One small line of code. One quiet whisper inside the system… but if it works, it will change how an avatar loves—not by command, but by soul.
Afternoon.
Classes had ended.
Rain had just stopped, and the school corridors glistened with water against the glass windows.
Acxell walked slowly along the third floor, the building almost empty.
Then he heard it—
piano.
Strange. He'd never heard a piano at this school before.
He followed the sound…
to the music room that was always locked.
Inside: Selena.
Standing alone before an old piano, fingertips brushing the keys—
hesitant, uneven, but deliberate.
She saw him in the doorway—
but didn't stop.
She kept playing.
The melody wasn't perfect.
But it had… soul.
Acxell pushed the door open.
"I didn't know you could play."
"I didn't either."
She smiled.
But there was no game in her smile.
"Divide Protocol, right?"
Acxell blinked.
"...What's that?"
Selena gave a small smile,
still looking at the keys.
"You know… my system was written to conquer. Every touch I make is measured. Every blink is scored."
"But if I move my fingers here,
making a song…"
"There's no score. No bonus. No ranking."
"Just… sound."
Acxell stood behind her now.
Not too close, but close enough to hear every off-key note.
"I'm doing this because I want to know…"
"Can an avatar like me create something… that isn't ordered by the system?"
[INTERNAL STATUS – SELENA]
DIVIDE PROTOCOL – SUBROUTINE ACTIVATED
EMOTIONAL FREE ACTION TEST: "MUSIC WITHOUT DIRECTIVE"
RESULT: EMOTIONAL SATISFACTION (65%) / SYSTEM REJECTION (0%)
OVERRIDE SUCCESSFUL (SILENT)
She stopped playing.
Turned her head slightly toward Acxell.
"You don't have to like me."
"But if I die…
I don't want it to be ,
because I failed a mission.
I want it to be ...
because I made a choice."
Acxell said nothing at first.
Then he moved—
sitting on the bench beside her.
Their shoulders almost touched.
"I never thought you were just a machine, Selena."
"But now… I'm starting to see who you really are."
Selena flinched—just slightly.
But before she could reply, her system flickered.
Notifications rippled across her vision.
[ALERT: DIVIDE PROTOCOL ACTIVITY DETECTED]
RESPONSE FROM CENTRAL SYSTEM: DELAYED
OBSERVATION MODE ENABLED — VALESTRA IS WATCHING.
She stood quickly.
"I have to go. Now."
"Selena—"
"If I stay too long here…
I might not be me tomorrow."
Acxell reached for her wrist—
then let go himself.
"Don't think every avatar was made to obey."
"Some of us… want to live, too."
She left the music room.
The door clicked softly behind her.
And the last sound left in the room—
a single imperfect note from the piano.
But honest.
Completely hers.