The late afternoon sun soaked the campus courtyard in shades of honey and amber.
Students drifted between buildings, their chatter blending into the background hum of the city beyond. I sat beneath one of the old maples near the economics building, notebook open, pen idle, pretending to study while my mind was somewhere else entirely.
Somewhere between my new ability and the lingering thought of her.
Emma.
It had only been a few days since that brief encounter, yet somehow her voice — calm, composed, quietly powerful — had replayed in my mind more than I'd like to admit.
But now wasn't the time to get sentimental.
The system had changed again.
[System Update Complete]
→ New Function Unlocked: [Emotional Projection Lv.1]
You can faintly perceive the emotional states of people you focus on.
*[Note:] Emotional awareness strengthens investment precision.
When the notification appeared this morning, I honestly thought it was a glitch.
"Emotional… projection?" I murmured under my breath, staring at the translucent blue text that only I could see.
It wasn't like the other upgrades — not flashy, not financial. No mention of returns, no multiplier, no gold glow of wealth. Just emotion.
Still, curiosity got the better of me.
So I decided to test it.
The first target: a group of classmates chatting a few benches away.
I focused, just lightly, trying not to look like a creep.
At first, nothing. Then, like faint ripples across still water, I started to feel something that wasn't mine — laughter that didn't reach deep, excitement with an edge of insecurity.
It was strange. Not like hearing thoughts, but like catching fragments of color on the edge of my vision.
"Okay… that's new," I whispered. "And mildly unsettling."
Next came the café experiment.
After my afternoon lecture, I stopped by the small campus café — my usual spot for iced coffee and half-hearted studying.
The barista, a cheerful girl with messy auburn hair, smiled as I walked up.
"Hey, you're the guy who always tips in even numbers, right? Back again?"
I laughed softly. "You remember that?"
She nodded. "Hard to forget someone who does math with their generosity."
Funny she'd say that.
But as I focused — gently, carefully — I caught the faintest echo beneath her cheerful tone: fatigue. Not physical, but emotional. The kind that comes from smiling too long in a long day.
"Long shift?" I asked.
Her eyes flicked up, surprised. "Yeah, actually. Double today."
"Then make it a large one," I said, sliding a five across the counter. "And keep the change."
She blinked — then smiled, this time softer, more genuine.
The system shimmered faintly.
[Investment Registered]
Target: Unnamed female (Service Worker)
Spent: $3.50
Emotional Resonance Detected: +8%
Projected Return (10x): Pending
So even empathy counted as part of the system's efficiency.
I leaned back in my chair as the cup hit my hand, condensation chilling my fingers.
Maybe this Emotional Projection wasn't about money — maybe it was about calibration. Understanding people better, reading the emotions behind their words…
Which meant, indirectly, it could help me spend smarter.
"Guess even systems like this have depth," I muttered.
I took a sip, the bitterness grounding me as the evening breeze rustled through the window.
For a moment, I simply watched the light fade, shadows stretching long across the pavement outside.
And then, unprompted, the memory of Emma surfaced again — the faint warmth in her voice when she thanked me, the quiet grace of her movements.
What would her emotions feel like through this ability?
I wondered if I'd ever get the chance to find out.
As I packed up to head home, another notification blinked in soft gold.
[New Objective: Emotional Growth Detected.]
Daily Task Added:
"Use Emotional Projection with sincerity at least once more today."
Reward: +0.1% System Synchronization
Sincerity, huh?
I smiled faintly to myself as I slung my bag over my shoulder and walked toward the station.
Maybe that meant home would be the perfect place to continue.