I spring up like a fully compressed coil, cold sweat beading on my forehead even though I didn't have a nightmare at all.

  My eyes dart quickly to the desk clock. 4:30 AM. The alarm is still sleeping. Outside the fifth-floor window, the Tokyo sky still wears a velvet cloak of pitch black mixed with the deep purple of an approaching dawn. The silence is so absolute that I can hear the snoring of the old man next door echoing through the thin wall.

  Usually, I would pull the blanket over my head and go back to sleep at this hour, but not today. A strange energy runs through my veins, urging me to stay awake. I raise my left hand and focus my spirit on the faint seal in my palm.

  Whoosh!

  A soft golden light flashes, and the spectral phone appears floating in the air. Since the day Itsuki-sama gave me this thing, my old physical smartphone with its cracked screen officially sits in the drawer. Why use a low-tech brick when you can surf the web with brainwaves and never worry about battery life? Even better, this high-end gadget can install human apps too.

  I open Line. A bunch of unread messages pop out from the "10B Round Table" group chat.

  [1-B Round Table]:

  "Today is Tanako-chan's birthday, what is everyone getting her?"

  "I bought a limited edition teddy bear!"

  "I have movie tickets..."

  Tanako. The name makes my heart skip a beat. The class president with short, stylish hair and a sunny smile. Today is her birthday, and it seems every boy in the class is in battle mode to win her attention.

  But I, Kaito Ishikawa, am not worried at all. Because I have the best advisor in the universe.

  I glance at the gift wrapped in elegant blue paper sitting on my desk. Memories of last night come flooding back.

  ***

  I stand frozen before the maze of bookshelves, holding the spectral phone up for a Solak video call. On the screen, Itsuki-sama lies on a beanbag chair, holding a glass of rainbow-colored liquid with a look of utter boredom on his face.

  "Kid," he complains, his white fox ears drooping down.

  "I am the Head of Relations team, not a babysitter or a teenage love consultant. Why do I have to spend my precious evening helping you choose a birthday gift for a girl?"

  "Please, Itsuki-sama!"

  I plead, pressing my face close to the screen.

  "You said girls this age like reading. But there are millions of books here, how do I choose? You are a great judge of character, please help me!"

  Itsuki-sama lets out a long sigh and takes a sip of water.

  "Fine, fine. Describe the target again. Personality, hobbies, what does she do during breaks?"

  "Uhm... Tanako? She is quite energetic, but during lunch break, she often sits alone in the corner of the classroom, reading books and giggling to herself. Oh, she often hangs out with her friend Aiko, and every time she sees two guys in the class arguing or putting their arms around each other's shoulders, her eyes light up..."

  Itsuki-sama's smoky purple eyes suddenly narrow with mischief. He smirks, revealing a small canine tooth.

  "Aha. I get it. Piece of cake."

  He directs me to the web novel section, then tells me to pull out a very thick novel. The cover features an ancient style illustration with a mysterious red and black color scheme.

  "Take that one," Itsuki-sama declares firmly. "Trust me, with the clinical symptoms you just described, she will be obsessed with this thing. I guarantee you will become the most understanding guy in class."

  ***

  I take a deep breath, full of confidence. Last night, because I was busy grinding a game boss and checking the horror fiction forum to post a new chapter for my story "The Station Ghost", I completely forgot to check the content of the book. I just left it on the table.

  "It is still early anyway, let's take a peek to see how high-class a god's literary taste is,"

  I mumble.

  I gingerly peel off the wrapping paper, trying not to tear it so I can wrap it again later, and pick up the book. The cover is quite beautiful, depicting two handsome young men in ancient costumes standing under the moon.

  I flip to the first page.

  Five minutes later.

  My face burns like someone just threw boiling water on it. My hands tremble, almost dropping the book to the floor.

  The words in there... the descriptions of eyes, gestures, and the interaction between the two male protagonists... It is not brotherhood! It is definitely not brotherhood!

  This is Yaoi!( Boy's Love)

  I frantically open Solak, my fingers typing furiously on the screen.

  Kaito: "ITSUKI-SAMA!!! SAVE ME!!! Are you mistaken? The book you told me to buy... it is a romance between two men!!!"

  I look at the clock. It is 4:40 AM in Tokyo. That means in The Nexus, which is 10 hours behind, it is only 6:40 PM the previous day. The gods are probably having dinner or relaxing right now.

