My 'System' Is Myself!?

Genichi sat before the laboratory table with a pen in hand, preparing to add the latest group of volunteers' data to his research log.

The sound of the door opening made him look up.

His expression froze for a moment.

Yukino stood in the doorway wearing a clean white dress. Her long hair had been carefully brushed, and she had even applied a touch of makeup.

Her eyes were still slightly red and swollen, but most of the gloom within them had vanished. In its place was a light Genichi had never seen on her face before.

It was neither cold nor sharp, nor did it carry her former self-righteous conviction.

Instead, it was gentle and resolute, with an almost reverent quality.

Genichi looked past Yukino to Haruno, who stood behind her.

Haruno winked at him, a smug smile tugging at her lips. Her expression clearly said, Well? Aren't I amazing?

Genichi set down his pen, leaned back in his chair, and crossed his arms as he regarded the sisters.

Honestly, he had never expected Haruno to convince Yukino so thoroughly.

He understood Yukino far too well. She was stubborn, unyielding, and convinced that everything could be divided into right and wrong.

Changing her mind was harder than making the sun rise in the west.

Yet Haruno had done it. Whatever method she had used, she had succeeded.

Still, Genichi knew that Haruno had not lied.

What he was doing truly was saving the world.

The emergence of Ghost Wielders had given humanity a way to fight evil spirits.

Ordinary people, who had once been helpless against them and could do nothing but wait for death, now had hope.

Not everyone would have the opportunity to become a Ghost Wielder, but at least some were willing to try. Some were willing to risk their lives to protect others.

If that did not count as saving the world, what did?

Genichi's gaze settled on Haruno, and a complicated emotion flashed through his eyes.

That woman certainly knew how to sell an idea.

She had somehow transformed her own sister from someone who hated him to the bone into someone standing before him with unmistakable respect in her eyes.

It would almost be a waste if Haruno never became a motivational speaker.

Yukino stepped forward and stopped in front of Genichi.

She took a deep breath, then bent at the waist in a perfect ninety-degree bow, the standard Japanese posture for a formal apology.

"I'm sorry. I misunderstood you."

Her voice was quiet and slightly unsteady, but every word was clear.

Her long hair slipped from her shoulders and fell beside her cheeks, concealing her expression.

Genichi could see her shoulders trembling faintly, though he could not tell whether it was from nervousness or something else.

He raised an eyebrow, and an amused smile appeared on his lips.

"Isn't a proper Japanese apology supposed to involve a full dogeza?"

The atmosphere in the laboratory instantly froze.

Yukino stiffened before abruptly raising her head. Her beautiful face turned bright red at a visible speed.

The color spread from her cheeks to her ears and down her neck, leaving her face as red as a ripe apple.

She glared at Genichi, her eyes filled with mortified anger. Her lips trembled as she tried to speak, but no words came out.

"Creep!"

She finally forced out the word in a high, strained voice before biting her lip.

Genichi could not help laughing at her reaction.

He had known exactly how Yukino would respond. His suggestion had been deliberately exaggerated, the sort of dramatic apology seen in questionable late-night movies.

He had only said it to tease her.

Watching someone as serious as Yukino become utterly flustered was a rare pleasure.

Haruno stood nearby, watching the exchange with a mischievous smile.

She stepped forward and rested a hand on her sister's shoulder, speaking as casually as if she were commenting on the pleasant weather.

"You could agree, you know. The man standing in front of you is humanity's savior, after all."

Yukino turned and glared at her sister. Her expression screamed, What kind of nonsense are you saying?

Haruno ignored the look and continued.

"Besides, only the people closest to Genichi can receive the Blood Wine and gain the power to save humanity. So, Yukino, if you want that power, there's only one path available to you."

Her voice took on a coaxing quality, like someone persuading a child to take medicine. It might taste bitter, but it was necessary to get better.

Yukino's face grew even redder.

