As the voice in his head faded, Gotoh Shin's mind was flooded with a wealth of guitar techniques.
After Ichiri finished breakfast, the two set off for school.
The ripple effects of the Apathy continued to spread. Even as more women filled societal roles, the overall economic climate remained bleak. It was a given that things would only worsen from here.
Shin had been preparing for that future. He liked Ichiri—truly liked her—and for the sake of their shared happiness, he needed to work twice as hard.
"Hmm… looks like another series is getting the axe."
The email from his editor was tactfully worded, but the message was clear.
Though Shin poured his heart into it, his raw talent was painfully average.
He wrote light novels, drawing from ideas buried in his memory. He'd already published several volumes, but none had performed well. Most were discontinued due to poor sales.
He'd keep writing, of course. There was still some money in it, and besides… it was just borrowing from another world, anyway.
"While the story's premise is intriguing, the plot progression feels a bit too straightforward, and the prose lacks a certain polish."
"Perhaps we could revisit that proposal from before?"
His editor had offered a series of suggestions.
The so-called "proposal" was simple: use his identity as a male author for promotion, creating a gimmick around a handsome young writer.
"No, I'm not a pretty boy."
Shin refused outright.
With a female-to-male ratio of 20 to 1, the women of this world were, to put it mildly, a little unhinged.
If he put his real face out there for a horde of fangirls, it would only invite trouble.
Case in point: just walking down the street now, he'd already been catcalled by several delinquent-looking girls.
Shin naturally quickened his pace, pulling Ichiri along.
"Quit playin' hard to get. Bet you're the wildest once the pants come off."
"Those hands are nice… Let me have a lick."
"What's wrong with helpin' a girl out with her fingers?"
The young women muttered among themselves, watching Shin's retreating back.
It was worth noting that Shin wasn't classically "handsome." He was more of a subtle charmer—the type who grew on you the longer you looked.
Think of him as a male version of Megumi Katō. Seemingly plain at first glance, but quietly captivating upon closer inspection.
And even with that, he had to deal with this kind of pressure. A twenty-to-one ratio was frankly absurd.
Many women lived under significant… repression.
Shin had no desire to end up chained in a basement…
This kind of harassment was a daily ordeal for him.
Ichiri was trembling with fear, yet her gaze involuntarily drifted to Shin's hands.
His fingers were long and slender, his skin pale as milk.
I want to… grab his hand and just lick it all over…
"Ichiri, what are you staring at?"
Shin glanced around, then smiled wryly.
He was asking a question he already knew the answer to—he understood all too well what was going through Ichiri's mind.
In a normal world, men might have a thing for girls in black thigh-highs.
But this was a matriarchal world where women called the shots, and they had their own… preferences.
For instance, "hand-licking" and "finger-play" were common tags on adult sites.
Men might fantasize about women pinning them down, while women fantasized about men laying hands on them. Shin had even seen so-called best-selling "men's black stockings and gloves" online.
I wasn't looking at your hands!
Ichiri shivered. Oh no, I messed up. Is Shin going to hate me now?
"Waaah! Please don't hate me!"
Like a puppy facing abandonment, Ichiri suddenly clutched at Shin's sleeve.
"It'll be terrible! Without Shin, I'll Vadashi—!"
Ichiri was embarrassing herself again, right at the school gates.
Shin sighed, reached out, and gently stroked her cheek, his fingers inadvertently brushing a faint line across her lips.
"How could I ever hate you, Ichiri? We'll always be together. I'm not going anywhere."
Shin smiled. Now, he had Ichiri's heart completely in his grasp.
Poor Ichiri, being so easily swayed, immediately broke into a radiant smile.
She was sharp in her own way, but terribly clumsy, always cooking up the strangest ideas.
Shin planned to spend his life with her—partly because he liked her, and partly because he couldn't bear to leave her to her anxieties.
In this moment, Shin radiated a strong "maternal" aura. Though, by this world's reversed gender standards, it would be more accurate to call it a "paternal" aura.
"Shin… hehe, my Shin."
Those words just now… they've shown me your true feelings.
Little Ichiri was already dreaming of a bright future, having even decided on her future children's names.
If you can't find a band, just make your own!
Haha, I'll be on guitar. All I need to do next is give birth to the bassist, drummer, and keyboardist!
A family band isn't so bad, right?
In her mind, a pink-haired family performed on stage to a roaring, ecstatic crowd, the atmosphere electric.
Oh yeah, his finger just touched my lips… It felt really nice.
Shin's hands smell sweet… and they're so soft. I want to grab them, shove them right in my mouth, lick them madly with my tongue, and suck on them nonstop…
[Close contact with a woman has enhanced physical abilities. Skill upgraded.]
[Acquired: Guitar Technique (Level 2)]
The cheat triggered again, filling Shin's mind with even more advanced guitar techniques.
Watching the ever-shifting expressions on Ichiri's face, Shin felt a complicated mix of emotions.
She's definitely spinning some delusional drama in her head again. Damn it, why does she have to have such a vivid imagination?
Shin brought his fingers together and gave Ichiri's forehead a few light chops.
After that, they headed into school and began another ordinary day of classes.
During break, Shin and Ichiri borrowed a guitar.
He decided to test his newly acquired skills and naturally began to play.
"Shin, your guitar skills are incredible! That's like half a year's worth of practice. Have you been training in secret?"
Ichiri's eyes were wide, her face a picture of disbelief.
"So this is 'half a year's' level?"
Level 1 was beginner level. Level 2 equated to about six months of practice—enough to be stage-ready.
Of course, overly difficult pieces were still out of reach. Those required dedicated practice, not to mention good chemistry with bandmates.
Shin set the guitar down and then leaned sideways against Ichiri's desk.
Her long, slender legs were slightly parted, her toes brushing against her calves a few times.
"Ichiri, what do you think about joining a band?"
Shin asked.
Ichiri swallowed hard, her gaze fixed intently on the curve of Shin's leg.
His face was "ordinary," requiring a long look to find his charm—it was more in his demeanor. But Shin's physique was undoubtedly top-tier.
With that leg stretched out like that… she really wanted to clamp down on it, then rub and grind against his knee to seek some pleasure.
Gotoh Ichiri, you little pervert!
"You want to join a band? No way, absolutely not!"
"Bands are chaotic places! Those women will totally take advantage of you!"
"They'll treat you like a drum set, making crisp sounds; treat you like a bass, covering your mouth so you can't make a peep; treat you like a guitar, strumming you wildly…"
Ichiri was in a panic.
"I'm a living person, how did I turn into a musical instrument? And it's not me wanting to join, it's you."
Shin couldn't help but laugh out loud.