"So I'm really a player." Arthur walked faster toward the construction site, a skip in his step like an excited child. His heart thumped with nervous thrill, and his face carried a smile he couldn't hide.
Other workers glanced his way, some frowning in confusion, others smirking. To them, Arthur looked like he'd finally gone crazy.
When he reached the site, he greeted everyone with unusual cheer, waving and shouting good mornings like he owned the place.
Raul raised an eyebrow and walked over, chuckling. "Hey, kid. You high or just happy to carry cement? First time I see someone excited to work in this dump."
Arthur grinned. He couldn't explain everything, but he said, "I guess there's always light at the end of the dark road."
Raul crossed his arms and nodded slowly. "Wise words. So, you found a girlfriend or what?"
Arthur blushed. "No... I mean, maybe I will? I don't know. That's not why I'm like this."
"Heh. Alright, alright. Store job last night wasn't too bad, huh?"
"Nah, it was chill. Probably felt easy because of how tough this place is." He laughed.
Raul joined him in laughing, but his face turned serious as he looked toward a massive pile of bricks and cement. "Your smile might not last long. Check that out."
Arthur's grin faded as he eyed the mountain of material waiting to be loaded. But then Raul patted his shoulder.
"Don't worry, kid. Today you're up on the fifth floor."
Arthur exhaled in relief. "Thank God. I mean, uh—good luck, Raul."
With his lunch packed, Arthur headed up. As he waited for the materials to arrive by lift, he whispered, "System access."
A translucent screen appeared in front of him:
[User: Arthur Cain | Player #2]
Mission: Confess your true feelings to Lay
Reward: Full system access
Punishment: System will transfer to another host
Good luck
Arthur stared at the screen. "Why haven't my stats appeared? And... how the hell do I even confess properly?"
A few hours later, sweating and sore, he muttered, "Wait... If the system said it might leave me, does that mean there's a hidden timer?"
He thought about games where unseen loss conditions ended everything without warning. "Damn it. What if I lose it all before I even begin?"
He stared at the sky. "I should just confess. It can't be that hard, right?"
"Hey kid! Pick up the cement before I come up there myself!" Raul yelled from below.
"On it!" Arthur hurried to grab the materials and loaded them onto the lift.
After a long day, he headed to the construction's makeshift showers near the corner of the site.
"Thank God they offer free showers. Who said big sites were all bad? Though... it's cold. And kinda gross." Still, it was better than being late for his night shift.
Dressed in fresh clothes from his backpack, he made his way to the shop.
The mission still loomed in his mind. "Why is this first quest so hard? Trial missions are supposed to be easy... right?"
He worked through the shift and walked home under the moonlight. Lay, his kitten, curled beside him in bed. He couldn't sleep.
How do I even say it? Should I just walk up and go 'I love you'? Or maybe just tell her she's important? Ugh... I'll just wing it.
He eventually dozed off.
And there it was again.
The white room. Quiet. Still. Like a dream that wasn't.
This time, the TV in front of him was on. A movie played.
It showed a man dying, waking up in a fantasy world, and receiving a system eerily similar to Arthur's. The interface, the way it spoke—nearly identical.
He watched intently. The movie showed battles, ancient castles, wild forests, mythical beasts.
Arthur whispered, "Maybe this system is more than I thought... Maybe it has no limits."
He woke up with a jolt. 7 AM.
He searched his room for the book he had been reading, the one about systems. Gone.
"What the... where is it?"
He turned his room upside down, even checked the rooftop. Nothing.
"Did the system take it? Nah... I probably just lost it."
Frustrated but hungry, he went outside to buy groceries. On the way, he spotted Lay walking alone.
He quickened his pace.
Lay noticed him and smiled warmly, waving.
"Hey, Arthur! How are you?"
"Good. I woke up to an empty fridge, so I'm out for supplies. You?"
"Same! Looks like fate wanted us to shop together." She giggled.
Arthur's heart fluttered. Her messy hair and bright eyes made her look effortlessly perfect.
They walked side by side, chatting about school, work, and everything in between.
She admitted missing him at school.
Arthur noticed how easy it was to talk to her. How close they were.
At the store, they bought nearly identical items and shared a few laughs at the cashier.
As they walked back, Arthur swallowed hard. This is my moment.
But his courage wavered.
"So umm... we've known each other for a while... Can I have your number?" he asked, cheeks burning.
Lay burst out laughing. "Of course! You don't have to be that nervous."
They exchanged numbers. Lay touched his shoulder gently.
"Shy guys are cute, you know."
Arthur smiled to himself as they parted ways.
Okay... not a confession, but it's progress. Now I just need to keep going.