Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

[New Mission: calm your love interest down.]

"..." 

Inhales

Exhales

"you've got to be kidding me." isagi felt a migraine coming, "what do you mean I have to calm them down?? Wasn't your company responsible for them??? How come it became MY responsibility?" call him crazy but isagi has never felt this mad since kaiser or ness decided to keep him captive.

[system 13: we're trying everything to the best of our abilities.]

"well your not trying hard enough," he retorts back folding his arm across his chest.

[system 13: we're incredibly sorry you had to experience this o(〒﹏〒)o]

Isagi falls onto his bed, his mind was already piling up with lots of worries and anger that he wanted to strangle whoever was in charge of the lousy security system.

"show me the love affinity."

[system 13: showing love affinity...]

love affinity (Meguru): -1,000/100

love affinity (Chigiri): -1,000/100

love affinity (Kunigami): -1,000/100

love affinity (Nagi): -1,000/100

love affinity (Reo): -1,000/100

love affinity (Barou): -1,000/100

love affinity (Kurona): -1,000/100

love affinity (Shidou): -1,100/100

love affinity (Hiori): -1,000/100

love affinity (Yukimiya): -1,000/100

love affinity (Karasu): -1,000/100

love affinity (Kaiser): -1,000/100

love affinity (Ness): -1,000/100

love affinity (Loki): -1,000/100

He's screwed.

'-1,000?? Is that even possible on an average transmigrated scale?? And why is shidou's different than the rest??' 

[system 13: unfortunately it is if you leave them for a long time (｡•́︿•̀｡)]

"I did as you asked and yet you do this to me, your even more unreliable than the internet itself." isagi sighed and lays back down with his hands on his face. 'what am I going to do with my life now...'

[system 13: would you like me to track-] "don't do it or I'll complain to the management team." 

[system 13:...]

"I'm going to shower, goodbye system." 

[system 13:... I was just trying to help (Ｔ▽Ｔ)]

"ugh can't you do anything about it? Where is isagi living at?" a fist slammed onto the kitchen counter, hiori rolls his eyes and said "if you can get angry then you have time to get ready, pack up your things we're going to satiama." he shuts his laptop and got off from his seat, everyone does the same and shidou eventually follows after them.

"good morning everyone, how was your weekend?" the PE teacher said, everyone hummed either saying it was good or terrible, "great, now do 10 laps of running go go go!" everyone grumbled and got to running.

"isagi, how was your weekend?" bachira jogs next to isagi who shrugged his shoulders, "you did nothing fun?" "nope, my parents had to work so I took care of the house." 

"that's boring~ are you free tomorrow after class?" bachira asked, "depends, why?" "I wanna go to the soccer field and play, I was going to invite rin but you know how he is." bachira pouts, "ah haha... Yeah," isagi nervously laughed "anyways! Wanna go with me?" his face changes into one that said 'go with me pls go with me pls go with me pls'.

Isagi does the side eye thing and looks at the system.

[system 13: chances of meeting your love interest - 20-35%]

"sure, let's go." he smiled, bachira has never felt as happy since today. 

"thank you isagi!! I love you!" he hugs isagi and they both fall onto the ground.

"let's go let's go!" bachira ran out the entrance like an energetic Pomeranian that was running to get the ball, isagi... 'I feel like throwing up.' isagi wanted to just leave right then and there.

"we're here!!" bachira raised his soccer ball above his head with a bright shine in his eyes while isagi was hovering over the trash can vomiting his lunch out for the day.

"isagi you wanna play with me?" "n-no thanks, my stomach hurts.." as he clutches onto his stomach, "oh, that's okay! Then I'll play with my monster! Watch these sick moves!" 

       Isagi             Bachira

       i slep                ???

Zzz (ᴗ_ ᴗ。)      (｡´╹A╹｀｡)

After an hour or so, bachira was sweating all over. "today's hot, isn't it isagi?" he asked while fanning his neck.

No response

"isagi? Are you-" bachira turns around, isagi had fallen asleep on the fence, using his (bachira's) jacket as a blanket.

'so cute!!! I love isagi so much!!' bachira hugs isagi and rubs his cheek against the sleeping boy. He takes out his phone and starts snapping away making sure to add filters to some to brag about it to rin. 

"hm, which pictures should I send?" bachira debates as he swipes left on every picture he took, 'aah they look so good I want them all to myself.' 

"I'll go with this one!" bachira sends the second best picture he took and turns off his phone, rin will want answers if he knew he had isagi falling asleep.

"oya~? Seems like my prediction was right," bachira turns around and saw a man who looked... 

"you look just like me! But older!" bachira points at him with surprise, Meguru chuckled and nod "well I go by Meguru now so I guess so." the older bachira said and turn to the fence to look at the sleeping isagi.

"is he your friend?" "oh him?! Yeah he is, he's just a little tired that's all." bachira smiled when he turned to isagi. It made Meguru jealous, seeing his younger self enjoying himself with his isagi, isagi is his and no one else's.

Meguru -5

love affinity (Meguru): -1,005/100

"are you best friends with him?'" "mhm! Isagi's my best best FRIEND!!" bachira said loudly, "he's been my friend since middle school," bachira's voice soften into a whisper, "back then, I didn't have any friends so isagi was my first ever real friend besides my monster." 

"it's okay Meguru, I'll be your first friend! If not, Your best Best friend!" 

"...!" Meguru felt a sting in his heart, it was as if it happened all over again.

"if anything happens to isagi, I'll never forgive myself." bachira raised his head up and said as he looked up at the stranger "not even you Mister." his eyes were lifeless, just like his.

A smirk formed on Meguru's lips as he laughed and patted his head "good good, make sure to keep him safe at all times. That way, it'll be easier to come and get him."

Meguru +10

love affinity (Meguru): -995/100

Chapter Text

After that talk with Meguru, bachira and Meguru vowed to keep the meeting a secret. 

Bachira was reluctant at first from keepign a secret from isagi, Meguru somehow managed to talk him into keeping it a secret. 

Afterwards, Meguru promised to come again with snacks which bachira very quickly agreed to. 

The next few days were hell, isagi was dragged along with bachira to the soccer ball court without fail. 

Lunch period 

"say aah~" bachira held up a spoonful of rice towards isagi. 

"bachira what are y-umph!?" isagi almost choked on if it weren't for his orange juice nearby. 

"how was it? Did you like it?" bachira asked with a twinkling eyes as if to ask for his opinion on his bento. 

Isagi manages to give him a thumbs up, "you liked it? Yay!! I'll make sure to ask my mom to make it again!" 

[system 13: warning, it seems that one of your love interest has entered the school.] 

"SCHOOL?!" isagi screamed but quickly covered his mouth after realising his mistake. "are you okay isagi?" bachira asked, holding out his palm to try to check his forehead. 

"I'm fine bachira, I just realised we had an English test after this-" "English test?! Oh no.. Isagi can I copy your answers?? I didn't study at all!" bachira went into panic mode after hearing that. 

Right now an English test was the last thing on his mind, but who would be bold enough to enter the school-

'system, reactivate my skills from before.' 

[system 13: I am unable to reactivate them unless I have the managers approval.] 

"im not asking you if it's possible, I'm telling you to reactivate it NOW." isagi showed the system his fist along with a 'do it before I go ape shit on you.' look. 

[system 13:... Activating skills.]

Danger beware! skill has been activated. 

Don't look down on me just cause I'm the protagonist! skill has been activated. 

Evil intentions be gone! skill has been activated. 

Isagi checks the affinity levels again and what a surprise! It dropped down to 500 instead of 1,000.

'is it cause I did all those transmigrations without problems?' 

[system 13: no.] it flat out said. 

[system 13: it is a compensation from the management higher ups.] 

'even better! But I'm still not going to stop my complaints to the management team.' isagi faked a smile, the system knew but decided it's best to stay quiet unless it wants to be disassembled like the last time. 

The bell rings and English period started. 

"so Mr Meguru, I've seen your resume and to say I'm amazed would be an understatement." the interviewer said as he looked up from the impressive resume. 

"please, just call me Megu, using my name is a bit embarrassing." Meguru chuckled, "but with this impressive resume, I'm kind of surprised to see you wanting to be an arts and craft teacher." the interviewer said. 

"well.. I want my teachings and passion to lead other artistic students who want to learn even more about arts." Meguru said, those who knew Meguru could tell that it was a lie. 

"and I see that your married, congratulations." he adds, Meguru looks down at his ring finger and twists the ring "no no, we aren't married yet." 

"ah, then fiancé?" 

"it's like a promise ring." "oh..." 

