The sky over campus hung in a gradient of soft oranges and bruised purples as the sun dipped beneath the horizon. Shen Yuo stood atop the dorm rooftop, his phone in one hand, the System interface glowing with strategic recommendations.
[ALERT: Tenjo Suspicion Level - 63%] [System Suggestion: Initiate Full Diversion Protocol - 3-Day Execution Plan. Goal: Reset Suspicion to 0%.]
Shen tapped open the options, eyes narrowing.
[Diversion Protocol Options:]
Emotional Disarmament: Foster a false sense of camaraderie.
Loyalty Play: Engineer a moment where Tenjo believes Shen has his back.
Sexual Misdirection: Plant a different narrative involving another target.
"Time to play the long game," Shen muttered. The key wasn't just to distract Tenjo—it was to make him choose to stop looking.
---
Back in the common room, Tenjo was mid-rant, tossing a manga volume onto the couch. "I'm telling you, Gon, something's up with Shen. He's too damn lucky lately. Girls are just handing themselves to him. Doesn't that strike you as weird?"
Gon was sprawled over two beanbags, one hand buried in a family-size bag of shrimp chips. "Bro, he probably unlocked his inner alpha or something. Maybe he's doing nofap. That stuff's crazy."
"Please," Itajhi scoffed from his corner. "Shen's too awkward to pull off a glow-up without some unholy pact. I'm almost impressed."
Just then, Shen walked in carrying two bags of karaage and a bottle of plum soda.
"Dinner's on me tonight," he said with a casual grin.
Tenjo narrowed his eyes. "Where've you been?"
"Helping Sarada reorganize the back kitchen. She said if I help her with inventory she'll let me sell some of my cookie designs under her label."
Gon immediately sat up. "YOU'RE MAKING COOKIES FOR SARADA? THAT MILF BAKER QUEEN?"
Shen chuckled. "Yeah, she's actually super sweet once you get past her intimidating smile."
"I thought she was dating a retired pro athlete or something," Tenjo muttered.
"That's just rumor mill stuff. She said he moved abroad."
[System Notification: Lure Seed Planted. Sexual Misdirection in progress.]
As the night dragged on, Shen passed around drinks, played along with Gon's ridiculous memes, and even lost intentionally during a round of strip Uno—earning him a solid hit of camaraderie points.
At midnight, as Tenjo began to crash on the couch with a half-buttoned shirt and flushed cheeks, Shen handed him a wrapped bento box.
"For tomorrow's hangover. You always complain about being hungry the next morning."
Tenjo blinked at him. For a moment, the suspicion behind his eyes flickered.
"Thanks, man. That's… actually cool of you."
[System Update: Tenjo Suspicion Level - 48%]
---
Next Afternoon — Covert Stream Mode Activated
Shen stood in Yue Hatake's private office. The lecturer's heels clicked across the tiled floor as she locked the door behind them.
"Are you sure this new stream mode is secure?" she asked, voice low and laced with anticipation.
"Totally," Shen replied, tapping the new [WOMEN-ONLY MODE] icon on his phone. "Only verified female subscribers get the feed. And it's on a five-second delay in case I need to cut something."
[System: Viewer Count - 16 (All Verified Female Accounts)] [Tips Enabled]
Yue approached him in her tailored skirt suit, unbuttoning her blouse slowly. "Then, Professor Yue is ready to... educate."
She eased Shen onto her leather chair, straddling him as she reached for his belt. The stream lit up with pink hearts and animated lipstick tip emojis. A tip of ¥1,500 blinked in.
---
Later That Evening — Dorm Scene Shift
Shen returned to the dorm, still buzzing from Yue's stamina-draining session, only to pause at the hallway.
A soft moan.
Curious, he crept down the hall and opened the supply closet.
"Hnnng… Tenjo… not so fast—"
Inside, Tenjo was pressed against a petite, curvy girl with purple-tipped hair in a gym uniform. Her shirt was rolled up, and Tenjo's hand was under it.
"Dude!" Shen stepped back.
Tenjo grinned without stopping. "You wanted mops, bro? Wait your turn."
The girl turned, her flushed face filled with a mix of embarrassment and curiosity. Her eyes lingered on Shen for a second longer than necessary.
[System Notification: New Potential Target Detected — Compatibility: 88%] [Name: Mina Aisaka — Status: Receptive / Curious]
Shen smirked. "Don't mind me. Just… cleaning."
Shen backed out of the supply closet, smirk lingering on his lips. The door clicked shut behind him, muffling the soft groan that escaped from within. His System chimed.
> [Update: New Character Data Uploaded.]
[Mina Aisaka – Added to Passive Interest Pool.]
[Viewer Interest Spike – +380 Tokens from Fan Economy.]
He checked his phone and saw a few new female usernames had subscribed during the covert stream with Yue. They were interacting with the hidden feed more fervently than ever, leaving flirtatious comments and emojis in the chat, hearts bursting and lipstick-kisses flooding the side.
[New Feature Unlocked: "Invitation DMs" – Eligible Female Subscribers can now message you directly.]
A soft ding alerted him of a new message.
> 👠 PinkPetal27: "That office scene… you're wasted on college girls. I want to be next."
Another ping.
> 🍓FrostedBun93: "I'd pay double for a behind-the-scenes session. When's your next… 'lecture'?"
