SWNOVELXO Chapter 11: 11
The soft glow of the moon spilled into Chisaki Miyazaki's room, casting long, dancing shadows across her familiar stuffed animals. For the past few nights, these beloved companions had taken to defying gravity, floating eerily above her bed, a silent, unsettling ballet. Tonight was no different. A small, plush rabbit, her favorite, drifted lazily near the ceiling, its button eyes seeming to stare down at her.
Chisaki, usually a beacon of cheerfulness, felt a shiver run down her spine. Enough was enough. She had tried ignoring it, tried rationalizing it, but the phenomena were escalating. Taking a deep breath, she sat up, her voice trembling slightly as she addressed the empty air.
"H-hello?" she stammered, her gaze fixed on the floating rabbit. "Is… is there someone there? Are you a ghost? Please, just tell me what you want!"
As if in response, a gentle breeze rustled the curtains, and the window, which she had left slightly ajar for the cool night air, swung open wider. A figure, silhouetted against the moonlight, stepped effortlessly into her room.
Chisaki gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief. It was Ren. Shigeno Ren, her new classmate. Confusion warred with a sudden surge of alarm. Why was he here? How did he get in? Her mind, already primed by her father's warnings, immediately jumped to the worst conclusions. Every man is a wolf, her father always said. And Ren, entering her home uninvited, certainly fit the description of a predator. Could he be the reason for the floating toys? Was he some kind of pervert, playing tricks on her?
Before she could voice her accusations, a shadowy form coalesced in the corner of her room, moving with chilling speed. It lunged towards Chisaki, a silent, menacing blur. Chisaki saw it coming, a primal fear seizing her, freezing her in place. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for an impact that never came.
When she dared to open them, Ren was standing directly in front of her, his back to her, shielding her. He had blocked the shadowy figure's attack. The air crackled with an unseen energy.
"Back up," Ren commanded, his voice low and steady, a stark contrast to her own panicked thoughts.
A flurry of movements followed. Ren moved with a surprising agility, exchanging a few swift, silent blows with the shadowy figure. The fight was brief, almost a dance, and it was clear the shadowy figure was losing. With a final, desperate lunge, it darted back towards the open window and vanished into the night.
Ren didn't pursue. He turned to Chisaki, his expression calm. "Are you okay?" he asked, his gaze searching hers.
Chisaki could only nod, still reeling from the sudden, terrifying encounter. "Y-yes," she managed, her voice a whisper.
Without another word, Ren turned and slipped back out the window, disappearing as quickly as he had arrived. Chisaki was about to call out, to ask a thousand questions, but he was already gone. She stood there, utterly bewildered, her heart still pounding. What just happened? Who was that shadowy figure? And who was Ren, really? She had no idea, but as she looked out at the moon, a strange, enticing pull settled in her chest. Tonight, the moon felt different, almost… alluring.
Meanwhile, back at Yuragi-sou, Ren settled into his room, a faint smile playing on his lips. He had just finished his performance. There had been no shadowy attacker, no real fight. It had all been an elaborate illusion, woven with his 'Real Illusion' ability. Chisaki, caught within its subtle grasp, had experienced it as vividly as if it were truly happening. The fear, the surprise, the relief – all genuine emotions triggered by a fabricated reality. This was how he would obtain her curiosity, drawing her attention to him, making her wonder about the mysterious new transfer student.
As for the real source of Chisaki's stuffed animal problem, Ren had already dealt with her. Koyuzu Shigaraki, a mischievous young Tanuki spirit, was now a new resident of Yuragi-sou. Koyuzu, with her innocent and playful nature, had been the culprit behind the floating toys, driven by a childish envy of Chisaki's well-endowed figure – a running gag that Ren found amusing, if a little strange.
Earlier, as Ren was making his way home from school, he had spotted Koyuzu, about to embark on another round of toy-floating mischief at Chisaki's house. Ren had cornered her, his presence a subtle, yet firm, apprehension.
"I know what you're trying to do," Ren had told the startled Tanuki, his voice calm but authoritative. "And I know what you want. I can help you later, but for now, you need to stop bothering Chisaki."
Koyuzu, sensing the undeniable power emanating from Ren, had reluctantly agreed. Apprehended and offered a new home, she had accepted his terms. That was how she became the newest, and youngest, resident of Yuragi-sou. Ren, despite his cynical exterior, had a soft spot for children, and Koyuzu's innocent mischief had been enough to sway him.
When Ren had returned to Yuragi-sou after his brief 'rescue' of Chisaki, he found the inn bustling. The sounds of splashing and laughter drifted from the bathhouse. Koyuzu, already settled in, was having a bath with the rest of the Yuragi-sou residents. He felt a fleeting desire to join them, but he knew his boundaries. He had a different plan for his second Reality Ticket of the day.
After school had ended, Ren had made sure to complete five more chores, earning him his second ticket. He had initially considered using it on Chisaki, but a 'Ticket of Skill' was useless for a relationship. He needed something else, something that would truly benefit him in this new life.
The System window shimmered into existence before him.
[Ticket of Skill has been activated.]
[Effect: Grants the user any desired skill or proficiency.]
Ren thought back to his earlier realization about Naruto not existing in this world. The idea of becoming a mangaka, a creator of worlds, had sparked a deep ambition within him. He knew being a mangaka was incredibly difficult, but with this ticket, he could overcome any obstacle.
"I command the Ticket of Skill to make me the greatest mangaka," Ren mentally articulated, his resolve firm. "I want to be able to draw anything I imagine with incredible speed, while maintaining the highest possible quality in my artwork."
As he finished his command, the familiar, sharp ache returned to his head, more intense than before. A torrent of new memories, of countless hours spent honing his craft, of masterpieces flowing effortlessly from his pen, flooded his mind. His history was changing again, subtly yet profoundly, weaving him into the fabric of this world as an artistic prodigy, a nascent legend in the making. The world of manga, once a distant dream, was now his to conquer.