NOVEL NEXT Chapter 12: Listless
Ah, school. A place where normal people thrive, and I, Chiku Ahay, a Level 20 loner with powers no one else has, am forced to pretend I'm just like everyone else. It's tough being special when everyone around you thinks the biggest achievement in life is finishing their homework on time.
But today was worse. Today was the beginning of the Buddy System.
When the teacher announced the Buddy Programme in class, my system immediately went into panic mode.
"Warning: Social interaction threat detected. Proceed with caution."
No kidding, System. But there was no escape. The teacher paired me with Reo Abe, the golden boy of the school and the last person I wanted to deal with.
Reo turned to me, his usual bright smile plastered on his face. "Looks like we're partners, Chiku! This will be fun!"
Fun? Oh no, no, no. Fun is slaying ghosts or leveling up my Attack Spell. This was going to be torture.
The first Buddy System task was cleaning the classroom. While Reo was happily organizing the bookshelves, I decided to use my powers discreetly to get the job done faster.
With a quick flick of my hand, I whispered, "Wind Spell, level 1."
A small gust of wind swept across the floor, gathering all the dust into a neat pile. I casually leaned on the broom, pretending I was doing something.
Reo turned around, looking impressed. "Wow, you're quick! I didn't even hear you sweeping!"
"Yeah, I'm just... efficient," I said, trying not to look too smug.
"Maybe you should join the cleaning club!" Reo suggested.
Cleaning club? Me? I'd rather fight an army of ghosts with my bare hands.
Lunchtime was another ordeal. Reo insisted we eat together in the cafeteria, which was the busiest place in school. As a certified loner, I hated crowded spaces. But Reo wouldn't take no for an answer.
I begrudgingly followed him to a table, sitting down with my sad sandwich while he unveiled his picture-perfect bento box.
"Did you make that?" I asked, eyeing his perfectly shaped rice balls.
"Of course! Cooking is my passion," he said, handing me a piece of grilled fish.
I took a bite, and my system immediately chimed in:
"Food consumed. Temporary boost: +1 Intelligence for 30 minutes."
Even my system was falling for Reo's charm. Traitor.
Suddenly, I heard a commotion behind us. A group of students had accidentally dropped their trays, spilling food everywhere.
Reo stood up, ready to help, but I quickly whispered, "Water Spell, level 1."
A small jet of water shot out, cleaning the mess in an instant.
Reo blinked in surprise. "Wow, that was fast! It's like the spill cleaned itself!"
"Yeah, weird, huh?" I said, pretending I wasn't the magical janitor.
By the end of the day, I was completely drained. Not from studying or cleaning, but from hiding my powers and pretending to be normal.
When I finally got home, I flopped onto my bed, ready for some peace and quiet. But of course, my system had other plans.
"Daily Mission Completed. Reward: +10 Lonely Points."
"New Side Quest: Survive the Buddy System without revealing your powers."
Great. Now my system was turning this nightmare into a game.
"It really feels like I'm being controlled by some idiot author," I muttered, staring at the ceiling.
Just as I was about to drift off, my system gave one last notification:
"Warning: Unusual activity detected at school. Investigation recommended."
I groaned. Can't a Level 20 loner get one night of rest?