Appetite

"Nice!" Yuto admired the card, which depicted a stunning girl in sheer black stockings, none other than Utaha.

He was stunned. Utaha wasn't part of the Fate universe, yet here was her own craft essence. In FGO, summoning is often tied to 'fate' or 'karmic bonds.' Maybe their connection had triggered this unique reward.

"Does this mean the more girls I bond with, the more rare craft essences I can unlock?" he wondered. The 30% chance to double rewards was solid, and with upgrades, it could get even better. Building relationships might just fuel his growth.

For my own growth, it is necessary to open a harem.

Yuto twitched his chin and thought about the next plan.

If a person lives a lifetime and can come to the world of anime where so many two-dimensional girls appear, wouldn't it be a waste if he doesn't wander around the flowers?

After thinking of making his next plan,Yuto practiced his projection magic until exhaustion hit, then collapsed into bed, sinking into a deep sleep.

.......

The next morning, at the breakfast table, Yuto stared at a mountain of food and sighed. "Great, I've inherited the Pendragon family's appetite too. I could literally eat a full horse!"

He usually ate lightly, but now he was starving. Even after devouring a feast, he was only 70% full.

'Good thing my parents left me enough money. This bottomless stomach would ruin me otherwise.'

After tidying up, he grabbed his bag and headed to school. It was Monday, and the streets buzzed with sleepy teens dreading the return to the 'prison' of classes.

Walking under falling cherry blossoms, Yuto felt his body growing stronger with each step. The Red Dragon Heart pulsed, sending pure energy through his veins, refining his muscles and organs.

"Wow, who's that tall guy? He's so handsome!"

"That's Yuto Arari from Class 2-A. He's an all-rounder—top three in school for sports and grades, right behind Yukino from Class 2 and President Shinomiya."

"Really? Does he have a girlfriend?"

"I don't think so. He's turned down tons of confessions. Probably not into dating in high school."

"Ugh, what a waste."

Yuto's enhanced hearing caught the whispers..

"Yo, Yuto! Your popularity is still insane!" a familiar voice shouted.

It was Aki Tomoya, the excitable otaku with thick glasses and an average look. Yuto had talked to him once while studying otaku culture to get closer to Utaha.

"Morning, Aki," Yuto replied flatly.

Aki rambled about Utaha's latest novel, Love Metronome Vol. 2, claiming he'd stayed up all night reading it. Yuto half-listened, remembering how, in the original story, Aki's over-the-top enthusiasm wasn't entirely genuine, instead, it was a calculated way to insert himself into her sphere and boost his own reputation in the otaku community. Essentially, Aki exploited Utaha by using her rising fame and the attention she attracted as a stepping stone for his personal gain. He manipulated public perception, making it appear as if he were her most devoted fan, all while benefiting from her success.

Aki, clueless, bragged about his fan site for Utaha under his pen name "TAKI." Then, the sound of heels clicking interrupted him.

To Aki's glee, Utaha herself approached. "Senpai! Are you here? Did you see my blog?"

Her reply was sharp. "Please don't bother me at school," she said, her gaze flicking to Yuto with a hint of yearning.

Aki pressed on. "But I made a website for you—"

"Didn't you hear me? Stop pestering me," Utaha snapped, her patience fraying.

Students around them started whispering, mocking Aki's persistence. Flustered and red-faced, he was about to retreat when gasps rippled through the crowd.

Utaha had linked arms with Yuto, publicly staking her claim.

"What the…..? They're dating?"

"Who's that guy? I'm so jealous!"

"That's Yuto from our class. Dude's a legend for landing a third-year senpai."

Aki's face paled, the chatter stabbing at him. But no one cared, everyone was too busy buzzing about the school's new power couple.