The park was quiet now, nearly empty save for the wind, the creaking swing set, and the faint laughter of children echoing from farther down the street. Ikaru Shinji and Yui Kusanagi sat side by side, neither speaking for several minutes.
Not because there was nothing to say—but because what needed to be said hadn't revealed itself yet.
Yui kicked at a pebble near her feet. Ikaru glanced sideways.
"You came here on purpose, didn't you?"
She didn't look at him, just nodded slowly.
"I thought you might be here," she murmured. "You always come here when you want to feel real again."
That line hit harder than it should have.
"How do you know that?"
Yui finally met his eyes.
"Because I've been watching you for longer than you think."
SYSTEM ALERT:"Observation Trait Detected. NPC: Kusanagi Yui. Hidden Affection Route Unlocked."Status: Ambiguous.Trust Level: ???
He blinked, almost expecting the interface to vanish again. But this time, it didn't.
Instead, it lingered. Like the System wanted him to see this.
Ambiguous.
That word felt heavier than rejection.
"You've… been watching me?" he repeated slowly.
Yui sighed and leaned back, arms behind her.
"I know what the System is, Ikaru-kun."
That made him sit up straight.
"What?"
"I know it because I had it first."
The world seemed to slow. Even the swing set stopped its sway. Ikaru stared at her, waiting for the punchline. Waiting for the part where she laughed it off and told him he was too gullible.
But her expression didn't waver.
"I was the first Player," she said. "But I broke the game."
SYSTEM WARNING:[Unauthorized Memory Branch Accessed.]Decrypting Suppressed Narrative...Estimated Time: 72 hours.Do you wish to continue?[YES] [NO]
"What do you mean you broke the game?"
Yui tilted her head toward the gray sky. "I stopped playing it the way it wanted me to."
"I don't get it—"
"You will," she cut in. "Soon."
The System flickered. For a brief moment, Ikaru saw Yui's name flash across his interface:
Yui Kusanagi — Former PlayerTrait: Emotional Nullification (Dormant)Relationship Route: ??? (Locked)Truth Clearance: 22%
He felt like vomiting.
Everything made less sense now, not more.
Yui exhaled deeply, as if she'd carried a weight for too long.
"I rejected someone," she whispered. "Someone who didn't deserve it. And the System rewarded me for it."
Ikaru blinked. "Rewarded?"
She nodded. "Affection points. Confidence boosts. All fake. But it felt good. Addictive, even. Until it started controlling me instead of helping me."
She looked at Ikaru with tired eyes.
"You think the System is here to save you from pain. But maybe… it's just here to make sure you never forget it."
SYSTEM INTERVENTION:"Truth Thread Approaching Threshold. Narrative Instability Detected."Emergency Dialogue Option: [Confront Her] [Stay Silent] [Ask What She Lost]
Ikaru inhaled.
"What did you lose, Yui?"
She closed her eyes. The air between them turned cold.
"A person," she said. "Someone I hurt while I was trying to level up."
He felt that. Not just the words. But the regret stitched inside them.
"So why are you here now?" he asked. "Why talk to me?"
Yui opened her eyes again.
"Because you're still early in your game," she said. "And maybe if I can help you choose the right routes... you won't end up like me."
They sat in silence again, but this time it was shared—mutual. The kind that didn't demand conversation to validate it.
Then, a gentle chime echoed in Ikaru's ears.
SYSTEM UPDATE COMPLETE.New Narrative Branch Unlocked: Legacy of the First PlayerHidden Objective Added: Uncover the System's OriginCurrent Affection Paths:
Tachibana Rei [Closed]
Kusanagi Yui [Locked]
??? [Pending Appearance]
Ikaru stood up, brushing dust off his slacks. Yui looked up at him.
"You're not alone in this anymore," she said, not smiling, but not cold either. "Don't try to beat it. Try to understand it."
Ikaru nodded, gaze distant.
He walked away—not because he didn't want to stay, but because he needed time to process.
As he passed by the rusted bike racks near the edge of the park, his phone vibrated.
Not a System message.
Just a simple note.
From an unknown sender.
"Stop digging. Some rejections should stay buried."— [???]