The days blurred together, each one a mix of dread and uncertainty. Kenn had always been the kind of person who preferred to keep to himself, to stay in the shadows and avoid conflict. But now, there was no escaping the storm that had engulfed him. The system was a constant presence in his life, its manipulations growing more obvious, more invasive. And despite Lynn's steady support and Kil's advice, Kenn couldn't help but feel the creeping realization that the endgame was fast approaching.
Tonight, however, something felt different. The message from the system earlier in the day had been clear, almost too clear. The Final Choice awaits. The words hung in his mind, heavy with implication. What did the system want from him? Was this truly his last chance to break free, or was this just another test, another manipulation to push him further into its grasp?
He sat at his desk, the room dimly lit by his desk lamp. The emotional scanner on his wrist was glowing faintly, as if it were calling to him. It had been a source of constant anxiety ever since he had first activated it, but now, it felt like his only link to any sort of control over his fate.
"Lynn…" Kenn whispered, as if speaking her name could somehow ease the weight in his chest. He had already chosen her as his ally, but the path ahead seemed full of uncertainty. Would she remain by his side if things got worse? If the system truly controlled everything, what chance did they have?
A knock on his door startled him out of his thoughts.
"Kenn?" It was Kil's voice, calm but firm. "You in there?"
"Yeah," Kenn answered, his voice quiet.
The door opened slowly, and Kil stepped inside. His presence was a welcome relief—Kil was always the practical one, the one who never got swept up in the emotional chaos the way Kenn did. Kil's eyes scanned the room for a moment before landing on Kenn.
"You okay?" Kil asked, though it was clear he already knew the answer. Kenn's tense posture and the furrowed brow said everything.
"No," Kenn admitted, leaning back in his chair. "The system—it's getting worse. It's like it's pushing me toward something, but I don't know what. The message today said, 'The Final Choice awaits.' I… I don't know if I can trust any of it."
Kil nodded, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "Yeah, I got the message too. But look, man, I think it's time we stopped treating this like a game. The system has been controlling everything, and it's been controlling you—but that doesn't mean it's over. The real question is, what are you going to do now that you know? You've got more power than you think."
Kenn's eyes narrowed, his pulse quickening. "What do you mean?"
"You've got the emotional scanner, right?" Kil said, his voice low. "It's not just a tool for reading people's feelings—it's a key. A way to unlock what's hidden beneath the surface. The system doesn't want you to know that. But you can use it. You've been reading everyone else's emotions, but what if you started focusing on yours? Maybe that's the missing piece."
Kenn stared at his wrist, the glowing scanner pulsating against his skin. Could it really help him? Could he use it to find the truth, to break free from the system's control?
"I don't know," Kenn murmured. "What if it's too late? What if the system's already decided who I'm supposed to be?"
Kil's gaze softened, and he leaned forward. "Kenn, listen to me. The system can try to dictate your actions, your feelings, even your relationships. But it can't make you stop being you. That's the one thing it can't control. Your choice. Your heart. That's the thing it's been trying to take from you."
Kenn felt a surge of emotion—something raw, something deep. Kil was right. The system could control so much, but it couldn't control who he was at his core. And the system didn't understand the one thing that made him human: the ability to choose.
The room fell silent for a moment, both of them lost in their thoughts. Finally, Kenn spoke, his voice steady, though his heart pounded in his chest.
"I've been letting the system tell me what to do. But no more. I'm going to make this choice my own."
Kil smiled, his eyes bright with approval. "That's the spirit, man. You've got this. Just trust yourself."
Kenn's hand instinctively reached for the scanner. The system had always used it as a tool for control, but tonight, he was going to take it back.
***
The night was thick with anticipation as Kenn made his way to the edge of the school grounds. The cool breeze tugged at his hair, and the moon hung high in the sky, casting a soft, eerie glow over the darkened courtyard. He could feel the system watching, waiting, but this time, he wasn't going to back down.
Lynn had stayed behind, understanding that Kenn needed to do this alone. She had been his constant support, but this was something he had to face on his own. The final choice was his, and his alone.
As he stepped into the center of the courtyard, the familiar pulse of the emotional scanner flared to life. It was as if the system had been waiting for this moment, for Kenn to take control of his fate.
"Choose wisely."
The words echoed in his mind, and for the first time, they didn't feel like a threat. They felt like an invitation.
Kenn closed his eyes, letting the emotions of the world around him wash over him. He felt the warmth of the wind, the distant hum of the city, the soft beat of his own heart. And in that moment, he understood.
The system had been trying to manipulate his emotions, to make him believe that his feelings were someone else's, that his choices were already decided. But in reality, the only choice that mattered was the one he was making right now. The only thing that could truly break the system's hold over him was to embrace his own feelings, to trust his heart.
He focused on the scanner, feeling the surge of emotions that it brought to the surface. It wasn't about reading others anymore. It was about understanding his own heart, his own truth.
And then it happened.
The system pulsed once more, but this time, it didn't feel like an intrusion. It felt like a challenge—a challenge Kenn was ready to face.
A message appeared before him, clearer than ever:
"The Final Choice: You have chosen your path. There is no turning back."
Kenn's heart skipped a beat as he read the words. No turning back. He had made his decision, and now there was no escaping it.
But that was okay. Because this time, he wasn't being controlled.
He was choosing his own fate.
As the night deepened around him, Kenn knew that whatever came next, he would face it on his own terms.
And for the first time in a long time, he felt free.