As the Kisaragi family's trusty Toyota pulled into the bustling parking lot of Quezon City Academy, Samantha exhaled, trying to push aside the unease gnawing at her chest. The morning sun, already high in the sky, reflected off the polished hood of the car, a stark contrast to the shadows of doubt creeping into her mind.
The campus looked the same as always—students in their neatly pressed uniforms, a mix of the school's signature blue and white, shuffled through the gates. Some were still rubbing sleep from their eyes, clearly not morning people, while others chatted animatedly with their friends, eager to start the day. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. No ominous signs of danger. No sudden explosions. No masked villains lurking in the shadows, though a part of her, fueled by the system's bizarre mission, half-expected a dramatic entrance.
Just another normal morning in Quezon City, the familiar hum of the city a constant backdrop to their lives.
And yet, her system had just handed her a mission titled Save Your Older Brother like it was a casual Tuesday errand. A mission that hung over her like a dark cloud, casting a shadow over the otherwise bright morning.
What in the world was she supposed to do with that? Was he going to trip and fall? Get caught in a sudden downpour? Or was this some kind of foreboding, a warning of something far more sinister?
"Alright," her Mom said from the driver's seat, her voice laced with gentle authority. "You two have a good day. And Ren—" she turned to him, eyes narrowing slightly, a mother's intuition always sharp, "—keep an eye on your sister."
Ren let out a long-suffering sigh, the universal sound of teenage exasperation. "I always do, Mom. You know I do."
Samantha rolled her eyes, a familiar sibling dynamic playing out. "I don't need babysitting."
Her Mom ignored her, her focus unwavering. "And Samantha, no overexerting yourself. You know how you get."
"I'm not five anymore, Mom," she protested, a hint of frustration in her voice.
"You are until I say otherwise," her Mom countered, a playful smile softening her stern expression.
With that, their mother waved them off and drove away, the familiar sight of the Toyota disappearing into the morning traffic. Ren and Samantha were left standing in front of the school gates, the iconic Quezon City Academy sign looming above them, a symbol of their daily routine.
Samantha adjusted her bag, the weight of her books a comforting familiarity, then turned to Ren, who was scrolling through his phone again, completely unaware of the fact that his life might be in danger at any given moment.
She swallowed, then forced a casual tone, trying to sound as normal as possible. "Hey, um… be safe today, alright?"
Ren blinked up from his phone, a surprised expression on his face, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Huh? What brought this on? You're acting weird."
"I dunno, just… don't do anything reckless," she muttered, trying to sound nonchalant, but her voice betrayed her anxiety.
Ren raised an eyebrow, a hint of suspicion in his eyes, his gaze sharp and probing. "I go to school, not a battlefield, Sam. What's going on?"
"Nothing!" she said a little too quickly. "Just... being a good sister."
"Still. It can't hurt to be careful," she added, trying to diffuse the tension.
Something about the way she said it made Ren pause. His sharp eyes studied her for a moment, and for a second, she thought he might press the issue, might ask her what was really going on. But then he sighed, a small smile playing on his lips, ruffling her hair like they used to when they were kids.
"I'll be fine, Sam. I'm always careful," he reassured her, his voice warm. He smirked, that familiar big brother teasing tone creeping into his voice. "You should be more worried about yourself. You're the one who's been acting strange lately. Like you're hiding something."
She batted his hand away, a playful annoyance in her eyes, trying to hide the guilt twisting in her gut. "Ugh. Whatever. Just go. And be careful!"
Ren chuckled before heading toward the senior building, his figure disappearing into the crowd of students, leaving her standing there, her gaze lingering on his retreating back.
She exhaled slowly, trying to calm her racing heart, the weight of her mission pressing down on her.
TING!
A new notification flashed across her vision, the glowing blue text a stark contrast to the bright morning.
[New Sub-Missions Unlocked!]
[Enter the School Grounds] → Reward: Photographic Memory
[Treat Your Best Friend to a Snack] → Reward: ???
"…Mochi."
The floating dumpling materialized beside her, grinning from ear to ear, its tiny form shimmering in the sunlight. "Yes, my young disciple? What can I do for you on this fine morning?"
She gave it a flat look, her voice laced with exasperation. "Are you seriously giving me a quest for walking into school? Is this some kind of joke?"
Mochi shrugged, its tiny shoulders moving in a comical manner. "Hey, I don't make the rules. Just following orders from the big guys upstairs."
"You literally just said these are 'divine algorithm' missions."
"Exactly. The rules are made by the… the system. I'm just the messenger." Mochi twirled in the air, its movements almost mocking her. "Besides, photographic memory is a pretty broken skill! You should be thanking me! This is a great power up!"
Samantha rubbed her temples, a headache already starting to form. "Fine, whatever. More importantly—how strong am I now? I finished my first sub-mission. I wanna know my stats."
Mochi hummed, tiny arms folded behind its back, its expression thoughtful. "Let's see…." A glowing screen, the familiar blue interface of the system, appeared in front of her.
[Stats Overview] Strength: Average Human (Up from Weak Human!) Endurance: Slightly Above Average Muscle Definition: +20% Improvement Charisma: +1 (Still useless in combat.) Intelligence: +1 (Barely makes a difference.)
She frowned, her eyes scanning the stats. "Wait. 'Average human' strength? That's it? After all that?"
Mochi patted her shoulder, its touch surprisingly firm. "Hey, it's progress! You're no longer below average! That's a big step up!"
"I was that bad before?"
"You were basically a sentient paper towel, Sam. A strong gust of wind could have blown you away. You've come a long way!"
Samantha sighed, dragging a hand down her face, a mixture of frustration and resignation washing over her. "Great. So I did a hundred push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and ran ten kilometers for barely noticeable gains. This is going to take forever."
Mochi snickered, a mischievous glint in its blue eyes. "Welcome to the grind, kiddo. It's a marathon, not a sprint."
Samantha groaned but stepped forward, crossing the threshold of the Quezon City Academy gates. The familiar sight of the school grounds, the basketball court, the sprawling acacia trees, the statue of the school's founder, all came into view.
TING!
[Sub-Mission Complete: Enter the School Grounds]
Reward Acquired: Photographic Memory
The moment the words appeared, something clicked in her brain—like a switch being flipped. Suddenly, everything around her felt sharper, more vivid. Every face, every detail in the courtyard, every snippet of conversation happening within earshot—it was all there. Clear, precise, and immediately accessible.
"Whoa." She touched her temple, a sense of awe and slight bewilderment washing over her. "This is… intense. It's like my brain just got a supercharge."
Mochi beamed, practically vibrating with excitement. "Congratulations! You are now a walking database! Knowledge is power, my friend!"
Before she could dwell on it further, a familiar voice called out, loud and enthusiastic.
"SAM-CHAAAAAN~!"
Liza Santos, her best friend since elementary school, tackled her from behind, nearly knocking her off her feet.
"GAH—" Samantha stumbled forward but managed to catch herself.
"Good morning~!" Liza chirped, her eyes sparkling.
"Liza, please," Samantha sighed. "You're going to give me a heart attack."
"But it's fun!" Liza said. "And I missed you!"
"We saw each other yesterday."
"That was ages ago!"
Samantha shook her head. "You're impossible."
Liza grinned. "But you love me."
Before Samantha could reply, her system pinged.
[Sub-Mission Reminder: Treat Your Best Friend to a Snack]
"Hey, wanna grab something from the cafeteria?" Samantha asked. "My treat."
"You're treating me?" Liza gasped. "This is a miracle!"
"Don't make it weird."
"Fine, fine," Liza said.