~ Ayano's Pov, Sekai's Residence ~
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"Umm... Sekai-san." I asked her.
"Hai?"
"How should I put this..."
"Put, what?"
"Well... Aren't you quiet, wealthy?" She was rotten rich. Her home, if one could call it that, was absolutely humongous...
Sekai blinked at me, like she wasn't sure if I was messing with her or not. "Eh? W-What makes you say that?"
I gestured vaguely around her not-so-humble abode—the high ceilings, the sparkling floors, the clean modern lines that looked straight out of an architecture blog. This wasn't a regular house… this was essentially prime real estate goals.
"I mean, Sekai-san…" I raised an eyebrow. "You live in a place with motion-sensor lighting in the hallway. And is that a grand piano just casually sitting over there?"
She scratched her cheek, letting out a sheepish laugh. "Ahaha… yeah. My mom's kind of… extra. She works a lot, so she likes making the place feel nice when she's home."
I blinked. "Huh? You make it sound it's Just you and your mom that live here."
"Mm-hmm~ It's just us," she said, smiling a little. "She's usually out late, though, so don't worry. We've got the entire house to ourselves."
What the? 'Then... Why did she say her room was too cramped for Katsura to join us earlier?'
My brain did a quick rewind for a second, replaying that moment from school. Sekai had definitely said it'd be a tight fit… yet, here we were in a place that could probably host a small wedding in the living room... I glanced at her, who was now walking a little ahead of me, humming like nothing was out of the ordinary...
'...Ah. I see how it is.'
Maybe she wanted it to be just the two of us... Perhaps, this wasn't entirely about space—it seemed like it was more so about privacy. That realization made me tug my hoodie just a little lower, trying not to think too hard about it. Or, overthink it. Or... anything.
I raised both brows. "Right. So this is the toned-down version of her style?"
"Now that ya' mentioned it... She almost put a chandelier in my bathroom," she said like it was a normal complaint, then turned to start walking down the hallway. "Anyway, my room's this way! It's kinda small—don't judge."
Given what I'd already seen, I braced myself for a "small room" that probably had its own AC system and mood lighting...
Still, I followed after her, backpack slung over one shoulder, trying to wrap my head around how I was supposed to focus on econ in a place that practically looked like a designer's showroom...
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As Sekai led us down the hallway, Katsura trailed just a few steps behind me, her eyes darting around the place with that same quiet amazement I was probably feeling. She hadn't said much since we stepped inside, but I could tell she was just as stunned by it as I was...
"This place is huge..." she whispered softly, almost to herself.
I glanced back at her and nodded. still hiding my face a bit, "Right? And apparently her room is the 'small' part."
Sekai turned her head with a playful smile, clearly hearing us. "I said don't judge! You'll see what I mean in a sec!"
Katsura and I exchanged a look, both of us already mentally preparing for the most luxurious "cramped room" in existence.
And then she opened the door.
To say I was caught off guard would be an understatement.
Her "kinda small" room? Yeah. If this was small, then my room was basically a utility closet. It had soft lighting, a massive window with actual curtains (like—the fancy ones that swish), a fluffy cream-colored rug that looked comfier than my mattress back home, and a desk setup that probably cost more than my entire allowance for the year.
There were a couple of plushies on the bed, shelves neatly stacked with books, and a few small potted plants by the window that looked like they'd actually been cared for. It felt cozy... but still upscale.
Sekai turned to me with a sheepish grin, maybe catching the stunned look on my face.
"I told you not to judge," she said, laughing softly. "It's not that big."
"…You say that like your bed doesn't pretty much have its own ZIP code."
She stuck her tongue out at me playfully. "Hey, don't make fun of it! It's my comfy zone."
I chuckled and stepped inside, slipping off my shoes near the door out of habit. "Nah, it's nice. Really."
She brightened up at that, walking over to her desk and pulling out her econ notes. "Alright then, Mr. 90s Club—ready to help a poor, struggling student?"