  Just a few seconds later, a reply pops up.

  ItsukiK: "Mistaken my foot. Hearing your brief description, I know she is a certified fujoshi. Her eyes light up when seeing boys put arms around each other? The symptoms are clear as day."

  Kaito: "But... isn't it weird to gift this? I am a guy..."

  ItsukiK: "Don't worry. That book is the human novel that Alethea, our Goddess of Wisdom, keeps by her bedside. I hear her review that the plot is profound and the writing is magnificent. It is highly rated. Just give it to her, I guarantee Tanako will look at you with different eyes. Whether it is in a positive direction or not, I am not sure, but it will certainly be impressive."

  I read the message, then look down at the thick book in my hand. I gulp hard.

  To gift, or not to gift? That is the question.

  But the bookstores are all closed at this hour. I have no other choice.

  With a pale face drained of blood, I tremblingly wrap that "secret scripture" back into the layer of blue paper.

  The atmosphere in Class 10B today is as chaotic as a bustling market, or rather, as lively as a festival. As soon as Tanako steps through the door, confetti pops and colorful ribbons fly through the air. The blackboard is covered in vibrant chalk drawings with a massive "Happy Birthday Tanako-chan" right in the center.

  Tanako looks truly radiant today. She wears a new bow clip in her short hair, and her smile is like the summer sun, melting the hearts of every boy in class (myself included).

  "Thank you everyone! I'm so happy!"

  Tanako cheers, hugging her best friend Aiko.

  G-Hour has struck. The gift-giving commences.

  I stand amidst the crowd, clutching the blue-wrapped package, sweat soaking through the paper. Itsuki-sama's firm assertion still echoes in my head: "Trust me, that girl is a genuine fujoshi."

  Well... in for a penny, in for a pound.

  "Happy Birthday, Tanako,"

  I step forward, trying to keep my face as composed as possible, even though my facial muscles are twitching uncontrollably.

  "This is... um, a novel that is trending right now. I heard the plot is profound."

  Tanako takes the gift, her eyes twinkling.

  "Thanks, Kaito! You're so thoughtful."

  She carefully peels back the wrapping paper. When the cover reveals two handsome ancient men gazing lovingly at each other, I swear I stop breathing. The world seems to pause for a second.

  This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

  And then...

  "KYAAAAA!"

  Tanako lets out a high-pitched scream, but it is not out of fear. Her cheeks turn bright red, and her eyes widen like car headlights. She hugs the book tight to her chest, looking at me with eyes full of... worship?

  "Kaito! How did you know I was hunting for this 'Heaven Official's Blessing' set? This hardback limited edition is sold out everywhere! Oh my god, you understand me so well!"

  I freeze, a crooked smile plastering itself onto my face. Holy cow. Itsuki-sama really is divine. He sees right through the human soul.

  "Ah... yeah... I thought it would suit you,"

  I laugh awkwardly, silently thanking heaven and earth that I am not labeled a pervert.

  But my joy is short-lived. Just as I intend to retreat and enjoy my small victory, a tall figure cuts in, shoving me aside.

  It is Takechi.

  He slicks back his hair with gel, acting like a high roller (even though everyone knows his family is average). He places a small, luxurious box with a bitten fruit logo onto Tanako's desk.

  "Happy Birthday, Tanako," Takechi says, his voice full of smugness.

  "I noticed your phone screen is cracked, so I bought you a new one. The latest model."

  The whole class gasps in shock.

  "What? The latest smartphone?"

  "Is Takechi that rich?"

  "Is he a secret millionaire?"

  Tanako looks visibly flustered.

  "Takechi... this gift is too expensive, I can't accept it..."

  "Just take it," Takechi insists, pushing it into her hand. "It's my heart."

  I stand next to them, watching the scene unfold while hot blood rushes to my brain. Not because of jealousy over the gift, but for a much more practical and brutal reason.

  As soon as the school bell rings, I immediately block Takechi in the quiet hallway behind the classrooms.

  "Hey, Takechi," I growl, crossing my arms. "Are you kidding me?"

  Takechi jumps, turning to look at me with a flash of confusion that quickly shifts back to arrogance.

  "What is it, Kaito? I'm in a hurry."

