The air outside was crisp, a stark contrast to the storm of thoughts swirling in Kenn's mind. His wrist pulsed with the glow of the system's message, but he barely noticed it. His conversation with Yaoi had left him shaken, her words echoing in his ears. She had been right about one thing—he was already too far in.
But what choice did he really have? The system had been pulling his strings from the moment he'd been given the emotional scanner. It had controlled his every move, orchestrated his encounters, and manipulated the very relationships that had begun to define him. And now, it was pushing him toward an ultimatum.
Choose wisely. What did that even mean? What could possibly be more important than breaking free?
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a familiar voice call out to him.
"Hey, Kenn! Wait up!"
Kenn looked up to see Kil jogging toward him, his easygoing grin in place as always. The sight of his friend brought a small sense of relief. Kil was one of the few people who didn't seem to be tangled in the web of the system—at least, not in the same way as Kenn, Yaoi, or even Lynn.
"What's up?" Kil asked, falling in step beside him.
Kenn hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I… I just had a conversation with Yaoi. She knows about the system. She's part of it, too. And she's telling me that I don't have a choice anymore. That I'm already in too deep."
Kil raised an eyebrow. "Yaoi? That's… not great. She's a bit obsessed, isn't she?"
"Obsessed is an understatement," Kenn muttered, rubbing his temple. "But the worst part is what she said. She said the system chose me. That I was always supposed to be a part of it, that I have no way out."
Kil's expression darkened, the usual lightness gone. "That sounds like some serious manipulation. But Kenn, listen to me—there's always a way out. It might not be easy, but you're not alone in this. Whatever this system is, it's not invincible."
"I don't know, Kil," Kenn murmured, his gaze distant. "What if there is no way out? What if I'm just a puppet in this game, and I don't even know who's pulling the strings?"
Kil stopped walking and grabbed Kenn by the arm, making him stop as well. "Don't say that. You're not a puppet. You have control over your choices. And you know what? You're stronger than whatever this system is trying to make you believe. I know you, Kenn. You can fight this. You just have to trust yourself."
Kenn looked at his friend, the sincerity in his eyes giving him a moment of clarity. For a brief second, he felt like the weight of the system was a little lighter. But it was still there, looming in the back of his mind, waiting for him to make a decision he wasn't ready to face.
"I don't know if I can, Kil. I don't know if I can trust myself. Every time I think I'm in control, the system just… takes over. It's like it's always watching, always controlling."
Kil released his grip, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Then we need to figure out how it works. If the system is controlling everything, maybe there's a way to reverse it. We can't give up, Kenn. Not now."
Kenn nodded, the words sinking in slowly. "I can't just give up. I… I won't."
***
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Kenn's mind kept cycling between the choices he felt were in front of him. Yaoi's warning about being "too far in," the cryptic message from the system itself, and the quiet, steady support from Lynn and Kil—it all mixed together in a confusing storm.
But through it all, there was one thing Kenn was sure of: the system was playing a game with his life, and he was ready to fight back.
That evening, as he sat at his desk, Kenn's wrist pulsed once more. This time, he didn't hesitate. He activated the message.
"Quest Update: The Final Choice. Choose wisely."
Another message popped up below the first one:
"Your path is determined by your connections. Choose your ally."
Kenn's heart skipped a beat. The words were chilling in their simplicity. Choose your ally. The system was forcing him to make a decision, to align himself with someone or something. But who could he trust?
Lynn had been his anchor through all of this, offering him unwavering support and a sense of normalcy. But Yaoi's obsession, her dark attachment to him, made it clear that there was more to the system's manipulation than he had realized. What was her role in all of this? Was she part of the puzzle or the key to unlocking it?
And then there was Kil, his loyal friend who had always been by his side. Kil wasn't involved in the system, not like the others. But could Kenn rely on him to help him uncover the truth without being dragged into something even more dangerous?
The choices were suffocating, each one carrying its own weight, its own consequences. Kenn felt the tension building in his chest. There was no easy answer, no clear path forward.
But one thing was certain—he couldn't stand by and let the system control him any longer.
***
The following day, Kenn found himself standing in the empty classroom after hours, his mind made up. The decision he'd been putting off had to be made now, and he had to choose his ally.
The door opened, and Lynn walked in, her warm smile faltering when she saw the look on Kenn's face.
"Kenn?" she asked, concern lacing her voice. "What's wrong?"
Kenn turned to her, taking a deep breath. "Lynn, I need to ask you something. The system—it's trying to make me choose. It's forcing me to pick an ally, someone I can trust. I don't know if I'm making the right decision, but… I want to trust you."
Lynn's expression softened, and she stepped closer. "You already have my trust, Kenn. You've had it from the start. Whatever this system is, we'll figure it out together. You don't have to carry this burden alone."
Kenn's heart swelled with emotion, her words washing over him like a balm. He had made the right choice. Lynn was his ally, the one person he could trust more than anyone else.
"Thank you, Lynn," he whispered, his voice thick with gratitude.
She smiled, her eyes shining with warmth. "We're in this together. Always."
As they stood there, side by side, Kenn knew that no matter what the system had planned, he had made his choice. He wasn't alone anymore. And with Lynn by his side, he was ready to face whatever came next.
But even as he felt the brief surge of hope, a shadow loomed. The system wasn't finished with him yet.
And this was only the beginning.