The interviewer seemed to have bought his believable lie and nodded his head, he knew Meguru was a great person but his brain kept saying no 'it's like there's something secretive Meguru is hiding from me...' 

"you'll start your first day next week on Monday, please be sure to come at 9am sharp. Mr..." the interviewer asked as he stretched out his hand for a handshake. 

"Bachira Meguru, or you can just call me Meguru instead." Meguru stands up and accepts the handshake. His dull honey coloured eyes stared back as he pulled his hand away. 

'just you wait Yoichi, soon we'll be together again.' Meguru touches the promise ring again as he leaves the room. 

'is someone talking about me?' isagi scratched his ear and looked around him. 

Chapter Text

"did you see the new arts and crafts teacher??"

"I did!! I almost fainted when I saw him at the entrance!" a group of girls behind isagi chatted away like it was the weekend.

Isagi felt his eyebrows twitched so much he might as well be bald at this point, who knew that a new teacher would cause this much commotion with just a word of a rumor.

Bachira was no better as 5 minutes ago he was bragging about his monster card collection. 

'Where's the system when you need it the most?' isagi sheds a single tear before the system pops up next to him. 

[system 13: did you call for me? :3]

"no I did not," isagi said. 

[system 13: :') smiling through the pain.] 

"what was that?" bachira looks up from his card explanations, "sorry bachira, I was talking about an oc I just made up." with a plastered fake smile he's used a dozens on times. 

"oh okay, then up next is my second most hated monster.." bachira then proceeds to talk until isagi started daydreaming into his own little world. 

F2-Play company

Tap tap tap 

"who's the new guy?" the game designer asked, glancing at the unfamiliar aqua hair. 

"oh him? That's hiori, he's a game developer." his friend, a fellow game artist said. 

"a developer? So he got the position?" "yeah, I heard from one of the managers that he had a game in mind, he even had the first closed beta test by some of his close friends." 

"a game, what's the game's genre?" 

"apparently it's an MMO rpg game, I've seen the interior game design and it's beyond my drawing expertise." the game artist said while eyeing hiori's back. 

"so even the company's most promising artist isn't able to replicate such game!" the game designer teased, "you know there's limit to how realistic I'm able to draw, I'm a human being too you know." 

Tap tap tap

Hiori punches away on the keyboard with precision, punching the last code into the computer. He starts up the game and reveals a sci-fi game game menu. 

He plugs a USB in and makes a copy it in. 

He unplugs the USB and leaves his cubby to find his manager. 

"he's done?" "yep, his speed is unmatched by anyone else.." they talked for several minutes before saying goodbye to each other and leaving to their own department. 

Manager's office

"the game looks simple enough to play, it's mechanics are somewhat difficult but not too difficult for casual players.." the manager's eyes looked up at his face before looking back down at his screen. 

"this game is excellent, it's even free to play if you exclude out the in game paid currency.." he looks back up at hiori once more and asked "are you sure you didn't steal someone else's game model?" 

"... Of course not, if I did then I would have never call myself a game developer." hiori puts on his charming smile and place a hand on his chest to show his sincerity. 

The manager laughed and nodded "good good, for a second there I thought you were serious hahaha!!" 

Once hiori was given approval, he pulls out his phone and texts someone. 

Hiori: 

Approval given, I'll see how long it'll take to make a public launch 

Shidou: 

👍

Wait why am I helping you in the first place? 

Hiori: 

Your the only person who has the basic knowledge of writing a script right? 

The others don't know shit so your the only one I can turn to to write a decent script. 

Shidou: 

You trust me? 🥺

Hiori: 

Fuck no! I'd rather jump off a cliff than have to trust a serial killer like you. 

I only need your skills in scripting, nothing else. 

Shidou: 

Isagi wouldn't talk to me like that 😔

Hiori: 

Whatever 😒

Just make sure you get the script done before next month

Shidou: 

Yeah yeah

'I'll just add in a few codings to transfer our accounts to this game instead.' the hack er types in another sentence into his notepad app and heads back to his cubby. 

Chapter Text

1. Tick tock

Tick tock

Fate.

A development of events outside a person's control, regarded as predetermined by a supernatural power. 

Was it fate that binded isagi and his past lovers together? Who knows, only gods know. 

Tick

"don't you think fate being a bit cruel to our protégé?" black dull eyes staring back at distained bright yellow eyes. The other did not utter a word. 

"maybe I should up the challenge a bit more-" "why did you allow them into his world?" noa interrupts his talk. 

"allow them? How so dear friend?"

"you know how, allowing them to enter via portals that is a direct violation of our guidelines and rules." noa sets down his cup of coffee and gives ego a disgusted look. 

"oh don't be like that noa," ego rolls his eyes and smirked, "why live by the rules and play nice when you can break them." 

"the rules are implemented for a reason, ego." 

"oh please," ego rolls his eyes at noa "we both broke the rules for one another and our protégé's. Your as guilty as I am when it comes to breaking the rules noa." 

Noa bit his tongue, he couldn't lie about that, he's done things that even ego would raise an eyebrow at how he was able to do it with a stone cold face. 

"anyways changing topics, you wanna know why I made him my protégé?" "he's not yours only," "oh shut up." if there was one thing that noa knew better than ego himself, it was that he NEVER liked having a protégé. 

"it's a hassle to show them how the system works, it's like raising a kid." in his own words. Even the higher ups were pushing him to find a suitable protégé but ego was insisting that he was fine without having one. 

But when ego announced he had one, everyone lost their minds. Their friends and the higher ups were eager to know who his successor was. 

"those idiots really have nothing to but gossip all day." ego clicks his tongue.

"everyone is just curious on why you chose a successor so suddenly," "because I want to. Is that so hard for them to understand?" he retorts, rubbing the side of his head. 

Noa knew several things about ego, is that his reasonings are either: 

1) full of lies/make up truths

2) because he felt like it 

3) because he wants the person in question to suffer for his entertainment 

But when it comes to his protégé, all those reasonings are thrown out the window and instead he made a new reasoning. 

4) because he's the one 

When noa first heard it, he didn't know whether to question his sanity or ego's. That was even the excuse he used to tell others whenever they asked him why change his mind all of a sudden. 

Gradually, everyone accepted the response and went on with their lives, only noa and a few of their friends were curious as to the 'real' reason why ego had chosen him specifically. 

There were others that were more qualified him, why did it had to be someone as plain and regular as him? 

"why pick a successor as plain and average as him? There's others that are more qualified than him," noa said but ego only sighed "you don't get it do you noa?" 

Don't get what? The fact that you threw all every single application down the rubbish chute and accepted a plain old boring teenager? 

"tell me this," he sets his mug down "why did you pick Micheal instead of the other thousands of overly qualified successors." 

"is there really a need to answer that question?" noa asked in a defensive tone, ego nods "if you want an answer to your question then yes," 

"..." noa stayed silent for a few seconds before answering. 

"Michael fits the criteria to being my protégé, he may be arrogant but he gets the job done whether by force or persuation." 

"and so does Yoichi, he may be a transmigrator to the others but to me, he's a diamond in the rough. Unpolished yet still able to shine despite how tough the situation is. Plus, he's able to raise those love interests affinity much more smoothly than others do. Including Michael." ego points out, noa doesn't refute and rolls his eyes. 

"isn't that why you chose to sponsor him as well?" ego cackled, "I don't know what your talking about." 

"don't lie, you knew Michael was a lost cause when you found out he ditched his world and his system to find my protégé." 

Noa doesn't respond to the accusation and opens his sponsor screen. 

Michael Kaiser

System 780: [destroyed] 

Sponsor(s): [removed] 

"so, are you going to help out my protégé?" 

"it's our protégé ego, I'll help isagi out when the times right. If that's all, I'm leaving." noa leaves the room and shuts the door behind him.

Once noa was outside, ego burst out laughing till tears started forming at the corner of his eyes.

"that idiot really does a bad job at hiding his true feelings." 

Isagi Yoichi

System 13: [reactivated] 

Sponsor(s): The Egotistical Maniac, The King of the Battlegrounds 

Current love interest affinity:

love affinity (Meguru): -995/100

love affinity (Chigiri): -1,000/100

love affinity (Kunigami):-1,000/100

love affinity (Nagi):-1,000/100

love affinity (Reo):-1,000/100

love affinity (Barou):-1,000/100

love affinity (Kurona):-1,000/100

love affinity (Shidou):-1,000/100

Love affinity (Hiori):-1,000/100

love affinity (Yukimiya):-1,000/100

love affinity (Karasu):-1,000/100

love affinity (Kaiser):-1,000/100

love affinity (Ness):-1,000/100

love affinity (Loki):-1,000/100

Chapter Text

"u-um excuse me Mr Meguru.." the English teacher approaches him, "is there anything I can help you with Ms Aki?"

