It took me a full minute to actually understand what the word in the window meant. When I did actually understand it, I'm pretty sure that if there's no one in this room except me, I will laugh loudly and when I've finished I will press the "Yes" button twenty times in a row with the speed that would make most skilled gamer proud.
Just when my finger was inch away from the button, I retracted my hand to think about it. Glancing to the side, Murayama and Katase was furiously engaged in their own conversation that they almost didn't notice me. I take a deep breath. "Observe,"
Unnamed Fighting Technique Book.
Since the beginning of time people have always been striving to find the most effective ways to inflict pain on one another. A method of hand-to-hand combat of old that was continuously inherited from Jacob for people to use later in ages. It was so old that it can't even be called "martial art" in a sense that it lacked gracefulness that can usually found in martial arts and focused on practicality. According to legends, a saint who mastered this for sure would beat to death an "angel of destruction" that leads 12,000 angels. It was developed by Jacob and no one knew for sure who compiled the whole technique into a single book in the first place.
I inhaled some air only to exhale it a second later.
…Okay, this is clearly something that's not meant to be found in a girl room. I was expecting a pretty boy poster or a BL doujinshi about Yuuto Kiba and Issei but this? I didn't expect this at all, no, in the first place was how would someone like Katase get her hand on a book like this?
On the scale of 1 to 10, how would I rate my luck? If it was me from the past then I wouldn't even put it past the 1-2 but now that I think about it, my LUK was 10 which mean average compared to other people. I used to think that I don't have any luck with my life, detention, beaten up by girls, scolded by teachers, unsociable to others, and not getting a girlfriend even though I was in a school with the ratio of female higher than male…
Wait. Looking at it again, it was more of a punishment than unlucky right?
I was really tempted to press the button to learn the skill book but I didn't know what will happen to it, in game it would disappear as in means "used up" and the player will automatically learn the skill in the books but who really knew what effect it would be in the real world?
Will it vanish in light before it completely disappeared or will the words in the book disappear completely leaving only an empty book?
Only one way to find out.
I closed the Observe screen and took a look at the book again and wait for the previous window to appear again, and when it did, I gritted my teeth. Just one push and maybe I would have something that I previously longed for, a power. And yet, it feels wrong somehow.
"Hey Motohama," Katase's voice snapped me out of my thought and I turned my head to see her. "Why are you holding that book for long? Last I checked the words are already faded, not to mention the language isn't something I'm familiar with."
"Oh," I replied. "Nothing particular, just checking something in this book, somehow it's like I knew the content of this book."
"Really?" Katase asked, non-believing. "What's inside it?"
I closed the book and placed it on the nearby desk, momentarily regretting it when the skill window disappeared. "Like I said, it's just like I knew it, doesn't mean I know the exact content of it but if it would make you feel better, it was about some kind of martial arts."
"Hmm," Katase mused before returned to her work again.
I sighed and take a hold of the book again. "Hey Katase, where did you get this book?"
"It's not mine," She answered without letting my question disturbed her concentration. "When I moved in, the book is already there with the bookshelf." I was ready to ask another question but decided not to after seeing how hard Katase is pushing herself.
"Do you want to ask where she came from?" Instead it was Murayama who beat me to it. "She moved in from Kyoto to enroll into Kuoh, if I remember correctly it was five years ago? Back then Kuoh Academy was still girl-only school so it was one of the favorite schools for girls to get in."
Katase grumbled and finally put down her pencil. "Ghh, don't talks about me when I'm here trying hard to solve a question will you?" Then she turned to Murayama. "And if you have times to answer his question, why don't you finish your work first?"
"But Katase," Murayama reasoned and pointed to the stack of book beside her. "I almost finished."
Katase was all silent after that, even though nothing seems to be happening, I know that expression all too well, it was the face of someone who was betrayed. Don't worry, I understand how you feel, I really wanted to say that but what will her reaction be if she was being pitied by me, a pervert, will she be happy? Or she will be disgusted? Either way, I don't really want to know it.
"Hey Katase, can I get this book?" I asked her while flailing the book around. "You don't need it since you can't read it right? Then can I?"
She closed her eyes and tilting her head from side to side. "Nope, I can't give it to you, although it's not mine, I can't just give it away without valid reason."
"I already said it, didn't I?" I shrugged. "You can't read it hence why it's useless in your hand, it's better for this book to be in the hand of someone who can read and understand the meaning behind it." I pointed myself with my thumb. "A perfect example of it would be me."
"You know Motohama, you're being such an ass after I invited you here, first you forced me to invite you here by being a jerk and now the way you act right now…" Katase said in cold voice. "I think I prefer the more perverted you than current-you anytime."
