The cool night air felt refreshing as Ryo walked away from Nanami's house, hands in his pockets. The streets were quiet, save for the distant hum of traffic and the occasional flicker of a vending machine's neon glow.
His mind was still replaying the kiss. Not because it was unexpected—far from it. Nanami had always been affectionate in her own way, and after everything, this was just the natural flow of things.
Still, there was a small sense of satisfaction in how things had played out. Smooth, effortless, and completely in his control.
Buzz.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. Without breaking stride, he pulled it out and glanced at the screen.
[1 New Message]
The sender? Misaki.
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of Ryo's lips. Interesting.
He tapped the message open.
—
Misaki: Still out this late? Or did your little date go longer than expected?
—
Ryo chuckled to himself. She knew. Of course, she did. Misaki had a way of keeping tabs on things, even when she wasn't directly involved.
His fingers moved across the screen with practiced ease.
—
Ryo: Jealous?
—
The reply came almost instantly.
—
Misaki: Tch. As if. Just making sure you didn't do anything stupid.
Misaki: Or maybe you're too much of a playboy for that now?
—
He could practically hear the sarcasm in her words. Misaki had always been like this—sharp-tongued, quick-witted, but never outright cold. If anything, she was one of the few who could keep up with him in conversation.
Ryo's smirk deepened as he slid his phone back into his pocket.
It wasn't just Misaki, either.
He had built something here.
His choices mattered. The world wasn't some pre-scripted experience where every event would unfold no matter what he did. No, everything had a flow—a logic—to it. The more he played the game, the more it became his own story.
The streets stretched before him, lined with familiar sights—convenience stores, small restaurants still open for late-night customers, the faint glow of vending machines humming softly.
A thought crossed his mind.
Should I call it a night… or keep going?
The game didn't pause when he stopped moving. Every decision carried weight.
And Ryo?
He wasn't the type to waste an opportunity.
The night air had begun to cool as Ryo walked down the empty street. His thoughts were already drifting back to his date with Nanami, replaying the little moments in his head—the kiss, her smile, the warmth of her hand. But as he walked, a flicker of something strange in the air caught his attention.
He wasn't entirely sure what it was, but it was enough to make him slow his pace. The night was quiet, and as he turned a corner, a slight bump came out of nowhere.
"Hey, careful there," Ryo said smoothly, his usual teasing tone slipping back into place. "You almost knocked me over."
A girl—completely unfamiliar to him—stood in front of him, a little too close for comfort.
Her glasses were thick, with frames that looked a little too large for her face. Her hair, dark and unremarkable, was tied into a pair of twin braids, and her school uniform was plain, almost deliberately unremarkable. She wasn't ugly, but she certainly wasn't anything like the usual love interests in the game, with their cute faces, perfect figures, and bold personalities.
But there was something about her—something off—like she didn't belong.
Ryo's eyes narrowed for just a moment as he took in her appearance. Flat chest, thin arms, and an awkward posture. He couldn't remember seeing her in any of the game's primary routes.
Then it happened—out of nowhere.
A small Affection Meter appeared above her head.
It was a glitch, a strange flicker that only someone who had spent so much time in these worlds would notice. The meter hovered in front of her, almost like it didn't belong there.
"Wait a second…" Ryo murmured to himself. Affection Meter? That was only supposed to appear on the main love interests in My Sweet Angel Academy, not some random background character. The game mechanics had always been pretty strict, and this? This didn't make any sense.
A random, non-love-interest NPC glitching into a major mechanic?
Interesting.
Ryo gave the girl a small smirk, adjusting his stance as he leaned in slightly. "So, where are you headed?" he asked casually, deciding to test the waters. The strange appearance of the meter wasn't enough to make him cautious. It only made him more intrigued.
She blinked, unsure of how to react. "I—I'm on my way home," she said, looking down, a little shy. "Sorry for bumping into you."
Ryo raised an eyebrow, looking at her more carefully. "You don't have to apologize. It wasn't that big of a deal." He gave her a grin, now leaning against a nearby streetlamp with an easygoing demeanor. "Tell you what, though. I'll walk you home. I'm feeling generous tonight."
She hesitated for a second, unsure. "Oh… I'm really fine. It's not far from here."
But Ryo, sensing her hesitation, took a step forward. "Nah. You're not walking home alone in the dark. Just let me."
