Miss Kelly stood at the front of the classroom, her red blazer hugging every curve as she gestured toward the whiteboard.
Her voice carried that authoritative tone that made even the most distracted students look up.
"Today we're examining Aristotle's concept of virtue ethics," she began, her heels clicking against the floor as she paced.
"Unlike deontological ethics, which focuses on rules and duties, Aristotelian ethics asks us what kind of person we should be.
Aristotle believed in the golden mean - that virtue exists between two extremes.
Too little courage makes you a coward. Too much makes you reckless."
She turned to face the class, her pencil skirt stretching across her hips as she leaned against her desk.
Miss Kelly picked up a marker, her blazer pulling tight across her chest as she reached up to write on the board.
Normally, Liam would be scribbling down every word she said.
His notebooks from her class were usually packed with detailed notes, highlighted passages, and careful diagrams.
Today, his pen sat motionless in his hand.
Liam's mind kept racing back to what had happened earlier. The system. The numbers floating above Sofia's head. The way 42 had jumped to 70 when he'd chosen that bold dialogue option.
'What would have happened if it hit 100? Would she have...'
The thought made heat pool low in his stomach. Sofia Rain, with her tight white shirt and those massive tits pressed against the cannabis leaf design.
If the lust meter had maxed out, would she have dragged him somewhere private? Would they have fucked right there on campus?
Miss Kelly turned to face the class, her pencil skirt riding up slightly as she perched on the edge of her desk.
The fabric stretched across her thighs, and Liam's eyes traced the line where it ended, revealing smooth skin.
'Focus, you idiot.'
But he couldn't.
"Dude." Kelvin's elbow jabbed into his ribs, snapping him back to reality. "What the hell is wrong with you today?"
Liam blinked, realizing his notebook was still completely blank.
Usually, he'd have filled three pages by now, capturing every detail of Miss Kelly's lecture for later review.
"What do you mean?"
Kelvin gestured at the empty page. "You're not writing anything down. You always write down everything she says. Like, obsessively. It's actually kind of creepy how detailed your notes get."
'Shit. He's right.'
Liam scrambled for an excuse that wouldn't sound insane. 'Yeah, Kelvin, I got this supernatural system in my head that rates women's lust levels and gives me pickup lines. That's why I can't concentrate.'
"Nothing. Just having a strange day, I guess."
Kelvin studied his face for a moment, then his expression brightened. "Well, you're in luck. I've got great news that's going to make your day way better."
Despite everything swirling in his head, Liam found himself genuinely curious. Maybe Kelvin could distract him from this madness with whatever scheme he'd cooked up now.
"Alright, I'm listening."
"Remember our conversation from last class?" Kelvin's grin widened, like he was about to reveal the secret to eternal happiness.
Liam's stomach tightened. 'The conversation where you told me to be a bad boy instead of a good guy. Maybe if I'd listened then, I never would have met Delilah. Never would have had that weird night. Never would have gotten this system.'
"Yeah, I remember."
"Well, I took some initiative." Kelvin rubbed his hands together, practically vibrating with excitement. "After school, we're going to a study group."
He said it like he'd just announced they'd won the lottery. His smile was so wide it looked painful, clearly expecting Liam to jump up and cheer or something.
Liam stared at him. "Dude, I thought you said you had a way to make my day better, not stranger."
"Strange? How is that strange?" Kelvin rubbed his face with both hands, looking tired and disappointed. "You should be happy about this."
"Yo, I'm literally meeting strangers for the first time, and you know how I feel about people. Or groups." Liam's voice dropped lower, conscious of Miss Kelly still teaching nearby.
"I know, I know." Kelvin's smile returned, softer this time. "But you'll have me there. I'll be right beside you the whole time."
"That doesn't make me feel any better."
Liam scanned Kelvin's appearance more carefully. His friend was wearing his lucky shirt, a fitted black polo that showed off his gym-built shoulders and chest.
The shirt had never failed him when it came to picking up girls. He only wore it when he was hunting.
'This isn't about studying at all.'
"Listen," Kelvin said, leaning closer and dropping his voice to almost a whisper. "It's after classes end, and we're going.
There's nothing you can do about it." He grabbed Liam's arm, his grip firm but playful. "I'm not taking no for an answer on this one."
The rest of Miss Kelly's class dragged on. Liam tried to focus on her lecture about moral relativism, but his thoughts kept bouncing between the system, Sofia's invitation to the Green Initiative meeting, and whatever trap Kelvin was leading him into.
When the bell finally rang, students flooded out of the classroom. Kelvin practically dragged him to the parking lot, chattering excitedly about how this was going to change everything.
The drive took ten minutes through residential streets lined with apartment complexes and small houses. Kelvin pulled into the parking lot of a community center, a low brick building with large windows facing the street.
"Here we are," Kelvin announced, killing the engine.
