Kazuki stood in the middle of his small dorm room, the notification from the system glaring at him from his phone screen. The words were clear, but the task seemed impossible, especially considering who it involved. The name that stood out on the screen—Rina Yoshida—sent a wave of anxiety washing over him. He had noticed Rina in class before; she was the kind of girl who drew attention without even trying, mostly because of her looks and the way she carried herself.
Rina Yoshida was known among the students for her striking figure, particularly her ample chest, which was often the subject of hushed conversations among the boys. But despite the attention, Rina remained distant, always lost in her own world, avoiding interaction with almost everyone. Her introverted nature made her a mystery, a figure of fascination that no one could get close to. And now, Kazuki was supposed to not only approach her but to make physical contact with her—to hold her hand for at least five seconds.
The weight of the task pressed heavily on Kazuki's mind as he tried to figure out how to approach her without raising suspicion. Just the thought of it made his stomach churn. How was he supposed to pull this off? He couldn't just walk up to her and grab her hand—that would be creepy and completely out of character for both of them. Kazuki's anxiety spiked as he envisioned all the ways this could go wrong.
But he knew he had no choice. The system's demands were non-negotiable, and failure to complete a task had dire consequences. Kazuki couldn't afford to hesitate. He had to find a way to get close to Rina, no matter how uncomfortable it made him feel. He paced his room, trying to come up with a plan. Maybe he could bump into her "accidentally" in class or during one of the group activities? No, that wouldn't work—she would likely shy away before any meaningful contact could be made.
As Kazuki wrestled with his thoughts, his phone buzzed again. This time, it wasn't the system but a message from his part-time job at the convenience store. His shift was starting in less than an hour, and he needed to get going. Kazuki sighed, shoving his phone into his pocket. For now, he would have to put the problem of Rina Yoshida on hold. He had another problem waiting for him at work—Kenta Watanabe.
Kenta had been a fixture at the convenience store for a while, always loitering around, buying nothing more than a pack of gum or a soda, and occasionally causing trouble for the employees. He was a tall, muscular guy with a tough demeanor, the kind of person who seemed to thrive on intimidating others. Kazuki had done his best to avoid him, but lately, it seemed like Kenta had taken an interest in him.
Kazuki couldn't pinpoint when it started, but he noticed Kenta watching him more closely, making snide comments whenever Kazuki passed by. Today was no different. As soon as Kazuki entered the store, he spotted Kenta leaning against the counter, chatting with one of the other employees. The sight of him made Kazuki's heart sink—he was already on edge about the task involving Rina, and the last thing he needed was to deal with Kenta's bullying.
As Kazuki clocked in and started his shift, he tried to keep his head down, hoping Kenta would lose interest and leave. But Kenta had other plans.
"Hey, Kazuki!" Kenta's voice boomed across the store, causing a few customers to glance in their direction. Kazuki froze, feeling the familiar knot of anxiety tighten in his stomach. He turned slowly, trying to mask his discomfort with a weak smile.
"Kenta," Kazuki acknowledged, hoping to keep the interaction brief.
Kenta sauntered over to him, a smirk plastered on his face. "What's with the long face? You look like you've seen a ghost," he teased, poking Kazuki's shoulder with more force than necessary.
Kazuki tried to laugh it off, but the sound came out strained. "Just tired, that's all," he muttered, hoping that Kenta would drop it.
But Kenta wasn't one to let things go easily. He leaned in closer, his smirk widening. "Tired, huh? Or maybe you're just scared? You always seem so nervous, Kazuki. What's the matter? Something bothering you?"
Kazuki felt his pulse quicken. Normally, he would have just let Kenta's taunts slide, but today, something inside him snapped. Maybe it was the stress from the task the system had given him, or maybe it was the accumulated frustration of being pushed around. Whatever it was, Kazuki suddenly found himself standing a little straighter, meeting Kenta's gaze with more determination than usual.
"I'm not scared," Kazuki said, surprising even himself with the firmness in his voice. "I'm just trying to do my job, Kenta. Maybe you should try not being such a jerk all the time."
The words hung in the air between them, and for a moment, Kazuki feared that he had made a huge mistake. Kenta's eyes widened in surprise, and the smirk disappeared from his face. Kazuki braced himself for a retaliation, expecting Kenta to lash out or get physical. But instead, Kenta just stared at him, as if seeing Kazuki for the first time.
Then, to Kazuki's astonishment, Kenta let out a bark of laughter. "Well, well, look who's finally growing a spine," he said, clapping Kazuki on the back with a force that almost knocked the wind out of him. "I didn't think you had it in you, Kazuki. Maybe you're not such a pushover after all."
