I walked the rest of the way home like someone who'd just been told gravity stopped working.
The evening air was cool, but my mind was on fire.
Every few steps, I glanced down at my phone, half expecting the deposit to vanish—but no. The money was there. Real, tangible, and sitting neatly in my balance.
Fifteen turned into a hundred and fifty.
And all I did was help someone buy a bus card.
It was insane.
By the time I got home, Mom and Dad were in the living room watching a movie, while Lily was sprawled on the couch scrolling through her tablet.
"Hey, you're back," Mom said. "Dinner's almost ready."
"Yeah," I murmured, kicking off my shoes. "Just gonna, uh… wash up first."
"Don't take forever," Lily said, smirking. "Mom made your favorite—mac and cheese with hot dogs."
I tried to smile, but my mind was somewhere else entirely.
––––––
Upstairs in my room, I shut the door and sat on the edge of my bed, staring into empty space.
"Alright," I muttered. "Let's see if you're still there."
The holographic screen shimmered back into view the moment I thought about it.
[Tenfold Rebate System — Active]
A new line of text appeared beneath it.
[User Balance: $150 (Rebate credited)]
[Available Functions: Overview / History / Help]
I tapped—or rather, thought—on "Help."
Instantly, the gentle voice returned.
[The Tenfold Rebate System rewards users with ten times the monetary value of their expenditure toward female targets. Eligible targets include women within the user's immediate environment, acquaintances, or individuals of potential significance.]
"Potential significance?" I repeated. "What's that supposed to mean?"
[It refers to individuals whose interactions with the user may influence personal, emotional, or financial development.]
"So… basically anyone who could matter to me."
[Affirmative.]
I leaned back, exhaling slowly. This was ridiculous. Unbelievable. Completely illogical.
And yet—the numbers didn't lie.
I checked my bank app again. The money was still there.
"Okay," I said quietly. "So this isn't a prank. But why me?"
[System compatibility is based on unique psychological parameters.]
"Meaning…?"
[You exhibit traits consistent with individuals who engage in selfless spending behavior but possess latent potential for strategic investment thinking.]
I blinked. "So I'm generous—but not too generous?"
[A suitable interpretation.]
I couldn't help it—I laughed softly. "Wow. You're polite, but you've got a weird way of flattering people."
[Apologies if my explanation was insufficient.]
"No, no, it's fine." I rubbed my temples. "I just… don't know what to think."
For a moment, silence hung in the air. The holographic screen floated gently before me, casting a faint blue glow across my room.
This wasn't normal. But it wasn't dangerous either—at least, not yet.
Still, I had questions.
"What happens if I try it again?" I asked.
[Future transactions will yield similar results, provided they meet expenditure criteria and target eligibility.]
"Right. And there's no penalty?"
[None currently registered.]
Currently. That word made me uneasy.
––––––
Dinner was calm—almost too normal after what I'd just seen.
Dad talked about his project deadlines, Mom reminded me to bring snacks for orientation, and Lily complained that her favorite influencer had been "cancelled again."
I nodded and smiled where appropriate, but my thoughts kept circling back to that glowing blue screen in my room.
Tenfold returns.
On women.
It sounded like the setup to a bad light novel—or, well, maybe a good one, depending on how you looked at it.
But if it really worked…
My life could change.
Not in a fantasy sense—not overnight fame or superpowers—but in the real, practical sense. Tuition, bills, rent—gone.
For the first time in a long while, I didn't feel stuck.
––––––
After dinner, I went out for a short walk. The night sky was clear, stars faint but visible.
My phone buzzed again—another notification.
[System Tip: Users may test minor transactions to confirm consistency.]
"Test transactions, huh?" I murmured.
I stopped at a vending machine outside the local park. A woman in business attire stood beside it, fishing through her purse with a frustrated look.
"Ugh, not again," she muttered, realizing she was out of change.
I hesitated.
Part of me felt weird about this—like I was using people as "targets." But the system said "expenditure," not "manipulation." If I was just helping… was that wrong?
"Here," I said, stepping forward. "I've got you."
She looked up, surprised. "Oh—really? That's kind of you."
I swiped my card and selected a coffee for her.
She smiled. "Thank you. It's been a long day. You're a lifesaver."
"No problem," I said, trying to sound casual.
As soon as she walked away, the air shimmered again.
[Transaction detected.]
[Amount: $3.00]
[Processing rebate…]
[Rebate amount: $30.00]
My phone buzzed—+ $30.00 deposited.
I exhaled. Half astonished, half amused.
"This is unreal."
The gentle voice chimed again.
[Congratulations. Your transaction qualifies as a successful rebate instance. Would you like to view statistics?]
"Uh, not right now. I think I need a minute."
[Understood.]
The screen faded from view, leaving only the night sky above me.
––––––
Back home, I collapsed onto my bed, staring at the ceiling.
It all felt like a dream—but the extra $180 in my account said otherwise.
I thought about the girl from the store. Would I see her again? Probably not. But if I did, I'd at least owe her an explanation for why fate decided to turn her transit card into a money printer.
Still, one thing was clear:
Whatever this system was, it wasn't random. It had rules. Logic. Patterns.
And if I wanted to understand it, I'd need to test it carefully—step by step.
A slow grin tugged at my lips.
"Alright, Tenfold Rebate System," I murmured. "Let's see how far you and I can go."
The faint blue screen flickered one last time before fading into darkness.
[System Log: Session Ended]
[Total Rebates: $180]
[User Status: Active]
[Next Trigger: Awaiting Expenditure]
––––––
That night, as I drifted off to sleep, my thoughts weren't on orientation or new classes.
They were on possibilities.
Because for the first time in my life—money didn't feel impossible anymore.
It felt… fair.
And somewhere in that quiet, star-lit darkness, a soft voice echoed one last time:
[Good night, Alex.]
I smiled faintly. "Good night, System."