Chapter 14: Delicate?

"Are you embarrassed?" Ryuji asked with a hint of curiosity, observing Megumi closely.

Though unsure why Ryuji had asked that question, Megumi instinctively nodded. "Well, after all, this is my first time asking a boy for his contact information, so I'm a little shy."

"You don't look shy at all."

Ryuji had a point. Despite claiming to be shy, Megumi's expression remained as calm and neutral as ever, her characteristic lack of strong emotions on full display. Even when she had asked for his contact information, her face remained calm, as if she were discussing something trivial.

Ryuji found it amusing. "I guess that's just one of her main charming point," he thought with a grin.

"Let's exchange contacts," he said, pulling out his phone without much concern about her expression.

"Mm!" Megumi nodded and took out her own phone.

After adding each other, they said their goodbyes and went their separate ways. As she watched Ryuji walk away, Megumi couldn't help but murmur to herself, "What an amazing classmate."

Her entire worldview had been shattered in the span of a day. First, she had witnessed an urban legend come to life something she had only ever seen in novels and comics. Then, she had watched as her schoolmate, Ryuji, effortlessly defeated the strange creature. It was beyond surreal.

Looking at the new contact in her phone, her usual calm expression flickered slightly, betraying the strange mix of emotions bubbling up inside her. But the day was ending, and with darkness falling, she decided it was time to head home.

---

After arriving home, Ryuji took a quick shower and returned to his room, eager to check out the golden entry he had unlocked earlier. He wasn't about to make the same mistake twice. After suffering a setback once, he knew better than to load a golden entry without checking its details first.

"Gold entry: Presence Concealment."

Ryuji chuckled. This entry fit Megumi perfectly. It allowed the user to completely control their presence, even to the point of making it vanish entirely. No wonder people referred to Megumi as the ultimate stealth character she could practically disappear from any situation.

"Load it," Ryuji said confidently.

As the golden entry was absorbed, Ryuji could immediately feel a new ability take root in his mind.

Talent Entry System!

- Host: Ryuji Hoshino

- Bloodline: Human

- Loaded Entries: Soul Devouring [Red], Yin-Yang Eyes [Gold], Presence Concealment [Gold].

- Points: 0

Seeing his new entry displayed on his status screen, Ryuji nodded in satisfaction. With this new ability, he could control his presence at will, even make himself completely invisible to others if he wanted. It would be useful, no doubt, but he'd need to test its limits properly soon.

---

The next morning, Ryuji woke up feeling refreshed and powerful, the energy from all the spirits he had consumed making him feel as if he could take on the world. He stretched, feeling the full extent of his newfound strength coursing through his body.

"Ha~" he sighed contentedly, shaking out his limbs as he got ready for the day.

When he stepped out of his house, he noticed Miko waiting outside for him, her eyes scanning the area as if she were looking for something or rather, someone.

"Morning, Miko," Ryuji called out, but there was no response. She just continued standing there, her face blank as she waited.

"Uh, Miko?" Ryuji said again, confused as to why she wasn't responding.

And then it hit him. "Oh, right. I activated my presence concealment ability last night and never turned it off."

That explained everything. With his presence completely hidden, it was no wonder Miko couldn't see him. Fortunately, unlike Megumi, Ryuji could control this ability at will.

With a thought, he deactivated the it.

"Ryuji!" Miko suddenly called out, her eyes locking onto him as if he had just appeared out of thin air. "When did you get here? I didn't even see you come out!"

"Just a little trick," Ryuji said with a smirk. "A special ability of mine."

"Oh!" Miko nodded, not particularly surprised. After all, she had already come to expect the unexpected when it came to Ryuji. He was full of surprises, and she was learning to roll with it.

"Come on," Ryuji said as he reached out, taking her hand. "We'd better head to school before we're late."

"Yeah," Miko agreed, her heart fluttering a little as Ryuji took the initiative to hold her hand. Ever since they had become a couple, she had feared it might all be a dream, but moments like this made it feel so real. The unease melted away, leaving behind a sweet sense of warmth.

"You don't have to wait outside for me so early, you know," Ryuji said, noticing the way she had been standing there for a while. "It's okay to sleep in a bit longer."

"It's fine!" Miko said quickly, though her cheeks flushed slightly. "I don't mind waking up early. I just… wanted to see you." She couldn't bring herself to admit that she had woken up early just to be with him.

Ryuji chuckled, amused by her sincerity. Without a word, he pulled a small key from his pocket and handed it to Miko.

"What's this?" Miko asked, her eyes widening in surprise. She took the key hesitantly, her heart racing as a flood of thoughts crossed her mind.

"It's the key to my house," Ryuji said casually. "If you ever come by again and I'm not out yet, just go inside. No need to wait around like that."

Miko blinked, her face turning red as she processed what he was saying. "Are you sure?" she asked nervously. "Is that really okay?"

Ryuji grinned. "You're my girlfriend now, aren't you? Of course it's okay."

Hearing his words, Miko's heart swelled with emotion. She nodded seriously, clutching the key tightly in her hand as if it were the most precious thing in the world.

"Mm!" she hummed, her eyes sparkling with happiness.

Ryuji was about to say something else when suddenly, a system notification flashed in his mind.

"Conditions met. Green entry triggered! Load?"

"Wait, what?" Ryuji blinked in surprise. Green entry? That meant… he could trigger multiple entries from Miko? Could he farm multiple talent entries from the same person?

Curious, Ryuji quickly connected with the system in his mind.

"System, can I refresh these talent entries multiple times from the same heroine?"

"...."

As usual, the system didn't respond. It was a bit rigid like that. Still, Ryuji didn't mind. He'd figure it out eventually by testing it himself.

"Let's see what this green entry is," Ryuji muttered, turning his attention to the new entry.

Green entry: Delicate

"...Huh?"

For a moment, Ryuji was at a loss. "Delicate? What does that even mean?"

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