Kazuki didn't know how to respond. He had stood up to Kenta without really thinking about it, and now he was unsure of what would happen next. But instead of doubling down on his bullying, Kenta seemed to have taken an interest in Kazuki, almost as if he respected him more for standing up for himself.
"Maybe you're alright, Kazuki," Kenta said, still chuckling. "I'll let you get back to work. But hey, if you ever need help with anything, just let me know. Who knows, maybe we could even be friends."
Kazuki blinked in surprise as Kenta turned and walked out of the store, leaving him to process what had just happened. Kenta's words echoed in his mind, and for the first time, Kazuki considered the possibility that Kenta could be more than just a bully—maybe he could be an ally.
As his shift ended, Kazuki couldn't stop thinking about the strange encounter. He had no idea how to feel about Kenta's sudden change in attitude, but one thing was clear: something had shifted between them. Kazuki wondered if this newfound connection with Kenta could help him with his current task. Kenta was rough around the edges, but he had a certain confidence that Kazuki lacked. Maybe, just maybe, Kenta could offer some advice on how to approach Rina.
The next day at school, Kazuki's thoughts returned to the task at hand. He had to find a way to make skin contact with Rina Yoshida, and time was running out. As he walked to class, his mind raced with possibilities. He knew he couldn't just reach out and grab her hand—he needed a plan, something that would allow him to complete the task without coming off as creepy or aggressive.
When he entered the classroom, Kazuki's eyes were immediately drawn to Rina. She was seated at her usual spot near the window, her long hair cascading over her shoulders as she stared intently at the notebook in front of her. She was wearing her usual school uniform, which, despite its modesty, did little to hide her curvaceous figure. Kazuki noticed the way the fabric of her blouse stretched slightly over her chest, a feature that had undoubtedly caught the attention of many boys at school.
Kazuki felt a pang of guilt as he caught himself staring. He wasn't proud of the fact that he was thinking about her in that way, but he couldn't help it. Rina was beautiful, and her reserved nature only added to her allure. Still, he knew he had to focus on the task. He couldn't let his feelings or guilt get in the way.
As the class went on, Kazuki tried to think of a way to get close to Rina. He watched as she took notes, her pen moving swiftly across the paper. An idea began to form in his mind. What if he asked her for help with the lesson? It wouldn't be too strange—after all, they were classmates, and asking for help was a normal thing to do. If he could find an excuse to work with her on something, maybe he could create a situation where he could hold her hand, even if just for a few seconds.
The bell rang, signaling the end of class, and Kazuki knew he had to make his move. As the other students began to gather their things and head out, Kazuki approached Rina's desk, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Hey, Rina," Kazuki began, trying to keep his voice steady. "I noticed you're really good at this subject. I've been struggling a bit—do you think you could help me out sometime?"
Rina looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprise. For a moment, she seemed unsure of how to respond. Kazuki held his breath, hoping he hadn't overstepped.
"Um, sure," Rina finally said, her voice soft and hesitant. "I don't mind helping you. When did you want to go
over it?"
Kazuki felt a wave of relief wash over him. "How about right now? We could go over the notes together before the next class starts."
Rina nodded, and Kazuki quickly pulled up a chair beside her. As they began to go over the notes, Kazuki found himself growing more and more nervous. He knew he had to find the right moment to complete the task, but he didn't want to rush it. He needed to make it seem natural.
They worked in silence for a while, with Rina explaining some of the more complicated concepts to Kazuki. As she did, Kazuki couldn't help but notice how close they were sitting. He could see the delicate curve of her neck, the way her hair fell across her shoulder. His heart raced as he thought about the task—he had to make contact soon.
Finally, an opportunity presented itself. Rina reached out to point to something in his notebook, and Kazuki saw his chance. He pretended to fumble with his pen, letting it roll off the desk and onto the floor.
"Oops," he said, bending down to retrieve it. As he did, he allowed his hand to brush against Rina's. The contact was brief, but Kazuki made sure it lasted just long enough to fulfill the task. His fingers gently closed around hers for a split second before he pulled back, holding up the pen with a sheepish grin.
"Got it," Kazuki said, trying to sound casual.
Rina didn't seem to notice the significance of the moment. She simply smiled politely and continued explaining the notes. Kazuki, on the other hand, felt a rush of exhilaration mixed with relief. He had done it—he had completed the task.
As the system notified him of his success, Kazuki couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. But the feeling was quickly tempered by the realization that this was just the beginning. The system would keep pushing him, and the tasks would only get harder. But for now, Kazuki allowed himself a moment of victory, knowing that he had taken another step forward in his strange, unpredictable journey.