Chapter 17: Splendid, Just SPLENDID

Gen groaned as he slowly regained consciousness, his head pounding. He struggled against the tight ropes binding him to the chair, his wrists aching from the restraint. Blood trickled from a cut on his lip, and his body ached from the earlier 'disciplinary measures' inflicted by the furious horde of girls standing before him. They held an assortment of weapons—broomsticks, textbooks, and even a few kendo swords. Their gazes burned with fury, and Gen swallowed hard.

One girl chimes in "I say we cut his dick off!"

"YEAH!" They all shout in unison.

Keiko sighed, standing at the front of the group, arms crossed. "Alright, that's enough. Give him a break and go back to class."

A few girls grumbled in protest. "But he—"

"I said enough," Keiko repeated, her voice steely.

Reluctantly, the mob dispersed, casting Gen one last glare before heading back to P.E. Keiko remained, staring at him with an expression devoid of the warmth she once had.

"I don't know what the hell you were doing in there, but we are not cool," she said coldly. Without another word, she turned her back and walked away.

"Wait, wait! What about me?!" Gen called after her, still tied to the chair.

The next few days, Gen threw himself into training. He sprinted tirelessly around the track, lifted weights until his muscles burned, and pushed himself harder than ever before. He needed to get stronger. He needed to prove himself to Crexa and prepare for his next opponents. After a long workout, he checked his stats.

Speed: 75/100

Strength: 70/100

A satisfied smirk played on his lips as he sat down to rest. "Status open," he commanded.

His stats looked solid—except for one glaring problem.

Charisma: 1/100

Gen scowled. "Man, that's brutal..." He opened the missions tab and skimmed through until his eyes landed on a new task.

Mission: Take a person's virginity.

Gen nearly choked. "Shit. I mean, I think this is the only way I can really boost my charisma, but how the hell do I do that after being declared a peeping tom?!"

He flopped onto his bed that night, mind racing. As he scrolled through Instantgram, he saw countless posts of couples in festive settings—cozy cafes, snowy parks, twinkling Christmas markets.

Tomorrow was Christmas Eve.

He sighed. "Another Christmas alone... great."

His thoughts drifted as he closed his eyes, picturing an alternate reality—one where he spent the holiday with Keiko and Taehyung, throwing snowballs, laughing, eating a warm dinner together. For the first time in a while, it didn't feel like just a dream. Maybe... it didn't have to be.

Morning came. His alarm blared, only to be silenced by his fist smashing it into pieces. He sat up, stretching before clenching his hand into a determined fist.

"Alright, I'm gonna do this."

Determined to make this Christmas different, he set off in search of a gift for Keiko. Hours passed, and frustration grew. Nothing seemed right.

Then, he spotted a small stall tucked away from the main shopping street. A burly man hammered away at a piece of metal, polishing a gemstone embedded within it. Gen watched, entranced. "Maybe... the perfect gift isn't about value or recognition. Maybe it's about effort. About showing you care."

Later that afternoon, Gen hopped onto Pokémon and began his next quest—finding a shiny Pikachu. It took what felt like an eternity, but finally, he caught one.

"ALRIGHT, I DID IT!"

Feeling triumphant, he texted Keiko and Taehyung, inviting them to meet him at the square where the Christmas lights would be displayed. Keiko hesitated but, after some coaxing, reluctantly agreed. Her text was simple: "Fine. 😠"

Taehyung's was even simpler. "Ok."

As the time approached, Gen dressed carefully—a turtleneck sweater, dress pants, and a leather jacket. He arrived early, taking off his jacket and placing it in his bag as he waited. The festive lights glowed softly around him, and the anticipation made his heart race.

When Keiko finally appeared in the crowd, he waved. She glanced his way, scoffed, and walked over.

"Listen, Keiko, I don't really know how to say this... and I probably shouldn't even try, but... I'm sorry. I don't have a good excuse." His throat tightened. It's not like I can tell her I was testing out Cloak...

She sighed. "Just zip it, alright? What's past is past. Just don't do stupid shit like that again."

She sat beside him on the bench, though there was still space between them, irritation lingering in her posture.

"Open your phone," Gen said.

Her phone buzzed. A notification popped up:

A shiny Pikachu has been sent to your inbox. Please log in to claim it.

Her eyes widened. "Gen... You did this? But this must've taken hours. And how did you know I liked this one?"

"I mean... you always liked Pikachu, right? And a shiny one just seemed... special."

Keiko stared at the screen before chuckling, her irritation fading. "Yeah. And you're the only one crazy enough to farm for it."

+10 Charisma

Gen smirked. Not a bad start. I can't complete that mission just yet, but this is something.

A voice interrupted them. "Ahem. Where's my gift?"

Gen turned to see Taehyung looming behind the bench, arms crossed.

"Ah, shit—uhhh..." He rifled through his bag and pulled out the leather jacket. "Here. Take this."

Taehyung slipped it on, grinning. "Woah, is this for me? Oh, and it fits perfectly. Well done, my rival."

"Uh... yeah, sure, I guess..."

Suddenly, Keiko grabbed both of them. "Hey, it's starting!"

The crowd began counting down. "Three... two... one—MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

The Christmas tree lit up, the star shining brilliantly at the top. Gen, Keiko, and Taehyung basked in the glow, their earlier tensions melting away. They wandered the festival together, enjoying warm food from the stalls, throwing snowballs, and taking pictures beneath the lights.

Far away, in the dim glow of a mirror, Crexa watched the scene unfold. His lips curled into an amused smile.

"Ah, splendid... There is nothing like spending time with others. Enjoy this while you still can..."