System Awakens!

As the days passed by, I noticed a gradual change in myself. The once chubby cheeks and innocent gaze of childhood began to give way to a more mature appearance. My features were slowly becoming sharper. Despite this transformation, one thing remained constant, a persistent dream that seemed to happen to me with each passing year, counting down the time until the system's awakening.

Today, as I woke up and glanced at the mirror, I couldn't help but notice the changes. My body had gained a proper height for an adult, standing tall at around 6 feet. My hair, now longer, cascaded in curls down to my eyes, framing my face in a way that was both casual and stylish.

I dressed in a simple white shirt that complemented my tanned skin, adorned with a silver cross necklace that held a personal significance to me. Paired with comfortable jeans and white shoes.

With a wink at my reflection in the mirror, I couldn't resist a teasing remark. "You're pretty damn hot, huh?" I quipped, unable to hide a smirk at my own audacity. It wasn't arrogance, just a dash of self-confidence. I pitied the other boys my age, knowing they'd have me as their love rival.

Shaking off the banter, I turned my attention to the day ahead. "Well, today's gonna be a long day." I muttered to myself as I descended the stairs. Sitting at the dining table were my parents, a sight that brought a sense of familiarity mixed with a touch of nostalgia.

My mother, once known for her bright yellow hair, now showcased a fading vibrancy that was slowly giving way to a subtle silver tone. Next to her sat my father, whose once dark hair now bore grayish tones. Wrinkles adorned his face, etched around his eyes and mouth, but his eyes still held a sharpness in them.

I couldn't shake off the sense of gratitude that washed over me, a quiet appreciation for the stability and love my parents provided. Little did I know that this sense of stability was about to be rattled and turned upside down.

I greeted them with a simple "Morning." taking my place at the table where a cup of coffee and a plate of bacon and eggs awaited.

"Dear, we should get going now or we could lose our flight." my mother's voice interrupted my thoughts, her tone tinged with urgency. As she and my father turned their attention to me.

"Where are we going?" I shifted my eyes between them. Their perplexed expressions told me they hadn't expected my question.

"Any boy your age would be thrilled..." My mother sighed, her words trailing off as she met my gaze. Then, with a deep breath, she revealed our destination. "Japan, Ricky. We're going to Japan."

Japan. The word echoed in my mind. I vaguely recalled them mentioning something about this trip, but my mind had been preoccupied with something else. Today marked the day when the system was supposed to awaken!

As I quickly devoured my breakfast, my eyes involuntarily wandered to the door where our suitcases stood, neatly packed and ready for our journey. The familiar surroundings of our home stirred a twinge of nostalgia within me, a bittersweet reminder of the memories we were leaving behind. Yet, I knew deep down that this trip was necessary, a step forward into a new chapter of our lives.

"Goodbye." I whispered silently to the house, a silent farewell to my childhood and all the moments we had shared within those walls. It was an attempt to ease the pang of leaving, to reconcile with the impending changes that awaited us.

Soon enough, we were stepping out of the door and into a waiting taxi that my father had already arranged. The engine roared to life, and we began our journey towards the airport. Despite the bustling streets and honking cars outside, my mind was consumed with thoughts of the mysterious 'system' that loomed ahead.

'What is this thing?' The question echoed persistently in my mind as I reclined in the backseat, my eyes momentarily closed to gather my thoughts. When I opened them again, I caught a final glimpse of the bustling Chicago street outside the car window. However, my brief moment of tranquility was shattered when I was jolted out of my trance by the sudden appearance of a blue holographic window floating in front of me. My heart leaped in my chest, and I couldn't suppress a gasp.

"What is it?" I turned to my mother, my eyes wide with disbelief. Her gaze shifted to me, confusion evident in her expression. She paused for a moment, seemingly searching for words, before finally speaking.

"What are you saying? There's nothing there." Her response was met with a skeptical glance from my father, who had been focused on driving the busy streets of Chicago.

