Chapter 306: That’s Not How It Is!

Himekoji lay down in his room but tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

His mind was completely occupied by thoughts of tomorrow.

Just then—

Ding!

A familiar System alert tone actually rang out in the dead of night.

What the heck?

Himekoji was dumbfounded, frozen for a moment.

Seriously? He was completely alone in the room. Nothing that should trigger any options was happening!

Exchange Shop Refreshed!

The shop refreshed? Whoa, it wasn’t a task. That gave him a scare.

But hold on… wasn’t the shop refresh time still an hour away?

It refreshed every twenty-four hours, but it was only eleven o’clock at night now. A whole hour early.

“A trap!”

Himekoji thought of it almost instantly.

The System had never informed him when the shop refreshed before. This time, not only did it refresh early, but it went out of its way to notify him… like it was afraid he wouldn’t know…

It was probably here to scam him out of his 2D Points!

He’d just earned ten thousand today and hadn’t even had time to keep them warm!

Open Shop?

Geez, the System asked! It actually asked!

Definitely here to scam him!

Himekoji could pretty much guess what the System was going to try and sell him—

It must be something for treating Nanami’s fever!

And going by the System’s frustrating track record, the price would probably be around ten thousand…

Himekoji shivered all over as a bunch of unpleasant memories suddenly flooded his mind.

He remembered. Why, after trying desperately to be a Pervert every single day, completing countless tasks over a full year without slacking off once, he still hadn’t managed to save much money…

The reason was right here! Dang it!

Open Shop?

The System kept asking, calm and unhurried, as if it had Himekoji totally figured out.

And the most frustrating thing was, the System really did have Himekoji completely figured out.

If the shop had an item that could bring down Nanami’s fever, an item that could help Nanami attend the showcase smoothly tomorrow… could Himekoji possibly not buy it?

He had to buy it!

Compared to Nanami failing tomorrow’s Midterm Performance Showcase, solving the problem by spending a little 2D Points felt like a huge bargain!

After all, 2D Points could be earned anytime – all he had to do was be a Pervert, a Pervert, and then a Pervert again. Nanami’s Midterm Performance Showcase, however, was a one-time thing.

Whether Nanami could become a Seiyuu after putting in so much effort all came down to tomorrow.

Even if Himekoji saved all those 2D Points and skipped one chance to be a Pervert, it wouldn’t magically remove his “Pervert” title.

Weighing the two options, nearly an instant was all it took to think it through clearly. The very next moment, Himekoji willingly stretched out his neck, presenting himself to be fleeced by the System.

“Open!”

Prompt!

With a light Ding, about a dozen items suddenly appeared before Himekoji’s eyes.

Himekoji scanned them quickly—

Incontinence Underwear?

Pass!

Realistic Doll?

Pass!

Tentacle-Growth Pills?

Pass!

…

Himekoji sped through the list. Finally, upon reaching the seventh item, his gaze locked onto it.

This was it!

Fever to Flirtatious Liquid: Got a fever? Need a flirtatious cure! Turn uncomfortable heat into pleasurable heat! Release it all at once, no regrets! No cuts! No surgery! Pain free! Absolutely no side effects!

Seeing the words “Fever”, Himekoji’s heart leapt with joy. But by the time he finished reading the description, he hesitated again.

This thing… how to put it?

It truly embodied the excellent business philosophy of “System products, mostly a scam”!

What “absolutely no side effects”…

Wasn’t “Flirtatious” the biggest side effect of all?! Gah!

“Buy it, or not?”

Himekoji struggled, indecisive.

Giving this to Nanami… didn’t it feel like he was harming her?

Anyway, he should at least check the price.

“10,233?!”

Damn! The System was even greedier than Himekoji had imagined!

He originally thought ten thousand 2D Points was the absolute max. He didn’t expect the System wouldn’t even spare the measly scraps left in his savings!

Ding!

Good News! Good News!

Order now with the device in your hands and instantly enjoy a massive discount!

Originally 10,233, now only 9,888!

Holy cow! A full 400 discount?!

Himekoji couldn’t help feeling a tiny, traitorous flicker of temptation!

Leaving behind a little change… wow, thanks for being so generous! Not.

You’re welcome.

You’re welcome?

The System seriously had the nerve.

He hadn’t meant a single ounce of that thanks! Dang it!

Himekoji’s face darkened. He almost felt like charging in to fight the System right then and there. At the last moment, thinking of Nanami, he managed to hold back.

“Forget it. I’ll consider this compensation for groping Nanami’s butt earlier.”

Himekoji clenched his teeth and spent everything he had to buy this “Fever Cure.”

[Ding!]

[Purchase successful!]

[Thank you for your patronage. Come again!]

…

Himekoji sneaked into Nanami’s room.

He tiptoed very, very quietly, terrified of disturbing Akiko or Mashiro.

Because… if they caught him sneaking into Nanami’s room at this hour, and especially now, it would be disastrous.

He probably could never clear his name then. He’d surely be branded an opportunist preying on the vulnerable.

“Must go… must go there…”

Nanami was even talking in her sleep about it. Talk about dedication.

Well, since Nanami wanted it this badly, he supposed the 9888 Zeny wasn’t wasted after all.

Thinking this, Himekoji instinctively looked at the egg-shaped vibrator in his left hand… Ah, sorry! Wrong object!

That thing was what he planned to leave behind to help Nanami deal with the side effects.

He’d actually meant to look at the item in his right hand: that small tube of milky white liquid.

He’d practiced the plan in his head over and over—

Feed her the cure, then run off immediately, leaving the egg-shaped vibrator for Nanami to handle on her own.

Not wrong!

Truly a flawless, airtight plan! Worthy of his genius!

Right… Was Nanami even going to know how to use that little vibrating toy?

Should he go get the instruction manual for her?

But that could wait. He needed to get this potion down her throat first.

Himekoji’s mind wandered, but his hands moved without hesitation.

Sitting by Nanami’s bedside, he pulled the wooden stopper from the vial and leaned in to begin the task.

Honestly… this potion looked kinda sketchy, didn’t it?

It looked kinda like that stuff. Thankfully, the smell was completely different.

Otherwise, Himekoji would have suspected the System was scamming him with a fake.

“Must go… must go there…”

Nanami murmured ceaselessly in her sleep. Her lips, dry from fever, moved slightly.

Himekoji brought the vial to her lips.

Now… just pour the medicine swiftly into her mouth and it’d all be over!

However… it was just at that very moment—

“Onii-chan! You’re under arrest!”

The sharp shout rang out like shattered glass. Simultaneously, the bedroom lights snapped on!

In an instant, the room became bright as daylight!

“CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!”

And amid this chaos, Himekoji heard rapid-fire shutter clicks.

Stunned, he turned his head, still holding the egg-shaped vibrator in his left hand and the tube of milky liquid in his right.

In the doorway… two girls and one cat stared at him with eyes wide open…

Himekoji stood frozen, mouth agape.

…