"[First Mission Generated.]"
I nearly choked on my own saliva.
A glowing blue screen hovered in front of me. It looked like some AR interface straight out of a sci-fi movie.
[Objective: Make a girl smile.]
[Reward: +1 Appearance, +1 Confidence.]
[Penalty for Failure: Public Embarrassment.]
What the hell is this? I thought, rubbing my eyes. But when I opened them, the screen was still there.
"Hey, Alex," a voice snapped me out of my daze.
It was Jacob, my coworker. Friendly guy, known for his endless office gossip.
"Orientation's this way," he said, jerking his thumb toward a glass meeting room.
"Uh, yeah," I stammered, forcing a smile.
As we walked, I tried to focus, but the floating screen followed me like a shadow.
Make a girl smile. Easy in theory. Impossible for someone like me.
Suddenly, opportunity struck.
A petite woman carrying coffee stumbled right in front of me, nearly spilling it all over her blouse.
Instinctively, I steadied her. "Careful," I said, managing a faint smile.
She looked up—hazel eyes, soft freckles—and let out a nervous chuckle. "Thanks. Clumsy morning."
[Mission Progress: 50%. Keep going.]
My heart raced.
Okay, Alex, don't screw this up.
"It's... my first day," I blurted. "Already ruining the carpet would be a bad look."
She giggled, a real, genuine giggle.
[Mission Complete.]
[Reward Applied: Appearance +1, Confidence +1.]
I blinked.
Did I actually feel... taller? My posture straightened naturally, the nervous energy in my chest easing.
"See you around," she smiled before disappearing into the crowd.
Okay, I thought, glancing at the system screen as it faded. Maybe this isn't a nightmare...
Maybe, just maybe... this was my lucky day.
To be continued...