The System Won't Work Unless I Have Girlfriends

(Third pov)

Ever since the first episode came out, enormous criticism had been directed at the drama adaptation of the manga Sweet Today. Kana just endured it because she already knew what would come after high expectations were placed on this drama's promotion.

Kana herself was in the same situation, which was why she now avoided appearing in public spaces. It's natural for people to feel disappointed, but on the other hand, it's petty for a rookie actor to face such massive backlash on the internet. She found herself thinking about Masamune.

Arima Kana believed Masamune had been doing well since the first episode. Ever since they practiced together, she had gained a deeper understanding of how hard Masamune worked to live up to the role he played.

However, just considering the reputation of the manga itself, this project should have been given to more experienced actors.

"We're starting the filming!" the crew announced, and Kana sighed. Such a shame. If he had just taken on a different role, he might have grown into a great actor.

"Ready, and... action!"

With a loud clack of the clapperboard, all the tension focused on her. In that moment, Kana shifted into the character of Suzune. The students' cries filled the scene, setting the atmosphere of a high school sports festival.

This first scene was simple—she only needed to walk beneath the shadow of a tree. She glanced to the side, where other students were happily chatting and eating their lunches.

With a meek expression, she touched her stomach. Her face then twisted into a sour look, reflecting Suzune's trust issues, which led her to eat only canned food.

"Yo, bumpkin girl..."

Kana sighed inwardly, keeping her acting intact. The voice belonged to Masamune, who spoke the male lead's name, Kanata, perfectly. Wait, perfectly? She lifted her face toward him, her eyes widening.

"If you're that hungry, buy a curry or something... Honestly..." He paused, then let out a dismissive puff of air. "It's annoying to eat with such a gloomy girl around."

Kana was dumbfounded by how much more alive his character felt. The way he arrogantly sat there and ate, the sharpness of his gaze, the subtle expressions he made—it was stoic, yet human emotions radiated through his acting. What on earth is going on!?

"Uh... what?"

"Cut!"

Kana snapped out of it as the director called for a halt.

"Arima-chan, why are you doing?"

"I-I'm sorry, Director!"

They walked back together to reshoot the scene. Masamune noticed her gaze and glanced at her. "What?"

Seeing his nonchalant response, Kana raised her left eyebrow. "Nothing..."

Her expression was an open book to Masamune. It was clear she was surprised by his acting.

Masamune smirked. "I told you, didn't I? You don't need to hold back anymore. Show me what you've got, Kana."

Her confusion shifted once again. Deep down, she asked herself if she could enjoy acting like she used to.

The scene was repeated, and this time, Kana didn't hold back. Because these two were the main cast of the drama, most of the camera and crew's attention was focused on them. Earlier that morning, neither had arrived with any excitement or high expectations for the show—or for each other.

They were underestimated. Masamune, a newcomer, and Kana, a genius child actress, were dismissed. But now, everyone realized how wrong they had been.

"Okay cut!"

"Amazing..."

"That was incredible..."

Spectators, including the crew on the sidelines, mumbled unintentionally. Even Kaburagi Masaya, the producer who had cast the drama, began to question his own decisions.

"Kaburagi-san, I already knew Arima-san's capabilities, but... where did you find Makabe-kun?" the director asked, glancing at Masamune.

"I just happened to meet him at a café I visited once. I didn't think I'd hit the jackpot."

With the scene wrapped, the crew and actors were given a ten-minute break. Meanwhile, the lead actors refreshed their appearance.

As Kana sat a short distance away from Masamune, she kept sneaking glances at him.

"Did you want to say something to me?"

Kana flinched.

"N-no, nothing."

Masamune raised an eyebrow at her evasiveness.

'I want to ask him if he was hiding his talent on purpose! I want to ask that, but I can't!'

Kana's curiosity was overwhelming. In her mind, it reached the level of an obsessive idol fan.

'God! Why did I make such a mistake? I'm supposed to be showing my junior how to act, not the other way around!' Her thoughts spiraled.

"Don't forget about our date, Kana," Masamune teased, prompting giggles from the hairstylist who was working on his hair.

"Huh? What date?"

Once again, Kana realized the situation she was in. 'How could I forget that?' Her current attitude basically admitted that she recognized how much his acting had improved. But it wasn't just slightly better—Masamune's performance was an upgrade that would shock everyone when the episode aired.

'No! I won't acknowledge him!'

Kana blushed, feeling like a loser admitting defeat. She refused to entertain the idea of dating him, even for a day! Yet she couldn't stop questioning why she was suddenly so aware of him.

---

The trending topic on Twitter after the release of the second episode was clear: Did you watch the new episode of the drama Sweet Today?

For many, the disappointment of the first episode seemed like a distant memory. The second episode had completely turned things around, fixing the drama's tarnished image.

This change was largely thanks to the main cast, who carried the episode with their outstanding performances. The heroine had become more expressive, much like her manga counterpart. In the manga, she was well-known for her funny, exaggerated expressions, especially when upset with the male lead for constantly bothering her.

