"You can't upgrade this special ability, you need to upgrade the base affinity:

Drawing, currently level 0.

Upgrading this will grant you:

Improved hand coordination,

Picture-a.n.a.lysis,

General drawing improvement,

The special ability 'I can do this!'."

- Guess that makes sense, I'll upgrade this drawing thing and then the Anime/Manga style. -

[Understood, upgrading Drawing, lvl 0 to Drawing, lvl 1.]

Suddenly, the knowledge just flew into my head. It almost felt like I had always known the stuff. On my UI, I had gotten 2 round icons with the markings 'Picture-a.n.a.lysis' and 'I can do this!'.

I then went on and upgraded the ability I really wanted.

[Understood, upgrading Anime/Manga style, lvl 0 to Anime/Manga style, lvl 1.

Since you haven't found out what it grants you, here's a list:

Animation basics,

Manga basics,

The ability 'Just a quick look',

Marketing skills,

The ability 'IdeMachine',

Improved story-creating.]

Again, the knowledge just popped into my mind without a problem and a few more icons formed next to the other two.

Without me realizing it, Narino was suddenly in my field of vision. With a curious set of eyes, she asked

"What is this 'Hotou Kaito-system'-thing?"

My eyebrows curled upwards in confusion and I asked the questions that were flying around in my head

"What do you mean? Do you not have the Hotou Kaito-system? I thought that was a standard thing Kaito users had."

Before Narino even had the chance to respond, Anami chimed in and said

"The Great I have the answer for that particular question; Only half of Kaito users have access to the system, making it a sort-of rare ability. But I guess it isn't as rare as I thought, considering you got it..."

Aya looked at Anami and said

"Unnecessary comment. Anyways, what did you spend your skill points on?"

At this point, I was tired from everything that had happened the last couple of hours so I sat down on the ground. I answered

"1 on Hotou Kaito-system, 1 on the Drawing affinity and 1 on the Anime/Mangstyle special ability."

"Eh?"

"Eh?"

"Eh?"

"Eh?"

"Eh?"

Like it was planned, the confused remarks fell on each other one after one

- I'm pretty darned impressed with their ability to sync with each other. Definitely something I could never learn to do. When I was younger, my not-so-great parents forced me to go to an acting school because they wanted me to get big and earn them money. I had a pretty terrible time there, No matter how many times I rehea.r.s.ed my lines they just didn't stick when it was my cue to say something. That's also why I have mad respect to actors out there because I have experience doing it and know how tough it can be to try and be someone you're not.

The reaction I received when I told my parents I wanted to quit wasn't the best. A lot of nights with belts followed that. -

Anami rushed towards me and pointed vulgarly with her finger at me and yelled

"Why the h.e.l.l did you spend your valuable points at something so useless as drawing!?"

I facepalmed and said

"I have no interest in fighting anyone, I know that I lose immediately. Because the atmosphere here forced to spend the points on something, I decided to upgrade something I was sort of interested in."

Anami continued to yell at me for a bit, but in the background, Aya had noticed something on my ability-card. Aya said

"Wait, everybody"

She paused for a moment but then continued

"It says right here that Kenjiro already has 'Power-stealing through damage, lvl 2'! That means he has some sort of ability that can be used in combat!"

The girls switched between looking at me and the card. They stopped, and got an evil grin on their faces.

I relaxed all my muscles. I didn't really care enough to do anything.

"Is that so? Well, Well, WELL, Shouldn't we try it out immediately then?" Anami said.

"Do what you want. I deserve it anyway." I said with a particularly sad tone. The expression I had was a really somber one.

Upon hearing the words, Anami stopped and stood still in confusion.

The words one would think would entice Anami the most, actually stopped her in her tracks. I said

"Well, what're you waiting for? Go ahead."

Ibuki approached me and sat down next to me, she said

"What's wrong, Kenjiro? You're not acting like you usually do."

I stared up at the sky and said

"There are a couple of reasons. I'm just generally tired,

So much stuff has happened today, I can barely comprehend everything that has happened. I also stayed up a long time last night, so I'm also exhausted because of that. I'm so tired that I just don't really care what happens to me now. The other thing is that sometimes, I just get a lack of motivation for anything. Those moments usually come at random and when they come, I just don't feel like doing anything at all."

I continued to ramble on for a bit, but for every word, I started slurring more and more until I was just mumbling. Shortly after that, I fell asleep on the gra.s.s field that had changed my future in a considerable way.

…

"Looks like he fell asleep" Ibuki calmly informed the other girls around. Everybody stared at Kenjiro's unconscious body. The girls formed a circle around the apparently talented boy.

"What are we supposed to do now?" Sora asked the people around here.

