Chapter 2: Building Affection, Building Trouble

Adam Fenton awoke to the sound of the system's annoying chime in his ears.

[Good morning, Player! Time to tackle your next mission.]

"You're way too cheerful," Adam groaned as he rubbed his eyes. He sat up and stared at the translucent blue screen hovering in the air. "Can you tone it down a little?"

[Nope! Optimism builds morale.]

"It's also making me want to throw my pillow at you," Adam muttered. He sighed, knowing there was no getting out of this. The previous day's events were still fresh in his mind—his awkward introduction to Olivia Sterling and the mission that had earned him his first affection point. Somehow, the system had dragged him into a world where survival depended on forming connections with influential girls who might have their own dark secrets.

Today's mission was already looming.

[New Mission: Earn 10 Affection Points with Olivia Sterling. Reward: $2,000 and +1 Charm Level.]

"Ten points? That's not going to be easy," Adam muttered.

[Tip: Small gestures of kindness can build affection over time.]

"Great. I'm stuck in a dating sim," Adam grumbled as he got out of bed.

Later That Morning

Adam arrived on campus, scanning the courtyard for any sign of Olivia. Despite his reluctance, he had to admit the system had a point. Olivia was a mystery, and while she'd been polite yesterday, there was a wall around her—one he needed to chip away at if he wanted to survive this twisted game.

He spotted her sitting under a cherry blossom tree, engrossed in a book. The sunlight filtered through the branches, casting a soft glow around her. For a moment, Adam hesitated.

"Okay, deep breaths. Don't be weird," he told himself.

As he approached, Olivia glanced up, her blue eyes locking onto his.

"Adam," she said with a nod. "Good morning."

"Morning," he replied, trying to sound casual. "Mind if I join you?"

"Suit yourself." She closed her book and set it aside.

Adam sat down on the grass, struggling to think of something to say that wouldn't come off as awkward. Before he could speak, Olivia broke the silence.

"You're new here, right?"

"Yeah. Still trying to get my bearings."

"It's a big campus. You'll get used to it."

Adam nodded, grateful for the small talk. He noticed her eyes lingering on him for a moment longer than usual. Was that curiosity?

[Affection Level: +2]

"Two points just for sitting here?" Adam thought. "This might not be so bad after all."

"So, what brought you here?" Olivia asked, interrupting his thoughts.

"Fresh start, I guess. I needed a change."

Her expression softened slightly. "I can understand that."

They fell into a comfortable silence, watching students pass by. Adam noticed how Olivia's posture relaxed—she seemed more at ease than she had been in the library.

"Do you like it here?" Adam asked.

Olivia hesitated. "It's... complicated."

Adam didn't press her for details. Instead, he changed the subject. "What were you reading?"

"Historical fiction. It's a guilty pleasure of mine."

"Sounds interesting. Maybe you can recommend something to me sometime."

Her lips curved into a small smile. "Maybe."

[Affection Level: +5]

"Nice progress," the system chimed in. "But don't get too comfortable!"

Adam inwardly groaned. "I swear, if this system had a face, I'd punch it."

Olivia's Inner Monologue

Adam Fenton... There was something different about him. Unlike the other boys who tried to talk to her, Adam didn't seem to have an agenda. He was awkward, sure, but it felt genuine.

Still, Olivia couldn't let her guard down. She had secrets—dark ones—and she couldn't afford to let anyone too close.

But there was something about Adam that intrigued her. Maybe it was his honesty, or maybe it was the way he didn't seem to care about impressing her. Whatever it was, she found herself wanting to know more.

I'll keep watching him.

Back to Adam

The conversation with Olivia had gone better than expected. Adam felt a strange sense of accomplishment as he made his way back to the dorms.

[Mission Progress: 7/10 Affection Points Earned.]

"Almost there," Adam said. "Just a little more and I'll complete the mission."

[Careful, Player. High affection levels can lead to... unintended consequences.]

"What's that supposed to mean?"

The system remained silent.

"Figures," Adam muttered.

The Next Day

Adam decided to take a different approach. He'd read somewhere that small acts of kindness could leave a lasting impression. So, when he saw Olivia struggling to carry a stack of books across campus, he didn't hesitate.

"Hey, need a hand?"

She looked surprised but nodded. "Thanks."

They walked side by side, the weight of the books distributed evenly between them.

"You didn't have to help me," Olivia said.

"I wanted to," Adam replied honestly.

[Affection Level: +9]

By the time they reached the library, Olivia's demeanor had softened even more.

"I owe you one," she said.

"Don't worry about it."

For the first time, she offered him a genuine smile.

[Mission Complete! Reward: $2,000 and +1 Charm Level.]

Adam felt a surge of relief. "Finally."

"Finally what?" Olivia asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Uh—finally, I got those books here without dropping them," he said quickly.

She chuckled softly. "See you around, Adam."

As she walked away, Adam felt a strange mixture of victory and dread. If this was just the beginning, what would the system throw at him next?

[Stay tuned, Player! More affection targets are on the horizon!]

"I hate you," Adam muttered.

The system's laughter echoed in his mind.