My Scumbag System Chapter 680: The Stray Dog Returns

The Academy loomed against the gray morning sky like a monument to everything I’d once hated about my life.

New Vein Academy. The place where Hunters were made. Where rich kids with powerful Aspects came to flex their genetic lottery winnings and poor kids like the original Satori came to be reminded of their inadequacy.

Except I wasn’t the original Satori anymore.

And I definitely wasn’t inadequate.

Natalia walked beside me through the front gates, her presence burning steady through our bond. She’d dressed for battle today. Not literally. Just a fitted blazer over a white blouse that hugged her curves, paired with a skirt that was technically within dress code but only by the most generous interpretation. Her purple hair was pulled back in a high ponytail that exposed the hickeys I’d left on her neck.

She hadn’t tried to hide them.

"People are staring," she said.

"Let them."

"That’s what I planned."

I caught the edge of her smile. The predatory satisfaction of a woman who wanted everyone to know exactly who she belonged to and who belonged to her.

Six months ago, this woman had looked at me like I was gum stuck to the bottom of her designer shoe. Now she was practically advertising our relationship to the entire student body.

Life was strange sometimes.

The Academy grounds buzzed with students heading to morning classes. Most of them gave us a wide berth. Whether that was because of my reputation as the "Stray Dog" or Natalia’s reputation as the Ice Queen who’d recently started thawing, I couldn’t tell.

Probably both.

"Satori."

The voice came from my right.

I turned to find Emi Aoyama bouncing toward us with the enthusiasm of a golden retriever who’d spotted her favorite human. Her sapphire-blue hair caught the morning light, and her smile was bright enough to power a small city.

"You’re back! I was so worried! You didn’t answer my messages for like three whole days and I thought maybe something happened and then Natalia said you were fine but she wouldn’t tell me what you were doing and I made cookies but they got stale waiting for you so I had to make new ones and—"

"Breathe, Emi."

She took a breath.

Then kept talking.

"Anyway I’m really glad you’re okay and you look different somehow? Did you do something with your hair? No wait, it’s your eyes. They’re like... more intense? Is that weird to say? That’s probably weird to say. I’m going to stop talking now."

She didn’t stop talking.

But I let her ramble anyway because there was something genuinely comforting about Emi’s complete inability to filter her thoughts. In a world of schemers and conspiracies and cosmic entities trying to turn me into a weapon, Emi was refreshingly simple.

"I’m fine," I said when she finally paused for air. "Had to deal with some family stuff."

"Oh! Is everything okay? Do you need anything? I can bring you soup. My mom makes really good soup when people are sick. Not that you’re sick. Are you sick? You don’t look sick. You actually look really good. Like, really good. Have you been working out more? Your shoulders look broader."

Natalia’s hand found my arm. A possessive gesture that wasn’t lost on Emi.

"He’s been busy," Natalia said. Her voice was pleasant enough, but I felt the edge underneath. The territorial claim wrapped in politeness.

Emi’s eyes dropped to where Natalia was touching me. Then to the hickeys on Natalia’s neck. Then back to me.

"Oh."

Her cheeks flushed pink.

"Oh! I didn’t realize you two were... I mean, I suspected? But I didn’t want to assume? And Nat never said anything directly even though we’re best friends and I tell her everything and—"

"We’re together," Natalia said flatly. "Officially."

"That’s so great!" Emi’s smile returned full force. "I’m so happy for you! Both of you! This is amazing! When did it happen? How did it happen? Was it romantic? I bet it was romantic. Satori seems like the type who’d be secretly romantic even though he acts all cool and aloof and—"

"It was very romantic," I said. "There were candles."

"Really?"

"No."

Emi pouted.

Natalia’s grip on my arm tightened. A warning. Don’t tease too much.

Fair enough.

"I need to check in with the administration," I said. "Something about updated Aspect evaluations after the Black Gate incident."

"Oh, right! I heard about that. The VHC is making everyone who was involved do new assessments. Something about making sure no one got permanently damaged?" Emi shuddered. "That Gate was so scary. I still have nightmares about it sometimes."

"You handled yourself well."

"I mostly just healed people and tried not to die."

"That’s handling yourself well."

She beamed at the praise like I’d handed her a trophy.

We parted ways at the main building. Emi headed toward her morning classes while Natalia and I climbed the stairs to the administrative offices. The halls were quieter up here. Less foot traffic. More opportunity for private conversation.

"You’re good at that," Natalia said.

"Good at what?"

"Making people feel valued. Emi was practically glowing."

"She glows naturally. I just didn’t dim it."

"Smooth."

"I try."

The administration office was staffed by a bored-looking Zero woman with thick glasses and a permanent frown. She looked up when we entered, then immediately looked back down at her paperwork.

"Name and purpose."

"Satori Nakano. I’m here for my updated Aspect evaluation."

Her fingers tapped at a keyboard.

"You’re early. The testing facility won’t be ready for another hour."

"I’ll wait."

"Waiting room is down the hall. Third door on the left."

She didn’t look up again.

Natalia and I found the waiting room. It was exactly as exciting as it sounded. Plastic chairs. Outdated magazines. A water cooler that made ominous gurgling sounds.

But we were alone.

Which meant we could talk freely.

"The Remnant," Natalia said as soon as the door closed. "Have you figured out what she actually wants?"