"uhm.. I w-was wondering if you'd like to uh.. G-go out to a drinking party with the o-other teachers tonight!" she looks downwards to avoid looking at Meguru.

"I'm sorry, I can't hold my liquor well." he gave her a sad smile, "oh... It's okay Mr Meguru! Y-you don't have to come if you d-don't want to.." she said, her face already showing embarrassment and disappointment.

She turns back around to where her friend was and walked away. 

Meguru drops the box of painting equipment onto his desk and checks his schedule, there was one last class for the day. He eyes the ring on his finger and kisses it. 

"WHAT??!" 

"Shhh!!! Didn't I tell you to be quiet?!" both her hands slapped over her friend's mouth. 

'typical gossip girls..' isagi rolls his eyes, it's not like their going to care if someone like him eavesdrop on them anyway. 

"a-are you sure?! If this gets out then-" 

"that's why I'm telling you! Mina said he was like a copy and paste adult version of that cheerful and cute bachira in class 3-2!"

'a replica?' isagi slowly leans back with his hand on his chin.

“but how? Bachira and the arts and crafts teacher aren't even related to one another so how can he-”

The door opens, a soft thud followed by a slow clap followed "good afternoon students, my name is Meguru Bachira," he introduces himself. 

Several girls squealed with excitement.

"I'm your new arts and craft teacher, your previous teacher has been transferred to another school. I'll be taking his position so I'll be in your hands." his honey glazed eyes scanned the room before landing on a familiar pair of dark ocean blue eyes. 

Isagi felt his heart skipped a beat before it dropped along with a sense of dread.

“Since today is a new day for me in this school, we won’t be doing any work for today so if any of you have questions that you’d like for me to answer. Please ask away,” immediately several hands shot up and Meguru picked a student with vibrant brown hair.

“Is it true that you went to a prestigious art school?”

“Why yes, where’d you hear that from?” He sounded slightly surprised, “my sister works for the student council and overheard the teachers talking about your art works and background.” She proudly boasts.

“Hmm, is that so? Who’s next?” And again, hands shot up into the air waiting for their turn to ask a question.

‘What is Meguru doing in my school? Did he somehow manage to get the previous arts and crafts teacher transferred?’ Knowing Meguru, it must’ve done something! 

[system 13: or he could have just gotten it due to the previous teacher having been transferred!]

‘Another possibility that’s quite likely.’ He thought and watched Meguru answer several more students questions 

“are you by chance the biological father of bachira?” 

“..!!!” The entire class was silent, “bachira? You mean from class 3-2?” He lets out a playful laugh and shakes his head “unfortunately I’m not and I’m married to my fiancé.” He lifts up his hand and showed off his ring.

All the girls in the room gasped simultaneously.

“Isn’t that just a cheap ring you can find in the market?” A troublemaker student muttered and rolled his eye's, “IT IS NOT.” He yelled, eyes glaring at the student. Everyone froze in fear even Isagi felt scared and sat still.

“I’m sorry class… It’s just… This… To me it’s a treasured possession.” He fakes a cough and says as in a much gentler tone and gently brushes his fingers over the ring.

“That’s so sweet, I wish I was his fiancé.” One of them said in a dreamy tone.

“Are you crazy?! He’s already engaged to someone else, you’re better off virtually marrying your 2D guys.” Her friend retorts.

Isagi felt his gut was punch hard when he saw the ring on Meguru’s finger. 

“What does she look like?” “Is she pretty?” the girls started asking what she looked like, but all Meguru did was stare at Isagi then turn back his attention to them, “he’s outgoing, cute, had a bunny like personality and loves kintsuba and would always buy my favourite flowers for me.” He reminisced about the past, a smile spreading across his face.

Gasps and awe’s were let out “Mr Meguru, your fiancé is a man?” “Yes.” He admitted with a smile.

After 2 hours of Q and A, everyone packed their backpacks and left the art room. Isagi tries to escape into the crowd but the door slams shut right before he could walk out. 

“student yoichi, if you don’t mind staying back for a bit.” A smile forms on Meguru’s face, Isagi could feel his breath hitting the back of his neck and felt shivers running down his spine.

“D-did I do something wrong Mr Meguru?” Isagi turns around, suddenly, the room fell silent as if it was turned into an interrogation room.

“Little bee…” Isagi saw tears rolling down his cheeks, ‘-?!’ “I’m so glad…” His hands cupped his cheeks and leaned his forehead to rest on isagi’s shoulder.

‘???’ Meanwhile Isagi was having a crisis, ‘system! Did something happen to Meguru while I was gone?’ The system doesn’t respond.

“M-Mr Meguru, are you feeling sick?” Isagi asked Meguru but he just hugs Isagi even tighter.

“Little bee… I’m sorry, so sorry…” “Mr Meguru?”

“I’m sorry.. I tried, so hard…” 

“Mr Meguru what are you talking abo-“ “stop pretending you don’t know Yoichi,” the bluebette flinched and felt his heart drop when Meguru pulled away and revealed his dull honey eyes.

The gig was up. 

Isagi couldn’t hide behind his fake persona anymore.

Isagi felt his stomach drop when facing Meguru, his expression shifts “Meguru you’re not suppose to be here!”

“I missed you,” His tone soften as he kissed his palm while maintaining eye contact, “isn’t that a good enough reason not to see you?”

Meguru -10

‘What?! 10 love points??’

love affinity (Meguru): -1,005/100

‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’ Isagi grimaced and turned back Meguru, “I miss you too Meguru but this isn’t your original world, you’re not suppose to be here.”

Meguru +10

love affinity (Meguru): -995/100

“But nothings the same without you…” Meguru whispered, kissing Isagi on the forehead. “Yes but without you-“

“I don’t care. I don’t want to go back, I can’t lose you again.” Meguru already had made up his mind, he didn’t want to go back to that soulless and boring world. He wanted to stay with his muse.. his lover.. his everything.

“…” ‘system is it possible for him to stay here?’ 

[system 13: for the time being but once they are recaptured by you they will be sent back to their world.] 

‘oh so you now answer me, where were you before?’

[system 13: I’m sorry :,( I was looking through the messages from your sponsors]

‘Seriously? Nevermind that now! So what you’re saying is that he is able to stay here until I get his love affinity back to 100?’ 

[system 13: yes that is correct.]

‘Is there a time limit?’

[system 13: no there is not.]

‘That’s good, it’ll be a pain if it had one.’ 

Taking into consideration of how Meguru was the easiest love interest that had a 80% rate of increasing love affinity, it’ll take around two or three months to get out of the negative zone..

Do you really want Meguru to leave just because they came into your world? 

He felt hesitant. Does he really want Meguru to leave? It was like his doubts were shadowing over him, did he really want to or was it because it was the right thing to do?

“Little bee?” Meguru snaps him out of his thoughts, hands on his shoulders with a worried look on his face. “I’m fine, just a slight headache.” He said and pushed Meguru away.

“…! It’s already evening?! I’m sorry Mr Meguru, I have to get home quickly.” Isagi checks the window to see it had already turned dark. “Let me drive you back to your house.”

Meguru +20

love affinity (Meguru): -975/100

The radio played music while Meguru happily hummed along, Isagi sat in the front seat, looking out the window to avoid having to talk to him.

“You know.. I never knew what I did wrong that god punished me by letting you get sick,” Meguru was the first to break the ice.

“After your death, I was a mess and didn’t know what to do.. I recalled every bad decision I’ve ever done that made god mad at me to make you suffer...” ‘Your love affinity was full and I had no reason to stay, it wasn’t your fault. It was mine.’ Isagi grips his bag strap as guilt slowly rise up from his stomach to his chest.

“… And, I’m planning on staying in your world.” 

-?! 

Isagi must’ve heard Meguru wrong, staying in his world? 

“I think I must’ve heard that wrongly-what?” Isagi smacks his head twice to remove earwax and turns his head, Meguru gives a reassuring smile and said “don’t worry, the others agreed on a truce once we all get our own apartment.”

‘Is that suppose to make me feel better??’ Cause it is but slightly.

“We won’t kill each other until we get you choose one of us.” He didn’t even try to hide his sadistic smile.

Nevermind I take that back. 

They stop a few houses down from isagi’s real house, Isagi says his goodbye to Meguru and fast-walks back.

Meguru pov 
“Fuuuuuck~” I breathe a sigh of relief and cover my face with my hands. 

‘Isagi, I’ll make you love me again..’ Meguru raise his left hand and stared at the ring. The knot glowed under the dazzling moonlight showing 

Meguru +5

love affinity (Meguru): -970/100

Chapter Text

Boring

Meguru drops the magazine onto the floor, everyone and thing was boring.

