Kazuki sat on the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the task the system had just assigned him. The words glowed ominously in front of him, each one adding weight to the growing pit in his stomach. He had to sneak into the girls' bathroom in the female hostel. The mere thought of it was enough to make his heart race with anxiety. But there was no way out—he knew that by now.
The system's teasing voice chimed in his head, "Come on, Kazuki, don't be such a wimp! You've done this before, and you'll do it again. Think of it as another chance to show off your new invisibility skill!" The voice was playful, but the underlying threat was clear: failure wasn't an option.
Kazuki sighed, rubbing his temples. The invisibility skill had come in handy during his previous task, but this was a whole new level of danger. Sneaking into a secure area on campus was one thing, but the girls' bathroom in their hostel? If he got caught, there would be no talking his way out of it.
He tried to calm himself down, taking deep breaths as he mapped out his plan. The bathroom was on the second floor of the girls' hostel, and it was usually busiest in the evening when the girls returned from their day. He needed to time it perfectly—get in, stay invisible, and get out without a single soul noticing.
The first step was to scout the hostel. Kazuki spent the next day observing from a distance, taking note of the comings and goings of the girls. The security around the hostel was tight, with guards stationed at the entrance and cameras monitoring the hallways. The building itself was modern, with large windows and bright lights that made it difficult to find a shadowy corner to hide in.
Kazuki's heart pounded in his chest as he realized how difficult this task would be. But he couldn't back out now. The system wouldn't allow it, and the consequences of failure were too great to consider.
That evening, Kazuki stood in front of the girls' hostel, his heart racing as he activated his invisibility skill. The world around him shimmered slightly as he faded from view, becoming nothing more than a faint outline. He could still see his own hands, but they were transparent, ghostly. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come.
He slipped through the entrance, careful to avoid the guards and cameras. His footsteps were silent, a benefit of the stealth boost he had received from the system. The hostel was eerily quiet, the only sounds being the distant chatter of the girls and the occasional creak of the floorboards. Kazuki's heart raced as he moved down the hallway, staying close to the walls to avoid detection.
When he reached the staircase leading to the second floor, he paused, listening carefully for any signs of life. There were voices coming from one of the rooms down the hall, but the staircase itself was empty. He ascended quickly, his invisible form slipping past the watchful eyes of the security cameras.
The second floor was even quieter than the first. Kazuki could hear the faint hum of the lights overhead and the distant sound of running water. He followed the noise, his steps light and quick as he approached the bathroom. The door was ajar, and he could see the tiled floor beyond.
Kazuki's breath hitched as he hesitated at the entrance. This was it—the point of no return. If he crossed that threshold, there would be no turning back. The weight of the task pressed down on him, making his legs feel like lead. But the system's voice echoed in his mind, pushing him forward.
"Come on, Kazuki. Just a little further…"
He steeled himself, slipping into the bathroom. The air was warm and humid, filled with the scent of shampoo and soap. The room was empty, but the sound of running water suggested someone was in one of the stalls. Kazuki's heart pounded in his chest as he moved deeper into the room, his eyes scanning every corner for signs of life.
He was about to leave when the door to one of the stalls opened, and Haruka stepped out. Kazuki froze, his breath catching in his throat as she walked towards the sinks, completely unaware of his presence. She was humming softly to herself, her hair damp from the shower. Kazuki's heart raced as he realized how close he was to being discovered.
He pressed himself against the wall, praying that his invisibility would hold. Haruka moved to the mirror, checking her reflection as she dried her hair. Kazuki could see the water droplets glistening on her skin, the way her wet hair clung to her face. The sight was both mesmerizing and terrifying. He knew he had to get out of there before his invisibility wore off, but he couldn't move—not with Haruka so close.
The seconds stretched into what felt like hours as Kazuki waited for her to leave. His legs were trembling with the effort of staying still, his mind racing with panic. He couldn't afford to make a single sound, not even a breath.
Finally, Haruka finished drying her hair and turned to leave. Kazuki's heart nearly stopped as she paused at the door, looking around as if she sensed something was off. But after a moment, she shook her head and left the bathroom, the door swinging shut behind her.
Kazuki let out a shaky breath, his whole body trembling from the close call. He had barely avoided detection, and the fear was still coursing through his veins. But the task was done—he had completed the system's requirements.
He quickly made his way back to the entrance, slipping out of the hostel as quietly as he had entered. His invisibility wore off just as he reached the safety of his dorm room, leaving him feeling both relieved and guilty. The thrill of completing the task was tainted by the knowledge of what he had done. He had invaded the privacy of someone he cared about, and the weight of that realization was crushing.
But as he collapsed onto his bed, exhausted and shaken, the system's voice chimed in once more. "Well done, Kazuki. You're getting better at this. Keep it up, and you'll be unstoppable."
Kazuki closed his eyes, trying to shut out the voice and the guilt that gnawed at him. But deep down, he knew that this was only the beginning. The tasks were getting harder, the risks greater. And with each success, he was being pulled deeper into a world he didn't want to be a part of.
But there was no turning back now. The system had him in its grasp, and he was powerless to resist. All he could do was keep moving forward, one step at a time, hoping that he could survive the next task without losing himself in the process.