The rest of the tests were uneventful afterward. Aizawa's expulsion threat hung heavy, his bloodshot eyes promising doom for the last place student.
But once everything was over, Rui clocked 12th place, respectable but not too outstanding, blending into the mid-pack, while Midoriya's canon uselessness fumbled him to the bottom at twentieth place.
However, relief washed over the class as the logical ruse (which sounded like bullshit by the way) was revealed, leading to everyone shuffling back to the locker rooms amid exhausted banter.
In the dim locker area as Rui toweled off the excess sweat, the post-test high began to ebb, turning into mild disappointment.
He was happy that he could finally meet the future heroines of anime, but he couldn't help but feel slighted that the System had kept itself silent all day long.
No missions, no side quests, no loose threads (a.k.a. other female hero students) to pull on due to the fact that they spent nearly all day doing the apprehension tests.
Adding insult to injury, U.A. 's structure was literally a fortress, with the teachers untouchable and the students under the constant eyes of the Rat God, Nedzu.
(He was sure the man-bear-whatever-it-is was watching his every move through it's tiny little camera's)
So he had to be careful not to let his eyes linger too much on the babes, lest anyone see the unholy gleam in them that no normal teenage boy should have.
"This sucks," he hissed, frustration knotting his gut.
He threw the towel onto the floor in anger, currently in a secluded corner of the locker rooms entrance, mouth curling up in a sneer.
"System, how the hell do you expect me to—" His complaint was cut off.
He paused, listening closer.
He wasn't sure if his ears were deceiving him, but the same sound came again: a small, choked sound, thin and fragile, coming from behind a nearby concrete pillar separating the changing areas.
His eyes narrowed. Who was crying?
On silent feet, he edged closer, peering around the corner.
Jirou Kyoka huddled there, knees drawn to her chest, earphone jacks coiled around her fingers like snakes.
She dabbed at red-rimmed eyes.
Her usual edge was softened by the sadness.
Rui frowned. "Why is she crying? It's not like-"
Then it hit him.
Oh. Ohhhh. The test results.
He remembered she had scrapped low, seventeenth or eighteenth if he wasn't mistaken. Aizawa's 'expulsion' threat had been a fake-out, but the humiliation of failing that badly must be real.
She must feel so sad, so pathetic... so vulnerable.
A devious spark ignited in Rui's brain, immediately eclipsing his frustration.
Vulnerable. Alone.
Just the way he liked his women.
Mouth watering, he activated the lewd lens with a hoarse whisper, his eyes zeroing on her head.
She had 1,500 Ero points circling around her head, exactly the right amount to open the next slot in his harem and unlock naughty nectar.
And right on cue, the system chimed in his head.
[New Mission: Console the Earbud Babe. Induce Jirou Kyoka's inaugural U.A. climax through seduction. Reward: +1,500 Ero-Points, Skill Upgrade (Naughty nectar), Harem Slot Progression. Would Host like to proceed, Y/N?]
Rui scoffed and immediately tapped yes.
He was so ready to get down.
Truth be told, Rui hadn't really considered jirou as a potential sex slave in the grand scheme of things.
He would admit that she wasn't the type he normally lusted after but she did have assets and she would be useful for his future needs.
Taking a slow, deep breath, Rui smoothed the frantic eagerness from his face, replacing it with a look of practiced, gentle concern.
With a whisper, he activated the Gentle Compulsion, a subtle warmth spreading through his words, ready to manipulate the girl to kingdom come.
Ready and armed to the metaphorical teeth, he stepped fully into the open, keeping his voice low and soft, careful not to startle her.
"Hey, Jirou, are you okay?" he asked, his voice sounding genuinely worried while he smiled inwardly. Let the games begin.
Said girl flinched violently, snapping her head up. Her eyes were red and wide, and she quickly scrubbed the back of her hand across her cheek, desperate to hide her evidence of her emotions.
"Mind your own business, bozo," she snapped, her voice tight and angry. "I'm fine. Just go."
But Rui didn't retreat.
He simply leaned against the wall a few feet away, projecting a relaxed, non-judgmental presence.
"I get it," he replied calmly. "But I also remember what it felt like to give something everything you have and still end up near the bottom of the scoreboard. The scores sting. Especially when you know you're better than that."
His observation struck a nerve.
Jirou's aggressive posture seemed to slump fractionally.
"It was a pathetic score," she muttered, the confession coming out quickly, laced with self-contempt. "I should have done way better than seventeenth. Everyone else has these crazy, powerful Quirks, and I barely scraped by."
Rui gave a sympathetic, self-deprecating smile. "Look, mine isn't any better. You saw my score. twelfth. It was okay, but not exactly All Might status."
Shrugging, he showed her his arm, tightening his muscles for show, "My Quirk isn't flashy like those meat heads at the top, and it's not some all-powerful force either," he continued, his tone humble. "I had to work my ass off just to get into this school just like everyone else. But It's brutal when you realize just showing up isn't enough."
Heh. Work his ass off.
Rui laughed inwardly.
If they only knew all he had to do to gain power was fuck a lot of women.
The irony was hilarious.
Meanwhile, Jirou seemed to shrink further into herself, "I-I get that now…" she muttered, rubbing a hand down her arm, "My quirk definitely isn't going to cut it."
"That's exactly the problem, Jirou," he said, pushing off the wall. "You have a specialized Quirk. You need training that the average curriculum won't give you. I read a ton of stuff before I came here. I'm fascinated by Quirks that are hard to figure out—their potential is huge, but the advanced training manuals aren't gonna be on the internet for you to use."
She looked up fully now, her curiosity overriding her shame. "Advanced training? What are you talking about?"
She narrowed her eyes, "Are you some kind of quirk freak?"
Oh he was some kind of freak alright!
Rui felt his brow twitch but managed to cover it up with a sheepish expression.
"No, just a guy who does his homework," Rui chuckled, giving her a small, sincere smile, gentle compulsion encouraging her to see him as harmless.
"I have some high-level training literature at my apartment. Studies on how to advance special Quirks without injuring yourself. It's above the U.A. freshman level right now. If you're serious about fixing that score, I could let you borrow them. No big deal."
Jirou chewed her lip, her suspicion warring with her ambition. "Why? Why are you doing this? I don't even know you."
Rui just shrugged, his demeanor cool and casual, making it seem like it was no big deal.
"Why not? We're in the same class, and I hate seeing people waste their talent. No strings attached. You just hit me up when you decide if you want the books."
He pulled out his phone, quickly entering his own number into a blank contact on his screen.
"Here. Take my number. You can call or text me anytime. No pressure either way." He held the phone out to her, his hand steady.
Jirou stared at the phone for a long moment, then slowly reached out and took it.
She quickly copied the number, handed Rui's phone back, and tucked her chin down.
"... I'll call you. Maybe."
She stood up abruptly, brushed past him without a word, and hurried toward the hall door.
Rui watched her go, a small, triumphant curve playing on his lips.
As soon as she was out of sight, Rui's composure shattered.
He grinned fiercely, letting out a short, triumphant sound.
He had her hook, line and sinker.
Immediately, the system pinged in his mind, confirming his success:
[Mission Progress: Console the Earbud Babe - 30% Complete. Psychological engagement established through exploitation of core insecurity. Harem Slot pending. Seduction phase initiated.]
[Congratulations, Host! Things are finally looking up.]
"Oh yes they are System. Oh yes they are…"
Rui practically skipped toward the showers, throwing the towel over his shoulder.
Man he couldn't wait to break her in.
He was definitely going home to celebrate with his tied up Obāchan.
More wins for the Ero lord!