"Don't ask me, I'm clueless too." He remarked with a shrug, his attention still fixed on the road ahead. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the holographic window once again materialize before me.

[System activated.]

[Initialization in 10 seconds.]

My heart skipped a beat as I read the message. I blinked, hoping it was a trick of my imagination, but the window remained steadfastly there, counting down.

I inhaled deeply, my eyes locked onto the screen, refusing to look away for even a moment. The seconds ticked by agonizingly slow, each one heightening my anticipation.

[Initialization in 5 seconds]

My pulse quickened as the countdown reached its halfway point. I almost forgot to breath as I looked the seconds pass.

[Initialization in 0 seconds]

And then, in an instant, the blank screen transformed into a flood of information. Streams of data, graphs, and charts appeared across the holographic display, filling my vision with a dizzying mix of numbers, colors and symbols. 

For a moment, I was completely lost in the spectacle before me, trying to make sense of the data pouring in. Lines of code scrolled by, interspersed with what looked like statistical readouts and strange symbols. My heart pounded in my chest as I struggled to comprehend what that data means. 

Just as I began to feel disoriented, another message appeared on the screen, clearer and more direct:

[System Quest: Talk to the person sitting next to your seat.]

[Time limit: One hour]

I blinked, my mind racing. "T-Talk with someone?" I whispered to myself, the words echoing in my head. The screen flickered, highlighting the quest in a way that made it impossible to ignore. 

"Ricky, are you okay?" Mom's voice pierced through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present. She looked at me with a mix of concern and curiosity, clearly puzzled by my distracted demeanor.

I nodded, trying to shake off the shock. "Yeah, I'm fine, Mom. Just... thinking about the moving out stuff." I replied, forcing a smile. Her brows furrowed in worry, but she said nothing more. Still, I noticed her glancing at me occasionally in the rearview mirror, concern evident in her eyes.

We arrived at the airport, the hustle and bustle of travelers swirling around us. Despite the chaos, I couldn't take my eyes off the screen still floating in front of me. My heart raced as the screen's content suddenly changed. A hologram of my body appeared in 3D, accompanied by a list of words and numbers.

[Name: Ricky Aoi

Acting skill: 0.1

Singing skill: 0.5

Instrument skill: 0.3

Fighting skill: 0.001

Charisma: 0.005]

I stared in disbelief, my mind reeling. "What do you mean, my acting skill is 0.1?" I muttered under my breath. 'Maybe this system is broken or something' I wondered as it was the only possible explanation to me. I wasn't that bad! As if in response to my thoughts, I received as system's answer.

[Based on memory analysis and the average skill level of professional actors, this number is the precise measurement of your current ability.]

I felt my breath catch in my throat. I was aware that I was not talented, but being reminded of that made my head ache. My mind flashed back to the countless hours I had spent practicing in front of the mirror, the fervent dreams of performing that had carried me through so many lonely moments. Yet here I was, seeing the fruit of my hard work being reduced to such a pathetic amount.

I gritted my teeth as I stared at the screen. My heart pounded in my chest, an unrhythmic sound that beat faster at each passing second . The bustling airport terminal around me blurred, and it felt like every pair of eyes was fixed on me, dissecting my failure. My mouth went dry, and a shiver ran down my spine.

I hunched my shoulders, trying to shrink into myself, and whispered with trembling lips: "Don't look at me." My fingers twitched, and I clenched them into fists, my nails digging into my palms as I fought to maintain my composure.

The terminal's cacophony seemed distant, the PA announcements and hurried footsteps merging into a muted background hum. I felt detached, as if I were watching myself from a distance, caught in a slow-motion scene where everything but my own turmoil was a blur. My breathing quickened, each inhale shaky and uneven. One thing I noticed, I was pathetic.

"Okay..." I whispered, more to myself than anyone else, the word escaping in a shaky breath. My voice was barely audible. "Breath in. Breath out... don't worry, you're different from before." My voice was even lower as I said that.

