Anime Academy

*Back in the classroom*

"Oh well, I was just…" You glance around as if worried someone is listening in, before cautiously asking, "I'm a bit concerned how easily the teacher believed the summoned to another world thing. Does that happen a lot to students here?"

"Not really." Tori responded. "Usually it only happens when we have exchange programs. That's actually where most of our foreign exchange or transfer students come from. But we haven't had any students actually get transferred to another world against their will in about 3 years." She stops to consider something.

"Although we did lose our teacher Charles Airigniac last semester to a Steampunk world. Never found out what happened to him." She admitted.

"But the fact is interdimensional kidnappings rarely happen to one of our students. It usually happens to ordinary kids who blend into the background and aren't remotely remarkable."

You nervously rub the back of your head. I'm starting to feel like I should carry around a whistle, or maybe some pepper spray…

"Hey, um, you mentioned that there were clubs earlier." You change the subject. "What kind of clubs are there?"

"Oh there's quite a few." Tori notes, looking over her notes from class. "At the start of semester everyone tries to start a club. There's almost no rules on what can or can't be a club. However, if you don't have 5 members by week 3, your club is forced to disband."

"Oh I see. So, you're saying anyone can start a club?" You enquire.

"Yup. Just pick a topic it's about, send a form to the teacher's office, and then start recruiting members. Here, I've got a spare form." She reaches into her bag and hands a form to you.

"I wanted to start a Visual Novel club, but everyone I asked wanted to join a Literature Club. I mean, really, who wants to listen to poetry all day?"

"I bet nothing interesting happens at the Literature Club." You say with a smile.

"Exactly." Tori says with a nod. "So I'm not in a club right now. But the clubs will have adverts for their clubs up tomorrow, so you can see what's available. Or even start your own, but running a club takes a lot of time, so don't start one lightly. Clubs can also get quite competitive, about funding and members. So it's good to have strong bonds with people to get them to be part of your club."

*Achievement name unlocked- Club La Club*

"Speaking of strong bonds," You say, crossing your arms. "How come I don't have a Social Link with you?"

"With me?" Tori raises an eyebrow at you. "Why would we have a link?"

"Well, I mean, I thought, well, you're really nice and spend time with me-"

"Is our current relationship not satisfactory?" She leans in close to you, her nose almost touching yours.

"Whaa! Huh, I mean, I don't, no I'm satisfied, I just-" You fluster at her closeness, looking away embarrassed.

"Did you want something…more?" You go red as you feel her breath on your cheek.

"I-I-I," You're burning up, before finally bringing yourself to meet Tori's eyes.

And you see she's doing a terrible job holding in a laugh, her face scrunched up with a massive smile.

"You're teasing me aren't you?" You say dryly.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't help it." Tori says, leaning back as she giggles. "You were so adorable.

"To apologise, let me add an addendum to my last point about Social Links."

*Tori Tutorial-Social Link Addendum A*

"Starting a Social Link can be easier or more difficult depending on the individual. Sometimes, they can be won over by a gift they really appreciate.

"Other times, performing a task for them can help get over that initial barrier. Others will only initiate social links with you, if you share a social link with someone else, or possess a trait they consider valuable. And occasionally, it will be a certain phrase or action that can activate a social link. It varies person to person.

"The most reliable way to find out how will be to spend time with them, but maybe there are faster ways out there? You'll need to discover those by yourself."

*Tutorial over*

Your arms are crossed, even as you absorb all that knowledge.

"You're still meaner than the Chibi version of you?" You say without thinking.

"Chibi version of me?" Tori asks confused.

*Special Scene Unlocked*

"Uh, well um…see when I was meeting with Jad I was kinda…well long story short I ended up in a heap." You admit. "When I did, I saw an image of you in
Chibi form circling my head like a tweedle bird in one of those old Looney Toon cartoons."

"Ah." Tori nodded. "And what did Chibi me do?"

"She uh…told me off for looking up." You admit guilty.

"I see." Tori rests her face in her hands. "Well I don't know how to feel."

"Huh?" You ask confused. "Feel?"

"On the one hand, you just confessed that you were daydreaming about me." She says, eyes staring off in the distance.

"Wha-I wasn't dreaming-" You try to interrupt but Tori continues.

"On the other hand, you seem to have this strange Chibi fetish, which is a little unsettling."

"Wha-wha-fetish!" You sputter.

"I worry I should warn Pichipitto-sensei of your 'inclinations'." She says, sighing dramatically.

"Alright, now you're fucking with me." You rebuke angrily.

"You seem upset about that. Is it because I'm not the size of a toddler?" She questions, but you can see the glint of mischief in her eyes.

"Alright, we're done here. Back to the notes!" You exclaim, as you try to control the situation. However, Tori's smile implies this is far from over.

