Adam blinked, seeming dazed, his body marked by bruises and cuts, and the strange gleam of his system's messages flickering beside him. His gaze felt oddly detached, distant.
"Like I said... I don't have a sister," he muttered in a low, almost mechanical voice, as though he was unsure himself. There was a hesitancy, a strange undercurrent in his words, almost like he was grasping at memories just out of reach.
I studied his face, my mind racing with questions. Could he have lost his memory? Trauma had a way of pushing people to the edge, forcing the brain to shield itself by locking away painful events. Did that explain this shift in him, this new version of the man I'd known for so long? If he really didn't remember, maybe I was better off not bringing it up.
As I watched him, Adam dusted himself off and looked up, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth, teasing, cocky. His gaze slid over me with a familiar glint of mischief, almost as if he were amused.
"So… you're a female now, huh? And a mutant, too?" His words were so casual, yet there was something sharper in his eyes, something... enticing. His voice held that familiar dry humor, but in this moment, he seemed so different, rougher, almost reckless.
His stare sent a jolt through me, and for a split second, I couldn't look away. I wanted to get closer, to grab hold of that elusive confidence, to see if he'd break if I pushed just right. But I held myself back, knowing better than to jump in without thinking.
"You re—" I started, but before I could finish, Adam interrupted, frowning as if caught in a thought. His gaze turned distant, unfocused, and he mumbled, "Huh? Should I really do that?"
I raised an eyebrow, confused. "What should you do?" His behavior was... off, as if he were talking to someone I couldn't see.
He blinked at me, his expression softening with an awkward laugh. "What? Oh... Sorry, I was just... talking to myself. It's a habit."
He was lying. And I knew it. After three years of watching him, studying his every move, I'd learned his quirks well. Adam never talked to himself like that
I just smirked in response, deciding to let it go for now. I'd find out eventually.
Then he looked at me, eyes lighting up with a grin that was half-mischief, half-sincerity, and took on more serious tone.
"Anyways, I've got a question for you."
"Oh? Well, fire away then."
Adam's face turned completely serious, his expression unreadable. "Are those real?"
A moment of silence stretched between us as I processed the question.
"…What?"
Without breaking his stone-cold expression, he repeated, "Are those real?"
I was genuinely lost for a second. "Are what real?"
His gaze dropped to my chest, his face becoming uncharacteristically bashful as he pointed, clarifying with a low mutter, "You know... those 'milkers.'"
I couldn't believe it. After all we'd just been through, after everything that was still hanging in the air unresolved—this was what he was focused on? I bit back a laugh. I should really be grateful for his memory loss.
"They are~" I replied, smirking, my voice dripping with feigned innocence. I leaned closer, tilting my head provocatively. "Wanna touch them?"
Adam's eyes widened, his hand twitching as he reached out reflexively. But he froze mid-motion, his eyes squeezing shut as though he was listening to something. He took a shaky breath, forcing a tense smile, his words tight, controlled. "I was... I'm just joking."
"I wouldn't mind, you know~" I cooed, taking a slow step forward, my hands reaching out to rest gently on his shoulders, slipping around his neck as I closed the distance.
BANG
"Ouch!"
______________
I ran away.
I let out a breath and plopped down beneath the old oak in the corner of the park. My head was buzzing with questions, one stacking on top of the other. The last few days had been wild, and I couldn't seem to make sense of half of it. Powers? A crazy stalker? I had to get my head on straight before any more shit hit.
First things first—the system. What was I supposed to do with it?
The answer came almost instantly: I would just use it. Not to be a superhero or something like that. It was too risky and tiring.
I don't mean that I would let a grandma get mugged in front of me.
It just meant that I would help out with the simple stuff you know. Like the robbers and the small time criminals. I could stretch my boundary to weak mutants, but that was as far as I was willing to go.. And if things ever got so bad the world started cracking apart? I'd be out of here before anyone even noticed I was gone.
That settled, I moved to the next big issue—the girl. She was intense. Crazy, if I was honest, and something told me she wouldn't back off easily. Rejecting her would probably just make things worse, maybe even dangerous. For now, I'd let her be. And, who knows? Maybe she'd end up useful at some point.
As for my future? I had no plans to keep trudging through the same old routine. With the system, I could finally leave my sad and mediocre life behind. I'd figure out a way to make money with Chat gpt, make things easier. And with the former femboyin the picture now, I bet I wouldnt even have to cook.
A new notification interrupted my thoughts.
[Happy birthday!! I nearly forgot about it.]
Oh, right. It was my birthday.
"Thanks, ChatGPT. Got anything special for me?"
A small gift icon appeared on the floating panel.
Raising my hand, I tapped it, and a bright flash illuminated my surroundings, revealing a wheel of choices with the words Birthday Wheel glowing above it.
[Birthday Wheel: Only high-grade items and abilities for you today! Want to spin?]
With a grin, I clicked, watching the wheel spin, its blur of colors hiding the text until it finally slowed, stopped.
[You got...the Kitchen (A-)]
A... kitchen? I bit back a curse. A kitchen? Really? Still, it was rated A-… maybe it wasn't as bad as it sounded. Just imagine getting a sink and some knives bruh.
As soon as I accepted, a sharp, jarring pain hit, and I gasped, knowledge flooding my mind—cursed energy through my body.
Holy SHIT
I'd just gained access to Sukuna's cursed technique! I could practically feel it pulsing in my hands. I guess, I understand why it was called the kitchen. I mean Sukunas moveset is related to the kitchen. Dismantle was basically knives and open (fuga) was just fire for cooking.
I pointed to a nearby bench.
"Dismantle."
Instantly, the bench shattered into cubes of wood. A grin crept onto my face, and I tried again, and again. The satisfaction of watching objects crumble before me was intoxicating.
Ding*
[A gift has been sent to you.]
Huh? Another one?
[-from the Big G]
A new window opened, revealing a message, and I quickly scanned through it, catching a description of an ability labeled "Growing Strength (SS+)." A rush of anticipation filled me.
[-from the Big G]
A message popped up with a description of an ability labeled "Growing Strength (SS+)." My heart pounded as I read the message that followed:
[Hello, Adam. It's the "Big G," as you'd say it. I sent this as a birthday gift. This ability allows for infinite growth—Think of it like a Saiyan's Zenkai boost, but with some more perks and no limit. Just a present from me. :)]
As I reached out to click the x Growing Strength kicked in, and a wave of searing pain surged through me, but along with it came a rush of something else—power. I felt like my whole body had upgraded, as if my muscles, my bones, even my heartbeat had taken on a new intensity.
I climbed to my feet, rolling my shoulders. Every inch of me felt more solid, every step more stable. "System, show me my reflection."
A hologram blinked to life, and I took a step back. The guy staring back was… well, he was me, but better. Taller, stronger, sharper. The kind of face that could make strangers stop and stare. So this is what it feels like to be on another level.
"Excuse me, sir?"
I glanced to the side, spotting a police officer approaching, eyeing the splintered park benches around us.
"Do you know what is happening here sir?"
A smirk crept over my face. "yea, I'm just... mogging you right now."