Two to Tango, One to Tangle

Nash headed back to the court.

He had just spent the last of his points wisely.

[PP Allocation: +1 Agility, +1 Reflex, +1 Movement IQ, +1 Short Shot]

[BP Allocation: +2 Stamina]

Already, his body felt tighter, lighter. His legs responded cleaner. His arms didn't shake as much. The ache was still there, but his threshold had shifted.

He pushed off the fence and walked toward the court, hoping maybe the system would throw him another quest. Something about seduction this time. 

And just as he turned the corner, he saw something that made him slow.

A group had already gathered at the edge of the court. Twenty, maybe more. Mostly familiar faces, but two of them stood out.

Sarra and Lina.

Lina was hard to miss. 

She wore a crop top, black leather jacket, and torn shorts. Her pink twin ponytails bounced with every step, black ribbons tied in. Belts and straps hugged her waist and legs, full punk mode.

Sarra, on the other hand, blended in. A dark hoodie draped over her frame, sleeves loose around her wrists.

Her hands were deep in her pockets, a plain black mouth mask covered the lower half of her face, and she wore her glasses as usual. 

Her eyes, though, scanned the court carefully, alert, uncertain.

Nash paused.

Lina spotted him first.

"Hey! There he is!" she shouted across the court, waving one arm, voice light and sharp.

Sarra gave a short nod, almost hesitant. Her gaze lingered on him a moment longer.

Nash exhaled slowly.

The energy in the crowd had changed. Everyone here had heard the same thing: Nash had dominated the court. No losses, big payouts. Real credits. 

The two girls started walking toward him.

Nash, unsure what to expect, opened the system before they reached him.

[VIEWING TARGET: SARRA DENS]

Current Mood: Slightly Anxious

Affection: 52%

Lust: 9%

Opinion on User: Curious – Trying to understand his sudden confidence. Slightly flustered but intrigued.

Love Type: Supportive

Erotic Weakness: Light teasing + Passive touches

Position Type: Spooned from behindForeplay: Verbal praise, low-stimulation cuddles

Trigger Events:

•Gentle comment about her skills, paired with eye contact → +8% Affection

• Light brush on her sleeve while encouraging → +4% Lust

• Calling her "beautiful" in public, discretely → +5% Lust

• Teasing another girl in front of her → −6% Affection, −4% Lust

[VIEWING TARGET: LINA GOSS]

Current Mood: Flirty

Affection: 51%

Lust: 50%

Opinion on Nash: Mildly Amused – Sees potential if he keeps showing confidence.

Love Type: Bold / Gift-giver

Erotic Weakness: Being praised for her looks + Verbal Challenges

Position Type: In Control, on top or facing, where she leads

Personality Flags: Tests interest, Drawn to power, Competitive attention-seeker

Foreplay: Lip teasing, being "handled" just enough to resist.

Trigger Events:

• Holding her gaze while she jokes → +6% Lust

• Responding confidently to her challenge → +5% Lust

• Offering to buy her something stylish → +7% Affection

• Complimenting Sarra instead of her → −8% Affection

Nash blinked.

The numbers had shifted.

They were higher than the day before.

He hadn't spoken to either of them in over a day. Hadn't flirted. Hadn't triggered any events.

So why did they go up?

Maybe the system didn't just respond to what he did directly. Maybe it tracked how people felt about him based on what they saw.

Winning games. Getting a reputation. Making credits. All these things could change their stats without a direct interaction.

So the system isn't just about chasing triggers, Nash thought.

That gave him more power than he realized.

He straightened his back, flexed his shoulders lightly, and stepped forward onto the court.

Let them watch. Let them feel it.

And let the system do the rest.

Lina reached him first, her usual grin already in place.

"You back for more matches, champ? Or are we teaming up today? Because I'm feeling like scoring a few wins."

She leaned in playfully, hands on her hips, clearly fishing for an opening.