I dropped my bag on the floor next to the desk and pulled out my own notebook. "As ready as I'll ever be."
We sat down together, side by side at her desk—close enough that our arms brushed a few times. Not enough to be weird, but… not nothing either.
She leaned in a bit closer. "Okay, explain to me again why opportunity cost is, like, a thing?"
I glanced sideways at her, trying not to get distracted by how earnest she looked right now.
"Alright. So imagine you had to choose between buying a new video game or going out for sushi—?"
"Oh, sushi. Easy."
"Exactly. But the cost of choosing sushi means you're giving up the video game... That tradeoff? That's essentially what opportunity cost was in it's entirety summed up."
Her eyes lit up. "Ohhh, so it's basically the thing you didn't do?"
"Yeah."
She blinked at me, impressed. "Wow; You actually make this sound less painful."
I smiled, "it's a hidden talent I have."
Then I felt a tug on my hoodie, I turned around, "Umm... Ayano-san... could you explain this part for me as well?
Katsura held out her notebook, open to a section I hadn't even gotten to with Sekai yet. Her handwriting was neat, a little spaced out, and highlighted with pastel markers—definitely someone who studied seriously, even if she was shy about asking for help.
"Oh, uh—sure," I said, adjusting a bit to face her too. "This is about marginal utility, right?"
She nodded silently, eyes flicking between me and the page.
"Alright, so… it's kind of like this. Imagine you're eating slices of cake. The first slice? Amazing. The second? Still good, but maybe a little less exciting. By the third slice, you're kind of just eating it because it's there—"
"Unless it's chocolate," Sekai muttered off to the side, grinning as she peeked over her notes.
I grinned back, then continued, "—but yeah, the satisfaction you get from each slice goes down. That drop? That's marginal utility. Each extra unit gives you less and less benefit."
Katsura blinked, then slowly nodded, like it was just starting to click. "Ah… okay. So it's like… value goes down the more of something you get."
"Exactly."
There was a short silence after that—comfortable, not awkward.
Tap~
Tap~
Sekai tapped her pencil against her desk. "Okay, okay, now explain that concept again but using ice cream instead of cake."
I raised an eyebrow. "You just want an excuse to talk about food, don't you?"
"Maaaybe~" she sang, leaning her cheek into her hand with a teasing smile. Katsura let out a tiny giggle, one hand covering her mouth.
I sighed playfully, leaning back in my chair. "This is gonna be a long night, isn't it?"
But if I was being honest… I, didn't really mind. Three students, one heck of a too-rich study room, and enough econ terms to make a textbook sweat—weirdly enough, this wasn't the worst way to spend an evening...
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A few hours had passed since we started, and we barely rested at all. But, I think it was a good session, and... a great time for me to leave.
"Alright guys, I think we can call it quits... It's 7:23 PM. Almost 8, and I need to get home.
Sekai looked up from her notes, blinking a bit like she was just now realizing how much time had passed. "Eh? Already?"
"Yeah," I said, stretching my arms a bit as I stood. "We powered through a good amount though. I think we'll all pass econ with flying colors at this rate."
Katsura nodded softly, closing her notebook with a gentle pat. "Thank you… for explaining everything, Ayano-san. I feel more confident now."
"Same here," Sekai added, flashing a small, proud smile. "Seriously though—I think, you're kind of built for this tutoring thing."
I scratched the back of my head, feeling the tiniest bit sheepish at the compliment, I'm still not used to them. "I, guess… I just talk a lot when I know what I'm saying. Plus, I had pretty great students too."
"You should talk a lot more, then," Sekai teased, walking me toward the front of the house with Katsura not far behind the both of us. "It's, cool seeing you like this."
I glanced over at her but didn't say anything right away... By the time we got to the front door, I'd already slung my backpack over my shoulder again. I turned back to the two girls standing in the light of the entrance.
