Chapter Two: The Colors of the World

“What color is the world?”

When the teacher posed this question, Sayo Amamiya’s answer was, “A suffocating black.”

As the eldest daughter of the prestigious Amamiya family in Tokyo, Sayo’s childhood should have been filled with happiness. Yet, reality was the opposite.

Her mother’s infidelity transformed her once gentle father into someone unrecognizable. After enduring long-term domestic violence and overwhelming shame, her mother ultimately took her own life when Sayo was only a year old.

Left without a target for his scorn, her father’s resentment turned to young Sayo. He always suspected she wasn’t his child, but paternity tests confirmed their bond, forcing him to fulfill his duty as her parent.

Even so, her father showed her little affection, instead building a new family with another woman and fathering a daughter with her.

From early on, Sayo could only watch as her half-sister was cherished and adored, while she herself was treated like an abandoned, broken doll—noticed only when absolutely necessary.

Loneliness and envy became the hallmarks of Sayo Amamiya’s youth.

Over time, Sayo grew weary of returning home and came to look forward to school instead. Only there was she free from her father’s cold disregard, able to play and laugh with friends without restraint.

But all of this ended when her sister, Saori Amamiya, entered the same school.

Saori was beautiful, academically gifted, and always dressed like a little princess by their father. With outstanding grades, striking looks, and a generous hand, Saori naturally became the new star of the school.

Saori, however, detested her elder sister, blaming her for constantly angering their father.

Thus, after Saori’s enrollment, rumors about Sayo began to circulate throughout the school, and one by one her friends drifted away.

Years passed, and Sayo endured in silence. Until today—when a girl claiming to be “Tanaka’s” girlfriend slapped Sayo hard in front of the entire class, accusing her of seducing “Tanaka.”

Sayo didn’t even know who this “Tanaka” was, yet she was branded a homewrecker.

That was the final straw; school was no longer a haven for her.

After class, Sayo didn’t return home as usual. Instead, she went alone to her mother’s grave and sat there until late at night.

Only then did she feel a little less alone.

But when she finally realized it was time to head home, she discovered she didn’t have enough money for the bus. In the end, she could only rest on a bench at the bus stop, seeking shelter from the rain.

“Maybe, just like my father says, I was born to be despised.”

This thought flashed through her mind as she swallowed the sleeping pills she’d been taking for years, lying down on the bench and slowly drifting off—even knowing the consequences.

…

The next morning.

Lying in bed, the girl’s lashes quivered before she opened her eyes.

Realizing she wasn’t at the bus stop from the night before, Sayo didn’t panic; instead, her calm gaze surveyed the room.

A strange room, an unfamiliar bed, and a faint trace of a masculine scent hovering in the air.

So, someone took me home?

With this thought, Sayo lifted the covers to inspect herself.

Her clothes were a bit disheveled, but there was no sign she’d been undressed, nor any odd smells on her body.

She moved her limbs slightly—no discomfort, nothing out of the ordinary.

So he didn’t touch me?

Sayo’s eyes remained indifferent. She rose and glanced around but couldn’t find her shoes, so she stepped out barefoot.

Opening the bedroom door, Sayo scanned the living room, her gaze finally settling on the figure sleeping on the sofa.

He looked no older than eighteen, wearing a white shirt and black knee-length shorts. The thin blanket that should have covered him had half–slid to the floor, revealing most of his body—and in his arms, a pair of… women’s school shoes?

For a moment, surprise flickered across Sayo’s usually expressionless face. Her wide eyes shifted back and forth between the shoe in his arms and her own bare feet.

Am I… less attractive than a single shoe?

The absurd thought flashed through her mind before she shook her head.

She glanced at the window—the sky was already bright, and the sun was about to rise.

Given Tokyo’s usual sunrise, it was probably between 6:20 and 7:00 AM.

Sayo didn’t own a cell phone; aside from bus fare to get to and from school, the Amamiya family never gave her extra money. She always told time by the sun or with help from friends.

School started at 7:40. She had no idea where she was, but to avoid being late, she decided to retrieve her shoe first.

Quietly, Sayo crept closer, crouched down, and reached for the heel of her school shoe, tugging gently.

It didn’t budge. Instead, the sleeping boy slowly opened his eyes.

He’s awake.

So she thought, and their eyes met—his still clouded with sleep and confusion.

Having sensed something tugging at what he held in his arms, the boy groggily opened his eyes and saw a slender, pale arm.

“What’s…”

He blinked in confusion, following the arm upward—his gaze lingering for a moment on her impressive bust before meeting her calm eyes.

Isn’t this the girl from last night?

After a brief pause, realization dawned, and he hurried to sit up. As he moved, the black school shoe slipped from his grasp and fell to the floor with a crisp sound.

With a “thud,” the room fell into an awkward silence.

He stared blankly at the shoe at his feet, while the girl continued to watch him with those indifferent eyes.

[With such sharp perception, this girl already treads the path of death! Luckily, those 800 episodes of Detective Conan in your past life weren’t wasted—within two short seconds you’ve already devised a perfect crime and airtight alibi in your mind.]

…

The inner monologue, while not exactly helpful, snapped him out of his daze. He coughed awkwardly, scratched his head, and hurried to explain to the girl before him.

“Well, you’re awake? About the shoes—I saw they were a bit dirty last night, so I washed them. But after washing, they dried too slowly, so I held onto one to warm it up. That’s all! That’s really what happened!”

His tone shifted from flustered, to suddenly inspired, to firm conviction—so much so that even he began to believe his own excuse.

Sayo, however, said nothing. She simply picked up the shoe, now warm from his embrace, and examined it carefully. Satisfied there were no suspicious white stains or odd smells, she put it on.

Then, lifting her expressionless yet unexpectedly endearing face to him, she spoke softly, “The other one.”

Her voice was gentle, like the tender mewling of a newborn kitten.

The other one?

Her words startled him. Only then, noticing her other bare foot, did he realize and quickly apologized, rummaging around the sofa. He found nothing until, at last, he spotted the other shoe beneath the thin blanket.

He handed the shoe to her, watching as she put it on and tried to make conversation.

“Um… hi, I’m Yuusei Anwa.”

His introduction made her pause mid-motion, but she soon finished putting on her shoe, stood up, and bowed slightly.

“Sayo Amamiya.”

She spoke only those two words, then silently fixed her gaze on Yuusei.

To be honest, being stared at so intently by a beautiful girl would normally make Yuusei uncomfortable, but right now, he barely noticed.

Because, the moment Sayo stated her name, a pale blue virtual screen appeared before his eyes.

[Name: Sayo Amamiya]

[Current status: A lost girl who cares nothing for herself]

[Current affection: 13 (not quite an unpleasant stranger)]

(Note: Affection ≤ -30 is hostility; ≤ 0 is dislike; ≤ 10 is indifference; ≤ 20 is not quite an unpleasant stranger; ≤ 30 is acquaintance; ≤ 40 is friend; ≤ 50 is close friend; ≤ 60 is confidante; ≤ 70 is budding feelings; ≤ 80 is fondness; ≤ 90 is love; ≥ 90 is obsession; ≥ 100 is undying devotion)

[Currently achievable endings:]

[1. Fallen girl who has lost all hope in the world. Condition: disregard Sayo Amamiya’s feelings and forcibly possess her. Reward: one million yen]

[2. Girl who rekindles hope for the world. Condition: raise affection above 70. Reward: three random master-level martial arts skills]

(Note: As you prevented a ‘fallen’ ending last night, you are awarded twenty basic skill points. These can be distributed among any current skills you possess.)