Sui and Shiina

Kai was lying on his bed, lost in thought, when the system suddenly sounded again.

[I think you forgot something.]

Kai frowned, confused. What could he have possibly forgotten? After thinking for a while and still not remembering anything, he decided to ask.

"I can't remember forgetting anything. What did I forget, system?"

[You really can't remember?]

"No, I cannot."

[What a bad host. You can't even remember a promise you made to me half a day ago.]

Kai suddenly recalled something.

"Are you talking about me saying that I would name you?"

[Yess! I've been waiting for more than half a day!]

"Sorry about that, but were you really waiting all this time without saying anything? Or did you forget too and only just remember it now?"

[...]

"I knew it."

[Waah, you don't have to be so mean!]

"What are you, a child?"

[Shut up and name me already!]

"Sure, let me think..."

Kai paused.

"My name, Kai (海), means sea or ocean, and you are something closely connected to me.

. . .

I think I got it! Your name shall be Sui (水), which in Japanese means water. What do you think?"

[Sui, Sui... I think I like it!]

"Good to hear. Now that that's settled, can I ask you a question?"

[Yes, of course you can.]

"Then, can you tell me how to unlock the system's locked functions?"

[I can't.]

Kai frowned.

"Why not?"

[Because I don't know how to unlock them either. All I know is that locked functions must be amazing! After all, they belong to me, and I am the best system in the omniverse! Hahaha!]

Kai sighed.

"So let me get this straight. Most of your functions are locked. You can't unseal or analyze my bloodline. And now you're telling me you don't even know how your own functions work? And after all that you still claim to be the best system in the omniverse!?"

[Of course! I'm the best! Hehe!]

Kai had enough of dealing with his stupid system and decided to go to sleep early.

__________

The next day, after classes ended, Kai decided to go to the school library. He was curious to see if he could find any books he had read in his previous life, like Harry Potter, for example. After all, reading was one of his hobbies, alongside watching anime and practicing archery.

He had actually gotten into reading because of an anime he watched. That anime was really good, but sadly, it only had one season. Since Kai badly wanted to know the ending, he decided to read the novel it was based on. After that, reading became one of his favorite hobbies. In fact, he had read no fewer books than the number of anime he had watched.

Kai was now browsing through the library shelves, eager to find a good new book to read. That's when he saw it, one of his favorite novels of all time, Code Geass. Even though he had already seen the anime at the time, he still decided to read the Code Geass novel, and he never regretted it. Both the anime and the novel were masterpieces.

As he reached out to grab the book, his hand collided with someone else's. He looked toward the owner of the hand and saw a short girl with mid-back-length silver hair and purple eyes. The girl looked at him as well.

"Oh, sorry about that," the girl started.

"It's alright. Do you want to borrow this book?"

The girl nodded.

"Then you can take it."

"No, it's alright. You can take it. I'll find something else."

"Just take the book. I didn't intend to take it anyway."

"Why is that? Don't you like this book?"

"Ah, don't misunderstand. I absolutely love this book. But I've already read it three times. I assume you haven't read it yet, and I'd feel guilty if I took such a masterpiece away from you."

"Oh, then thank you! I'm Shiina Hiyori, by the way."

"My name is Shiba Kai. As a fellow hardcore reader, you can just call me Kai."

"What makes you think I'm a hardcore reader?"

"Just my intuition."

Shiina smiled. "Your intuition must be pretty good then, Kai."

Kai smiled back.

Shiina continued. "Then, as a fellow hardcore reader, you can call me Hiyori as well."

Shiina and Kai then got into a long conversation about books. They recommended novels to each other and discussed books they had both read. For example, they had a long debate about the Harry Potter series, ultimately agreeing that it was in the top ten book series of all time.

They talked until Kai noticed it was getting dark. He decided to end the conversation since he still wanted to check out which clubs were operating in the school.

As he walked away, Hiyori watched his back, smiling. She hadn't expected that she, someone who had gone through all of middle school without any friends, would make one after just two days of high school.