"Mitsuri, how about we go for a picnic?" Akira suggested, his voice soft and inviting.
Mitsuri blinked in surprise, tilting her head slightly, her soft pink hair falling over her shoulder. "A picnic? What's that?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
Akira smiled, his eyes warm as they met hers. "It's when you have a meal outdoors, somewhere peaceful. Just the two of us, under the sky," he explained, watching her reaction closely.
Mitsuri's cheeks flushed a light pink, the thought of spending quiet time with Akira stirring something tender in her heart. She smiled brightly, her eyes sparkling. "That sounds… wonderful," she said softly, already feeling a nervous excitement bubbling inside her. She thought to herself, 'This might be the perfect moment to tell him…'
Akira's smile widened at her response. "Great! Let's ask Shinobu if she wants to join us too," he added with a casual tone.
For a moment, Mitsuri's heart sank just a little, but she quickly composed herself. "Okay!" she replied, hiding her hopes behind a cheerful expression.
They walked toward Shinobu's house, and soon spotted her coming out of a small market with a basket of vegetables for dinner. Her lavender eyes gleamed as she noticed Akira and Mitsuri approaching.
"Shinobu!" Akira called out, waving energetically.
Shinobu smiled at them, walking over with a lightness in her step. "What is it, Akira?"
Akira grinned. "We're planning a picnic and were wondering if you'd like to join us?"
Shinobu thought for a moment, her smile growing brighter as she remembered what a picnic was. "A picnic, huh? Sure, I could use some fresh air," she said, her excitement matching Akira's.
"Perfect! Don't worry about food, I've got it covered," he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
As they walked together, Mitsuri couldn't help but glance at Akira, thinking about how effortlessly he made everything seem so easy. He always has everything figured out, she thought with admiration. But there was a part of her that wanted to be closer to him, to share something more.
After some time, they reached a serene spot in the forest—a large tree stood alone in a clearing, its branches gently swaying in the breeze, sunlight streaming through the leaves in soft golden rays. It was perfect.
"Let's set up over there," he said, pointing to the spot under the tree.
Shinobu and Mitsuri laid out a soft blanket while Akira, once again using his mysterious powers, brought out food seemingly from nowhere. This time, he had burgers and fries, an unusual but delightful choice.
Shinobu sat down, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Akira, where are you getting all this food from?" she asked, looking at him with a serious expression.
Akira smiled but said nothing at first. Instead 'system, give them knowledge and access about the shop', he raised his hand, and a soft glow filled the air. Information began flowing into Shinobu's mind, revealing the secrets of the shop and how Akira had access to it.
Mitsuri watched in amazement, and soon, the same glow touched her. A wave of knowledge flooded her thoughts, and in an instant, she understood everything. She stared at Akira in awe, realizing the depths of his abilities.
"You've been using the shop!" they exclaimed, looking at him with wide eyes.
Akira chuckled softly. "Yes, and now you both have access to it too," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. "But remember, you'll have to earn points yourselves. Though I can help you sometimes."
Shinobu, eager to try out her new power, quickly browsed the shop and purchased a set of customized clothes. She stood up, stretching. "It's getting late, and I want to try these new clothes out. I'll see you both later," she said with a wink before heading off toward the village.
As Shinobu disappeared into the distance, a soft silence settled between Akira and Mitsuri. The air was cool, and the golden hues of the setting sun bathed the landscape in a romantic glow. Mitsuri's heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing with what she was about to do.
"Akira…" her voice was soft, almost a whisper, as she hesitated for a moment. She took a deep breath, summoning all her courage. "I… I have something important to tell you."
Akira turned to her, sensing the seriousness in her tone. His deep eyes locked onto hers, and for a brief moment, time seemed to slow.
"Akira, I… I've been in love with you for a long time. Ever since you saved me, I haven't been able to stop thinking about you. I… I'm afraid of losing you if I don't tell you now." Her voice trembled as tears welled up in her eyes, fear and vulnerability spilling over.
Akira was silent for a moment, processing her confession. His heart softened, and a gentle smile crossed his lips. Without a word, he stepped forward, wrapping his arms around Mitsuri in a warm embrace.
"Mitsuri… of course, I'll be with you. I've always cared about you. And you should never be afraid to tell me what's in your heart." He stroked her hair gently as she wept softly in his arms. "You deserve to be happy. Don't cry, Mitsuri. Smile, because your smile is what I want to see the most."
Her tears slowly stopped, and she looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with emotion. A small, genuine smile spread across her face as she tightened her grip around him.
"So… we're together now? Like, officially?" she asked shyly, her cheeks still flushed.
"Yes," he said softly. "You and Shinobu are both special to me."
Mitsuri blushed even deeper, but she couldn't help the happiness that filled her heart. She hugged him tightly, the warmth of his embrace making her feel safe and loved.