Sarra stayed a step behind, eyes down for a moment before glancing up.

Nash smiled faintly. Their tones didn't match their files. And the system told him everything he needed to know.

Lina wasn't here for breakball. She was here for the benefits.

Her triggers were gifts, money, and attention. Not team plays or passes. Sarra's either, she just wanted comfort, safety. Neither one of them was fired up to hoop.

"I'd love to," Nash said casually, "but I'm cooked. Burnt out. My tank's empty."

Lina's smile twitched. Not annoyed, but disappointed.

"So what, you're just gonna stand around looking pretty now? I thought you were on fire," she teased. "Let me guess, you're scared I'll steal the spotlight if we team up."

Nash rubbed the back of his neck, offering a crooked smile. 

"Nah, it's not that. I'm just... done for the day."

"You sure?" Lina leaned closer, her voice low. "Could've made some creds together."

Behind her, Sarra stayed silent, half-turned, like she was ready to leave if this went the wrong way. Her eyes didn't meet his. She was listening, though.

Nash glanced between them, briefly wondering if he could use this moment for his daily flirtation trigger. 

He weighed it for half a second, until the system chimed.

[NEW QUEST AVAILABLE: DUAL BOND INITIATION] 

Objective: Invite both Lina and Sarra to a shared outing 

Condition: Do not alienate either target Lina or Sarra.

Reward: +4 SP, +1 Charisma, +Hidden Bond Trait (if successful)

Nash stared at the notification in shock. Right at the worst moment, something terrible happened.

Dealing with Lina and Sarra simultaneously?

It was like being told to hug fire and ice at the same time, while blindfolded.

One wanted all the spotlight. The other would shut down if she saw someone else getting it.

Plus two at the same time?

His stats labelled him "Friend-zoned", "poor seduction tactics", and"lacks edge".

He wasn't smooth. He wasn't bold. And he definitely wasn't made for two-girl quests.

But the reward...The thing that could unlock everything else.

He looked at Lina first.

She was smirking, arms crossed, eyes daring him to play along. Sarra lingered a few steps behind, silent but clearly watching.

Nash hesitated. His mouth opened slightly, then shut again. Whatever came next had to walk a tightrope.

He wasn't built for this. Not yet.

Still, he took a breath. Held Lina's gaze. Didn't flinch.

"You'd probably crush half the guys here if we teamed up," he said, letting his voice sharpen just enough to sound confident. "You've got the look, the speed... I'd just be holding you back in my condition."

Lina raised an eyebrow. She hadn't expected him to compliment her.

"You think I've got the look?" she asked, pretending to play it off, but watching him closely.

"Yeah," he said, steady now. "You know it. I'm just saying it out loud."

He didn't look away. Kept the eye contact.

[Lina: +6% Lust, +4% Affection]

Her grin widened, more playful now.

"Well, I can't argue with that. I do look good."

Nash turned partway toward Sarra, but not too much. He kept his movements slow, soft, respectful. 

She didn't speak, but he caught a flicker of emotion in her eyes. Hesitation, maybe? Doubt?

His nerves spiked. He felt like he was walking into traffic with a blindfold on. Lina wanted all his attention. Sarra would shut down the moment she felt second place.

And then it hit him, he didn't have to flirt like a pro. He just had to be honest like someone trying to get better.

He angled toward Sarra slightly, not too close.

"Honestly? I missed having someone like you on my team. That calm, that read. Lina's always right, if we played together, really played, we'd wipe the floor with most people. No doubt."

She blinked behind her glasses. Her weight shifted, just a little, but she didn't pull away. 

Her fingers flexed inside her sleeves. A slight nod followed. Almost hidden, but it was there.

[Sarra: +8% Affection]

Now Lina again. Her smirk hadn't faded, but her curiosity was rising.

Nash cleared his throat, heartbeat racing. 

"I've played with a lot of people lately. Fast ones. Loud ones. But none of them made me feel like I had to focus. Like I had to actually try. You two? You're not background players. You're pressure. Real pressure."

