The System Won't Work Unless I Have Girlfriends

"Onii-chan, please don't open Twitter or any social media, alright?"

Still sweating, I had just come back from the park after a morning run. When I entered the house, I found Chinatsu waiting at the front door and gave me this warning all of a sudden.

"Why?" I asked.

"Just don't open it, you have to promise! Got it?"

What the heck? That made me more curious instead of alert. After taking a bath, I checked my phone.

[Chika: DON'T OPEN TWITTER NOW. I SWEAR, JUST DON'T OPEN IT. Also, are you coming to school today?]

[Chizuru: Don't open anything today, okay? It's important not to get distracted. Also, this is an order from me as your coach.]

It's LUNE's messages. What the hell is going on here? Chinatsu, Chika, and Chizuru are being overly protective of me.

I sighed inwardly. So, it's been three months. At the beginning of March. The air has become slightly warmer since spring is approaching. Also, last week, I finished shooting the first episode of I'll Go Sweet Today, marking my debut.

With Chizuru as my manager, and since there was no read-through of the script before filming, I had to practice on my own. I managed my schedule because Chizuru prepared everything for me. She created the materials and pointed things out after I received the first episode's script, and then I spent my entire Sunday for shooting.

One word: slave.

I realized that being an actor is exhausting. Let's not forget that a newbie like me is underpaid despite working like a dog. I mean, my salary can't even cover hiring Chizuru as my acting coach.

Well, I am a family man. I endure this kind of crap because my family is proud of me. I mean, Kinue, my mom, is my number one fan. This morning, she talked about how neat I looked when she watched the first episode.

Now I remember it. The first episode was released yesterday, and I didn't have time to watch it because of a meeting.

Even today, I'm on my way to Yokohama since I have some business to take care of, so I'm going to miss school today.

I take out my phone and put on my earphones. I'm bored, so I'll kill some time by watching the first episode online.

.

.

.

.

I sigh aloud, "Mid."

I may not be biased about myself, but my mom definitely is.

After watching the first episode, I'm really disappointed with my own acting.

For the record, I didn't use that [SR Packed: [Acting] Ryan Gosling] skill yet. Officially, the contract between me and Chizuru ended when the rental girlfriend phase was over.

So, I was purely acting with everything I had. I mean, after training for over three months under Chizuru as my acting coach, with Chinatsu the otaku, and Chika, who would kill me if I messed up her favorite manga adaptation, I managed to reach a "Mid" level—just enough to avoid making this TV drama worse than trash.

[Anonim: I'm dropping this shit.]

[Shizu: What the hell is this trash? Is this really I'll Go Sweet Today, the one I've been reading all this time?]

[Todo: There are too many changes from the original work. Even as a guy, I enjoyed the romance in the manga. This TV drama adaptation only shows handsome guys without any notable acting skills. Now, I realize this series is aimed at a female audience.]

[Remy: The male lead is definitely more handsome than the side characters, but his acting feels fake. Lol.]

[Nonim: I agree with the girl above. His acting looks professional, but it's shallow and lacks soul. Overall, the first episode already made me cringe.]

When I check Twitter, the posts about this drama, managed by Dot. TV, are filled with angry fans. This drama was supposed to be an oasis for the fans, especially since I read the manga and found it quite good myself.

I check my own Twitter, and my notifications are already broken. I got a bunch of new followers, and the comment section of my random tweet from last week is flooded with both love and hate.

So this is why they warned me.

"Hmmph..." I smile a little.

Things like this don't affect me.

I turn off my phone and look out the window. Should I wear a mask for a while now? Let's hope I don't get stabbed by some otaku on my way back. The car halts slowly at a red light.

Ding!

I check my phone again.

[Chizuru: Wanna go somewhere today?]

[Masamune: Okay. Which hotel? Lol.]

[Chizuru: You little! Seems I was worried for nothing. Forget it.]

I chuckle.

[Masamune: Where are you?]

[Chizuru: Uni. I have class from 9 until 2:30 PM. Why?]

---

(Third pov)

For some reason, Chizuru couldn't focus on the lecture today.

"Alright, that's all for today's lecture," the professor announced as everyone started to get up and leave the lecture hall one by one.

"Chizuru, you look down, you know. Why?" her friend Yoko asked.

Chizuru shook her head with a smile. "Nothing, hehe."

As they walked out of the room with her two friends by her side, she checked the time. Masamune had told her to meet at 3:45 PM, which meant she had to leave soon.

"Hey, Chizuru. Do you remember the group we met in Izu?"

"H-huh?" Chizuru was caught off guard. Why was Yoko suddenly asking about Kazuya's circle? "Of course, I remember them."

"You can legally drink now, right?" Yuuki chimed in. "Chizuru-chan, they've invited us to an izakaya right now. You should come!"

"That's too sudden for me. Plus, I have something else to do. I'm really sorry."

