Somewhere….

“I SAID CALL ME DARK, YA VILE WOMAN!” Dark paid for the sushi then stormed out into the streets of Lot City. Selkie followed, laughing.

“You’re such a chuuni.”

Suddenly, heavy rain blasted from the mouth of the sky as if mocking the young man. As he reached shelter, someone bumped into him. Good thing he had enhanced stats, or he’d be flat on his back, humiliated before these extra dimensional buffoons.

His glare set on a girl with brilliant red hair.

“Great sacred power, power that chose me, analyze,” he whispered.

Name: Melody

Level: 17

Type: sweet talker.

Relationship: Neutral.

HP: 100%

MP: 100%

He dismissed the prompt. What in the great void’s name was a sweet talker? The girl gave him an apologetic smile.

“Sorry,” she said in a voice that made his heart skip a beat. Maybe two.

“It—it’s fine,” Dark said, his blush covering his face from ear to ear.

“Stop ignoring me,” Selkie said, ruining the moment of eye contact. Dark glared at her. “C-h-ar-l-es.” She enunciated every bit of his name, as if trying to seduce him.

Dark shook with anger then took a deep breath. When he let it out, his calm returned.

“I hate you,” he said.

She whispered in his ear,

“You could try to lose your virginity from that girl.”

“I’m not a virgin,” he whispered back in a hiss. Selkie gave him a skeptical look.

“Yeah yeah, Mr. Dork of the chuuni.”

“It’s Dark! And stop calling me that.”

“Chuuni, chuuni.”

“You stupid—”

Melody’s laughter canceled the banter. The redhead wiped a tear from an eye.

“Dark?” she said, a malicious grin on her face.

“Tell him it’s a dorky nickname,” Selkie said.

“It’s an alias,” Dark said. He decided not to talk about the dormant power stored deep within his right hand. This mortal girl wouldn’t believe him anyway.

“I see,” Melody said. “Are you from out of town, if you don’t mind me asking.”

“I’m from the great—”

“Of course,” Selkie interrupted. “We’re just passing through.”

Melody nodded, still smiling. Dark felt like his face would fall off from his own blush. Not only was she the most beautiful girl he’d seen in his life, her voice was heaven. He wanted her to dive into his arms and stay with him. He’d dive into her arms!

[Selkie has forcefully activated your Balance Establisher. The effects of maximum charisma have worn off.].

Dark flinched. The girl before was still incredibly attractive, but her voice didn’t have that strange, unnatural effect on him. He glanced at Selkie. There was a twinkle in her eye.

He felt humiliated a little, but also fascinated. That power. If only he knew how to be smooth with girls! He’d maybe get Melody’s phone number. Or…get laughed at. The usual. Not counting the annoying teasing girls that called him unmanly things like, “cute.” He wasn’t cute!

He shook away that thought. He was the great, Dark. The future conqueror of this miserable world. The one who’d put this Viper in his place. And Selkie would stop picking on him as he’d be exalted. The greatest of all words.

The rained came to a sudden stop.

“I’m Selkie,” the green-haired young woman said, offering a hand.

“Melody.” The redhead shook it then looked at Dark. “Should I continued to call you Dark?”

“You could call him Charles. Or Charly.”

Dark glared daggers at Selkie.

“What’s the point of having an alias if you’re going to throw my name into the wind?”

The second the two began to bicker, Melody laughed.

“Can I give you my number?” she said. “I’d like to talk with you again sometime. Can’t remember the last time I had a good laugh.”

“Really? I mean, sure,” Dark said, nearly cursing himself. Why did he have to be such a loser in front of pretty girls? Hell, if he didn’t know Selkie, he’d probably find himself babbling like an idiot just to get one word out.

He forced himself to remain composed when they traded numbers. He also tried not to react when she traded with Selkie too—if they got buddy-buddy behind his back, he’d be ruined.

“You’ve been nice company,” Selkie said, “but it’s time I take this chuuni-for-brain off.”

She pulled Dark along.

“Why do you insist on embarrassing me in front of women?” Dark said when they were out of sight.

Selkie shrugged.

“It’s painful to watch,” Selkie said. “You should be thanking me anyway. Besides, girls would devour a pure boy like you, turn you into an obedient dog or an attached idiot.”

Dark nearly spat.

“As if I’ll let that happen. I’m Dark for a reason.”

Selkie let out an exasperated sigh.

“Let’s just get this search done, so we can go on. I…I can sense someone. Whoa.” She stopped and pulled Dark into an alleyway. “Someone of the true power is in this city.”

Dark nearly leapt into the sky.

“Is it the Viper?”

“I don’t know. We’ll need to track it. Then Analyze.”

“Then I’ll kick ass and the glory of Dark will reign forever!”

Selkie rubbed off the cringe.

“Charly, you need to focus on losing your virginity. Then talk adult plans.”

She started forward leaving the young man standing, glaring.

Present…...

Sunday. Week 2. Year 1.

Clyde frowned at the chessboard and then at Harumi. She grinned.

“Checkmate.”

He almost flipped the table. Invite her over, he thought, spend more time with her, he thought. She was a pleasant sight and person to be around. He had to work very hard to look her in eyes, not at the melons of the heavens. And to think his alarm ruined the chance to—Clyde pushed away the dirty thoughts. This damn world was starting to poison him. He wasn’t sure if minded…

“I suck at this,” he said. “Pretty sure a grandmaster like yourself was pretty bored.”

Harumi shook her head.

“Your expressions made this so much fun,” she said then laughed. “Try not to flip the table.”

“That obvious?” Clyde said.

“Maybe.” She walked over to the young man and pulled him up. “Up for an after-storm walk?”

“Sure.”

[Your relationship with Harumi has changed from friend closer level 1 to friend closer level 2!]