She glared at Haruno, then at Genichi. Her eyes churned with complicated emotions: embarrassment, anger, hesitation, inner conflict, and even a trace of wavering that she herself had not noticed.

She remembered what Haruno had asked her in the bedroom.

Did she want to remain there and slowly rot away, or did she want to do her part to save humanity?

Yukino had chosen the latter.

She simply had not expected the price of that decision to be so personal.

"Y-You two…"

Yukino stammered, all her usual eloquence gone. "What kind of ridiculous things are you saying? I would never…"

"Never what?"

Genichi tilted his head, looking completely innocent.

"Never perform dogeza? Never drink the Blood Wine? Or never become my partner?"

Yukino's face turned so red that it seemed ready to bleed.

She opened her mouth to argue, only to discover that she could not produce a single word.

Each of those three possibilities embarrassed her beyond belief, yet each one also possessed a certain logic.

Dogeza was a traditional form of extreme apology in Japan, even if it normally appeared only in fiction.

Drinking the Blood Wine was necessary to obtain power. Haruno had drunk it, and so had their mother.

As for becoming his partner, both Haruno and their mother had already chosen to stand at his side. If Yukino continued resisting, what exactly was she still trying to protect?

Yukino violently shook her head, banishing the absurd thought.

What was she thinking?

How could she even consider something like that?

She had come here to apologize and ask for forgiveness. She had not come seeking power, much less to offer herself to him.

"I… I'm not doing anything like that!"

Her voice finally regained some strength, but she did not dare meet Genichi's eyes. Instead, she stared at the floor as though she intended to burn a hole through it.

Seeing how flustered she was, Genichi finally laughed aloud.

It was not a loud laugh, but it rang especially clearly through the quiet laboratory.

Yukino lowered her head even further, wishing the ground would open and swallow her.

Haruno found her sister's reaction both amusing and painful to watch.

She knew Genichi was only teasing Yukino. He would never genuinely force her to do anything.

But she also knew that Yukino needed a push. She had to be backed into a corner before she could finally make a choice.

Haruno understood her sister too well. When Yukino was given too many options, she became trapped in indecision.

Only when retreat was no longer possible could she commit herself.

"Yukino."

Haruno's voice turned serious.

"You know I wasn't lying to you. Genichi really is saving this world, and you truly want to contribute to humanity's survival. But power is never given freely. It demands a price."

"I drank the Blood Wine and entrusted my life to Genichi. Mother made her choice and placed her trust in him as well. The same applies to you. If you want power, you must be willing to pay its price."

Yukino's lips trembled.

She knew Haruno was right. Power was never free.

She wanted to become stronger. She wanted to protect others and do what was right, but all of those things demanded sacrifice.

The question was whether she was willing to make that sacrifice.

Was she willing to place her life in Genichi's hands?

Was she willing to become his partner?

Was she willing to stand beside him alongside her sister and mother?

Yukino closed her eyes as countless images flashed through her mind.

When she opened them again, she looked directly at Genichi.

The embarrassment and anger in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by something far more complicated and profound.

"I…"

Her voice was quiet and trembling.

"I need time to think."

Genichi looked at her and nodded.

"All right. I'll give you time."

Yukino lowered her head and turned toward the door.

When she reached it, she stopped and glanced back at Genichi.

There was hesitation in her eyes, along with inner conflict and an indescribable trace of anticipation.

Then she opened the door and walked out.

The laboratory fell silent.

Haruno watched the doorway through which her sister had disappeared, a slight smile forming on her lips.

"She'll agree."

Genichi looked at her.

"How do you know?"

"Because she's my sister."

Haruno's voice was soft, but it carried unquestionable confidence.

"I know what she's thinking."

Genichi said nothing. He merely picked up his pen and resumed writing in his research log.

The pen scratched softly across the paper, his expression focused and detached.

Haruno studied his profile, and warmth welled up in her eyes.

She knew that no matter what choice Yukino made, Genichi would respect it.

That was simply who he was.

Cold on the surface, but gentle underneath.

(End of Chapter)

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