A few minutes later, Akari sat up straight and abruptly rushed out of the room, not giving Eric a chance to see her face.
Eric didn't think much of it, as he had already anticipated she wouldn't sit there all evening. He simply waited for her to return.
After a minute or two, Akari walked back into the living room, now dressed in casual clothes. She wore a V-neck, high-waisted lace-up jumpsuit that accentuated her voluptuous chest and shapely figure.
"Just so you know, I'm not a crybaby, and I didn't do that to win you over. It just... happened," Akari said, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"Don't worry, I'm not that critical," Eric replied reassuringly.
"And also, I don't act like this with just anyone," Akari added, her tone earnest. "I want you to understand that. What happened earlier... it's not something I do often. But I didn't hate it because it's you."
"Hmm, I appreciate that a lot," Eric replied with a soft smile, gently rustling her hair affectionately.
Akari's eyes widened at Eric's touch, but she tried to remain composed. "So... should we start cooking?" she asked, her voice slightly shaky.
"About that," Eric said, his tone apologetic. "It seems today wasn't the best day for this after all."
"What?!" Akari exclaimed, as if struck by a sudden shock. "Why?" she asked, turning to face Eric with a look of confusion.
"My mom called earlier," Eric said. "She needs me to come home early for a relative's wedding."
"Really?" Akari said, her expression visibly dropping as the news sank in.
"Maybe we can do this another time," Eric said, standing up and preparing to leave. "I appreciate you having me over."
As I approached the main door, I felt a gentle tug on my shirt. Turning around, I saw Akari holding onto the hem; her face turned downward.
"I really didn't hate it, you know," Akari said softly, her voice tinged with insecurity as she looked down.
"I know you didn't," Eric replied, reassuring her. "I was just joking back then." He rustled her hair gently one last time.
Although Eric's comforting words helped somewhat, they didn't fully ease her unease. Akari remained silent, not saying anything more, and simply followed him to the door.
"Thanks for seeing me out, and I'm sorry about the change of plans," Eric said as he started to walk away. "I'll make it up to you, I promise. See you tomorrow," he added with a reassuring smile.
Akari's expression hinted that she had something more to say, but she hesitated. In the end, she just said, "See you tomorrow," holding back whatever was on her mind.
______
I had just left Akari's house and was now making my way to the bus stop.
To be honest, my mom hadn't actually called me. However, she did mention attending a relative's pre-wedding, so I used that as an excuse to leave. It wasn't a lie, technically speaking, just a convenient truth.
The real reason I left was because I received a system notification.
[ SIDE QUESTS
MAKE A MOVE ON AKARI REI DURING THE DESIGNATED TIME - (----)
REWARDS: 1000points(Max)
In recognition of the host's outstanding performance in a short timeframe, the rewards accumulated will be multiplied by a factor of 100.
Claimable REWARDS:100,000points]
I received the message while Akari was changing clothes, and I was nearly caught off guard, almost standing up in shock.
I was thrilled to discover that such a multiplier existed. Without it, reaching a million points would have seemed like a distant dream.
But with the system rewarding me for outstanding performance by multiplying my rewards, saving up a million points wouldn't be such a difficult task after all.
Although I felt guilty for leaving Akari on such short notice, I had to attend the pre-wedding. My mother had set it up for me to meet several influential people who could benefit my future.
These pre-wedding gatherings are typically small parties hosted by the groom's mother, inviting influential people's wives and their children. It's a tradition among the wealthy, aimed at helping the next generation forge valuable connections.
My mother didn't pressure me to attend the event, as she didn't want me to feel that inheriting the company was my only option. However, I decided to go of my own accord.
I need to be there if I want to eventually take over the family company.And since my brother is still too young, I'll be attending the event alone with my mother.
I arrived home, took a quick bath, and got ready for the party. While preparing, I also checked the number of system points required for the next upgrade.
The requirement for the first upgrade is 800,000 points. I couldn't help but wonder, What the fuck is up with that?
Does it grant me immortality or the ability to see the future? I seriously doubted it.
Haah, let's just hope the cost of system upgrades either remains the same or goes down over time.
At home, my father was busy with an online business meeting, my brother was studying in the reading room, and my mom was getting dressed for the party.
I've never seen anyone in my family just lazing around. At a glance, it seems like they all have their days meticulously planned. Meanwhile, I'm just drifting along, going wherever my whims take me—unless someone else makes plans for me.
. . .
Finally ready for the party, my mom and I headed out in our family car.
I sat in the back seat beside my mother while the chauffeur drove us to our destination.
*DING*
[You have unlocked Dual-System Activation.]
*DING*
[Congratulations to the host for successfully unlocking a YANDERE system in one of the main quests (Akari Rei). For this achievement, you will receive a complimentary system upgrade.]
Ah, FUCK
________________
Hi, author here
I have a question for you
If a turtle loses its shell, is it homeless or naked?
Also thanks for reading it ^∆^