Aaron Miles did not sleep.
He passed out.
There was a difference.
One involved peace.
The other involved emotional trauma and a system threatening death.
When he woke up, his first instinct wasn't panic.
It was denial.
"…If I don't move," he whispered to the ceiling, "maybe the system will uninstall itself."
Silence.
Hope flickered.
Then—
Good morning, Candidate.
Aaron sat up so fast his soul lagged behind.
"NOPE."
A semi-transparent interface unfolded in front of his eyes like it had been waiting patiently for him to stop pretending.
System Status: Active
Time Since Activation: 6 hours
Failure Conditions: Still Valid
"…You're really still here," Aaron muttered.
Correct.
He rubbed his face.
"Okay. Fine. Hypothetically," he said carefully, "how do I even start?"
The system pulsed once.
Scanning for nearest compatible target…
Aaron froze.
"Wait—what?"
The air shimmered.
Lines of data flashed like invisible satellites locking onto prey.
Compatibility Found.
Location: Eastwood College
Distance: 37 meters
Affection Level: 0%
Aaron's heart skipped.
"…Already?"
A new window expanded.
Target Profile Unlocked
Name: Lucy Brown
Age: 19
Status: College Student
Affection: 0%
Threat Level: Low
Personality Tags: Cute • Friendly • Emotionally Honest • Easily Flustered
Aaron stared.
"…Cute?"
Visual confirmation required.
His door knocked.
Knock knock.
Emily's voice came through.
"Breakfast. And don't act weird today."
Aaron swallowed.
"…Too late."
Eastwood College buzzed like usual.
Students walking. Laughing. Complaining about classes like it was a competitive sport.
Aaron walked through campus feeling like a bomb with legs.
Every step—
Is she here?
Is that her?
Is that a 0%?
The system helpfully highlighted someone ahead.
A faint, soft blue outline surrounded a girl standing near the vending machines.
Aaron's breath caught.
She was… exactly what the system said.
Not flashy.
Not intimidating.
Just cute.
Soft brown hair tied into a slightly messy ponytail.
Big, expressive eyes.
An oversized hoodie that probably belonged to nobody dangerous.
She was struggling with the vending machine.
"Come on…" she muttered, poking it. "Don't ignore me."
Aaron stopped walking.
His brain screamed.
THAT'S HER.
THAT'S LUCY BROWN.
TARGET ACQUIRED.
A tiny percentage floated above her head.
Affection: 0%
Zero.
A clean slate.
A cliff.
Aaron's palms were sweating.
"…Act normal," he whispered to himself. "Just… be a human. You've done that before."
Barely.
He approached the vending machine.
Lucy glanced at him, startled.
"Oh—sorry!" she said quickly, stepping aside. "Were you waiting?"
Her voice was soft. Polite. Genuine.
Aaron's internal organs attempted to escape.
"N–No," he said. "I mean—yes—but also no—uh—"
Great start.
Lucy blinked.
"…You okay?"
Affection: 0%
(No Change)
Aaron straightened, activating his emergency survival instinct: Lying While Panicking.
"I'm fine," he said calmly. Too calmly. "Just… studying the vending machine."
Lucy smiled awkwardly.
"That one eats money," she warned. "It's evil."
Aaron nodded solemnly.
"I sensed that."
She laughed.
A small laugh. Real.
Affection Increased: +1%
Affection: 1%
Aaron nearly choked.
IT WENT UP.
He stared at the floating number like it was a miracle.
One percent.
Just from laughing.
Lucy tilted her head.
"…Is something on my face?"
Aaron snapped back to reality.
"No! I mean—yes! I mean—no, not—"
He stopped.
Breathed.
"…Sorry. Long morning."
She smiled again, more relaxed this time.
"Same. I'm Lucy."
Aaron's heart skipped.
"I know," he almost said.
He caught himself just in time.
"I'm Aaron."
They shook hands.
Her grip was warm. Light.
Affection: 2%
Aaron's pupils dilated.
IT STACKS.
Lucy pulled her hand back, slightly flustered.
"So… uh, are you buying something?"
Aaron looked at the machine.
Then at her.
Then at the system timer ticking ominously in the corner of his vision.
