Afternoon, Tokyo, Sobu High School
"So, Hana-chan's a culinary genius, huh? Mastering oyakodon like that," Ryuo Tenshin teased, his tone playful as he glanced at Hana Uzaki across the cafeteria table. He scooped a bite of his oyakodon, savoring the warm, savory blend of chicken and egg.
"But, seriously, no salt, soy sauce, oil, green onions, onions, daikon, or potatoes?"
With each ingredient he listed, Ryuo plucked a piece from his bowl—onion here, chicken there—setting them on the table like evidence.
"Did you skip these on purpose to keep the 'original flavor'?"
Hana's eyes widened, her cheeks puffing out.
"O-Of course it was on purpose!" she insisted, though her voice wavered. "It's all about preserving the pure taste of the ingredients, senpai!"
"On purpose, huh?" Ryuo raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Or did you just forget?"
"Deliberate!" Hana shot back, crossing her arms with mock confidence.
---
[Current Suggestion: Hana Uzaki's oyakodon cooking tips]
[Difficulty: Low]
Ryuo glanced at the system panel in his mind, its glowing interface only visible to him.
Oyakodon tips from Hana-chan? This better not produce dark cuisine.
Still, a suggestion was a suggestion. Even if the dish turned out inedible, he could always scrub the pot and try again. The system didn't care about culinary success—it cared about completion.
---
They finished lunch quickly, Hana's face reddening as she mumbled an excuse and bolted, clearly embarrassed by her shaky recipe. Ryuo chuckled, gathering his tray and heading back to the classroom.
As he walked, he pulled up his system panel, curiosity tugging at him.
---
[Name: Ryuo Tenshin]
[Age: 18]
[Height: 185 cm]
[Strength: 11 (10 for ordinary people)]
[Dexterity: 9 (10 for ordinary people)]
[Endurance: 10 (10 for ordinary people)]
[Skills: 100% Reading Comprehension]
[Items: 10,000 Yen]
[Completed Suggestions: Shizuka Hiratsuka's Reading Comprehension Tips]
[Current Suggestion: Hana Uzaki's oyakodon cooking tips]
---
His stats were standard for a high schooler—nothing extraordinary beyond a slightly above-average strength from his occasional jogs and workouts on the neighborhood exercise equipment.
The 10,000 yen from his last reward sat in his phone's payment app, but he wondered if spending it would remove it from the panel's inventory.
Guess I'll find out.
---
Lost in thought, Ryuo reached the classroom's back door. Just as he turned to enter, a soft but sudden force collided with him. His average physique couldn't brace in time, and he hit the floor with a thud, scattered homework books flying everywhere.
His attention quickly shifted to the person sprawled atop him: Yukino Yukinoshita, the poised and brilliant class representative from Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru, and his classmate in Class 3-A.
---
Yukino's long, raven hair fanned out, her cool blue eyes meeting his with an apologetic wince.
"Gomen nasai, Tenshin-kun," she said softly, her voice steady despite the mishap. "I didn't see you while rushing out. Are you hurt? I'm so sorry—it's my fault."
Ryuo waved it off, shifting to sit up.
"I'm fine, Yukinoshita-san, but I can't exactly get up with you on me."
He braced his arms against the floor, inadvertently lifting Yukino with him. For a brief moment, she was perched on his lap, their faces closer than either expected. Her cheeks flushed a faint pink, and she scrambled to her feet, smoothing her uniform skirt.
---
"I'm so sorry, Tenshin-kun," Yukino said, her composure cracking as she clasped her hands. "I was careless. Are you sure you're not hurt? I can take you to the infirmary."
Ryuo stood, leaning against the doorframe and twisting his torso to show he was fine.
"See? No damage. But you, Yukinoshita-san—your ankle's bleeding from grazing the chair leg when we fell."
Yukino glanced down, noticing the thin trickle of blood.
"Oh," she said, surprised but dismissive. "It's just a scratch. I was careless, that's all. I'll clean it with iodine later."
---
[Current Suggestion: Yukino Yukinoshita's skin trauma treatment tips]
[Difficulty: Low]
Another suggestion pinged in Ryuo's mind.
Iodine application? Easy enough.
Without hesitation, he bent down, one hand steadying Yukino's shoulder while the other slid behind her knees. In one smooth motion, he scooped her up in a princess carry.
At 185 cm and in decent shape from his casual workouts, carrying a slender girl like Yukino—barely 165 cm—was no challenge.
---
"T-Tenshin-kun, what are you doing?" Yukino exclaimed, her voice a mix of shock and embarrassment. She clutched his uniform collar, too startled to resist but clearly flustered.
"The homework Hiratsuka-sensei assigned still needs to be delivered…"
"With a wound like that, we're heading to the infirmary," Ryuo said firmly, though he knew the scratch was minor.
If it heals before I apply the iodine, I'll have to start over.
He wasn't about to let a system reward slip away.
---
"It's not serious," Yukino protested, shaking her head. "Just a small cut, Tenshin-kun. Please, put me down before a teacher sees."
"No way. I'll just run faster," Ryuo quipped, taking the stairs three at a time.
Yukino fell silent, likely worried that struggling might make them both tumble. Tokyo's open-minded school culture meant a boy carrying a girl didn't draw many stares, and Yukino's shy attempt to hide her face against his chest kept passersby from recognizing her.
---
"Sensei, quick!" Ryuo called as he burst into the infirmary, spotting the nurse on duty. "Where's the iodine?"
The nurse, a middle-aged woman with a knowing smile, raised an eyebrow. "???" She lit a cigarette, exhaling as she muttered,
"Young love, huh? Making a fuss over a tiny scratch. Ah, youth."
"No, sensei, it's not like that!" Yukino stammered, her face now a vivid red. "We're not… it's not that kind of relationship!"
---
Before she could say more, Ryuo gently set her on a cot and grabbed a cotton swab dipped in iodine from the nurse's tray. He knelt, carefully dabbing the scratch on her ankle. His focus was intense, almost comically so for such a minor wound.
Yukino watched, her protests fading.
He's so serious… over a scratch no one else would care about. He carried me here, applied the iodine so gently…
Her thoughts spiraled.
Could Tenshin-kun… like me? No, impossible. He's good at academics, sports, handsome… we've just been classmates for three years. But… he's so kind.