"Well, I guess I'll catch you both tomorrow," I said, giving them a casual wave. "Econ's in the bag."
Sekai smiled. "Thanks again, Ayano-kun. And… text me when you get home, okay?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Ha! Worried about me now?"
She shrugged, but her smile didn't fade. "I don't know~ Maybe just teensy little."
Katsura gave me a quiet wave too, eyes soft under the warm lighting. "G-Goodnight."
"All right, night, you two."
I stepped out, the crisp evening air wrapping around me as the door gently shut behind... And as I made my way down the front steps, hands tucked in my hoodie pockets, I couldn't help but smile a little.
'Yeah… definitely not the worst way a guy could spend an evening.'
Plus, I had some, practice left to do...
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~ Third Person Pov, right after Ayano left ~
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Katsura stared at Saionji, the look in her eyes questioning her own emotions... "S-Sekai-san… Do you... perhaps, like Ayano-kun?" Her voice was soft but carried an unmistakable curiosity in it.
Sekai's breath caught in her throat, her chest tightening at the suddenness of the question. It felt like time slowed, and for a moment, she wasn't sure how to answer. The weight of the question hung there between the two of them.
After a long pause, Sekai finally let out a soft, resigned sigh, looking down at her hands for a moment. "Is it that obvious?" she muttered, her voice barely a whisper. She sounded almost unsure of herself, like she wasn't ready to admit it, but knew she couldn't hide it anymore either...
Katsura didn't say anything immediately, but her gaze softened as she observed Sekai, the quiet acknowledgment in her eyes making the air around them shift. Sekai's response hung like a secret they both shared, even if the weight of it still felt, strange.
Sekai ran her fingers through her hair, her expression softening even more. "I don't know how it happened, but… yeah, I like him. A lot." Her voice grew more confident, as though the admission felt lighter once it was out there. She glanced at Katsura, her cheeks slightly flushed. "He practically gives me butterflies when he speaks to me. It's stupid, right? But… when he's around me, I feel like my heart's about to burst. I've never felt anything like that before."
Katsura blinked, her face a mix of surprise and understanding. She could hear the sincerity in Sekai's voice. Sekai wasn't usually so open about her emotions, so this moment, raw and unfiltered, made Katsura pause.
"So, it's not just about… The things he does or says?" Katsura asked, her voice quieter now, almost in awe of how freely Sekai was speaking.
Sekai's smile was a little bittersweet, her lips curling just slightly. "It's everything. The way he looks at me, like I'm not just another person in the room, but someone he genuinely wants to understand. I can't really explain it; But when he's around, I just feel like I'm the onlyone he sees."
Katsura leaned back slightly, absorbing Sekai's words, but her thoughts drifted momentarily to the unspoken things in her own heart. She never realized how much Sekai had felt for him, and in some twisted way, hearing Sekai's confession made her heart twist, too.
"Plus, he's pretty handsome too." Sekai added, blushing slightly.
Katsura looked a bit confused for a moment, and Sekai immediately realized, "Wait... Katsura-san, have you actually seen Ayano-kun's face since the day started?" Katsura then shook her head in denial.
"N-No... He's had on his hoodie the entire day since I came, so... I haven't really gotten the chance to see his face, but why? I don't think he's particularly unattractive, but I wouldn't say he's handsome."
"Hmm, just give me a second." Sekai took out her phone, scrolling for a bit, "Here, look at this."
The image was a candid shot from the school session earlier in the day, with Ayano leaning over his desk, his hoodie pushed down completely, enough for more than a glimpse of his face. His expression was serious, focused on the textbook in front of him, but his features were soft yet defined...
Katsura's cheeks reddened, before Sekai suddenly took back her phone. "I-I see..."
Sekai, not wanting to leave the moment hanging in the air, chuckled nervously. "Still, it's ridiculous, right? Me, falling for someone like him... But, there's just something about him…" She trailed off, as if her eyes were focusing on something far away, maybe lost in the thought of Ayano. "When I'm around him, I don't know, it's like everything else fades away. I just want to be near him. Does that sound stupid?"