She shifted on her feet but nodded, giving a small, uncertain smile. "Alright… Thanks, I guess."
They started walking side by side, the evening calm and quiet except for the soft sound of their footsteps. The Affection Meter above her head remained present but now only showed a slight increase, like a little jump in numbers with every polite exchange or teasing comment Ryo made. It was still low, barely noticeable, but Ryo was watching closely. The glitch didn't seem to affect things too much just yet.
But as they walked, the weather took a turn.
The soft patter of rain began to hit the pavement, first lightly, then with increasing intensity, as the sky opened up in a sudden downpour. Mikako let out a small gasp, pulling her collar up as water began to soak through her clothes.
Ryo glanced up, his eyes narrowing against the rain. "Looks like we're stuck in this mess."
"Oh no… I didn't expect it to rain like this." Mikako said trying to shield her glasses from the rain.
"Here," Ryo said, his voice softening as he took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. "Don't want you catching a cold."
She blinked, startled at the gesture. "But… you'll get wet!"
"That's why I'm giving it to you," he replied with a smirk. "I'm not going to let you walk home soaked to the bone."
She mumbled a small "thank you," her face flushing slightly, and tucked her arms into the jacket, which was clearly too big for her but did the job of keeping her dry.
As they kept walking, the rain continued to pour down, the air thick with moisture. Ryo could feel the Affection Meter rising slowly but steadily with every small gesture, every word, every moment of chivalry that didn't feel like he was playing the game, but just… acting naturally.
He glanced over at Mikako, who was trying to keep herself covered under the large jacket. Her shirt was soaked through, and though the fabric was dark, the outline of her body was noticeable as the rain made her clothes cling to her.
It was subtle, but it caught his eye. Her plain appearance, now drenched, wasn't anything special—but it did reveal a little more than Ryo expected, leaving him to fight off the urge to look longer than was necessary. It was almost like he couldn't help it; the way the rain turned the fabric of her shirt see-through gave an odd sense of vulnerability to someone so inconspicuous.
He forced himself to look away, shifting his attention to the sky. Focus, Ryo. He told himself, even as the thought of how she was now practically drenched in front of him made his pulse quicken for a split second.
As they reached the bus stop, Mikako let out a small, frustrated sigh. "I didn't expect this. I really should've checked the weather."
Ryo shrugged, giving her a soft, teasing smile. "Guess we're stuck here for a bit." He glanced at her again, trying to be nonchalant. "You're a little… wet, though. You sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine," she insisted, though her discomfort was evident. The Affection Meter flickered up again, though only by a small amount. Mikako wasn't exactly a love interest, and the game wasn't supposed to be doing this.
Ryo leaned back, eyeing the bus stop and the empty street beyond. "Don't worry. I'll wait with you until the bus comes." He reached out and gave her a casual tap on the shoulder. "No way I'm leaving a girl out here alone in the rain."
Her cheeks were flushed under the rain-soaked jacket, and she nodded shyly. "Thanks, Ryo… for everything."
"Of course." Ryo's voice softened, though there was still an edge of teasing in it. The Affection Meter was rising slowly but steadily as the two waited together in the pouring rain. She was still a far cry from the game's main love interests, but the mechanics felt strangely off, and Ryo couldn't help but wonder just how deep this glitch ran.
The rain soaked through the night air, as he watched Mikako, her soaked shirt sticking to her thin frame. Despite everything, a quiet, unspoken tension built between them—nothing too intense, but enough to leave Ryo wondering what was real anymore.
The rain continued to fall in soft sheets, tapping against the pavement as Ryo and Mikako waited at the bus stop. The cool, damp air wrapped around them, the sound of raindrops and the occasional passing car making up the soundtrack of the moment. Mikako huddled under Ryo's oversized jacket, which almost swallowed her up entirely, her thin frame barely making a dent in the fabric.
She had no idea how to act around him now. His easy confidence, the teasing smile, the way he'd draped his jacket over her—it was all so natural to him, but to Mikako? This was entirely new.
Ryo leaned against the bus stop pole with his usual casual ease, his hands tucked into his pockets, a small grin playing at the corners of his lips as he watched Mikako struggle a bit with her discomfort.
"So," Ryo began, breaking the silence, his voice smooth and playful, "you ever get caught in the rain like this before?"
