Chapter 45: Before School

{Amane's POV}

"Am!"

"Amane!"

"Wake up, Amane!"

An energetic voice jolted me awake, and a cute face brightened my morning. Ruby, already brimming with her usual boundless energy, beamed at me. One of her eyes sparkled like a star, as if she carried the cosmos in her gaze.

"Good morning to you, Ruby!" I stretched, my stiff muscles slowly loosening.

She grinned, clearly proud of her success. More surprisingly, she was still naked, shamelessly perched on top of me! She didn't flinch, didn't so much as pretend to feel embarrassed under my gaze.

"Hehe~, Mahiru made breakfast. Come on!"

She wiggled excitedly, rubbing her lower half against my pants—particularly where my little brother was. Speaking of, I wasn't feeling anything either.

Maybe we're all lusted out?

I sat up, trapping her between my legs and chest. She didn't resist; instead, her lips curled into a mischievous smile.

"Muah~!"

She stole a kiss before I could even make my move.

"You beat me to it." I let out an exaggerated sigh and dramatically buried my face in her chest, pulling her into a tight hug. Solace? Maybe. But I totally wasn't just looking for an excuse to indulge in these works of art. Absolutely not.

"Bhaha~! Your breath tickles~!" she giggled, her body shifting slightly as warmth radiated between us. The faint scent of strawberries and vanilla clung to her skin—a mix of her body wash and something distinctly from last night's fun.

I love this.

I exhaled against her softness, making her laugh and squirm with glee. We enjoyed each other's presence without holding back.

Click~!

The door swung open, but I didn't need to worry—it was Mahiru, wearing only her underwear and stockings, covering her upper body with an apron.

Where did she get that apron? Oh wait, wrong question…

"Ruby said you'd like this. Seems she was right!"

Lifting my head from Ruby's forever-lovable chest, I noticed the two of them exchanging a knowing look. It wasn't exactly strange, but I could feel the connection between them—almost like they were communicating telepathically.

"Hmp!" Ruby hugged me tighter.

Mahiru giggled. "Ruby and I already ate, so hurry up, Amane!"

I grabbed my phone—6:45 AM. I tried to move, but Ruby was still latched onto me. So…

"Gya~!"

I grabbed her perky butt, lifting her up as I got out of bed. Mahiru pouted slightly, clearly jealous. Mental note: Make it up to her.

Ruby, on the other hand, just clung to me tighter.

"Cutie." I rubbed my face into her hair since I couldn't pat her head, then walked past the couch and gently set her down.

"Go get ready. Mahiru and I will take you to school."

Ruby smiled and nodded without complaint. Meanwhile, I headed to the kitchen, where my plate was already waiting.

"Thanks, Mahiru."

She hummed softly as she washed dishes, her hips swaying just enough to tease me.

Ruby, now fully dressed, giggled from across the room. "Amane, I don't know if I feel comfortable leaving Mahiru with you all day!"

"Bahahaha~! Ruby, if anything, you should be more worried about me!" I laughed, realizing Mahiru might actually be the dangerous one.

Ruby hummed, actually considering my words.

"Mahiru-chan is terrifying when she lets loose. Honestly, I think the people at your school must be blind!"

"Be quiet, Ruby! What if someone from your school saw you right now?"

"They'd be super horny!" She sounded almost proud, though I caught the slight disgust in her voice.

I shook my head. "Alright, girls, time to get ready. Mahiru, I'll handle the dishes later. And Ruby, don't rush."

I dug into my breakfast—eggs, bacon, and toast—but for some reason, it tasted ten times better today.

Maybe it's because I'm with them?

The girls headed into my room, their playful voices carrying through the door as they got dressed. I finished eating, changed into my uniform, and cleaned up. 20 minutes, all done.

I let my head rest against the couch, eyes trailing the ceiling as my thoughts drifted back to last night.

The System never finished explaining itself.

With a stretch, I cracked my knuckles and shifted in my seat.

'So, want to explain everything now?'

Silence. Then-

[Sure.]

A brief pause before the system continued.

[Here's the new features] 

1. Income Scaling Module:

-Boosts self-earned income (non-system income) by 5% - 20%, depending on effort and difficulty.

2. Reputation & Influence Module:

- Tracks Amane's reputation and influence in social circles.

- Unlocks exclusive business, social, and networking opportunities.

3. Natural Translation Module:

- Allows Amane to understand any language he hears, reads, or sees.

- Works on books, signs, conversations, and even dead languages.

- Limitation: He cannot speak or write these languages.

4. Discussion Module:

- The system now acts like a real partner, not just a robotic AI.

- Responds naturally, asks follow-up questions, and provides insights.

- Can analyze situations and offer suggestions.

5. Photographic Log Module:

- Stores high-quality images of anything Amane sees.

- Includes timestamp & location data.

- Allows zooming/enhancement for later review.

- Limitations: No video recording. Cannot share or transfer images.