Chapter 9

A week later.

Syl had gotten addicted at this point!

He was down to only 137,000 points from the 400,000 points he had before. And this was including all the miscellaneous items he sold back to the system for points. 77,000 points worth of them to be exact.

Syl had a problem…

"DAMN GACHA!!" Syl screamed at the wheel in front of him as it landed on another sleep token.

Over the last week he had succeeded in drawing only 3 items he decided to keep.

(Stealth skill) [advanced] x1

(Tech knowledge) [Medium] x1

(Hacker talent) [low] x1

[Ding! Host please stop! You look like a maniac!]

"You think I care?! Come at me bro! I'll kick your ass! I'll kick your whole families ass!"

[Host, you have no fighting talents yet. That would be ill advised. Unless your hacker talent can use it's crtl+shift+c abilities to harm me. I don't think you can do anything.]

"Hey! It's hard to use crtl+shift+c! I just learned!"

[... yes host.]

"I want another one! Give me a swimming ability! I have class today!"

This was the real reason for Syl's madness. He wanted to swim for gym class today!

Imagine being the only guy in the class who couldn't swim! So embarrassing! Especially when you already know how to swim!

[Host. I am taking away your spin privileges for the day. Just like you asked me to yesterday.]

"That was yesterday! Who cares about a 10 spin max! The me from yesterday is an idiot! Give me one more!"

[No.]

"Bah! Then you're my enemy!"

[Good luck in class today host! Goodbye!]

The system just ignored him. It didn't feel like dealing with the tantrum of a gambling addict in the middle of puberty.

And honestly… can you blame it?

I can't!

Syl eventually relented and went to class. Scratching the back of his neck constantly like a heroin fiend. Gacha is dangerous kids!

He finally arrived in class and met up with Sudo, Ike and Yamauchi. Only to find that they too were in a dilemma.

They wanted to spy on the girls changing!

What shitty people!

Syl visibly cringed when he heard their plan. They even brought poor Hondo into this! Well he was more of a willing participant but whatever…

Syl sighed.

Damn horny teens! Playing innocent pranks by commiting sexual crimes!

… wait.

No, that's just really messed up! It's not innocent at all!

Syl figured he would just have to step in.

After going through normal classes, finally the accursed class was upon us.

Syl met up with Chashibara before class started.

"Mr. Sujin? Is there something you need?"

"I can't swim… right now…" Syl nearly whispered.

"Pardon?" Chasibara asked as she genuinely couldn't hear.

"I can't swim."

"Really?"

"Yes…"

"Wait, so your saying, that by first year highschool and after you reported taking swimming lessons in the past. You can't swim?"

"Yes."

"Even after swimming lessons?"

"I forgot…"

"So you really can't swim?"

"Yes! That's what I said! I can't swim! … goddamn old tsundere." He mumbled the last part.

"Alright. Then I guess you're excused."

Syl grumbled something about her being put in a maid costume as he left.

He stopped by the changeroom and patched up the small hole that the boys were going to use to see through.

[Ding! Host has received a spin for helping the girls in the class!]

Syl was still angry and snapped. "I'll do it later!"

He walked out of the dressroom while all the other boys walked in. For some reason none of them felt like it would be a good idea to talk to him due to the expression on his face.

Syl was in the hallway waiting for class to end and ended up running into Karuizawa. Which made a lot of sense as they were both instructed to wait in a certain area.

Karuizawa saw his face and looked up from her phone. "Like, what's wrong with you?"

Syl crossed his arms and pouted. "Can't swim."

"Eh? Like at all?"

Syl kicked a small pebble that was on the ground and nodded.

"No way! How can't you swim?"

"... I just forgot."

"Pfft~! Suuure. Whatever you say~!"

Syl nearly face planted. "I really just forgot! I swear I used to swim!"

Karuizawa laughed. "Hehehehe! Like, even I couldn't just FORGET how to swim!"

Syl sighed. "It happens to the best of us."

"Haha. Sure thing doggie."

"Doggie?"

"Cuz dog's can't swim."

"... Yes they can."

"No! My friend in middle school had a dog and he couldn't swim!"

Syl resisted the urge to reply with 'What friend?'

"Nono, why do you think they call it a doggie paddle?!"

Karuizawa froze for a second. "... No way! Really? Is that why?"

Syl nodded. "Yup. Doggie."

Karuizawa frowned. "Why did you call me doggie."

"Cause dogs are cute and fun!"

"Aww thanks!" Karuizawa smiled.

"… and dumb."

"What?!"

"Nothing." Syl said as he started whistling and looking away.

Karuizawa lightly smacked him.

Syl looked shocked. "What was that for?!?!"

Karuizawa smiled. "Nothing."

She looked away and whistled.

Syl was shocked! Did she just use his move against him?! And did it just work! What a blunder!

Syl grumbled before turning back to Karuizawa. "So what's a place like you doing in a girl like this?"

She tilted her head. "Huh?"

"What's a girl like you doing in a place like this?"

"Nono, that's not what you said."

"What do you mean?"

"You said something else!"

"Really? Me? I would never!"

Karuizawa's mouth hung open in shock. "You're messing with me?!"

Syl gasped. "How could you accuse me of such a thing?"

Karuizawa narrowed her eyes and looked at him. Utterly confused as to how to treat him.

"Whatever." Was all she said.

There was silence for a few moments. It got awkward and Karuizawa took her phone back out.

Syl waited for a while. He wanted to be friends with her because he always liked her character but also didn't wanna be seen as someone trying to steal another dude's girlfriend, or make her uncomfortable.

He finally decided to just speak up.

"Shouldn't you be in there cheering your 'boyfriend' on?"

Karuizawa glanced up before returning to her phone.

"What's that gotta do with you?"

Syl smiled wryly. "Well… nothing. I was just trying to make small talk. I didn't really know what to ask you about other than Hirata…"

Karuizawa continued texting. "We're doing fine."

Syl was stumped. What does he even say now? There's only one thing left to talk about right?

"So why aren't you swimming?" Syl asked cautiously.

"...Don't feel well."

Syl was treading on thin ice. Don't wanna poke the beast right? Let sleeping dogs lie?

Syl smiled. "Hope you feel better soon then!"

He decided it would be safer to end the conversation here and took out his phone as well. The duo just waited it out until class ended.