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Chapter 23 – The Gold Chest
Back in his room—
Ryuo Tenshin had just returned from helping Mizuki at the stall and making a quick run to the supermarket. After a shower, towel draped over his head, he reached for his phone to reply to Kasumigaoka Utaha's message.
Since it was already late, he hadn't taken Mizuki anywhere special tonight, just the supermarket. She wasn't quite satisfied, so Ryuo promised that this weekend, he'd take her and their younger sister, Hanae, to Shinjuku.
Two days off—plenty of time.
Besides, it would be a good chance to casually ask Utaha about the super VIP university recommendation. As the student who had held the top rank in the school year for two and a half years, she would certainly know something.
After deciding, he asked her for the exact library location.
Perhaps she'd been staring at her phone waiting, because her reply came instantly.
Ryuo smiled, put his phone down, and leaned back.
That was when it happened.
A crisp system chime rang in his ears.
> "Congratulations, Host. Achievement unlocked: 'The First Step Is the Hardest.' Total Depression Value exceeded 1,000!"
"Reward: 1 Gold Treasure Chest!"
"…Over 1,000?"
Ryuo's heart skipped. He quickly pulled up the system panel.
[ Sadness from Fujii Yuuna, Depression Value +50 ]
[ Sadness from Kagurazaka Ayame, Depression Value +50 ]
[ Moved Tears from Gokou Ruri, Depression Value +50 ]
[…]
[ Total Depression Value: 1058 ]
It had more than doubled since last time, soaring past 1,000. Clearly, Your Lie in April was working its magic.
The mother subplot had hit readers hard, pulling at wounds they couldn't ignore—and his counter ticked ever upward.
"System," Ryuo muttered, "how much do I need for the next achievement? Ten thousand?"
> "One hundred thousand."
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Ryuo stared at the ceiling. From 1,000 straight to 100,000—what kind of ridiculous jump was that?
But he smirked. He still had Firefly Forest in the vault, and the second volume of Your Lie in April wasn't even out yet. Once it dropped, it would cut straight to the core of readers' hearts.
Not just 100,000. With the right works, even 500,000 was possible.
For now, though—
A gold chest.
He thought of Mizuki's ridiculous good luck earlier at the supermarket lottery. He'd drawn blanks, but she? She'd won third prize three times in a row—an umbrella, snacks, and even a shoujo manga volume.
Definitely luckier than him.
Ryuo slipped into Mizuki's room. She was lying on her bed, legs swaying, reading the manga she'd just won. Her big eyes blinked curiously when he walked in.
"Brother? What's wrong?"
"Borrowing your luck!" Ryuo grinned, pinched her cheek gently, then darted back to his own room before she could react.
"…Eh?" Mizuki blinked. "What was that about?"
She trusted her brother, but honestly—pinching her face and running away? That was weird even for him.
Ryuo, meanwhile, stared at the hand that had pinched Mizuki's cheek. "Alright, charged with luck. System, open the chest!"
The golden light burst.
> "Congratulations! Reward obtained: Anime Script – Plastic Memories."
"…Script?"
In Japan, anime scripts weren't just dialogue—they contained scene directions, pacing, character actions, every detail. The scriptwriter's role was as vital as the director's, sometimes even more respected than novelists.
And Plastic Memories…
A masterpiece. A story of fleeting love, bittersweet and healing, standing alongside Your Lie in April and Anohana.
Ryuo's eyes lit up. His luck was changing for the better.
"Alright. Next time I get a chest, I'm definitely stealing Mizuki's luck first!"
But a question lingered—how to use this script?
He recalled that Yamada Elf had set up her own production company, Office MoonSide, to push adaptations. Maybe, once things with Eromanga-sensei were settled, he could consult her.
If that failed, he'd ask Editor Fujii if she had any contacts.
---
Tuesday, Sobu High.
Classes as usual.
But after a day of buzz about the second chapter of Your Lie in April, where Kaori Miyazono finally appeared, Ryuo noticed something strange.
Everywhere he looked, people seemed friendlier—faces softened, greetings warmer.
Everyone suddenly looked like a shining 50 yen coin.
Even Hayama invited him to join a basketball game with the "popular group" during PE.
Ryuo chuckled. The popular clique, huh…
Always laughing, joking, basking in attention. A group of glittering butterflies, flaunting their existence between classes.
Miura Yumiko had tried more than once to drag him into their circle.
And every time—Ryuo refused
End of the chapter
200ps=1 extra chapter