With great powers, comes a great harem! - Chapter 1- Childhood Friend

“Sorry, Yuki-kun. If not for this gate, I would have surely come to the arcade with you.”

The one who carried a genuine apologetic expression while expressing those words was my childhood friend Tsuyuri Shio. The reason she was apologizing was that we promised two weeks ago to go to test the new VR set in the arcade which has been installed comprising the new game, ‘The Last Resort’.

But since she’s a D-rank healer and a part of an active guild, she has to report for her duty and break something as mere as a promise to her friend.

“It’s okay, Shio. I know your work is important and holding you off for something so mundane…please go ahead and take care of yourself.”

I saw the look of regret and sadness in her hazelnut eyes which got a little droopy as well, indicating that despite being a useless person such as I was, there are people who cares for me without any greed in mind.

Seriously, with the popularity Shio holds and the number of suitors she had on her checklist, I am amazed at how she could still hang out with me and not get enticed by one of those offers from young rich men pursuing her.

Does she have feelings for me despite our position in every aspect being like heaven and hell? It might be a possibility but I do not seek to discern anything out of it for both of our benefits.

“Then I will be going.” Her tone lacked the usual vigor she uses to chatter with me or others in the class

Considering how popular and famous she is locally, it was given that she would get crowded the very next moment she is spotted on the streets or in school. Despite that, we spend a considerable amount of time together, though it has grown a little less because of the rank promotion Shio had.

She’s a brilliant healer and it goes perfectly with her tame and kind nature.

Watching her distancing back, I decided to pack up and leave the school as soon as possible, to avoid that guy…but alas.

“Yuki~my friend~”

A hand suddenly draped over my shoulder, rendering me from moving as I heard a cheeky voice belonging to the raid captain under whom Shio hunts and also the hot shot of this school.

Koichi Subaru.

His father is the Vice-president of the guild in which Shio is appointed so it was given that she would be acquainted with Subaru as well. But that was not the fact that became the source of Subaru’s fun and the cause of my despair.

Subaru knows that I like Shio.

And how does he play to get on my nerves, you ask?

“Today, Shi-chan looks adorable too, right? I wonder what would happen if suddenly I barge into the girls changing room back in the guild in the name of an accident?”

My first under-the-table balled tightly and my mood began to sour upon hearing the asshead’s words regarding the pure and simple Shio who knows nothing about Subaru’s true nature.

Behind those round glasses and the gentle demeanor, he adapts in front of others, what’s hidden behind the facade is a massive pervert who gets off probably making others cry by snatching away their lovers. I have already heard half a dozen of rumors about how this potty mouth takes away others’ lovers and leave them once he enjoys the despair of those who get their partner stolen.

He got a powerful backup and has a C-rank skill to back his actions which provides him the freedom to do as he pleased.

And it was plain as day that his next target was Shio after whom Subaru has been for three months now. Two months ago, I hit him in the face upon hearing his intention toward Shio but I was not ready to pay the price.

In just a day, I lost my part-time job, my sister was fired from the company she has been working for three years now, our house was set on fire and the least of concern, my three ribs, and lower jaw were messed up beyond human repair. Thankfully, Shio doesn’t charge me or I might have been working as her slave for the rest of my life.

People might think I am a loser for not standing up for the girl whom I like but this cruel reality has shown me a very critical fact.

The foremost person you should be concerned about is yourself.

And I am doing the same by ignoring the glasses and walking out of the class. The words he was spatting were burning a part of my consciousness and urging me to beat the shit off the guy who was uttering such vulgar things for Shio. But experience and memories of what happened earlier when I moved on my impulse assisted me to retain my calmness and shrug off this matter entirely.

I am sorry, Shio. Despite being your best friend I could not take a stand for you. Now whether you fall for Subaru or not is something I could do nothing about since worrying about my and my only family’s life holds my utmost priority.

‘Ah…it’s already four… ‘

I rushed down the hallway toward the exit after I glanced at my phone which was displaying that I was already half an hour late for the grand opening. But since today was a weekday, I am certain that there wouldn’t be many players around.

And considering how people mostly tend to have their own VR nowadays, arcades have mainly been left for those underprivileged categories whose family doesn’t possesses a mana wielder.

Hilarious it was that despite having mana flowing through my nerves, I still use public amenities and could be regarded as behind the poverty line in today’s generation.

My sister did get a part-time job at a net cafè but her earning was not enough that I could freely spend and this arcade money was also something I have saved from my job. I do not want to increase her burden and only seek some portion of fun where I could keep my expenses in check.

Sure Nee-san doesn’t prohibit me or rather she offers pocket money weekly when she gets a salary but I use them for groceries instead since I was not some spoilt brat.

‘Though compared to my past self… ‘

It was not after much that I found myself racing down the hill where my school was situated. Since the population of Japan was narrowed down to eight million the number of pedestrians and vehicles on roads was comparatively less than what I have seen in past videos before dungeons appeared.

Though it would have been a hassle to live in such a polluted and overcrowded world, it still was peaceful.

‘I should speed up… ‘

I cannot utilize mana of my free will to strengthen my body but in order to protect myself in case of urgency, I have trained my body or more like was forced to, since a very early age. I was taught martial arts and some sword skills as well.

‘Shittt!!!! ‘

For the fuck sake, I lost my center of gravity, and the hurried steps downhill sped up to an uncontrollable momentum, resulting…

“Fucccck!”

I yelled as I rolled.

Fortunately, it wasn’t too high when I tripped, and the distance I covered in such a brash way was only some meters but it was aching on my left elbow, and due and already knowing where I would be smashing myself to stop my body made me groan.

There was a bridge just at the foot of the hill whose rear end’s railing was my blockage point. It wasn’t my first time being a bowling ball so I knew the impact would hurt like hell.

And as I expected just in mere seconds, my right arm slammed on the concrete, however rather than the pain, what made me startled was the thing I was holding in my hand, which went missing just as I felt the hit.

“Where my…”

I was not able to finish my words regarding the whereabouts of my phone which I had in my clutch before I sprang to my feet, only to catch a glimpse of it dropping into the water.

**TIP**

Since the device flew with an arc because of the impact, I was able to see it for the last fraction of a second before my precious lifeline drowned in the water.

The water was flowing slowly and knowing the weight of my phone I knew it wouldn’t get washed away by the waves. However, considering how old it was and the model I had didn’t come with a waterproof feature…I already lost the motivation to go and search for it…

…or so most of the people might have done, but not me.

And not so long after I would realize how this particular decision would change my life.

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A/N: – Drop a comment~

I am trying to keep it descriptive but won’t stagnate the plot so please don’t give up on the novel just now…