Another window appeared. This one glimmered like a small digital shop.
Three items floated in front of him:
Guitar — 20 coins
Mastering Japanese — 800 coins
Skill: Answer Exchange — 100 coins
Arthur's eyes darted over the items. He hesitated on the guitar icon, his chest tightening. He had never played before, but somehow it called to him. Maybe it was the idea of something simple, something his.
"Hmm…" he murmured, leaning closer. The digital strings of the guitar glowed softly. He reached out, fingers trembling slightly, and tapped the icon.
A light shimmer appeared at the corner of his apartment, and suddenly there it was: a small acoustic guitar leaning against his bed, almost gleaming in the afternoon sunlight filtering through the curtains.
Arthur's chest swelled slightly. He grinned, awkwardly proud. "I… I actually bought something," he whispered.
He plucked at the strings experimentally. The sound was tinny, rough, and completely off-key—but it was his. Somehow, that small, imperfect noise brought a tiny flicker of joy to his lonely apartment.
Then reality hit him like a punch to the gut.
Exams. Two weeks away. TWO WEEKS. And now he had no coins left for the Answer Exchange skill—the only tool that could guarantee him help if he needed it.
Arthur groaned, tossing himself back onto the bed. "I'm… I'm such an idiot."
The system flickered again, clearly amused:
Arthur growled. "Stop acting like you're funny."
He blinked. Another mission? Already? His heart thumped, part excitement, part dread.
Mission #2:
"Earn 15 coins within the next week by doing tasks you normally avoid. Rewards: 15 coins, small stat boost."
Arthur stared at the text. He had no idea how he would do it. Coins didn't just appear. He was tired, alone, and… well, socially awkward.
He rubbed his face. "Great… I just spent all my coins on a guitar and now I have to work to get coins back? Seriously?"
He flopped sideways on the bed and sighed. The guitar leaned against him, almost like a silent reminder: small victories came with their own tiny consequences.
Arthur plucked a string again. It rang, tinny and imperfect, but he let himself smile despite everything. Maybe, just maybe, he could figure this out.
He closed his eyes, imagining Miyu at school, her soft blush, the faint warmth of her attention. Haruka's teasing voice echoed in his mind from their last conversation—they were miles apart, but he could still picture her grin.
He grinned sheepishly, whispering into the quiet apartment:
"Alright… I'll get the coins. I'll… manage."
A small notification blinked again:
Arthur chuckled softly despite himself. Maybe the system was trying to cheer him up in its weird, sarcastic way.
He glanced at the guitar again, fingering the strings lightly. Tomorrow, he decided, he would try a chord properly. Slowly. And then maybe, just maybe, he would finally feel like he was taking control of this messy, lonely life he had been given.
The room was silent. Peaceful. And for the first time that week, Arthur didn't feel so small.
He pulled the guitar closer, strumming the faintest, awkward, squeaky chord. It sounded horrible. Perfectly horrible. But… his.
And in that moment, Arthur Lindström decided:
I'll figure this out. Somehow. Coins, exams, missions, Miyu… I'll handle it all. Step by step.
The system pulsed softly in the corner, blinking like it was silently amused.
Arthur sighed, rolling onto his side. Tomorrow was a new day.
A lonely apartment, a new guitar, zero coins, and a faint glimmer of hope.
"Wait, There no missions I am avoiding... "