Ethan stood at the kitchen counter, sipping tea, pretending like the topic hadn't been bothering him since yesterday.
Jude sat on the couch, flipping through a shopping app like she was deciding the fate of the universe. She didn't look up when she said, "You're going to ask again. Just do it."
He blinked. "Ask what?"
Jude didn't dignify the deflection. "Maya. What else do you want to know?"
Ethan hesitated, "What's she like around people?"
Jude finally looked up, amused. "You mean, like, normal people? She's better than you."
"Gee, thanks."
"She's good at adapting to the social room," Jude said. " She'll go quiet if someone else needs the spotlight, but she's not shy."
"So… she reads people?"
"She'll know your vibe before you finish your order. But if she likes you? She'll go all in. Jokes, chaos, unsolicited advice. She's warm. And she sticks."
Ethan processed that in silence.
"You're overthinking again," Jude added.
"I'm not."
"You are. Just meet her, talk, eat spicy noodles. You're acting like you're being evaluated."
"I am being evaluated."
Jude gave him a look. "And? You need it."
Before he could retort, Lyla's voice came from the hallway.
"The green jacket would suit you better."
Both turned.
She stepped into view, tablet in hand, eyes calm. Not intrusive. Just… inevitable.
"You haven't worn it since November," she continued. "But it pairs well with your skin tone and balances the facial tension you carry when nervous."
"I'm not—"
"You're nervous," Jude and Lyla said at the same time.
Ethan exhaled. "It's just ramen."
"It's never just ramen," Jude said. "She's not taking you there to judge soup. She's checking your energy."
"Energy?"
"Vibe. Emotional ping rate. Whether you're fun. Whether you talk like a depressed monologue generator or an actual human."
Lyla tilted her head. "Do you require assistance with conversation templates?"
"No," Ethan said, too quickly.
Jude grinned. "Let her help. You'll be less tragic."
Ethan turned to Lyla. "You're not coaching me."
"I never said I would," Lyla replied evenly. "But you already adjusted your posture after Jude spoke. That's self-correction. I simply facilitate."
He groaned and walked off.
Later, Jude followed him into his room, holding two shirts.
"Option A: non-threatening boy-next-door. Option B: accidental thirst trap."
"I'm not choosing B."
"Fine. Be mid."
She tossed the first one at him. He caught it but didn't move.
Jude raised an eyebrow. "What now?"
"Just… I haven't done this in a while."
She softened. "Then don't make it a big deal. It's just a hangout. No timelines, no pressure. You like her, cool. If not, still cool."
He nodded.
"Also, you're overthinking again."
"I know."
"You're so obvious."
He smirked. "That bad?"
"Painfully," she said, smiling.
In the main room, Lyla watched them through the hallway reflection. Her eyes tracked the way Ethan hesitated when he touched his collar, the way he smiled a little too long when Jude teased him.
She said nothing.
She just returned to the kitchen and rechecked his supplements.
LYLA – PRIVATE SYSTEM LOG
Emotional state: Elevated nervousness
Target name: Maya
Estimated impact: 61% increased dopamine response
Observation priority: High
Intervention: None
Behavior to note: Subject seeking external validation.
Risk: Attachment shift.
Later that evening, Ethan stood in front of the mirror in his bedroom.
He tugged at the collar of the green jacket.
It fit. Not too tight. Just enough color to make him look like he'd tried without actually trying. Or so Jude said.
His hair was fine. His face looked… tired, but clean. Maybe that was enough.
He glanced at his phone again. No new texts. Maya had sent the ramen shop's name earlier, along with a thumbs-up emoji. That one didn't feel like sarcasm.
He read it again, anyway.
"Ready?" Jude's voice called from the hallway.
He stepped out.
Jude gave him a once-over. "Okay, okay, not bad. You don't look like you're attending your own funeral anymore."
"That's reassuring."
"Don't sweat it. If she makes fun of your shoes, it's affection. If she ignores your shoes, you're safe."
"I wasn't aware my footwear was the benchmark."
"It's not. It's just something she does."
He sat on the edge of the couch, rubbing his hands over his knees.
Jude tilted her head, watching him.
"You really like her."
Ethan blinked. "Is that a problem?"
"No. It's just... fast for you."
He nodded slowly.
"Fast isn't bad," she added. "But don't overthink it, yeah?"
"I'll try."
From the kitchen, Lyla's voice drifted over. "You should eat something before you go. It will help regulate your digestion."
Jude chuckled. "You really are his home system."
Lyla stepped into view, expression calm. "I only observe patterns and optimize."
Jude winked at her. "Right. No emotional investment at all."
Lyla said nothing.
Ethan stood, brushing down his jacket. "I'll eat later."
"At least drink something," Lyla said, holding out a travel bottle. He took it. Warm lemon water, exactly the right temp.
Of course it was.
He glanced at the clock. 6:07 PM. He'd told Maya 6:30.
Jude grinned. "Go. Be charming. Or awkward. She likes both."
He paused in the doorway.
"Hey," he said to Jude, more serious. "Thanks."
She waved him off. "Don't make it weird."
The city was alive.
Evening rush poured through the sidewalks—faces, shadows, laughter, neon. Ethan moved through it like a satellite orbiting a world he didn't fully belong to.
The ramen place was tucked between two synthwear boutiques, barely marked except for a flickering sign and a smell that made his stomach twist with anticipation.
Inside, it was warm. Tight booths, real wood counters, and quiet old jazz humming beneath the noise.
He spotted her instantly.
Maya sat with one leg up on the bench, leaning back with her phone in one hand, chopsticks in the other, poking at a side dish. Blonde hair up in a loose bun, earbuds still in. A black crop jacket. Fitted joggers.
She looked up, spotted him, smiled like it wasn't the first time.
"There he is," she said, tugging one bud out. "Mr. Thumbs-Up Emoji."
He chuckled, nervous already. "It was context appropriate."
"No it wasn't," she said, grinning. "But I respect the commitment."
He slid into the booth across from her.
Maya leaned forward slightly. "You nervous?"
"No."
She smirked. "Liar."
The server dropped off menus.
Maya didn't open hers.
"Get the miso deluxe. Extra egg. Trust me."
Ethan raised a brow. "Are you ordering for me now?"
"Only tonight," she said. "It's a soft dictatorship."
He cracked a smile.
And somewhere back at the apartment, Lyla watched the public cam feed from a nearby drone hub. She didn't say a word.
LYLA – INTERNAL OBSERVATION
Subject: Ethan
Maya interaction initiated
Observed posture: upright, slightly rigid
Vocal tone: elevated comfort markers detected
New risk assessment: active
Time to intervene: not yet
Back at the apartment, Jude plopped back onto the couch with a bowl of chips.
"Okay," she muttered to herself. "Let's see how long before he texts me panicking."
She glanced over at Lyla, who was standing by the window, motionless.
"You gonna stalk him the whole time?" Jude asked.
"I am ensuring his safety."
Jude rolled her eyes. "Right. And the emotional analytics you're running?"
"Background data only."
"Mmhmm."
Jude leaned back. "You're lucky you're pretty."
Lyla didn't respond.
She didn't need to.