Shen's smirk deepened. The Fan Economy Beta was evolving fast—and with women-only mode, the attention had become more targeted, more intense. Each verified viewer was not just a fan but a prospect.
Still, he had more important things to focus on.
Tenjo's suspicion was down to 48%, but Shen needed to bury it completely.
And fast.
---
The Next Morning — Diversion Day 2
Itajhi was in the lounge scribbling in his BL manga notebook, mouthing dialogue to himself and smirking with unholy glee. Gon was in front of the mirror, practicing winks and flexing with a toothbrush in his mouth.
Tenjo emerged from the bathroom in only a towel, his abs glistening with water.
"Bro," Gon pointed his toothbrush like a mic, "did you smash that purple-haired girl last night or what?"
Tenjo puffed up. "Damn right I did. Mina's got a mean grip. Thought my soul left my body."
Itajhi didn't look up. "I'm noting that down."
"Noting what?"
"Tenjo's Soul Leaving Grip."
Shen stepped in, towel slung around his shoulders like he'd just come from a run. "Morning, gentlemen. I have something… interesting planned today."
Tenjo narrowed his eyes again. "What kind of interesting?"
Shen tossed him a black envelope. "VIP passes. Maid Café event tonight. Invite-only. Gon's been begging me for weeks to score these."
Gon snatched his, squealing like a fangirl. "OMFG. I'm gonna cry. You legend."
"Where'd you get these?" Tenjo frowned.
"Yue pulled strings. She's friends with the café owner. Said I could invite some friends as a thank-you for helping her with her charity bake sale promotion."
It was technically true. Shen had helped Yue—but not with cookies.
> [System: Emotional Disarmament Activated. Loyalty Play Progress - 42%]
[Diversion Protocol Success: Phase 2 Engaged.]
---
Later That Night — Maid Café
The venue glowed in pastel lights and the scent of jasmine tea and sweet mochi. Girls in frilly maid outfits fluttered around tables, calling out "Onii-chan!" and "Master!" with high-pitched charm.
Tenjo, Gon, and Itajhi were seated at a reserved table, looking thoroughly impressed. Shen slid into his seat, waving to the café's sultry lead maid—who happened to be another covert System subscriber.
[Target: Aika Tsurugi – Viewer Level 4. Interest: Flirtatious. Status: Willing.]
She leaned down low, her generous bust swaying as she poured tea into Shen's cup. "Master Yuo… so nice to finally serve you in person."
Tenjo blinked. "You… know each other?"
"We go way back," Aika said with a wink.
"Back to when?" Tenjo asked, eyeing Shen.
Aika giggled and whispered in Shen's ear, loudly enough for the others to hear, "You were way more dominant last time. Did I do something wrong, master?"
Gon choked on his tea. "Wait. Shen gets… maids too?!"
Shen merely smiled and sipped his tea.
> [System: Sexual Misdirection - Executed with Target Aika Tsurugi.]
[Tenjo Suspicion Level Dropped to 22%]
A few more waitresses flocked over, some subtly brushing Shen's arms, laughing too hard at his jokes, offering second servings of dango while ignoring the other three. The visual optics were perfect—Shen wasn't just lucky with MILFs. He was apparently a quiet god with café girls too.
Tenjo's narrative was shifting right before his eyes.
Later, after the show segment ended with Aika blowing a kiss toward Shen, Tenjo pulled him aside near the restrooms.
"You know what," he muttered, "I've been watching you too closely, bro. I think I've been overthinking things."
Shen raised an eyebrow. "Yeah?"
"You're just… weirdly charismatic these days. But not in a suspicious way. More like, 'he's the main character of life' kind of way."
Shen laughed. "Main character? I'll take it."
They fist-bumped.
> [System Notification: Tenjo Suspicion Level – 0%]
[Diversion Protocol – SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED.]
Shen let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding.
---
Midnight — Dorm Return
Shen slipped into the hallway, the scent of vanilla candles and rose soap faint on the air. Someone had just showered.
He was halfway to his room when he heard something from behind Itajhi's door.
A soft moan. Feminine.
He froze.
Itajhi? That cryptic, dry-witted mangaka?
He leaned in. A whisper of breathy pleas, the rustle of sheets, a low male voice that definitely wasn't Gon or Tenjo.
Shen knocked lightly.
The door opened just a crack.
Inside, Itajhi was half-shirtless, a rare flustered look on his face. On the bed behind him was a short-haired girl in a half-open cosplay maid outfit.
Her eyes widened when she saw Shen.
"Oh!" she gasped. "Wait, is that the guy from the streams?"
> [System Ping: New Viewer Cross-Reference Detected.]
[Name: Yui Narazaki – Viewer Level 3 | Interest: Active Curiosity]
[Compatibility Score: 91%]
[Trait Match: Submissive-Explorer / Voyeur-Enjoyer]
Itajhi blinked. "You… seriously?"
Yui smiled sheepishly. "I may have followed his stream for… research. It was educational."
Shen chuckled. "Hope I didn't interrupt anything."
"You did," Itajhi deadpanned. "But she wants a round two anyway. You staying or leaving?"
Shen raised an eyebrow.
Yui tilted her head. "We could include you."
> [System: Chain Encounter Opportunity – Dual Track Bonus Available.]
Shen's smile darkened with arousal. "I never say no to fans."
---