  "Hurry for what?" I step closer, looming over him. "Do you remember owing me 5000 yen from last month? Lunch money, printing fees... You kept delaying it, saying your family is tight on cash. Yet today you bring a phone worth tens of thousands here to give to a girl? You are simping this hard?"

  Takechi freezes. He looks down, gripping his bag strap tightly.

  "I... I..."

  "I what? Pay up!" I extend my hand, showing no mercy.

  Takechi bites his lip, his voice quiet.

  "I... I took a part-time job. I've been grinding for a whole month to afford that phone... I wanted to buy a cool gift to impress Tanako..."

  "So? You have money for gifts but no money for debts?" I retort.

  He sighs deeply, looking like a soggy cracker.

  "Fine, if you demand it, I'll pay."

  With that, Takechi turns to call out to another friend passing by.

  "Hey, Suzuki! Can I borrow 5000 yen real quick? I'll pay you back tomorrow when I get my wages."

  After some begging and pleading, Takechi finally secures a crumpled 5000 yen bill and hands it to me.

  "Here. Take it. Debt settled."

  He walks away, his exhaustion clearly visible. I hold the money in my hand, but the feeling of victory is incredibly bland.

  When I return to the classroom to grab my things, I overhear some girls whispering.

  "Hey, have you noticed Takechi looks terrible lately? Dark circles like a panda."

  "I heard he works the night shift at a convenience store, and then goes to unload cargo at the morning market. He works until 12 AM, then wakes up early to work again. Probably to earn money for that phone."

  "Oh my god, he's such a hopeless romantic. But you have to admit, he really puts in the effort..."

  The words sting my ears like needles. I stand frozen in the doorway. The image of Takechi with hollow eyes and his defeated posture earlier flashes in my mind.

  Suddenly, I feel incredibly petty.

  I touch my pocket, where the spiritual phone rests. In my salary account, a figure of 30,000 USD (equivalent to over 4 million yen) is waiting to be disbursed at the end of the month. I have a salary that a high school student cannot even dream of.

  Yet here I am, forcing a classmate who works his butt off day and night to pay back 5000 yen immediately?

  "Damn it," I curse silently, scratching my head.

  "What is this guilt? He clearly owes me!"

  But my conscience (and my ego as a rising hero) does not allow me to ignore it. I click my tongue and run to the school gate.

  Takechi is walking sluggishly toward the bus stop, his head down.

  "Hey! Takechi!" I shout loudly.

  He turns around, looking defensive.

  "What now? I paid you everything."

  I run up, panting, and shove the 5000 yen bill from earlier back into his hand.

  "Take it," I say quickly, avoiding his surprised gaze.

  "Huh? What are you doing?" Takechi looks bewildered.

  "Whatever, consider it another loan,"

  I scratch my head, trying to act as cool as possible.

  "I heard you are tight on cash lately. If things are tough, I won't demand it right away. Pay me when you are actually flush."

  Takechi looks at the money, then at me, his eyes tearing up with emotion. "Kaito... you..."

  "Don't look at me like that, it's gross!" I slap his shoulder hard.

  "Use the money to buy some food and get your energy back. You look like a zombie. Spend wisely, and stop simping so hard, got it?"

  Without waiting for him to say any cheesy words of thanks, I turn and walk away, waving a decisive goodbye.

  I trudge slowly home, kicking a pebble along the sidewalk. The sun has completely set, leaving the Tokyo sky brilliant with artificial lights, but inside my chest, a category 12 storm is raging.

  First is the shock named Tanako. After that "divine" gift-giving scene this morning, I have officially been inducted into her... sisterhood. Now I finally understand. Tanako isn't looking for a sappy male-female romance. No guy in school stands a chance. That door is locked tight, and the key has been thrown to her imagination about boy-love couples.

  She doesn't want to love me. She just wants to... watch me stand next to another guy.

  "Great. Kaito Ishikawa, demoted from boyfriend candidate to shipping material," I mutter, laughing bitterly.

  But the thing bothering me most isn't the heartbreak. It is the heavy, suffocating feeling pressing on my chest after the incident with Takechi. Why did I return the money? Why did I have to play the tolerant hero? It feels like wearing a tight mask that I dare not take off.

  "Yo, is that little Kaito? Why do you look like the world just ended?"

