The dating sim system’s options for increasing stats were quite wondrous.
If the conditions weren’t fulfilled, the option would be grayed out and unselectable. For example, the [morning jog] option to raise [physical ability] couldn’t be selected unless it was actually morning. But in the morning, it would light up and could be chosen.
If he selected an available option, Seiji would have a strong urge to do what he just chose, and if he forced himself to go against it, the option would turn gray again, and the relevant stat would actually decrease!
On the other hand, if he followed his urge to finish what he chose, after a certain amount of time, the urge would disappear, and his stat would increase.
In conclusion, it was quite a convenient function and was especially suitable for the lazy.
The stat that Seiji wanted to raise most right now was of course [physical ability]. He didn’t have to work today, so it was a perfect time to utilize his system.
After he returned to his apartment, he chose the option to [exercise at home].
Then, his mind was suddenly filled with an urge to do warmup exercises, and his brain automatically heard a fast-paced "one, two, three, and four…" His body then instinctively started to move, and his mind was wholly focused on exercising…
...
*Plop!* Seiji made a sound like he was just coming out of a swimming pool, and in truth, his whole body was completely drenched. Every pore was oozing sweat, and his sweat-soaked clothes emitted a foul odor.
After panting heavily, he glanced at the time.
Whoa, he had actually exercised without resting for three whole hours!
What the hell, this option must be bugged! When he experimented with it before, it wasn’t at this level!
What could have caused the change—was it because his stats were higher than the first time he tried it? Or was it because he was seriously intending to exercise this time?
Seiji couldn’t figure out the answer as he lay collapsed on the floor, paralyzed with exhaustion.
Although it was quite hard on his body, the effect was evident; his physical ability stat had instantly increased by two points already.
Two points wasn’t an insignificant gain. Despite his physical ability stat increasing several times when he had first started working, after that it had stagnated, and it completely stopped increasing no matter how much he worked. For three hours of exercising to increase it by two points… it was truly astounding.
If he could increase his physical ability stat by two points every time he exercised, then wouldn’t Seiji become a super athlete in before long…? No, it couldn’t possibly be that easy, could it?
After lunch, he took a long nap.
In the afternoon, Seiji used the [exercise at home] option again, and he felt the unstoppable urge to exercise once more…
It was now evening.
Mika Uehara had spent an especially long day at school, and she finally returned home accompanied by her good friend.
After entering her home, she relaxed completely, jumping on her sofa and rolling around on it.
The president was so cool!
After hearing her circumstances and listening to her request, the student council president instantly took action, giving the blondie a stern lecture and warning.
This resulted in the blondie avoiding her for the whole day.
While the blondie’s family was quite powerful, they were insignificant compared to the president’s family; the president’s warning should be more than enough to pacify him.
Having successfully received the student council president’s protection, Mika Uehara felt quite relieved.
And now that she was at home, she thought about the person who gave her the idea, feeling a sudden urge to share her joy and success with him.
She was the type to act on her feelings, and besides, he lived right upstairs.
Mika Uehara walked upstairs to the second floor and knocked on Seiji Haruta’s door.
It took quite a while for the door to open slowly, and the face behind it appeared exhausted.
Mika Uehara jumped in surprise.
"What happened, Haruta-kun!?"
"Nothing, I was just exercising…" Haruta’s words seemed to lack energy to the extent which it seemed like he was just a husk of himself.
"Exercising?"
"I’m off from work today, so I exercised in my room and sweated tons. I just finished showering."
"Oh…" She nodded, suddenly noticing that his figure seemed slightly smaller.
Of course, he was still fat, but… it seemed like he was slightly skinnier than this morning?
It must be her imagination, right? Just working out in your room couldn’t possibly be this effective.
"How about your situation?" Seiji asked.
Mika Uehara recalled why she came here and happily told him what had happened.
"That president seems like a good person."
"Yep, she’s the coolest! I’m also going to join her fan club!"
"…Her?"
"Yeah, the president is a girl; she’s beautiful, gentle, and really cool!" It was as if stars were sparkling in Mika Uehara’s eyes.
The mental image that Seiji had of a respected family’s scion instantly collapsed.
At first, he felt like it didn’t matter, but the next minute, he felt like things wouldn’t end this simply.
It was because the president was female.
If the president was male, with a powerful family backing him up, warning that scumbag to keep his distance from a girl would most likely cause him to stay away out of fear. However, with the president being a girl… Having a girl warn that type of scumbag was likely to cause him to want to rebel against the warning even more.
Seiji could only hope that his worries were unfounded.
"Even though the president has acted on your behalf, you should still be cautious for the time being."
"Yep! I returned home accompanied by a friend." Mika nodded, before showing a trace of shyness, "but… about going to school…"
"I can take you, however…" Seiji smiled slightly.
