Prologue
In the deserted classroom after school, where the hustle and bustle had long faded, only a boy and a few girls remained. The atmosphere could have been sweet and nostalgic, but it was anything but tha.
I was surrounded by several female students, each glaring down at me with menacing expressions. Seated in a chair, leaning back casually, I felt an unwarranted pressure bearing down on me.
"Sorry, could you repeat that? Why exactly am I being blamed here?" I asked, trying to calm the agitated girls with a measured tone.
My attitude seemed to irritate them further, as a flashy blonde girl stepped forward. "I said, apologize for making her cry!" she demanded, pointing to a girl behind her whose eyes were red and swollen from sobbing.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because you, Hatsu, mocked the letter she poured her courage into writing!" the blonde girl snapped.
"Hmph. There seems to be a misunderstanding," I said with a wry smile.
"W-What do you mean?" The blonde girl glanced back at her friends, who exchanged uncertain looks. It appeared none of them fully grasped the situation, so I had no choice but to clarify.
"Let me set the record straight. That girl over there, playing the victim and crying, mistakenly put her so-called courageous love letter in my desk. Her intended recipient is the guy in the seat in front of mine."
"…"
"It's only natural I assumed the letter was for me and read it, right? I thought, 'Maybe there’s still a girl in this school with some taste.' But to my surprise, it was a love letter addressed to the utterly unremarkable guy in front of me—a complete nobody. I merely pointed out how ridiculous it was to get dragged into such a trivial romance, and now I’m the bad guy? That’s absurd."
As I laid out the facts plainly, the girls in front of me were left speechless. The sobbing girl, who had been shielded by her friends, suddenly spoke up. "Shuto-kun isn’t like that… hic He’s really wonderful!"
"Oh? And what’s so wonderful about him? From my seat, all I see is the back of his head. He’s just a small-town hero, decent at studies and sports, but nothing more than an ant in the grand scheme of things. Though, I suppose for a girl like you, who can’t even deliver a letter to the right person, he might be a perfect match."
The crying girl’s mouth fell open, her face flushed red, and she burst into loud wails. Watching her with a half-lidded gaze, I saw the blonde girl grow even more furious as she stepped closer. "How dare you say that to my friend, you heartless, despicable jerk!"
"Sniff… hic It’s fine, let’s just leave him alone, Chiharu-chan! He’s as awful as everyone says! I-I can’t deal with this anymore!" the crying girl stammered.
"No way it’s fine! Hatsu! Hatsu Jun-nosuke, apologize to her now!" the blonde girl shouted. Despite her flashy, carefree appearance, she seemed fiercely loyal to her friends.
But the others, likely trembling inside at the thought of confronting me, were already wavering. I pointed past the blonde girl, who was glaring at me head-on. "Looks like your friends have tucked tail and run."
"What? …Oh!" She turned to find no one standing behind her. The crying girl had fled the classroom in tears, and the others had scattered like frightened spiders.
"Pretty pitiful to be abandoned by the very friends you were shielding. Next time, choose ones worth protecting. And maybe work on that forgettable presence of yours while you’re at it," I remarked.
"You… You monster! One day, you’ll get what’s coming to you!" the blonde girl spat.
"Sadly for you, any god doling out divine punishment loves me more than anyone. Why? Because I’m the most talented, flawless genius this world has ever seen!"
"–…"
The blonde girl opened her mouth to retort but found no words. Her silence was, in effect, an admission of my truth. Biting her lip in frustration, she shot me a venomous glare before storming out.
The classroom, now empty save for me, was filled with a pleasant stillness. Rising from the chair I’d been lounging in, I strolled to the window. Below, I could see students sweating on the field during club activities or trudging to the study room with bags stuffed full of textbooks, all desperately striving in their own ways.
"I’ll never understand the lives of ordinary people," I muttered.
The earlier exchange with those girls was a prime example. Where exactly had I gone wrong? Others accuse me of lacking empathy, and they’re right. I can’t comprehend the feelings of mediocre nobodies, nor do I care to.
I’ve never had to exert effort in my life. I’m a born genius, capable of anything, excelling in everything. Even in class, I barely listen to the teachers yet ace every exam, so no one can complain. I don’t need the shallow camaraderie of foolish classmates to soothe my soul—my nerves aren’t that fragile. A true genius is a solitary existence, misunderstood by all.
My future as a treasure of humanity is all but guaranteed, but for now, I’d like to enjoy a leisurely life of leisure. And while I haven’t yet found a romantic partner worthy of me, I’m certain I’ll eventually meet the ideal woman.
