The Passive Income System

Ring Ring~

"Mom, I'm here." A calm, masculine voice broke through the working atmosphere. Another hour had passed, the sun beginning to dip beneath the horizon, giving way to the night.

Looking up, I analyzed the guy—Iori's son. No doubt about it, since he had just unlocked the entrance to the bakery. His long black hair was tied into a unique style, piercings adorning his face and giving him a distinct vibe, to say the least.

Our eyes met—his blue and my brown—but there wasn't any awkward silence. A simple nod passed between us, a quiet acknowledgment of mutual respect. His gaze flickered toward Mahiru for a brief moment, curiosity passing through his expression before he turned back to his mom.

"Hey, dear! Hurry up and wash your hands."

Izumi nodded before disappearing into the back. Meanwhile, Mahiru remained completely oblivious, laser-focused on her task; Super cute, honestly. Her serious expression felt hilariously out of place on her face.

I'll definitely need to pinch her face one day!

Her face wasn't chubby by any means, but my mental image of her kept shifting. At first, she reminded me of a white cat, but now she was starting to feel more like a squirrel. Especially with how she was puffing her cheeks because she clearly wanted to try all deserts! 

But that was irrelevant.

As I continued prepping the materials, Izumi reappeared beside me, slipping into the workflow effortlessly. Smooth, practiced movements which didn't lack even compared to his mom.

He handled the dough with ease, every motion precise with no hesitation, no wasted effort. He kneaded, shaped, and prepped like a professional, his hands moving with the confidence of someone who had done this a thousand times before. There was no need for flair—just skill, precision, and complete familiarity with the craft.

"Impressive, dude," I commented without missing a beat.

He chuckled. "I hope I can do this much at least."

Casting a side glance and briefly locking eyes, I smirked. "Yeah, it'd be pretty embarrassing if you couldn't."

"Haha~, I guess so."

A comfortable silence settled between us, and I couldn't help but feel at ease with this guy. Sure, technically, we hadn't introduced ourselves properly, but it didn't matter. Iori had probably told him about me, just like she had briefly mentioned him to me.

Which reminded me…

I can't forget to charge my AirPods later!

They died in the Uber ride because I hadn't charged them in a while—too focused on other things. Music helped my productivity and overall mood, but since I'd been surrounded by people who helped in the same way recently, I just kind of forgot.

'Oh, this would be a perfect time, to check my skills now!' The thought randomly clicked in my brain. 

[Got it.]

[Skills] 

[Listening - Level 4, + Confidence - Level 4, + Communication: Level 3-->4, + Flirting: Level 1-->4]

[Fused above skills together into, "Social Pillar" skill.]

[Social Pillar: Level 2 (02/50)] 

[Fitness - 4, + Studying - Level 4, + Emotional Control: Level 4] 

[Above skills fused into "Self-Discipline"]

[Self-Discipline: Level 2 30/50]

[Management - Level 1-->level 2 (11/50)]

[CQC (Close Quarters Combat) - Level 3 (0/250)] 

[Kendo - Level 2 (45/50)]

'Way more manageable.' The optimization of skills really helped make everything less of a headache. The only downside was that the newly fused skills were clearly harder to level up which made sense but still sucked. I definitely needed to work harder to get everything back up to level 3 at least!

[Skills that appear due to "Skill Fusion" are definitely harder to level, so that wouldn't be inaccurate.]

'I don't think you needed to explain that.'

The system's feminine voice sang in my head once more. [Perhaps but having these higher-quality skills puts you in a much better position.]

'I hope so!' It would be awful if I didn't gain anything from having them—a complete waste of time!

I finished prepping my current set of cupcakes and passed them down to my love. Ensuring everything was running smoothly, I turned back to the system, reading over my two new skills.

[Social Pillar: Level 2 (02/50)] 

- Description: A foundational mastery of social interaction, allowing for the individual to naturally command attention, influence conversations, and adapt to various social dynamics with ease. This skill fuses Listening, Confidence, Communication, and Flirting, giving birth to natural leadership in both casual and high-pressure situations.

- Effects: 

Increased Presence – Stand out in conversations, making people more inclined to notice you.

Persuasion Boost – More natural success in negotiations, arguments, and social maneuvering.

Instinctive Emotional Reading – Intuitively detects subtle emotional cues, allowing for the understanding of others' feelings before they are verbally expressed.

Unshakable Confidence – More resistant to social pressure, intimidation, and anxiety-inducing situations.

Makes sense why it's called 'Social Pillar'.

[Self-Discipline: Level 2]

- Description: A refined sense of control over one's actions, emotions, and impulses. This skill enhances your ability to stay focused, resist distractions, and maintain composure in both everyday life and high-pressure situations. It strengthens mental resilience, ensuring that he can commit to long-term goals and push through challenges without wavering.

- Effects: 

Enhanced Willpower – Increased resistance to procrastination, temptations, and emotional outbursts.

Impulse Management – Greater ability to suppress knee-jerk reactions, ensuring logical decision-making in tense moments.

Emotional Stability – Strengthened control over mood swings, stress, and frustration, preventing them from affecting performance.

Improved Concentration – Can maintain focus on tasks for longer periods without as much mental fatigue.

'About what I thought a skill called 'Self-Discipline' would be. The only downside is that there aren't any numerical stats included.'

[You do understand that it's impossible to quantify that, right? You aren't a robot.]

'I just figured there would be.'

[Some skills definitely do, but broader-reaching skills or upgraded ones don't. You can't consistently gauge a person's productivity or how likely they are to do something consistently. One day, you might work super hard, but the next, only a little. These skills also aren't guarantees that you won't lose focus or get distracted—just that you're less likely to compared to a normal person.]

'Fair enough. I kind of realized that, but thanks for the explanation, I guess.'

[Tch.]

'D-Did you just mock-click your imaginiary tongue?'

[What of it?]

'Completely unnecessary!'

[I think it was perfectly necessary!]

I didn't even know how to respond, so I didn't. A tactical retreat! Not because I needed to or anything… and definitely not because I knew I'd lose.