Lou's increase in charisma had boosted his confidence. All that had happened earlier felt like a delusion to him. The feelings he felt at the lake now seemed like a distant, surreal memory as he approached the gates of the school.

That's when Lou finally entered the school and found out that he'd missed the first three classes though he felt like it was worth it. As he moved around the school, he saw how the change was brought about in the way everyone was perceiving him. He no longer heard whispers of scorn or caught people looking at him with pity. Rather, they were looking with an almost curious, admiring glint in their eyes. And most importantly, his Cringe Progression Bar wasn't even moving an inch.

He didn't notice anybody familiar immediately while he moved in the crowded passes, but he could feel the change in their perception. Heads turned as he walked past, and he could hear snippets of conversation about him. The thoughts in Lou's head were racing with a mix of excitement and confusion. He had never been at the center of positive attention before, not even before that incident happened when only a handful of people noticed him.

As Lou entered his classroom, a cool wave suddenly washed over him. The buzz of conversation ebbed until all eyes turned to him. Classmates who usually ignored him or offered at most the occasional sneer now seemed to look upon him with real concern.

"Hey, Lou! Are you okay?" asked Penny, a girl who usually sat at the front of the class and rarely interacted with him.

Lou blinked in surprise. "Uh, yeah. I'm fine. Thanks for asking, Penny."

"Good to hear," she replied with a warm smile before turning back to her desk.

Several others said something similar and came up to Lou to see if he was alright. For the first time, probably ever, he was literally gobsmacked by the amount of care and attention. It all seemed rather surreal like he had walked into someone else's life. For the first time in a long while, Lou felt like he belonged. He was not the black sheep anymore. His heart swelled with a mixture of gratitude and disbelief. There was no doubt it was all Charisma's doing.

Even Derek, the perennial bully, was keeping his distance. Lou caught bits and pieces of Derek's talk with his gang. "What's up with this Lou-ser? He looks different," he muttered, confusion evident from his tone. Lou couldn't help but smirk at Derek's bewilderment.

The bell finally rang, resuming the class for History with Mr. Whalley, who was known for his special powers of being able to make any inanimate object give off a faint glow. It wasn't much of a special power and it had made him the butt of jokes among all the students.

"Settle down, everyone," Mr. Whalley said, waving his hand over a pile of textbooks, causing them to give off a dim light with a distinct bluish hue. A few chuckles could be heard, but Mr. Whalley didn't mind and continued, "Today, we're going to learn about the ancient empires."

Lou tried to concentrate on the lesson, but his mind was still buzzing by all the earlier interactions. He felt both nervous and excited at the same time because he could feel his classmates' gaze on him. He knew he just had to test the limit of his charisma, but how? Try to do something cringey? Could he even level up in this state, or would people find him charming no matter how cringe he was?

As Mr. Whalley went on and on about ancient battles, Lou decided he would make a joke. He generally got groans and eye-rolls when he tried to be funny. "You know, Mr. Whalley," he said, with a tone of sarcasm. "You talk about it like you were there. You that old, dude?"

The class went silent for a moment, and Lou's heart was in his chest. And then, to his surprise, laughter broke out. Even Mr. Whalley was chuckling.

"Well, Lou, let's just say I've been around long enough to see a few history books come and go. But even I haven't been around for that long! You got me there."

Lou was floored. Not only did his Cringe Exp Bar stay the same, but also his classmates found his joke funny and charming. Just then, he scanned around and saw some girls giggling and whispering with eyes darting towards him. Even Derek was laughing as he said, "Classic!"

This had never happened to him before. He slightly got uncomfortable. "Oh no, I'm doomed. I didn't expect this kind of acceptance. What will I do to level up now?" he thought as he tried to look cool.

As the class continued, Lou made a few more jokes and pushed his luck with worse and worse jokes. Each one met with laughter and approval. He was starting to realize that his new charisma wasn't just a fluke. It was genuinely changing how people saw him.

The lesson finally ended, and Mr. Whalley called Lou over as the other students began to pack up. "Lou, could you stay for a moment?" he asked.

Lou walked up to Mr. Whalley's desk, curious and slightly apprehensive. "Sure, Mr. Whalley. What's up? Is this about my jokes?"

"I've noticed a change in you today, Lou," Mr. Whalley said, his tone more serious. "It's good to see you more confident and engaged. However, I think it would be beneficial for you to have a chat with the guidance counselor, Mrs. Acare. She helps students who have recently gained their powers to plan their future. It's part of our career planning program."

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Lou nodded, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. "Oh, I totally forgot about that! Thanks, Mr. Whalley, I'll go see her."

Mr. Whalley smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "Great. I think it will be really helpful for you."

As Lou left the classroom, he couldn't shake the feeling of being in a dream. The day had been surreal, and he was starting to enjoy the attention. But there was still a part of him that wanted to see if he could gain experience points by using his old cringeworthy tactics.

Even though he had been indecisive all day about whether to increase his charisma or not, he was not about to give up on his dreams so quickly. He decided to push the boundaries a bit further.

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Lou wandered into the guidance counselor's office, thinking about what he had to do next. Students were nodding and smiling when he passed them. He found Mrs. Acare's office and knocked on the door.

"Come in," a warm voice answered.

Lou walked into the room and found Mrs. Acare seated at her desk with papers and books all over it. She was a beautiful woman who smiled warmly at him and seemed to look through him. "Hey, Lou," she gestured towards the chair in front of her.

Lou sat down nervous. "Mr. Whalley told me to come see you."

Mrs. Acare nodded. "I wanted to talk to you about how you're feeling and discuss some potential paths for you. If the files before me are correct, you must have recently turned 18."

