[Affection Tracker]

??? – 100%+ (MAXED OUT — RUN.)

Lan Meiling – 60% (Congratulations, you've entered the dangerous zone.)

Tachibana Kyouka – 50% (Deep connection)

Tachibana Hiyori – 30% (Growing attachment)

Tachibana Misa – 50% (50/50 gamble on love... Still not decided)

Annaliese Morgenstern (Anna) – 10% (She looks at you and wishes you were single)

Ren exhaled slowly.

"…Deal is done. I still can't believe that happened."

After everything that happened, Misa being at fifty percent didn't really stun Ren. Kyouka being halfway there made sense—after all he had been making sure to show her love, she was also someone he had lived with, laughed with, fought with. Hiyori's thirty percent was somewhat unnatural; but he could easily see where it is coming from after all, even if she show she hate it, she is a clingy little sister.

He looked at the glowing "50/50 gamble on love" note next to Misa.

"…I hope this decision of mine doesn't come back to bite me in my ass. A coin toss on whether I just ruined my life with this family or improved it?" Ren rubbed his temples. "Great. Just great."

Before he could overthink it, the sound of hundreds of voices echoed through the wide gymnasium. Today was no ordinary day.

The Academy Guild Recruitment Festival.

Students, teachers, and visitors crowded into the massive hall. Banners of famous guilds hung from the walls—each one representing prestige, money, and a future most students dreamed of.

It was a chance for those without noble or business bloodlines to prove themselves, to earn invitations from powerful organizations. To many, this was their shot at destiny.

To Ren?

"…Yeah, I'm just here to watch."

He had no expectations. His skills were his own business, and joining a guild now would only upset the fragile balance he was keeping. Beside Luxy was working hard in the dungeon to build her reputation enough, so he just had to make sure when the time comes he properly join Luxy's group.

The question still remained: who should Ren introduce Luxy as? He should probably make sure to show that he has no relationship with her, so that no problems would arise for him in the future because of her presence.

Still, as he walked through the crowd, he felt the stares. Representatives from guilds whispered when they saw him. Some smiled politely, others eyed him like a puzzle they couldn't quite solve.

Ren kept moving. The fewer people he talked to, the better.

"Ren."

That famillar voice froze him.

At the center of the Valkyria Fang booth stood Selene, her twin braided hair gleaming under the gym's lights. Beside her was his own sister, Tachibana Kyouka, dressed in the guild's black-and-crimson uniform.

Kyouka's sharp eyes immediately locked onto him.

"…You are here. I thought you wouldn't come here."

Ren scratched his cheek. "…Not like I had a choice. The whole school's here."

Selene smiled faintly. "You would be welcome in Valkyria Fang, Kyouka's little brother. With your talent, you'd rise quickly."

"I don't even know my skill yet," Ren muttered, to which Selene just smiled. "Does it matter? You're one of the rare ability-holding males. That alone makes you special."

He could already feel Kyouka's unspoken pressure—Join. Join now.

But Ren knew better. If he joined Valkyria Fang, Meiling would explode. And if he sided with Meiling, Kyouka would never forgive him. This is without considering his future partners.

While on the topic, Ren looked at Selene with curious eyes and wondered if she was worth his attention, but he couldn't decide on the spot since he hadn't seen her in action. He knew he would soon get the chance, as the event agenda included duels for a little show—something Madame Gonzalous had started.

He forced a small smile. "I'll think about it."

Kyouka narrowed her eyes. "Don't take too long."

He nodded quickly and retreated before she could corner him further.

Unfortunately, his troubles didn't end there.

Across the hall, the banner of Guild Sirius waved proudly. Standing beneath it was a woman Ren recognized instantly—she looked almost identical to someone he already knew, only like a more mature version of her.

Lan Xue.

Meiling's older sister.

Compared to Meiling's youthful charm, Xue carried herself with an alluring maturity. Her curves were more pronounced, her bust straining slightly against the fabric of her chenogasm, making her chest the first thing that drew Ren's eyes before he quickly forced himself to look away.

Her presence alone commanded silence. Dressed in elegant red chenogasm, her movements precise and graceful, she carried herself like a queen surveying her kingdom.

Ren cursed internally. "…Of all people."

Xue's gaze swept over the crowd—and landed squarely on him. Her lips curved ever so slightly as she began walking toward him.

The crowd parted naturally in her wake.

When she reached him, she gave a polite bow. "Ren I take it. It's such a pleasure to meet the newly awakened male."

Ren stiffened. "Lady Lan. It's my honor."

Her voice was calm, almost musical. "I heard you declined our invitation to join Sirius. I came to confirm if that was true."

