THE CURSED GAMER

Chapter 169: Meet Up (1)

—

Neji wasn't expecting her to cry. He was just going to tease her later on about how she was turned on by a "villain".

One for All can't increase his Gamer Skills' potency, but the Skill [Nirvana Touch] was based around his «Surge» quirk, so by focusing OFA on Surge, he could increase the pleasure potency of his touch.

By a large margin.

It's not Rumi's fault that she moaned and gave up that easily and lost the will to even resist, it was a natural reaction anyone below a certain Tier would face. Tier-5, the tier that Rumi was a part of, was certainly not on that level. To the current Neji, Tier-5 individuals were like toddlers, after all.

But still, he wasn't expecting her to cry. She never seemed that type, she's a strong woman. Though this did warm his heart quite a bit. It hadn't been that long since he first met Rumi, barely two months, so her reaction was touching to him.

-Bam!

That's why he didn't dodge her first attack, even as it hit his face and threw him out of the alleyway.

"You think that was funny?!"

As he jumped back up to his feet, Rumi ran to him again, her leg in front of his face. He ducked, dodging the attack, as he stepped away.

"Hey, calm down! It hurts, even though it might look like it doesn't." Neji said, raising his hand in a surrendering posture.

He was lying. At most, it felt like being hit by a pillow. More so, even the lightest of damages were being healed by his quirk, «Hyper Regeneration».

"I don't care!" She attacked him again, and he dodged again.

Rumi stopped at that, making Neji surprised before she pointed a finger at him. "Oi, give me proof! How can I believe you're Neji? That apology you said, that did sound like Neji but-... If you really took over his body and can see his memories, then pulling off such an act shouldn't be hard for a world-class villain like you."

"Uh, oh, that..." Neji scratched the back of his head, thinking, as he got an idea. "Wow, the other girls didn't question my identity once, even when I attacked Mirio and All Might. But you don't seem to trust me..."

"..."

"They could tell who I am, even as I did things I never did..."

"...S-shut up!" Rumi shouted, her face going bright red, as she stepped forward. "I-I was just trying to tease you back, you didn't have to point that out!"

"It's fine, it's fine. Indeed, we have only known each other for not that long, there are not many ways around it." Neji walked closer, bringing her to a hug. "It's not a bad thing. Just means we have to spend more time, together and alone, for you to catch up to them. For example, my Maid knows me better than my sister, even though I have known my maid for 2 fewer years than Nejire."

"Okay..." Rumi hugged him back, her hands tightening around his back. "But what's with what you said just now? Attacking All Might and Mirio?"

Neji looked down at her, as she rested her head on his chest. He was about to speak, but she spoke first.

"Alright, don't say anything yet. Explain later. Right now, I am just... happy that you're alive... I didn't doubt Hawk's words when he said you died, but I am glad I didn't because this is a pleasant surprise."

Her voice was meek, contrary to her usual loud self. That's how she was trying to show that, yes, she cares.

After a few minutes, Neji lightly pushed her away.

"Well, ahm, I am a busy man you see. There is a reason why I am hunting quirks and killing villains. I still have to keep doing that...even if you don't like it. I suggest you go and rest at my penthouse until I am done."

Rumi stared at him and explained, her expression dull. "You... w-well, fuck." She was about to say something before she bit her tongue and blushed. "I killed a few villains on my way here, though most of them were accidents. Either way, telling you to not do what I just did would be the biggest hypocrisy of my life. Just- ...don't hurt any innocents please, I won't be able to stop you but that doesn't mean I won't feel terrible seeing poor innocent people die."

"I will keep that in mind." He smiled.

He would keep that in mind.

That doesn't mean he won't do it.

"Anyway," Neji pointed a finger towards the east. "Run in that direction, you'd find a magnificent mansion. That's where Kimi, Momo and Nejire are. They'd recognise you and let you in. I will be back in an hour or two, get along until then okay?"

'Tch," Rumi slapped his hand that was going to pat her. "Don't treat me like a little girl just because I showed you my vulnerable side. I am going, be back soon."

Neji chuckled, as Rumi kicked the ground and rushed off.

Seeing her leave, he turned his head to an apartment where he had long since noticed that there were civilians peeking in.

He grinned, "There are 3 of them in there. That means two more until my Objective quest is completed."

He kicked the ground too, rushing at the window as the civilians yelled in a high pitched voice.

— —

Rumi reached the fanciest mansion in the city and paused in front of it.

'...Argh, do I have to go inside alone? It feels awkward.'

Awkwardness was something she rarely felt in her life, she couldn't even recall the last time she felt awkward. But thinking about confronting the other three girls Neji was going out with, Rumi felt... nervous.

Nervous. She was feeling nervous. She couldn't believe it, but it was true.

She chewed on her lips for a minute as her worry kept growing. The meeting she had with Momo...it didn't end well, at least she didn't think so. If Momo told the other two girls about it, then Rumi wasn't sure how she would be treated.

...Should she wait until Neji returns?

'N-no, that won't work. He will tease me about it, telling me how I am not acting like myself and whatnot.'

But...

It will be more awkward and embarrassing sitting inside the mansion, receiving cold shoulders from the girls than waiting here for Neji.

At last, she shrugged. It's fine, she will just wait. She had been teased hard already, she could endure a bit more.

Rumi turned around to leave, about to kick the ground and fly off- as a shout came from the mansion.