Thank god. She was relieved that she needed to give Masamune an acting lesson today. After he got roasted online, she wanted him to relax a bit.

Yoko and Yuuki smirked at her. "Hehe. I see, you've got yourself a boyfriend, huh?"

Chizuru smiled in response. "Hahaha, I don't have one, though."

"Ah, it's those guys! Such a shame, Chizuru. Why not come and find a date?"

They soon arrived at the park in front of the literature department. 'But I have to go! I don't want to bump into Kazuya here!' Chizuru thought anxiously.

"Chizuru, come on. Let's say hi before you leave."

"E-eh! Yoko!"

She cursed herself internally. Why am I such a pushover?

"Ah, Yoko-san, you're here!"

'Help. I don't want to get involved with this group again. Kazuya is standing right there, beside his ex. Why is he looking at me like that, acting shy? I thought he'd hate me after what happened, but no! This guy is such a simp.'

Despite her reluctance, she found herself walking with them to the parking lot.

Not far ahead, there was a short woman with blonde hair styled in a bob—Nanami Mami. She kept flirting with Kazuya. Was she his ex, or were they dating again? Chizuru didn't care, but Mami was annoying. It was obvious she hated Chizuru.

"Kazu-kun, what's going on with you?"

"N-no, nothing, Mami-chan."

'Yup, she hates me,' Chizuru thought as she looked away, but she could still feel Mami's empty gaze directed at her.

Despite her annoyance, Chizuru found herself worrying about someone else—her student, Masamune.

'Honestly, I'd love to see his annoyed face. However, after training him to become a decent actor, I know how hard Masamune has worked for this role. He never skipped a single lesson. Over time, I've gotten to know him better than before.'

Chizuru thought Masamune was crazy.

He was a junior high student but was also managing multiple companies. It didn't make sense at first, but after Grandpa Hachiro explained everything to her, she was convinced that Masamune was an extraordinary person. Still, how did he manage all that while bothering himself with acting? We both have the same 24 hours in a day, right? So how does he do it?

They reached the parking lot near the exit gate of Tokyo U. For some reason, the area was a bit crowded, and everyone seemed to pause as Chizuru sighed inwardly.

"Oh. My. God. Look at that hottie, Chizuru," one of her friends remarked.

They all stopped and stared at a guy wearing a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, showing off his muscular forearms, and tight black pants. He had a good build, just like a certain someone Chizuru knew very well.

"Hm?"

Masamune was casually eating snacks and leaning against his Lexus LFA, waiting for Chizuru. He seemed to sense her presence nearby.

"Bingo," he said as he spotted her—the girl with glasses and two braids. Masamune approached her as the people around naturally parted to give him space. He greeted her, "Hi, Chizu. I'm here."

"Wh-w-what are you doing here?" Chizuru stammered, her face turning red. She didn't want him picking her up like this at her university. It was embarrassing with all the attention she'd get!

"Haha~ I'm here to pick you up. What? You don't like it? You don't, right?" Masamune teased her playfully, acting like an idiot with his white hair.

'THIS LITTLE SHIT! I want to wipe that smug look off his face!'

"Um... excuse me, who are you to her?" one of Chizuru's friends asked suspiciously.

Chizuru flinched as she noticed Masamune's faint smile. He glanced to his side and noticed Kazuya, who looked furious, giving him a death stare.

"I'm this woman's boyfrie—"

Before he could finish, Chizuru clapped her hand over his mouth.

"WHOA! FOR REAL? Chizuru, you have to explain!"

"No, no, no!" Chizuru waved her hand frantically. "He's a little brother."

"You liar. We don't look similar in many ways, though," Masamune said with a smug expression. Then, he and the others exchanged names.

"It's nice to meet you all. Can I take Chizuru with me?"

"Of course, by all means! Just take her!"

'MASAMUNEEEEEE!' Chizuru mentally screamed. She truly hated this guy. Just look at his amused eyes—he was clearly enjoying teasing her.

Meanwhile, Kazuya clenched his fists, trying to contain his anger as he watched Masamune interact casually with his group.

"Kazu-kun? Are you okay?" Mami asked, noticing his change in demeanor.

He forced a laugh and replied, "Ahaha. My stomach suddenly started hurting. I'm sorry."

Mami narrowed her eyes slightly. "Eeeh? Hm..." She glanced back at the guy Kazuya was glaring at. Then she looked closer at the nerdy girl with glasses. 'Suspicious... and wait, this girl feels familiar. Ichinose... Chizuru, right?' Mami thought, scrutinizing Chizuru.

.

.

.

.

Mami, who was in a bad mood, went home and started scrolling through the internet. That's when she stumbled upon something interesting.

"Oh my... would you look at that? Mizuhara Chizuru... I knew it."

---

If you'd like to read advanced chapters ahead, you can visit patreon.com/Livice