Katsura's smile was almost sympathetic as she watched Sekai, understanding far more than she let on. "No," she said, her voice soft. "It doesn't sound stupid at all. I... I get it."
"Wait...?" Sekai raised an eyebrow, turning to look at her friend. "You get it?"
Katsura nodded slowly, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "Y-Yeah, I get it. You don't have to explain it. There's just something about him that… pulls people in. I think… I think I'm starting to feel it too. Every time he's around, I get this weird calm, like I can trust him without even knowing why. And it's confusing. Because he's not my 'type,' but every time we talk, I feel this sense of... safety. Like I can tell him anything. Does... Does that sound stupid?"
Sekai's eyes softened, and she let out a long, slow breath. "It's not stupid, Katsura. It's not."
The weight of their words settled between them, unspoken feelings hanging in the air like a fragile thread. For a moment, neither of them spoke, each of them lost in their own whirlwind of thoughts and emotions.
"I think…" Sekai started, her voice quieter, more thoughtful now. "I think he really is different from the others. He makes everything feel... easy. And maybe that's what I like about him most."
Katsura nodded in agreement, her eyes darkened with a hint of longing. "I guess... we'll have to figure out what happens next."
Sekai blushed and smiled faintly. "Yeah… but for now, It looks like we're both in this mess, huh?"
Katsura returned the smile, though it was tinged with a little bit of uncertainty. "Yeah... Together."
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~ Ayano's Pov, in an abandoned warehouse ~
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'This place, it's perfect...'
I took off my hoodie and left it hanging on a steel beam that was left standing. But, I don't think I should even get my hopes up.
'Status...'
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Name: Ayano Keiji
Class: The Little Chosen One
Height: 177 cm | 5.80feet
Age: 17
Health: 16000 / 16000 [50000 / 50000]
Energy: 6600 / 6600 [10000 / 10000]
Strength: 511 / 1000
Defense: 511 / 1000
Agility: 511 / 1000
Spirit: 511 / 1000
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Based on just raw numbers... I should be slightly more than twice as strong, fast and tough at least compared to before the last increase...
"I guess... I could start with striking power first?" The first time I went all out in my strikes, my fist left a 6 inch diameter hole in concrete, that was around an inch deep give or take...
Crick~
I clenched my fists as hard as a possibly could, and I aimed directly at the concrete beneath me...
'Phooo~' Here goes nothing.
"HARRRGHHH!!!!!!"
Fwip!
BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Thud~
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Thud~
As the dust slowly settled around me, the wind from the shockwave whipping through the broken frame of the abandoned building, I waved my hand in front of my face and tried not to choke.
Cough! Cough! "Damn it! The dust!" I coughed again, squinting through the gray cloud...
When I finally got a good look at what I'd done, I couldn't help but freeze completely.
Where my fist had landed was no longer just cracked concrete—it was a small crater. A full-blown impact zone in a sense, easily over a meter wide, and at least a few more inches in depth... The ground around it had all splintered apart, with spiderweb and other fractures, with loose bits of stone that were still rolling around from how strong it was...
I ran to my bag like a mad man, getting my tape and measuring both it's length and depth...
"N-No, way..." The entire crater was 31 inches in it's length, and 3 inches in it's depth. using the formula I know of... I should be. This, can't really be right, can it?
'Ifmy math's correct; that means, I'm over 80-times stronger than my previous self in sheer punching power.'
That means my stat gains aren't even linear... Then, how much stronger would going from 500 to 700 attribute points even be like?
I looked over at the crater again. Still not having to believe what I've done entirely.
'If I hit a person with that kind of force…'
I swallowed...
'Even if I held back, I could—' I shook my head, pushing the thought away before it finished. That wasn't something I wanted to imagine. Not now...
'I think, I should move on to something else.'
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END