Japanese ghosts were unreasonable. Kayako. Sadako. You encountered them, you were doomed. No cause and effect. No negotiation.
So Akira was also unreasonable.
She's having this child. Whether she wants to or not.
Kasumigaoka Utaha was lifted—not by hands, but by presence, suspended in the entryway's stale air. Terrified. Paralyzed. Ordinary people screamed, flailed, fought. But with senses doubled, fear exceeded its limit. Instead of panic, she experienced something like sleep paralysis—fully aware of every touch, every sensation, yet unable to move a single muscle.
Akira's face hovered above her. Handsome. Smiling. Sinister.
Her despair peaked. Crashed. And then—
Numbness.
Just let it happen.
This was beyond human resistance. She couldn't fight. Couldn't flee. So she might as well enjoy it.
At least... this ghost is handsome.
If I have his child... maybe it's not so bad.
Her body softened. Her arms rose—not to push him away, but to pull him closer.
Initiative.
Akira blinked. What?
She was enjoying this more than he was.
"No," she said, voice steadier now. "I want to try other positions. If you're going to get me pregnant, you should satisfy my needs too."
He stared at her for a beat. Then laughed—genuine, warm, delighted.
"Hahaha! If that's all, I can certainly oblige."
The remainder passed in what could almost be called amicability. Mutual satisfaction. Shared enthusiasm.
[Mental +2]
[Character 'Kasumigaoka Utaha' Progress: 95%]
Bonus Reward: Mental +20
[Trophy Unlocked: Bewitch Heart]
Effect: Player's verbal influence increased. Becomes more persuasive. (Active activation required.)
[Skill Unlocked: Existence Weakening (25%)]
Effect: Weakens own presence. At full activation, can cause others to completely overlook the user's existence. (Active activation required.)
Akira studied the notifications, calculating.
Stage rewards distributed across four targets? Twenty Mental points—double the previous chapter. New skill. New trophy.
His gaze snapped to the Anti-Addiction Hourglass.
Four segments... no, five.
He grinned, pulling Kasumigaoka Utaha into a deep kiss.
"Rest now. You'll need your strength."
She didn't argue. Couldn't move. Could barely keep her eyes open.
"If you break... can't have children..." she murmured, already half-asleep.
His alarm chimed. He rose, used the shop's equip function to dress instantly, and selected Return to Interface.
Kasumigaoka Utaha watched him vanish and felt something settle in her chest.
A ghost god. Definitely a ghost god.
But... he's warm. Some places especially hot.
Like he's still alive.
Her lips curved. She closed her eyes.
Game Interface
Existence Weakening. Mental-based ability.
Akira turned the concept over in his mind. At 25%, it was limited—but the trajectory was clear. At higher percentages, he could walk into places no living person should enter.
Women's restrooms. Women's changing rooms. Women's bathhouses.
He allowed himself a moment of appreciation.
Every boy's dream.
More practically: Suou Yuki's fortress. The ultra-luxurious guarded district with its cameras and patrols. With 75% Existence Weakening active, combined with his speed, he could stroll right through the front gate.
Bewitch Heart. Verbal influence. Mild persuasion—not cognitive distortion.
He'd never considered eroge abilities particularly impressive. But brought into reality? Even the "hooligan stats" had their uses. And this game was 100% reality simulation.
Pity about the hourglass. Five segments, but I used two already. Three chances left. No Suou Yuki today.
He pulled up his full status:
[Player: Akira]
Strength: 19.8
Agility: 23.3
Endurance: 20.2
Spirit: 35.8
Skills: Martial Arts (Perfected), Precise Throwing (Perfected), Swordsmanship (Perfected), God's Hand, Ambidexterity, Bewitch Heart (Trophy), Existence Weakening (25%)
Spirit. The stat that had lagged now led the pack. He hadn't expected that. And aside from expanding the hourglass, it didn't seem to enhance his physical abilities much.
But if Utaha gave me 20 Spirit...
Kirigaya Suguha will probably give 20 Agility.
His stamina bar read 80/120. He swallowed a Delay Small Pill and watched it refill to full.
No Strength pills tonight. Chapter Two doesn't need combat.
He selected the next target.
Akira studied his stats, frowning slightly.
Strength 19.8. Agility 23.3. Endurance 20.2. Spirit 35.8.
The imbalance bothered him. Energy and endurance should grow together—mismatched values would inevitably waste recovery rounds. But that was a problem for later.
Priority now: take down the remaining two bosses of Chapter Two.
He pressed Kirigaya Suguha's icon without hesitation.
The world dissolved and reformed.
A bus stop. Evening light. The familiar rhythm of rush hour fading into something quieter.
He spotted her immediately—Kirigaya Suguha, walking toward the stop, her expression distant, preoccupied. She was thinking about something, deeply enough that her surroundings barely registered.
Easy target.
She didn't notice him standing nearby. Didn't glance his way. Just walked past, boarded the bus, swiped her card, and found a seat.
Akira slipped on behind her, settling into the row directly in her wake.
Is Existence Weakening really this effective? She hasn't glanced at me once.
The bus was spacious—post-rush hour, seats to spare. No pressing conditions, no convenient crowds. This tailing session was straightforward: follow, observe, don't get caught.
They rode in unusual silence. Akira watched the back of her head, watched her shoulders tense and relax, watched her fingers drum against her knee in an anxious rhythm.
What's she thinking about?
Kirigaya Suguha couldn't answer him. The question that had consumed her since yesterday echoed relentlessly through her skull.
He followed me. To the water park. And then—
Her face heated. She shook her head violently, drawing a strange look from the elderly woman across the aisle.
Senpai. He's close to Senpai. Living at her dojo. Practicing with her every day.
So why did he come after ME?
The bus stopped. She exited. Walked familiar streets on autopilot, her mind churning.
Maybe... maybe Senpai is why he's distant. Maybe he likes me but doesn't want to hurt her.
Yes. That must be it.
She clung to the thought like a lifeline.
He likes me.
Her house came into view. She stopped at the gate, hand hovering over the doorbell, and the fragile certainty shattered.
But if he likes me, why is he still living with Senpai? Why does he practice with her every day? Why does he—
Her jaw tightened.
That two-timing radish. He got me, and now he's trying to get Senpai too.
Hmph.
I'm never speaking to him again.
BUZZ. BUZZ. BUZZ.
She pressed the doorbell with unnecessary force.
Behind her, concealed by shadows and a bus stop's distance, Akira watched.
Interesting.
She has no idea I'm here.