Chat Group: Traits, Gacha, and Crossovers

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Time flew by, and before anyone knew it, over a month had passed in this World-2.

Inside the director's office of Excellent Girls' Academy, Veyron elegantly scribbled his signature across a document handed to him by his black-stockinged, high-heeled secretary.

Once she left with the papers, he called up the support interface for the chat group missions. The live tracker showed the bond progress tick up from 88.96% to 88.97%. Veyron chuckled to himself, quite pleased.

The Time-Stop Pocket Watch, as the name suggests, has one main function—stopping time.

But just because it can stop time doesn't mean that's all it does.

It has another feature: boosting the surrounding fate energy, essentially giving everyone nearby a temporary protagonist buff.

Instead of relying on the wild fate of the people around the world, the watch lets him reshape that fate—turning ordinary people into "protagonist-type" individuals, even if only for a short time.

He also discovered an interesting quirk in the time-stop ability. Through testing, he found that the time-stop doesn't freeze the entire world.

Instead, it creates a thin "crack" in time—a sliver between moments—where he and anyone he chooses can still move freely. Functionally, it still feels like classic time-stop, but technically, it's a little different.

As for the "fate boost" effect—yeah, that just flat-out doesn't work outside this world.

But in its own world? It couldn't be more perfect for this mission.

After a friendly negotiation with the previous chairman—who totally ditched his wife and kids—Veyron officially took over as the new head of Excellent Girls' Academy.

Now? He basically just chills in the office all day, occasionally signs a few papers, and lets the magic happen.

Thanks to the fate-boosting aura from the pocket watch, all the female students and staff have been unknowingly transformed into main-character material, and their bond values with him just keep skyrocketing.

At this rate, give it another week or two, and the bond goal for World-2 is in the bag.

Feeling good about his own progress, Veyron decided it was time to check in on his fellow group member—who was still grinding bonds in another world.

. . .

『Ordinary Human』: (screenshot.jpg of task interface)

『Ordinary Human』: @Earth's Cancer Yo, Chika~ Still stuck at 60%?

『Ordinary Human』: What's going on over there?

『Earth's Cancer』:No idea. I've been doing the same stuff as before, but the progress just stopped.

Lying back on a lounge chair at the Kotobuki family's private beach resort, Fujiwara Chika sipped some watermelon juice and frowned. She really didn't get why the bond progress had stalled either.

Funny enough, in the beginning, Chika had actually been ahead of Veyron in terms of building bonds in World-1.

She had an edge—being a high school freshman herself, and thanks to the "identity buff" Veyron wrangled for her from the World Will, she was able to slip right into the K-On! universe as an unofficial member of the Light Music Club.

Every day, she hung out in the music room with the four main girls, enjoying world-class tea and snacks served on European royal porcelain.

They even worked part-time jobs together to help Yui buy her dream guitar. With Mugi's connections, they snagged it at a discounted price of just 50,000 yen.

Then, when they learned students who failed midterms would be banned from club activities, they all pitched in to help Yui study. Thanks to the group's efforts, Yui not only passed—she aced it.

Every one of these wholesome activities had earned her a huge bump—10% or more each.

Even the daily tea parties became a steady source of bond points.

But then... it all came to a screeching halt.

Once she hit 60%, nothing worked anymore.

Drinking tea, sharing snacks, bonding with Ritsu, Mio, Yui, and Mugi—even going on this training camp to the Kotobuki family's seaside villa during summer break, just to prep for their school festival live show—none of it earned her even 0.01% more.

『Ghost Spider』: Looks like you hit a wall, huh?

『Catwoman』: Yeah... seems like you'll need a different approach to get that last 40%.

『Hellish Blizzard』: Maybe try going over everything you've done so far since arriving in that world—what actions got you to 60%. Then we can help figure out what's missing.

『Earth's Cancer』: Sounds good.

Chika gathered her thoughts and gave the group a full breakdown of everything she'd done over the past month or so.

The group chat went quiet for a bit… then it was Veyron who spoke up, spotting the issue.

『Ordinary Human』: …Doesn't something about their club activities feel a little... off to you?

『Ghost Spider』: Hmm… now that you mention it… yeah, a little?

『Earth's Cancer』: Really? I thought it all seemed pretty normal—tea, snacks, chatting, that kinda stuff.

『Lady Avalon』: The problem is… the Light Music Club is, y'know, supposed to be a music club, right?

Merlin didn't sugarcoat it—she went straight for the throat.

『Earth's Cancer』: W-Wait, what…?!

Chika practically jolted upright, her movement causing certain assets to bounce in dramatic fashion.

Mio Akiyama, who wasn't joining in on Ritsu and Yui's beach antics or building sandcastles like Mugi, but was instead sitting nearby enjoying the ocean breeze with Chika, flinched at the sight.

She already thought Chika's figure was outrageous with clothes on. Now that she was in a swimsuit... was this really the kind of body a first-year high schooler was supposed to have?!

Chika gave Mio a confused glance, noticing her shell-shocked expression, but quickly turned her attention back to the chat and typed:

『Earth's Cancer』: So… are you saying that to get the remaining 40%, I need to be involved in their music-related activities?

『Ordinary Human』: Possibly.

『Ordinary Human』: It's just a theory based on the clues we've got. No guarantees it's right, but it's the best lead we have so far.

『Earth's Cancer』: Hmm... I do know a bit about music, but I feel like the stuff I'm good at—like piano—doesn't really fit their band's vibe.

Guitar, bass, drums, keyboard.

The Light Music Club's band leaned heavily toward a light rock sound that matched their club's name.

『Ordinary Human』: Well, try it and see if it moves the bond meter.

『Ordinary Human』: If it works, you can just join in as a backup guitarist for a while. With your talent—and the buffs from your gene lock and enhanced mental abilities—even if you're starting from scratch, I doubt it'll take you more than a few days to reach performance-ready level.

『Earth's Cancer』: Okay, sounds like a plan. It's not like I've got a better idea anyway—so I'll give it a shot.

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