Akira laughed. "Don't worry. Only you can perceive me right now. No one else can."
"There's such a thing?"
"There is indeed such a thing."
Without waiting for Kirisu Mafuyu to refuse, Akira pulled her toward the door.
The office door opened.
Standing opposite him was a beautiful woman with long, straight black hair.
It was an acquaintance—Mai Sakurajima.
"Hello, I'm Mai Sakurajima, the transfer student who joined today. Due to a physical condition, I wasn't able to report this morning."
"Mai Sakurajima, ah~!"
"My name is Kirisu Mafuyu. Your homeroom teacher, Mizumura, went for her lunch break."
Mai Sakurajima nodded. "Then I apologize for disturbing your rest."
"It's fine. School in the afternoon still requires, hmm~!"
"An hour and a half."
Kirisu Mafuyu tried her best to maintain a smile.
But the more she did, the stranger Akira's actions became.
No.
Not there.
"Teacher Mafuyu, are you alright?"
Seeing Kirisu Mafuyu's cheeks flush red and her body tremble slightly, Mai Sakurajima asked with concern.
"N-no, I'm fine. I'm a bit sensitive to heat, hmm!"
"Goodbye!"
Swish!
Kirisu Mafuyu couldn't hold it in anymore and slammed the door shut.
"You—my underwear is all dirty because of you."
"You dirtied them yourself."
Akira's voice was normal, but Kirisu Mafuyu's was suppressed to a whisper.
"Never mind. It's all your fault. You have to take responsibility."
Akira chuckled. "Of course. No matter the time or place, I can be responsible for you."
"But you have to endure."
Pfft!
"Hmm~!"
Kirisu Mafuyu's hand clenched suddenly.
It was too sudden.
She was bullied by Akira again.
It's different.
Completely different from before.
Before, it was always a continuous breakthrough of limits—a spiral ascent.
But now, Kirisu Mafuyu only felt recklessness.
Yet this recklessness…
She loved it.
"Ah!"
Kirisu Mafuyu's limit for today had been reached.
Now it was free time.
Akira naturally did whatever was fastest, whatever felt best, whatever came to mind.
In just a moment, that joystick was practically smoking from being rubbed.
Up, up, down, down.
Left, left, right, right.
B, A, B, A.
Hahaha—Akira has a hundred lives!
"Hoo~!"
"Hoo~!"
Kirisu Mafuyu fell into a deep sleep in Akira's arms.
However, after Akira cleaned her up a bit, he put her into a normal capture ball.
A few minutes later,
Kirisu Mafuyu, who reappeared, had mostly recovered.
Only the languor between her brows had not faded, making her seem much softer.
Akira didn't say much. He pinched her cheek.
Then he gradually became transparent before her eyes.
"Akira?"
"Akira?"
Seeing the door open and close, Kirisu Mafuyu sat back down at her desk.
Well, now.
She had been bullied severely again.
Sleep, sleep.
After this "training," Kirisu Mafuyu quickly fell asleep on her desk.
Her breathing was even and unusually peaceful.
This Perception Manipulation is truly outrageous.
It can cover and subjectively manipulate an individual's perception.
It can amplify, it can reduce.
As for the effect, Akira had just tried it, and the training effect couldn't be better.
And when facing an enemy, amplifying sensory input by 99% was equivalent to directly doubling pain and the like.
Spinning tops will scream and howl when whipped.
Hmm!
There was also an unexpected gain today: Mai Sakurajima had transferred to the school.
She had debuted as a child star and immediately began acting in roles as a daughter.
There were none of those messy, disgusting things from Akira's memory.
He had thought that Mai Sakurajima in this world would have no troubles at all and would simply soar to success.
But he didn't expect her to return to school at this time.
When he first transmigrated to this world, Akira had already seen Mai Sakurajima on TV.
He had used the Souo Family's resources to investigate her background.
Before the system appeared, Akira had intended to "capture" Mai Sakurajima once he inherited the Souo Family's business.
He never thought they would meet in such a high school.
[Character: Mai Sakurajima]
[Potential: A]
[Affection: ???]
[Status: Confused]
Looking at Mai Sakurajima, who was sitting on a bench waiting for afternoon classes,
Akira felt that this was fate.
The two were destined to be entangled.
But for now, Akira had to return to the clubroom first to explain what had happened to Kato Megumi.
He pushed off with his feet, directly leaping toward the corridor on the sixth floor.
Then he landed directly in front of the half-open classroom door.
He pushed the door open and threw out a platinum capture ball.
Kato Megumi, who had fully recovered, stood there in a daze.
"Akira! Wh-what happened?"
Kato Megumi looked at her hands, quickened her pace, and directly threw herself into Akira's arms.
Akira stroked Kato Megumi's short hair and told her the things she needed to know.
"That… that, Akira!"
"You already have eight wives?"
