David didn't expect Yukari to agree to coffee. In fact, he barely expected her to acknowledge his invitation. But after a morning of back-to-back meetings and a tense silence in the elevator, she suddenly said:
"Let's go. You're buying."
David blinked. "Wait. Seriously?"
"I want to see if your taste in coffee is as bad as your note-taking."
He opened his mouth to defend himself, but she was already walking toward the exit of the Himemizu Conglomerate building, heels tapping like a countdown.
System Message: Side Quest Started – "Coffee & Compatibility." Objective: Spend 1 hour with Yukari outside work. Reward: +1 Relationship Point. Penalty for failure: Embarrassment.
The café was a quiet corner shop just two blocks from the headquarters. Yukari walked in like she owned the place. The barista greeted her by name.
David raised an eyebrow. "You come here often?"
She ignored him and ordered a black iced Americano.
David picked something fancier just to be annoying. "Vanilla caramel hazelnut fusion cloud?"
The barista blinked. Yukari did not.
"I hope that drink has enough sugar to drown your dignity."
He took a sip and grinned. "Deliciously shameful."
They found a small table near the window. Outside, Tokyo hummed with its usual chaos, but inside it was oddly quiet. Yukari sipped her coffee with a straight face.
David leaned forward. "So... you always this fun, or is it just my presence?"
Yukari looked at him. "You're bold."
"I've been told I'm either charming or completely inappropriate. Not much middle ground."
"You're lucky I haven't fired you."
System Message: +1 Humor Compatibility.
He chuckled. "You wouldn't. You're curious."
Yukari paused. "About what?"
"Why someone like me was placed next to someone like you."
She didn't answer right away. Then, quietly, "My father said it was an experiment. 'See if the unpredictable can survive in order.'"
David tilted his head. "And are you rooting for or against me?"
"I haven't decided yet."
They talked. Not deeply—just enough. About childhood, school, food preferences. Yukari never revealed too much, but occasionally her guard dropped, just a little.
David mentioned his last job (In another world,leaving out the 'parallel' part), and she smirked.
"Sounds like you lived in a comic book."
"Sometimes felt like one."
She looked amused. "Were there girls?"
He sipped his drink. "Too many. Not enough time."
Her expression didn't change, but he noticed the slight tap of her finger against the cup.
System Message: Yukari's Curiosity +1.
An hour passed. Yukari stood up, brushing invisible dust from her blazer. "Back to work."
David groaned. "Can't we stretch the quest? I mean—uh, coffee break?"
"You get thirty extra minutes. That's your reward."
"Such generosity."
She didn't smile, but her eyes had a faint glint. "You're tolerable, David. For now."
As they stepped out into the sun, her voice dropped. "But don't get the wrong idea. This is still a test."
David nodded. "Then I'll pass it. With flair."
Back in his room that night, the laptop lit up again.
System Message: Side Quest "Coffee & Compatibility" Complete!
Rewards:
+1 Relationship Point (Yukari)
New System Option Unlocked: [Company Projects Tab]
Item Gained: "Business Card of Mystery" – ????
David stared at the weird black-and-gold business card that materialized on his desk. No name. No phone number. Just a single sentence:
"You've stepped into the game. Now choose how to play."
He leaned back and whispered, "Great. Mysterious business cards. What's next? Secret boardroom battles?"
System Message: Don't tempt us.
David stared at the business card again. There was no fancy logo. No name. Just:
"You've stepped into the game. Now choose how to play."
He turned it over. Blank.
System Message: This item is tied to a hidden questline. Conditions unknown. Would you like to store it in Inventory?
[Yes]
[No]
David clicked [Yes]. The card shimmered and vanished into his digital inventory with a satisfying ping.
He flopped onto the bed, arms behind his head.
"First coffee, now a business card from the void. Are all my quests going to start like this?"
System Message: If we told you, it wouldn't be a game.
He sighed, then got up and opened the new tab in his system interface.
[Company Projects Tab – Himemizu Conglomerate]
1. Logistics Optimization – Reward: Company Favor
2. Public Campaign Strategy – Reward: Relationship Boost (Yukari)
3. Finance Audit Challenge – Reward: ???
"Okay," David muttered. "Do I want to impress Yukari or play corporate Sudoku?"
Before he could pick, his phone buzzed.
Yukari: We have a board meeting tomorrow. Don't be late.
Yukari: And wear something that doesn't look like you slept in it.
David chuckled. "So she was paying attention to my jacket."
Then, a knock at the door.
He wasn't expecting anyone. Maybe room service?
He opened it and immediately stepped back.
"Sup," said Airi, holding two bags of convenience store snacks. "You forgot about me already, system boy?"
"Airi?! What are you doing here?"
"Slot sync. I figured you'd eventually get bored of flirting and need backup."
She pushed past him and tossed a bag onto the bed. "You're lucky I miss you."
David blinked. "Wait, how are you here? Doesn't Slot C restrict external entrants?"
"I used a token. Limited use. Don't worry, I'm not here to ruin your love life." She paused. "Unless she's a jerk. Then I'm totally burning her credit rating."
David rubbed his temples. "Can you not threaten the heir to a billion-yen empire?"
Airi flopped onto the beanbag chair like she lived there. "So? What's the route girl like? Cute? Bossy? Dangerous?"
"All of the above."
"Oof. Good luck."
System Message: Airi has temporarily joined your party. Duration: 3 Days.
"Of course," David muttered. "Three days of babysitting."
The next morning, Yukari greeted him in the hallway with her usual neutral stare. Her eyes flicked to Airi, walking just behind him with a lollipop in her mouth.
"This is...?"
"Airi. Intern. Temporary assignment," David said quickly.
Yukari raised one eyebrow. "I wasn't informed."
Airi gave a finger-wave. "I go where the chaos is."
Yukari didn't respond, but David swore she squinted. Just a little.
System Message: Yukari's suspicion +1. Airi's chaos aura active.
David sighed. "This week's gonna kill me."