Even in middle school all the way to high school Meguru thought everything was boring.

The only thing he found interest in was painting in his mother's footsteps. Different colours created many possibilities of unique colour combinations, paintings with different art style can create many possible artworks, it made his world colourful. Soon he published his most famous and well known work.

The Monster and it's treasure. 

It's description depicts of a monster with no shape, covering what seems to be a white silhouette of a person in a fetus position shining in the middle. 

Many have tried to figure out what the piece represented and what if meant but none could guess the true meaning behind it. Not even Meguru himself, "it just came into my mind and I drew it." is what he'd say whenever he's being interviewed. 

Eventually, summer came and bachira was accepted into the most prestigious art school in Japan. 

During one of his projects, his professor said to draw a fair maiden. 

'a fair maiden?' Meguru sighed, it's projects like this that he wished he could just drop out instantly. How in the world was he going to find a 'maiden' who's good enough to draw?

Just as Meguru passed by a cafe, his eyes stopped on a certain bluenette. It was like when he first held a paintbrush. Entranced by it's beauty and heart racing. 

"a fair maiden.." he watched as the blue hair stood up and left with his friends. His eyes not leaving his silhouette, before he realised it he had grabbed his hand. 

Meguru had found his fair maiden. 

For the next month, Meguru got to know the blue hair which he later found out his name was Isagi Yoichi. 

Meguru offered him a job as his painting muse, but Isagi was reluctant as he doesn't come to this university, "that's no problem! I can always come to your university if that's a problem for you."

"but I don't want to-" "your never a bother, after all I was the one who chose you." Meguru kisses his palm and winked. 

Whenever Meguru needed isagi, he would always first contact him, maybe adding a bit of gifts here and there. Isagi was more than happy to see Meguru. 

Soon everyone from Meguru and isagi's campus called them "the painters only muse." because Meguru refused to paint anyone but Isagi. 

During the autumn season, isagi and Meguru were relaxing in the comfort of their (mostly Meguru's) villa, chilling on the couch while watching a random show. 

"oh I almost forgot," isagi suddenly remembers and leaps off the couch and runs into their shared bedroom before coming back out with a gift box in hand. 

"what's inside it?" "it's not a surprise if I told you right? Open it! I'm sure you'll love it!" isagi lays on his chest and watches as his face turns from curious to confusion. 

"this.. Is a ring, right?" Meguru looked at it up and down, "mhm! It's a knot ring or known as a promise ring!" isagi takes the ring out from his hand and slips it onto Meguru's right ring finger. 

(in Japan, left ring fingers are considered unclean so most wear their rings on their right.) 

"what's a knot ring?" "hehe, it symbolises a knot that's not quite but has all the intention of being tied to." isagi gives him a peck on the lips and intertwines both of their fingers together "that's how much I love you." 

"... If you wanted to get married then why didn't you say so?" "w-wha-" a smirk spread across Meguru's lip as he captures isagi's and kissed even deeper, one hand sliding down down to his butt and the other tugging his hair. 

Winter season came, isagi started to feel ill, started to cough out blood, feeling dizzy and having to stay in bed all the time. 

Meguru brought the best doctors he could find but none of them could diagnose what the disease was but only told him isagi had months left to live. Media soon got wind of Meguru's love life and about his sick lover, reporters soon located the villa and flocked the entrance with flashing lights and their nonsensical questions. 

Meguru soon hired even more bodyguards to stop the harassment, he even had to resort to filing multiple restraint orders just so that they could have some peace and quiet. 

Isagi got even sicker and Meguru became even more overprotective of him to the point he would lock isagi up in their bedroom for days on end.

As the last day drew nearer, isagi kisses the knot ring the painter wore on his finger, "it's okay Meguru, it's alright... You did you best.." he hugs the painters head close to his chest. 

"I'm sorry isagi.. I'm sorry... Please don't leave me." he hugs isagi even tighter as he whispered and begged under his breath, not wanting him to go just yet. 

He wished he had more time to spend with him, to hear his laugh, to see him smile, to paint one last portrait of him... 

News of Meguru's lover death came to light, supporters of him sent their well wishes while some basked in the fall of the rising painter. 

Meguru left the art community after the funeral, what's the use of painting if his only fair maiden was gone? He'd think to himself. 

After coming back, Meguru fell to his knees and let's out his emotions out. 

Anger, sadness, grief, yearning... 

Months went by, Meguru kept to himself and never once reached out to anyone around him. His followers soon abandoned him due to his inactivity, he was alone now... 

Love interest contract (confidential) 

Name: Meguru Bachira

Transmigrator: Isagi Yoichi

World-008

What is this contract?

This contract is a confidential clause that allows the love interest of the individual to enter their world. 

Rules to follow:...

Meguru is awoken by a bright light shining in front of his face, groaning and shifting himself to sit upright after a long day of crying. 

His eyes slowly adjusts to the lighting and read the contract, he tries to swipe the window but it went right past his hand, "is someone playing a prank on me?" he questioned himself. 

He reads the rules and looks down at the final sentence. 

Everything comes with a price. 

"a price..." Meguru read the contract again, he's already lost everything, his friends, his money, his fame and his lover, what more does he have to lose?

He signs above the signature line and the window disappears. 

'nothings happening...' Meguru sinks into his bed once more, wondering if he made the right choice. 

[Transferring love interest, Meguru Bachira to world-032..] 

Suddenly, Meguru felt himself sinking into his bed, he tries to get up but it was too late. He was sinking deeper. 

Last thing he remembered was reaching out for his ring and clutching onto it tightly. 

Chapter Text

The past few days~
“Yoichi, there you are. I need your help with carrying some sketchbooks.”

“Yoichi, sorry to bother you but I need your opinion on something…”

“Yoichi…” “Yoichi…” “Yoichi...” “Yoichi…” 

Isagi finally stabs the karaage chicken on his tray and grumbled “I swear to god bachira, I don’t know what’s wrong with Meguru-sensei sometimes…” he lets out a long sigh and bites down his karaage chicken. Bachira just chuckled and replied “he wasn’t being unreasonable and making you do errands during your class time, I’d would’ve said you’re like a teacher’s pet.”

“That’s what I’m trying to say! But Meguru keeps on ignoring my complains and just tells me to bring these to other classes which has nothing to do with me!” Isagi lets out a long sigh and rests his chin on his hand “I sometimes get stares from other classmates and students calling me his favourite star student because of how ‘unusual’ and ‘clingy’ he is whenever it came to group or pairing work…” 

“They’re not wrong… I’ve seen much more than just him being clingy with you, I’d say he’s protective and obsessed with you.” He bites down his katsudon.

“How?” He asked “hm…” bachira ponders using his finger to draw a circle in the air “for one, your the only student he’s ever called for when it comes to tasks, be it small or large. There were even girls from your class who talked about how whenever it was time for group assignments to appear. There would only be enough to assign the rest and leave you out to join Meguru-sensei… Also…”

As bachira kept on mentioning each instances of favour and obsession Meguru had with him, each mentions were more obvious than the last… 

By the time bachira was done talking, Isagi’s face had turned as pale as a sheet leaving his mouth wide open. 

“…? You okay isagi?”

There was a moment of silence, the surroundings slowly faded into the background with students chattering and trays clacking with the table echoed through his mind..

 “I’m… not.” He finally responded after a minute of processing the information. “??! Need me to bring you to the infirmary?” With a concerned look, he stands up forgetting about his katsudon.

“Wait no need! I’m fine bachira just… shocked you knew how much on Meguru and my interaction.” Isagi shakes his head and reassures the bumblebee haired boy.

“… if your sure about it, but if you feel sick or having a fever be sure to call for me okay?” He stuffs his mouth with another piece of katsudon. Isagi nods ‘so that means those times, I managed to up my affinity with Meguru. System, let me check Meguru’s love affinity.’

[system 13: love affinity (Meguru): -955/100]

‘That’s great…’ he lets out a quiet sigh and continues on with his day…

Friday, class ends

“I’m sorry I can’t take you back home. It seems I have more papers to mark.” “Just absolutely great…” Isagi muttered at the heavy rain, without bachira or rin he was stuck in school without a way to get back home.

‘If only I knew it would rain today… damn it weather man!!’ Isagi sits on a nearby bench near the entrance, watching enviously as others left the school with shared umbrellas and generosity. 

… vroom

…. Vroooom 

…..?! VROOOOOOOM

A motorcycle suddenly appears in front, students around the entrance gasped and looked at one another as to who could this person be.