"…Yes."
He put in money.
The machine whirred.
Then stopped.
Nothing dropped.
Lucy gasped.
"Oh no. See? Evil."
Aaron stared at the stuck snack.
Then at her.
Then sighed.
"…Guess it wanted a sacrifice."
Lucy giggled.
Affection Increased: +1%
Affection: 3%
Aaron's brain caught fire.
This is stupidly easy.
No flirting.
No lies.
No grand gestures.
Just… being normal?
Lucy crouched and shook the machine gently.
"Sometimes if you hit it here—"
Aaron joined her.
They shook it together.
The snack fell.
They froze.
Then both laughed.
Affection: 5%
Aaron's knees almost buckled.
FIVE.
In less than five minutes.
Lucy picked up the snack and handed it to him.
"You earned it."
Aaron stared at her.
"No," he said without thinking. "We earned it."
Lucy paused.
Her cheeks turned pink.
Affection: 6%
Aaron mentally screamed.
Genuine emotion.
Shared moment.
No manipulation.
The system quietly displayed a note.
Affection increases through sincere emotional resonance.
Aaron swallowed.
"So… Lucy," he said, trying very hard not to sound like he was conducting an experiment, "what's your major?"
She brightened.
"Literature! I love stories."
Affection: +1%
Aaron nodded thoughtfully.
Okay.
Conversation raises it.
Listening matters.
He tested it.
"That's cool. What kind?"
Her eyes sparkled.
"Romance. And comedy. I like stories that make people feel warm."
Affection: 8%
Aaron froze.
Warm.
He felt something twist in his chest.
Not fear.
Not panic.
Something else.
"…I like those too," he said honestly.
Lucy smiled wider than before.
Affection: 9%
Aaron's confidence wobbled.
This isn't a game.
She's real.
Then—
Jason's voice echoed across campus.
"AAARON!"
Aaron's blood ran cold.
Lucy looked up.
"Oh! You know him?"
Aaron turned slowly.
Jason waved enthusiastically, walking toward them with zero shame.
"Yo! Who's your cute friend?"
Lucy stiffened.
Aaron's soul left his body.
COMEDY MISUNDERSTANDING INCOMING.
Jason slung an arm around Aaron's shoulder.
"Bro, you finally upgraded! Nice!"
Lucy blinked.
"Upgraded…?"
Aaron panicked.
"NO— I mean— YES— I mean— HE'S—"
Affection: -1%
Affection: 8%
The number dropping felt like a punch.
Lucy stepped back slightly.
"Oh. I didn't know you were… um…"
Aaron grabbed Jason's arm and smiled too brightly.
"He's my brother," Aaron said. "And he's an idiot."
Jason laughed.
"True!"
Lucy hesitated.
"…Brother?"
Aaron nodded firmly.
"Yes. Unfortunately."
Jason squinted.
"Hey—"
Lucy relaxed and laughed softly.
"That makes sense."
Affection: +1%
Affection: 9%
Aaron exhaled.
Saved.
Jason leaned in and whispered, "Proud of you, bro."
Aaron whispered back, "Leave. Now."
Jason shrugged and walked off.
Lucy watched him go.
"Your family seems… lively."
Aaron smiled tiredly.
"That's one word for it."
Affection: 10%
Ten percent.
Just like that.
Lucy checked her phone.
"I have class," she said. "But… it was nice meeting you."
Aaron nodded.
"Yeah. Me too."
She hesitated.
"Maybe… we'll run into each other again?"
Aaron smiled—not forced.
"I hope so."
Affection: 12%
She walked away.
Aaron stood there, frozen.
The system chimed softly.
Micro-Feedback Reward Unlocked
Understanding Gained:
Affection grows fastest through authenticity.
Aaron laughed quietly.
"…This is insane."
Twelve percent.
From one interaction.
He looked around campus.
Thousands of students.
Fifty-one targets.
Different personalities.
Different lives.
Different risks.
His chest tightened again.
"Fifty-one women…" he whispered.
His phone buzzed.
God of Trolls:
Only fifty more.
Aaron looked at the sky.
"…I'm going to die."
And somehow—
He wasn't sure if he was terrified.
Or excited.