Chapter 1

The night in Kyoto carried an inexplicable aura, one that seemed to seep into the very air, making it restless. Beneath this enigmatic sky, a high school girl, or "JK," lay sleeping. The faint traces of tears glistening at the corners of her eyes bore silent testimony to the turmoil that had filled her night.

For Hayashi Nozomi, whose life followed a disciplined and steady rhythm, morning came naturally. As his eyes fluttered open, the first thing he noticed was the girl beside him. Her fair skin seemed almost luminescent in the gentle light, and though her eyes remained shut, her slightly trembling eyelashes betrayed her wakefulness.

Sayu Ogiwara—a runaway JK with no identification and a heart weighed down by uncertainty. Her small frame seemed consumed by the confusion of her uncertain future. Though the room offered her a temporary refuge—a haven devoid of wind and rain—she couldn't help but wonder how long she could remain here. Returning to her original home wasn't even a consideration.

From the girl's slightly trembling eyelashes, she had actually woken up a long time ago.

"Um, I forgot to ask you yesterday—what's your name?"

The man's voice, tinged with laziness, broke the silence. He already knew the answer but asked anyway, his gaze lingering on her.

Before Sayu could respond, his strong arm instinctively encircled her waist, pulling her closer. She blinked her eyes open, her delicate face blossoming with a soft, rosy blush. The tenderness in his gaze left her momentarily dazed.

"I'm asking you a question," Nozomi continued. "My Sakurasou doesn't need a silent JK administrator-assistant."

The words jolted her, bringing her back to reality.

"You mean… you're willing to let me stay here and work?" she asked hesitantly.

"Yes," he replied with a small nod. "After all, you performed well last night —and you're cute."

Sayu's cheeks turned a deeper shade of red as he continued, "I don't understand why you've run away from home, but I imagine you need somewhere stable to stay."

"I am not the kind of scumbag who will abandon you after getting you, so I will naturally not watch a homeless girl continue to wander," Nozomi added, his tone gentle yet firm. "But if staying here doesn't feel right to you, I won't force you. So, what's your name?"

Her expression softened, the storm in her heart dissipating slightly. A faint smile curved her lips.

"Sayu," she whispered. "My name is Sayu Ogiwara."

"Sayu Ogiwara?" Nozomi repeated, committing it to memory. "Got it. Make sure you remember my name too. I'm Hayashi Nozomi."

Sayu's eyes widened slightly as she studied his face, as though trying to imprint every detail into her memory.

"Hayashi Nozomi," she murmured. Then, with a smile that seemed to light up the room, she said, "I'll remember it."

"Good. Now, let's get to work," he said briskly, his tone shifting to one of mock seriousness. "First task—change the sheets and then wash them. From now on, all the housework is your responsibility, Sayu."

"No problem! Leave it to me!" she replied with surprising enthusiasm, raising her fist in a playful gesture. Her spirited response made Nozomi glance away quickly, coughing lightly to cover his embarrassment.

"Ahem. You should… get dressed first. Otherwise, you'll find it hard to focus on work."

With that, Nozomi hurriedly picked up some clothes and retreated into the bathroom. Sayu watched him go, momentarily stunned, before breaking into quiet laughter. It seemed he'd seen her naked and was worried he'd lose his composure.

Inside the bathroom, Nozomi's thoughts took an unexpected turn as a system notification echoed in his mind:

[Ding! Task complete: Provide accommodation for the runaway JK, Sayu Ogiwara. Reward: Special skill unlocked—Golden Gun.]

The message left him momentarily speechless. As the sensation of newfound strength coursed through his body, Nozomi couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"Golden Gun? Seriously?" he muttered, glancing downward as he felt a peculiar… swelling. His face contorted into a mix of disbelief and mild horror.

"Is this system even serious?" he wondered aloud. "What kind of gigolo skill is this supposed to be?"

A pause. Then, with a sigh of resignation, he chuckled softly to himself. "Okay… maybe I do need it. Fine. I'll take it."

Having come to terms with the situation, Nozomi dressed quickly and stepped out of the bathroom, his usual composure restored.

Hayashi Nozomi's life had taken a peculiar turn ever since he found himself transported into this mixed anime world. It wasn't just the familiar locations or the iconic names like Yukinoshita Zaibatsu and Shinomiya Zaibatsu. From Sobu High School in the east to Fūshū Academy in the west, every corner of this world was brimming with characters and places plucked straight from beloved anime.

And then there was Sayu Ogiwara—the runaway high school girl he'd stumbled upon last night. A character from the series Higehiro: After Being Rejected, I Shaved and Took in a High School Runaway. Somehow, he had managed to pick up an untouched Sayu.

With his cheat-like "game life system," Nozomi had found himself thrust into this bizarre reality as its sole player. The system's mechanics were straightforward: complete tasks to earn rewards. There were no penalties for failure, and the level of freedom was remarkable. But as a gamer at heart, Nozomi knew one thing—if there was a quest, you completed it. After all, the rewards were bound to be worth it.

Hayashi Nozomi's system task was activated when he met Sayu Ogiwara sitting in the corner.

Therefore, according to the intuition of a time traveler, he felt that the task triggered by the system must be related to the anime heroine. For Hayashi, being able to live again was already quite lucky. The activation of his golden finger was the icing on the cake. He could use this advantage to create a happy and fulfilling life for himself.

After walking out of the bathroom, Sayu Ogiwara had already put on her clothes. It was still the same school uniform, probably the one she had taken with her when she ran away from home. Hayashi had a general understanding of why she ran away, though his knowledge was incomplete as he hadn't thoroughly followed the "Higehiro" series in his past life.

Ogiwara Sayu's story was a tragic one. Her father had taken a new lover while her mother was pregnant, leading to their divorce. Sayu's mother harbored resentment toward her, blaming her for the family's broken state. At school, her striking appearance made her a target of jealousy and bullying. The final blow came when her only friend committed suicide by jumping off a building in front of her. When Sayu told her mother about the truth behind the incident, her mother accused her of causing her friend's death. After enduring this series of devastating events, it was no surprise that she chose to run away from home.

In short, since Hayashi met her—and considering their unusual circumstances—he felt a certain responsibility to help. Having taken her in, he knew she needed a place to stay and some semblance of stability.

"Um, Nozomi-kun, the sheets have been changed, and the previous ones have been put in the washing machine," Sayu said, looking at him nervously. "Is there anything else I can do?"

Her hands fidgeted restlessly, clutching at the hem of her uniform skirt. Her big, watery eyes looked up at him with an expression that was both hopeful and cautious. It was clear she was afraid of being sent away, forced back into wandering the streets.

Seeing her nervousness, Hayashi couldn't help but reach out and ruffle her hair.

"Why are you so tense?" he asked gently. "I'm not that much older than you—we're both high schoolers, Sayu. You don't have to call me 'Mr.' or anything so formal. Just call me Nozomi."

Sayu hesitated for a moment before nodding quickly. "I'm sorry… I mean, okay. I'll call you Nozomi-kun, then."

She had chosen a name that maintained some distance, not too close but not too cold either. It was clear she didn't want to give him the impression that she was overly familiar or clingy. Despite her composure, the uncertainty in her eyes betrayed her confusion and apprehension.

Hayashi's gaze fell on her JK uniform, and he seemed to consider something. Finally, he spoke up.

"Sayu, take off your clothes," he said bluntly.

"Huh?" Sayu's eyes widened in shock, and her cheeks flushed a deep red. For a moment, she froze, biting her lip nervously. But despite her hesitation, she didn't argue. Slowly, her slender fingers reached up to untie the red bow of her uniform…