue escalates, it could affect the family… Sending it for analysis is the same. Without my own lab and equipment, it’s just asking for trouble. Costs, risks, and benefits are completely disproportionate.”

Therefore, Yuu felt the first two options were sufficient.

Around 6:10 AM, he left his room and went to the living room to call the little gray cat. He poured some cat food into its bowl.

“Artoria… No, Yukinon, your master is giving you a golden opportunity.”

Dripping the potion onto one piece of cat food, Yuu put away the bottle and squatted on the floor, staring seriously at the little cat. He said earnestly, “If you fail, you’ll die. If you succeed, you’ll be reborn… I don’t mean to harm you. That creature also said it has the same effect on pets. But I’m a strange person. I don’t care about myself, but when it comes to your little lady, I must be extremely careful. Do you understand my feelings?”

“Meow~ (Master, who understands what you’re talking about?)” That was the cat’s answer in animal language.

Yuu stroked its head, his eyes still gentle, smiling as usual.

“Simply put, try this poison for Sora. Tell me how you feel later. If you’re fine, then I’ll dare to give it to Sora.”

“Meow~ (Understood, just eat this, right?)”

Though much smarter than ordinary cats, Yukinon was still not human. He couldn’t understand Yuu’s selfishness and obsession. He just obediently followed orders, ate the potion-dripped food piece, and finished all the food in the bowl within ten seconds.

This cat was perfect, except its appetite was as huge as a King of Knights—in the past, the Tenkuji family definitely couldn’t afford to feed it. It would make an already not-rich family even harder.

After seeing it successfully consume the potion, Yuu didn’t wait around. He went for a morning run, and about an hour later, he returned and carefully asked about the cat’s physical condition, like a doctor.

“More energetic than before, the hind legs that were slightly stiff before suddenly became much better… That’s it.”

After putting down the little gray cat, Yuu looked relieved: “Seems there really is no problem. I can give it to Sora.”

[…]

If the system had its own will, it would surely be mocking him now, saying he was more cautious than a eunuch tasting poison for an emperor, overly careful about his sister.

But for Yuu, this was just right—even if it came from the system, he didn’t dare directly put a potion from another world into his mouth. Being as cautious as possible was only natural.

After confirming the safety of the Life Elixir by every means available, Yuu went to the kitchen and began preparing today’s breakfast.

What he would do next was very simple. Into the cup of milk Sora always drank every morning, he would—

“Add the medicine!”

-

Title: This Scene... Cough, I’ve Seen This Scene Before

Feeling movement in the kitchen below, Sora woke from her deep sleep.

“It’s already this time...”

She rubbed her eyes, sitting up in bed with her silver hair cascading down.

She stretched her body and yawned. Lazily, she tilted her head, gazing at her reflection in the mirror.

On her small, cute face, though not fully awake, there was a gentle expression that felt comforting just to hear her voice.

“Yuu is amazing, being able to wake up early every day...”

She smiled unconsciously and murmured.

Unlike herself, who played games until midnight every day and woke up lazily, extremely unwilling.

“Hmm...”

She sat on the bed with half-lidded eyes for a while, then shook her dazed head. She slid her bottom to the edge of the bed, used her white foot to pull out slippers from under the bed, put them on, and walked out of the room like a ghost.

After washing her face in the bathroom, she was sufficiently awake—after breakfast, she’d take a short nap, and only then would her day truly begin.

But before that, she couldn’t go downstairs looking disheveled.

Back in her room, Sora sat in front of the vanity, combing her long, troublesome silver hair—which Yuu loved so much.

Then, she tied two pigtails on the sides of her head with two black ribbons. The pigtails made her look cute and mischievous.

This was also the hairstyle Yuu liked.

To make Yuu like her more, Sora kept changing herself, from the past until now.

“Hmm, this should be fine, right?”

She checked as usual, and after confirming nothing was different from normal, she left the room hugging her black rabbit plushie.