Just then, I spotted the girls from earlier leaving the school building, heading home. Leaning out the window, I called out just loud enough for them to hear, "If a beauty who’s swept the Oscars, Grammys, and Nobel Prize showed up, I’d fall in love in a heartbeat! If only there were a woman of status and fame to match my brilliance!"
The girls froze, their backs stiffening. Even from a distance, I could tell they locked eyes with me, likely gossiping about me as they hurried away… or so I thought. One of them, left behind by her friends, looked up at me. Her vibrant blonde hair danced in the breeze.
Through the gap in her bangs, her sharp, almond-shaped eyes met mine with bold confidence. I don’t bother remembering the names of my classmates—they’re all insignificant nobodies. That blonde girl should’ve been no exception, but now that I was consciously looking at her, I couldn’t help but notice her strikingly refined features, almost as if I’d overlooked something remarkable.
"…Tch!" The blonde girl stuck out her tongue in disgust, her expression bratty and defiant. Realizing she’d been left behind again, she hurriedly turned and ran after her friends.
"Good looks don’t mean much when the personality’s trash," I muttered. As expected, the world is full of fools with no discernment.
---
The next morning, I entered the classroom, sank into my seat, and leaned back. A strange tension seemed to ripple through the room, and I glanced around. Groups of students were huddled over textbooks and notebooks, whispering anxiously. Oh, right—today was the day of the midterms. I’d completely forgotten, since I never needed to prepare.
"Being born a genius who can do anything makes life so dull," I murmured, sinking deeper into my chair. The hostile glares from my classmates felt like weak carbonation—barely stimulating, utterly unsatisfying. I couldn’t help but hope for something, anything, to shake things up.
Perhaps that was my mistake. From that moment, my life would change irrevocably.
---
Days later, the math teacher, a woman with a flat tone, announced, "Time to hand back the tests."
Students were called up by attendance number, receiving their papers with a mix of joy and despair. I, however, waited calmly for my turn. I’d never cared about the scores on my returned tests—they were always perfect, 100 out of 100. But this time, across all subjects, something felt… off. My pen had moved smoothly, but it wasn’t the same flow as usual. A trick of the mind, perhaps?
"Next… Hatsu," the teacher called.
I rose slowly, walking to the front with elegant poise. With a confident smile, I took my test paper and glanced at the score—only to freeze, eyes wide, jaw dropping.
"…T-T-Two points…!? I answered everything!" I stammered, staring at the score in disbelief, my breath ragged.
I locked eyes with the teacher, who looked at me with faint concern. Handing the paper back, I said, "Sensei, this is a mistake. You’ve given me the wrong paper, haven’t you?"
"Calm down. That’s definitely your test," she replied.
"Then there’s a grading error, isn’t there?"
"No error. I double-checked, as did the other teachers. We were all shocked. For this midterm, your scores across all subjects were…" She trailed off, hesitating. "…Just go back to your seat. I’ll inform you later about the makeup test schedule for failing students."
My mind went blank. The teacher’s voice was drowned out by a ringing in my ears. Stumbling back to my seat in a daze, I collapsed into my chair like a marionette with cut strings. After a moment, her words sank in.
"I… failed!?" My scream echoed through the classroom, drawing every student’s gaze. The unbearable stress of receiving my first failing grade pushed my mind to its limit, and I fainted on the spot.
---
In conclusion, the midterm disaster was merely the beginning of my downfall. From that day forward, I plummeted into an inexplicable slump—not just academically, but in every conceivable domain. The unparalleled genius Hatsu Jun-nosuke—once blessed with Olympic-level athleticism, Michelin-star culinary skills, a voice that could captivate concert audiences, martial prowess to overpower seasoned fighters, and gaming skills to dominate esports tournaments—could no longer excel at anything. Everything I once did effortlessly, producing first-class results, was now beyond my reach.
The cause of this decline eluded me. But one thing was certain: my perfect future, along with my genius pride, had been utterly obliterated.
---
Two Weeks Later
It was a weekday, yet I’d slept in past noon, wallowing in self-pity. I hadn’t been to school in days—I couldn’t bring myself to go. Lying in bed, I lacked the energy to even sit up, my gaze drifting sideways to the mirror. The reflection showed a haggard face: disheveled hair, hollow eyes, chapped lips. I couldn’t believe this was me.
"Ugh… This cruel reality… I just want a kind dream…" I muttered, turning away from the mirror. Tears spilled onto my pillow. The terrifying thought that I might never return to my former self had kept me awake for countless nights. Even sleeping in couldn’t heal my mental exhaustion.