The air between us are tense especially with Murayama keep glancing between Katase and I, she look confused whether to support either one of us or ceasing this nonsense. Even I was baffled at this unexpected turn of event, I don't mean to be such a jerk by the way of saying it but it was almost come out automatically and I can't help but say it, I'm a perverted jerk which can be seen by how I spreading out bad rumors about Issei in the school all because of my envy.
It was because I usually spent my time with someone that usually takes my word as joke that I almost forgot, the girls in front of me aren't the people I usually spend time with. Murayama and Katase are not Issei and Matsuda. Gamer's Mind keep me calm and I'm planning to use any kind of advantage I have to fix this situation. Although Katase or Murayama never said that I'm their friend or not, I won't let a simple mistake worsening my relationship.
I let out a chuckle. "Just kidding Katase, you're really taking this seriously huh," I placed the skill book on the desk. "It's just a joke so you don't need to worry about my personality, if it would make you feel better – though I doubt it – I'm still the same old perverted me." I smiled at her, not the perverted smile but honest smile.
Of course with some notable "improvement".
Katase blinked several times before she finally understand what I'm talking about. "O-oh, so it's just an act! Damn, you're making me scared there for a second, you're really good at acting you know?" Then she forced a smile.
Murayama sighed, out of relief or tired I don't know. "Well if things have been concluded," She gives me a disapproving glance, it seems like she still doubted me. "Can we please continue our work? It will be dark soon."
Although I was a bit sad that I can't get the skill book, at least I was able to maintain our relationship. I think it was more important, or so I thought but I'm still in doubt of course. I traced the book cover with my finger, enjoying the little activity before I let this godly skill book go, maybe not forever but I don't think Katase will give it to me willingly that easy considering how that went a little while ago.
Though I didn't get the skill book, by the time when Katase finished her homework, I found the yaoi doujinshi starring Yuuto Kiba and Hyoudou Issei hidden behind the bookshelf.
-0-
"Goodbye," I waved my hand from the outside of the house. "Your house is comfortable and the dinner is good, you should be proud of that."
She huffed. "Well at least you're honest when you're complimenting someone." And then she turned to Murayama who's standing beside me. "Be careful on your way home. Keep your guard around him especially at night when you can't see very well."
I didn't retort and opted to just stay silent through her entire word even though it was painfully obvious that she told her to avoid me. Murayama giggled and then take another look at me. "Don't worry about it, I'm strong enough to keep myself safe, although I don't have my sword, I can still fight with my fist."
Katase smiled and fist bumped her. "That's the spirit, don't let someone like him take you down I say!"
I rolled my eyes at their conversation and let my thought wander over the skill book from earlier. I glance at Katase and her house before looking away, scared that my desire would overtaking me and I would do something that I will regret forever.
Namely stealing the skill book.
…
Both of us quietly walked away from there while I searched through my entire surrounding. Even though I don't have any doubt that Murayama can take care of herself and basically can also take down any thugs in the way, I can't just dismiss the chance that it will happen, if I can prevent it then it's better to do so then letting it happen.
"Umm, Motohama?" Murayama suddenly call me out from behind me. "Can I ask you something?" She asked, to which I nodded while still observing the possibly-unseen-danger lurking around the night. "Why are you… lying like that? No, why are you acting like that in the first place? It just feels… wrong, I thought I have an impression of you but somehow you constantly changing that, so why?"
I slowed down my speed and walked beside her. "You really wanted to know the whole story? Or just the short version?"
"I like to know the whole but keep it short and understandable,"
I stared at her for a while and sighed. "It's not really nice to talk in here so I suggest we do it somewhere else," Instead of taking the usual route to home, I went to the park that I usually use to work out. "If you want to ask why I choose this park, it's because it's easy to see in here almost like a day," She still followed me silently, it seems like she's really curious about my story, well I can't blame her if such a thing happen to Issei then for sure I would ask for the same too.
"So?" She said after finally sat on the same bench beside me. "I like to know it but can you please be fast, it's already night and I fear the police will caught us in here." She looked at me and cracked her fist. "And don't even think about doing something stupid here, you know I can overpower you."
I stayed silent and bought a juice and coffee from the vending machine, I handed the juice to her. "My treat, I know your favorite brand of juice from Matsuda stalking so don't ask me." She accepted it although she didn't look too grateful from my treat, well that's a bit of letdown, I spend my pocket money to buy this for her to be happy but the result wasn't too good. Opening the can of coffee, I take a sip from it and was surprised at the taste.
