The shock of the engagement revelation lingered for only a moment. His newly upgraded mind processed the information with cold, swift efficiency. Parents arranged a marriage. The fiancèe and her family are characters from another anime, Oregairu. This world's character pool is more eclectic than I thought. The initial surprise, the momentary confusion—it was an indulgence he would no longer afford himself. From now on, he would be calm. He would be collected. He was the one with the system, the one pulling the strings. It was time to act like it.
He subtly pulled up the status windows for the three Yukinoshita women. As expected, their general affection levels were mostly positive, built upon years of family friendship. Yukino's status, however, was a chaotic mix. Her "Irritation" was high, but it wasn't directed solely at him; it was aimed at her mother, at the situation, at the lack of control. Crucially, he noted her "Dislike (for Engagement)" stat was surprisingly low. Her thoughts confirmed his conclusion: she wasn't necessarily opposed to him as a fiancé, but she vehemently hated that the choice had been taken from her. It was a classic Yukinoshita Yukino dilemma, a desire to prove her independence, a trait Rin vaguely recalled from the anime.
Well then, Rin thought with an internal smirk, let's make this choice feel a little more... appealing.
He focused his will.
Yukino Yukinoshita: Romantic Love -> 80/100. Jealousy -> 80/100. Decrease negative emotional stats.
Haruno Yukinoshita: Romantic Love -> 80/100. Jealousy -> 80/100. Decrease negative emotional stats.
The game was now set. He leaned back slightly, a picture of polite composure, excited to see the results.
As Mrs. Yukinoshita deftly guided the conversation back to Rin's life at Kuoh Academy, Yukino shifted uncomfortably in her seat. In her agitated state, the silk handkerchief resting on her lap slipped, fluttering silently to the floor beside her chair.
"Oh," she murmured, her cheeks flushing slightly as she leaned down to retrieve it.
At the same instant, Rin also leaned down. "Allow me," he said, his voice smooth.
Their fingers brushed against the soft fabric at the exact same time. It was a classic, almost cliché moment, but its effect was anything but. As their hands touched, Yukino's head snapped up, her icy gaze meeting his.
Her thoughts, once a fortress of irritation and defiance, became a whirlwind of confusion. What is... this feeling? Why is my heart pounding? His eyes... I can't look away. The system-induced "Romantic Love" surged through her, catalyzed by the sudden intimacy of the moment. The irritation she'd felt towards him melted away, replaced by the fluttering of a thousand butterflies in her chest.
Mrs. Yukinoshita watched the small exchange with a satisfied smile. Perfect. Perhaps this engagement will be far smoother than I anticipated. They have chemistry.
Haruno, however, felt a different kind of jolt. She was happy for her little sister, truly. But seeing Yukino share that intimate, charged glance with Rin ignited the "Jealousy" stat Rin had so carefully implanted. An unpleasant, possessive feeling coiled in her gut.
"My, my, Yukino-chan," Haruno chimed in, her playful tone belying the competitive glint in her eyes. She shifted in her seat, leaning just a bit closer to Rin. "You should be more careful. Rin-kun is quite the gentleman, isn't he?"
The move did not go unnoticed. Yukino, now seeing her older sister's proximity to Rin as a threat, straightened up. Without a word, she subtly adjusted her own chair, closing the small gap between herself and Rin. The air crackled with a new, unspoken tension.
Mrs. Yukinoshita's smile wavered, a slight frown touching her brow. At first, she thought Haruno was just teasing her sister as usual. But as a woman who knew the subtle arts of social maneuvering, she recognized the undercurrent of genuine competition between her daughters. It was... unexpected. For a fleeting moment, she felt a pang of jealousy for her own youth, a time before her own marriage was decided by duty rather than affection. But she pushed the thought aside. What mattered was cementing the alliance between their families through this engagement.
Rin, of course, was privy to all of it. He could hear their racing thoughts, feel their shifting emotions as clearly as if they were speaking aloud. Haruno's playful desire to needle her sister was now mixed with a genuine possessiveness over him. Yukino's initial defiance had transformed into a protective, territorial instinct. Even Mrs. Yukinoshita's complex feelings of duty and faint regret were an open book to him. He was thoroughly enjoying the intricate drama he had just orchestrated.
All too soon, however, the dinner drew to a close. After polite goodbyes were exchanged, Rin was back in his car, heading home. The evening had been far more entertaining than he could have hoped.
But now, a different adventure awaited. As he laid his head back against the plush leather seat, his thoughts drifted to a world of orcs, direwolves, and a certain blue-haired slime. It was time to go back. His bed, and the gateway to the Jura Tempest Federation, was waiting.