"I think he's suffered enough, hasn't he? One of us should carry him back to his home." Narino suggested. The atmosphere around them suddenly changed, receiving a more compet.i.tive tone and becoming a bit stiff.

The girls looked at each other carefully, making a plan inside their heads.

Aya thought to herself

- I kind of want to do it. I'm really curious as to how Kenjiro lives and what his place looks like. Although, I'm too scared to say anything. They would certainly take it in the wrong way and think I have feelings for him.

I'll have to think of a plan… -

Anami was looking at Aya in a cunning way, her trail of thought went

- I know exactly what Aya is thinking right now, I've known her since 5th grade so I know her character pretty well. She's probably thinking something like "I want to do it but I'm scared of what the others will think", what a predictable girl.

I also want to do it, If I had the opportunity I would scan his house and make a detailed layout-plan. That way, I could lay some traps and cameras around his house just to see his reaction, mwah-hahaha. I could easily get this job, I have the authority of the club president after all.

So, why can't I bring myself to say anything? For some reason, this atmosphere makes it so embarra.s.sing to say something like "I'll do it".

I have to say something before someone else takes advantage of the situation!-

Ibuki was staring down at the ground nervously while she thought

- I mean, I could do it…

Kenjiro has been nice to me today, so I would like to pay back to him by doing this.

Oh G.o.d, what am I saying? That almost sounds like I have feelings for him. How embarra.s.sing! -

Ibuki blushed in a deep-red color and held her hands on her cheeks.

Sora was staring at Ibuki confused, she hadn't seen a face like that on anyone other than her own mother.

Sora Ikutsu was from a rich prestigious family that had jump-started the 'Tech Craze' that was ongoing in the country. As a child, she had been sheltered from anything that could 'harm' her and 'corrupt' her mind. Because of that, she has always had a big interest in the outside world and how it actually is in the world. Earlier that year, she had managed to convince her parents to allow her to study at a school in the 'commoner's realm'. The compromise was that for her to study there, she needed to bring back a smart guy who potentially could marry her. That was all for her parents to decide though. While she stared at Ibuki, she thought

- Why should someone like I care about a stupid commoner like Kenjiro?

Although, it would be really interesting to see how a common boy lives like. Also, according to his affinity-paper, he seems to be pretty darn powerful.

This offer is becoming more and more tempting… -

The long quiet pause was suddenly brought to an ending when Aya said

"If n.o.body else wants to do it, I could do it."

-What!? - Anami quickly thought inside her head. Aya enjoyed, what she thought was, her victory inside her head

- Whaddya think about that? Now if someone else says something like 'I'll do it', they're practically admitting they have feelings for Kenjiro! -

Anami chuckled for a bit, drawing the attention of Aya.

Anami thought

- You think you've won, huh? If I was a normal lady, that would perhaps be the case. But I have the intelligence and luck of a person like me! That doesn't quite make a lot of sense in the metaphorical sense that I was aiming for, but that has no relevance. I just have to pull the authority card and I'll win this. -

Anami opened her mouth and revealed her hidden weapon

"I appreciate your consideration, Aya. But as the president of this very club, I feel like it is my responsibility, nay, duty to help my club members. Therefore, I shall help my new junior by doing this."

As if a lightning bolt had struck her, Aya fell to her knees while thinking

- d.a.m.n you, Anami. You just had to ruin my plans, didn't you?-

Ibuki and Sora were standing around nervously, not knowing how to top that. But when it all seemed like it was about to be Anami's victory, Narino threw a curveball that changed the tide. She said

"Why don't we all carry him home?"

That simple phrase changed everything. Now n.o.body could say 'no' to that. That would do what they had tried so hard to avoid; Message to the others that they have feelings for Kenjiro when they don't really.

Everybody got a wave of relief mixed with a feeling of dissatisfaction at the same time. They didn't have a choice but to agree

"Yes, I suppose we could."

"Mmh"

"Sure."

"Fine."

"Sure."

"Why the h.e.l.l did you respond twice, Aya!?" Anami exclaimed.

"I don't know! I think Kenjiro's weirdness rubbed off on me!" Aya shouted while trying to rub the 'weirdness' off her.

"That's bad, I would say that's a degree one disease. But don't worry, 'Doctor Sora' is here to save you!" Sora said

"Save me? So you chose my life over the mayor's, huh? Let's just not hope I become a 'Monster', right? Do you get it? It's kind of a pun."

"Oh, my, G.o.d, Aya. Was that just a Manga/Anime reference? And was that also a word-play you commented on after doing? I'm afraid it's too late for you at this point, Aya. We have no choice but to do 'that'." Anami reacted in horror, she started walking towards Aya with a regretful face.

"No, not 'that'! Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"

Aya yelled out into the free and soon-to-be sun-free sky.