An empty world—calling it that wouldn’t be entirely accurate.
The place known as the System Space was still filled with ruins and desolation, with cold silence and eternal loneliness lingering there.
Yuu woke from his dream, opened his eyes, looked around, then tilted his head back and greeted the golden sun:
"Good evening, you troublemaker who took back Haruno’s comb."
Yoo no Kougyoku, of course, didn’t respond, still radiating its false light and heat dozens of ters above, yet it made this world feel closer to reality.
Entering this place for the third ti, Yuu naturally felt no need to comnt. He casually sat on the ground in front of the LCD screen:
"System, co out, let’s chat!"
The screen flickered, and a pixelated head suddenly appeared.
Then a voice sounded. The initial electronic Hatsune Miku tone quickly shifted to a soft, human-like voice, as if voiced by a seiyuu.
"Chat intelligence has not yet been loaded. Many functions will be available in the future. Please complete more missions, Host."
Yuu’s eyes widened in surprise. "Impressive, you’ve evolved again?"
"Yes, Host," the system responded, unusually attentive. "The current appearance and voice were chosen based on the Host’s preferences to encourage more active mission completion. However, the intelligence has not fully evolved and still differs slightly from the spirit AI the Host is familiar with. Please don’t expect too much."
"Damn, you even know my XP preferences?!"
Yuu was genuinely shocked, feeling the sa embarrassnt as soone asking another to destroy their computer before dying to hide its contents.
He now wanted to grab the screen representing the system and smash it with an Earth-style Semper Sen To move, ending with either one of them dead or both perishing together.
Of course, the most likely outco was nothing would happen—after all, this world was vast, and the system was the greatest.
"Well then, let’s start the mission settlent."
As if uninterested in such trivial questions, the system’s soft voice, oddly unsettling, announced on its own.
"Mission target: Beco Yuuki Asuna’s online boyfriend and fulfill her wish."
"Mission completed."
"Reward statistics: Cash—5,024,891 Yen.
Status—Spotlight, Heart Technique (Limited), Precise Timing, Justice Execution, I Anticipate Your Moves, Weather Forecast.
Skills—Swordsmanship (Perfect Level)... Vocal Expertise (Proficient Level)... Learning (Proficient Level)..."
Though he didn’t care much, over the past few days, Yuu had been collecting various rewards from Asuna. Aside from physical items, the money in his account was nearing tens of millions, making him increasingly desensitized.
As for skills, his Swordsmanship had reached Perfect Level, allowing him to morize and refine any sword techniques he saw, though its practical use in the real world was limited, slightly less useful than Acting.
Not only Vocal Expertise, but many skills that were previously at the Proficient Level had been combined into Expert Level, with so even nearing Perfect Level. Asuna didn’t provide many new skills, but this helped solidify his foundation, bringing him closer to becoming a professional monster in all fields.
Like the money, once he mastered many things, Yuu’s heart no longer stirred. He only knew he was a wealthy pervert.
...Hmm, a pervert in ability, not character or biology.
Please don’t misunderstand.
Then, the new status—Weather Forecast.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t a move from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 6.
As the na suggested, he no longer needed to check weather forecasts, with accuracy surpassing any teorological bureau.
With these thoughts, Yuu’s mind wavered along with the system’s voice.
"Usage ti: seventeen days."
"Settlent completed."
"Congratulations, Host, for obtaining the reward: A no Kougyoku (Rainlight Gem)."
"Next target—Hint: On Monday, September 22, at 3:30 p.m., remain seated for ten minutes and do not wander."
Hearing this, Yuu couldn’t help but frown.
"Damn, ’don’t wander,’ are you a kindergarten teacher... Wait, it’s specified this ti?"
Realizing this, he furrowed his brow, thoughtfully observing the system’s screen.
The pixelated head swayed, as if nodding. "The Host need not be surprised. Missions are not fixed; different choices lead to different outcos. Even the system cannot control the direction of fate."
"I see..." Yuu rubbed his chin, the aning of the statent clear.
(So, I can change as I please, and if the Host disagrees, complain to fate?)
(Nice, that’s the system’s style.)
The LCD screen suddenly flickered. After the pixelated head vanished, Yuu knew what was coming next.
Perhaps because he’d experienced it once before, even though he had to face the scene of parting with soone he liked again, his expression remained calm, unlike the last ti when he couldn’t control his emotions and ended up as a dark history in the system’s eyes.
