The thought of Chika plagued him as he walked to his last class of the day. Something felt off, wrong. So many bad feelings this day, but that glitch for Chika’s type. It never happened with anyone else. Could it be…a barrier? Toru asked of her something the other day. Did he know of Chika’s not-so-average level but said nothing? He ran a mental tally on her analysis, though the tinge of guilt slapped him around like the back end of a fishtail.

First, she emitted enough jealousy aura to fill the tank of a large plane and well-before the appropriate level. They were good friends, but he didn’t try anything yet. Second, the level. Sure, Clare was level twenty-two, but for someone who trained like her, that was understandable. Chika on the other hand, not so much. Third, the type glitch. What could that be hiding? Chika texted him a lot, but more like a girlfriend, rather than a friend, which he was okay with—besides, anime girls, being anime girls. But…something about that…. The signs. The glitch. The random letter within that glitch that may not be just random. Fourth, her skillset. Deep slash level fifteen. Holy shit—Clyde could only dream of the perks. Triple thrust. These were skills of a blade. Skills… of a blade. Glitched type. Immense jealousy that promised something later. Deep slash level fucking fifteen, while level eighteen.

Oh shit.

Clyde’s anime trope senses had ramped into severe mode. Not Chika…. Not his friend. He wanted to scream at the sky. She was so funny, smart, pretty. But aren’t they all? But…she showed nothing. Shit! Shit! Shit! If Chika was what he suspected, and Toru knew, he’d rain hell on him then get the fuck out of dodge.

His last class helped clear his mind just a bit, rewarding him with a silent grin.

[You have reached Crafting level 3! The world of creation is becoming clearer to you!]

Clyde fell back to worry as he left the final class. How did he miss these signs? He shook his head, clearing his mind. He wasn’t a goddamn harem main character, yet he let things slip like one. He let the trope bully him right into a nightmare. He was an idiot and now could be paying for it.

He decided to wait for a bit in a private study room of the library. It was empty, except for the student assistant playing on her phone. That’s when he remembered the book in his inventory. He pulled it out.

[You have found the book of Flash Step. Item value: priceless. Opening this book will teach you the special ability, Flash Step. Warning, it will vanish after one use.]

Like before, the book gave an intense shimmer into golden sparkles, inserting the knowledge into his head like a downloadable program.

[You have learned the special ability, Flash Step!]

[Let it be known that special abilities, unlike special attacks, can be efficiently used outside of battle. They will still consume MP.]

Abruptly, the door to the study room closed with a thud and someone ran off. Clyde leapt from the chair and hurried after the perp. No one was there when he left the library. The girl at the counter didn’t budge, her headphones and calm demeanor, signaling that she wasn’t the spy.

“Did you see who ran through here?” Clyde asked. The girl shrugged.

“No idea who she is.”

“She? What’d she look like? What color was her hair?”

“I don’t trust you, perv,” said the girl said then tuned him out.

“Are you serious?” Clyde said. “Oh my go—”

He stormed out of the library, but before setting off to find Toru, his eyes stopped at the suggestion box pinned on the wall. He wrote, “Tell your student assistant, the girl that’s here after school, to do her fucking job!” then put it inside without signing his name. Anonymous baby, he thought.

He turned and noticed something on the ground, inches ahead. A card. Great, another goddamn unneeded annoyance, Clyde thought. Why were they appearing around him?

[You have found an Action card. Item class: bizarre. Fever Draw, a card said to be a tool of a once legendary deck.]

[The cards effect’s and abilities cannot be revealed to you until the contract is formed.]

Clyde shook his head then put the card in his inventory. Maybe he’d fetch a good price for it later. He sent a text to Harumi, calling a meeting. She, Toru, and Kitome would meet him on the rooftop. As he searched for the nearest set of stairs, Clyde was struck with the familiar feeling of being watched.

“Shit,” he said softly. He flash-stepped around the corner, only to bump into the popular girl. “Fuck shit shit.”

Maki.

Level: 8.

Type: Egomaniac.

Relationship: unknown.

HP: 100%

MP: 100%

Stats: Relationship isn’t high enough.

Special abilities: Relationship isn’t high enough.

Skills: Are we really doing this again, ya dolt!

Magic abilities: see above, dunderhead.

Secrets: see above. Goofball.

“Sorry about that,” Clyde said then attempted to step around her. Maki blocked his path, smirk on her face.

“What’s your name, new boy?” she said, standing in Clyde’s personal bubble. Her body language laid it out too much on the seduction. She either had faith that her ridiculous fan club would spawn out of nowhere to save her or held no sense of danger to potential assailants.

“It’s Clyde,” he said then tried to walk off again, but the egomaniac wasn’t having it, blocking his path again, smiling.

Clyde’s temper was finally about to peek its head—because his day wasn’t going quite well, when Toru suddenly walked in between the two of them. His manner disappointed Clyde a little.

“Oh, Maki,” he said, blushing. “Hey.”

Clyde could feel the enmity ooze off the young woman, but she still held onto her friendly mask.

“Hi Toru,” she said, eyes never leaving Clyde. Toru gave her a blank stare, possibly insulted for being half-ignored.

“Anyway Toru, let’s go,” Clyde said. “We still have to talk about that thing.”

Maki looked as if she wanted to object but the duo was already halfway down the hall. Not today bitch, he thought.

Sadly, as he took the last step to the rooftop, Clyde’s thoughts trickled to his friend. His friend, who may not be right in the head…