Darkness. Then, a sudden rush of sensations—cold air against his skin, a soft bed beneath him, the faint scent of fabric softener lingering in the sheets. His mind was a jumbled mess, like waking from a deep sleep, but something was wrong.
His body felt… off.
Rito's eyes snapped open, blinking rapidly as his vision adjusted. A plain white ceiling greeted him. He slowly pushed himself up, a strange weightlessness in his movements, like his body was somehow lighter and more energetic than before.
"Where… am I?"
His heart pounded as he scanned the room. A desk, a bookshelf, and a window showing the quiet suburban neighbourhood outside. It was familiar, yet it shouldn't have been.
Then, his eyes landed on a mirror hanging by the wall.
What he saw made his breath catch in his throat.
A boy—no, he—stared back at him. Short, messy brown hair that stubbornly spiked in places. Wide, orange-tinted eyes filled with shock. The unmistakable face of Rito Yuki.
"No, no, no... this isn't real. This can't be real."
His heart pound as his thoughts spiralled. He wasn't dreaming—everything felt too vivid. He clenched his fists, feeling the undeniable sensation of warm skin and shifting muscles. The air smelt real. The ticking clock in the background sounded real. Even the way his chest tightened from panic was real.
"Did I die? Was I reborn? But why To Love-Ru, of all things?!"
Rito—or rather, the person inhabiting Rito's body—struggled to breathe as his mind raced. If this was real, if he had truly reincarnated into this world, then that meant—
His life was doomed to be an endless series of perverted accidents!
His face paled. This world was nothing like his previous one. It was a chaotic romantic comedy filled with misunderstandings, alien princesses, crazy scientists, and perverted slip-ups that defied all logic. And he was at the centre of it all!
Before he could fall further into existential despair, a sudden sound cut through his thoughts.
[Ding! Growth System Activated!]
A cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind, and suddenly, a translucent blue screen materialised in front of him.
『Growth System』
Host: Rito Yuki
Level: 1
Skills: None
Stats:
Strength: 5
Agility: 6
Intelligence: 7
Luck: 2 (???)
System Functions Unlocked:
Skill Acquisition: Gain new abilities through training or special conditions.
Stat Growth: Improve attributes over time.
Missions: Receive objectives that grant rewards upon completion.
Gacha: Roll for random skills, items, or traits.
+++
Rito blinked. Then blinked again.
"...Huh?"
This was no ordinary reincarnation. He had a system. A cheat-like ability that could make him stronger.
At first, the idea seemed ridiculous. He wasn't some overpowered protagonist with instant godly strength or world-dominating ambitions. He was just an unlucky guy stuck in the body of an even unluckier one!
But then... did this mean he could change his fate?
Could he stop tripping into Lala's chest every morning? Could he avoid accidentally groping Haruna? Could he finally live in this world without being a walking disaster magnet?
His panic started to fade, replaced by something else—determination.
This was his second chance at life, and he wasn't going to waste it.
He turned back to the system screen, eyes glinting with newfound resolve.
"Alright, Growth System... let's see what you can really do."
"This is insane…"
Rito—or rather, the new soul inside Rito's body—couldn't stop staring at the translucent system screen floating in front of him. His mind was already struggling to accept that he had been reincarnated into the ecchi-filled chaos of To Love-Ru, but now he had a Growth System on top of that?
His emotions were a chaotic mix of disbelief, excitement… and mild panic.
But before he could fully process what to do next, a soft knock came from the door.
"Rito, are you awake?"
That voice. Soft, gentle, and filled with concern.
His heart skipped a beat. He recognized it instantly.
Mikan Yuki.
A second later, the door creaked open, and in walked a girl who—if he wasn't already expecting it—would have made him do a double take.
Mikan Yuki, his little sister.
Her short, golden-brown hair was neatly brushed, the tips curling slightly inward just above her shoulders. Large, deep amber eyes framed by long lashes carried an expression of quiet intelligence, warmth, and just a hint of teasing mischief. Unlike most younger sisters in anime, she wasn't obnoxiously clingy or bratty—Mikan was mature, responsible, and completely adorable.
She was dressed in a simple yet cute outfit—an oversized yellow T-shirt that draped over her petite frame, the loose collar slightly slipping down her shoulder, revealing a glimpse of smooth, fair skin. Paired with a pair of soft pajama shorts that showed off her slender, well-proportioned legs, she looked effortlessly attractive in a way that made his brain short-circuit for a second.
"Holy hell… No wonder people love her."
Even though she was supposed to be his "little sister" in this world, he couldn't deny the sheer level of cuteness radiating from her.
She stepped closer, placing a hand on her hip and giving him an unimpressed look.
"You finally woke up, huh?" she sighed. "Seriously, you've been out of it since this morning. I was starting to think you were turning into a useless older brother."
"Wait… fever?"
Now that she mentioned it, his body did feel warm—his forehead, especially. Was that why he didn't wake up earlier? Did he reincarnate while Rito was sick?
Before he could say anything, Mikan suddenly leaned down, bringing her face close to his.
"Here, let me check."
His breath hitched as she reached out, her delicate fingers brushing against his forehead.
Soft.
The touch sent an unexpected shiver down his spine. Then, before he could recover, she moved her hand to his cheek, lightly pressing her palm against his skin.
"Still a bit warm," Mikan murmured, her brows furrowing slightly. "But at least you're awake now."
Her scent reached him at that moment. A faint, soothing mix of citrus shampoo and something subtly sweet—a natural, comfortable fragrance that made his heart beat just a little faster.
"She smells… really nice."
The realization made him gulp. This was dangerous. Mikan was too close, and the warmth of her palm combined with her soft expression made it hard for him to focus on anything else.
"Honestly," she sighed, pulling back slightly—but not before giving his forehead one last lingering brush. "You should take better care of yourself. If I wasn't here, who would look after you?"
"…That's a good question," he thought absentmindedly.
In the original story, Mikan had always been the responsible one, taking care of the house and even acting more mature than Rito himself. She cooked, cleaned, and managed everything without a single complaint.
Now that he was seeing her up close like this, it hit him even harder just how amazing she was.
Cute. Reliable. Caring. And with just the right amount of teasing to keep things interesting.
"How the hell did the original Rito not appreciate her more?"
Mikan suddenly gave him a curious look. "You're staring at me weirdly. Is your fever making you act dumb?"
His face immediately burned—not from the fever, but from embarrassment.
"N-No! I was just thinking… uh, that I'm lucky to have a little sister like you!"
Mikan blinked at him. Then, to his complete surprise, she smirked.
"Hm? What's with that sudden praise?" She leaned in slightly, a teasing glint in her eyes. "Don't tell me the fever made you all sentimental?"
"Of course not!" he sputtered, turning away quickly. Too late.
She giggled. "Well, whatever. I'll take that as a compliment."
She turned and started walking toward the door, but not before throwing him one last glance over her shoulder.
"I made porridge earlier. Try to eat something before you pass out again, okay?"
And just like that, she was gone.
Rito lay there in silence, staring at the ceiling.
"Okay… that was dangerous."
He wasn't sure if it was the fever messing with his emotions, but Mikan was way cuter than he remembered.
Not just cute—irresistibly charming in a way that made his heart ache a little.
"I need to be careful. If I don't watch myself, I might actually…"
He cut off that thought before it could go any further.
This was just the beginning of his new life.
And if Mikan was already having this kind of effect on him…
He had no idea how he was going to survive the rest of the girls in this world.