"Well," I flailed the can of coffee in my hand. "I guess it goes back to when I was still in middle-school, before I entered Kuoh Academy, I was already a pervert back then but I was more of a closet pervert rather than showing my perverseness to everyone like no-"
"Please Motohama, keep it short."
"Oh for fu-" I was ready to swear but suppressed down the urge. "Geez, alright, alright, spoilsport, anyway back then I can be called a honor student but after dad left me and my mom, I was a bit depressed but I quickly get over it, I still studied hard and keeping my good grade but mom didn't seem to be too caring about my school life unlike before even though it was obvious that she's taking dad leaving more hard than me and I was a bit selfish back then too, all I wanted was my mother's attention, no," I lifted my head up, sighing while looking at the sky. "All I wanted was the love of someone that is close enough to me. When I studied in school, I don't intend to reach for something big. I just wanted to look better in front of my parents, but when one of them left, the other one didn't seem to care about me."
"…Are you sure that you wanted to continue this?" Murayama asked me, probably concerned about my emotion. Sorry but Gamer's Mind already took care of that.
"Depend on your response but I don't think you're satisfied right?" I gulped down the coffee and savored the bitter yet sweet taste a bit. She was silent but I already know her answer. "Thought so, well continuing on my desperate search of love or attention depend on what you want to, I have a hard time forming a relationship with other people so I decided to create a group consisted of my friends where I can be showered with attention, it's hard to create such a group even more so when I don't have anything common with the students."
"Wait, so you mean the group you created is,"
"Correct," I finished her word and grinning darkly. "The group that you call "Perverted Trio" is my own doing, in the past I thought that if I have something in common with every men in here is my perverseness and I don't really know what I thought in the past that I would got that crazy idea, back then I wasn't exactly what you would call a role model anyway Issei and Matsuda is a perfect candidate for the group."
The purpose of that group was for us three for getting a girlfriend or so I thought at first but then it quickly went down to as long as its female body then it's allowed. My purpose of getting a girlfriend was for said girlfriend to be the person to be there for me when I need shoulder to lean on, someone to whine to, and most importantly someone that can snap me out when I'm going down to a wrong path. But as time went on, it became increasingly boring to just searching for any girl to hit on and then I don't know how but I got the crazy idea of peeping on girls changing room.
"You don't mean…" She paused, biting her lower lip. "You used those two for your own gain? Don't you have any shame!?"
I sighed once again, somehow I found myself sighing a lot today. "That's why I don't really want to talk about it," I emptied the coffee in one gulp and with my 30% increase in accuracy, threw the empty can in the trash bin. "Continuing, I succeeded in making my own paradise in school, in fact, I started to think that my school is my real home and distanced myself from my own mother because of my perverted act. Back in my mind, I know it's wrong, it's wrong and yet I can't stop it, if I stop then I would lose my place and the friends I've carefully picked would ditch me."
I still remember it like it was only yesterday. Mom tried to talk me out of it but I refused and even going so far to opposing her, spouting out curses that I never thought would've came out of my mouth when I'm talking to my mother, and the most painful thing was how she never fight back, never tried to persuade me again. From then my relationship with her worsened and I would get scared at her every time we meet, fearing that someday she will snap and scold me.
But that day never came. Even until now.
"Why don't you make any… "normal" friends? Something like study group would suffice right?"
"For you maybe it's that easy but for me who almost spend his entire school time on studying," I shrugged off like it's not a big deal. "It's hard for me to form a relationship you know? Not exactly a shut-in, not exactly a big pervert, just someone who's struggling to form a relationship. Issei and Matsuda is someone who I considered friends from the first time I meet them because that's what really happened, even someone whose social skill is next to zero like me can become friend with them."
"Certainly there's a better way to approach your problem," She looked away from me and seemingly searching for answer "L-Like befriending someone like Issei or Matsuda, who become friend with you first, but doesn't have their perverted nature."
"That's why sometime I think it's a mistake to become friend with them," I huffed out the burden I've been holding for so long. "But I can't redo it, I've already associated myself with them and it's already too late for me, for me in the past, they're someone I can depend on, without them I can't laugh or making a simple joke."
"But it's already in the past right?" She asked me, clinging to a single hope. "Surely by that time your mother has already returned to normal right?"
I let out a dark chuckle. "That's right and when she started to return back to her own self, it was too late, I've gone too far, I've been regarded as the biggest pervert in school and Issei and Matsuda has become my so-called-comrades. And without realizing it…" I lean back on the bench and giving her a sad looks. "I've already give up on my life, the simple wish of wanting to have another people close to me changed my entire life for worse and it was then I give up on fixing my relationship with mom instead indulging on my own lust for women body. I didn't even care what I would become after I graduated from high-school, either becoming a trash society or, heck, I will even regard it as lucky if I can become a salary man."
