Jeff's internship is a part-time job given by the government to upcoming college students so they can earn extra pocket money and experience the working society so that they would be able to choose the right college course for themselves.
It's a two-month part-time job that starts in the month of January and ends in February, which would allow the students to earn a total a month of 5,000 USD.
That amount is even less than half the average monthly salary, but as they are only students, it is quite acceptable. Besides, at the end of the internship, the students will be given a 3-day vacation trip to the East-Seacoast City for their hard work.
As Jeff arrived at the bus stop station in his neighborhood where he would be picked up by the internship trip bus service, what he found there sitting on the bench and waiting alone was a girl with long light golden blonde hair wearing a white camisole and mini short jeans that highlights her morena skin tone.
Jeff didn't even need a second look to know who that girl with such stunning looks was, as it was his childhood friend, Jess.
Jess notices Jeff approaching the waiting shed where she is. But instead of greeting Jeff in the manner of two close friends meeting each other, Jess shows an annoyed expression while looking at Jeff and then looks away as to continue ignoring him.
That one reaction from his childhood friend is enough for Jeff to remember what is the status of their relationship as of the current day.
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Jeff and Jess were born at almost the same time and day. Jess was born a minute before midnight on February 28, while Jeff was born a minute after midnight on February 29. They're basically twins from different parents and were given names that have similar patterns.
As neighbors, they were raised together and even went to the same grade school and middle school, which makes them even closer to each other. But during middle school, when Jess's father, who's a foreign soldier, died on his last mission, Jess and her mother moved out from the house they were renting beside Jeff's house. That's when their connection starts to drift apart.
Since Jess enrolled in an all-girls school at high school, Jeff has less chance to meet her. Or rather, avoid meeting her. He didn't even meet her or at least send a message to her the day before yesterday on Jess's birthday.
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As for the status of their relationship, Jess totally hates Jeff.
...And I totally deserve that...
With that sad thought, Jeff sit at the opposite edge of the beach far away from Jess.
...What exactly should someone say in this situation?...
...How can I apologize to her for ignoring her for the past three years?...
...Why did I even start ignoring her?...
...Do I really deserve this second chance to be with her?...
...Damnit, I feel like I'm about to cry...
While Jeff is feeling hopeless staring at Jess, who is still refusing to look in his direction, a notification sound echoes within his mind, along with the appearance of a holographic screen right in front of his eyes.
"GAAHHHH!..."
Jeff's surprised scream made Jess look his way, but upon seeing his idiotic expression looking at the mysterious holographic screen, Jess gave another irritated look before looking away once again.
...Wait, don't tell me she can't see this?...
What's written on the screen is a message that Jeff can only see.
[RETURNER FANTASY SYSTEM]
[Do you want to select Jess as a Mission or a Target?]
[...Mission... / ...Target...]
Aside from the fact that Jeff is wondering what the RETURNER FANTASY SYSTEM is or where it came from, he isn't even sure how to answer the question the message is asking.
But as if to give clarity to what he's wondering about, another message pops up on the mysterious holographic screen.
[Mission is for individuals who you are aiming to save and change their future. You must interfere with their fate without using your power as a RETURNER to influence their heart if you want to change their future.]
[Target is for individuals who you deem as your enemy and can be influenced by your power as a RETURNER at a certain cause.]
Jeff didn't need to further question the message written on the mysterious holographic screen.
If he indeed has the power to change his childhood friend's future, then Jeff will do anything to interfere with Jess's fate.
Jeff tries to touch the mysterious holographic screen with his hands to select Jess as his Mission. Yet it did nothing and make him look like a moron to Jess who's secretly looking at him at the corner of her eyes.
Jeff notices Jess looking at him indirectly and immediately stops the awkward movements of his hands.
As if to make fun of him, another message pops up a bit late on the mysterious holographic screen.
[You can select your answer by wholeheartedly thinking of your choice and calling out the name of your Mission or Target.]
With those words, Jeff thinks of his commitment to save his childhood friend and say her name.
"JESS!"
[Jess has been selected as your First Mission.]
The message confirming Jeff's answer is displayed on the mysterious holographic screen. However, that's not what Jeff was concerned about.
Upon hearing him calling her name out loud, Jess looked at Jeff with a pissed-off glare before talking to Jeff with a furious tone in her voice.
"What?!"
"Ummm... It's just that... You look really beautiful today..."
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PuroShark Writer's Note.
Here's the character concept design for Jess.
Look at the comment.