Kazuki's footsteps echoed down the corridor as he made his way to his next class. The tension from the previous days clung to him like a second skin, a constant reminder of the dangerous game he was playing. The system's relentless demands, the growing paranoia on campus, and the constant fear of being discovered had pushed him to his limits. But in the midst of it all, there was one person who had become an unexpected source of support—Kenta Watanabe.
As Kazuki approached the classroom door, he spotted Kenta leaning against the wall, his arms crossed and a knowing smirk on his face. Kenta had a way of making himself comfortable in any situation, no matter how tense or awkward. It was a trait that Kazuki had come to admire, even if it sometimes grated on his nerves.
"Hey, Kazuki," Kenta greeted him with a nod. "How's it going? You look like you've been through the wringer."
Kazuki forced a smile, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly at the sight of his unlikely ally. "Yeah, it's been a rough few days. But I'm hanging in there."
Kenta raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Come on, man. I can see it on your face. You're stressed out of your mind."
Kazuki sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I guess I am. The system's tasks are getting harder, and the rumors on campus aren't helping. I feel like I'm walking on a tightrope, and one wrong move could send me plummeting."
Kenta's expression softened slightly, his usual smirk giving way to something more sincere. "Yeah, I get that. But you're not alone in this, Kazuki. I'm here to help, even if my methods aren't exactly conventional."
Kazuki couldn't help but chuckle at that. "That's one way to put it. Your advice has been… interesting, to say the least."
Kenta grinned, clearly pleased with himself. "Hey, I never said I was a saint. But I know how to get things done, and I've got your back."
Despite his initial reservations about Kenta, Kazuki had to admit that the thug had proven to be a surprisingly valuable ally. Kenta's street smarts and ability to read people had been instrumental in helping Kazuki navigate the increasingly dangerous tasks assigned by the system. And as much as Kazuki hated to admit it, he was starting to see Kenta as more than just a thug—he was beginning to see him as a friend.
"Thanks, Kenta," Kazuki said, his tone more genuine than before. "I appreciate your help, even if it doesn't always make sense to me."
Kenta shrugged, as if to say it was no big deal. "No problem, man. We're in this together, right? Now, let's figure out how to tackle this next task."
Kazuki nodded, grateful for the distraction from his spiraling thoughts. The system's latest demand was to make prolonged skin contact with a girl—an arm, to be precise. The task seemed simple on the surface, but the growing tension on campus made it anything but.
Kenta pushed himself off the wall and motioned for Kazuki to follow him. "Let's take a walk. I've got some ideas that might help you out."
As they walked through the corridors of the university, Kenta began to share his thoughts. Despite his rough exterior, it was clear that Kenta was more observant than Kazuki had initially realized. He had a knack for noticing the little details that others overlooked, and he had been quietly gathering information on potential opportunities for Kazuki to complete the task.
"So, here's the deal," Kenta began, his voice low as they navigated through the throng of students. "You need to find a situation where you can make it seem natural. Nothing too obvious, nothing that'll raise any red flags."
Kazuki nodded, hanging on to Kenta's every word. "That's easier said than done, especially with everyone on high alert."
"True," Kenta agreed, his tone thoughtful. "But that doesn't mean it's impossible. You've just got to be smart about it. Pick the right moment, the right person, and you can pull it off without anyone suspecting a thing."
As they turned a corner, Kazuki spotted a group of students gathered near the bulletin board. Among them was Ayumi Sato, a tomboyish girl with a beautiful appearance who had always been easy to get along with. Her small breast size was often a topic of teasing among the boys, but it didn't bother her. In fact, it only made her more popular as the boys treated her like one of their own—a brother or best friend. She was chatting animatedly with a few of her friends, her smile bright and infectious.
Kenta followed Kazuki's gaze and nodded approvingly. "Ayumi, huh? She's a good choice. She's friendly, always talking to people. If you approach her, no one will think twice about it."
Kazuki hesitated, uncertainty gnawing at him. "But how do I make it look natural? I can't just grab her arm out of nowhere."
Kenta grinned, the mischievous glint in his eyes returning. "Leave that to me. I've got an idea."
Kazuki looked at Kenta skeptically. "Why do I feel like I'm going to regret this?"
Kenta chuckled, clearly enjoying Kazuki's discomfort. "Trust me, Kazuki. I know what I'm doing."
With that, Kenta began to make his way toward Ayumi and her group of friends, motioning for Kazuki to stay back for the moment. Kazuki watched nervously as Kenta approached the group, his heart pounding in his chest. He wasn't sure what Kenta was planning, but he had no choice but to go along with it.
Kenta casually inserted himself into the conversation, his presence immediately drawing the attention of the group. Ayumi greeted him with a cheerful smile, clearly unfazed by the sudden intrusion.
"Hey, Kenta!" Ayumi said, her tone warm and welcoming. "What brings you here?"
Kenta flashed her a charming grin. "Just thought I'd see what you guys were up to. Mind if I join in?"
Ayumi and her friends seemed happy to include him, and soon Kenta had them all laughing with his usual brand of humor. Kazuki watched from a distance, still unsure of what Kenta's plan was.
After a few minutes, Kenta subtly motioned for Kazuki to come over. Kazuki took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever was about to happen. As he approached the group, Kenta smoothly introduced him.
"Hey, guys, this is Kazuki," Kenta said, slapping Kazuki on the back in a friendly manner. "He's a good friend of mine."
Ayumi smiled warmly at Kazuki. "Hi, Kazuki! Nice to meet you. I've seen you around campus."
Kazuki managed a small smile, trying to ignore the anxiety gnawing at his insides. "Nice to meet you too, Ayumi."
As the conversation continued, Kenta subtly guided the topic toward a recent campus event that Ayumi had been involved in organizing. She began to recount the details of the event, her hands gesturing animatedly as she spoke.
That's when Kenta made his move.
"Oh, speaking of that event," Kenta said, feigning sudden interest. "Kazuki was just telling me he wanted to get more involved in campus activities. Ayumi, you're the perfect person to help him out with that."
Ayumi's eyes lit up at the suggestion. "Really, Kazuki? That's awesome! I'd be happy to help you get involved. We're always looking for more people to join our team."
Kazuki nodded, doing his best to appear enthusiastic. "Yeah, I've been thinking about it for a while. I'd love to help out."
Ayumi clapped her hands together, clearly excited. "Great! We're actually planning a meeting for the next event this weekend. You should definitely come."
Kazuki knew this was his chance. He forced himself to relax, allowing his expression to soften. "That sounds great. I'll definitely be there."
As Ayumi continued to talk about the event, Kenta casually nudged Kazuki's arm, silently signaling him to make his move. Kazuki hesitated for a split second, but then he reminded himself that this was his best opportunity.
With as much casualness as he could muster, Kazuki reached out and placed his hand on Ayumi's arm, as if to emphasize his interest in the conversation. The contact was light at first, but Kazuki knew he had to make it last.
"Thanks for including me, Ayumi," Kazuki said, his voice steady despite the rapid beating of his heart. "I really appreciate it."
Ayumi didn't seem to notice anything unusual about the contact. She simply smiled and placed her hand over Kazuki's, giving it a friendly squeeze. "No problem, Kazuki. I'm really glad you're interested in helping out. We could definitely use someone like you on the team."
Kazuki felt a surge of relief as the seconds ticked by. Ayumi's reaction was exactly what he had hoped for—friendly and natural. There was no suspicion, no awkwardness. Just a genuine connection.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Kazuki let go of Ayumi's arm, his hand dropping to his side. The task was complete, and he could feel the tension in his chest start to dissipate.
"Great," Kazuki said, his voice calm and collected. "