Arthur finally crashed onto his bed, and the moment he closed his eyes, the system's window popped up again like an annoying, glowing mosquito.
Intelligence: 4
Strength: 3
Charm: 2
Looks: 3
Confidence: —
Points Available: 4
Arthur sat up.
"…Wait. Four. POINTS!?"
"Since when!?"
"I swear to—SYSTEM, YOU NEVER TOLD ME."
Arthur grabbed his pillow and screamed into it.
When he calmed down, he stared at the window.
"…Fine. Fine. Let's just use them."
He put 2 points into Looks.
A strange warmth washed over his face, not like a transformation, but like he suddenly slept right, ate vegetables, fixed his posture, and someone decided to upgrade his lighting.
Then he put 2 points into Charm.
His chest felt lighter, his voice steadier, and his mind weirdly calmer.
Not confident… but less scared of breathing near people, at least.
Suddenly, a new stat unlocked with a soft chime.
Confidence increases automatically when Looks + Charm rise together.
Arthur stared wide-eyed.
"…Me? Confident?"
He threw his pillow at the air again — but this time, he was smiling.
---
The Next Morning
Arthur didn't expect anything to change.
But the moment he stepped through the school gates?
People actually looked at him.
Not stared.
Not examined.
Just… looked.
Noticed.
A pair of girls whispered on the side.
"He got a haircut?"
"No… I think he just looks… better?"
A guy from Class C nodded at him with a casual "Yo."
Arthur panicked and nodded back like a breaking robot.
He walked further in, confused out of his mind.
"Sh-shut up…"
But he couldn't deny the change.
It wasn't dramatic.
No anime sparkle transformation.
Just small things:
His steps felt steadier.
His shoulders relaxed.
His eyes weren't glued to the floor.
And people responded to that.
When he turned the corner, Haruka spotted him.
She literally froze.
Her eyes widened, then narrowed suspiciously.
"Arthur… did u sleep? Or— wait… why do u look like u're about to star in a commercial?"
"I— what? I look the same."
"No u DON'T."
She circled him like a confused cat.
"U look… better. Like someone pressed 'update.' Did u… do skincare??"
Arthur looked away, face heating up.
"…No."
He nearly choked.
Haruka raised an eyebrow. "You're hiding something."
"I'm not hiding anything."
"You ARE hiding something."
"Haruka, stop staring at me like I committed a crime—"
"You DIDN'T look like this yesterday."
Arthur mumbled, "…Maybe I slept good."
Haruka crossed her arms, unconvinced but weirdly… soft.
"Kinda suits u though."
He froze.
She huffed and looked away, cheeks slightly pink.
"Don't let it get to your head, idiot."
Arthur almost smiled. Almost.
---
Arthur walked inside the class
Everyone turned for a second.
Then—
"Oh, Arthur's here."
"Huh. He looks different today."
But the real shock?
Miyu.
She looked up from her notebook.
Their eyes met for half a second.
And for that half second?
Arthur swore she paused.
Not shocked.
Not blushing.
Just… aware.
Then she quickly looked back down, pretending to write something that definitely didn't need that much focus.
Arthur's heart punched his ribs.
"System shut u—"
Arthur forced himself into his seat, but even then he caught Miyu sneaking another tiny glance.
Not long.
Not deep.
Just enough to show she noticed he wasn't the same "ghost of B-1" anymore.
---
Arthur walked home, brain overloaded.
The looks.
Haruka's reaction.
Miyu's glances.
He tossed his bag on the sofa and collapsed on the bed.
That's when the system appeared again.
Objective: Flirt with Miyu using Japanese.
Reward: 70 points
Penalty: "I'll take something important. Don't test me."
Arthur shot up like he got electrocuted.
"SEVENTY!? Why seventy!?"
"That's NOT motivation!"
Arthur groaned and covered his face.
But deep down?
A tiny fire — excitement, fear, thrill — burned all at once.
He whispered to himself,
"…I'm really changing, huh…"
"SHUT UP."