As I cried myself out, my consciousness slipped easily into a haze.
---
When I came to, I was seated in a chair in a pure white, misty void. If an afterlife existed, this must be it—so mystical it felt like a dream. But it wasn’t reality; it was just a dream.
"This is not a dream, Hatsu Jun-nosuke-san," a voice said, startling me.
I hadn’t noticed her at first, but a girl now sat across from me, as if she’d appeared out of nowhere. "I am Rei, one of the pillars of the ‘Heavenly Gods,’" she declared.
Her long, pure white hair seemed woven from light, adorned with a small yet ornate crown. Her deep, crimson eyes exuded allure, and her traditional Japanese attire radiated divine authority, befitting her claim to godhood. We stared at each other, her expression expectant.
"So?" I asked.
"…P-Pardon?" she replied, taken aback.
"You’re a god, so what? Are you here to help me? I’ve fallen below even the level of a commoner…" I slumped forward, burying my face in my hands.
The goddess seemed flustered. "W-Wait! I was told kids these days would be thrilled in a situation like this! Don’t you know those stories about longing for another world? I put a lot of effort into setting the mood!"
"What’s that…? Never heard of it," I mumbled. I’d never cared for entertainment. Reality had always been my playground, and I’d been content… until now. This nightmare was a first. A lucid dream, perhaps? My consciousness felt continuous with reality, a novel experience.
"Ugh, I said it’s not a dream, but you don’t believe me! Fine, I’ll get to the point. My apologies for the confusion!" The goddess, clearly sulking after her grand setup flopped, placed her hands on my shoulders, straightening my slouched posture with a firm tug.
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"—Hatsu Jun-nosuke-san. As you may have realized, you have lost your talents."
"Lost… my talents?" I echoed, stunned.
"Yes. The gods of the heavens influence the mortal world through their duties. In my case, my role is to bestow innate talents upon humans," the goddess explained.
"Wait! Does that mean… you could grant talents to me!?" I asked, my voice rising with desperation.
"No, that’s impossible. Heavenly law dictates that talents are bestowed just before birth," she replied firmly.
"Tch! Please, do something about it!" I pleaded.
"If you’re going to beg, maybe don’t start with a tongue click?" The goddess, Rei, gave me a sidelong glance, as if I were some dubious creature. I pressed on.
"Fine, uh… Goddess—"
"Rei. My name is Rei. Forgetting my name and omitting honorifics? You’re quite the rude one, aren’t you?" she chided.
"My apologies. I’m not used to remembering others or showing respect. More importantly, please explain what you mean by me losing my talents," I said, redirecting the conversation.
"…It was a mistake by my predecessor, the former ‘Heavenly God,’" Rei began, her tone grave.
Dream or not, I leaned in to listen.
"As I mentioned, innate talents are granted just before birth. However, not every human receives one. These talents are given only to those destined to wield them better than anyone else."
"A privilege for those chosen by the gods. Truly an innate talent," I mused. That explained why I, overflowing with talent, was destined to be a genius. It was a satisfying truth, but then why had I lost my talents? Did the previous god mistakenly erase them? As if sensing my thoughts, Rei shook her head.
"There was a mistake, but it wasn’t the loss of your talents."
"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.
"You originally possessed 109 talents. But the talent you were meant to receive… was only one. Due to an error, you were granted 108 talents you weren’t supposed to have."
"What… WHAT!?" I shot to my feet, grabbing Rei’s shoulders. A god making such a blunder!?
"Don’t mess with me! Bring that former god here—I’ve got a bone to pick!"
"P-Please, the predecessor was already severely punished for dereliction of duty and exiled from the heavens!" Rei stammered, her eyes spinning as I shook her.
But what a disaster. If this was true… then… "So, the loss of my talents wasn’t a mistake—it was intentional?"
"Yes," Rei said, wincing. "The extra talents you held were meant for others."
"So, I was hoarding 108 talents that belonged to other people?" I muttered, the realization sinking in. I pitied those who missed out on their talents—imagining myself in their place sent a chill down my spine. Noticing my self-centered concern, Rei shot me a reproachful look.
"To miss out on an innate talent is something that must never happen."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Those meant to receive innate talents need them. Talents counteract flaws and maintain balance. Without the right talent, a person is left with its opposite—a ‘detriment’ they can never overcome, no matter how hard they try."
I processed her words carefully. "So, for example, if someone misses out on the talent for swimming, they’re doomed to be a terrible swimmer forever due to this ‘detriment’?"
"Exactly. You catch on quickly," Rei nodded.