Honestly speaking, it was like a drug. Addicting and when you wanted to turn your back from it, the temptation is too strong and you can't help but doing it more. I told myself that I would stop doing it if mom has returned to normal but when I take my eyes off from it, deep inside I longed for it and without thinking, I abandoned mom and pursued the pleasure of flesh.
"Motohama…" Murayama let out my name and patted my back. "I-I'm sorry about making you talk like that, I didn't me-" I cut her off by putting up a hand and shaking my head. "…Wait, then the reason why you're lying to Katase like that is?"
"It was accident," I blurt out the truth, uncaring about what sort of reaction she make. "I didn't mean to be such a jerk in front of her but when you almost spent all of your time interacting with overly-familiar people, I can't help but coming out as a jerk because of my habit of talking like that in front of Issei or Matsuda. That's why I lied to her, because I don't want to destroy my current relationship with her and most importantly was that habit die off hard you know? Even though I wanted to change, it's still hard to resist it."
"So they are a bad influence for you?"
"Heh, it's the opposite, I was the one who's a bad influence for them, just think about it, if I don't create Perverted Trio then I'm sure that Issei or Matsuda would've better life than their current one though I still have doubt about Issei since he's already that perverted even before I met him." I took off my glasses to stare at her directly, although it's blurry it was the least I can do to persuade her. "You see? I don't want Katase to hate me so I lied."
"I thought you've… give up? No offense but… after what you've said before, it's just sort of strange."
I smiled at her. "That's exactly what it is, Strange can't even begin to describe what my life is like from six days ago," She seems confused about my word but keep silent to herself. "I've give up but six days ago, I was given a chance to redeem myself, to fix my own wrongdoings, to make my life better, and I'm sure as hell wouldn't waste that chance, not at all."
"In just a span of six days you suddenly decided to change instead of doing it from the past years?" She bluntly said it, in a way that made me hurt but I don't blame her for it, it was true after all. "What sort of thing would make you change so sudden?"
I stood up and grinned at her but said nothing. I don't really have the obligation to answer her question more so when I bet that she won't even get what that meant. Though if one were to really ask me what make me changed so much then I would answer it with…
A game.
-0-
"Thanks for walking me back home and… for sharing your past," I didn't even need to use Observe to know what she's talking about so I only nodded silently. "Oh, and this," She opened her bag and searched through it before taking out the old-looking cover bo-Wait that's the skill book from earlier. She handed it to me. "I've a doubt about you before but now that have been cleared up, I don't think you're a bad people but I don't think you're a good guy either, Arashi Motohama, you're just being misunderstood by people. And for that, I think I can trust you enough with this book."
I scratched my cheek while sheepishly taking the book from her hand. "Well, yeah, I will take that as a compliment," I thanked her once again and bowed slightly. "By the way, how did you get this book? And, why do you want it in the first place?"
"Ehhh, ummm, how do I say it?" She seems to have difficulty picking out the correct word. "Please don't be mad at this but, back when you forced Katase to hand you the book I thought that you would come back and steal it so I was willing to keep it for her."
Well, it's not too far off from the mark, since I was planning to steal it once I was out of sight.
"Wait, how can Katase just give it to you that easily?" I asked, staring at her incredulously.
"Huh? It's because we're friend of course." She said as if it was a fact.
"Really? You don't think it will get you into trouble if I take it?"
"Don't worry about it," She slung her bag over her shoulder and smiled. "Beside, like you said before, I think that book would be in a better place in the hand of someone who can understand it."
Just before she can enter her house, I grabbed her shoulder. "Murayama," I was a bit uncertain after saying her name out loud but decided to say it anyway. "Are we… a friend?"
She didn't immediately answer instead giggled before answering. "Of course we are." Then after saying probably the answer of what I wanted all this time, she left.
I watched her back as she left me alone in front of her house. After confirming no one is around me, I walked back to my own home with the skill book in my hand. Murayama's house is the opposite road of mine so it's actually really far from my own house but I can't let a girl like her walking around in the middle of night like this can't I? Beside it gave me time to think about what status I should raise with my new status point.
But before that…
The window appeared before my eyes again, asking whether I want to learn the skill inside the book or not.
I grinned and this time without hesitation, press the "yes" button.