Through the windows, Liam could see a group of people sitting in a circle of chairs. His stomach dropped as he counted them. Eight people total. Two guys and six girls.
'Of course. This isn't a study group. It's a hunting ground.'
They walked through the glass doors into a room that smelled like coffee and old carpet. The group looked up as they approached, and Liam immediately felt every pair of eyes evaluating him.
One of the girls, a brunette with shoulder-length hair and a bright smile, jumped up from her chair.
She wore a pink crop top that showed off her flat stomach and high-waisted jeans that hugged her hips.
Her huge tits strained against the tight fabric, bouncing heavily as she moved.
"Kelvin!" she squealed, throwing her arms around his neck.
[Target Detected: Kira Martin]
[Lust Level: 90/100]
[Status: Highly Interested]
The numbers floated above her head in glowing white text, visible only to Liam. His pulse quickened.
'Ninety? She's already at ninety just from seeing Kelvin?'
"Everyone, this is Liam," Kelvin announced, his arm still around Kira's waist. "The friend I was telling you about."
A chorus of hellos and waves greeted him. Liam managed an awkward smile and raised his hand. "Hey, everyone."
Most of the group responded warmly, but one girl remained silent.
She sat in the corner, arms crossed, staring at him with undisguised hostility.
Her dark hair fell in waves around her shoulders, framing pale skin and striking blue eyes that seemed to cut right through him.
She wore a black leather jacket over a white tank top that clung to her body, showing off her curves and her big boobs, though they were still smaller compared to Kira's.
Her short brown skirt clung tight, exposing bare thighs.
[Target Detected: Tasha Williams]
[Lust Level: -1/100]
[Status: Actively Hostile]
'Negative one? How the hell is that even possible?'
Liam tried to catch her eye to offer a polite nod, but she looked away deliberately, her jaw clenched tight.
The group settled back into their chairs, textbooks and notebooks scattered on a low table in the center. For the next hour, they actually did study.
Liam found himself surprised by how intelligent everyone was, their discussion of economic theory and social psychology actually engaging.
Kira kept glancing at Kelvin, twirling her hair around her finger whenever he spoke. Her cheeks flushed pink when he complimented one of her insights about market dynamics.
Tasha remained silent through most of it, only speaking when directly asked a question. Even then, her answers were curt and dismissive.
After they'd covered three chapters of their economics textbook, Kira stretched her arms above her head, her crop top riding up to reveal more of her toned stomach.
"Okay, I think we've done enough reading for one night," she announced, shooting a meaningful look at Kelvin. "How about we have some fun? Play a game or something?"
Kelvin's grin told Liam everything he needed to know. This had been planned from the start.
"Great idea," Kelvin said, standing up and stretching. "What did you have in mind?"
"Truth or dare?" suggested one of the other girls.
"Spin the bottle?" offered another.
Kira's smile turned wicked. "How about Seven Minutes in Heaven? We haven't played that since high school."
'Fuck. Of course.'
The group agreed enthusiastically, rearranging their chairs into a tighter circle. Someone produced an empty beer bottle from their bag, placing it in the center like an altar.
Liam watched the bottle spin, his heart hammering against his ribs. The system had been quiet since they'd arrived, but he could feel it lurking in the back of his mind, waiting.
The first spin landed on two people from the group - a blonde girl named Sarah and a guy with dark hair who'd been quiet most of the evening.
They disappeared into the storage room, and within minutes, soft sounds drifted through the thin walls. Muffled whispers, then silence, then what sounded like shuffling and heavy breathing.
When they emerged seven minutes later, Sarah's lipstick was smudged at the corner of her mouth, and the guy's hair was completely disheveled.
Sarah smoothed down her shirt with a satisfied smile while he tried to finger-comb his hair back into place.
Liam looked around at the group, expecting some reaction - surprise, awkwardness, something. Instead, everyone just smiled knowingly and continued chatting like nothing had happened.
Kira giggled and whispered something to the girl next to her.
'Jesus. This is completely normal to them.'
The bottle spun again. This time it landed on two other group members - a redhead and another guy who'd been making jokes all evening.
They headed to the room with matching grins, and again, the sounds started almost immediately. Soft moans, the scrape of something against the wall, hushed laughter.
When they returned, the redhead's hair was a mess and her cheeks were flushed pink. The guy had lipstick marks on his neck that he didn't seem to notice or care about.
Liam's pulse quickened. 'What the hell have I gotten myself into?'
On the third spin, the bottle slowed, wobbled, and came to rest pointing directly at him. Across the circle, it pointed at Tasha, who was glaring at the bottle like it had personally insulted her.
"Well, well," Kira said, her voice dripping with amusement. She winked at Kelvin, who was trying not to laugh. "Looks like Liam and Tasha get to spend some quality time together."
Tasha's blue eyes snapped to Liam's face, and he saw something cold and calculating there. She stood up slowly, her leather jacket creaking.