“…” ???? Isagi wanted to ask who the person was but they sped off after a minute! Drenching nearby students with rain water.

“Aaah!!?”
 
“Hey! That was rude of you!!”

“I just got my jacket yesterday…”

Students started complaining non-stop, Isagi looked just as irritated as the rest with his uniform soaked and shoes drenched..

“What a great day to end Friday..” Isagi practically ran to the nearest convenient store using his backpack as shield and ran with all his might, being extra careful of course and bought an umbrella.

‘If I get sick, I’m gonna have to visit the doctor… damn it…’ he grumbled, walking his water soaked socks and shoes down the sidewalk. 

With Meguru
“Hello?” He answers the call as he leans back.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were working at his school?…” the monotone voice on the other end said, “-!? You.. how did you know?” Meguru straightens his posture with shock, he hadn’t told anyone about his little secret with Isagi. 

“I came to pick you up, it was your turn today.. wasn’t it?” The voice let out a low but a dangerous hint of murderous intention.

A shiver ran down his back as if a knife blade was slowly tracing his spine, Meguru quickly snaps out of his trance and quickly replied “I didn’t…” he swallows his saliva and prays that the person on the other end would believe his lie.

“… your suppose to buy back groceries, Rensuke said to grab broccoli, salmon, soy sauce and energy drinks.” The person on the other end listed additional items.

The sound of pen writing down on a piece of paper could be heard, Meguru was safe.. for now.

“I’ll buy those too, tell Rensuke I’ll be back before 8.”

“Right, and another thing..” freeze. Meguru held his breath, hoping it wasn’t about Isagi…

“Buy more twisted bread.. that damn shark is biting each grape into half and chomping on our furniture.” He ends the call.

…SAVED!

Meguru did a silent cheer and did a fist bump into the air, thank goodness for whichever god he had prayed to for that mercenary to not ask him. 

Apartment, chigiri’s room
“Yoichi…” the mercenary grazed his thumb of the hear shaped locket, a beautiful ocean blue scale with navy blue fade shined under the study lamp with a picture of a cute merman pouting as he leaned against the glass next to it.

His mind replaying the vision he had seen at the school entrance, those same blue eyes and cute face. It was no mistake.. it was his yoichi. 

“My merman… my love…” he held the locket close to his chest, his heart pounded with excitement, his eyes swirling into madness. This time… he wasn’t going to let anybody or anything hurt his beloved merman again.

Chapter Text

Achoo!

Bachira pulls out the thermometer and said “97 celcius..” rin stood next to bachira with a disappointed look all the while shaking his head.

Isagi was too out of it to answer and just sniffled, his fever was rising by the hour and it was not looking good for him.

“Should we help him?” Bachira looked at rin for help, “your the third year here. Not me,” rin rebutted back “your smarter than me so do something about it!” Bachira refutes back, adding a pouty face afterwards.

“Don’t I know it?” He rolls his eyes at bachira.

“you both… aren’t- Achoo! helping- Achoo!” Isagi managed to say, “if only we could skip out…” “senpai, you know your lacking behind and your thinking of skipping class just to take care of Isagi?”

“Eh?! How did you know about my grades??!” “They’re not a secret bachira.. your report book says it all-“ “who said you could look through my report book??! Hiss!!” Bachira does a defensive cat pose and hissed at Rin.

Rin just rolled his eyes at him before turning to Isagi “we’ll come by later with medicine and snacks. Do you have any you like?”

“Kintsuba.” Without hesitation Isagi said. “Alright. Stay put and eat the medicine on the night stand, we’ll be back with something for you to eat.” And quietly shuts the door.

Outside, bachira looked at Rin and asked “so what should we get for Isagi? A get well soon card? Our stuff toys? New blankets?”

Rin immediately shuts every idea down in an instant, “no! Absolutely not! None of them works. Can’t you just think of something normal like food?” “Well I was going to go for food first but that would be plain and-“

“Just! Stop.. please..” Rin interrupts the third year, sometimes he wished he had listened to his big brother and skipped a year instead of transferring to this school… “let’s just buy some porridge and kintsuba for Isagi-senpai..”

“Right! Isagi said he wanted Kintsuba!” Bachira smiled and happily skipped down the sidewalk with Rin following behind 5 feet away from him.



This was the WORST day ever. No actually scratch that- the WORSTEST day ever!

[system 13: aren’t you worried your love affinity will drop?]

“No not really, I’ve only met up with Meguru- *cough* so there’s no way *cough* *cough* his love affinity would drop *cough*.” Isagi shuffles around and grabs his phone to check the time. He couldn’t let the system see his tired expression.

[system 13: aren’t you sure you aren’t trying to skip out on school?]

“What reason do I have?” He sniffled, god his nose was blocked… could this day get any worse?

[system 13: our management department are willing to apologise to you and give you compensation, we didn’t think they would come into you world.]

That, that right there was a question Isagi wanted to ask for quite a while. How did his love interest enter his world?

“I’ve *cough* been wondering… *COUGH* *COUGH*” Isagi’s coughs were getting from bad to worst. His throat felt as if it’s on fire and his forehead was dripping with sweat.

[system 13: it seems like your temperature is rising. Please eat your medicine and drink plenty of water.]

“*COUGH* no need to *COUGH* remind me.” He grabs the glass of water and pill before eating it and swallowing it with water.

“Wake me up *cough* once their back.” Isagi burrows himself under his blanket, slowly dozing off as the medicine kicks in.


With Meguru (his pov)
“RANZE I SWEAR TO MY DEITY IF YOU TRY THAT ONE MORE TIME I WILL-“ ah yes… another hectic day in the apartment.

“Get lost, lost..” Ranze hissed at four eyes before shutting himself back into his shared room. “That damn…” four eyes muttered something I couldn’t hear before stomping back into his room and locking it.

“Another fight?” I yawned and sat next to Tabito, the so called ‘genius’ detective.

“Apparently devoted follower here saw shark rebel stealing his things,” his hand holding his pocket watched waved at the lone picture book with the caption ‘My saviour’ written on the front cover.

A picture was sticking out but it was facing its back at us, “let me guess.. a picture?”

Tabito clicked his mouth “yep.” It wasn’t even a surprise to us at this point. Most of them had sentimental value over every single thing that reminded them of their Yoichi.

Example me, the promise ring my little bee gave me back when we were together. Tabito’s gift from him was a pocket watch, it’s quite old but it’s somehow in good condition.

The devotee opened his door once more and grabbed his picture book before turning back and locking the door… great.

End of pov



“Hiori~ don’t tell me you’re still hiding in here again.” The maniac opens the door to reveal a dimly dark room with the only light being shone by the large computer, his hands typed away another response to the artist he was assigned to.

Artist #1:
-picture sent-

How is this adjustment?

Yo:
Not bad, but cover up his stomach

Artist #1:
Got it

“seems like your busy with your game,” shidou opens the door wide open, hiori hissed and turn his head to glare at the pink cockroach “like you said. I Am. Busy.” “so why choose romance?”

Hiori let out a resignated sigh “come on~ tell me, was it +18? Or the generic romance where you have to choose a boy or a girl?” “piss off...” hiori returns back to talking with the next artist.

“hey hey~ don't ignore me, tell me why?” “don't you know the meaning of 'mind your own business'?”

“oh come on~ don't you know the meaning of 'curiosity kills the cat'~?” a grin spreads across shidou's face like the Cheshire cat.

“do you have the finished script?” “obviously then I wouldn't be here you know,” he says as he fishes out a USB from his pocket. Hiori tries snatching it but shidou was faster “no no~ you still have to tell me why romance~? Didn't you say it was an MMO RPG game that was popular in your world?”

“just because it -was- massively popular doesn't mean I can copy all of the resources and recreate it into a single laptop and pass it off as my own.”

“please, you could do that if you want to, considering your extraordinary talent in finding out where Yoichi was. I'd say your quite the mastermind at that.” hiori clenched his teeth, he was right, he could copy a whole game and rebranded as his own work.

'what's stopping you? Do it, its right in your laptop!' his intrusive thought rang out in his head, the laptop which he hadn't opened since he first arrived into this world. A game, which he could enter in a competition and get traction, it doesn't have to be a whole lot but enough to find some sponsor to sponsor him. 

“... I would if it wasn't for their high end security.” hiori stretches an arm out “give me the USB maniac.” and snatches the USB and plugs it into his computer.

Shidou clicked his tongue and folds his arm across his chest, if hiori didn't want to publish the outstanding and clearly will become popular game! There's nothing he can do but silently complain about his bad decision. 

Hiori looks through the script and lets out a satisfied hum “for someone who knows basic scripting... this is actually decent.” scrolling down, each dialogue and questions the player can ask and responses.

