Morning light filtered through the dormitory curtains, scattering in soft gold over Ren's desk. He had fallen asleep with his phone open beside him, the faint glow of the Heart Link System pulsing like a sleeping heartbeat. When the alarm finally hummed, he blinked awake, still half-dazed from dreams that had blurred reality with luminous icons and floating hearts.
The academy was already alive. Voices drifted through the open window — a mix of laughter, training shouts, and the occasional explosive boom from the practice field where someone had clearly ignored the "no combat" policy again. Ren rubbed his eyes, stretched, and glanced at the uniform folded neatly on the chair. Dark slacks, white shirt, navy jacket trimmed with red and orange — a subtle blend of both universes' aesthetics.
He dressed quickly and pocketed his phone. The screen flickered to life on its own.
> [Heart Link System Online]
Emotional analysis calibrated — range: 30 meters.
Ren sighed. So it wasn't a dream after all.
As he stepped out, he found Goten waiting at the hallway corner, munching on a steamed bun. The boy waved energetically, cheeks puffed with food.
"Hey! You're the new guy, right? Ren, yeah? You're in Class B?"
"Yeah," Ren replied with a half-smile. "I'm still figuring out where everything is."
"No worries! Stick with me — I'll show you around. Trunks usually does this kind of thing, but he's buried in Council work again."
Ren followed as Goten chatted freely, pointing at various buildings. Every few seconds, Ren's phone pinged quietly — little icons hovering near people they passed. Goten's was bright yellow, radiating easy warmth. Friendly, genuine, the readout suggested.
They reached the cafeteria, already crowded. Bulma was leaning over a holographic map at one table, gesturing toward a group of students from both worlds. Hinata sat nearby with a notebook, her posture polite, eyes darting between conversations without fully joining in. Across the room, Naruto and Vegeta were arguing over the nutritional value of ramen versus protein shakes, their voices rising enough to make people smile.
Ren hesitated. Goten nudged him. "Come on, man. Let's grab breakfast before Vegeta eats the last batch."
They joined the line. The smell of rice, broth, and grilled meat mingled in the air. Ren kept glancing at his phone, noticing how colors shifted around each person. When Bulma laughed, her hue turned a vivid pink. When Hinata lowered her gaze shyly, her icon glowed a calm blue. The system was reading something far deeper than mere mood; it was mapping attraction, empathy, and attention in real time.
He tried not to look suspicious staring at the screen. Goten caught him anyway.
"Cool game. What's that?"
Ren froze. "Uh—just… a habit tracker."
Goten grinned. "Right. Like tracking how many times you check out girls?"
Ren nearly dropped his tray. "It's not like that!"
"Relax, I'm kidding." Goten winked, laughing. "You'll fit in fine here."
They found seats at the end of a long table. Across from them, Bulma looked up briefly. "You're the new student, right? Ren?"
He nodded, trying not to sound awkward. "Yeah. Just transferred."
"Good timing. Council's recruiting assistants for the Cultural Festival. If you want to make yourself useful, drop by our office later." Her tone was brisk but not unkind — the efficient air of someone who expected results.
Hinata, seated nearby, offered a small, encouraging smile. "It's… really fun, actually. Everyone helps prepare performances and decorations."
Ren returned the smile. "I might check it out."
As he spoke, his phone pulsed again. A soft chime, then text appeared:
> [Affection Link Detected: Hinata +3 | Bulma +1]
His stomach flipped. Is this thing seriously keeping score?
He quickly silenced the display and focused on eating. Conversation flowed around him — stories of last year's festival, rumors of the Council's secret projects, laughter about Goku accidentally breaking the sound system during karaoke practice. Ren listened, half-lost in the flow of voices, half-absorbed by the subtle dance of emotions he could now see.
When classes began, the tone shifted. The first session was "Inter-Dimensional History," taught by Kakashi and Whis in alternating lectures. Ren tried to pay attention, but every few minutes the system highlighted micro-expressions: a blush here, a frown there, a fleeting spark of interest. It was like seeing the world under a new spectrum.
During lunch break, Hinata approached him near the fountain.
"Um, Ren? You dropped this earlier." She held out a small notebook.
He blinked — his notes from the morning. "Oh, thank you. I didn't even notice."
"It's okay." Her voice was soft, but steady. "You seem… a little overwhelmed. The academy can be intense at first."
Ren smiled. "Yeah, that's one way to put it. Everyone's… larger than life here."
She chuckled quietly. The sound made something flutter inside him. His phone pulsed again, registering warmth between them. He pocketed it quickly, unwilling to let technology ruin a human moment.
They walked together toward the garden behind the lecture hall. The path was shaded by sakura trees mixed with strange, glowing foliage — plants that seemed half-engineered, half-grown by chakra. Students sat on benches studying, sketching, or simply dozing.
Hinata tilted her head. "Do you like it here so far?"
"I do. It's… different. Peaceful, even with all the chaos."
She smiled faintly. "That's what I like too. No missions. No fighting. Just people learning to live together."
A comfortable silence lingered before she excused herself for training practice. As she walked away, Ren exhaled slowly. The system's display hovered faintly through his pocket fabric — a steady blue glow following her retreating figure.
That evening, Ren reported to the Student Council office as Bulma had suggested. The room was a mixture of technology and tradition: scrolls stacked beside laptops, chakra diagrams displayed on holographic panels, and the faint smell of machine oil mixed with ink.
Trunks looked up from a spreadsheet. "Ah, the new recruit. Perfect timing."
Sasuke sat by the window, reviewing reports. "You'll assist with data management. Keep things organized. Don't let Bulma distract you with experiments."
Bulma shot him a glare. "Excuse me, I'm improving efficiency."
Ren hid a grin. The atmosphere felt oddly familial — sharp words but mutual respect underneath. He spent the next hour sorting event requests, adjusting schedules, and updating club rosters. His efficiency seemed to impress Trunks, who nodded approvingly.
When the meeting ended, Bulma called him over. "Hey, Ren. Walk with me to the courtyard, will you?"
He followed her out under the twilight sky. The air smelled faintly of jasmine. Students lounged on the grass, chatting in small clusters. Bulma crossed her arms, studying him.
"You adapt fast. Most newcomers panic during their first week."
"I've had… good guidance," he said carefully.
She smirked. "Flattery already? Careful, or I might think you're trying to impress me."
Ren laughed, unsure whether she was serious. His phone gave a faint tremor.
> [Affection Link Updated: Bulma +4 | Curiosity Increased]
He resisted the urge to look. Whatever the data said, this moment felt genuine enough. Bulma tilted her head, her tone softening. "You're interesting, Ren. Keep that curiosity — it's rare here."
When she left, the evening lights shimmered through the trees. Ren lingered, staring at the glowing heart icons that dotted the campus like distant fireflies. Every connection was a thread waiting to be pulled, and each thread could lead to friendship, affection, or chaos.
He wondered if the system measured only others' emotions — or if it could feel his own confusion, the tentative excitement that came with belonging somewhere for the first time.
He pocketed the phone and began walking back toward the dorms, the academy alive around him with laughter and music. The stars above seemed to pulse faintly in rhythm with the glowing icons on his screen.
Tomorrow, he thought, I'll try to understand it better — not just the system, but the hearts behind it.
"Don't forget to add this story to your Library and drop a Power Stone if you enjoyed it!"