"Hold on. I lost my talents and can’t do anything now. Is that a ‘detriment’ too?"
"Oh, no, that’s unrelated. You’ve lived your entire life relying solely on talent without effort, so this is simply the result of your lack of effort," she said bluntly.
"I know you don’t mean harm, but that really pisses me off!" I shouted, venting my frustration at her innocent explanation. Exhausted, I slumped onto the white floor.
"So that’s it… I’ll never live as a flawless genius again…"
"…The 108 talents you held in excess have been redistributed to their rightful owners," Rei continued, her tone softening. "My predecessor, under orders from higher gods to clean up a chaotic workplace, discovered their past mistake and tried to cover it up by redistributing the talents without permission." She hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "And… this is embarrassing to admit, but there was another mistake during the redistribution. The 108 talents were sent to the wrong people, mismatched among the 108 recipients."
"…Was your predecessor some kind of plague god?" I muttered.
"B-But rest assured, Hatsu Jun-nosuke-san, you weren’t affected by the mismatching! The selection of the 108 talents to redistribute was correct; only their destinations were wrong. As a result, the talent left to you—‘the talent for love’—is your true innate talent."
"My true talent… is love?" I asked, bewildered.
I couldn’t hide my confusion. If I may say so myself, my standards in love are sky-high. I’ve never been interested in romance because no one measures up. Settling for mundane relationships is out of the question. And yet, I’m supposed to have a god-given talent for love? Sure, I was confident I could charm any woman if I wanted, but accepting this was hard.
"…I’m not entirely convinced. Yes, I was a genius heartthrob destined to be adored by all women, but just recently, my female classmates despised me."
"That’s only natural," Rei said. "Hatsu Jun-nosuke-san, you have no interest in love, do you? Unless you have the desire, your ‘talent for love’ won’t manifest."
"What!? Sure, I’ve never felt affection for anyone, but that’s because no one was worthy of me…!" I protested.
"That’s exactly the problem," Rei cut in, silencing my excuses.
So, I can’t wield my talent because I’ve never loved anyone? What even is this ‘love’ she speaks of? How am I supposed to love ordinary women? Seeing my confusion, Rei’s eyes softened with pity.
"However… because you possessed an excess of talents, you’ve been warped into something far from your true self. That might be why your talent feels foreign to you."
"Warped… me?" Her words, a near-denial of my current existence, made me frown. If I’d only had the ‘talent for love,’ what kind of person would I have been? I couldn’t imagine it, but I couldn’t dismiss it either.
"Even if you say that… what am I supposed to do now?"
"Well, Hatsu Jun-nosuke-san, your personality may be catastrophic, but your brilliance was undeniable. Now, having lost most of your talents, you’re just… a person with a bad personality."
"I didn’t think that poorly of myself…" I muttered.
"I feel responsible as your predecessor’s successor. Please don’t lose hope. You can still discover love and walk a purer path in life. Men have always been resilient. Stay strong. Among the 109 involved, you’re the only male, so take the lead for the others! Please, do your best!"
"…Wait, what?"
Something she said caught my attention—something critically important, casually mentioned. Then, it hit me.
"—That’s it!!" I exclaimed.
"…? Hatsu Jun-nosuke-san?" Rei tilted her head.
I sprang to my feet, grabbing her shoulders. "Thank you, Goddess-sama! I was starting to think gods were just glorified mistake machines after your predecessor’s fiasco, but with a wonderful goddess like you as successor, I’m reassured. Thanks to you, I’m brimming with energy!"
"R-Really? Hehe," Rei giggled, blushing at my gratitude.
Unbeknownst to her, I was already formulating a plan based on my revelation. Rei had said that of the 109 involved, I was the only male. That meant the other 108 were all female. And crucially, I possessed the ‘talent for love’—a natural gift for making women fall for me.
From these facts, an idea sparked.
I had to reclaim the glorious future I was destined for as a genius. I couldn’t accept this degraded version of myself—it was no different from falling to the level of the incompetent nobodies I’d always despised. A flawless genius was the only identity worthy of Hatsu Jun-nosuke!
So, I’d use my ‘talent for love’ to make all 108 girls fall for me. If I could win them over and have them at my side, I could harness their talents as my own. It’d be as if I’d reclaimed the 108 talents I lost! My future would be secure…!
But I needed one more tool.
"Goddess-sama, may I ask something? Could you let me assist you?" I said, guiding a surprised Rei to the chair I’d been sitting in.