“told you I could write a script.” shidou beamed with pride when he heard hiori had praised his work. “why of course! It was MY little writer who taught me how to write a script with such proficiency, gotta say... my darling was the dreamer. But that's what made me fall deeper in love with him.”

“yeah yeah I get it, your deep into the love hole to even care.” hiori shoos him out of the room once he had acquired the script. 

Chapter Text

Few days later...

"isagi~ how are you feeling? Has your fever gotten better?" her hand press against his forehead to check.

"I'm all better now, its thanks to bachira and rin." isagi gently pushes her hand off his forehead with a soft smile. "at least your okay, I still feel guilty that I wasn't back home sooner.."

"I already said it was okay, I was the one at fault for not bringing my umbrella." isagi downplays his mothers grief and asked "is dad still sleeping?" 

"oh yes he is, you know how he is, busy with charm." "oh yeah, void.." isagi remembers that he has gotten a new furry companion because of his dad, void was a black cat, a bit on the skinny side but healthy. His parents had a last minute call to work while he was recovering from his sickness... He takes one glance at him and shivered.

"Meow~" void meowed on the couch ledge, his eyes stared into his deeply made him feel uncomfortable. Isagi knew void was just a cat but… something about her doesn’t seem right.

"Isagi? Are you coming with me to the market?" His mother asked, "y-yeah, coming.." he hurriedly puts on his shoes and follows his mother out the door.

Void flicks his tail from side to side, eyes never leaving the transmigrator even out of the house.

Supermarket

"The blueberries are on sale! We should get one of these for your father." She grabs a few packages of blueberries and drops them into the basket, moving onto the vegetable section. 

Carrots, lettuce, broccoli, onions… Isagi stood behind her, watching his phone while scrolling through blue bird. 

Love,Scripted_official

Dear Ghostwriter's! Our beta test has come to an end! Please do look out for our launch date and be sure to pre-register it on our website or on google Play/App Store!

Website: https://www.Love,Scripted.com

App Store (iOS): https://Lover,Scripted/U4134ddcf

Google Play Store: https://Lover,Scripted/Y0h1Exa005V

"...?" an eyebrow was raised when he noticed a post from, Love,scripted. 'system who made this game?' 

[system 13: its made from a company called F2P. They've made smaller games such as Day Washout: Time and Romance, Waking Amongst The Monsters and many other small and not well known games.]

Figuring it was just a regular game, isagi taps on the profile, a picture of a very very similar looking blue haired and eyes, their header was of their name and the background what seems to be a city view of a cyberpunk city with someone sitting on the ledge with their backs turned towards the header.

It seemed like it was your typical future romance otome game, it had a decent amount of followers and it didn't have that much following except for a developer. 

"... Yo the Sh33p?" he reads out the username, it seemed... familiar for some reason... 

"isagi, look where your going." someone pokes his forehead, "sorry mom, I was just... checking out a game." he hurriedly puts his phone back into his pocket, 'system. is the game they make known to be playable?'

[system 13: shockingly, their games aren't F2P like their slogan, instead of free 2 play its more of Forced 2 Pay. Searching...]

'no surprises there... even when I was in hiori's world or kunigami's there was talk about games mainly catering to whales..' isagi casually looks through the dry goods section, a Ding! from the system came as it continued.

[system 13: it is said that 'Love,Scripted' is a romance game, its in a cyberpunk alternate universe and it seems that the player, is a writer.] 

"what?" isagi blurts out "...Hm? Did something happen?" his mom turns around confused, "It's nothing, mom.." he pretends to cough and picks a random product off the shelf and said "what is this?? Rosemary powder?? What the heck is that!" he tries his best to look weirded out, it somehow worked and his mother turned back around and scans the biscuit aisle.

'system repeat that again.' 

[system 13: Love,Scripted is a romance game-]

'I know that I meant the last part.'

[system 13: the player, is a writer.] 

"..." a writer? Could it be a coincidence? He can't be sure just yet.. 

"it has to be a coincidence that it's in a similar world as shidou's.." not to mention, eerily similar to hiori.

[system 13: It could be just a coincidence! It doesn't necessarily have to be in the same AU! Take example Meguru-]

'we both know your not going to finish that sentence before I shut you down.' his left eye twitched, why of all systems in the universe does he get stuck with this?

[system 13: ahaha... Please don't I beg you (;Д;)]

Isagi pulls out his phone again and checks their description.

Love, Scripted Official

LS_Official

 Love, Scripted — coming soon. Prepare to bleed ink and feel everything. (Released date on DD/MM/YYYY) 

1 Following   1.5k Followers

[system 13: seems like it has gain quite the following for a game that hasn't been released.]

"why do people like these types of games?!" he looks at the previous posts the account had, it seemed to be just reminders about their alpha and beta testing and rewards upon their release date.

[system 13: people love romance games, it doesn't require going outside or interacting with people.] 

'don't lecture me on introverts and otaku's! It's not like I haven't done both!' a heavy sigh escaped his lips, "isagi, come over here! We'll be having curry with Tonkatsu for lunch!" his mother said, putting a bag of potatoes into the shopping basket. 

"alright.." 

[system 13: I'm a bit curious, why did this game capture your attention transmigrator?] 

'what does that exactly mean? I was just scrolling and saw this.' isagi wanted to roll his eyes at how ridiculous the system was being.

[system 13: Is to because it looked similar to world-98?] 

"It’s not- well yes- but it’s because it looked very similar!" Isagi squints his eyes as he read through all 7 posts. It was nothing much, just regular updates and additional rewards…

he hits the follow button.

[system 13: !!!]

'what? It’s just a game.' He justifies his reason and shoves his phone back into his pocket.

Chapter Text

After that day, Isagi has been following the game. Waiting eagerly to check it out.

The game seemed to be in 2D with amazing art style and multiple endings, Isagi didn’t want to reveal it but he was a bit excited to check out the game. Along with several other followers on blue bird.

[system 13: would you like to check on your love affinity with Meguru?] 

“No need.” Isagi says, his eyes twitching whenever his phone lit up with spam messages he’s been getting from Meguru and bachira. 

[system 13: would you like to use your skills?]

”no.” He turns on silent mode and silently watches the math teacher babble on about Sinus, ‘is there a way to just.. find all of the love interest?? I need them to just come and pull them out of their obsessive and possessive phases at this point… not to mention the tedious overtime I’ll be needing to pull for them to even move.’ He lets out a heavy sigh, already imagining the shock, confused and even angry… yeah… when your a transmigrator there’ll bound to be a time when all your love interest travel the universe just to be with you and… find out you have more than 1 lover.

(hahahaha!! Fuck my life QwQ)

”if only there was a skill that allows me to bring them to me.” Isagi stirs his fruit tea with his free hand.

[system 13: my time to shine! :D would you like to purchase ‘love at first sight magnet?’ It’s on sale at 550 points! Currently 25% off off its original price!]

”what makes you think I’ll buy that?” Isagi raised an eyebrow at the screen displayed in front of him.

[system 13: The ‘love at first sight magnet’ will automatically allow the love interest to spot you anywhere! Whether it’s in a crowded place or at a haunted house. They will always find you not matter where you are due to the effects!]

”I'm guessing there’s a set back right?” Leaning his head forward.

[system 13: Well… maybe.]

Isagi waits for the system to prepare before it finally came out of its frozen screen.

[system 13: The ‘love at first sight magnet’ unfortunately comes with lack of self awareness which means either you or the love interest will get injured or fall to the ground! Or get knocked out by a falling cat or acorn -system cackles-]

”your evil.” Isagi said with a grin, “but I guess there will always be downsides to skills you use.”

[system 13: So will you be buying it? :3]

”how many points do I have?” 

[system 13: Approximately 10!]

… 

[system 13: …]

”I'm sorry,” Isagi shakes his head and asked, clearly thinking this was a joke, “how the hell did I have that little points?” 

[system 13: Oh! Sorry 😅 that was another transmigrators points, yours is 700 points!]

”honestly… how on earth are you not fired yet?”

After that day, Isagi has been following the game. Waiting eagerly to check it out.

The game seemed to be in 2D with amazing art style and multiple endings, Isagi didn’t want to reveal it but he was a bit excited to check out the game. Along with several other followers on blue bird.

[system 13: would you like to check on your love affinity with Meguru?] 

“No need.” Isagi says, his eyes twitching whenever his phone lit up with spam messages he’s been getting from Meguru and bachira. 

[system 13: would you like to use your skills?]

