Riku Aoyama had always considered himself an average guy.
Average grades. Average luck. Below-average finances. In a world full of people with passion and purpose, he was just... existing.
Until now.
He sat on the edge of his bed, fingers still trembling from the newest system prompt that flashed before his eyes like an ominous email from a boss he never signed up for.
> System Warning:
You are being observed by an Unknown Entity.
Recomnd Purchase: [System Cloaking Lv.1] – 750 Points
Status: Passive Surveillance Detected
Riku stared at the floating text, his mind scrambling to keep up. The idea that soone or sothing was watching him made his stomach churn. He glanced toward the bathroom where the sound of running water echoed faintly.
Kira was in there. Completely unaware.
Whatever he had stumbled into, it wasn’t just about leveling up and buying breakfast skills anymore. Soone knew he had the system.
And that made him a target.
"I’m not dying in my underpants," he muttered and bought the cloaking upgrade without hesitation.
> Purchase Successful.
[System Cloaking Lv.1] Activated.
Your presence is now hidden from minor detection-type abilities and observers of Tier 1 and below.
A cool wave washed over his body, like a hidden veil had just dropped around him. The system’s surveillance icon blinked off, and for now, it seed like he was invisible again, at least to the lower-level peeping toms of the multiverse.
He exhaled deeply. Crisis averted... for now.
But then ca another notification.
> System Alert:
A System-Bound Individual has entered your proximity.
Threat Level: Unknown
Identity: Hidden
Risk: Moderate
Suggestion: Observe before engaging.
His heart skipped.
There were others? Other people with systems? He hadn’t considered that possibility.
He glanced toward the bathroom again. Was it Kira?
"System," he whispered cautiously, "is Kira the system-bound individual?"
> Negative.
Kira Hanazawa – Status: Normal Human
System Compatibility: Moderate
Bond Status: Follower (Pending Loyalty Threshold)
That was... sowhat comforting. At least she wasn’t about to backstab him with so hidden power-up. But that left the question, who was it?
---
The next morning, Riku pretended to act normal.
He woke up early, cooked breakfast, and tried to look like soone who wasn’t being stalked by cosmic entities. The sll of eggs and toast filled the air, drawing Kira from the couch like a sleepy zombie.
She plopped down and yawned. "You seriously gonna spoil like this every morning?"
"You’re squatting in my place. I have to maintain my sanity sohow."
She smirked. "Fair."
Kira was wearing one of his hoodies again, and her jeans looked like they had lost a battle with the laundry gods. Riku frowned at the thought of her going around town dressed like she’d just been mugged by a thrift store.
Ti for a system-assisted glow-up.
> Purchase: Casual Outfit (Kira Hanazawa) – 150 Points
Description: Black sports jacket, white cropped tank top, fitted shorts, street-style sneakers.
Shared Inventory Enabled with Loyal Followers.
With a ntal nudge, he materialized the package on the couch beside her.
She blinked at the sudden appearance of neatly folded clothes, then slowly turned to him.
"Did you just... manifest fashion outta thin air?"
"I’m magic now," he said with a straight face.
Kira snorted. "If I change and these turn out to be cursed, I’m beating your magical ass."
Still, she took the outfit without much resistance and disappeared into the bathroom. When she returned, Riku had to admit, she looked good. Not just in a hot girl kind of way, but in the comfortable, confident, capable kind of way.
> Affinity Update: Kira Hanazawa – 52%
Follower Status: UNLOCKED
Class Assigned: Rebel
Trait: Protective Aggression
Bond: Conditional (Growing Loyalty)
His first official follower. It almost made him feel like a protagonist in a video ga.
Almost.
--
That afternoon, Riku made a decision: he needed to scout his surroundings. Figure out who the other system-bound individual was, and more importantly, not look suspicious while doing it.
His destination: the local public library. It was quiet, inconspicuous, and free. All three things he liked.
> Purchased: mory Sync – Academic Pack (Literature, History, Basic Economics)
Cost: 150 Points
The mont the download finished, his mind sparked like soone had just poured espresso into his brainstem. Historical tilines, literary devices, supply and demand curves it was all there. Like he’d studied it for years.
He found a table, opened a random book for camouflage, and pretended to read.
Which would’ve worked if soone hadn’t sat directly across from him.
"You’re reading that upside down," said a calm, soft voice.
Riku looked up, startled and locked eyes with a striking girl with long, braided black hair and sharp erald eyes behind rimless glasses.
She reached out and gently flipped the book.
"Much better."
He laughed nervously. "Thanks."
"I’ve seen you around before," she said. "But this is the first ti you’ve looked focused."
> Affinity Detected: Yua Midori
Status: Introverted Analyst
Initial Interest: 12%
Trait: Observer
Hidden Trait: [Awakening Potential: System-Bearer Candidate]
Compatibility: High
Risk: Low (Passive State)
Riku froze for a split second. Another candidate. Soone who could potentially awaken a system maybe even his rival in the future.
"I’m trying sothing new," he said carefully.
Yua tilted her head slightly, eyes scanning him like she was analyzing a riddle. "You feel... different. Like your presence is more still today."
"Bacon," he replied.
Her lips twitched slightly upward. "That would do it."
They exchanged a few more pleasantries, but Riku kept it light. Too many questions might tip her off. Still, the encounter had given him valuable insight.
He wasn’t alone.
And he wasn’t the only one who could change.
---
That evening, back at his apartnt, Kira was lying sideways on the couch, munching on chips and watching so cody video on her phone. She looked more relaxed than he’d ever seen her.
"You should take out soti," she said suddenly, eyes still on her screen.
Riku blinked. "What?"
"You know sowhere fun. A thank-you. I like food, and you like... existing."
> New Quest Unlocked:
Title: "Treat Her Right"
Objective: Take your first follower on a proper outing.
Reward: 2 Affection, Mystery Coupon, 250 Points
Bonus Objective: Make her laugh 3 tis.
He smiled.
"I’ll plan sothing. Promise."
> Quest Tir Started: 48 Hours
Riku stood by the window and looked out over the city. The wind was cool, the lights below bright like stars trying to escape the pavent.
So far, he had:
•One loyal follower
•A suspiciously charming rival
•A system that could make gods jealous
•And a cosmic stalker problem
And yet, for the first ti in years, he wasn’t just surviving.
He was playing to win
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