Akira felt the temperature at the table drop as Mia's gaze remained locked on his phone. Mei's food smelled great, but to Akira, it felt like the quiet before a big storm.

He knew that one wrong move here wouldn't just result in an argument; it would trigger a systemic collapse of the fragile peace he had been trying to maintain.

"Mia, you're being a bit intense," Akira whispered to her, trying to keep the conversation between them. He slowly turned the screen toward her, his heart hammering against his ribs.

Luckily, the timing was perfect. Just as he turned the phone, a new notification banner slid across the top from a number he didn't recognise.

MESSAGE: Unknown Number: Hey Kanzaki! It's Tanji from Art Class. Insane game today, man! You've gotta tell me what gym you're using!

Mia's eyes darted across the text. Her grip on his leg loosened a bit, but she didn't let go. She swiped the notification away and looked at the other messages. There were several similar ones: short, congratulatory bursts from classmates who had clearly traded his number around like a rare trading card.

Mei's actual message was buried further down, and in the flurry of new pings, it remained hidden.

"See?" Akira said, gently pulling the phone back. "I told you. The whole school saw that game. My inbox is going to be a mess for the next few days."

Mei leaned forward, looking innocent and concerned. "Is everything alright, Akira-kun? You look a bit flustered. Is the rice too hot?"

"I'm fine, Mei-san," Akira replied, catching the devious glint in the older woman's eyes. She was enjoying this. "Just a lot of attention all at once."

"Well, you deserve it," Rina chimed in, blissfully unaware of the silent war happening under the table. "You're basically a celebrity now. Aoi, don't you think he should get a manager? I volunteer!"

Aoi giggled softly. "I think Akira-kun can handle himself, Rina. But he does look like he needs to relax."

As the conversation drifted back to school gossip, Akira leaned back, his mind racing. He knew he had to become stronger. If he wanted to handle all these overly attached women and his growing popularity, he couldn't rely solely on his physical strength.

"Ai, open the skill shop," Akira thought. "I've been sitting on these points for long enough. If I'm going to survive this night and the 'Spotlight' that's coming, I need to be more than just physically fast."

"Finally! I was starting to think you were a hoarder, darling," Ai chirped. "Come on, we have 1,885 PP to play with."

"What can I get to help me handle... this?" he said vaguely, referring to his growing situation.

"I have two recommendations for your current... predicament."

[SYSTEM SHOP OPENED]

[SKILL: 'IRON GLUCOSE RECOVERY' - 400 PP] [Effect: Allows the user to function perfectly on zero sleep for 24 hours and boosts stamina recovery by 200%.]

"This is perfect for a man with two 'appointments' in one night," Ai commented.

[SKILL: 'SILVER TONGUE' - 600 PP] [Effect: Increases the believability of lies by 40% and adds a persuasive charm to your voice during high-stress social situations.]

"Purchase both."

[SKILL PURCHASE: IRON GLUCOSE RECOVERY]

[SKILL PURCHASE: SILVER TONGUE]

[PP BALANCE: 1,885 - 1,000 → 885 PP]

Akira felt a strange, cool sensation wash over his brain and his vocal cords. The physical exhaustion from the game, which had been lurking in the shadows of his mind, vanished instantly.

"Wait, Ai," Akira questioned internally, "Iron Glucose Recovery… do I have to buy that every time I need a boost?"

"Oh, heavens no, darling," Ai giggled. "Once purchased, it's a permanent biological modification. Your mitochondria have essentially been 'overclocked'. You can now pull all-nighters whenever the occasion, or a certain landlord, calls for it.

"Oh, nice."

"However, if you really want to be prepared for the anomalies and the SPIU, we should probably look at your gear, too. That little dagger of yours is starting to look like a toothpick compared to your new stats."

"You're right. The Scavenger Imp was easy yesterday, but the SPIU is sniffing around. I need more than just a dagger."

"Very wise. And since you're in a spending mood, I think this would look nice."

[SYSTEM SHOP: ARSENAL SECTION]

[WEAPON PURCHASE: 'PHANTOM CABLE DAITO' - 400 PP] [Description: A high-frequency katana that can break down into a whip-like segmented chain. Infuses perfectly with Elemental Essence. Perfect for mid-range and close-quarters combat.]

[UPGRADE: PHYSICAL CORE (LEVEL 3) - 300 PP] [Effect: Permanent +5 to Strength, +5 to Endurance. Solidifies the 'Elite Physique' for higher-intensity encounters.]

[STAT UPGRADE: PERCEPTION (LVL 2 -> LVL 4) - 150 PP] [Effect: Increases your ability to sense killing intent and hidden observers. Essential for spotting those SPIU vans before they spot you.]

[PP BALANCE: 885 - 850 → 35 PP]

Akira felt his muscles tighten, a brief heat blooming in his chest as his core stats recalibrated.

"Now I need to stock up again."

"Exactly, darling."

"Akira? You went quiet again," Mia said, her voice snapping him back to reality. She was staring at him, her eyes searching his face for any sign of deception.

"Just thinking about what tomorrow holds, Mia," Akira lied smoothly, the Silver Tongue skill making his voice sound like warm velvet.

"Tick-tock, Master," Ai whispered. "The night is young, but your options are narrowing. How do you want to play this? A safe night, a secret night, or a night of absolute carnage?"

Akira looked at the holographic prompts flickering in the dim light of the dining room.

[DECISION TIME: THE MIDNIGHT HOUR]

[A: Go to Mei's place] [Reward: +200 PP, Mei Affinity Maxed, Unlock 'Landlord's Secret' Perk.] [Risk: EXTREME. Yandere Meltdown potential.]

[B: Stay with Mia] [Reward: +50 PP, Mia Loyalty +5.] [Consequence: Mei hostility.]

[C: Bring Mia with you] [Reward: ??? PP. Potential Threesome route.]

Akira looked at the 'C' option.

No reward was specified, meaning there's a probability that it's over the roof. But he wasn't suicidal; Mia wasn't ready for that.

Heaven knows what she would do if she found out that he was sleeping with her aunt. To get to the chaotic rewards of 'C', he had to survive 'A' first. He had to satisfy both, separately, and ensure neither knew about the other… at least for tonight.

"I'm going for a hybrid," Akira decided. "I'll give Mia what she wants first. If I can wear her out, I can sneak away."

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