”no.” He turns on silent mode and silently watches the math teacher babble on about Sinus, ‘is there a way to just.. find all of the love interest?? I need them to just come and pull them out of their obsessive and possessive phases at this point… not to mention the tedious overtime I’ll be needing to pull for them to even move.’ He lets out a heavy sigh, already imagining the shock, confused and even angry… yeah… when your a transmigrator there’ll bound to be a time when all your love interest travel the universe just to be with you and… find out you have more than 1 lover.

(hahahaha!! Fuck my life QwQ)

”if only there was a skill that allows me to bring them to me.” Isagi stirs his fruit tea with his free hand.

[system 13: my time to shine! :D would you like to purchase ‘love at first sight magnet?’ It’s currently 25% off with the prince being just only at 550 points!]

”what makes you think I’ll buy that?” Isagi raised an eyebrow at the screen displayed in front of him.

[system 13: The ‘love at first sight magnet’ will automatically allow the love interest to spot you anywhere! Whether it’s in a crowded place or at a haunted house. They will always find you not matter where you are due to the effects!]

”I'm guessing there’s a set back right?” Leaning his head forward.

[system 13: Well… maybe.]

Isagi waits for the system to prepare before it finally came out of its frozen screen.

[system 13: The ‘love at first sight magnet’ unfortunately comes with lack of self awareness which means either you or the love interest will get injured or fall to the ground! Or get knocked out by a falling cat or acorn -system cackles-]

”your evil.” Isagi said with a grin, “but I guess there will always be downsides to skills you use.”

[system 13: So will you be buying it? :3]

”how many points do I have?” 

[system 13: Approximately 10!]

… 

“hahaha!! Very funny system. Tell me the real amount,” Isagi laughed and waved his hand.

[system 13: But… that’s all there is in your bank account.] 

Isagi stops laughing, wait what?!

“is it because I used them all up when I asked to be sent back?”

[system 13: Yes.]

There were no words Isagi could utter, only “then why tell me about the skill?” 

[system 13: I was a sale promoter before working here and I really wanted to say that :D]

Isagi didn’t know whether to feel flabbergasted or just sigh at the sheer disbelief he got bamboozled by the system.

[system 13: Just to note: this skill is similar to ‘love is around us’ which allows the love interest who are near you to notice your presence but unable to locate you.]

“Can I use that instead?” 

[system 13: of course! Do you want to manually use it or passively?]

”passive.” Isagi sips his fruit tea and adds “wonder what they’re doing?(love interest)”

Now onto the news…

This just in, several people in Tokyo and Osaka have gone missing for the past several weeks leaving behind what seems to be a page of game script.

The Tokyo Police and detectives are currently on the case to figure out what they mean and what they represent.

For now, citizens of Tokyo and Osaka are to not go out at night and lock all windows and doors securely.

Chapter Text

"Isagi~ Meguru-sensei told me to hand this to you." bachira leans his body forward onto his back while holding out a brochure. 

"what's this?" isagi takes it from bachira and inspects it, it was just a list of food, tea, snacks and whatnot.

"where did he get this?" he asked, it seemed like an event brochure, "don't know, seems like someone gave him." bachira leans his chin on isagi's head as he watches the bluenette look through the brochure "find anything interesting?" "just snacks and food and the usual." 

Nosy bachira scans the paper, his excitement is clearly shown by how much weight he’s putting on Isagi. 

"bachira please, my back hurts (QAQ)" 

bachira: >:3

SO ANYWAYS

ISAGI decides to go with Meguru! Why? Because yes :D

(also cuz it’s been like a month lmao I’m doing my internship TwT and have no time to write)

(Event Time! Interaction available! By System 13)

"Isagi! There you are." Meguru stands up from the bench he’s been sitting on, his smile shone brightly when he spots Isagi.

"Hi…" "Mr Meguru! Hello!" Bachira waved back, "did bachira insist he came along as well? I thought you had homework bumblebee?" Sarcastic much… gets whacked

Select interaction

1.  He insisted.

2.  He did, but I helped.

3. He’s a smart cookie.

1.  He insisted

"Well actually-" "he insisted we go together." Isagi quickly latched his palm on bachira’s chatty mouth. 

"I see…" clearly that wasn’t the answer he wanted.

-10 love affinity

2.  He did, but I helped

"I help teach him, aren’t good students suppose to help the ones in need?" A pouty huff and crossing arms from Isagi is enough to make Meguru fall to his knees if he was down bad like a puppy- gets bonked

"my my little bee~ I didn’t knew you were also good in chemistry." Meguru reaches his hand out to pat both bachira and Isagi’s head, bachira felt proud at the praise while Isagi felt his heart flutter a bit but kept a straight face.

+5 love affinity

3. He’s a smart cookie

"Bachira is a smart cookie, he figured out how to do fractions himself!" Isagi huffs proudly, "yeah yeah! I got 4/12 to 1/3!" Bachira felt like he had won a math’s championship. 

Meguru stares at the both of them, either baffled by their brilliance or by the sheer obliviousness at how easy the mathematics was.

"…pfft-" "… what?" Isagi opened one eye and stared at Meguru, he could see his shoulders trembling and his hands covering his mouth and his body hunched forward.

"… are you okay?" Isagi takes a step forward, and another, and another. Slowly closing in the distance between them.

"PFFT- HAHAHAHAHA!!!" All of a sudden, he bursts out laughing. 

"h-hey! Why are you laughing??!" 

Passersby looked on as Meguru kept on laughing hysterically, some whispered to their freinds/family asking what happened or just ignoring the trio completely.

"Did you say something wrong?" Bachira leaned over "what?! No! I just said you were smart!" He looks back at forth at Meguru and Bachira.

"hahaha.. whoo, that was a good laugh." He said finally composing himself after what felt like hours.

Meguru wipes the tears appearing in his eyes, his smile growing wide as he replayed the scene in his mind.

+10 love affinity 

"So since you accepted my invitation, does that mean you’ve agreed to hang out with someone like me?" Meguru said, Isagi sighed clearly he knew something was up.

"does that mean we get to see the booths?!" Bachira beamed with excitement, his eyes already scanning the place like it was a carnival (which it was lmao)

"Yes," Meguru starts his walk down the path filled with delicious and mouth watering sights you wish you could see. 

"Oh sweet!!! Look! They have taiyaki!!" Bachira beams and points out the booth, "yes bachira-" "they have snow cones too!! I want to get each of every flavour!"

"bachira you’ll get a stomach ache if you eat too much." Isagi sighed clearly knowing what bachira is up to.

"Getting used to being a student again little bee?" Meguru glance at him, waiting to see what his reaction was.

"And? Afraid you’ll break law?" Isagi said in a sarcastic tone, "pretty sure you’re 17 turning 18 soon… am I right?" 

"Tch, why did you invite me to this?" Isagi rolls his eyes, he watches bachira approach another food booth and order a takoyaki set. 

"Can’t a teacher bond with his students?" 

"You’d be inviting the whole class if it was just 'bonding time' with students." Isagi retorts, clearly Meguru wanted something else if he invited just him… 

"Fair point, but was it necessary to bring along bachira? Aren’t you afraid he’ll run off by himself?" Meguru smirked, "for someone who’s an adult version of yourself, aren’t you being a bit too distrusting of your younger self?"

"oh no, that’s what I would do if I was surrounded by delicious food booths and light bulb drinks that light up." 

"Really?"

"why don’t you see for yourself?" Meguru gestures with his eyes, Isagi looks back. He was right…

Bachira had disappeared to who knows where????!

"damn it…" Isagi cursed, "so shall we explore together?" Meguru glance back at him.

[system 13: I suggest you agree, this is a good chance to get more love affinity!] 

'your just saying that because your worried you’ll get your pay docked.' Isagi reluctantly agrees "fine, where to first?" A smile spread across his face, 'you tell me!'

"how about we start there?" 

Isagi points at a random booth, "sure, let’s go." Meguru stood close to Isagi as he follows closely behind him. 

10 minutes later… 

"hey Isagi look, they have your favourite kintsuba booth!" Meguru points out a fairly familiar booth. 

"huh… seems like they do.." isagi and Meguru walks up to the booth owner, "1 kintsuba and 2 dangos please." 

"right away sir!" The booth owner said and handed both the dango and the kintsuba to Meguru "have a wonderful time here you two!" 

"we will." Meguru nods while Isagi reaches for his kintsuba and devours it. 

30 minutes later…

"Wanna try this bear bottle mocktail?" Meguru points at the cute bear bottle for display, "what? You want to buy one?" Isagi chuckled "it’s not that bad if I try it right?" Meguru orders a mango smoothie.

"just a mango smoothie? I thought you’d be interested in the premium category." 

"I’m an art teacher not an artist, you know I don’t have much money." 