*Scene ended-Tori on your mind*

Congratulations-you have given Tori ample ammunition to tease you with. She will remember this.

---

As the two of you walk to the bus stop, you both keep chatting.

"So what are the dorms like?" Tori asks. "They're same sex right?"

"Yeah they are. There are two dorms, Dorm Jump for boys and Dorm Ciao for girls. They're both two big buildings, but they connect in the middle where the entrance is, so we can see each other when we leave, or go to the big dorm kitchen."

"Oh I see. So I imagine you're gonna start doing nightly raids of the girls?" She teases.

"I'm not suicidal. There's a security guard in the connecting area at night, who makes sure no one gets out after dark. Some say he's a devil from hell who got kicked out of McDonalds-others, that he's a samurai from Feudal Japan caught adrift in time. All I know, is he's terrifying." You shiver at the thought.

"Well good to know the only thing keeping you from corrupting the innocence of young girls is fear of getting caught." Tori notes.

"Oh come on, that's not what I said-stop sticking your tongue out at me!" You try to challenge her as she cheerfully carries on.

"Hey, let me see your report sheet." She demands.

"Huh? Alright." Caught off guard you hand it to her. She scans it intensely.

"Oh good, you've gained a new trait." She points it out to you.

"Oh yeah I have!" You say excitedly before pausing. "Uh, what does it mean?"

*Tori Tutorial-Traits*

"Traits are special qualities you have that go beyond stats. Having access to Traits allows you new options in almost all situations-including when in an anime.

"However, the most valuable part of a Trait, is when applying to join an Anime. Different Anime will desire different traits in their protagonists. If you have the same stats as your fellow applicant, but you have a desired trait and they don't, you will almost certainly get the role instead of them.

"However, some Anime don't like certain traits. If you possess a trait they don't want their protagonist to have, then even if you have all the right stats, you're less likely to get the role than someone with the same stats but without the trait.

"Of course, an undesirable trait for one anime might be a very desirable trait in another. And having one desirable trait usually outweighs having one undesirable trait.

"As a Tori Tip, try and get as many traits as you can-you never know which Trait might be the deciding factor."

*Tutorial End*

Tori then looks down at the sheet and smirks.

"Oooh, you've developed a social link with Jad."

"Wait, really?" You reach for it, but she holds it away.

"Ooh, I thought you might be friends, but now that I know you're into short girls, I'm wondering if it's a bit…more." She teases you.

"Hey give that back." You grab at it, and Tori lets you take it.

"Well I am happy for your new relationship, even if," She rests a hand on her forehead dramatically. "You stop dreaming about me."

"Oh shut up." You frown at her as you blush through your ears.

"*sniff* where did the love go?" She asks dramatically.

*Beep beep*

You see the electric bus come to the station.

"Well this is mine." She waves at you as she gets on. "See you tomorrow Ikashi."

"See you." You smile back at her. You watch her go off in the distance, before heading back to your dorm.

---

"Welcome back Toryauna-kun." A deep booming voice greets you from the front desk.
You shiver at his smile. He's clearly trying to be warm, but it's not his fault he gives off the aura of a boa constrictor encircling his prey.

"G-good to see you too Mr Knight." You respond.

"Please, I told you. You can call me Piyopiyo." He says, trying to smile broadly.

"Uh yeah…have a good night sir!" You say, before quickly heading to your room.

"Sleep well Toryauna-kun!" He calls out with a wave.

---

Back in your room, you slam the door shut. You consider going outside, seeing some of the other people on the dorms, but really…you're not feeling up to it.

Today has been a weird first day. When you first came in, you thought you would know everything-that you'd be able to fit into Anime Academy immediately, and everyone would respect your protagonist potential.

But almost immediately, everyone else was far more impressive than you. Wearing armor, coming from familes of protagonists, being able to play complicated card games that sent their teacher to other realms-even the other ordinary-ish person there was better than you in every stat!

You needed to prove everyone wrong. That you could be more than a faceless boy in the background-an unnamed extra without even a voice actor. You glance down at your stats.

All abysmal. Even when the teachers saw you, you clearly didn't register in their minds. You needed to improve. You needed to show the teachers what you could do. To show everybody.

And tonight, you were going to start by…

Choose 1

[] Using your personal weights and do more working out. You'll show how OP you can be by showing off the muscles you've been cultivating. [Increase OPness by 1]
[] Change your outfit-no one else followed a uniform…uniform, so neither will you. You've got tons of looks to work on. [Increase Attractiveness by 1]
[] Review the books one more time. You studied the curriculum in advance all summer-you're gonna ace any tests they've got. [Increase Studiousness by 1]
[] Cross your legs and medidate. To understand the universe, you need to understand yourself. [Increase Self-awareness by 1]