The gentle hum of the air conditioner was the only sound in Ren's room at the Yuragi-sou inn. He lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind replaying the events of the day. He had officially joined the Service Club, and a new arc in his life, one he was all too familiar with, was beginning. He knew how the school festival arc was supposed to end, with Hachiman sacrificing himself and creating a painful rift between his new friends. Ren wasn't going to let that happen.
He sat up, pulling out his system interface. He was still overflowing with reality tickets, a testament to the numerous chores he had completed for the system. He considered using a "Ticket of Relationship" on Yukino. It would be easy, and it would ensure she was on his side, making the upcoming festival arc a breeze. But he shook his head. He had made a decision. He wasn't going to sugarcoat his intentions. He wanted Yukino in his harem, but he would do it the right way, without relying on his most powerful tickets.
With a thought, he used a "Ticket of Charm." The system chimed, but no new effects appeared.
[System Notification] Your charm is already at its maximum capacity. This ticket has no additional effect. [System Warning] You cannot gain a charm effect on a target that already has the maximum charm from your presence.
Ren sighed. He had forgotten. His charm, a passive ability he gained from his transmigration, was already at an absurd level, affecting both men and women. It was the reason why people seemed to gravitate toward him, why Harumu Yumesaki had been so flustered, and why Yui Yuigahama had been so embarrassed just by looking at him.
Speaking of Yui… Ren was not dense. He had seen the way her eyes lit up, the way her cheeks had flushed. She had fallen for him, even without them ever having a direct conversation. She was cute, with her cheerful and bubbly personality, but he stopped himself from going down that thought process. A brief, dirty thought about adding Yui and her mother to his harem flashed through his mind, but he immediately shook his head. He was already pushing the boundaries of morality, and adding a mother-daughter duo to the mix was a bridge too far. He decided not to think about it, at least for now, so he wouldn't make a decision he would regret. He would focus on Yukino for the time being.
The next day, Ren found himself sitting on the school rooftop, sharing a bento with the Nakano sisters. The air was warm, a gentle breeze rustling through their hair, and the conversation was as carefree as ever.
"Ren-kun, try this!" Itsuki said, holding out a piece of meat from her bento. "I made it myself!"
He took a bite and his eyes widened. "Itsuki, this is amazing!" he said, his praise genuine.
Nino scoffed, but a small smile played on her lips. "He's just being nice, Itsuki. I'm sure my food is better."
"You're both amazing cooks," Ren said, trying to diffuse the playful tension.
As they continued to eat and chat about their day, Yotsuba, ever the curious one, brought up a new topic. "Hey, Ren-kun. Do you know Yumiko Miura and Hayato Hayama?"
Ren nodded. "I've seen them around. They're pretty popular."
"I know!" Yotsuba said, her voice filled with excitement. "I was helping out the tennis club the other day, and I saw them playing a match against Yukinoshita-san and some guy." She paused, trying to remember Hachiman's name. "I forgot his name, but he looked so depressed!"
The sisters giggled, and Miku shook her head. "Don't be rude, Yotsuba. But what about them?"
"Well," Yotsuba continued, "Yumiko and Hayato were such a good team. Everyone says they're a couple, but some people say they're not. So are they, Ren-kun?"
The other sisters leaned in, their eyes filled with curiosity. "I've heard the same thing," Ichika said. "But no one ever knows for sure."
"That's because they're a secret couple!" Nino insisted, her voice full of confidence. "They're just trying to keep their relationship out of the public eye. It's so romantic!"
"I don't think so," Itsuki said, her logical side kicking in. "Maybe they're just friends who are good at tennis."
"Oh, come on, Itsuki-chan," Ichika said, her eyes twinkling. "Where's the fun in that?"
As the sisters went back and forth, offering their own theories and gossip, Ren smiled, listening to their lively debate. He knew the answer, of course, but he wasn't going to say anything. He was just happy to be there, a silent observer in their happy, messy, and loud world. They never found a definitive answer to their question, but they enjoyed their time together, sharing food and laughter and building a bond that was stronger than any rumor.