Nathan Cross awoke to the sound of birds chirping outside his window—a serene, unassuming start to what would soon become an extraordinary day. He stretched, his muscles still tingling faintly from the strange warmth he'd felt the night before. Though he tried to dismiss the events at the convenience store as a one-off fluke, the glowing blue screen that had appeared haunted his thoughts.
He stared at the ceiling, replaying the moment when the words "Welcome, User" had appeared before him. "Just a stress-induced hallucination," he muttered. "Right?"
Nathan got up and trudged into the kitchen, pouring himself another lackluster breakfast. His apartment was as plain as his life—a tiny space with beige walls, mismatched furniture, and a fridge stocked with cheap instant meals.
As he sipped his coffee, his phone buzzed again. He reached for it, his heart skipping a beat when he saw the same unknown number.
[Unknown Number: 7:15 AM]
"Mission Update: Your progress is critical. Bonds lead to power. Ignore at your peril."
"Great," Nathan grumbled, setting the phone down. "Spam messages with cryptic nonsense. Exactly what I needed this morning."
He pocketed the phone and prepared for school, willing himself to focus on mundane tasks and ignore the creeping sense of unease.
---
The day progressed much like the last. Nathan drifted from one class to another, zoning out during lectures. As always, Emily Carter hovered nearby, ever the diligent note-taker and occasional nag.
"You're spacing out again," she said, poking his arm with the eraser end of her pencil.
"Just tired," Nathan replied, his voice nonchalant. "Stayed up late... saving lives and unlocking mysterious powers."
Emily frowned. "You should really take school more seriously. Finals are around the corner, and—wait, what powers?"
Nathan blinked, realizing he'd said too much. "Uh, nothing. Forget I said that."
Emily tilted her head, studying him closely. "You've been acting weird since yesterday. Did something happen?"
"Nope," Nathan said quickly, plastering on his most convincing grin. "Same old Nathan."
She didn't seem convinced but let it slide.
---
After school, Nathan decided to swing by the park to clear his head. It was one of the few places in Rivertown where he could be alone with his thoughts. He found a secluded bench beneath a towering oak tree and sat down, gazing at the tranquil pond ahead.
As the cool breeze ruffled his hair, the blue screen materialized again, startling him.
[System Notification]
"Mission: Form bonds with heroines to unlock new abilities and gain influence."
Nathan groaned, rubbing his temples. "You again? Look, I don't know who or what you are, but I'm not interested in playing your little game."
The screen flickered, as if in response.
[Reminder: Failure to engage will result in stagnation. Success will bring rewards beyond your imagination.]
"Oh, sure," Nathan scoffed. "Because talking to girls is the key to ultimate power. Makes total sense."
As if on cue, a familiar voice called out behind him. "Nathan? What are you doing here?"
He turned to see Emily approaching, her schoolbag slung over one shoulder. She looked puzzled, her brow furrowed as she took in his slouched posture and distracted expression.
"Emily," he said, sitting up straighter. "Just... thinking. What about you?"
"I was on my way to the library," she replied. "But you looked like you were having some kind of existential crisis, so I thought I'd check on you."
Nathan hesitated, glancing at the screen that still hovered in the corner of his vision. He couldn't help but wonder: was Emily one of these so-called "heroines" the system kept mentioning?
Before he could say anything, the screen updated.
[Heroine Identified: Emily Carter]
"Forming bonds will unlock 'Charm' ability. Progress: 0%."
Nathan's stomach dropped. "Oh, come on," he muttered under his breath.
Emily raised an eyebrow. "What was that?"
"Uh, nothing!" Nathan said quickly. "Just... talking to myself."
She gave him a curious look but let it go. "Well, if you need someone to talk to, I'm here. You know that, right?"
Nathan forced a smile. "Yeah, I know. Thanks, Em."
She returned the smile, her concern softening into a look of genuine warmth.
[System Notification]
"Mission Progress: 10%. Keep up the good work, User."
Nathan groaned inwardly. If this was what his life was going to be like from now on, he wasn't sure he was ready for it.
---
Later that evening, Nathan lay sprawled on his couch, staring at the ceiling. The system had been silent since his conversation with Emily, but the memory of the blue screen's words lingered.
"Form bonds," he muttered to himself. "Sounds easy enough, but what does that even mean? Am I supposed to... flirt? Date? What's the endgame here?"
The screen appeared again, as if to answer his question.
[System Notification]
"Your journey begins with trust and connection. Abilities will grow with each bond formed. Rewards will follow."
Nathan sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Yeah, because that clears everything up."
A smaller line of text appeared at the bottom of the screen.
[Hint: Tomorrow brings new opportunities. Do not squander them.]
He frowned, wondering what the system had in store for him next. For now, all he could do was wait—and hope that his life didn't spiral completely out of control.
---