Before closing the door, Sora glanced back, seeing the dolphin plushie Yuu gave her lying alone at the head of the bed.

If it weren’t for the difficulty and slight awkwardness of carrying two plushies at once, she wouldn’t have had to make this difficult choice.

“Haah~”

Sighing without reason, Sora firmly closed the door and walked down calmly.

Her small nose twitched mid-way. She could smell the delicious aroma from the kitchen, even from the stairs.

(How annoying!)

(Whenever Yuu cooks such delicious food, he makes me want to eat it all without thinking. If one day I get fat, it’ll definitely be his fault!)

(But since he’ll take care of me for life, being a little fat is fine, right?)

(Is this what they call happy fat?)

“Meow~”

As she was daydreaming, the little gray cat approached and rubbed its face against her leg.

Sora squatted and stroked its head. Her tone and expression unconsciously softened:

“Yukinon, have you eaten?”

Since Yukinon was picked up from the street by her brother, this little cat had been keeping Sora company when her brother went to school or work, reducing her loneliness.

They ate together, watched anime together, took naps together, and even went into her brother’s room together...

Hmm, not together. Otherwise, leaving cat paw prints would be troublesome.

In short, they were like a real family—for Sora, besides her brother, the second most important thing in the world might be the little gray cat before her.

After stroking the cat’s head, Sora entered the living room. Without hesitation, she directly took a large spoonful of food from the bag and poured it into the bowl.

Then, she squatted, propping her chin on her hands on her knees.

She watched Yukinon quickly devouring its food and smiled contentedly: “Eat lots, let’s get fat together!”

“Meow~”

Her cat had started breakfast. Sora placed her rabbit plushie on the chair and turned toward the kitchen.

Though she didn’t intentionally walk quietly, she, naturally as agile as a cat, entered the kitchen noiselessly, unnoticed by the other person there.

Her brother seemed too focused on what was in front of him, unaware of her presence as usual, not reacting to the gaze directed at his back.

Sora walked behind him to the side. She saw two trays on the kitchen table.

Today’s breakfast was Western-style: Eggs Benedict and salad with Japanese dressing. Everything looked delicious and complete—portioned perfectly for the two of them.

(Then, why isn’t he bringing the dishes out and still doing something?)

(Is he making a bento? But tomorrow’s only Monday?)

“This person, what’s he doing...”

Feeling displeased at being ignored, she frowned and murmured. Sora leaned forward until she could clearly see what her brother was holding.

It was her mug, filled with the milk she always drank every morning.

And now her brother...

Was holding a suspicious small crystal bottle, with a strange smile at the corner of his lips. Her brother carefully dripped one drop of suspicious pure white liquid into it.

The liquid quickly disappeared into the milk, as if evidence had been erased without a trace.

Sora: “...”

So shocked, the silver-haired girl with pigtails widened her eyes and froze in place, as if struck by a petrification spell.

Meanwhile, Yuu put away the crystal bottle. While slowly stirring the milk, he murmured:

“I hope this benefits Sora.”

Right after he finished speaking, he turned and saw Sora, her face full of disbelief.

Yuu: “...”

Sora: “...”

An awkward, tense silence filled the kitchen.

The silence felt heavy, pressing on both of them as they stared at each other. The air felt cold, as if it would freeze.

Finally, Sora spoke first.

“I-I didn’t see anything... Please continue.”

She suddenly turned around. As her silver hair swayed, the blush on her ears and cheeks was clearly visible: “And, this is just my personal opinion... Isn’t one drop too little? It’s practically the same as nothing, not serious at all.”

“Hah???” Yuu instantly snapped to attention. He reached his hand toward her like Elkon in a drama, “Sora, my sister, this isn’t what you think!”

“I don’t mind if you like games like this.”

Sora seemed unwilling to listen to her brother’s defense. She muttered dissatisfiedly and deliberately acted relaxed as she walked out of the kitchen: “But I didn’t expect you to have such a weird interest... I thought only cowards liked doing things like this.”

