Riku Aoyama stirred awake to the unfamiliar sound of silence...
There was no blaring alarm, no neighbor screaming on the phone, and for once, not a single cockroach scurrying across his ceiling. For a man whose mornings usually began with existential dread and an empty fridge, this was already suspicious.
His eyes blinked open slowly. Clean sheets, fluffy pillows, and the faint sll of bacon filled the air. It took him a full minute to realize he wasn’t dreaming.
"Still here," he muttered, sitting up and watching the semi-transparent screen floating in the air.
> Good Morning, Host.
Daily Login Reward: 100 Points
Hidden Bonus: Affinity Growth Rate 1% for 24 Hours
It was all still real, the vending machine, the glowing card, and the Infinite Wallet System that had changed his life overnight. He still wasn’t sure if this was divine intervention or a setup for a cosmic prank, but he wasn’t about to complain.
Not when the system let him buy anything.
He glanced to the side and saw her.
Kira Hanazawa, the delinquent girl from the apartnt across the hall, was fast asleep on his futon. Her dyed-red hair spilled ssily over the pillow, one arm dangling off the edge. She was wearing his oversized hoodie, her jeans folded neatly by the side. She looked completely at ease, like she hadn’t just barged into a stranger’s room the night before, bruised and tired.
She’d shown up unexpectedly, asking to stay the night.
He didn’t know much about her except for the rumors: suspended from school, short-tempered, and involved in "bad stuff." But when she looked at him with those bruised eyes and mumbled, "I just need sowhere safe," how could he say no?
Riku slipped out of bed, careful not to wake her, and tiptoed into the kitchenette. The stove lit up with a satisfying click. He opened the fridge and was t with fresh ingredients such as eggs, bacon, even vegetables. All bought through the system last night. No need to worry about money. Not anymore.
> Purchased: Beginner Cooking Skill – 50 Points deducted
Within seconds, he was flipping eggs like a pro.
He started humming. For once, he wasn’t stressed about being late for work or where his next al would co from. Everything felt... manageable.
"Slls like breakfast," a sleepy voice said behind him.
Riku turned to see Kira leaning against the wall, rubbing her eyes. She looked smaller in the hoodie, her face scrubbed clean of makeup. The tough-girl image was gone, leaving a surprisingly normal girl behind.
"You always cook this good?" she asked, sniffing the air suspiciously.
"Just started today," he replied with a smirk.
She raised an eyebrow but didn’t question it. They sat down and ate in silence for a while. Kira devoured her plate like soone who hadn’t eaten properly in days.
"You live here alone?" she asked, finally.
"Yeah. Tiny place, but it’s mine."
"Didn’t look like this before..." she said, glancing around at the now-upgraded interior. Everything from the furniture to the lighting had a sleek, modern feel to it.
"I got lucky last night," Riku said vaguely. "Let’s just say my fortune turned around."
"Must be nice," she muttered, her tone hard to read. "Wish mine would."
There was a long pause. Then Kira stood, stretching lazily.
"I’ll crash here for a bit. Just a few days," she said, more like a warning than a request. "Don’t worry. I won’t make a ss."
> System Notification:
Affinity Detected:
Kira Hanazawa – Current Affection: 36%
Status: High-Affinity Candidate
Follower Eligibility: In Progress
Riku blinked at the prompt and tried not to show it on his face. So, this is how it begins...
The system wanted him to build a faction, his first quest. At least three loyal followers. Kira might be the first.
Later that day, Riku decided to explore the city and test the system further. With 1,000 points remaining, he purchased another skill:
> Purchased: Beginner Self-Defense Pack – 300 Points deducted
Suddenly, his body felt more responsive. Muscle mory kicked in. He understood basic combat stances and how to throw a punch without dislocating his shoulder.
He spent the afternoon at the nearby riverside park, moving through drills like an amateur martial artist. He tried to act natural, not wanting to draw attention, but it was hard not to look... weird.
"Your stance is garbage," a voice called out behind him.
Riku turned to see a tall girl in a white gi, stretching by the riverside training area. Her long ponytail swayed with her movents, and her expression was sharp, evaluating him like a coach.
"Uh... I’m still learning?" Riku said.
"I can tell." She walked over and grabbed his wrist. "You’re putting weight on the wrong leg. You’ll break your ankle if you keep that up."
Her na was Nanami Saito, a third-year university student and local martial arts competitor. She didn’t say much, but she corrected his form and demonstrated a few moves. Riku watched her like a student absorbing a lecture.
> Affinity Detected:
Nanami Saito – Initial Interest: 10%
Bond Status: Curious Stranger
Hidden Trait: Tsundere (Suppressed)
He couldn’t help but smile. Two strong won in one day, both affected by his newfound presence. And all thanks to a mysterious vending machine.
That night, back in his room, Kira was curled up on the couch scrolling through her phone. She looked comfortable almost like she belonged.
> Quest Update:
First Follower Affinity Threshold Nearing
Current Status: 48%
Bonus Objective: Influence Two High-Affinity Individuals in 7 Days
Remaining Ti: 6 Days, 14 Hours
Just as he began relaxing, a new notification popped up.
> System Warning:
You are being observed by an Unknown Entity
Recomnd Purchase: [System Cloaking Lv.1] – 750 Points
Riku’s smile faded.
"...What the hell?"
The Infinite Wallet System was powerful—perhaps too powerful. But if soone, or sothing, was already watching...
He had no choice now.
He needed more power. More skills. More allies. And maybe, just maybe a plan to stay alive.
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