After a few quiet moments, Akira pulled back slightly, holding her hand. "Let's head back. Shinobu's probably waiting for us, and I wouldn't want her to worry."
Mitsuri nodded, her heart full of joy as they walked back together, hand in hand, under the evening sky.
After the confession from Mitsuri and their walk back to the village, Akira's mind was still processing everything that had happened. Holding Mitsuri's hand gently, he glanced at her from time to time, seeing the soft glow of happiness on her face.
But as they neared the village, something else weighed on his mind—the system shop. He had given Shinobu and Mitsuri access earlier, but without asking Ben, his god-like friend who controlled the system. He wanted to make sure it was okay and check if there were any limitations they should know about.
As they arrived at the outskirts of the village, Akira stopped for a moment and turned to Mitsuri with a soft smile. "I'll catch up with you in a bit. I just need to check something real quick."
Mitsuri blinked, a little confused but nodded. "Alright, I'll wait for you at Shinobu's house," she said sweetly before heading off, waving as she disappeared into the village.
Once alone, Akira sighed and activated the system chat in his mind. The familiar glowing interface appeared before him, and he quickly sent a message to Ben, the god being who had been helping him since his reincarnation.
In the system chat
"Hey, Ben. Quick question. I gave Shinobu and Mitsuri access to the system shop earlier. Is that cool? I didn't want to leave them out since they're both important to me."
A few moments passed before a bright flash filled the screen, and Ben's casual, yet omnipotent voice echoed in Akira's mind.
"Yo, Akira! Don't worry, buddy, it's totally fine. I figured you'd want to let them in eventually, so I prepared for it. They're both strong enough, and more importantly, they're close to you, so they qualify. No worries about that."
Akira felt a wave of relief at Ben's easygoing response. He could always count on Ben to have his back, even with things like this. But there was still one more thing he wanted to check.
"Thanks, Ben. Just one more thing—do they have any restrictions in the shop? Like, can they buy whatever they want, or is it limited for them?" Akira said
Ben's answer came quickly, with a hint of amusement.
"Good question! They can access most of the shop, but certain high-tier items—like the really overpowered stuff—are locked until they earn more points themselves. I mean, you don't want them to accidentally nuke the village, right? But other than that, they're good to go. They'll have to earn system points by their own means, just like you do."
Akira nodded, satisfied with Ben's response. It made sense, and he was glad Shinobu and Mitsuri wouldn't be overwhelmed with the power the shop could offer. Still, knowing they had access to it would help them become even stronger and give them more freedom to live safely in their dangerous world.
"Got it. Thanks for always looking out for me, Ben."
Ben's reply came with a lighthearted chuckle.
"You know it! Stay safe out there, Akira. And don't forget to relax sometimes, especially with two girls now vying for your attention, haha!"
With that, the chat interface vanished, and Akira chuckled to himself at Ben's playful words. He couldn't deny that his life had taken an unexpected, romantic turn. But with Shinobu and Mitsuri by his side, he felt more certain about his path forward.
Later, when Akira met up with Mitsuri at Shinobu's house, they gathered together in Shinobu's cozy living room, where a soft fire crackled in the hearth. Both girls seemed curious, their eyes flickering toward Akira as if sensing that he had something important to share.
Akira leaned against the wall, his expression thoughtful but calm. "So, I spoke with Ben, the god who set up the system shop."
Shinobu tilted her head, intrigued. "You can talk to him directly?"
Mitsuri blinked in surprise, then smiled warmly. "That sounds so incredible."
Akira nodded, smiling softly. "Yeah, he's been guiding me since I got these abilities. And I asked him about letting you both access the shop."
Shinobu and Mitsuri exchanged a glance, their expressions lighting up.
"And?"
Akira grinned, his eyes meeting both of theirs. "He said it's totally fine. You can use the shop, but just know that some of the more… extreme items are restricted until you earn more system points."
Shinobu placed her hand under her chin thoughtfully. "That makes sense. It's still amazing that we can use it at all."
"Does that mean we can become stronger too?" Mitsuri asked, her voice filled with hope and excitement.
Akira nodded firmly. "Yes, you'll be able to access things that will help you grow stronger, just like me. But you'll need to earn points on your own. I can help you get started, though."
Shinobu's lips curved into a small, satisfied smile. "I'm grateful, Akira. This could really help us in our missions."
Mitsuri's eyes shimmered with excitement. "Thank you, Akira! I'll do my best to use it wisely."
Akira chuckled, feeling a warm sense of contentment seeing their enthusiasm. "You're welcome. Just remember to stay careful. The system can be powerful, but it also comes with responsibilities."
The three shared a quiet but heartfelt moment, the flickering light from the fireplace casting warm shadows around them. With the knowledge of the system shop now in their hands, Shinobu and Mitsuri would be able to grow alongside Akira, and together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead.
To Be Continued…