"Haaah~~?"
Tokai Teio's tail bristled like an angry cat. She let out a long, incredulous sound of protest as Seiun Sky announced her intentions.
"So, as a new teammate, please take care of me," Sky said casually. She signed the contract form, gave Logan a lazy wave, and drifted out of the room.
"Trainer! It's almost my Debut Race, and you're signing another Horse Girl!?"
Logan tucked the form into his pocket. "It's fine. More the merrier."
"It's not fine! You only need to look at me!" Teio stomped her foot, puffing out her cheeks like a spoiled child. "If you just take care of me, I can become the best in the world! Why get distracted by others? What do they have that I don't? Is she better than Lord Teio?"
Teio was displaying intense possessiveness.
Is this just her personality? Or is it the Max Affection talking?
Logan wasn't sure. He was still learning the rules of this new world.
He extended his hand. Instinctively, Teio leaned in and nuzzled her cheek against his palm.
Right. The habits are still there.
"Ara?" Teio blinked, her expression blank for a second. Why did I just start rubbing against him?
Whatever! She dismissed the thought and went back to complaining. "Trainer only needs me... only me... I'm your Ace, aren't I?"
"It's okay, Teio. Even if I sign others, I'm raising you first. You're the protagonist."
Who abandons their starter mid-game? You have to max out the first unit before building the second.
Teio's tail swished. Feeling that Logan's headpat wasn't enthusiastic enough, she grabbed his hand and pressed it harder against her soft cheek, rubbing it back and forth herself.
"Even if you raise me first, you'll still be distracted. I need compensation. Otherwise, I won't let this slide."
"What kind of compensation?"
"Spend the weekend with me! Just you and me, going out to play. Then I'll forgive you."
"Deal."
Teio's face lit up instantly, her ponytail bouncing with joy.
Logan couldn't get enough of it. This was a real girl's expression, full of life. Even the most advanced doll couldn't replicate this spark.
He pinched her tender cheek. Teio giggled, her tail wagging happily. After they had both satisfied their need for tactile comfort, Teio prepared to leave.
"By the way, Teio," Logan asked before she walked out. "Why did you suddenly decide to come here?"
"I just... suddenly felt like Trainer was doing something," Teio replied. "So I came over. And then I saw that thieving cat! Dammit! From now on, no one gets close to Trainer but me! This is the unbreakable bond between us!"
The command is still active.
Teio called it "friendship" and "bonds," but it was clearly the glitched programming from the other world.
Does that mean the Glitch World is actually a higher dimension that overwrites this reality?
Logan filed this theory away.
Holding Seiun Sky's contract, Logan headed to the Student Council room.
Today, it wasn't just Rudolf. Her two lieutenants were present as well.
On the left stood the "Empress," Air Groove. Cool beauty, sharp red eyeliner, icy demeanor.
On the right stood the "Wolf," Narita Brian. Wild black hair, untamed yellow eyes, radiating raw power.
Seeing the three of them standing together was like looking at a movie poster.
Until Logan walked in and tore the poster down.
He knew their quirks intimately.
Air Groove liked to lick. Specifically, she had a fixation on cleaning sweat off his skin.
Narita Brian liked to bite. Spend a night with her, and he'd wake up covered in teeth marks.
Both of them stared at Logan intently.
"President Rudolf. I'm here to submit a trainee contract."
"Trainer Logan." Air Groove spoke first, her voice cool. "Aren't you forgetting to say something to us?"
"Say what?"
"What you say every day. Did you forget?" Narita Brian added, crossing her arms.
Every day... do they mean... dirty talk?
Did these dolls figure out what I did to them?
Wait, they aren't dolls. They're real people.
How much do they know? I didn't carve tally marks on their thighs.
"You usually say: 'Opening the treasure chests. Looks like I found three gems again.' Why the silence today?" Air Groove smirked, clearly amused by what she thought was his daily joke.
"Ah... that. I thought it was something else." Logan scratched his head. "I can open chests, but opening three at once might be too much for my body."
"Too much?"
"Yeah. One-on-one, I'm undefeated. But three? I might lose."
"Hoh? I'd like to see that." Narita Brian smirked, hands on her hips. "Show me this 'undefeated' stamina of yours."
"Enough, you two. Don't tease the Trainer." Rudolf intervened, checking the contract. "Seiun Sky, correct? I'll inform the instructors. She can join your team this afternoon."
Rudolf took out the official Student Council stamp.
She pressed it down onto the paper.
THUMP.
The sound of the stamp hitting the paper echoed. And then, the world froze.
Bzzt... Bzzt...
The sound of static filled Logan's ears.
His vision flickered violently. A string of garbled code flashed in the center of his view.
Suddenly, a UI overlay appeared above Rudolf's head.
Name: Symboli Rudolf
Mood: Excellent
Affection: 75
**Speed | Stamina | Power | Guts | Wisdom **
Numbers popped up over the others too.
Name: Air Groove
Mood: Excellent
Affection: 77
**Speed | Stamina | Power | Guts | Wisdom **
Name: Narita Brian
Mood: Excellent
Affection: 72
**Speed | Stamina | Power | Guts | Wisdom **
Logan shut his eyes tight. Inside his mind, a translucent screen appeared with a single notification:
[Seiun Sky has been registered as a Trainee.]
Like a receding tide, the glitch washed away. The numbers vanished. The static cleared. The world returned to normal.
Logan gasped for air, clutching his chest. He dropped to one knee, cold sweat pouring down his face.
"Trainer Logan! What's wrong?"
"You're sweating profusely."
"Groove! Get him to the sofa! Brian, get the nurse! Hurry!"
Air Groove supported Logan's weight, guiding him to the couch. She pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Trainer, are you okay?"
"I'm fine..."
Logan forced a stiff smile.
Is this world Reality? Or have the game characters just 'come to life'?
Logan couldn't tell the difference anymore.