Mina's eyes fluttered open.
A small red creature with glowing eyes and stubby hands was hovering mid-air, waving and smiling at her like it had been waiting forever.
Her mouth dropped open.
She blinked. Once. Twice.
"I'm still dreaming… right?" she muttered and shut her eyes tight again. She slowly opened them. It was still there.
The red creature floated gently in the air, its tail swaying like a cat's. "Good Evening, User," it chirped cheerfully. "What shall I register you as?"
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
Mina screamed, jumping up from the laundry floor.
Within seconds, her tiny Shiba Inu, Pipi, rushed in, ears perked, tail wagging madly. To Mina's shock, Pipi saw the floating creature too—but instead of barking, she excitedly pounced toward it, trying to lick its chubby cheeks.
Mina kept screaming.
Thud-thud-thud!
Her parents rushed into the laundry room. Her mother threw her arms around Mina, worried. "Mina! What's wrong?!"
Her father, holding a wooden bat like a warrior in pajamas, looked ready to swing.
Mina pointed a shaky finger at the floating red thing, unable to speak.
But her parents only followed her finger… to Pipi, who was now rolling on her back, playing alone.
Her father lowered the bat. "What did Pipi do this time?"
Mina opened her mouth, then closed it again. Her throat was dry.
Her parents exchanged a glance.
"Honey pup," her dad said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You okay?"
She nodded slowly. Her heart was racing, but her voice wouldn't come out.
"Let's get you upstairs," her mom said gently.
Mina let them guide her. As they walked her to her room, they kept looking back, checking if she was still in shock. Her mom fluffed her pillows and sat beside her. "Do you want me to sleep here tonight?"
"I'm okay, Mom," Mina whispered. "I'm sixteen. I'll be fine."
Her mom smiled, though she still looked unsure. "Alright. But shout if you need anything."
Her parents kissed her forehead and started to leave. Just before the door closed, they peeked in again, both whispering, "Good night."
Click.
Silence.
Then—
"Ta-daa! It's just us now!" the red creature giggled, floating above her bed with little sparkles of red mist. "I'm Lumé! Your Wish-Activated Companion!"
Pipi wagged her tail and jumped up, trying to boop Lumé's nose with her paws. Lumé smiled and patted Pipi gently, as if used to being adored by animals.
Mina backed up against her pillows, eyes wide. "You're… real?!"
"Yup!" Lumé sang. "And guess what? I'm here to make your heart's deepest desire come true!"
Mina stared. "How come my parents couldn't see you?"
"Only the Ring Bearer can," Lumé explained, twirling midair. "You put the ring on. You're the Host. Animals and certain other beings can also see me. Like your adorable pup here."
Mina looked down at the ring on her finger. The ruby glowed softly, pulsing like a heartbeat.
"So if I take it off, you'll disappear?" she asked.
"Yup!"
She tugged at the ring.
It didn't budge.
She frowned and tugged harder, twisting and shaking her hand.
The ring wouldn't move. It was stuck, like it had fused into her skin.
"Why won't it come off?!"
Lumé was now sitting cross-legged on her bed, casually sipping imaginary tea. "Because the ring chose you. And once it chooses, it only comes off if…"
"If what?" Mina asked sharply.
"If you die."
"WHAT?!"
"Calm down!" Lumé giggled, floating in lazy loops. "You'll be fiiine. Unless you, you know, try jumping off a building or something."
Mina pulled her blanket to her chest, eyes wide. "This is insane."
"Nope. This is your new life," Lumé said, then clapped excitedly. "Are you ready to make your first wish?"
"Are you… a genie?"
Lumé smirked. "Genies are outdated. I'm better. I don't grant just three wishes—I offer full life upgrades!"
That got Mina's attention.
She glanced across her room—at the wall of photos she had secretly printed and pasted. Semi Nishino. Smiling, laughing, walking with her friends. The girl who Mina had dreamed of every night since Elementary School .
Mina's heart thudded.
"I want to be popular," she whispered.
"Popular?" Lumé asked, blinking.
"Yes." Mina sat up, her voice firmer now. "Make me the most popular girl in school."
Lumé floated closer. "Why?"
"You're supposed to grant wishes, not ask questions."
"I ask when it's your deepest desire," Lumé replied seriously. "I need to understand your heart to power the system."
Mina hesitated.
She glanced at a framed photo of her and Aria from last summer. Then back at the wall of Semi's pictures.
"I want to be Semi Nishino's girlfriend," she admitted, her cheeks turning red.
Lumé's eyes sparkled like fireworks. "Aaaaah~ A school romance! Classic. I like it!"
Then a digital chime rang through the air. A glowing red screen popped up mid-air like a video game interface.
[SYSTEM LOG – USER INITIALIZED]
User Data Loading…
Name: Mina Takane
Age: 16
Gender: Female
Relationship Status: Single
Goal: Become Semi Nishino's girlfriend
Ability Status: None
User ID: 0004 – First-Time Host
Mina's jaw dropped. "Am I in a game?"
"Nope! This is real life. With system support," Lumé winked. "Now… to make your wish come true, you need to complete quests."
"I thought you'd just wave your hand and do magic," Mina muttered.
Lumé put her hands on her hips. "Magic has rules. Nothing is free. This is a 'Wish System,' not fairy dust."
"Fine," Mina sighed. "What's my first quest?"
Daily Quest Unlocked: Glow Up Initiated!
Objective:
"You can't conquer high school if you look like a sleepy potato. Let's clean you up!"
Tasks:
Wake up at 5 a.m.
Walk your dog
Buy a treat for Pipi
Rewards:
+10 Popularity Points
+5 Confidence
Unlock: "Mirror Pep Talk" Skill
"That's it?" Mina blinked.
Lumé gave her a look. "You've been late three days this week and your socks never match."
"…Fair."
Mina turned off her lights, slipped under her covers, and let out a deep sigh.
Beside the window, Pipi curled up in her doggy bed. Lumé floated beside her, glowing faintly like a nightlight. "Tomorrow," Lumé whispered, "your story begins."
…..
A boy sat shaking in a black limo, sweat pouring down his face. His shirt clung to his chest, and his lip trembled despite the freezing AC.
He'd been caught.
Across from him sat a tall man in a black suit. His face was hidden in shadows, except for glowing silver rings on his fingers.
"I swear, G-Boy… I didn't mean to take it," the boy said, his voice cracking. "I… I thought it was just a ring."
G-Boy's voice was calm. Too calm. "Where. Is. My. Ring?"
The boy fumbled in his pockets. First left, then right, then chest, then back.
It was gone.
His face turned white.
"I-It was there! I had it!"
"You stole from me. Now you've lost it."
"No, wait, I can find it! I know who has it! Just give me some time—please!"
G-Boy leaned forward, his face finally emerging from the shadows.
Cold, cruel eyes. Sharp jaw. Jet-silver hair. The same face shown earlier on the news—the illegitimate son of the murdered tycoon.
"You have 48 hours," he said, voice like ice. "Or I kill everyone you care about before I kill you."
The boy whimpered.
Outside, thunder rumbled. The storm had begun.