Let's rewind time a bit.
After seeing Yukinoshita Yukino home, Tanaka Masao didn't get a moment to rest before being dragged away by his parents.
Unable to suppress their curiosity, the two of them—after Tanaka Masao had sent Yukinoshita Yukino off—learned some things about her through Jahy.
They found out that after school, Yukinoshita Yukino and Tanaka Masao participated in club activities in a club called the Service Club.
The couple both felt something was off.
What kind of club was the Service Club? Back when they were in school, they had never heard of anything like that.
And for some reason, the name just sounded… suspicious.
However, after hearing from Jahy that the Service Club's "activities" consisted of Tanaka Masao dieting under Yukinoshita Yukino's supervision, the couple finally let out a sigh of relief—followed immediately by excitement.
Because that meant Tanaka Masao and Yukinoshita Yukino were on good terms and had daily opportunities to interact.
On top of that, Yukinoshita Yukino had come to their house today to tutor both Tanaka Masao and Jahy.
Strike while the iron is hot.
Their son's chances were looking pretty good.
Even though they were very happy, the two of them didn't let it go to their heads.
They were well aware that while the opportunity existed, their son's "specs" were… somewhat lacking.
So the moment Tanaka Masao got home, they pulled him over.
...
Tanaka Masao looked at his unusually serious parents with confusion and asked,
"Mom, Dad, what's wrong? Why did you call me over so urgently?"
Tanaka Kazumi was the first to speak.
"Masao, what do you think about Yukinoshita?"
"Yukinoshita? She's great."
"I also think Yukinoshita is a good girl."
Hearing his mother say that, Tanaka Masao immediately caught on and hurried to explain,
"Mom, Dad, don't misunderstand. We're just friends."
He was a little afraid his parents might get the wrong idea and start interrogating him, which could even end up affecting Yukinoshita Yukino.
The Tanaka couple exchanged a glance and almost burst out laughing.
Tanaka Kazumi cleared her throat, hiding her awkwardness.
"We've never misunderstood anything. Still, as your parents, we probably shouldn't say this, but Masao… compared to Yukinoshita, your conditions are quite a bit worse."
Critical hit!
Tanaka Masao suffered a devastating blow from his own parents—true damage.
"What can i say?"
Seeing Tanaka Masao, who had already been mentally broken and was starting to babble nonsense, Tanaka Kazumi quickly comforted him.
"Masao, don't be sad. Even if your conditions are bad right now, you can work hard. There's still plenty of room for improvement."
Tanaka Kenji nodded in agreement.
"That's right. Your mother and I have discussed it—we're going to properly train you from now on and help you become outstanding."
Hearing that, Tanaka Masao asked curiously,
"Train me? Make me outstanding? How exactly are you planning to do that?"
The Tanaka couple cleared their throats and began explaining the carefully prepared plan.
"First, since you're already dieting, we've decided to increase the intensity a bit."
"For example, you don't need to eat anymore. As for exercise, ten hours a day should be enough. You'll slim down very quickly that way."
"Second is studying. Your grades are terrible—you're dead last in the year."
"We're not asking for much. We just hope you'll spend some time studying seriously and get first place in the next exam."
"Lastly, you need to develop a special skill. Drawing or music, take your pick. We'll handle the equipment, courses, and instructors."
Tanaka Masao listened the entire time with his mouth hanging open and eyes wide.
What did they mean by "not eating at all?"
What did they mean by "ten hours of exercise a day?"
And turning from last place to first place in the next exam—what is this, a complete polarity reversal?
Out of the three demands, only the last one sounded even remotely human.
Tanaka Masao used his hand to adjust his jaw—nearly dislocated from shock—and said,
"Even though, as your son, I probably shouldn't say this…"
"Are you really my biological parents? If you want me dead, just say it outright. Aside from the last thing, there's no way I can do any of this—even if you kill me."
[Oh wait, no—killing me would work.]
[If I'm dead, I won't need to eat, and my weight will drop fast.]
[I could even become first in the grade.]
[The first person in the grade… to die.]
The Tanaka couple showed no sign of embarrassment at all.
"In that case, we won't place too many demands on you. Here's 100,000 yen—we hope you'll quickly cultivate a refined hobby."
"We'll check on your progress after some time. If this money isn't spent where it should be, don't blame us for being harsh."
With that, without giving Tanaka Masao any chance to refuse, the couple left the living room and returned to their bedroom.
Looking at the thick stack of cash lying quietly on the table, Tanaka Masao suddenly felt like he'd been played.
All that stuff about dieting and getting first place was fake—the real goal was getting him to develop a hobby.
Tanaka Masao let out a bitter smile and shook his head.
"Seriously… is there really a need to go to such lengths just to make me pick up a skill?"
With the system he had, this kind of thing was ridiculously easy for him.
Once he saved up enough for a ten-pull, he could draw a professional-level skill.
If he got lucky, he'd obtain exactly what he wanted.
If his luck was terrible, then he'd just have to wait until it improved.
As for actually learning it himself—yeah, that was impossible.
He was already busy every day, exhausted to the bone. Where would he find the energy to study?
After putting the money away, Tanaka Masao returned to his room.
...
Just as Tanaka Masao had guessed—after learning that Yukinoshita Yukino was helping Tanaka Masao with dieting and tutoring, his parents decided not to interfere and simply let things take their natural course.
Those outrageous remarks were nothing more than jokes.
The only thing they genuinely meant was for Tanaka Masao to develop a special skill.
But even if Tanaka Masao had no particular ideas, it didn't really matter.
That money was actually meant as romance funding for him.
If he used it to buy Yukinoshita Yukino gifts or go out on dates with her, that was exactly what the couple wanted to see.