"Ricky, honey, we need to check in." Mom's voice cut through the haze, gentle yet insistent. She stood a few steps ahead, holding our bags, her eyes soft with concern.

I swallowed hard, pushing the lump in my throat down, and nodded. "Yeah, coming." I replied, my voice steadier than before, though the effort to keep it that way left my hands trembling. I forced a small smile, hoping to reassure her, even as my mind raced with thoughts of the system.

With a final glance at the now-vanished screen, I took a deep breath and followed Mom to the check-in counter. My steps felt heavy, each one deliberate as I tried to shake off the lingering anxiety. The bustling terminal seemed distant, my focus narrowing to the task at hand.

On the plane, I clutched my ticket, searching for my seat number. "So, it's seat 35?" I muttered, scanning the rows until I finally located my spot. As I approached, I glanced at the seat next to mine, only to find it empty.

"I guess I'll have to wait." I mumbled to myself, sinking into my seat. I glanced out the window, trying to steady my racing thoughts. The hum of passengers settling in around me provided a comforting white noise, a backdrop to my internal chaos.

Just then, I heard a soft grunt and turned to see a large man lowering himself into the seat beside me. He was bald, his scalp gleaming under the cabin lights, and he wore a crisp white suit that strained against his considerable girth. He adjusted himself with a sigh, his chubby cheeks jiggling slightly with the motion.

Feeling a strange compulsion to break the silence, I cleared my throat and offered a tentative smile. "Hey, sir... I'm Ricky. How about you?"

The man looked up, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he met my gaze. For a moment, I feared I had overstepped, but then his face broke into a broad, warm smile. His cheeks puffed out, forming a nearly perfect circle, and he extended a pudgy hand.

"I'm Joshua, nice to meet ya," he said, his voice soft and reassuring. The sincerity in his eyes eased some of my tension, and I found myself smiling back, the earlier dread slowly dissipating. Joshua's presence was calming, his easygoing demeanor a stark contrast to the turmoil I had been feeling.

As the plane began to taxi, I once again saw that blue screen appearing in front of me. I almost jumped out of my seat, but I controlled myself, already aware that something like this could happen.

[Quest completed: Generating reward.]

A small, involuntary smirk tugged at my lips as I read the message. Who wouldn't appreciate an easy reward? My curiosity piqued, I focused intently on the screen, waiting to see what would unfold next.

Joshua glanced over, noticing my sudden shift in focus. "Everything alright there, Ricky?"

I nodded quickly, hiding my excitement. "Yeah, just... excited about moving out." I replied, my voice steady.

[Reward: Enhanced Acting Skill - 0.1 to 0.5]

My eyes widened at the notification. I expected a sudden rush of knowledge or a jolt of pain as my mind absorbed new information, but there was nothing. No dramatic transformation, no overwhelming surge of skill. I flexed my fingers, opening and closing my hands as if trying to detect some noticeable change, but everything felt the same.

Joshua's gaze lingered on me, a hint of concern in his eyes. "You sure you're okay? You look a bit... off."

I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. The system supposedly improved my acting skill, but the change was imperceptible. 'Did it really work?' I wasn't sure if that system was real, but if what it said is true, then I'm more than happy to welcome it.

"Hey, Joshua," I said, my tone lightening as I tried to shake off the lingering unease. "Can you answer a question for this handsome boy sitting next to you?" I winked playfully.

Joshua chuckled. "Alright, handsome boy, what's on your mind?"

I leaned in slightly, my voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "What do you think makes a great actor? Is it talent, training, or something else?"

Joshua's eyes sparkled with surprise as he considered the question. "Well, it's a mix of everything. Talent, sure, but also hard work, dedication, and a bit of luck. Why do you ask?"

I shrugged, a sly grin spreading across my face. "Just cuz. Maybe I'll take up acting one day."

An almost unnoudible whisper escpade, as if my thoughts took control of my mouth: "No hardwork can overcome talent, though."