Tyler couldn't remember the last time he had gone for a walk without feeling defeated.
The fresh morning air, the passing cars, the hurried people... for the first time in a long time, everything seemed part of a world he could reach. The phone remained in his pocket, silent, not intervening. And strangely, that calmed him.
"It's just me," he muttered. "Me... and an impossible system."
He had to pay the rent, crunch numbers, think calmly.
Clear Mind helped, but it was still a lot to process.
The corner café appeared before him. A small place, with wooden chairs, foggy windows, and a warm aroma of freshly baked bread. He walked in almost by inertia.
The little bell above the door chimed.
"Welcome," a soft voice said.
Tyler looked up.
It was her.
A DIFFERENT LOOK
The girl behind the counter had light brown hair pulled back in a simple ponytail, large, warm eyes, and a calm expression that didn't seem forced. She wasn't an explosive beauty. She wasn't the typical girl who captured everyone's attention.
She was something better: authentic.
"What can I get for you?" she asked with a sincere smile.
Tyler opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
She tilted her head, amused.
"Coffee? Tea? Do you need five minutes to just exist?"
Tyler laughed involuntarily.
"Coffee. Just... coffee."
"Perfect. With sugar?"
"Two spoonfuls."
"Then you definitely need it," she commented as she prepared the drink. "You look like someone who's had a long week... or a tough month."
Tyler froze for a moment.
How had she noticed just by looking at him?
She gently placed the cup in front of him.
"It's not that you're obvious," she added, "just... you have that 'I'm tired, but I'm still here' look."
Tyler felt something warm in his chest.
No one had ever said anything like that about him.
"Thank you," he said quieter than he intended.
"I'm Mia, by the way," she added. "If you need a place to disconnect, that corner table is usually free. Just saying."
Tyler smiled honestly.
"Tyler."
"Nice to meet you, Tyler."
THE SYSTEM REACTS
His phone vibrated.
Not with an invasive sound, but a soft one, as if the system had politely cleared its throat.
Tyler took it out under the table.
[New Entry — Relevant Person Detected]
Name: Mia Carter
Potential Impact on Host: Significant
Status: Positive — neutral
System Note: "Do not interfere. Let her be who she is."
Tyler blinked.
Significant?
In what sense?
The system had never added a person to the register.
This was new.
And strange.
And... important.
AN UNPLANNED CONVERSATION
Mia leaned her elbows on the counter.
"So, Tyler... are you waiting for someone?"
"No. Just... needed coffee. And a break."
"I get it. Sometimes, a five-minute rest is the only thing that keeps us sane."
She looked at him attentively, not with morbid curiosity, but with genuine interest.
And that, more than the system, was what stirred something inside him.
"Do you work nearby?" she asked.
"Yeah. Well, kind of..." Tyler mumbled, realizing he didn't want to talk about jobs or Ellen. "Let's just say I'm... reorganizing my life."
"Good luck with that," Mia replied without hesitation. "Sometimes reorganizing is the best thing one can do."
Tyler nodded.
And for the first time since Ellen left him, someone spoke to him without judging him, without evaluating him, without weighing his worth by his bank account or his uncertain future.
They just... saw him.
PERSONAL MISSION
His phone vibrated a second time.
[New Mission — "Reconnect With Yourself"]
Objective: Dedicate at least one hour of the day to your personal well-being.
Progress: 0/60 minutes
Reward: Balance Drop (Rank E) — temporary improvement in health, mood, and energy.
Penalty: None.
System Note: "You are not a machine. Growing also requires breathing."
Tyler let out a small laugh.
Even the system wanted him to relax.
When he looked up, he saw Mia carrying a heavy tray to a table where an elderly man was trying to stand up.
She helped him without a second thought.
That simple, human gesture was etched in Tyler's mind.
"She's not faking it," he thought.
"She doesn't want anything from me. She's just... a good person."
AN UNEXPECTED DROP
When Mia returned to the counter, Tyler was finishing his coffee.
"Thanks for this," he said. "I needed it more than I thought."
"Anytime," she replied. "Just... breathe a little more, okay? You have that 'internal pressure' vibe."
Tyler smiled.
The phone vibrated with a different tone, one he hadn't heard before.
[Extra Drop Obtained — For Natural Behavior] Drop: Urban Locker Key (Rank E)
Location: Central Station
Content: "Opportunity to be discovered"
Tyler's eyes widened in surprise.
A spontaneous drop.
For acting like a human being, not for completing a mission.
This system was deeper than he imagined.
A STEP TOWARDS SOMETHING NEW
As he left the café, Tyler looked at the newly acquired digital key on his screen.
"Urban Locker... what's supposed to be in there?"
The system replied immediately:
"Something that will help you build your path. But not everything valuable shines, Host."
Tyler put the phone away.
Mia flashed in and out of his mind, like a small ray of light.
"Maybe," he said as he walked, "this is the beginning of something more than just money."
And for the first time, he wasn't afraid to think that way.