Myriad SCP Foundation Chat

Naoki woke up to his biological clock. A glance at the clock on his desk showed it was 5:30 AM.

He opened the curtains to let the vitamin D-rich sunlight into his room, then headed to the bathroom on the first floor to brush his teeth and wash his face.

Returning to his room, he changed into a simple yet comfortable tracksuit. Morning runs had become a daily routine for him before heading to school, as maintaining strong physical fitness was essential for practicing Breathing Styles.

Descending the stairs with light steps, Naoki ran into his mother, Kamikawa Aiko.

Aiko was a middle-aged woman of average height, her shoulder-length brown hair tied into a side ponytail with an orange ribbon, making her look younger than her actual age.

'That hairstyle is dangerous. After I told her to change it, I got scolded for watching too much anime.' Naoki thought to himself.

In his previous life, Naoki and many other otaku believed that women with side ponytails often met tragic fates.

"Good morning, Naoki. Don't forget to have breakfast after your run. And don't be late for school."

Glancing at her son, Aiko knew his routine well and didn't ask where he was going.

"Got it, Mom. I'm heading out now." Naoki replied with a slight nod.

Putting on his running shoes by the door, he stepped outside and took a deep breath. The morning air felt fresh, brushing against his body with a pleasant coolness.

"Let's run ten kilometers!"

Naoki started jogging lightly along the streets of the residential area.

❀❀❀

The air in the city park was gradually illuminated by the rising sun from the eastern horizon. The atmosphere was still quiet, with only the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves blown by the wind.

Occasionally, Naoki passed other joggers and greeted them with a nod.

"Hufttt... Hahhh..."

He focused on maintaining his pace and breathing. Total Concentration Breathing had become second nature to him; he drew in oxygen more deeply, allowing his body to function at maximum efficiency.

"This body is starting to adapt more easily." He said, picking up his pace.

His run became faster and lighter, as if his body had become one with the wind. With Thunder Breathing, every muscle and tendon moved smoothly, allowing him to surpass the speed of an ordinary person.

Naoki completed his 10-kilometer jog, his steps still light despite the distance. His exceptional physical fitness left him barely sweating.

*Beep!* *Beep!* *Beep!*

The alarm on his smartwatch suddenly went off, breaking the silence.

Naoki glanced at the screen. It was 6:30 AM.

"Ah, time to head back. If I'm late, Mom will scold me again for skipping breakfast."

Casually regulating his breathing, he sprinted back home.

The spring sky seemed brighter, with cherry blossom petals fluttering in the wind like a soft pink rain.

However, amidst the morning tranquility, his ears caught another sound—a panicked cry from a girl.

"Kyaaah!"

Naoki immediately turned toward the source of the sound. On the stairs leading up to a shrine on a hill, a girl in a high school uniform appeared to have slipped and was about to fall down the steps.

"This isn't good!"

*RUMBLE!*

In an instant, Naoki moved like lightning. The sound of thunder echoed as he dashed toward the girl. Before her body could hit the ground, Naoki had already stretched out his arms and caught her deftly.

Looking at the girl with a helpless expression, Naoki sighed.

"Sigh… The school year just started, and you almost got yourself a break due to injury. Be more careful next time, Shiori."

The girl in his arms was Sakurazaka Shiori, his childhood friend and cousin.

Shiori's mother was Aiko's younger sister, so the Kamikawa and Sakurazaka families were very close.

"..."

Seeing that her savior was her cousin, Shiori looked at him with a flushed face. Her brown hair, tied into two low pigtails, was slightly disheveled, making her look even more innocent.

"Thank you so much, Naoki-kun. You… saved me." she said softly in her characteristic gentle voice.

Naoki released his hold after making sure Shiori could stand steady.

"Be more careful next time. There won't always be someone to save you in critical situations."

"Mm… I know. I'll be more careful…" Shiori bowed her head slightly, feeling embarrassed.

"..."

The atmosphere fell silent for a moment, with only the sound of the gentle breeze and the rustling of cherry blossom leaves between them.

Realizing she was still standing quite close to Naoki, Shiori quickly stepped back, her cheeks turning even redder.

"Don't blush like that. People might misunderstand, Shiori." Naoki teased.

Of course, he wouldn't misunderstand. He knew Shiori had feelings for someone else. It was hard to develop romantic feelings when they were practically family.

"By the way, what were you doing at the shrine? Ah, forget my silly question. What else would you be doing besides praying? Is there a special event?"

Before Shiori could answer, Naoki casually interrupted with his question.

Looking at him in surprise, Shiori was slightly confused by Naoki's apparent lack of knowledge.

"You don't know, Naoki-kun? Since we're third-year students now, we have to participate in the Practical Marriage program!"

"Oh, so that's it." Naoki replied nonchalantly.

He and Shiori attended Seishun Academy.

Formerly known as Hama High School, Seishun Academy was famous for implementing the Practical Marriage program in its curriculum for students entering their final year of high school.

What was the Practical Marriage program?

In this exercise, which lasted throughout the school year, students were randomly paired with the main goal of earning as many points as possible while living together as a mock newlywed couple.

The purpose of the Practical Marriage program was a field experiment for scientific research, an effort to encourage young people to find suitable romantic partners for economic benefits, or for some other entirely unknown purpose. The Practical Marriage program was responsible for creating real romantic relationships during and after its implementation.

Because this curriculum increased the marriage rate among young people, Japan, which was experiencing a population crisis, approved the Practical Marriage program through the Japanese Cultural Affairs Agency.

"Hmm... I see." Naoki said, stroking his chin with a faint smile.

Feeling Naoki's intense gaze fixed on her, Shiori grew nervous and couldn't hold back any longer.

"Naoki-kun, why are you looking at me like that?"

"Because you were praying earlier, right? Does that mean you're hoping your Practical Marriage partner will be Jiro?" Naoki teased with a playful look.

"...!!!"

Shiori paused for a moment, her face turning even redder. Of course, Naoki knew who she had a crush on, as it was no secret between them.

Although deeply embarrassed, she didn't deny the question. She simply bit her lower lip, her eyes downcast, clearly feeling awkward.

"Ah, so you really want Jiro, huh? I could tell from the way you were praying earlier…"

"Naoki-kun, stop teasing me! Get ready for school, or you'll be late!"

Unable to endure the teasing any longer, Shiori quickly pushed Naoki's back with a bit of force.

"Okay, okay... See you at school then."

After having his fun, Naoki headed home, while Shiori made her way to school.