Hearing the rush of water from the bathroom, Rin Amane let out a quiet breath of relief as he sank deeper into the sofa.
He hadn't expected his very first strategic goal to be achieved so easily.
But still… Kanade Amamiya's grandfather lived nearby.
So why hadn't she gone home to shower?
Rin didn't have the time to dwell on the question. Remembering the girl's strange behavior today, he pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts.
He dialed her grandfather's number.
The truth was, Rin had saved that number a long time ago, but this was the first time he'd ever actually called it. He wanted to confirm whether Kanade was really his granddaughter, and more importantly—what exactly was her background?
The call rang for a while, but no one picked up.
So it was true then. Something must have happened. Otherwise, the old man wouldn't have closed his shop today.
Bang—
A moment later, the bathroom door opened.
Kanade stepped out, rubbing her damp hair with a towel.
Rin sat up instantly, alert.
Her usual ponytail was gone. Without the ribbon tying it back, her long, ink-black hair cascaded freely down her back like a glossy waterfall.
She had changed into a simple black camisole dress that revealed the elegant line of her collarbone. The fitted cut hugged her waist, tracing out a youthful but striking silhouette.
Her pale, slender legs—like those drawn in a manga panel—were bare and flawless.
A perfect figure.
That ponytail of hers… it was like some kind of seal. With it tied, she looked like a disheveled, ordinary student. But once undone, the seal shattered—and in its place appeared a heroine straight out of a romantic drama.
"What should I do with these clothes?" Kanade asked, holding her damp school uniform in one hand.
"The washing machine's on the balcony. Give them to me."
Rin took the bundle of clothes from her and stepped out to the balcony.
As he was about to toss them into the washing machine, he hesitated.
The fabric was still slightly damp.
Fluids… that includes sweat, right?
The night was humid and warm. Theoretically, it was inevitable.
So then—
Rin crouched beside the washing machine, cradling the clothes in both hands.
Though they attended the same school, Rin realized he had no memory of Kanade at all. She must have been like him—someone who deliberately kept a low profile.
But how was he supposed to collect this? The system hadn't given him any details.
He pressed his fingers against the faintly damp collar, lifted it closer, and inhaled.
A faint, pleasant fragrance clung to the fabric—light and refreshing—yet it was mixed with the dusty tang of rainwater and concrete.
"What are you doing?"
Rin's head shot up as though he'd been electrocuted.
At the balcony doorway, Kanade stood frozen, staring blankly at him.
The air solidified in an instant.
"I was… putting on laundry detergent," Rin said stiffly.
"Oh."
Kanade tilted her head, thoughtful. Whether she believed him or not was impossible to tell.
"I wanted to ask—can I sit on your sofa?"
"Of course. You don't need to ask about something like that."
"Alright."
With that, she turned and went back into the living room, leaving Rin behind, stiff as a board.
He'd never even held a girl's hand before, and now he'd nearly been mistaken for a creep.
He was about to curse the system in frustration when the interface suddenly lit up before him:
[Body fluid sample collected. System analyzing…][Analysis complete. Medical report generated.]
[Name: Kanade Amamiya][Occupation: High school student; professional cellist][Age: 18 years, 8 months, 24 days][Height: 166.9 cm][Weight: 41.3 kg][Blood type: O][Health status:Noticeable symptoms of depression, loss of interest, fatigue.Reduced appetite, sleep disturbances, and significant weight loss.Has tried two types of antidepressant medication, both ineffective and caused strong side effects.Overall physical health is fair, but severe weight loss and chronic fatigue are impacting daily function.Impact on attention, memory, and cognitive speed remains unclear.]
Rin stared at the terrifyingly detailed status screen, his chest tightening.
This wasn't just a fragile body—it was practically like raising a cursed insect in a jar.
Even a seasoned transmigrator would shake their head at this.
His earlier suspicion had been right.
This girl… she really did have thoughts of ending her life.
Twice today—first when she'd appeared suddenly on the sixth-floor landing, and then again when she'd slipped onto the rooftop—she'd been ready. If not for his sudden interference both times, she might have gone through with it.
To avoid dragging him into her mess, she'd tried to push him away.
But Rin's persistence had cornered her, leaving her with no choice but to follow him home for now.
If he was reading this right—
Her next step would be to find an excuse to leave.
When Rin returned to the living room, Kanade was sprawled out lazily on the sofa, her gaze fixed on the computer screen on his desk.
The video playing was from an uploader called "DeadRat"—a series titled Hardcore Legends.
Though this world's history and entertainment were slightly different from the one Rin remembered, many things mirrored each other closely enough that substitutes existed.
This episode told the story of a medieval European composer, imprisoned by the church for writing "blasphemous" music. After performing his final dance, he was burned alive.
Kanade's eyes were wide, glued to the screen. Rin had never seen her so absorbed before.
"What's wrong? Did you get pulled in?" he asked.
After learning her condition from the system, Rin dropped his usual detached amusement and studied her more seriously.
Their school wasn't particularly high-pressure. How could someone so young be so deeply scarred?
She was beautiful—stunning, even. People like her weren't supposed to be burdened with such pain.
At worst, she could've been making a decent living giving massages at a spa or something.
"How did you know I play classical music too?" she asked suddenly, her tone brightening with interest.
"Uh… I just heard it in the piece you played earlier," Rin improvised.
In truth, he'd only meant that she seemed musical, nothing more. He hadn't expected her to be into classical. In his mind, only old men had the patience for that sort of thing.
"You're amazing."
Kanade looked at him with genuine admiration.
"Most people can't tell something like that."
"I'm still just learning," Rin replied modestly.
It wasn't a total lie.
After all, if he was going to become a producer, music would be his first target. Copying novels or manga took effort, but copying songs? That was the easiest—and the fastest way to rise to fame.
"What school are you from?" Kanade asked. For the first time, she was taking the initiative.
Rin's youthful energy made it obvious he was a high schooler.
"Same as you—Seventh High," Rin said. "Though I don't remember ever seeing you around campus."
"I took a year off and went abroad. I just came back recently."
"That explains it."
Of course. A girl like her—if she'd been around, Rin would have remembered.
Just then, he rose abruptly.
"Want something to drink?"
He couldn't just leave her sitting there without offering anything.
"Anything's fine," she answered.
Rin crossed quickly to the fridge, pulling out a convenience store bag and placing it on the table. Inside were several bottles of beer.
"Do you drink?"
Kanade's expression stiffened.
She hadn't expected her casual "anything's fine" to result in this.
"I didn't buy any water, just these," Rin said with a casual shrug. "But they're good. And honestly, they help you sleep."
Get her drunk, and she wouldn't be able to leave. She'd have no choice but to stay the night.
And once the night passed, she would already belong to him.
But just then—
Kanade lowered her head, silent for a long moment.
Then, slowly, she lifted her face again.
A faint blush spread across her cheeks.
She reached out delicately and grasped Rin's arm.
Her voice trembled in a soft whisper.
"Could we… skip the drinking part?"