Kazuki sat on the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the wall of his small dorm room. The successful completion of the previous task with Ayumi should have brought him a sense of relief, but instead, it left him with a gnawing unease that he couldn't shake. The system had been silent since then, allowing him no time to process the feelings of guilt and discomfort that were building up inside him.
He thought back to the moment when he'd touched Ayumi's arm. It had seemed so simple at the time, just a casual gesture in the middle of a friendly conversation. But the knowledge that it had been calculated, that it had been driven by the system's demands rather than genuine interest, made him feel sick to his stomach. Ayumi had been so kind, so enthusiastic about involving him in the campus event, and all Kazuki could think about was how he had used her to fulfill a task.
The system, however, didn't allow for such sentiments. It was a cold, relentless force that demanded obedience, and Kazuki was all too aware of the consequences of failure. The fear of death hung over him like a dark cloud, pushing him to carry out the tasks despite his growing moral reservations.
As if on cue, the familiar chime echoed in his mind, signaling the arrival of a new task. Kazuki's heart sank as the system's voice filled his head.
"New task: You must maintain physical contact with a girl for a minimum of five minutes. This contact must be intimate, such as holding hands, hugging, or touching her face. You have three days to complete this task. Failure to do so will result in death."
Kazuki clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. The tasks were getting more difficult, more invasive, and the pressure was mounting. He could feel himself being pushed to the brink, torn between his survival instincts and his growing sense of guilt.
"This is too much," he muttered to himself, his voice trembling with frustration. "How am I supposed to do this without completely losing myself?"
The system, as always, remained indifferent to his plight. It offered no comfort, no explanation—only the cold, hard facts of the task. Kazuki had no choice but to comply, no matter how much it tore him apart inside.
He ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing. The increased security on campus was already making things difficult. After the recent rumors of a pervert lurking around, the administration had taken steps to ensure the safety of the students. Security personnel patrolled the hallways more frequently, and there were even rumors of surveillance cameras being installed in key areas. It was becoming harder and harder to carry out the system's tasks without being caught.
Kazuki knew he needed a plan, something that would allow him to complete the task without raising suspicion. But as he considered his options, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was sinking deeper into a moral quagmire. Each task brought him closer to crossing a line he knew he could never return from.
The next day, Kazuki found himself wandering aimlessly through the campus, his thoughts in turmoil. He needed to find a way to complete the task, but the idea of deliberately initiating such intimate contact with someone made him feel nauseous. He had always been shy and reserved, and the thought of invading someone's personal space in this way was almost unbearable.
As he walked, his eyes scanned the faces of the students around him, searching for a potential target. But with each person he considered, his guilt only grew. How could he bring himself to manipulate someone into such a situation? How could he look them in the eye afterward, knowing that he had used them to save his own life?
His mind kept drifting back to Ayumi. She had been so friendly and open with him, and he couldn't bear the thought of exploiting that trust again. But the system's deadline was looming, and Kazuki knew he had no choice. If he didn't complete the task, he would die.
Lost in his thoughts, Kazuki didn't notice when someone fell into step beside him until they spoke.
"Hey, Kazuki."
Kazuki jumped slightly, startled out of his reverie. He turned to see Haruka walking next to him, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity.
"Haruka," he said, forcing a smile. "You scared me."
"Sorry about that," Haruka replied with a small laugh. "You seemed really lost in thought. Everything okay?"
Kazuki hesitated, unsure of how to respond. He couldn't exactly tell her the truth—that he was struggling with the demands of a sadistic system that threatened his life at every turn. But he also didn't want to lie to her.
"I've just got a lot on my mind," he said finally, hoping that would be enough to satisfy her.
Haruka looked at him closely, her eyes searching his face. "You've been acting really weird lately, Kazuki. I'm worried about you."
Kazuki felt a pang of guilt at her words. Haruka had always been there for him, ever since they were kids. She had stuck by his side through thick and thin, and now she was worried about him—and with good reason. Kazuki knew he was becoming more withdrawn, more distant, as the tasks took their toll on him.
"I'm sorry, Haruka," he said quietly. "I don't mean to worry you. It's just… things have been really tough lately."
Haruka's expression softened, and she reached out to place a hand on his arm. "You know you can talk to me, right? Whatever it is, I'm here for you."
Kazuki nodded, the guilt swirling inside him like a storm. Haruka's kindness only made him feel worse. How could he even think about dragging her into this mess? But as much as he hated himself for it, the system's task was gnawing at the back of his mind.
He forced himself to focus on the conversation, trying to push the intrusive thoughts aside. "Thanks, Haruka. I really appreciate that."
They continued to walk in silence for a while, Haruka's hand still resting lightly on his arm. The contact, though innocent, sent a shiver down Kazuki's spine. The system's task was becoming harder to ignore, and the longer Haruka stayed by his side, the more his resolve wavered.
But before he could think any further, Haruka spoke again. "Kazuki, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out this weekend. We could go to that café we used to love. It's been a while since we just spent time together."