People do need to get used to things.
Fortunately, his adaptability was decent—whether a transmigrator’s talent or sothing else, he didn’t feel much sadness or grief beyond emptiness and resignation.
So be it. He was ntally prepared.
With dead-fish eyes, the scene of their first eting at the artificial lake appeared before Yuu.
Then, various scenes of etings in the ga and the real world.
etings on sunny days, etings on rainy days...
Images and mories flashed together. Though not as stimulating or distorted as with Haruno, they were like a blanket over his shoulders, a warm touch enveloping his body, making him unconsciously relax.
Yuu’s eyes softened. He sat cross-legged, propping his chin with one hand, as if watching a cody film, the corners of his lips curling up as he enjoyed each image flashing across the screen.
The system even replayed the autumn performance scene, which he’d only seen in the final monts but was genuinely thrilling—the scene of Miss Umbrella Driving Off the Dangerous Fugitive. Honestly, even in the real world, Asuna’s rapier strikes were as beautiful as teors, srizing.
Not only that, the reactions of the mother and daughter, who seed at odds but prioritized each other in the face of danger, also brought a satisfied smile to his face.
"Not bad, right?"
As Sora once said, feelings can push soone forward, even soone like him—and that was truly wonderful.
Finally, the scene paused at the beautiful flower-filled cathedral.
The pristine white altar, Asuna gazing into his eyes, as if wanting to etch this mont into her heart forever.
The crystal ring was already on her ring finger. Yuu didn’t comfort Asuna’s confused expression, simply ending it with a satisfied smile.
"Wow, this is really..."
From a third-person perspective, Yuu could see his own face, full of affection, with an expression composed of three parts loss, three parts resignation, three parts helplessness, and one part love.
He couldn’t help rubbing his warming cheeks. "Kind of embarrassing."
"Handso as ever, but I didn’t expect... I was looking at Asuna and the others with such a deep gaze?"
With Haruno before, Yuu hadn’t noticed at all, but now, with the system practically zooming in on his face to the point of showing pores, it was hard not to.
Only now did Yuu fully realize that human eyes could truly speak.
Especially when in love, those eyes seed to chant I love you repeatedly like a sacred mantra, sweeter and more lodious than any cheesy pickup line.
For people who love each other, that’s how it is. But watching it himself, this scene was clearly another dark history.
"Sigh... What is fate like? If you can’t fight it, you have to learn to enjoy it?"
Life is tough. Yuu sighed.
He placed both hands behind his head, stretched out his legs, and lay back.
The screen in front of him displayed a snow effect again.
"Tiline collection completed."
"Mission execution period: September 5 to September 21."
"All interactions established with the target during this period will be reclaid by the system. The rest will be reasonably rerouted to ensure the outcos remain unchanged, and no relevant mories will be retained except by the Host."
"After collection is complete, the system will automatically return the Host to the real world."
Though spoken in a gentle tone, hearing the sa words as a month ago naturally didn’t evoke any new feelings.
Yuu closed his eyes, looked up, the corners of his lips curling slightly in contentnt.
Though there was no breeze here, he pretended to be relaxing in a vast adow, saying casually and comfortably:
"Rember to take my feelings of love for Asuna. This ti, I retreated successfully. I hope she lives peacefully from now on and doesn’t et any more weird guys."
The system replied, "Confird. The Host’s feelings of love for the target will be released. This will be executed after returning to the real world."
"Good."
This ti, Yuu didn’t feel too heavy-hearted.
As he’d said before—"I’m a selfish person. Love will only hinder from completing missions."
Whether the third, fourth, or fifth ti, Yuu would hold onto this mindset for his own sake until the system was gone.
It had nothing to do with cowardice; he just didn’t want to love soone who would forget him.
It had nothing to do with being a hero; he was just an ordinary person who couldn’t split his heart into many pieces.
So, he had to protect himself well.
"By the way, this could also be called a love brain?" Suddenly recalling sothing, Yuu couldn’t help but sneer, mocking himself. "Trapped by love, without freedom, the whole mind thinking only of a girl... I would’ve scoffed at this type of person before."
In the end, it was all because of this damn system!
As if venting, Yuu bent his long legs, still clad in suit pants, and kicked the LCD screen.
*BANG!*
The sound was loud, but unfortunately, the system was entirely unaffected, continuing to speak in its soft, clear voice—likely voiced by Kana Hanazawa, with the pixelated head resembling a chibi Chiaki Nanami:
"Worldline collection has ended, world correction program completed... correction halted."