  A lazy voice sounds from above, making me jump. I look up. On a cherry blossom branch by the road, a Calico Cat God sits comfortably. He wears a stylized Haori jacket, his long tail swaying rhythmically with the wind.

  "Nanao-san?" I gasp. "What are you doing here?"

  Nanao jumps down as light as an autumn leaf, landing softly. He dusts off his shoulder.

  "Working, obviously. Do you think I have free time?"

  Nanao sighs, his whiskers twitching gravely.

  "A Sensitive in this area just passed away mysteriously. The report says the soul was heavily damaged, so I have to handle the paperwork and run a preliminary investigation."

  My heart skips a beat. A Sensitive... died?

  "Since I was done, I just swung by," Nanao continues, his voice lighter.

  "Itsuki-san was worried about you, so he texted me to check if you were still alive."

  I gulp. Itsuki-sama's concern makes me feel both touched and terrified. Is this world... really that dangerous?

  "Don't worry too much," Nanao waves his hand, cat ears twitching.

  "Xiaolang is active in Tokyo often. If you face any trouble, just ping him on the group chat. He has a sharp nose, he will show up instantly."

  As soon as he finishes speaking, Nanao's long shadow on the pavement suddenly... moves. It bubbles up like black tar, then slowly rises, forming a human shape.

  I step back, almost screaming. But when the shadow disperses, ash-gray fur and perked-up wolf ears appear before my eyes.

  "Yawn..."

  Xiaolang stretches, stepping out of Nanao's shadow like he is stepping through a magic door.

  "What are you doing sneaking out of my shadow like that?!" Nanao hisses, fur puffing up as he jumps.

  "I told you a thousand times not to use my shadow as a nap spot!"

  "Can't help it," Xiaolang rubs his eyes, yawning wide to reveal sharp fangs.

  "The space inside your shadow is cool and soft. It sleeps great."

  I stand frozen, watching the two gods argue.

  "You two... know each other? I thought one was in Security and the other in Relations?"

  Xiaolang turns to me, grinning.

  "Hello, Kaito. Security and Relations often do missions together. Like police protecting diplomats. I'm just unlucky enough to always get stuck with this lazy cat."

  "Look at yourself, you traitorous dog!" Nanao hisses, extending his claws.

  "Who planted a bomb on me the other day and then looked at me with those innocent puppy eyes? I haven't settled that score yet!"

  "Bomb...?" I stammer, blood draining from my face.

  "You guys... throw real bombs at each other?"

  Nanao glances at my panicked face, then bursts out laughing, retracting his claws.

  "Ah, don't be scared. It was just Pandora Poker, not real bombs. Though the emotional damage is far worse than any explosion."

  Then all three of us laugh. The tension inside me suddenly vanishes. Being next to these two gods, listening to them banter, I feel a strange sense of comfort. They aren't as distant or scary as I thought.

  Ting! Ting! Ting!

  Suddenly, the emergency message alert on Solak rings simultaneously from all three of our phones.

  The smiles on Xiaolang and Nanao's faces vanish instantly. They whip out their phones, their expressions turning serious and terrifyingly professional. I hurriedly open mine too.

  A bright red notification flashes on the screen, accompanied by the logo of Takama-ga-hara Ventures.

  [EMERGENCY ALERT - CODE RED]

  Source: Takama-ga-hara Operations Center - Tokyo Branch.

  Content: Distress signal detected from a Contracted Sensitive in the Shinjuku area. Bio-signal is dropping critically fast. Attacker: Unknown (Suspected High-Level Anomaly).

  Request: All nearby Security and Support units must respond immediately per the Inter-Conglomerate Security Support Treaty.

  "Damn it," Xiaolang growls, his wolf eyes glowing with blue light.

  "It's Shinjuku. Right nearby."

  "Takama-ga-hara is truly overloaded,"

  Nanao speaks fast, fingers tapping on his screen.

  "The Jade Palace Conglomerate signed a support contract. We have a responsibility to go."

  The two gods turn to look at me.

  "Kaito," Nanao says. "You stay he..."

  "I'm going too!"

  I cut him off, gripping my phone tight. The fear is still there, but the desire to do something useful is stronger.

  "I am a Sensitive of the Jade Palace. I got the alert too. I can help!"

  Xiaolang and Nanao look at each other for a second, and then the Wolf God nods.

  "Okay. Then let me borrow your body for a bit, kid."