Kazuki's heart sank. She was offering him the perfect opportunity to complete the task, but the thought of using her in that way made him feel sick. He knew that if he agreed, he could easily fulfill the system's demands during their time together. A simple hug, a prolonged touch—anything would satisfy the task's requirements. But at what cost?
He hesitated, torn between his need to survive and his desire to protect Haruka from the darkness that was consuming him. "I… I don't know, Haruka. I'm not sure if I'm up for it."
Haruka frowned, her concern deepening. "Kazuki, you've been avoiding me lately. I know something's wrong. Please, just spend some time with me. Maybe it'll help take your mind off whatever's bothering you."
Kazuki bit his lip, the internal conflict raging within him. He knew he couldn't keep pushing her away forever, but he also couldn't bring himself to use her as a means to an end. He had to find another way, another solution that didn't involve dragging Haruka into his twisted reality.
Finally, he sighed and nodded. "Okay, Haruka. Let's go to the café this weekend."
Haruka's face lit up with a smile, and she squeezed his arm affectionately. "Great! It'll be just like old times."
Kazuki forced a smile in return, but inside, his guilt was eating him alive. He couldn't bring himself to tell her the truth, but he knew that whatever happened this weekend, it would leave a mark on him that he could never erase.
As the weekend approached, Kazuki's anxiety grew. The weight of the task hung over him like a guillotine, and the increased security on campus only added to his stress. The presence of patrolling guards and surveillance cameras made it nearly impossible to find a moment of privacy, and Kazuki knew that any misstep could lead to disaster.
He spent the days leading up to the café visit in a state of constant tension, his mind racing with possible scenarios. How could he complete the task without crossing a line he couldn't uncross? How could he protect Haruka while still ensuring his own survival?
The more he thought about it, the more hopeless it seemed. The system was relentless, and it didn't care about the moral implications of its demands. It was a cold, calculating force that only cared about results, and Kazuki was just a pawn in its game.
When the day of the café visit finally arrived, Kazuki was a bundle of nerves. He met Haruka outside the dorms, doing his best to appear calm and collected. But inside, he was anything but.
Haruka greeted him with a warm smile, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I'm so glad we're doing this, Kazuki. It's been too long."
Kazuki nodded, forcing a smile in return. "Yeah, it has."
As they walked to the café, Kazuki's mind was racing. He had to find a way to complete the task without hurting Haruka, but every option he considered felt wrong. The thought of manipulating her, of using her trust against her, made him feel sick to his core.
When they arrived at
the café, Haruka led him to a cozy booth near the window. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, with the smell of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. Haruka ordered their favorite drinks, and for a moment, it felt like old times—like they were just two friends enjoying each other's company.
But the system's demands were always there, lurking in the back of Kazuki's mind. As they talked and laughed, Kazuki couldn't shake the feeling that he was living on borrowed time. The deadline was fast approaching, and he knew he couldn't afford to fail.
Finally, as they were finishing their drinks, Haruka leaned back in her seat and smiled at him. "This was nice, Kazuki. I've missed hanging out with you."
Kazuki nodded, his heart heavy with guilt. "Yeah, me too."
There was a brief silence, and Kazuki knew that this was his moment—his chance to complete the task. But as he looked at Haruka, at her bright smile and kind eyes, he couldn't bring himself to do it.
"Haruka," he said quietly, his voice trembling. "There's something I need to tell you."
Haruka tilted her head, her expression curious. "What is it, Kazuki?"
Kazuki took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn't keep lying to her, couldn't keep pretending that everything was okay. He had to tell her the truth, no matter how much it hurt.
"I… I've been going through something really difficult lately," he began, his voice barely above a whisper. "Something that I can't explain, but it's been tearing me apart."
Haruka's expression softened, and she reached out to take his hand. "Kazuki, whatever it is, you can tell me. I'm here for you."
Kazuki felt a lump in his throat as he looked down at their joined hands. The contact was warm and comforting, but it only made him feel worse. He knew that this was what the system wanted—that it would consider this enough to fulfill the task. But he couldn't do it. He couldn't use Haruka like this.
"I'm so sorry, Haruka," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I'm sorry for everything."
Before Haruka could respond, Kazuki pulled his hand away and stood up abruptly. He couldn't stay there any longer—couldn't keep pretending that everything was okay. He needed to get away, to clear his head before he did something he would regret.
"Kazuki, wait!" Haruka called after him, but Kazuki was already out the door, his heart pounding in his chest.
He ran through the streets, his mind a whirlwind of confusion and fear. The system's deadline was closing in, and he knew that he was running out of time. But he couldn't bring himself to hurt Haruka, couldn't bring himself to use her like that.
As he stumbled through the campus, Kazuki felt a sudden surge of despair. He was trapped, caught between a rock and a hard place with no way out. The system's demands were impossible to ignore, but his conscience wouldn't let him go through with it.
In the end, Kazuki knew that he had a choice to make—one that would define who he was and what he stood for. And as the clock ticked down, he realized that there was only one path he could take, no matter how difficult it might be.
He wouldn't use Haruka, wouldn't betray her trust. But what that meant for his survival, he didn't know.
All he could do was keep running, hoping against hope that he would find a way to escape the system's grasp before it was too late.