By the time I got off the bus, the sky was deep violet — that quiet hour where streetlights hummed and the world began to slow down.
The neighborhood was calm, the familiar row of small houses lined with trimmed hedges and porch lights glowing faintly.
Our house stood near the corner, modest but tidy. The kind of place that smelled faintly of soap and cooking.
As I stepped inside, the scent of dinner greeted me — something warm, with garlic and soy sauce.
"Alex, you're home!"
My little sister's voice came from the living room.
She popped her head out from behind the couch — dark hair tied up loosely, her school uniform replaced by a comfortable hoodie that was at least two sizes too big.
"Hey," I said, slipping off my shoes. "How was school?"
"Same as always," she said with a sigh that was far too dramatic for someone her age. "Homework, lectures, and zero excitement."
I chuckled, heading toward the kitchen. "You'll miss it when you're in college."
"Doubtful!" she shot back. "You always look tired after classes."
Touché.
Mom was at the stove, humming softly as she stirred something in a pan. The light caught the silver strands in her hair, but her movements were as steady as ever.
"Welcome home, Alex," she said without turning. "Dinner's almost ready. Go wash up."
"Got it."
Dad's voice came from the dining table, low and calm. "Don't forget to tell your mother about your grades. She's been asking."
"Dad…" I groaned. "Can we not talk about that before food?"
He chuckled. "Then after food, son."
Typical.
As I washed my hands, I decided to test the Emotional Projection again — carefully, sincerely, as the system had instructed.
This time, I didn't focus on strangers. I focused on home.
When I looked at my mom, I felt… warmth. Steady, patient, tinged with quiet fatigue — the kind that comes from doing everything for everyone else without complaint.
Dad's emotions were harder to read — stable and composed, but there was a faint current of worry beneath. Money? Work? Or maybe me.
And my sister…
She was laughing now, teasing me about something on TV, but beneath the laughter there was a faint trace of something softer — uncertainty, maybe loneliness.
That hit me more than I expected.
[System Notification]
Emotional Projection: Active
Detected States:
Maternal Care + Comfort
Paternal Concern + Stability
Sisterly Affection + Hidden Sadness
Suggestion: Emotional engagement may improve system harmony.
I turned off the water and exhaled slowly.
It wasn't like I could just fix feelings, but… maybe I could make tonight a little lighter.
"Hey," I called, walking back to the dining table, "why don't we eat together for once instead of everyone scattered around the house?"
Mom smiled. "You're the one who's always late from campus."
"Then tonight I'm not," I said, pulling out a chair.
My sister raised an eyebrow. "You're unusually cheerful. Did something good happen?"
I hesitated — technically yes, but not something I could exactly explain.
"Let's just say," I said, grinning, "I'm trying to be less tired and more… emotionally aware."
She blinked. "That sounds like something from your psychology electives."
"Yeah, maybe."
Dinner was simple — stir-fried noodles, vegetables, and miso soup — but the atmosphere felt different.
Mom laughed more. Dad actually joined the conversation. Even my sister seemed lighter.
And somewhere in the middle of it all, a quiet warmth settled over me — not from the food, but from something deeper.
For the first time since the system appeared, I felt like I wasn't just gaining something from people. I was… connected to them.
After dinner, while helping Mom clear the dishes, a faint glow flickered at the edge of my vision.
[System Synchronization Increased: +0.1%]
[Emotional Projection Lv.1 Progress: 78% → 82%]
[Hidden Bonus: Genuine Bond Detected]
A "bond," huh?
I smiled faintly, wiping my hands on a towel.
Maybe this system wasn't just about investments after all. Maybe it was also about returns you couldn't calculate.
Later that night, as I sat by my desk, the quiet hum of the computer filling the room, I thought again of Emma — and for a fleeting second, wondered if she'd ever felt this kind of warmth.