A Boring Story About A Boy Who Can Manipulate Reality By Doing Chores

Ren approached Itsuki, a casual smile on his face. Itsuki, startled by his sudden presence, immediately bowed, a polite gesture of gratitude. "Thank you for teaching me that day at the library, Ren-kun," she said, her voice soft but sincere. She knew, deep down, that Ren likely had some ulterior motive for approaching her, yet she couldn't deny how effective he had been as a teacher. Among her five siblings, she was the only one who had managed to pass the recent exam with relative ease. Fuutarou, their official tutor, struggled to connect with them, their guards always up against him, a barrier born from their father's choice. Ren, however, was different. Despite her usual reluctance to be approached by boys, Ren's inexplicable charm had allowed him to bypass her usual defenses. Still, she maintained a subtle distance, her guard never fully dropping.

Ren accepted her thanks with a nod, then smoothly pivoted the conversation. "Why are you out here by yourself, Itsuki-san?"

Itsuki's tone, though friendly, held an unspoken plea for solitude. "I just wanted to be alone right now," she replied, her gaze drifting away. Ren, however, picked up on the subtle subtext, the unspoken "go away" hidden beneath her polite words. He decided to pretend not to notice.

Without a word, Ren sat down beside her on the bench. Itsuki, clearly startled, stiffened, cornered and unsure how to react. Ren, already opening his bento, simply asked, "Are you going to start eating?" as he began to eat his own lunch. Seeing his casual demeanor, Itsuki sighed inwardly and, with a resigned gesture, opened her own bento and began to eat.

After a few bites, Ren broke the silence. "How did you do on the exam, Itsuki-san?"

Itsuki flinched, surprised by the direct question. "I… I passed," she replied, a hint of defensiveness in her voice. Ren didn't press, sensing her discomfort. He changed the subject again. "What class are you in?"

Itsuki told him her class section. Ren learned that they were in the same year, but in different sections. He then began to talk about his own transfer to the school. Itsuki was surprised to learn that he, too, was a transfer student, having arrived even earlier than her. The shared experience seemed to break down a small part of her reserve. She opened up, admitting that she was still unfamiliar with the school and its surroundings. She didn't offer specific details about her past, but Ren, with his System-given knowledge, had a good idea of her circumstances.

Their conversation flowed easily, surprisingly so, as they talked about school, their new experiences, and general topics. They were so engrossed that they didn't realize how much time had passed until the lunch break was almost over. Itsuki suddenly became aware of their solitude, just the two of them, and a faint blush crept up her neck. If her sisters found her, they might completely misunderstand her relationship with Ren. Since she had finished eating, she decided to leave. "See you later," she said, almost unconsciously, as she quickly moved away from him.

Ren watched her go, a thoughtful expression on his face. Their conversation had been remarkably smooth. He considered using one of his 'Ticket of Relationship' on her, but then decided against it. He wanted to see how things would unfold naturally. His 'Ticket of Charm' had clearly elevated his natural charisma, making him effortlessly appealing to others. He loved this feeling, the knowledge that he could attract girls without immediately resorting to his Reality Tickets. He would try to rely on his charm as much as possible, saving the tickets for when he truly needed them, or perhaps, when boredom set in.

Ren was about to leave when his eyes caught a familiar figure in the corner of the building, seemingly peeking at him. Chisaki Miyazaki. Her heart stopped when their eyes met.

"When did you start watching?" Ren asked, a slight smirk playing on his lips.

Chisaki, startled, blurted out the truth without thinking. "From the start!" She immediately clamped a hand over her mouth, mortified. Why did I say that unconsciously?!

There were still a few minutes before the next class. "Chisaki-san," Ren said, "do you have a moment to talk?"

Chisaki wanted to refuse, to run away and hide from her embarrassment. But the thought of being alone with Ren, truly alone, was too tempting. She nodded, her face still flushed. They found an empty bench nearby and sat down, the lingering tension between them mingling with a new, unspoken curiosity.