"Aren’t you like… rich?" 

"I left my estate and everything behind," Meguru said nonchalantly. "What?!" "Yeah, why do you think I said I was living with them?"

[system 13: do you need an explanation? I’m happy to help! :D]

'Butt off.' 

[system 13: okay…. ૮(˶ㅠ︿ㅠ)ა]

"why did you do that??! Are you insane???" Isagi was in disbelief, mostly in shock at how can Meguru forfeit everything.

"It’s fine, I’m not mad. If anything, I’m more than happy!" He said with a pleasant smile across his face, the owner hands over his bear shaped mango smoothie bottle.

"I’m more than happy to do throw everything away, especially if it means being with you once more.." Meguru whispered.

"What?" "Oh look, there’s bachira." 

Isagi immediately whipped his head towards the direction Meguru had pointed to, indeed bachira was there… along with two very familiar love interests…

Chapter Text

"Doesn’t he look familiar to someone?" Hyoma questioned Rensuke, bachira stared at the two with innocent eyes while munching on a candy apple.

"…" "hey kid, are you perhaps that artists son?" 

"Who?" Bachira swallows the piece of candy apple and tilts his head, "is your dad an artist by chance?"

? 

Again… bachira is confused, "this is hopeless, we were suppose to be following that artist instead we lost him and ended up following a carbon COPY of him!"

Rensuke stayed silent not having said anything in the past hour, "…" "I know Tabito said to just follow but wouldn’t it be better to just place a hidden gps on his phone and follow him? I don’t understand why we have to do it manually!" Hyoma angrily texts to the detective and left it on mute.

"…" "oh don’t give me that, just because you were chosen doesn’t mean I wanted to-"

"…"

"but what?? It’s not like I did anything wrong!" 

"…"

"well yes I did but-"

"……"

Chigiri grits his teeth and said "fine, you win. This is so stupid-"

"bachira! There you are! Where did you run off to again??" Isagi dashed past Hyoma and Rensuke, "you didn’t get hurt did you?! Are you bleeding anywhere??"

"No, I’m not." Bachira happily bites down his candy apple as Isagi checked for his limbs, torso and his entire head for blood or bruises.

"Oh good… at least you’re not injured." Isagi pulls away, "you two... What are you doing here?.." Isagi turns to face them once he knows bachira isn't injured. 

"Yocchan!..." Hyouma laid eyes on isagi, his mermaid... He was still alive, no blood or fallen mermaid scales! His yocchan was alive right in front of him! Just as Hyouma was about to reach out to hug him, "Hyouma and... Rensuke..." his eyes shifted to the orange haired bodyguard, "..." Rensuke acknowledges him with a nod but inside his heart was pounding like he had just finished a marathon race.

"bachira, see that stand over there? Their selling cotton candy and snow cones, here's some money, buy one for me okay?" isagi said with a smile, bachira takes the money in hand and dashes off. 

"finally, that troublemaker is gone-" "what are you two doing here?" isagi interrupts Hyouma.

"what we're doing here? We're here to find you silly, isn't that obvious?" Hyouma chuckled, his arms folded in front of his chest, technically he and Rensuke were suppose to follow Meguru but who knows where that painter is "well you got that, goodbye." "who said you could leave?" Hyouma grabbed his fore arm in a tight hold. 

-5 love affinity

"-?!" ‘What the heck!??’ Isagi flinched, his arm already showing signs of bruising from the pink hair.

"I never said you could leave… your coming back home with me… I won’t let anyone hurt you…" ‘this is just great… system!! What defense skills do I have??’

[system 13: you have… 7! But currently only can use one!]

‘Just tell me already!!!’

"…" Rensuke grabs onto Hyouma’s arm and roughly pulls it, "what? Got something to say?"

"…" "what about it? It’s not like you’re not guilty of wanting to do the same." 

"…" another minute of silence before Hyouma clicked his tongue and let go of isagi’s forearm.

"fine… but if it doesn’t work out I’m blaming you." Hyouma leaves, but not before bumping their shoulders purposely.

"…" "… Thanks Resunke." Isagi bowed his head with gratitude and looked back at Isagi, his tired and dull eyes stared back at his before taking his leave.

"stupid damn bodyguard... Tch." Hyouma kicked a nearby trash can and exhaled, his eyes darting around to look anyway but Rensuke as to not punch him, "..." "what? Never seen someone pissed? Your too soft when it comes to punishment." 

‘no wonder his Yoichi died before he could propose. What a weakling..’ Hyouma tugs on his necklace, feeling the smooth locket before opening it with his thumb.

‘Soon… you’ll come back to me. I’ll make sure nothing gets in our way this time…’ he stared at the worn out picture and the shiny sapphire mermaid scale.

Apartment

The door unlocks, Hyouma and Rensuke entered their shared apartment. 

"oh lookie here, it’s the mercenary and bodyguard~ did you had fun at the festival?" Ryusei giggled, twirling the knife in his hand while grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

"…" "shut up you deranged cockroach. No one asked for your comment." Hyouma glared "what? Cat got your tongue?" Ryusei laughed "shut it." 

"nah~ it’s more fun seeing you all riled up!" 

… Hyouma slowly reaches for his knife holster but Rensuke stops him, ‘piece of shit.’ Hyouma wished Ryusei was dead, oh don’t we all?

Hyouma shrugs Rensuke’s hand off his shoulder and stomps back to his room before slamming the door.

"sheesh, to think a baby faced mercenary was such a hot headed guy~ don’t you agree?" Ryusei turns to Rensuke, still twirling the knife.

"…" Rensuke doesn’t say anything, ignoring the killer and focus on making dinner instead. 

"your no fun when it comes to teasing.. don’t you even have emotions?" Ryusei stops his twirling and slowly raises his hand, aiming for his head.

"sometimes… I wonder if your doing it for fun or you actually don’t feel anything at all…" he throws the knife just above Rensuke’s head.

"Pathetic." Ryusei muttered.

Chapter Text

Skipping to next day, Meguru shows up at isagi's front door with a bouquet of... 

"isagi, there you are. I was wondering where you went after our date at the festival. I couldn't find you or bachira..." Meguru pats his head like a cat, "bachira said he had a stomach ache," "I see.. Hope he feels better." 

'I totally forgot about him!!!?!!??' Isagi swallowed his guilt and let the painter in.

"so this is your house huh..? Quite cozy I must say," he place the bouquet on top of the dining table as he takes in the sight of the living room.

"Do you want something to drink..? Tea, juice, coffee?" Isagi slips into the kitchen, "tea is fine, you know how I get when there’s caffeine."

+5 love affinity

"right.. you only use it when it comes to painting." Isagi tears a tea packet and dips it into the mug of hot water.

"I’m surprised you didn’t ask how I knew your address, I thought you’d be all over me about it." he chuckled showing off that stupidly cute and all knowing smile.

"if I asked would you tell me?" 

"nope." "Figures.." 

It wasn’t that rare for Meguru to be secretive, hell he even had a bodyguard for Isagi whenever he went somewhere that wasn’t the supermarket. 

"How about our next date we head to the museum instead?" Meguru said, checking out the website and the ticket pricing.

"what?! A date???" 

"yeah, it’s been so long since we went on an art museum date." Meguru sighed, "don’t you remember our last date? We went to an art festival run by the locals and even bought souvenirs back. But you wouldn’t have since you had other love interests to steal…" Meguru whispered…

'I do remember… It was just a week before I had to leave that world.' Isagi stood at the kitchen counter, unable to move. Was it because he felt guilty? Awkward? Or maybe even regret? Who knows?

"that was when you came down with the disease…" he unlocks his phone, an old picture of Isagi’s cute sleeping face appears on the Lock Screen. He missed those times, he wished it could’ve lasted longer.

"Here," isagi place down both mugs, Meguru thanks him for the tea "so you want to talk about something?" "The art museum date of course," Meguru said shifting in his seat.

"when will that be?" "Next week, it’s available on Friday to Sunday." 

'So thorough…' 

[system 13: he is an artist after all! He knows when most people are free! After all he did hold many in his world!]

"but even if you couldn’t, at least think about it, if you don’t want to do text me in advance."

"I’ll see if I can make time for it," "..! Wonderful! Thanks little bee~" Meguru smiled.

+5 love affinity 

'Yes!' "By the way, I was wondering if you had made any new artworks." Isagi said, Meguru winced… he shifts his attention towards the mug in front of him. 

"I… didn’t have time to make new pieces." 

Hyouma watches as rain drops hit the window panel, gently touching the smooth scale in his locket. 

"Yocchan…" Hyouma gaze down at the road, "I want to see you again…"