Chapter 782: Looking at and loving you
After yesterday's dark and rainy day was a bright and sunny day... Just kidding.
The rain had stopped, but dark clouds still hung everywhere in the sky. Today was yet another gloomy day that kept people's spirits low.
However, a certain person was currently humming happily.
This person was Chiaki, who was currently cooking breakfast in Seiji's apartment.
The beautiful silver-haired girl was humming and cooking while wearing an apron. It was so evident that she was in a wonderful mood that even Seiji felt infected with her happiness.
This was actually Chiaki's first time ever trying to cook breakfast.
Chiaki was someone who always loved to sleep in late, which was why she was the type to always skip breakfast. Hence, this was truly her first time.
After Chiaki regained the lost memories about her mother, she called her father and then had a face-to-face family meeting with him. After that, everyone noticed an obvious change in Chiaki.
It was difficult to describe exactly how she had changed... the best word Seiji could come up with was that she seemed more "real."
Compared to the original Chiaki, she now seemed less "flippant" and slightly more "serious", at least in Seiji's view.
Seiji couldn't help but recall the female lead in a famous light novel he'd read in his previous world. That girl had many worries since she also lost the memories regarding her mother who had been taken away by the gods. That girl lost weight due to her worries, and only regained her weight after bringing back her mother.
This was somewhat similar to Chiaki's experience. Chiaki also had such memories with her mother, and a god was involved, along with nostalgia and frustrations... and some things that couldn't be recovered anymore.
Although Chiaki's mother couldn't be brought back to life anymore...
Even if Chiaki's mother couldn't be brought back to life anymore...
Chiaki had still recovered her important memories, thus recovering the "weight" that she and her life should have possessed.
At this moment, Chiaki seemed to notice Seiji's attention as she turned around, exchanged glances with him, and smiled brilliantly.
Seiji's heart skipped a beat upon seeing such a beautiful smile. He responded with his own smile.
*Ding!* His system suddenly sent him a notification.
[A female individual's favorability rating towards you has reached 100. You have now obtained her character reward card.]
A character reward card... Seiji widened his eyes in surprise.
Obviously, this had to be Chiaki's character reward card.
Right now, Chiaki's face was slightly red and there was an alluring expression in her eyes.
But, before Seiji could get a better look, Chiaki looked away with evident shyness.
Seiji's heart skipped another beat from seeing this. In fact, he even wanted to walk over right now and hug her from behind while doing intimate things with her.
He couldn't help but imagine the scenario of doing certain sexy things with an apron-wearing newly wed wife... No! He had to stop thinking about this!
If he imagined this scenario any longer, he wouldn't be able to restrain himself anymore. Seiji did his very best to suppress his desire.
It felt like Chiaki became more charismatic... or, more accurately, she became the type that attracted him even more.
While only exchanging glances and not words, her favorability rating towards him reached 100. Seiji felt like this was almost a natural accomplishment.
Since Chiaki was now averting her gaze, Seiji took this opportunity to open up his system and check his new character reward card.
[Character reward card 'Chiaki Wakaba': Looking at and loving you.]
[This card will have an everlasting passive effect. This card cannot be used or disappear.]
[All basic stats increased by a bonus of 2 points.]
[Attack power against the divine is increased by 10%.]
[Defense power against the divine is increased by 20%.]
[Additional ability 1: Ultimate Performance.]
[After using this ability, you can use any powerful ability that you can imagine. Limited to one use per day. "Shut up and watch me perform!"]
[Additional ability 2: Character Roleplay. (Prerequisite skill of 'Beginner-level Concealment' necessary.)]
[Increase the effects of the Concealment skill. After using this ability, you can become just like whoever you want to be. It will be highly difficult for your real identity to be exposed. This effect will last for 33 minutes. Keeping this ability active will constantly consume Mana and mental spirit. Limited to two uses per day. "I'm actually an actor."]
[Additional ability 3: Mother and Daughter Drawing. (Prerequisite skill of 'Drawing' necessary.)]
[Increase the effects of your Drawing ability. Drawing any artwork with a mother and daughter together will increase your drawing ability by 50%, increasing the effects of your drawing. Using this ability will require concentration. "This daughter shall never forget her mother's love."]
[Additional ability 4: ??? (Prerequisite conditions not met. Currently inactive.)]
