Recess arrived.
Sun shining.
Children screaming their lungs out.
Teachers pretending not to see anything.
Haru cautiously stepped outside, sticking close to the wall like a tiny, anxious ninja.
Okay… If I avoid the wide-open spaces… avoid looking like fresh meat to bully… avoid standing out
"Oi."
A shadow loomed.
Then two more.
Haru froze.
Boss Mob Encounter: Araya + Two Goonlings
Araya, the red-haired gorilla himself, stepped forward with the confident swagger of someone who believed punching air increased his IQ.
"Well, well, well," Araya grinned, "look who crawled back."
His two goons snickered behind him.
"Human lunch buyer finally returned!"
"Man, we missed our daily snacks!"
Haru blinked.
"…Lunch….buyer?"
(So Past Haru was a bullied wallet. )
He raised his hands slowly.
"Nope. No buying. No vending machine sacrifices. I'm retired."
Araya stepped closer, cracking his knuckles.
"Don't act different just 'cause you disappeared for a week. You're the same chubby shrimp."
Haru gulped.
He tried sidestepping.
They moved to block him.
He tried walking around.
They formed a wall of aggressive mediocrity.
He tried praying.
God declined the call.
Then
DING.
A blue window popped up.
[Micro-Quest Triggered!]
Objective: Make them angry.
Reward: Height Supplement (Minor)
Description: Increase host assertiveness. Psychologically beneficial. Probably.
Haru squinted at the quest.
"…You want me to anger the three future juvenile offenders… ON PURPOSE?"
The system sparkled smugly.
Haru inhaled.
Squared his tiny shoulders.
And said:
"…You know, Araya… for someone who calls me short… you sure act like someone whos compensating for a small pee pee"
The world froze.
The goons gasped like Victorian ladies.
Araya's left eye twitched.
"YOU, what'd you say?!"
Haru tried again.
"You heard me. Tiny PEE PEE. Big insecurity. Trying to compensate because pee pee so small even a microscope cant see it"
Araya's face heated to tomato-levels.
The system pinged brightly:
[Micro-Quest Complete!]
Reward: Height Supplement (Minor) – Growth potential increased
Effect will apply gradually.
Araya lunged forward
But then:
"HEY!"
A fierce voice cut through the air.
Chiyuri marched toward them, eyes blazing.
"Araya! WHAT are you doing!?ILL REPORT YOU TO THE TEACHER"
Araya flinched.
"N-Nothing! We weren't doing anything!"
Her glare intensified.
"You're bullying Haru again!"
The two goons nudged Araya.
"Let's go man, lets leave for now"
Araya clicked his tongue and shoved his hands in his pockets.
"Tch. Whatever. We'll deal with you later, fatso."
Haru exhaled shakily.
The system chimed.
[XP Gained: Non-violent Conflict Resolution]
Minor stat increases applied.
Chiyuri planted her fists on her hips.
"You okay?"
Haru nodded weakly.
"I was… internally screaming for help. But yes."
She puffed out her cheeks.
"Those jerks… keep away from them, okay? They're idiots."
Haru smiled softly.
"Ill try."
But as recess ended and kids shuffled inside, Haru could still feel it
Burning.
Intense.
Gaze.
From a gorilla
The glare of Araya and his goons from across the yard.
They were whispering.
Plotting something
As when he looked back they were gone, Skipping class entirely.
Waiting for Harayuki Arita outside the school gates...