"Gochisōsama!" the two said in unison, their voices harmonizing as they brought their hands together in front of their chests in a gentle gesture of gratitude after finishing their meal.
Sora didn't give her brother even a moment to start putting away the bento boxes. She moved lightly into his lap and sat down as if that spot belonged to her alone. Her calm gaze held a mixture of possessiveness and comfort, silently telling him, "Not now… stay with me first."
Haru smiled with warm resignation, then gently wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on her head. He took a deep breath, welcoming the passing spring breeze, and allowed himself to savor that quiet moment as if the whole world had stopped outside the bounds of their embrace.
Sora's reaction was not the same as his; it was completely different. She didn't just remain still in his lap but moved with vitality within his embrace, as if seeking even greater closeness. Her movements were soft and deliberate, especially when she gently pressed her bottom against him, as if she wanted to feel every moment, to savor every detail.
This didn't escape Haru's notice, and he couldn't stop a slight smile from gracing his face. It was a smile that held a mix of pleasure and wonder, reflecting what he felt inside. Slowly, his hand moved toward her thigh—not spontaneously, but with caution and awareness, as if every movement was calculated and intentional. He began to feel her with light touches, which then evolved into deliberate caresses, as if he wanted to explore every part of her, to understand what those touches hid in terms of feelings and secrets. His fingers traced invisible lines on her skin, sometimes tenderly, sometimes insistently, like a private language between them, a language that needed no words to be understood.
Although the two had not reached the final stage in their relationship, their bond was completely different from that of ordinary siblings.
As she sat in his lap, Sora felt something hard and hot pressing against her bottom, and upon feeling it, her face turned red—it was clear she knew what it was.
"Alright… let's stop here."
Haru said suddenly, rising slowly, trying to hide the slight confusion that flashed in his eyes for a moment. He stroked her hair, then avoided looking directly at her as he added in a calm but firm tone:
"If we continue this way… it might draw attention. We're still at school, and we don't want any trouble."
"…"
Sora gave him a silent look, a faint glimmer of disappointment in her eyes, but it soon turned into a mischievous smile when she noticed the subtle reddening of his ears. That small moment revealed just how much he cared for her, despite his attempts to hide his feelings.
"Alright… I'll head back to class now," she said with a satisfied smile, moving lightly away from him.
With every step she took, a faint blush appeared on her face, fleeting and quick to fade, before her usual cold, indifferent expression took over—the one everyone was accustomed to seeing, which kept others at a distance without them sensing the warmth or emotion hidden behind it.
"Damn it…" he muttered under his breath, weighed down by the frustration of his own honesty. He didn't want to lie about what he felt, but the relationship between him and Sora was evolving faster than he could comprehend, and he hadn't even had time to prepare himself psychologically for the changes that were beginning to occur between them.
But suddenly, a ball of white light slid in front of him, stopping abruptly at his forehead. His body froze completely; he couldn't move a single part of it, as if the ball was imposing invisible restraints, holding him firmly and mercilessly in place.
Then, without any resistance or movement, the ball merged directly with his body, leaving behind a vague sense of deep and unfamiliar connection.
"…Hah… hah… hah…"
Haru breathed heavily, trying to regain his composure, while a terrible pressure spread through every part of his body. It lasted no more than a blink of an eye, and yet, he felt as if the entire world had grown heavy upon him. His back was drenched in cold sweat, and every muscle in his body was tense, as if on the verge of bursting under the weight of the mysterious force that had suddenly swept through him.
[The system concluded Kasugano Haruka as the most suitable candidate and decided to bind with his soul]
[Binding system with host soul]
[Binding in Progress...]
[1%...]
[19%]
[36%]
[42%]
[69%...]
[96%...]
[99%]
[100%]
[The system has linked to the host's soul]
[ Good Morning, Host ]
"…"
Haru stared at the floating screen in front of him, his mind filled with questions and confusion. The glowing words on the screen gave him a strange feeling; it seemed as if he had acquired a system like in the novels, something unreal yet tangible before his eyes.
"System…"
He muttered in a low, hesitant voice, his fears evident in his tone, as if doubting himself and wondering if he might be suffering from some kind of hallucination.
[The system is here, Host]
But the system's direct response confirmed to him that everything was real. It wasn't just his imagination, but an actual existence speaking to him, which only deepened his confusion. He didn't understand why the system had suddenly appeared, or why he, of all people, had been chosen as the host.
"System… what are you? And why did you choose me as the host?"
Haru asked, his voice hesitant but serious, posing the two most important questions of his life so far, more important than any details about the system's functions themselves.
[This system is: the Greatest Upgrading System]
[As for the reason for choosing you as the host, it is because you possess the best wavelength compatibility with the system]
Haru fell silent for a moment, trying to process these strange and sudden words. Then, after a long pause, he finally spoke:
"Alright… then, what are your functions, System?"
[Right away, host]
[1. Status]
[2. Inventory]
[3. Quest]
[4. Upgrade]
He stared at the system panel silently for a moment because the first three functions were pretty self-explanatory. He read too many novels and stories to know these things.
"What is the Upgrade function?" he asked curiously, as it was the only unknown function and also carried the same meaning as the system's name.
[The Upgrade function is the central ability of the system, giving a chance to upgrade everything, whether living beings or not. For example, you can upgrade yourself, bloodline, weapons, and martial techniques to the highest stage possible]
"That's a bit broken," Haru commented with a grin. "Then upgrading my talent should be possible, right?"
[That's possible]
[However, the Upgrade function is only usable when you have UT]
"UT??" A frown appeared on Haru's face.
[Upgrade Tickets; you can think of them as the currency of the Greatest Upgrading System]
[And you can only get [UT] through Quests]
"I see…" Haru murmured, and a look of understanding soon appeared on his face. "By the way, System, do you have a name?"
He wasn't going to lose anything by trying his luck.
[Ding! The system does not have a name. The host may call it whatever he wants]
"Then I'll give you the name Eve," he said calmly, though there was suppressed excitement in his eyes, as he had read many novels to know about the hidden quest of naming the system.
[Ding! The new name for the system has been registered: Eve]
The system's previously mechanical and neutral voice clearly changed in the latest notification, becoming softer and more feminine, as if the voice's gender had shifted to suit the name.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the hidden quest and naming the system, and for obtaining: Starter Pack and 1* Gold Upgrading Ticket]
...
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