"Fine," she said, her voice flat. "Let's get this over with."
They walked to a small storage room at the back of the community center. Tasha stepped inside first, not bothering to hold the door open for him. Liam followed, closing the door behind them with a soft click.
The room was cramped, filled with folding chairs and cleaning supplies. A single overhead bulb cast harsh shadows across Tasha's face as she leaned against the far wall, arms crossed.
[Task Activated]
[Objective: Increase Tasha's interest level]
[Recommended Action: Compliment her appearance and engage in genuine conversation]
[Reward: +20 Lust Points]
Liam stared at the text floating in his vision. 'That's it? Just compliment her and talk? I thought this system was supposed to help me get girls, not give me the most basic dating advice ever.'
[Target Analysis: Tasha Williams]
[Bio: Daddy issues. Thinks all men are scum.]
The information hit him like a punch to the gut. 'Oh. That's why the compliment thing. She's expecting me to be like every other guy.'
Tasha watched him with those piercing blue eyes, clearly waiting for him to make his move.
Her body language screamed that she was ready to shut down whatever pickup line or groping attempt she expected was coming.
Instead, Liam sat down on a stack of folding chairs, putting himself at eye level with her rather than looming over her.
"You have really beautiful eyes," he said quietly. "They're like... I don't know, like looking into deep water. Kind of mesmerizing."
Tasha blinked, clearly caught off guard. She'd been braced for something crude or aggressive, not a genuine compliment delivered without any attempt to move closer or touch her.
"That's... not what I expected you to say."
"What did you expect?"
She shrugged, but some of the tension left her shoulders. "The same thing every guy says. Something about my tits or my ass, usually followed by trying to grab me."
"That's fucked up. I'm sorry guys have treated you like that."
For the first time since he'd met her, Tasha's expression softened slightly. She studied his face like she was trying to solve a puzzle.
"You're not what I expected," she admitted.
They talked for the remaining minutes about books, about psychology, about her theories on human behavior.
Tasha was brilliant, her insights sharp and thoughtful. When someone knocked on the door to tell them time was up, Liam was genuinely disappointed.
When they returned to the main room, the group had broken out drinks.
Someone had brought a cooler filled with beer and wine coolers, and red solo cups were scattered around the circle of chairs.
"Finally!" Kira called out, holding up a wine cooler. "We were starting to think you two got lost in there."
Liam accepted a beer, taking a small sip while Tasha grabbed a wine cooler but barely touched it.
The group chatted and laughed for another thirty minutes, the alcohol loosening everyone up slightly, though no one was drinking heavily.
As the evening wound down and people started checking their phones for the time, Kira bounced over to Tasha as they headed toward the door.
"So? How was it?" she asked with a knowing grin.
"Fine," Tasha said, but Liam caught her glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.
Outside in the parking lot, Tasha pulled her car keys from her jacket pocket, the metal catching the streetlight.
She had a black Honda Civic parked near the back, clean and well-maintained.
"Come on, Tasha," Kira said, walking toward her.
"Actually, don't worry about me," Kira said suddenly, her eyes drifting to where Kelvin was unlocking his car. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body against his. "I have found another way of getting home."
Liam and Tasha exchanged a look, both rolling their eyes simultaneously.
'Of course,' Liam thought.
Kelvin grinned, clearly pleased with how his plan was working out. "Actually, Tasha, why don't you give Liam a ride? He doesn't have his car."
Tasha's eyes narrowed as she looked between Kelvin and Liam. "I'm good...."
Time froze around them. The parking lot went silent, everyone locked in place like mannequins. Liam stared at the floating text, his breath
[Option 1: "No problem, I'll find another way." 0 Lust Points]
[Option 2: "I don't have a way home and you probably don't want to drive alone this late. We can keep each other company on the drive." +3 Lust Points]
A part of Liam felt like Tasha was totally someone even the system might not be able to help him get and another part didn't really care and wanted to see what this new cheat could do.
He made his choice, and time crashed back into motion.
"I don't have a way home and you probably don't want to drive alone this late. We can keep each other company on the drive."
Tasha stared at him for a long moment. He could practically see the wheels turning in her head, weighing whether this was genuine concern or just another angle.
She looked skeptical, her jaw tight as she considered his words.
He probably was just like the rest of them, she figured - acting nice to get her alone, then showing his true colors. Well, she'd get her answer soon enough.
"Fine," she said finally. "Alright. Let's go. You're driving."
She tossed him the keys. Liam caught them reflexively, the metal cool against his palm.
[Task Complete: +3 Lust Points earned]
[Current Lust Level: Tasha Williams 2/100]
As they walked toward her black Honda Civic, Liam couldn't help but smile. Twenty-three points wasn't much, but it was progress.
And for the first time in his life, he'd actually connected with people without the system's help.
Maybe there was hope for him after all.