NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 3: Double the Fun!
While Kitahara Takashi and Tanaka Kyota were talking, the group of girls dressed as gyaru (fashionable, trendy girls) were secretly eyeing Kitahara.
Kitahara wore a white baseball cap and a face mask, making it impossible to see his full appearance. However, he had strikingly beautiful eyes—sharp and clear, with a slight upward curve at the corners, giving them a dreamy, intoxicating quality, like the misty surface of a vast river.
He sported a simple beige short-sleeved T-shirt, revealing arms that were even fairer than those of the girls. On his right wrist was a Longines Master Collection Moonphase watch, while his left wrist bore a black bracelet. His ink-colored paisley shorts ended above the knees, making his legs appear exceptionally long. On his feet were black-and-white sneakers.
*'This guy really knows how to dress,'* was the first thought that crossed the minds of the four girls after observing Kitahara.
Their next thought was, *'I wonder what he looks like under the mask. Please don't let him be one of those "masked pretty boys."'*
Some people look like heartthrobs with a mask on, but the moment they take it off, they turn into just another average guy. Sometimes, all it takes to look good is a mask. The four girls sincerely hoped Kitahara wasn't one of those.
Tanaka Kyota didn't introduce Kitahara to the gyaru girls. Instead, he clapped his hands and said, "Alright, everyone's here. Let's head inside. It's way too hot out here."
In the short ten minutes they had been waiting outside the karaoke place, over a dozen people had already tried to hit on the girls. Tanaka was worried that the girls he had invited might get swept away by someone else, so he hurried everyone inside.
In Japan, there's a peculiar culture called *nanpa* (picking up girls). It's extremely common, and if you're a woman, chances are you've been approached at least once. The goals of *nanpa* are usually twofold: either to get a date or to convince the girl to join the adult film industry. These guys often cast a wide net, figuring that if they ask enough people, someone will eventually say yes.
If you're in bustling areas like Shinjuku or Shibuya after 6 or 7 p.m., it's almost guaranteed that any woman standing alone will be approached. Surprisingly, Tanaka's group was being hit on during the day, which was unusual. But then again, the girls from Kamikawa High School were exceptionally attractive, and some guys just couldn't resist.
Having lived in Tokyo for half a year, Kitahara was well aware of the *nanpa* culture. He nodded and said, "Let's go."
The four girls had no objections and followed the group into the brightly lit karaoke place with the bold red sign that read "BIG ECHO."
Unlike in some countries, Japan doesn't have an overwhelming number of karaoke chains. The most famous ones are "Karaoke Kan," "BIG ECHO," and "Uta Hiroba." However, "Uta Hiroba" is primarily found in the Kanto region, leaving "Karaoke Kan" and "BIG ECHO" as the two nationwide chains.
The group had arrived at the Shibuya Central branch, just a five-minute walk from the station. This particular location defied the typical dimly lit karaoke stereotype, offering a variety of themed rooms. The most popular among girls was the "Princess" room.
Tanaka had reserved the "Mermaid Princess" room. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, complementing the walls painted with crescent moons, sailboats, and underwater scenes. The pink pearl-colored sofas and shell-shaped cushions made it feel like stepping into an enchanting underwater world.
"Wow, it's so beautiful!" exclaimed one of the gyaru girls. She had light blue eyes, waist-length pink hair, and an adorable yet striking appearance. Her long chain earrings dangled gracefully, and she wore a short skirt with a red bow tied around her chest. A hairband was wrapped around her thigh, though its purpose was unclear—perhaps just for style? Kitahara couldn't help but think a thigh garter might have been a better choice.
As Kitahara's mind wandered, the system suddenly popped up.
**[Target: Watanabe Hoshi]**
**[Age: 15]**
**[Intelligence: 4]**
**[Charm: 8]**
**[Stamina: 4]**
**[From: *More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers*]**
**[Crush: Amakawa Misato]**
**[No boyfriend. Available for dating.]**
*Look what I've found!*
*A new tool.*
Kitahara's eyes lit up like a predator spotting its prey.
"This room is supposed to be really hard to book. How did you manage to get it?" asked another gyaru girl. She wore a black choker, a tongue piercing, and four detachable earrings on each ear, along with a single earring. Her long golden hair was streaked with coral highlights, and despite her edgy accessories, she had an innocent face.
**[Target: Kitagawa Marin]**
**[Age: 15]**
**[Intelligence: 3]**
**[Charm: 8]**
**[Stamina: 5]**
**[From: *My Dress-Up Darling*]**
**[Crush: Gojo Wakana]**
**[No boyfriend. Available for dating.]**
*Wow, double the fun!*
Kitahara hadn't expected to stumble upon two potential targets at this gathering. However, he wasn't in a rush to make a move. Not every target was worth pursuing. With only 31 days in a month (at most), he could theoretically date 31 different girls, but that was unrealistic. Trying to juggle that many would almost certainly lead to disaster.
Kitahara wasn't greedy. He was content with finding just ten tools—er, girls. But even then, he had to be selective. He had his own set of criteria:
1. **The girl must be wealthy.**
While the system didn't require the girls to pay for dates, Kitahara needed the money. He didn't want to waste his precious points on cash. Besides, spending an entire day eating, drinking, shopping, and sometimes even acting as a stand-in boyfriend was exhausting. He deserved some compensation for his efforts, right? It was hard-earned "hardship pay," and he had no qualms about taking it. And since the system didn't object, he considered it approved.
2. **The girl's social status shouldn't be too high.**
Kitahara just wanted to earn some easy money, not end up as a human sacrifice or find himself at the bottom of Tokyo Bay. Targeting someone like Kasumigaoka Utaha, who was wealthy but not overly influential, was fine. But if the girl was the daughter of a tycoon or a yakuza boss? No thanks. He valued his life too much.
3. **No more than three targets per city.**
Kitahara feared that having too many girls in one area would increase the risk of running into them unexpectedly. He couldn't afford a messy collision of his carefully curated "relationships."
"Kitahara, why don't you introduce yourself?" Tanaka nudged him after they entered the room and ordered drinks.
Kitahara wasn't shy. He spoke clearly and confidently: "I'm Kitahara Takashi, 16 years old, a first-year at Seijou Academy. My favorite things are gold jewelry and the band Phoenix Legend. In my free time, I enjoy reading, playing with bracelets, fishing, mahjong, tea, and photography—mostly flowers and plants..."
The girls were utterly baffled. Reading was one thing—Seijou Academy was a prestigious school with a high academic standard, so it made sense that some students enjoyed books. But the rest? What 16-year-old was into mahjong, tea, and photography? It sounded like the hobbies of a middle-aged man.