Lina tilted her head slightly. 

"So we're supposed to believe we're special, huh?"

Nash held her gaze. 

"No, you're supposed to know it. You're Lina Goss. You flirt, flex, and make half the court nervous just walking on. And Sarra? Quiet or not, she sees everything before it happens. She's the reason I passed clean. That pressure, that read, was her."

Sarra looked up, almost startled. Then, slowly, her mask shifted with the curve of a quiet chuckle. A rare one.

[Sarra: +6% Affection] [Lina: +4% Lust, +3% Affection]

Lina crossed her arms again, but this time the pose was more relaxed. 

"Alright. Keep talking like that, and I might actually believe you."

Nash smiled, the idea settling a little deeper now.

"Let's ditch the game tonight. Just walk, eat, talk. My treat."

He glanced between them, casually slipping a hand into his pocket where the CreditChip rested.

"I owe you a dinner, right? Thought it's time I start repaying my debt, with good company."

Lina's expression sharpened like a heat-seeking flare. Her eyes locked onto him with a different energy now, half tease, half hunger.

"Debt, huh? And you're paying them off with creds and words?" she said, voice silkier. "Now that's a good look on you."

[Lina: +7% Affection, +4% Lust]

Nash blinked at the system message, keeping his expression still. 

As expected, he thought. Lina's easy as hell.

But then another line was worthy of consideration. Her lust bar had moved upward again. 

Wait... everytime?

His eyes flicked toward her briefly. She was grinning now, leaning a little closer, like a magnet to motion. 

Every time he flashed potential, her interest rose.

It surprised him. He hadn't expected her lust to climb this fast.

Then he checked Sarra's side.

Only her affection had gone up. Not a single shift in lust.

Different energies. Different rules. And he was right in the middle, trying to balance both without tripping over himself.

Sarra murmured behind her mask.

"I'm not sure... Maybe I'll pass."

Nash paused, then gently stepped closer. With a soft voice, he said.

"I want this. My treat. Both of you. Anything you want."

Then, as if sealing the promise, he reached out and tapped the fabric of her hoodie sleeve, just two fingers. Quick, respectful. No pressure.

"You're not just background to me, Sarra. Neither of you are."

[Trigger Activated: Light brush on sleeve while encouraging → +4% Lust, +6% Affection (Sarra)]

Lina blinked, the smirk on her face shifting into something more curious.

"Seriously? You trying to juggle two girls at once now? That's kinda bold."

Nash swallowed. 

"No. I'm inviting two people I really like hanging with. Nothing complicated. Just time. One-on-one... but we walk there together."

The silence was tense. Sarra looked down, fiddling with her sleeve, but didn't pull away. 

Nash's face flushed slightly, but he didn't back down. 

"Not juggling. Just... inviting. I figured maybe you'd both like to chill. You've both earned that, and more."

Lina stared at him a second longer, then laughed again, this time louder, more genuine.

"You've got guts now, Blaze. I'll give you that. Let's see what else you're packing."

Sarra glanced at him, a soft breath escaping behind her mask. Then she gave a tiny, hesitant nod. 

[QUEST ACCEPTED: DUAL BOND INITIATION] Lina: Affection +7%, Lust +6% Sarra: Affection +8%, Lust +4% Progress: Stable

Nash let out a long, relieved breath. Somehow, he'd made it through.

Still awkward. Still learning.

But they were walking beside him now—and he wasn't walking alone.

[QUEST ACCEPTED: DUAL BOND INITIATION] Lina: Affection +7%, Lust +6% Sarra: Affection +8%, Lust +4% Progress: Stable

Nash let the breath go.

He hadn't been slick. Or powerful. Or seductive.

He'd just read the room, trusted the data, and acted like a beginner trying to learn how to move.

And somehow, that was enough.

Now he had two girls walking beside him, and dinner in his pocket.