[Additional ability 5: ??? (Prerequisite conditions not met. Currently inactive.)]
............
For now, the increased effects of attack and defense against the divine didn't seem too useful as of yet, as Seiji had never fought against anything divine before. But, it would surely be useful when it was needed, perhaps even soon. It could even be said that these were passive skills just for god-slaying.
Meanwhile, Seiji was astonished by just how powerful the first and second abilities were!
Casting any powerful ability that he could possibly imagine? Without even regarding how powerful the imagined ability would actually be, just the fact that he could now cast any ability he imagined caused Seiji's eyes to sparkle.
It was exciting just to imagine being able to use any ability he wanted in reality. His otaku spirit started burning up and he wanted to try it out right away.
As for being able to "become just like whoever he wanted to be," this was just like the ability's name. It would be an amazing cosplay technique! Combined with the first skill, Seiji could now cosplay completely as anyone he wanted and use that anime character's ultimate skill in reality. That was just... so cool!!!
Seiji was unable to stop his imagination from running wild.
After he finally calmed down, he thought more seriously about his newfound abilities.
When experimenting, he could naturally use any ability that he could think of. But in practical combat, he would have to adapt according to the situation.
And, it was quite possible that copying an ultimate ability with [Ultimate Performance] wouldn't have the same power and effects what Seiji imagined, as it was only a "performance" in the end. Copying an imaginary ability might be powerful, but also limited.
Judging from this, the best way to use the first ability would be "adaptability." For instance, if the enemy had powerful attacks, Seiji could use any imaginary defensive technique to protect himself and his companions. If the enemy's defense was too tough, then he could imagine an ultimate attack for piercing through the enemy defenses. If the enemy was too fast, he could imagine a sealing spell that could stop the enemy's movements... something like that.
The biggest selling point of this ability was how versatile it was. He could cast literally any ability that he could imagine, meaning that it could be adapted to all situations!
And, of course, the second ability's greatest use was for disguise rather than cosplay. Being able to change into anyone he wanted meant that robbery and murder would be so simple— cough, that wanting to do something without exposing his real identity would be quite simple.
If all he wanted to do was disguise his identity, he could simply change his own appearance to anything else. And if he wanted to disguise himself as someone else, he would need to disguise himself to a sufficiently similar extent, along with having some acting skills.
If his acting skills were good enough, he could even go be a phantom thief with this skill alone.
Phantom Thief Seiji... imagining it sounded really cool.
Of course, Seiji would never actually go do such a thing.
The third ability was an increased effect for drawing. Obviously, that would only be useful when drawing.
'Why not try using this ability to draw Chiaki and her mother together?' Seiji suddenly had this idea.
Although he didn't know what Chiaki's mother looked like, with his current high art ability thanks to his system, he would be able to draw Chiaki's mother simply by hearing a description.
Logically speaking, this should have been done by Chiaki's father, as Shingo was a famous artist. But, Seiji just wanted to try stealing this job.
Alright then, Seiji made up his mind. He would mention this to Chiaki in a bit!
Seiji mentally apologized a little to his future father-in-law as he smilingly looked over at Chiaki.
After Chiaki finished cooking breakfast, everyone in Seiji's apartment ate together.
Chiaki was tasting what bliss was truly like, especially whenever she looked at Seiji.
Although her mother could no longer return, Chiaki had managed to regain her memories. She had also managed to reconcile with her father.
Chiaki had told her father about how she recovered her memories with Seiji and the others' assistance. She told him her mother's name, and the truth of how Chihiro came to be spirited away.
Shingo Wakaba kept crying right in front of his daughter while constantly muttering his wife's name.
This scene etched itself deep into Chiaki's mind. She would remember it for the rest of her life.
From then on, they became a normal father and daughter.
They had taken a long path with many twists and turns to get there. It took this long to surpass all the lost memories and time, as well as sadness and disappointment, in order to finally reach this step.
Although this still wasn't enough to truly become like a "normal father and daughter," they would eventually reach that state for certain.
It was impossible to regain what had been lost. But, fortunately, what was important had now been recovered, allowing for an even better future.
And all of this was thanks to Seiji.
Although Chiaki's father still wouldn't admit to recognizing him as his daughter's boyfriend, Chiaki figured this problem would be solved with the passing of time.
That was because Seiji was the most wonderful boyfriend possible that she loved!