“That’s a misunderstanding! I did put something in your milk, but it’s not a suspicious drug!” Yuu quickly raised his voice, so she wouldn’t keep imagining weird things. “Do you think I’d give you milk that knocks you out or computer components? I’d never forgive myself if that happened! You should know what kind of person I am!”

Though in his previous life he had a collection of videos with similar themes, after being reborn and meeting Sora, he’d truly locked away that genre...

His sister was the most important person. He’d never forgotten that.

Besides, if he really wanted to do something, would Yuu need to use something from outside?

Wasn’t his face enough?

“So, the content is normal?”

Coming to her senses from embarrassment, shock, and a hint of happiness, Sora, who trusted him more than anyone, stopped walking. She turned and looked at the crystal bottle confusedly: “Is it artificial sweetener or creamer? Why must it be stored in this bottle?”

“...Well, I’ll be honest.”

After asking the system and getting a positive answer.

Yuu put on a rare serious expression. He handed over the crystal bottle and said earnestly to Sora:

“I can’t hide it anymore. This bottle contains a Spiritual Elixir from Another World I obtained through a transaction! It’s absolutely not a suspicious item. I’ve already tested it myself. Drink it with peace of mind. I’ll protect you!”

Sora: “...”

(After you say that, how can I possibly be at peace!)

(What should I do if my older brother’s brain is broken?)

(Help me, this is an emergency)

-

Title: Emergency, Come Immediately

“There’s no special taste.”

Sora put down her cup. Pouting slightly, she commented, “It’s just regular milk. What’s in it really isn’t anything strange?”

“It is strange, but it’s a good thing. Think of it as taking a supplement. The specific effects will become clearer when you go to the doctor again.”

At the dining table, Yuu casually ate breakfast while talking to his sister.

He took a bite of the sweet-and-sour salad, crunching it loudly, then suddenly remembered something and asked, “Oh right, when are you going to the hospital again? I remember it’s been two months since your last check-up...”

“My body’s fine, why go to the hospital?” Sora said with slight resistance as she chewed her Eggs Benedict.

Yuu smiled helplessly, “Even so, the fact that you often get sick can’t be denied. If you don’t have regular check-ups to monitor your health, I won’t feel at ease.”

“Just have Yuu stay with me at home. If anything happens to me, Yuu will be the first to know, so you can relax, right?” Though Sora offered this suggestion, her tone carried dissatisfaction and complaint.

“If Yuu accompanies me, I’ll go. That’s for going to the doctor.”

With her small cherry-colored lips, she popped the last piece of Eggs Benedict into her mouth, and Sora made her decision in a muffled voice.

Of course, Yuu couldn’t possibly refuse, “Then, I’ll register you online first. Later, I’ll ask for time off work, and we’ll go to the hospital together.”

Since the clinic was closed on holidays, even if they wanted to go now, there’d be no doctor available... Actually, they could pay to see one, but there was no need to go through that trouble.

Let the effects of the Life Elixir sink in first, then give Sora a full check-up to see if that single drop of potion was truly as miraculous as the system claimed.

If everything went smoothly, the heaviest burden on his heart could finally be lifted.

(As long as I can make Sora as healthy as a normal person, from now on, I’ll deeply respect the System, and I won’t call it ‘dog system’ to its face again!)

Yuu solemnly vowed in his heart. This feeling must make the system feel incredibly happy, right?

System: “?”

“Then, it’s a promise.” The corner of Sora’s mouth lifted slightly, and she spoke as if nothing had happened, “After the doctor, let’s go out... After all, we’ll still have time.”

Yuu looked at her in surprise, yet couldn’t help but laugh.

“To a crowded place?”

“Don’t!”

“Hiking mountains or swimming...”

“Better to just play Nintendo Switch at home!”

While strongly objecting, her small, fair, delicate face smiled. Sora blushed slightly with joy, like a peach blossom just blooming.