Mikako shook her head, her hands gripping the fabric of his jacket tighter as if it was the only thing keeping her from freezing. "No... I haven't."
Ryo gave a soft laugh, clearly entertained by her answer. "Guess you're lucky then. You get to share this moment with someone as good-looking as me."
Mikako's eyes widened at the comment, and she quickly looked away, a soft blush spreading across her face. She mumbled a quiet, "I-I didn't think you were so full of yourself."
Ryo chuckled at her response, the teasing tone in his voice not changing. "Confidence is key, Mikako. You're lucky you get to experience it firsthand."
Her face flushed even more, and she fiddled with the jacket's sleeve, too embarrassed to meet his gaze. Mikako had never been on the receiving end of someone's flirtations, let alone from someone as smooth as Ryo. His easy charm was nothing like what she had expected, and it left her flustered, unsure of how to handle the situation.
"Ryo, you really... you really know how to talk," she stammered, her voice quieter now. She stole a glance at him, only to find him looking back at her with that same playful grin.
Ryo raised an eyebrow at her, amused by her timidity. "What, you never been flirted with before?"
Mikako opened her mouth to say something, but the words got caught in her throat. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, and her hands fidgeted in her lap. She didn't know how to respond.
"I... uh," Mikako started, trying to pull herself together, "I've never had someone talk to me like that."
Ryo's smirk widened as he stepped a little closer to her, his voice lowering just enough to make the space between them feel more intimate. "Well, maybe you're just not used to it. But that doesn't mean you can't get used to it with me."
Mikako blinked up at him, her heart racing now. Her mouth opened, but no words came out. Her face was now completely red, and she could feel her nerves turning into a mix of excitement and uncertainty. She wasn't sure how to handle the situation at all.
"Don't worry," Ryo continued, his tone softening slightly as he noticed her discomfort. "You'll get used to me. I'm not like other guys."
She bit her lip, looking down at the wet ground to avoid his gaze. "You're... really different."
Ryo leaned in just slightly, his presence overwhelming her as she felt him tower over her, but he didn't touch her, giving her space. He didn't need to—his confidence was enough to make her nervous, her chest tightening as she felt both flattered and unsure.
"Different good?" he asked, his voice low, teasing but not quite crossing any boundaries.
Mikako hesitated, her head still lowered. "I... don't know. It's just... I'm not really used to being around people like you."
Ryo smiled, hearing the hint of vulnerability in her voice. He knew she wasn't used to being flirted with, and her shyness made her more endearing to him. "Well, you'll get used to it. I'm not going anywhere, Mikako."
Her heart raced as his words settled in, and she barely dared to look up. The Affection Meter flickered on her side now, the bar gradually filling as Ryo's confident, charming presence began to have an effect on her. She was shy, unsure, and still trying to process the flood of emotions swirling inside her.
Before she could say anything else, the bus still hadn't arrived, and the rain seemed to pick up in intensity.
"Cold?" Ryo asked, his voice casual as he draped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her a little closer under the cover of the bus stop.
Mikako flinched slightly at the sudden touch, her eyes widening. She glanced up at him, her glasses fogging up slightly from the proximity. "I-I'm fine," she stuttered, but there was no denying the way her body leaned into his warmth instinctively.
"Come on," he said, smirking as he adjusted the jacket around her, making sure she stayed warm. "You're gonna freeze if you don't let me help."
She nodded silently, feeling a mix of warmth from his touch and nervousness from being so close to him. The Affection Meter continued to rise, now noticeably climbing, though Mikako was still oblivious to it. She wasn't sure why, but the way Ryo treated her, with such nonchalance and confidence, was slowly breaking down her walls.
As the rain continued to pour down, Mikako's shirt began to cling to her, soaked by the downpour. She didn't notice at first, but Ryo certainly did.
They stood there for a while in silence, the tension between them thickening as Mikako tried to ignore how flustered she felt.
Ryo's teasing grin was still there, his casual charm never faltering as he spoke again. "You know, I think we make a pretty good team in the rain. What do you think?"
Mikako hesitated, then gave a small, shy smile, her cheeks still flushed. "I think you're right."
The Affection Meter continued to climb slowly, almost imperceptibly, but Mikako didn't seem to notice. She was still caught up in the whirlwind of Ryo's confidence and charm, unsure of what to make of it but clearly affected by it.