At this moment, Takanashi Touka spoke up again, her voice as cold as ever: "I understand now. Your uniform is from Aoyama High School, isn't it? My sister behaving foolishly is one thing—but you're a boy, so why would you also follow her into such foolishness?"
The system didn't reply, but instead turned towards the tearful Takanashi Rikka:
"Be strong, my friend. Even this rain will eventually stop, giving way to clear skies. Though it rains now, beyond those clouds stretches an endless blue sky."
"Ooh~" Takanashi Rikka's eyes widened, suddenly feeling powerful again.
But in the next instant, Takanashi Touka unleashed her ultimate attack:
"Very well, it seems I need to have a chat with your guardian."
Fucking hell, give it up. Outside is filled with Touka-san—you can't win this. Shirase sighed.
He had no desire to trouble Kojima Kana over something like this; she was already tired enough from her daily work.
[Host's desire to retreat detected. System agrees.]
After the notification, the system turned and ran away without another word.
It ran unbelievably fast.
Takanashi Rikka, who had just ignited her fighting spirit again, stood there dumbfounded.
Touka's voice gradually softened: "Seems he's more sensible than you are. Alright, let's go home."
"I still don't know his name…" the chuunibyou girl muttered pitifully.
Touka initially didn't want to pay attention to this, but seeing her sister's unhappy expression and recalling how lonely she usually was, she finally said quietly:
"He was wearing an Aoyama High School uniform, and just like you, it was a first-year student's style. If you can interact with him like a normal person, I wouldn't mind you becoming friends."
"Ooh!" Takanashi Rikka's eyes sparkled as she clenched her small fists, naturally ignoring her sister's "like a normal person" comment.
I'll come find you again, comrade of Kamen Rider Kuuga!
The lonely heart of the chuunibyou girl began beating faster.
...
The system bought the laundry detergent and returned home to wash the clothes.
Throughout the entire return journey, Shirase's incessant complaints and criticisms were thoroughly ignored by the system.
Shirase couldn't help but suspect that this system originated from an online troll forum—an "anti-stress" board perhaps.
Clearly capable of intelligent interaction at times—like earlier, when it had replied or argued back—but it stubbornly refused to proactively communicate. Even when scolded, it maintained absolute serenity.
[Remaining ingredients detected in the kitchen. System will now teach the host how to bake pastries.]
The system under [Free Hosting] was exceedingly free-spirited, immediately thinking of something new to do whenever it noticed something around.
No sooner had it finished washing the clothes, the dumb system began making cupcakes.
Watching its practiced movements and composed attitude, and when the cupcakes emerged from the oven, the irresistible aroma filling the air, Shirase even wanted to add narration like something from A Bite of China.
By the time the freshly baked, perfectly golden cupcakes were placed on the table, the current [Free Hosting] session ended.
Shirase regained control of his body and took a bite of the cupcake—it was undeniably delicious, far beyond his own current skills.
"Kana-nee would definitely love these."
Shirase considered it for a moment, packed up half the cupcakes, and prepared to deliver them to Nakano Nino later.
Though that girl was also good at cooking and baking, Shirase had tasted her cookies before, and they simply couldn't compare to what the system made.
If nothing unexpected happened, these cupcakes would certainly be warmly welcomed by Nakano Itsuki as well.
With the end of this [Free Hosting], he once again obtained a [Triple-Experience Card].
However, just like before, Shirase didn't rush to provide a review. Instead, he opened the [Wheel-of-Fortune Lottery].
The same familiar four sectors appeared.
The prizes were respectively: [1,000,000 yen in cash], [Hell-tendo handheld gaming console], [Complete Works Collection of Matsushita Saeko-sensei], and...
[Mary Jane High Heels favored by Nakano Ichika]
Shirase instantly fell into silence.
[Lottery wheel has started. Host, please begin the draw soon. Good luck.]
"Last time it was Itsuki, and now it's Ichika, huh?"
Shirase couldn't hold back any longer, firing off words like a machine gun: "If I'm not mistaken, this time I'm absolutely guaranteed to draw Ichika's favorite high heels, aren't I?"
[Not necessarily. Each lottery draw by the system is entirely random. The host only has a one-in-four chance of drawing the high heels.]
Hearing the system's explanation, Shirase was filled with doubt.
Although logically that seemed correct, and there indeed were four prizes available, the previous experience had left an excessively deep impression on him.
As Shirase hesitated, his gaze suddenly fell on the progress bar at the bottom of the system panel again.
Current progress: 11%.
Beside the progress bar appeared a message: new function [Immersive Hosting] locked.
"What does Immersive Hosting mean?" Shirase subconsciously asked.
At least with [Wheel-of-Fortune Lottery], the meaning was understandable at face value, but for this one, Shirase had no way of guessing.
[The host will understand after unlocking this function.]
Great, your explanation was as helpful as saying nothing at all.
Shirase decided to draw.
Even though [Mary Jane High Heels favored by Nakano Ichika] was glaringly conspicuous, maybe he'd still manage to win something else this time—like the million yen in cash or something.
As for Matsushita-sensei's Complete Works Collection, he wasn't particularly interested in that.
The blue cursor began spinning. After about ten seconds, it slowly stopped on—
[Mary Jane High Heels favored by Nakano Ichika]
Shirase's eyes instantly changed.
The look of someone contemplating murder couldn't be concealed.
[Congratulations, host, for winning your prize. The system will retrieve it for you in the shortest possible time.]
God damn system, fuck your mother!
Amid Shirase's internal screams, his body was abruptly controlled by the system again.
He picked up his keys and phone, quickly leaving the house.
...
"Is that Shirase-kun?" Nakano Yotsuba and Nakano Nino, who had just returned from outside, were standing by the apartment entrance. Yotsuba immediately noticed the rapidly approaching figure.
Hearing Shirase's name, Nakano Nino immediately turned to look—indeed, it was that idiot who constantly stirred up chaos in her heart.
"Hehe, I bet he's here to see you," Yotsuba giggled teasingly.
Nakano Nino's expression remained calm. She merely raised a hand, neatly fixing the windblown strands of hair over her forehead, eyes staring intently at Shirase as he drew closer.
Finally, the two sides met.
Nino opened her mouth, ready to greet him.
Yet Shirase rushed past her like a gust of wind, quickly leaving behind a single sentence: "Sorry, I've got something to discuss with Ichika." And just like that, he hurried off into the distance again like a passing breeze.
Nakano Nino stood frozen, dumbstruck in place.
Yotsuba was utterly baffled. "Eh? Wasn't he here to find you? But Ichika hasn't come home yet—even we don't know where she went… Wait, could they have made plans beforehand?"
As she finished her sentence, Yotsuba's spirits suddenly rose, as if she'd made a groundbreaking discovery.
She was convinced her guess had a high probability of being correct.
Hearing these words, Nakano Nino's internal "Little-Bitch Radar" instantly activated.
"Yotsuba, we're going!"
Nakano Nino decisively shifted into Gundam mode, ready for combat.