"I know, I’ll take care of your breakfasts!" Mika showed a brilliant smile.
*Click!* Seiji heard the sound of his system saving the picture as a CG.
He never imagined that he’d be able to see this type of smile in 3-D!
A life filled with enjoying daily pleasures—that was the kind of life he wanted!
After Mika left, Seiji returned to his room and took a good look at himself in the bathroom mirror.
There was no mistake; he was definitely skinnier. Although he didn’t know what his weight was, he had definitely lost at least 2.5 kilograms.
This efficiency was terrifying!
With this speed, if he kept up the exercise routine for a week, he could have a normal person’s body shape, or maybe even become fairly strong… But wouldn’t this scare everyone around him?
In one week, turning from a huge, fat otaku into a strong youth… This would be such a great difference— it would be perfect for a weight-loss advertisement!
Should he decrease the speed a little?
Then, when he thought about what was possible, Seiji decided that he would exercise with all his might!
There were so many strange and wondrous things in this world anyway, so becoming thin in one week shouldn’t really be such a big deal.
And after using the system’s option to exercise twice, Seiji had discovered that he actually enjoyed the feeling of increasing his stats after a session of hard work.
Leveling was so fun; he just couldn’t stop himself!
The next day.
Seiji woke up at the crack of dawn and chose the [morning jog] option after leaving the apartment.
"Oh oh oh oh oh!" Seiji felt a sudden urge to run to the edge of the world, and his brain was filled with nothing but the thought of running on endlessly!
He didn’t know what happened afterwards, or for how long he ran for, or where he went, as when he realized what was going on again, he was standing in front of his apartment, soaked in sweat, panting like a dog in summer heat, his expression looking similar to a dead fish.
Just standing there for a few seconds caused a puddle of sweat to accumulate by his feet.
"I… I’m almost dying…" He shakily headed for the stairs and didn’t even notice that a beautiful lady was observing him from close by.
"Ha… Haruta-kun?"
"Hm?"
Seiji turned his head around, and a mature young woman came into his view. She was well-dressed, ample-bosomed, had short dark red hair, and a delicate, pretty face. Her amber eyes, which were the same color as Mika Uehara's eyes, were intently fixed on his face.
"Good morning, Mrs. Landlord."
This person was Mika Uehara’s mother and the landlord of this simple apartment, Nozomi Uehara.
"Good morning, Haruta-kun, were you… just out for a morning jog?" Nozomi walked over with a slight smile on her face.
Seiji nodded lightly.
"I’m soaked in sweat, so it’s embarrassing to be seen by you."
"Not at all, Haruta-kun… you’re working so hard—it’s no wonder Mika said it was like you have become a different person."
Of course, Nozomi remembered Seiji from when he first rented an apartment. The way in which the former lowlife otaku looked at her made her feel revolted. If it wasn’t for the fact that she lacked tenants, she would never have accepted him as a renter.
But now, the fat young man in front of her was completely different: his eyes seemed clear and calm, his words steady and reserved, and he was filled with the smell of someone who had been exercising seriously instead of a strange, perverted stench.
"I know that I used to be… quite awful, so I have been changing myself, and I hope it’s not too late." Seiji smiled wryly, "I was rude to you before as well, Mrs. Landlord. I hope you’ll be able to forgive me."
He was truly different; the fat otaku from before never would have said something that sounded so sincere!
"No, I should also ask for your forgiveness—my attitude before… also wasn’t the best." Nozomi bowed and spoke sincerely.
"Also, thank you very much for helping my daughter. She told me that if it wasn’t for you, then…" Remembering back to what she heard from Mika, Nozomi’s face was filled with fear.
If this boy hadn’t appeared at that time, then Mika might have…
"It was nothing; I was just passing by. I think any man would do the same thing in that situation." Seiji scratched his cheek awkwardly, "Uehara… Miss Mika also thanked me already, so you don’t need to be so formal with me."
"Honestly, I’m truly grateful to you." The young mother bowed deeply.
Seiji could only accept her gratitude.
"Mrs. Landlord, were you waiting here to thank me?"
"Mm… No matter what, I wanted to thank you personally." She stood up straight again. "My daughter Mika is probably just getting up now, and she mentioned that the two of you have a promise."
"Yes, she brings me breakfast, and I take her to school. I think it’s a pretty good deal." Seiji kept scratching his face.
"Just a deal?" Nozomi covered her smile: "From what I can see, Mika seems to be quite happy."
Seiji was rendered speechless at the young mother’s joke, and after some awkwardness, he said that he needed to hurry up and take a shower before hastily escaping upstairs.
‘Oh, he’s gotten so much cuter. And… he seems a bit skinnier and more handsome?’ Nozomi thought, while watching Seiji go upstairs.