For the next few days, my life changed in a strange way. Every morning I went to work like normal, but every night the system gave me a new task. Push-ups, sit-ups, squats, running in place—always physical. Nothing fancy, just pure sweat.
At first I could barely finish them. My arms would give out, my legs would shake, and I felt like collapsing. But the system never let me quit.
(KEEP MOVING, YOU BASTARD. EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO CRAWL, FINISH IT.)
And somehow, I did.
Day by day my body started to feel different. My chest didn't burn as much, my breathing became steadier, and when I looked in the mirror, I thought I saw a little more strength in my shoulders.
One week passed. Then another. Two whole weeks of tasks.
By now, I was used to the system's voice in my head, mocking me, pushing me, calling me names. And even though I hated it, I couldn't deny one thing—my body was changing.
I lay flat on the floor, gasping for breath. My arms felt like noodles, my chest was burning, but above me floated that glowing blue screen.
[TASK COMPLETE]
REWARD: 5 COINS
STORE: UNLOCKED
The words blinked again and again, almost as if they were mocking me.
(HA! YOU ACTUALLY DID IT. I THOUGHT YOU'D PASS OUT AT 30 PUSH-UPS. YOU'RE STILL A LOSER… BUT MAYBE A SLIGHTLY LESS PATHETIC ONE NOW.)
I groaned and rolled onto my side. "Do you always have to talk like that?"
(YES. NOW STOP CRYING CRYING AND LOOK AT THE STORE.)
The screen shifted. A new tab appeared, glowing brighter. I reached out with shaky hands, even though I knew I didn't need to touch it.
The store opened slowly, line by line, like a vending machine catalog.
[STORE ITEMS AVAILABLE]
Cheap Instant Ramen (Healing Property) – 1 Coin
Stamina Snack Bar – 1 Coin
Energy Drink (Temporary Boost) – 1 Coin
Beginner's Health Potion – 1 Coin
??? (Locked)
I blinked. "…What the hell is this? Ramen? Snack bars? You're telling me I almost died doing push-ups just to buy noodles?"
(HAHAHA. THAT'S YOUR LIFE, LOSER. BUT THESE HAVE HEALING PROPERTIES)
The more I scrolled, the more confused I got. These items looked normal but weren't, like food.These had strange names—"Health Potion," "Energy Drink." It looked like some mix between a supermarket and a video game.
"Wait… is this really real? If I buy ramen, will it… appear here in my room?"
(ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT. SPEND A COIN. OR ARE YOU TOO SCARED TO EVEN BUY RAMEN, LOSER?)
My stomach growled. Dinner hadn't been much, and I was still hungry. I hesitated, then muttered, "...Open store. Buy ramen. One coin."
The screen flashed. A tiny circle spun in the middle. Then, with a faint pop, a steaming cup of ramen dropped onto the floor in front of me.
(YES WAY. NOW EAT IT, LOSER. IT'S YOUR FIRST PURCHASE. BE GRATEFUL.)
I picked up the ramen with trembling hands. It was hot, real, and smelled amazing. My heart pounded as I realized—this system wasn't just a screen. It could change my reality.
...........
The sound of keyboards filled the office again.
Click. Clack. Click. Clack.
Everywhere I looked, heads were bent forward, eyes fixed on screens, fingers moving without pause. The faint hum of the air conditioner blended with the smell of coffee and printer ink.
I sat at my desk in the logistics section. My shoulders were still sore from last night's task. Even lifting my arms to type felt heavy. My chest muscles ached each time I leaned forward. I tried to keep my posture straight, but the pain forced me to slouch.
(WHAT ARE YOU COMPLAINING ABOUT? SORE MUSCLES? BITCH.)
The system's voice dug into my ears like a drill. I clenched my jaw and typed faster, hoping the sound of the keyboard would drown it out. It didn't.
Around me, my co-workers worked quietly. Papers stacked neatly on desks, folders half-open, highlighters scattered. The office was divided into rows—four tables on the left, four on the right, and a passage in the middle. A large window faced the street below, but the curtains were half-drawn, letting in only a pale, filtered light.
Across the room, Ayana adjusted her glasses and checked a file. Shinji yawned but quickly went back to typing when someone glanced his way. Ryo, as usual, leaned too far back in his chair, spinning his pen between his fingers, pretending to work while barely moving his screen.
Then the door opened.
I turned my head lazily, expecting a random official to walk in with documents. But instead—Emi entered. She wore a light blue blouse tucked neatly into a pencil skirt, her black hair tied back today, a silver necklace resting against her collarbone. Behind her was another official, a middle-aged man in a gray suit holding a clipboard. And walking between them—
I froze.
Black hair, wavy at the ends. A side smile that wasn't really a smile. Eyes that scanned the room like he owned it.
Haruto.
My chest tightened. My sore muscles no longer mattered. I gripped the edge of my desk so hard my knuckles turned white.
(THAT FACE. THAT DAMN FACE. REMEMBER IT, LOSER. HE'S THE ONE WHO RUINED YOU. OBSESSED WITH EMI. POSSESSED BY HER. AND HIS FATHER—HAHA—HIS FATHER PAID A HITMAN TO END YOUR LIFE. YOU THINK YOU SUFFERED? HE WAS THE SHADOW BEHIND IT ALL.)
What…?
My heart skipped. My vision blurred for a second. Haruto walked slowly behind Emi, calm as ever, his polished shoes clicking against the floor.