"Oi! Mirko!"

Rumi turned stiffly to find a brightly smiling cat-milf waving a hand in her direction.

"Did Neji send you?! Or is this a fortunate encounter!? Anyway, you should come inside! You look tired and sleepy!"

Things just got more awkward. She couldn't just run off at this point, since she will have to return with Neji soon. More so, that woman looked like Neji's maid, even though she wasn't wearing a maid outfit right now, if she's so nice Rumi might not feel so awkward.

Sighing under her breath, she nodded at the girl and waved back before heading in.

—

"Heyy, you're here!" The maid jumped out of the house when the door was opened, bringing her to a hug.

Rumi didn't like intimate people, so she frowned.

"Um, can you not touch me all of a sudden?"

"Uh, hm?" The maid blinked at her, before smiling. "What's wrong? You and I are like sisters, you know? Sharing the same man and all. Be a little nice, the others might not like you if you're so grumpy."

"..."

So Momo did tell them about her relationship with Neji.

"Well, anyway, let's head inside. I was making some coffee." The maid put an arm around her shoulder, dragging her in.

That's when Rumi realised.

'This woman...'

She was strong.

She wasn't using any strength right now, but she knew a strong touch when she felt one.

There was surely muscle under the maid's outfit, her hand was firm too as it squeezed her shoulder.

Rumi couldn't tell how strong the maid was, but she might be on the same level as her.

"Guys," as she walked in with the maid, the maid called. "Look who's here. Come greet her like good kids."

"Hey, stop treating us like children! Also, Momo is still sleeping, you should wake her up!" came a shout from a bit far, where the blue haired girl, Nejire Hado, was... playing with children's toys. "Hmm? Oh wait, it's Mirko! Whoa, whoa, it's Mirko!"

That's when Rumi realised that no, the grown-up girl wasn't playing with children's toys.

She was training. Training her quirk.

The toy train that was wiggling as if it was made of jelly, the lego dinosaur that was running around, and the transformer truck that was roaring around stopped moving and returned to normal when the girl stood up and flew off towards Rumi.

"Hey, Mirko! Thanks for taking care of Neji in the internship! It must have been a hard time being a victim of his bullshit." The girl, who Rumi recognised as Neji's sister, casually wrapped her hands around her neck, tilting her head.

"Hm, you look surprised? Wait, is it because of my quirk?" Her eyes sparkled. "Did you notice how my quirk is so different from before?! Yes yes, because it is different! But nobody would give it a thought except for Momo!"

"Erm, Nejire I don't think that's why she is..."

"It's fine. Her subjects seem interesting." Rumi decided to interrupt the maid. The maid is right, she should be a little nice to them... especially Neji's sister. What if he hates her if she treats his sister badly?

But then again, he also said his maid knew him better than his sister. Does that mean he also likes his maid more? Then what about Momo?

'This is confusing.'

It's almost as if he didn't have any favourite- No... more like everyone was his favourite.

'Haah... weirdo.' That made her smile a little.

Kimi smiled hearing her words. "Mmhm, good then. I will put some more coffee into the pot, take care~"

She waved off to the kitchen as the Nejire girl pulled her towards the toys.

"Here look, focus." The girl said, touching a toy sword that started to bend and wiggle like sea waves.

"Ah..."

She wasn't sure, but didn't Neji's sister have the same quirk as Neji? What was this then?

"Here,"

The girl touched another toy, a dinosaur made of lego, as it changed shape in front of her eyes, taking the form of an aeroplane.

"..."

"Cool right?" Nejire smiled at her brightly, making her scratch her chin.

"It's cool, yes. I like more hand-to-hand combat, but this... this looks dangerous and versatile. What is this called anyway?"

"Oh, my Surge evolved. I won't tell you how though since you might not know about the other dimension and stuff. Anyway, do you know Potential Energy? Did you not learn it in school?" The girl smiled brightly. "Yep, my quirk evolved into that! Not like an awakening, but [Evolution]. Neji says I can control potential energy now, though it just lets me alter objects I touch for now! I also seem to be able to manipulate my own body's potential energy, creating heat and light and stuff, but Neji told me to not train on those without him around... Tch, he thinks he's the older sibling now."

The girl muttered the last line to herself as Rumi stared at her.

She knew what Potential Energy was.

And depending on the level of her power... Her power could become unmatched in the world.

No, it could destroy the world if it was strong.

'What the hell Neji...' Rumi was surprised. 'What the hell is Evolution, and how the hell did make a mere shockwave quirk so strong.'

She was familiar with quirk awakening, but Nejire specifically said her case is not that. Rumi wasn't awakened yet, she was looking forward to it but now...

There seemed to be a greater power out there.

Suddenly, she could feel butterflies in her stomach as she thought of a wild future where she might become stronger... much stronger than now.

"C-can you show me the other side of your power? The personal manipulation you just spoke of..."

"Ah, okay." The girl tilted her head. "Why're you blushing though?"

"..."

"Anyway, watch carefully!"

...Later, Rumi could simply stare in awe as the scene unfolded in front of her.

**

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Author's Note: So this is what changed on Nejire's Quirk when she took the [Special Tier Potion].

«Potential Energy Manipulation»

She can still use her shockwave powers, as she displayed by flying towards Rumi.

But her new power is quite more powerful than Momo's evolution, even overpowered to some degree, if we follow the world's "superpower" theme instead of just taking a full-on science route.

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