"Detected Host possesses status—Injury Ti. Would you like to activate it?"
The main part arrived.
Yuu sat upright, leaning forward slightly, his hand unconsciously rubbing his chin, frowning seriously as he pondered for a while.
After confirming the question, he finally spoke, "...If activated, there won’t be any excess energy used to reforge the comb, right?"
The system answered curtly, "Correct. If Injury Ti energy is depleted, Kougyoku will not activate on its own."
Yuu pressed further, "And what if that really happens?"
The screen flickered twice with a snow effect. "The future cannot be predicted. Please be more cautious, Host."
Yuu: "..."
What an irresponsible answer, truly leaving him speechless.
(And the one who should be cautious is this cowardly damn system, right? Why’s it telling to be careful?)
(Is it afraid Haruno will rember the past and hit my head with a comb?)
(Or scared Asuna will pull out her rapier and riddle my body with holes?)
If sothing like that really happened, though he’d be nervous, Yuu wouldn’t be afraid—unless the head-smacking and hole-poking ca at the sa ti. Then he might tremble a bit.
"Forget it, let it be."
Dismissing the chaotic thoughts, Yuu stood, brushing off his white suit pants, which were completely dust-free.
Unlike before, the current him no longer had the resolve to refuse using Injury Ti for the sake of the consciousness he’d created.
After all, for him, the person he loved would eventually leave him; sooner or later, the outco would be the sa.
Rationally considered, using Injury Ti to avoid the appearance of a second troubleso comb was the wisest choice.
With that thought, Yuu, without much hesitation, shouted:
"System, activate Injury Ti!"
The system didn’t respond. Instead, a white light enveloped his vision again, accompanied by a slightly disorienting weightless sensation.
Before reflexively closing his eyes, Yuu was still thinking—
He shouldn’t have any regrets left to fix, right?
He’d received her happiest smile and knew Asuna had changed.
Though they would part ways, from now on, Asuna could walk straight toward her own life...
With Haruno’s precedent, Yuu was very confident and hopeful of this.
—So, with the main story perfectly concluded, what else could be done in a side story?
Carrying such a question, the next second, Yuu stepped into the distortion of ti.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Injury Ti.
Referring to ti that has ended but not quite, forcibly inserted ti that shouldn’t exist.
At least, that was the system’s definition.
If the world were likened to a line, the system would cut this line to another, forcibly altering its course. The original line, ant to end there, had a fragile thread tied to its end.
This fragile thread, which would vanish on its own soon after, was called Injury Ti.
Thus, one thing beca very clear—
When the world ended, that’s where it would begin.
"Ugh..."
Yuu ca to, finding himself back in the pristine white hall.
The baby’s breath above his head still emitted a fresh, elegant fragrance, and the small hand in his palm still felt soft and warm.
The ring was fully slipped onto her slender, fair ring finger, the sparkling diamond ring blending beautifully with it, creating a work of art.
—This is Injury Ti?
Yuu quickly grasped the situation, instinctively glancing at the girl’s expression in front of him.
If he rembered correctly, Asuna should now realize sothing was off and be about to ask him sothing when...
"...What’s going on?"
As if seeing Santa Claus transform into a naive blonde beauty, Yuu froze, awkwardly staring at her.
For so reason, Asuna, in her wedding dress, no longer looked like she did before he completed the mission.
Asuna’s eyes were tightly shut, her lips bitten until pale, her brows deeply furrowed, as if suffering a headache.
Yet she didn’t seem to be in too much pain, more like she suddenly understood sothing. Her expression shifted between shock, confusion, realization, anger, and sadness, a mix of emotions intertwining and changing.
The only thing unchanged was perhaps her left hand, gripping his tightly.
A very tight grip.
"A-Asuna?"
After hesitating for a long ti, Yuu finally asked cautiously, stepping back, his hand trying to pull away casually, but it was as if caught in a crevice, unable to move.
"...Yuu...kun?"
As if her consciousness had just returned to reality, Asuna slowly opened her eyes, her voice sounding sowhat chanical.
Yuu shuddered from head to toe, twice.
At that mont, the sacred, majestic white cathedral felt like the Arctic.
Though he couldn’t understand what was happening, his intuition reacted—
Telling him to run.
If he didn’t run now, it would be too late.
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