"…Yeah," Ren admitted. "I'm not planning to join any guild right now. I think I would prefer to stay indie for a while."

"I see." Xue smiled gently. "Of course, it is your choice. Still, one cannot help but wonder… rejecting Sirius is like refusing shelter during a storm."

Ren's eyes narrowed slightly. "…I'll manage."

"Mm." She tilted her head. "I do admire confidence. But confidence can quickly turn into recklessness. I only hope you don't regret this decision later."

Her tone was soft. Her expression kind. Yet every word felt like a dagger hidden in silk.

Before Ren could respond, another voice cut in.

"Dear sister."

Lan Meiling approached, her steps brisk, her tone sharp.

Ren blinked. She's here too?

Meiling stopped beside them, folding her arms. "As Lans, we don't force people to join us. That would tarnish our name."

Xue chuckled softly. "Of course. I was merely… conversing with him."

Meiling's sharp eyes flicked to Ren, then back to her sister. "Then let's leave it at that."

Xue inclined her head. "Indeed. Sirius has countless applicants waiting. We don't need to waste time convincing someone unwilling."

She turned back to Ren, her smile widening ever so slightly. "Still… I do hope you live a long and healthy life, Ren. This world is full of dangers."

Ren felt a chill down his spine.

Meiling tugged his sleeve subtly, signaling him to leave.

He didn't need to be told twice.

As he walked away, he muttered under his breath. "…I can smell trouble brewing already."

If he wanted to survive whatever storm was coming, he needed more skills. More strength. Enough to protect himself when polite words turned into blades and possibly more women that would protect him instead of trying to kill him.

"Brother!"

A heavy hand clapped his shoulder from behind.

Ren almost jumped before turning to see Daichi Asashi, grinning ear to ear.

Unlike the polished elegance of the Lans, Daichi carried the raw presence of someone used to commanding a crowd. Broad-shouldered, with messy dark hair and a confident swagger, he looked like someone who could wrestle a woman and win—yet Ren knew this man was very much a man of this world.

"Daichi," Ren greeted. "You're here too, huh?"

"Of course! Representing Black Moondrop is an honor I can't miss." Daichi patted his chest proudly. "Our family's legacy is older than half the guilds in this hall. We may not have mainland backing like the Lans, but we've carved our name with our own hands."

Ren smirked faintly. "You've always been good at speeches."

"Hah! Maybe." Daichi leaned in, lowering his voice. "But let's cut the crap. I wanted to talk to you. Just you and me."

Ren raised an eyebrow. "Talk about what?"

Daichi glanced around at the crowded gymnasium, then grinned. "Not here. Too many ears. Come on, let's head somewhere quiet."

Ren hesitated, then nodded. "…Alright."

Together, they slipped out of the bustling hall, but before leaving, Daichi made sure to station someone at the Black Moondrop booth to ensure they recruited at least a few ability holders to fill the gaps in their guild left by the Tragedy of Aether High.

Meanwhile, Judith was walking around the gymnasium, looking at all the students and occasionally stopping to talk with them, offering bits of advice here and there. As the principal, it was her duty to make sure the students felt both guided and supported, especially during such an important event.

She carried herself with a calm authority, her sharp eyes missing nothing—the excitement, the nerves, even the subtle tensions between the different guild booths. Every so often she would pause, straighten a crooked banner, or remind a group of students not to block the main walkway.

But for some reason, Judith's gaze lingered on the so-called cleaners, her sharp eyes narrowing ever so slightly. To the casual observer, they were just staff pushing carts, wiping surfaces, and carrying out garbage bags. But Judith wasn't one for casual observation. She had chaired too many of these gatherings, dealt with too many layers of politics hidden beneath the thin skin of civility, to ignore the oddities right in front of her.

The uniforms were right—pressed and neat—but the posture, the way they carried themselves, betrayed them. They weren't slouching, weary workers. Their backs were too straight, their eyes too alert, too sharp. And more than once she noticed a hand linger too long on a pocket, as if checking for a concealed weapon or communication device.

She tilted her head slightly toward her assistant, lowering her voice. "Did we change our contract with cleaner company we normally hire?" she asked, her tone smooth but laced with steel.

The assistant, a young woman already pale from keeping up with the chaotic guild representatives, nodded quickly. "No, Principal. I double-checked. Same company. Same contracts. Nothing unusual in the paperwork."

That was the problem. If the paperwork was clean, and yet the reality was different, it meant someone had worked hard to cover their tracks or better yet...these cleaners were not cleaners at all.

Judith's lips curved into that faint, knowing smile—the kind that made both allies and enemies equally uneasy. "How bold of them indeed," she murmured, as though savoring the taste of intrigue.