However, the real star was the male lead. His portrayal of Kanata, a not-just-handsome guy with a sharp tongue, had elevated the drama.

Here are some of the fan reactions flooding social media.

[Anonim: It was perfect! Perfect! Everything, down to the last minute detail!]

[Shizu: What the hell is this peak? They should've done this from the first episode! But I'll say this: Sweet Today is exactly what it should be now. Incredible!]

[Todo: Absolute cinema. I hate to admit it, but I hope this doesn't end after just six episodes.]

[Remy: The male lead is definitely more handsome now, and his acting feels so human! Even though his character doesn't say much, his presence is strong—exactly what a male lead should have. Perfect!]

[Nonim: I agree with the comment above. I can now rest in peace knowing the manga has a truly great live-action adaptation.]

That day, as Masamune had predicted, the internet broke.

---

April 19th, 2013

With that, the drama ended up adding two more episodes. Once again, it was the actors who carried the series to success. It was surprising, as the drama became the most in-demand TV show of the season, even though they could only extend it to eight episodes from the original six.

With such achievements, the team decided to celebrate at a sushi restaurant as a wrap-up party.

"Masamune, why are you looking around?" Kana asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

"Nothing. I'm just trying to see if there's anyone here I know besides the crew, but I guess not," Masamune replied casually.

Kana hummed, still eyeing him with suspicion. "Come to think of it, I realized just how many people worked on this project."

A voice joined the conversation—it was Hoshino Aqua, the actor who played the stalker in the sixth episode. The boy with blonde hair shrugged.

"That's natural, Kana. I'm just glad we pulled it off. With our performance, I hope the people behind the scenes can step up their game even more. That being said, let's just hope no scandals come out of this." He paused, grinning mischievously. "By the way, do you guys have girlfriends? You two should at least have one—you're first-year high schoolers now! Haha~"

Aqua shook his head. "Nope. Sounds like too much trouble to me."

Kana glanced at Masamune. "What about you? Do you have one?" she asked, remembering the promise she'd made to go on a date with him if his acting improved.

Masamune smirked. "I have three."

Kana's smile twitched. "Stop joking around, dumbass."

"Oh, wait..." Masamune hummed, pretending to reconsider. "Actually, I have two."

"...For real?"

"For real."

Kana was about to press him further when a woman with round glasses approached their table.

"Hello. It's been a while, hasn't it?"

Kana's expression shifted from annoyed to delighted. "Sensei! How are you doing?" she exclaimed, standing to greet Kichijouji Yoriko, the mangaka behind I'll Go Sweet Today.

"Once again, I'm so thankful to all of you for steering Sweet Today in the right direction. I wouldn't even be surprised if Masamune-kun, Kana-chan, and Aqua-kun win awards for this!" Yoriko said warmly.

The three actors laughed at her praise.

[Would you like to see your potential partner rating?]

Masamune silently groaned at the intrusive system that only he could see.

"That reminds me, Masamune-kun..." Yoriko continued, drawing his attention.

Masamune looked at her as she smiled.

"There's someone who wants to talk to you, if you don't mind," she said.

Masamune paused. "May I ask who it is?"

Her smile widened. "Since he rarely appears in public, you might not recognize him, but I'm sure you're familiar with his work—Jujutsu Kaisen and Attack on Titan."

Kana gasped. "You mean... Kira-sensei?" she whispered in awe. Yoriko nodded with a smile.

Masamune frowned inwardly. He agreed to meet this person out of curiosity. Soon, a man with short black hair and brown eyes walked over.

"Ah, that's him," Yoriko said.

"I never thought he'd be this young," Kana murmured.

"It's an honor to meet you all," the man said with a warm smile. "Since Yoriko-sensei has already told you, I'll keep it short. My name is Tenjo Yuuya."

As Yoriko stepped aside, she gestured for Masamune and Yuuya to have a private conversation.

"That was some great acting you displayed," Yuuya began. "By any chance, are you planning to continue as an actor?"

"I haven't thought about it yet," Masamune replied, his tone neutral. "Let's not drag this out, shall we? What do you want?"

Yuuya chuckled. "Fair enough. We're not close enough for deep conversations, right? Then I'll be blunt: have you noticed a floating screen asking about potential partner ratings for almost six years?"

Masamune sighed internally. "So that explains why I was confused about the Jujutsu Kaisen author's name and other works."

Yuuya laughed softly. "So we share the same fate?"

"Not exactly. Is there anything else you want to tell me again?"

"Nothing much," Yuuya said with a shrug. "I just hope we won't end up as rivals since we both attend Shuchi'in Academy."

Masamune understood the underlying message—Don't mess with me.

Look at this guy. Masamune thought. Is he trying to say we're the same? Seriously? A man who prided himself on hard work and ambition, Masamune had built his world without relying on the system. He found the insinuation insulting.

Masamune tapped Yuuya on the shoulder with a smirk. "Sure, you're the main character," he said sarcastically before walking away.

---

A/N: The high school arc begins next! Thank you so much for reading this story!

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