Yukari Himemizu was not what David expected from a corporate heiress. No glittering tiara, no ice-queen vibe. Just a sharp-eyed girl in business casual with a ponytail too tight and a phone that never left her hand. She was already walking three steps ahead of him in the office hallway.
"You're slow," she said, glancing over her shoulder. "Try not to fall behind, Mr...?"
"David," he replied. "Just David."
Yukari didn't stop. "We don't use 'just' in business."
They arrived at a large glass office with a view of the Tokyo skyline. Yukari gestured toward the chair opposite her desk. "Sit. Let's talk about why my father hired you."
David didn't sit. Instead, he let his gaze drift toward the towering skyscrapers outside. "I'm good at... weird jobs."
"Clearly," she muttered, tapping her phone. "You're twenty. No degree. No portfolio. And somehow, the board thinks you're worth shadowing me. What exactly do you do?"
System Message: [Lie skill unlocked. Would you like to activate it? Y/N]
David blinked. "No." He muttered it under his breath, but Yukari looked up.
"No what?"
"Nothing. Sorry. Just talking to myself."
Yukari's eyes narrowed. "Great. Another one with main character syndrome."
He grinned, folding his arms. "You say that like you've seen it before."
"Corporate interns. Most of them think they're starring in a business drama. Usually episode one ends with me firing them."
David shrugged and sat down. "Guess we'll find out how my pilot episode ends."
She rolled her eyes, but the corner of her mouth twitched. "Fine. Let's see how long you last."
By noon, David had already tripped over a fax machine, spilled lukewarm coffee on a secretary's schedule, and been yelled at in three different departments. Yukari was the only one who hadn't chewed him out yet—though her silence was somehow worse.
At lunch, she tossed a bento box on his desk. "You eat?"
He blinked. "Uh. Yeah?"
"Then eat. You're going to need energy. We're shadowing my father at the board meeting."
David looked down at the suspiciously perfect tamagoyaki and rice. "This isn't poisoned, right?"
"No. But if you waste it, I'll make your next assignment something soul-crushing."
"Like?"
"Filing expense reports for the entire HR division."
David immediately opened the box and started eating.
Later that afternoon, while pretending to take notes in a meeting he barely understood, a soft ping echoed inside his head.
System Message: Route [Yukari Himemizu] unlocked. Main Quest Started: Gain trust of the heir. Objective: Impress her before Day 7. Reward: Stockholder Access + Special Item.
He almost choked on his breath.
System Side Note: Yukari is unaware of system mechanics. Do not mention system. Do not act suspicious. Do not look like an idiot. Too late? Possibly.
He shifted in his seat. Yukari gave him a glance. "Don't fall asleep."
"Wasn't planning to," he whispered back.
She leaned in slightly. "Then stop looking like you're about to ascend to another plane."
David coughed. "Right. Totally grounded."
By the time the meeting ended, David's notes were 90% doodles and 10% actual content. Yukari peered at them once and said nothing. Which was terrifying.
"So?" she said as they walked back to her office. "How was your first day being my shadow?"
"Traumatizing," he replied. "But in a character-development kind of way."
"Hm. You didn't run away, didn't complain, didn't try to impress me. I hate all three of those types." She stopped and looked him in the eye. "You might actually last longer than the others."
David smiled. "Thanks. I think."
Yukari turned back, her voice a little softer. "We'll see. You're still on trial."
That evening, David returned to his temporary apartment—the one the Himemizu Conglomerate provided—and collapsed on the bed. The place was nicer than his dorm. Way too clean. The laptop on the desk blinked with a single unread message.
He dragged himself over and opened it.
System Email: Welcome to Slot C. Funds Deposited: ¥1,300,000. Use wisely. Reminder: You can return to previous slots through the System Dashboard, but progress in this route may freeze.
David leaned back. The money was real. The job was real. Yukari was very real.
He stared at the ceiling. This slot was different. No fighting. No monsters. Just ambition, tension, and a girl who probably had more money than some countries.
And somehow, he had to win her over.
System Message: Day 1 Completed. Route Progress: 3%.
He sighed.
"Let's hope day two doesn't involve another fax machine."