Chapter 10: Lack of Masculinity, Acting Soft

"Hina"

"Hmmm" Hina responded, tilting her head slightly.

"Why don’t we go try it." Reiji suggested. Hina had been holding him for long enough, and he was already feeling a little awkward.

"Alright." Hina replied, dragging Reiji along.

"Wait, wait. I want to do something. I’ll join you down in a bit."

"Okay." Hina didn’t think much about it and went downstairs.

Reiji breathed a sigh of relief and quietly locked the door. No way he was letting her see him work out.

He got down on the floor and began the push-ups. After a few minutes, Reiji had completed the four exercises on the list.

Honestly, it was much easier than yesterday.

Ding!

_____

[Daily Quest: Training For Dominion]

[PUSH-UPS] – [20/20] {Completed}

[SQUATS] – [20/20] {Completed}

[SIT-UPS] – [20/20] {Completed}

[RUNNING] – [0/5KM] {Incomplete} 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

_____

Reiji wiped the sweat off his face as he went to unlock the door. As soon as he opened the door, he froze on the spot. Because there was somebody in front of him, with her arms crossed, pouting.

"What were you doing?" Hina said, crossing her arms even tighter.

"Uhmm... Nothing." Reiji rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding Hina’s gaze. "Let’s go downstairs to check out the treadmill," Reiji said.

Before Hina could respond, Reiji scooped her up into a princess carry.

’I’m so dead.’ Reiji braced himself for the worst. But it never came. Instead, Hina wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek.

"Next time don’t lock the door on me." Hina said, then she narrowed her eyes dangerously before speaking again. "If you do... I might not be so forgiving."

Reiji swallowed hard as he took her downstairs. His mind busy replaying what she just said. Though she sounded very playful saying it, to Reiji, it was a clear warning.

When they arrived downstairs, Hina was busy listening to Reiji’s racing heartbeat. Her mind was going wild with thoughts.

’...’

Reiji’s heart was definitely not racing because of her but rather, it was racing because of the soft feeling pressed against his chest. Because Hina had wrapped her arms around Reiji’s neck, her big boobs pressed against his chest, and Reiji’s pathetic little mind couldn’t help but wander off.

And he was having a hard time keeping his sword in check.

The more he tried to force his emotions down, the more his heartbeat quickened, and Hina raised her head and glanced at Reiji’s face.

’He looks totally chill on the outside but...’ Hina thought as she lowered her head again to listen to his heartbeat. ’His mind is totally chaotic.’

And this sudden movement of hers made her boobs move around Reiji’s chest, causing another wave of explicit thoughts to play in his head. It made Reiji yell in frustration in his head. ’Hina please get off me! It’s getting harder by the second.’

After a few seconds, Reiji somehow managed to calm himself down. He gently tried to place her down, but she clung tightly onto him.

"Hina... we’re here."

Hina blinked as she saw they were already downstairs. She reluctantly removed her arms from around his neck.

They plugged it in and pressed start, watching the belt ease into motion.

"I’m going to try it first." Reiji said as he clipped the safety cord to his shirt, tapped in 5km, hit start, and waited as the belt slowly came to life.

Hina stared at him as he ran on the treadmill. Her mind still remembering Reiji’s racing heart. ’What was he thinking about?’ she narrowed her brows. She noticed that ever since that day, Reiji had been a little distant.

A normal girlfriend wouldn’t notice this, but someone as obsessive and possessive like Hina definitely knows her man like the back of her palm.

Reiji was busy running and didn’t know what was going on in Hina’s mind.

Ding!

_____

[Daily Quest: Training For Dominion]

[PUSH-UPS] – [20/20] {Completed}

[SQUATS] – [20/20] {Completed}

[SIT-UPS] – [20/20] {Completed}

[RUNNING] – [5/5KM] {Completed}

_____

Reiji was drenched in sweat as he collected the towel Hina was holding. Hina stared at Reiji for a moment longer than usual. ’He looks hot.’

Ding!

[Daily Quest Completed!]

[Congratulations Host! You’ve Gained 5 Free Stat Points, +2 Strength, +1 Speed, +4 Stamina, Mystery Item.]

[Hidden Reward – Full Recovery]

Reiji instantly felt a cool sensation wash over him, and all the fatigue he was feeling evaporated as if it was never there. He took in a deep breath.

"I’m going to go take a shower. Why don’t you give it a try?" Reiji said as he headed upstairs.

As soon as he closed the door, he pulled up the system panel with his mind.

Ding!

_____

[Status]

[Host: Kurosawa Reiji] – [LV1]

[Class: None]

[Skills: None]

___

[EXP: 0/100] [BP: 17/100]

[Health: 100] [Mana: 100] [Fatigue: 0]

___

[STRENGTH: 7] (Vital for the accumulation of bond points through affection. Who doesn’t love a strong, thick man ;) but sadly, you are not one.)

[SPEED: 5]

[STAMINA: 8]

[PERCEPTION: 6]

[INTELLIGENCE: 9]

[AESTHETICS: 3] (Also vital for the accumulation of bond points. Beauty and aesthetics appreciation are things you clearly lack.) :(

Free Stats: 5

_____

Reiji studied his stats. To him, it was something great, but compared to an F Rank Awakener, it was lacking by a few miles. Reiji clenched his fist, stirred in his heart.

"No matter what, I’m going to get stronger."

But first, he needed to head to the bathroom. If he stalled, Hina might think otherwise. With that, he walked towards the washroom.

After Reiji washed up, he opened the door and froze.

Hina stood there with only a towel wrapped around her body, beads of sweat from running still clinging to her skin. The soft fabric contrasted with how effortlessly she carried herself, as if she had no idea the effect she had on him.

Reiji’s throat went dry.

The thought of just a thin piece of cloth being the only thing between them made his mind short-circuit for a moment. He quickly looked away, trying to regain control of his thoughts.

Hina saw Reiji and immediately pouted as she rushed over. "Rei-kun, why didn’t you wait for me."

"W-what...!" Reiji blurted in surprise. ’What does she mean by that?’ His head went through several sequences of ones and zeros.

Hina reached Reiji and lifted her leg, whispering softly in his ear. Reiji was just a head taller than her. "I wanted us to bath together." Hina said almost casually.

Reiji’s mouth twitched as he stumbled backwards, his back hitting the bathroom door. "You’re joking, right?" He spoke with an awkward laugh.

Hina’s expression immediately darkened as her head was now facing down. Then she spoke softly.

"Reiji, why are you becoming distant from me? You don’t love me anymore?" Every word was like a blade stabbing him.

Before Reiji could soothe things over or scramble for a sugarcoated lie, the system chimed in.

Ding!

[Host barely holds any masculinity, acting soft. ಠ⁠︵⁠ಠ ]

Reiji paused briefly, his brows knitting. He couldn’t understand what the system was trying to say.

[Host is bonded with the Dominion Bond System not a petting system. Masculinity in this context is Dominion.]

Ding!

_____

[Side Quest Triggered!]

[Task]

[Dominate this conversation, be the head and not the tail.]

[Rewards: +5 Stats Points, +6 Bond Points]

[Penalty: Soul Torture Chamber]