Chereads / The Bracelet of Fate / Chapter 14 - The Hidden Truth

Chapter 14 - The Hidden Truth

The days after Kenn's confrontation with the system were strange, almost dreamlike. On the surface, everything seemed normal. The school was filled with the usual bustle of students, classes came and went, and yet Kenn felt like he was living in two realities. In one, he was a regular high school student—quiet, withdrawn, observing life from the sidelines. In the other, he was a player in a dangerous, unseen game controlled by the system.

And the worst part? He still didn't know who was behind the system, or why it had chosen him. The emotional scanner was still there, a constant presence in his mind. Sometimes, he wondered if the system had a mind of its own, or if it was just a tool, a puppet in the hands of someone—or something—more powerful.

But there was one thing that had changed, and it made all the difference: Lynn.

Lynn's unwavering support had kept Kenn grounded, but now there was something else between them, something unspoken. They had crossed a threshold in their relationship, one where their connection had become deeper, more tangible. Kenn had started to see her not just as a source of comfort, but as someone who was an active part of his fight. She wasn't just standing beside him—she was standing with him.

He knew he had to tell her more. All of it.

***

That afternoon, Kenn waited for Lynn in their usual spot by the school courtyard. The sun was low in the sky, casting long shadows across the ground. His heart was pounding in his chest as he waited, knowing this conversation could change everything.

When Lynn appeared, her soft smile eased the tightness in his chest, but he could see the concern in her eyes. She had been worried, and Kenn knew why. He hadn't been himself lately. And the emotional scanner... it hadn't stopped its constant humming. But it was getting harder to ignore the truth—the truth that the system wasn't just manipulating his emotions, it was manipulating everyone's

"I've been thinking a lot," Kenn began, his voice shaky but determined. "About the system. About what it's doing to me. And to everyone around me."

Lynn sat down beside him, her gaze steady. "What do you mean?"

Kenn took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "I've realized something. The system doesn't just control me—it controls everyone. And it's using their emotions to push me in a certain direction. Like, Yaoi—her obsession with me, it's not just her. It's part of the system. It's manipulating her, too. All of us. And I think... I think we're all part of some kind of experiment."

Lynn's eyes widened, but she didn't say anything, just listening intently. Kenn continued, the words tumbling out as he finally laid bare the thoughts that had been swirling in his mind.

"The system isn't just a random force. It's connected to all of us, in ways we don't even understand. The bracelet—it's not just something that controls me. It's like a tool. A way for the system to monitor us, to see how we interact with each other, to manipulate our emotions. And I think... I think I'm being used as some kind of test subject."

Lynn was silent for a long moment, her eyes thoughtful. Then, softly, she said, "But why you? Why is it using you?"

Kenn ran a hand through his hair, frustration creeping into his voice. "I don't know. I don't even know what the system wants from me. All I know is that I'm a part of something I didn't choose. And every time I think I'm getting control of it, it pulls me back. Like I'm stuck in some kind of cycle."

Lynn reached over, placing a hand on his arm. Her touch was gentle, grounding him. "Then we'll figure it out. Together. If this system is controlling you, then we need to find a way to break it."

Kenn's heart skipped a beat. "I don't want to drag you into this, Lynn. It's dangerous."

She gave him a small, reassuring smile. "I'm already in it, Kenn. Whether you want me to be or not. And I'm not leaving you to fight it alone."

Kenn swallowed hard, his emotions swirling inside him. This was it—the moment where he would let someone in, truly in, and not just as a support, but as an equal. And Lynn wasn't just any support. She was someone who was willing to stand by him, no matter the danger.

"You're right," Kenn said, his voice soft but resolute. "I can't do this alone. And I don't want to anymore."

Lynn squeezed his arm, her eyes full of determination. "Then we'll take it one step at a time. We'll figure out what this system is and why it's doing this to you. And when we do, we'll find a way to stop it."

***

The next few days were a whirlwind of research, discussions, and quiet moments between Kenn and Lynn. They poured over everything Kenn could remember about the system, the bracelet, and the strange quests that had been sent to him. Each new piece of information seemed to add more confusion, but it also painted a clearer picture.

The system, it seemed, wasn't just controlling emotions. It was shaping them. Each interaction, each test Kenn faced, was part of a larger experiment. But what was the goal of the experiment? And who, or what, was behind it?

Lynn had her suspicions, but she didn't want to jump to conclusions. Kenn, on the other hand, couldn't help but feel like there was something—or someone—behind it all. Someone who had orchestrated every step, every twist in his life, including Yaoi's obsession.

And then, one evening, while they were going through old school records, Lynn made a discovery.

"Wait a minute," she said, pulling up a file on her laptop. "This… this is strange."

Kenn looked over her shoulder, his curiosity piqued.

"It's a list of students who've been part of... something called the Project Heart." She paused, her eyes widening. "This is... this is all connected, Kenn. These are all students who've had some kind of... emotional interference. Like they were being watched. And—wait—there's your name."

Kenn's blood ran cold. "What is this?"

Lynn scrolled through the file, her fingers trembling. "It looks like… like you were chosen. You're not just part of the system. You're the subject. This project, this experiment... It's all about controlling emotions—about manipulating connections between people. And it's been going on for years."

Kenn's heart pounded in his chest. This was bigger than he had ever imagined. It wasn't just some random series of events. It was all planned. From the bracelet to Yaoi's obsession, to the emotional scanner—it was all part of Project Heart.

And Kenn was at the center of it all.

"We have to stop it," Kenn said, his voice fierce, the weight of the revelation settling over him like a shroud. "I won't let them control me anymore."

Lynn looked at him, her expression resolute. "We'll stop it. Together."

***

That night, as Kenn lay in bed, his mind raced with the new knowledge. The system was more than just a force that manipulated emotions—it was an experiment, one that had been set into motion long before he ever discovered the bracelet. And someone, somewhere, was pulling the strings.

Kenn had always thought he was just a passive participant in his own life. But now, he realized, it was time to take control.

The real fight was only just beginning.