[Please select a genre.]
Really?
Aoyama Osamu pondered.
He was an ordinary high schooler, with only his useless Appearance: A standing out—a guy whose face was his sole redeeming feature.
To avoid trouble, he should write a novel fitting his identity.
Something like a light novel—immature prose but fresh ideas.
But he chose money.
"What kind," he asked, looking up at his sisters, "of novel makes the most cash?"
"Why ask that?" Mihana wondered.
"You're writing a novel?" Mizuki eyed his pen and paper. "I thought you were studying. Stick to that."
"Just answer," Aoyama Osamu said, judge-like.
"Not sure," Mihana mused. "Maybe books that win the Akutagawa or Naoki Prize?"
"No way," Mizuki shook her head. "Mystery novels. In Japan, mysteries sell best and rake in cash."
"I've never read one," Aoyama Osamu muttered.
Could he write something he'd never read?
'System, don't let me down!'
—Campus mystery novel, protagonist is a second-year, main ability is outstanding appearance.
[Gathering material: 1%... 2%... 3%...]
It started?
Aoyama Osamu gripped his pen.
System-backed, even if not a blockbuster, it'd at least hit bestseller status. 100,000 copies could net millions of yen, right?
Millions...
Don't dream too big.
No more three-day curry, two outfits per season, affording the latest phone, paying water and electric bills, a bit of savings—that'd satisfy him.
'Come on, System, pull me off life's floor!'
[73%... 74%...]
The progress bar stopped.
—What's wrong?
[Insufficient material. Please gather more.]
'I have to do it myself?' Aoyama Osamu twirled his pen.
"Osamu-kun's in a good mood. Got inspiration?" Mihana smiled.
"Probably fantasizing about six, seven, eight heroines surrounding him," Mizuki accused baselessly.
Strength and Speed needed pain. Intelligence needed study time. Housekeeping needed manual labor. Writing a novel needed material...
Fine.
That felt reassuring.
"Six or eight heroines? Four or five's enough. Can I use you two as material?" Aoyama Osamu asked.
"…Heroines?" Mihana paused her ironing.
"If it fits," Aoyama Osamu replied.
"No real names," she said.
"No issue here," Mizuki spread her hands. "Split the royalties—half. No, a third's fine."
"Take it all," Aoyama Osamu said. Money wasn't his goal.
He just wanted the Ono sisters happy. If it cost him a lifetime of poverty, he'd pay it.
Aoyama Osamu sank back into thought.
Material? Reading books and experiences.
Books? No money, but libraries existed—school and city ones.
Experiences? Repeating old school life was useless; it was in the 74%. He needed new ones.
"I'm heading out," Aoyama Osamu pocketed his pen and paper.
"Where?" Mihana looked up.
At his height—well above the Japanese male average—he seemed like the roof holding up their home.
"Library. Back soon."
"Now?" Mizuki asked.
"Seize the moment for a future."
"I'll come," Mizuki tried standing.
"No need." Aoyama Osamu pressed her shoulder. "I'm fine."
[Material progress: 75%]
What? Just glimpsing Mizuki's collar boosted progress?
If she stripped, would it hit 100%?!
Aoyama Osamu stepped outside, breathing the cool early spring air. He oriented himself and headed for the Adachi Ward Central Library.
'Can walking like this trigger system guidance?' he wondered.
Train Speed?
Would he end up sprinting down the street like a weirdo?
Aoyama Osamu dropped the idea of using every moment. His goal was the library—he knew where to go, no system needed.
Maybe the guidance system was only for when he was clueless about what to do or how.
Lights from pachinko parlors and convenience stores cast glowing patches on the ground, his shadow flickering between light and dark.
On a small bridge, Aoyama Osamu gazed at izakaya lights reflecting on the Sumida River.
He'd really become a Japanese high schooler in Tokyo.
The night breeze carried spring's warmth. Perfect—a season for new beginnings.
At the library, he used his student ID to get a free borrowing card.
"Where are mystery novels?"
"Third floor."
"Thanks."
The books' edges were curled from frequent borrowing.
Clueless about mysteries—never read one—he picked easily: two most-borrowed, two current bestsellers, one campus-themed.
He didn't rush off.
Browsing the library, even if it didn't boost Material progress, this new experience wasn't wasted.
If not for this book, maybe the next or the one after.
"Even the Stiffest Body Can Easily Master the Splits?" he eyed a book.
Also a bestseller.
Fitness... with the system's Strength training experience, could he write a fitness book?
—System, write a fitness book.
[Gathering material: 1%... 2%... 3%... 21%]
[Insufficient material. Please gather more.]
Even less than campus mystery?!
Then he noticed novels about delicate emotions and youthful growth—also hot sellers.
—System, write a high school romance novel.
[Gathering material: 1%... 2%... 3%... 4%... 5%... 6%... 7%... 8%... 9%]
[Insufficient material. Please gather more.]
Nani?!
Nine percent?!
Aoyama Osamu, two lifetimes lived!
Last life... never mind. This life, no romance, but nine percent?!
Wait.
Aoyama Osamu stood before the shelf, lost in thought.
Why did Campus Mystery hit 74—now 75—percent?
No romance, but his main ability was outstanding appearance?
Had he unknowingly racked up gorgeous guy experience?
"Hello, need help?" a female librarian asked softly.
"No, thanks." Aoyama Osamu smiled, grabbed his books, and left.
Reflecting, no women had thrown money at him. He was stumped.