Including Kato Megumi, there were currently only five who had truly broken through their relationship.
However, Alisa, Yuki Souo, and Mei Mei would likely break through very soon, and there would only be more to come.
"Mm."
"You also know that I have this strength."
Kato Megumi was, of course, aware of his strength, but so many still surprised her a little.
"By the way, Akira, is my sense of presence really something I control myself?"
"Of course. Let me tell you…"
Through Teaching According to Aptitude, Kato Megumi quickly mastered the switch for her ability.
However, this ability currently seemed quite useless.
"Don't be discouraged. Use it more, practice to increase your proficiency, and eventually you'll be able to become a transparent person like me, moving through this world without hindrance."
"Moreover, I can help you enhance your own strength. By then, even if you resort to sneak attacks, you'll be able to take down many people who threaten you."
Hearing that her future was promising, Kato Megumi let go of her worries and nestled happily in Akira's arms.
"Akira, if that Big Sister knew how amazing you are, would she fall in love with you?"
"Mei Mei? I think so."
What "I think so"? She was already ninety percent there.
It was just that Akira wanted to go home early today to complete the capture of Yuki.
"I think so too. So I also need to work hard to become stronger. Otherwise, I won't be able to compete with Big Sister later."
"So, Akira, continue to train me."
Kato Megumi looked at Akira's eyes very seriously.
Akira then directly said, "Today I also promised Saeko and Marin that I would train them."
"And today, Megumi-chan has already reached her training limit."
Of course, after binding the Platinum Orb, the training limit had increased somewhat.
But the gains from that certainly weren't as much as from Marin and Saeko Busujima.
Get the big profits first, then patch things up.
"Oh, oh! Then let the others train first!"
"Also, I'll leave first. I'll greet everyone tomorrow when we all gather at the club."
Saying that, Kato Megumi got up from Akira's arms and reached for the bento on the podium.
Although she could greet them today, seeing others train here still made her a little uncomfortable.
She could only get up and leave first.
Akira, of course, also realized this problem.
However, things always took time. Once the training level gradually increased and everyone became familiar with each other, it might become natural.
As for now… he sent a message for Saeko Busujima to come over.
"Where's Akira? It's been so long—why isn't he here yet?"
On the rooftop, the four of them had already finished their lunch.
Only Akira's bento was still sitting there, untouched.
Kitagawa Marin leaned against the wall, bored and complaining. Kasumigaoka Utaha closed her skirt and lay on her lap pillow.
"Perhaps Akira is in the restroom doing something that requires a lot of time."
As soon as these words came out, a blush appeared on the faces of everyone present.
Even Alisa couldn't help but think of some indescribable things.
However, if it was Akira, he probably wouldn't do such a thing.
Kasumigaoka-senpai is truly too rude. Such words are simply slander!
Alisa secretly glanced at Kasumigaoka Utaha, mentally labeling her as crude.
Meanwhile, Saeko Busujima sat meditating on the side, not hearing a word.
At this moment, her mind was still replaying Akira's slash at the Zombie Devil.
She repeatedly used her Observation Haki to analyze and rehearse it in her mind.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
Her phone in her pocket rang.
It was Akira.
"Bring my bento and come to the last classroom on the left on the sixth floor."
"Coming right away."
Saeko Busujima replied to the message and then suddenly stood up, walking toward Akira's bento.
"Eh? Saeko, what are you doing with Akira's bento?"
"Bringing it to Akira."
Upon hearing this, Kitagawa Marin immediately perked up. "I want to go too!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha stretched her body, also preparing to follow Saeko Busujima.
"Wait. Akira's message only asked me to bring the bento and go to him. It didn't ask for you two, so you two—"
"But Akira didn't say we couldn't follow, did he?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha calmly argued while tidying her hair.
Saeko Busujima said no more, picked up her phone, and dialed a number.
Her calm gaze made the three of them feel a chill of fear.
"Hello?"
"Akira, Marin-chan and the others want to come with me. Is that okay?"
"Marin and Utaha are both our own people, so if they don't mind, they can come over."
"But Alisa currently doesn't know our secret."
"So, someone needs to stay behind and watch."
"Tell Utaha that my manuscript is in my drawer, and have Alisa take her there."
After hearing Akira's words, Saeko Busujima immediately told Kasumigaoka Utaha the good news.
Kasumigaoka Utaha's eyes lit up upon hearing it.
"Ah?"
"Akira's manuscript?"
"I want to see it, I want to see it! Where is his seat? Where is the drawer?"
Although Kasumigaoka Utaha knew Akira was in Year 1, Class E, she didn't know the more specific details.
"I'll take you there."
Before Saeko Busujima could speak, Alisa had already stepped forward.
In her mind, Akira was Kasumishi ZI, and his manuscript might be the second volume of Shadow Lord's story.
However, why Akira wanted Kasumigaoka Utaha to see his manuscript made Alisa a little confused.