Sora understood. Since her brother knew she disliked those places and activities, he deliberately mentioned them to tease her... She didn’t mind this little mischief.

“Then, after the hospital, we’ll find a nearby place to walk around.” Yuu said seriously, concluding. “Now there’s not enough time. During winter break, we can go somewhere farther—beyond the universe. After all, our family has money now. We can go anywhere we want.”

“Don’t go to Antarctica. I don’t want to go overseas either. Just walking around in Japan is enough.” Sora wiped her mouth and said casually, “For winter break, Hakone or something... I think a hot spring trip (just the two of us) would be nice.”

The small words in parentheses were her inner thoughts, inaudible even to Yuu’s extraordinary hearing.

“Alright, then we’ve agreed.” Yuu said straightforwardly. “During winter break, we’ll soak in hot springs together.”

“Hm.” Sora nodded flatly, a napkin covering half her face.

Yey!

Where Yuu couldn’t see, Sora tightly clenched her fist. Her cheeks slightly reddened, and she made a small victory pose.

Of course, soaking in hot springs wasn’t the point. This trip together—their first since their parents left them forever—was what truly mattered...

One can’t forever drown in past sorrow. Sora knew this better than anyone—Yuu had taught her. And in the days that followed, through his actions and presence, he pulled her out of the pain of losing her parents and helped her rise again.

So, when the time came to step out of unchanging habits and move toward a more intimate relationship, Sora wouldn’t hesitate.

Maybe at home she’d still feel uncertain, and she could clearly sense that Yuu didn’t dare act because she was still young... But what if they were outside? Surely a family staying at a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) wouldn’t take separate rooms, right? Accidentally sleeping together would be natural, right?

If she didn’t seize this opportunity to strike quickly, Yuu might be snatched away by evil women, bitchy girls, and big-breasted rivals out there—somehow, this sense of crisis had been growing in Sora’s heart. It made her feel more anxious than ever.

If it weren’t for this, she wouldn’t have become increasingly bold, even starting to sneak into her brother’s room and do naughty things...

(Anyway, it’s all Yuu’s fault! Who told him to go out so often lately, acting like he has a girlfriend. It’s natural for me to worry, right?)

Her thoughts spun in circles. Sora emerged from her joy and excitement, gazing at her brother’s gentle, handsome face.

“Do you have any other plans today? There’s a new game, and I need a teammate.”

“Eh? Doesn’t seem like it...” Yuu was slightly unsure. He took his phone out of his pocket and checked it.

Just then, a message from Masuzu came in.

Masuzu: {Emergency, come immediately. Building XX, Room XX.}

“...” The corner of Yuu’s mouth twitched slightly.

Was this because he triggered a flag last night...? Did this girl really catch the flu from getting caught in the rain?

So, before the hot spring vacation plotline, he’d have to face the “visiting a sick Masuzu” scenario first, huh?

“What’s wrong?” Seeing him take out his phone and immediately show a speechless expression, Sora asked cautiously, with a bad feeling.

Yuu shook his head. Sighing, he put his phone away, “A friend is sick and has no one to take care of her. I have to go later, or she might die at home.”

Though slightly exaggerated, somehow, Yuu felt that if he didn’t go, Masuzu really would get sick to the point of near death.

As a boyfriend in a transactional relationship, logically and emotionally, he had to visit her and make her porridge.

...Tsk, this should’ve been a woman’s job.

“Friend... huh?” As if confirming something, Sora stared at him intently, “Male or female? Yuigahama Yui?”

Yuu looked at her strangely, “Why would you think she—“

“Among all your friends, I only know her. Unless we’re talking about President Yukinoshita, whom you don’t consider a friend, and that Totsuka guy!”

“That Totsuka guy... why do I feel you have a special issue with him. But never mind.” Yuu pressed his temple and said resignedly, “Not Yuigahama, but another friend.”

“Hm, so male or female?”

Whoever this person was, this was the most important question for Sora.