Nathan spent the rest of the day in a haze, the confrontation with Emily replaying in his mind. It wasn't guilt—not entirely. It was frustration, a sense that she just didn't get it. His life wasn't the same anymore, and there was no going back to what it had been.
But even as he reassured himself, her words lingered.
---
The following morning, Nathan awoke to find another notification waiting for him.
> System Notification: "Mission: Repair emotional bonds. Progress: 0%. Deadline: 48 hours. Reward: Unlock 'Emotional Insight' ability."
Nathan groaned, rubbing his temples. The system wasn't giving him any room to breathe. He knew ignoring it wasn't an option. The last time he'd dismissed a mission, the system had penalized him with a full day of bad luck—spilled coffee, missed buses, and an embarrassing trip down a flight of stairs.
But how was he supposed to fix things with Emily when she wasn't even willing to listen?
At school, the tension between them was palpable. Emily avoided him, choosing instead to spend her time with a small group of friends, including her lab partner, Jason—a guy Nathan found particularly irritating.
Nathan observed them from a distance, his irritation growing as Jason leaned in closer to Emily, making her laugh.
> System Notification: "User's emotional state: Jealousy detected. Recommended action: Assert dominance in a subtle yet impactful manner."
Nathan smirked. Subtlety wasn't usually his style, but he could make it work.
Later that day, during lunch, Nathan made his move. As Emily sat with her group, he approached with casual confidence, holding two iced coffees.
"Hey, Emily," he said, his tone light. "I thought you might want this. Your favorite, caramel macchiato, right?"
Emily looked up, surprised, her gaze flicking to Jason, then back to Nathan. "Uh… thanks, but I'm not—"
Jason cut in, his tone sharp. "She's fine, Cross. She doesn't need you hovering around."
Nathan raised an eyebrow, then smiled. "Oh, I wasn't asking you, was I?" He placed the coffee on the table in front of Emily. "It's yours if you want it."
Emily hesitated but eventually took the drink, murmuring, "Thanks."
Jason glared, but Nathan didn't give him the satisfaction of a response. Instead, he turned to leave, confident he'd planted a seed of doubt in Jason's mind.
That evening, Nathan sat on the balcony of his loft, watching the city lights. His phone buzzed with another system notification.
> System Notification: "Mission Progress: 30%. Next action recommended: Create a memorable moment to strengthen bond."
He leaned back in his chair, considering his options. Emily wasn't the kind of girl who could be won over with grand gestures. She valued sincerity.
The next day, Nathan texted her.
Nathan: "Meet me after school. Just five minutes. Please."
To his surprise, she replied.
Emily: "Fine. Five minutes."
After school, they met on the old basketball court where they used to hang out as kids. Emily stood with her arms crossed, her expression guarded.
"So? What do you want?"
Nathan took a deep breath. "Look, I'm sorry. For how I've been acting. I know it feels like I'm shutting you out, but I swear, it's not because I don't care. It's just… complicated."
Emily studied him, her expression softening slightly. "Nathan, I don't need you to tell me everything. I just need to know you're still you. That you're not losing yourself in… whatever this is."
Nathan hesitated. The system's secrets weighed heavily on him, but he knew she deserved something.
"I haven't changed as much as you think," he said finally. "I'm still me. Just… trying to figure things out."
Emily sighed but nodded. "Okay. I'll trust you. For now."
The system chimed softly in his mind.
> System Notification: "Mission Complete: Repair emotional bonds. Reward: Unlock 'Emotional Insight' ability."
Nathan felt a subtle shift in his mind, an intuitive understanding of Emily's emotions. He could sense her lingering doubt but also her hope.
"Thanks for giving me a chance," he said.
"Don't waste it," she replied, a small smile tugging at her lips.
As Nathan walked home, he felt a strange sense of relief. For the first time in days, things felt… right.
But the system wasn't done with him yet.
> System Notification: "New Mission: Leverage emotional bonds to unlock next tier of abilities. Deadline: 72 hours. Reward: $20,000 and access to 'Social Strategist' skill."
Nathan smiled to himself. The game was far from over.