But being able to see the manuscript was enough.
This was a great opportunity to reveal Akira's true identity—how could she let it go?
By then, she would sit next to Akira every day, urging him to update, and she would be able to see the latest chapters immediately.
That feeling—just thinking about it made her smile.
"Let's go, let's go."
"Alisa, let's hurry. There's not much time left for lunch break."
Since he was using a manuscript to tempt her, it must be the detailed outline for the continuation of Shadow Lord.
Hahahahaha—there's new plot to read again.
Kasumigaoka Utaha was slightly excited, urging Alisa to leave together.
The two quickly went downstairs, heading straight for Year 1, Class E.
"This is Akira's seat."
Because she often saw Akira writing diligently, Alisa proactively pulled out something from Akira's seat.
She pulled out a full six notebooks from inside.
Each page of every notebook was filled with exquisite handwriting.
Just the calligraphy alone was enough to be pleasing to the eye.
Then, looking at the plots inside—
Huh? Why is it different from Shadow Lord's plot?
Alisa flipped through the notebooks and found that each one had a serial number on the flyleaf.
One was titled Sword Art Online, with five serial numbers.
Another was called One Hundred Years of Solitude, and there was only one copy.
What?
What is this?
Alisa didn't understand. She clearly remembered seeing a Shadow Lord one before.
While Alisa was in a daze, Kasumigaoka Utaha had already picked up One Hundred Years of Solitude and started reading.
Once she started reading, she couldn't stop at all.
What?
What is this!
This wasn't an outline, but a novel.
A unique novel—one that was significant enough to be recorded in the history of literature as a monument.
And its author was Akira.
The things this guy had said at the fried chicken shop earlier were already shocking enough.
And now, looking at the book in her hand, Kasumigaoka Utaha was speechless.
Genius.
She had simplified from her ornate vocabulary.
Two words.
No more words were needed.
On the other side, Alisa finally let go of her obsession with Shadow Lord and started reading the first volume of Sword Art Online.
Huh! Soft sci-fi?
It's actually quite good?
Moreover, the writing was more seasoned than Shadow Lord's.
And the world-building was interesting enough.
So, Akira isn't Kasumishi ZI?
But she had clearly seen it before.
Could it be that Akira knows Kasumishi ZI, and they have a very good relationship?
The more Alisa thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Then she turned around and saw Kasumigaoka Utaha looking at her notebook with teary eyes, even snot running down her face.
Although it wasn't obvious, Alisa still couldn't help but want to complain.
If Kasumishi ZI were like this, then everything would be ruined.
On the other side, Akira had already begun his training for the day.
However, this training wasn't a physical connection, but rather sparring with Saeko Busujima.
In terms of swordsmanship, Saeko Busujima's talent was truly not low. In just a few days, her swordsmanship had improved by leaps and bounds, and she had now reached the threshold of mastery.
Her entire being was as sharp as a blade—unstoppable.
Da da da da da… 4.2.
Even though the classroom had limited space and Kitagawa Marin was observing,
this did not affect the two of them in the slightest, with their flashing blades and clashing swords.
If the last sparring session, Saeko Busujima's blade was like raindrops,
then this time, it was like a continuous stream.
Clang!
The wooden sword let out a sharp metallic screech, clamped between Akira's two fingers, not moving an inch.
"Very good."
Akira was genuinely happy.
As Saeko's swordsmanship improved, his Perfect Swordsmanship proficiency also surged—and it was a fivefold surge.
This instantly boosted Akira's proficiency by more than twenty percentage points, finally stopping at 30%.
Awesome!
It was truly exhilarating.
Swordsmanship insights came unbidden, drilling into his mind, instantly becoming fully understood.
"Now your swordsmanship has reached a bottleneck. So let me help you train first, to loosen that bottleneck from the side."
Saeko Busujima put away her wooden sword, feeling an unprecedented sense of exhilaration.
Her swordsmanship now far surpassed that of her deceased father.
This time, her goal was not only the National High School Kendo Tournament but also the Martial Arts Tournament jointly organized by martial arts schools and dojos.
That gathering of strong individuals that her father always spoke of with immense longing and shining eyes.
Hot sweat seeped from her skin, and Saeko Busujima's breathing also steadied.
"Akira, what level is your swordsmanship at now? Have you reached the Sword Saint level?"
Akira smiled. "Learning has no end, and swordsmanship, naturally, has none either. A Sword Saint is merely a named monument on the path of pursuing ultimate swordsmanship."
Saeko Busujima's heart stirred upon hearing this, and her gaze toward Akira brightened.
"Akira! It's truly wonderful to have met you."
As Saeko Busujima spoke, she had already unbuttoned her sailor uniform.
Her alluring fullness.
The slight beads of sweat gathered after exercise.
Everything—simply perfect.
These handles, capable of dodging bullets, always brought joy, no matter when they were used.
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