"Since you inherited your predecessor’s duties, you’ve also been saddled with cleaning up their mess, right? For the sake of those poor souls whose talents were mismatched, and for you, who helped me stand again, I want to lend my humble aid!"
"W-Well…" Rei stammered.
"Is there anything troubling you? Don’t hold back. Even a goddess must find her work taxing. Isn’t there something a human could help with?"
"W-Well, heavenly law forbids gods from descending to the mortal world, so directly searching for the mismatched talents is a hassle… but it’s something I can handle from the heavens with time."
"Why settle for that? If you truly care for people, we should aim for a swift resolution! So, please grant me, your earthly ally, the means to search for the 108 redistributed talents!"
"U-Uh, there’s no precedent for this. Is it… allowed?" Rei hesitated.
"Is there a heavenly law prohibiting human cooperation?"
"Well, no, but—"
"Then there’s no need to hesitate! It’s a righteous act, after all. Let’s join hands and work together!" I pressed, extending my hand with fervent enthusiasm.
It felt like persuading a sheltered maiden, but could this exchange be triggering my ‘talent for love’ even slightly? Rei had said the talent wouldn’t activate without my desire to love, but I wasn’t so sure. She was a goddess—a woman, after all. I hoped my talent might have some effect, but I felt nothing. How was I even supposed to sense this ‘talent for love’?
Still, I maintained a charming demeanor and gazed at her. After a moment of confusion, Rei’s wavering eyes met my hand, and she tentatively grasped it.
"I’m glad you seem to be turning over a new leaf…" she said, smiling brightly, clearly believing my facade.
Of course, my offer to help wasn’t born of goodwill—it was a pretext. I needed a way to locate the 108 talents. Without it, I couldn’t achieve my goal of reclaiming them.
But, fortunately, I succeeded.
"With my divine power, I’ve granted you a ‘sixth sense.’ This will allow you to locate the talents," Rei announced.
I looked down at my body, frowning. "I don’t feel anything. Did something actually change?"
"That’s normal—you won’t feel it under ordinary circumstances. But when you physically touch someone possessing one of the talents you’re searching for, you’ll feel a kyun in your chest. Think of it like a detector."
"…Are you joking?" I asked skeptically.
"I’m completely serious. Shall we test it?" Rei replied, undeterred by my doubt.
Before I could respond—Kyun!
"Urgh…!?" A sensation, neither pain nor tightness, gripped my chest, making me groan. "Tch, this feels awful! Change it to something else—physical contact as a condition is too inconvenient!"
"This is the best I can do. Overusing divine power could further distort your personality, which wouldn’t be good for you," Rei explained.
"…"
"Besides, not every woman on Earth is a target. When granting talents, we select people within specific regions. The 108 recipients, at least at the time of their birth, lived near you."
"So, unless they’ve moved or studied abroad, they’re likely still in my area. That narrows the search, but it’s still a lot," I grumbled. It seemed I wouldn’t get more concessions. Still, I had the key to reclaiming my destined future.
"What will you do now?" I asked.
"I’ll oversee the search for the talents from the heavens, identifying who holds each of the 108. Once I do, I’ll explain the situation to them, as I did with you, and redistribute the talents to their rightful owners," Rei said, placing a hand on her chest with resolve.
"If you find a talent, my ‘sixth sense’ will alert me. If you truly care for others, aim for a swift resolution. I’m counting on your help."
"I’ll meet your expectations in my own way," I replied, my fiery gaze clashing with her challenging one.
Our ultimate goals differed, but our interests aligned for now. I would find the 108 talents, make their owners fall for me with my ‘talent for love,’ and reclaim the secure future I was meant to have!
Oblivious to my true intentions, Rei smiled softly and raised her hand. "Then, I’ll return your consciousness to the mortal world. May fortune favor you."
The white space and Rei’s figure rapidly receded. I fell backward into darkness, weightless, as if the ground had vanished beneath me—
---
I woke with a start, bolting upright and scanning my surroundings. My room. A glance at the clock showed I’d been asleep for only fifteen minutes. In the mirror beside my bed, my face was frozen in shock.
After taking time to process everything, I let out a long breath. "What a bizarre dream… Ha, haha, hahaha!"
I knew it was just a dream. Taking it seriously was absurd. I prided myself on being a realist, dismissing abstract nonsense. Laughing off the ridiculous fantasy, I instinctively placed a hand on my chest.
The kyun sensation lingered, unsettling and vivid.
"There’s no such thing as gods… but my fall to less than ordinary isn’t a dream," I muttered.
Thanks to my shallow sleep, it was still early afternoon. Driven by impulse, I rose from bed and decided to head to school.
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