David was hiding in a bush.
Again.
He was in front of the Seiryu Academy library, crouched like a suspicious pervert. The sun had started to set, painting the sky orange. Birds chirped. Cicadas screamed. Mosquitoes were planning their nightly buffet.
David was not enjoying nature.
He was staking out the scene of the next flag.
According to the system, tomorrow afternoon was when Yuuto would "accidentally" find Airi at the library again—this time studying. If she dropped her eraser, and he picked it up while their hands touched, boom. Another heart.
Another flag.
And David was going to stop it.
He looked down at his phone. The H-System interface blinked.
Upcoming Flag: Library (2nd Encounter)
Estimated Trigger Time: Tomorrow 2 PM
Suggested Counterplan: Sabotage Desk / Lock Library Door / Fake Fire Drill
All options sounded illegal.
"I'm gonna end up arrested for being logical," David muttered.
Suddenly, the system pinged again—urgent.
WARNING: Reika Saionji – Approaching Fast
Affection Level: 3 (Flirt Mode Activated)
Status: Searching for "Glassey McTransfer"
His stomach dropped.
He looked up—too late.
A shadow loomed behind him. A familiar voice purred.
"There you are."
David turned slowly, like a horror movie protagonist.
There stood Reika.
Same red tank top. Tight black jeans. Sunglasses pushed up on her head like she just stepped out of a shampoo commercial. Her arms were crossed, but one eyebrow was raised with dangerous curiosity.
"Are you… spying on girls?"
David panicked. "NO! I mean—technically yes, but not like that."
"Oh?" she said, walking closer. "So, what kind of spying are we talking about, Glassey?"
"I was... scouting." He stood up, brushing leaves off. "I'm part of the, uh, Flag Prevention Committee."
"You what now?"
"It's a club. Super secret. We stop… destiny."
Reika smirked, eyes sparkling with amusement. "You're weird."
She leaned in.
"And I like weird."
The system nearly exploded.
DANGER ZONE: Flirt Flag Approaching MAX
Event Name: Thirsty Older Girl in Heat
Status: ACTIVE
Auto-Correction Activated: Your cool is now 15% higher
David backed up, sweating. "Cool! Haha! Weirder than ever! Gotta go!"
He turned to run—but tripped on a tree root.
Landed flat on his back.
And Reika, goddess of chaos and abs, stood over him. One hand on her hip. The other brushing hair from her face as she bent down slightly.
"You're kinda cute when you panic," she said, lips curling in a wicked smile.
David's brain was screaming. But something worse happened.
The system glitched.
[ERROR: Boundary Limit Reached]
[Mild Fanservice Event Triggered by Affection Level]
[Brace for Impact]
"What do you—"
Suddenly, the wind picked up.
Reika's tank top fluttered.
David saw more than he was ready for. Skin. Straps. A dangerous amount of cleavage physics.
H-SYSTEM NOTE: You've unlocked "Taste of the Route"
Effect: Temporary stat buff. Massive nosebleed risk.
David scrambled backward, shielding his eyes like a vampire meeting sunlight. "Ma'am, this is a school zone!"
Reika just laughed. "You're fun. Wanna hang out tomorrow?"
[New Quest: Escape Date Invitation]
Accepting will trigger an H-Ranked Side Quest. Declining will increase suspicion.
David groaned.
"Can I reschedule my doom?"
"Nope," Reika said. "Meet me at the beach. 4 PM. I'll bring the drinks."
She winked and walked away like she owned the universe.
David stared after her, dazed.
New Event Scheduled: Beach Tease Encounter
Mission Conflict: Airi's Library Flag and Reika's Beach Date overlap
"Great," David muttered. "It's a fork in the road. Boobs or books."
He stood up slowly, brushing off dirt and regret. The H-System beeped again.
Side Quest Unlocked: Outfit Preparation (Optional)
Reward: Temporary Charisma Boost or Accidental Nudity (50/50 Chance)
"I'm not doing that. No way."
…
Cut to later that night.
He was in the shopping district.
Staring at a rack of swimsuits.
The shop clerk tilted her head. "Looking for your girlfriend?"
David sighed. "No. Myself. I think."
He bought a loose shirt, simple trunks, and a hoodie big enough to hide in. He wasn't taking chances. No muscles. No tan lines. No bait for horny senpai.
The walk back was uneventful.
Until his system pinged one last time for the night.
Secret Cutscene Detected
Reward: Insight
Location: Yuuto's Dorm – Balcony View
David frowned. Then shrugged. Why not?
He approached Yuuto's dorm and climbed up the fire escape.
From the top floor, he could see the entire city. Neon signs blinking. Streets glowing. In the distance, the sea sparkled under moonlight.
Yuuto stood alone on the balcony, looking up at the stars.
David stayed hidden.
The protagonist murmured, "I feel like... something's changing. Like this summer's more than it seems."
David almost laughed. "Yeah, pal. You have no idea."
Observation Complete. Flag Suppressed. Story Disruption Level: Stable
David returned to his room and collapsed on his bed, exhausted.
Tomorrow, he had to choose:
Stop the library flag and stay one step ahead of fate…
Or attend Reika's beach "hangout" and try not to die of sexy.
He stared at the ceiling.
"This game sucks."