Lou forced a deep breath as he tried to gather his thoughts. "Honestly, it’s been a bit much. At first, I hated the power I gained. Then, just as I was starting to get used to it, some things happened. Now I don't know what I should feel."

Mrs. Acare smiled kindly. "That is normal, Lou. Changes like this can be quite disorienting. But it is important to embrace your growth and use it to your advantage. Have you thought about what you might want to do in the future?"

Lou hesitated, then shook his head. "To be honest. Until today my dream has always been to participate in Duel League. But I don't know exactly right now. Can I do this? Or should I? I am not sure."

"That's okay," Mrs. Acare said reassuringly. "We can work on that together. The important thing is that you recognize your potential and start thinking about how to harness it. Can I learn your gift if you want to share it?"

"Well," Lou began, a hesitant smile playing on his lips, "it's a bit of a weird one. It's called the Power of Cringe. Basically, I gain points by making people cringe, and I can use those points to level up my stats. It's not the most glamorous power, but it's interesting so far."

Mrs. Acare nodded, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "That's fascinating, Lou. I’ve never encountered a power similar to this before. So, you gain strength by... making people uncomfortable?"

Lou chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, something like that."

Mrs. Acare leaned forward, her interest piqued. "And this leveling up, is it temporary? Like an adrenaline rush?"

Lou shook his head. "No, it's permanent. Although, I have unlocked some new skills that give me temporary boosts when I make people cringe too." He paused, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "But I can say that I am torn between becoming stronger or being accepted in society. I can say that I didn't like seeing people cringe even though I didn't do anything."

Mrs. Acare's brows rose in surprise. "In my 20 years of being a guidance counselor, I have never had the case of this gift type. It's different to see this process of evolving and adapting. Amazing." Mrs. Acare intoned, then tapped her pen on the top of her desk thoughtfully. "But I can also get why you have second thoughts on this. Honestly, it does sound like with what you're telling me, Lou, you've got a challenge on your hands. But I happen to feel that, with the right kind of counseling and training, you can master the most effective use of your power."

Lou nodded, a flicker of hope in his eyes. "That's what I'm hoping for. I wanted to participate in the Duel League, but how can my power fit there? I mean, all the champions in the tournament are people I've admired since my childhood. But because of my power, I need more haters than fans."

Mrs. Acare's voice suddenly became dull. "If you have such doubts, I suggest you consider other options. Have you thought about attending university? Or becoming a civil servant? With this power, you can be a very good civil servant. You can easily become stronger!"

Lou grimaced as if he'd just eaten a whole lemon. "It hasn't even crossed my mind. Until now, my only dream was to join the Duel League. I just don't know if I can fit in there."

Mrs. Acare rocked gently back in her chair, thoughtful. "The Duel League is probably the toughest competitive arena in the world, Lou. Skill, strategy and an insight into who you are and your abilities are required there. But it's not only about raw power. It's about using your unique strengths to your advantage." She paused, as her eyes twinkled. "Also don't think that people will directly hate you. As long as you reveal your soul and struggle, you will find people who will support you."

Lou's heart skipped a beat. "Really?" he asked, his smile contagious.

"Really," Mrs. Acare agreed, a chuckle in her tone. "But it will require careful planning and training. You'll need to learn how to control your gift, to use it strategically in battles. And you'll need to understand the rules and regulations of the Duel League."

Lou grinned as his determination grew. "I'm up to the challenge," he said, a fresh resolve tingling his voice. "But what do I do?"

Mrs. Acare smiled. "First you have to understand the Duel League itself. It's a complex organization with lots of history and a very strong moral code to tie things together. You'll have to learn about the league's organization, how many kinds of duels there are, what being ranked means, and what a fighter must do to be a champion." She paused. "And if you're serious about it, you would have to start a Dojo Hunt."

Lou's eyes widened. "Yes, I know that! As I said, this has been my dream since childhood."

"It's a rite of passage for aspiring duelists," Mrs. Acare explained. "You travel across the country, challenging different dojos and earning badges for your victories. If you collect five badges, you can either qualify for the Duel League or attract the attention of a sponsor who will take you under their wing."

Lou nodded eagerly. "I know all about that. It's every aspiring duelist's dream to go on a Dojo Hunt. I've been studying the League's rules and regulations for years, even the history of famous duelists and their signature moves."

Mrs. Acare's eyes widened in surprise. "Well, it seems you've done your homework, Lou. That's impressive. So, tell me, what are your plans? Have you mapped out a route? Chosen which dojos you'll challenge? Or do you have a Dojo in your mind that you plan to join?"

Lou sat back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "To be honest, I haven't progressed that far. The logistics of the Hunt had not really occurred to me. But now that I'm here, I'm eager to start planning. We will hit the road with my cousin Nate. He also wants to join the League."

Mrs. Acare nodded, a supportive smile on her face. "That's where I can help, Lou. I have resources and contacts that can assist you in your journey. We can work together to create a personalized plan that aligns with your strengths and goals."

Lou's face lit up with excitement. "That would be amazing, Mrs. Acare. Thank you."

Mrs. Acare smiled. “Next time you come, bring your cousin with you so we can start drawing a road map for you! And listen Lou, I don't even remember how many students from this school set out with this dream. You must know better than I do how difficult it is to win this tournament. If you have any doubts, you can visit me again to discuss other options.”

Lou nodded and left the room. Now all he could think about was how he could make people cringe when he had such high charisma. "Perhaps the Fashion Sense skill can come to my rescue." he thought with a smile.