You can't learn this skill. Required: STR 20, VIT 20, DEX 20, INT 20, WIS 20
You can't learn this skill. Required: STR 20, VIT 20, DEX 20, INT 20, WIS 20
You can't learn this skill. Required: STR 20, VIT 20, DEX 20, INT 20, WIS 20
You can't learn this skill. Required: STR 30, VIT 30, DEX 30, INT 40, WIS 40
You can't learn this skill. Required: STR 50, VIT 50, DEX 50, INT 60, WIS 60
You can't learn this skill. Required: STR 70, VIT 70, DEX 70, INT 90, WIS 90
…
Really? You just wanted to annoy me aren't you?
I mean, sure from the description I got from Observe, I know that this skill wasn't easy to get by any means and I thought that there would be some kind of requirement or something like that to get this skills but really? This? The amount of exp that I needed to reach the necessary level would be impossible to get! It required my status to be all 20 so to do that I needed… twelve levels. But I already leveled up once so I only needed eleven? That's still too much!
I sighed and putting the book in my bag. So I brought the status tab again and was filled with possible choices for the allocation points, LUK was obviously out for now and any kind of physical strength isn't needed for now at least. So that left INT and WIS, while I'm sure that INT is making me smarter, I don't exactly get what WIS do, if by studying increased my INT and by making a correct choice increased my WIS then is it safe to assume that WIS is the power to make the most correct choice?
I thought back on what I've been doing for these past six days, my WIS was the lowest of my status because I'm not a wise person and to an extent, someone who constantly making a wrong choice like becoming a pervert. In the past, I was arrogant, selfish, immature, and childish. Always taking any gift or sort as granted, so it's better to increase my WIS because it affected my way of thinking right?
I pressed the arrow beside WIS five times and raised it to fifteen. Taking a deep breath, I nodded and closed the window.
Well now time to go home.
I found myself taking the longer route to my home like an instinct but I quickly realize that is not such a cases at all, this road would take me to Issei's home and I'm sure as hell doesn't wanted to meet with his parents at all. Not that I would meet them in a night-time like this but just seeing his big mansion-like house from afar already told all the reason I don't wanted to see his hou-
Wait.
Since when…
Since when did my friend house is a freaking six story building?
I searched through my memories while still keeping my view on the tall building.
It doesn't make any sense, why wouldn't anyone notice it? I mean, based on my memories, it was Gremory-senpai's family who make Issei's house into this mansion-like house, if it was like that then I won't have any problem except maybe envying his lifestyle but what's strange is how his house can be renovated within the span of one day! Even more so when it was done while all of us are sleeping!
That's strange, fuck strange, it was crazy. Someone definitely has done something to this house that it was possible to do all of this in one day. Or that it's just my memories? No, that's impossible, Gamer's Mind should've negated all kind of mental status effects, so it shouldn't be possible for me to be affect-
"Fuck," I cursed out loud grasping my head with one hand all while searching through my memories again. Search it. There must be something similar happening before this, something, something that absolutely didn't make any sense, something that science alone won't allow to happen, memories.
Her name is Amano Yuuma-chan. They're my friend Motohama and Matsuda.
Nice to meet you.
And she's… my girlfriend.
"That's it," I forcibly opened my eyes. "That's where things go wrong,"
From there on, the memories following after that didn't match up by what Issei said. I refused blatantly that Issei has girlfriend and deemed it as non-existent along with Matsuda, Issei tried to show us the picture and number of Amano Yuuma but doesn't find it, as much as I feels betrayed by him getting girlfriend over us, I can't possibly erase my memories myself just so that I can forget it.
Not only that, but after the day Amano Yuuma introduced herself to us, any trace of her was erased not only from my memories but from the real world too. I remembered almost throwing my chair from the window out of sheer anger because of Issei having a date with his girlfriend but after that date, I was calm like nothing happened and the reason for that is because the source of my rage, memories, was erased.
I don't know why Issei remembered Amano Yuuma but if I remember correctly, it was also from that time that he was invited by ORC and his life changed entirely. He changed from the perverted boy hated by the entirely school populace to a bit kinder yet still perverted boy whose reputation is slightly better than usual.
There's something… Something not normal in all of this… Something that doesn't meant to be found out by normal people…
A quest has been created!
Reality: The other side of the world.
You've found something weird happen with your life and decided to seek the truth. Uncover the lies and learn the truth of this two-sided world. Find definite proof that supernatural exist.
Completion Reward: Exp 60000.
Failure: None or Death.
-0-
Just a piece of information for the readers to know, I didn't completely make the Jacob fighting skills on my own, it was based on how Jacob wrestle with angel that's written in Bible just search it yourselves.
I was a bit hesitant to post this chapter because it mostly just shown Motohama's past but I might as well let it out now. After getting the supernatural-related quest, how will Motohama's react to this? And the false memories that Rias planted in normal human was also disabled with Gamer's Mind so he remembered all of it.
