The first holiday to come was Hallow's Eve, slightly different from the Halloween of Adam's previous life.
You only got candy if you scared someone—or earned pity.
Luckily, Adam was a cute child, so pity candy was a given.
[Supernatural forces are abundant due to the weakening of the veil. Host must survive the night.]
[Countdown – 11:59:59]
Supernatural forces? Whatever apocalypse you were built for must've sucked for humanity.
Adam finished putting on his costume. He was tempted to go as Rudolph, but he'd already be dressed as that for the play—no need to double down.
Instead, Adam chose a popular character from his past life.
A skull mask. A leather jacket. Adorably terrifying.
He'd installed orange glow pieces around the eyes, giving them a fiery look.
To protect his own eyes, he wore sunglasses beneath the mask, somehow making the whole thing even more unsettling.
Too bad I couldn't do a flaming skull. Not exactly realistic to wear.
When he stepped out of his room, Rachel was in a pout.
Forced to wear something adorable rather than terrifying, courtesy of Mom.
"Why does Adam get to look scary?!"
"Because he made his own outfit."
"He did? That's why I don't recognize it..."
Adam looked at her costume, some sort of Fairy design with wings.
Mom's going the pity route for candy.
"Come here, Rae."
"Kay!" Rachel jumped up to Adam's side.
"Do you want to be a scary fairy or a pretty fairy?"
"I don't want to be a fairy at all!"
"Not an option. Scary or pretty?"
"Scary!"
Adam pulled off his skull mask. "Mom, can you give me your make-up stuff?"
"What are you going to do?" Mom asked, already getting up.
"Make a scary fairy." Adam said with a grin.
Once the makeup box was in Adam's hands, he guided his mom and asked a few basic questions. He darkened the shadows around Rachel's eyes, then lightened her naturally tan complexion until it looked pale and ghostly.
Lipstick too red, deliberately smeared past the corners of her mouth.
He had to get the okay from Mom before adding slight tears to the costume. Completing the unsettling, creepy look.
"There we go, Scary Fairy."
"Really let me see." Rachel ran to the hallway mirror.
"Ahh! I really am a scary fairy!"
Adam chuckled as he put his skull mask back on.
"The Ghost Rider and the scary fairy."
"Why do you get a cool name instead of just… just... Skull boy!"
"You want to name your scary fairy look?"
"Yes!"
"You're a ghostly fairy so we could go with… Blood Wing? Murder-bell?"
"Ooh! I like Blood Wing!" Rachel struck what she thought was a scary pose, baring imaginary fangs.
"Hmm, we could stop by a store for vampire teeth, it's the last thing you need as Blood Wing."
"Yes! Let's go before it's too late!"
Rachel ran to the door. "Cmon!"
Adam looked towards his mom. "It's okay, right?"
Mom just chuckled. "It is, it's just a quick stop before we start for the night."
Adam nodded then followed Rachel out.
Tonight might actually be fun.
***
Hallow's Eve was a success, Adam and Rachel's costumes worked exactly as intended.
Adam's was genuinely scary, but as soon as the surprise was gone, Rachel's won in terms of unsettling people.
On the way home, Rachel was carrying two bags of candy.
"This is way more candy than I got last year! Adam, you're so smart!"
Adam took the praise as it was. He'd had fun—genuine fun—scaring adults.
"It was fun, Rae. Major fun."
"And candy!"
"And candy." Adam repeated as he took off his mask, his brown hair sticking to his forehead.
"Dang, it was hotter than I thought."
Rachel giggled.
"I don't know what you're giggling at—you've still got to clean that makeup off."
Adam focused ahead, noticing his mom already in the car. "Hey, Rae… anything weird going on at home?"
"Huh?"
"Just… remember you can talk to me."
"Of course I can talk to you! You're my best friend!"
She swung a bag of candy at him, forcing him to catch it.
"Last one to the car is a stinky!!"
Rachel took off.
"Did she just…" Adam blinked, surprised.
"Guess she learned."
Adam took off after her.
***
By the time Adam collapsed into bed, it was past 11 pm.
So used to sleeping with a curfew now, I'm exhausted.
He yawned, pulling up the system.
[Countdown – 6:34:13]
6 am, that's when the timer stops. And when I'll get all the rewards.
Adam yawned again. Okay, sleep time
He dismissed the system and rolled under the covers, already asleep.
.
.
.
Adam awoke to the system ping instead of naturally.
Rubbing his eyes, he looked.
[Host has survived the night! Host has gone above and beyond mission parameters! Calculating rewards…]
[Host has gained 1.37% towards Charisma]
[Host has gained 1.05% towards Perception]
[Host has gained 0.85% towards Vitality!]
[Host has gained the skill - Mysticism]
[Host does not meet the prerequisite for Mysticism. Locking skill…]
[Host has gained the Skill - Occultism]
Okay… worth being woken up.
Adam stretched as he got up from bed.
Okay, next up is Thanksgiving.
Adam quietly wondered if the system would misinterpret that holiday as well.
***
The system in fact did not interpret it at all.
Just a boring holiday with relatives he barely knew.
They all treated him exactly how he looked, an adorable 5-year-old.
Eventually Adam escaped that family affection by going outside.
"Urgh… Freedom."
Adam leaned against the wall, still bored out of his mind.
I wonder if Rachel is okay.
I'll see her in a few days, everything should be fine.
...Right?
***
To Adam's relief, Rachel seemed fine when he arrived to class.
"Adam!" She ran over, barreling him to the ground with a hug.
"OOF!"
Yeah, she's fine… Adam thought as he patted her back.
"Was Thanksgiving fun?"
"Nuh-uh, it was boring!"
"Mine too."
"The Christmas play is soon, are you excited?"
"Yes yes yes!"
"I finally get to see Rudolph!"
"You just tackled your Rudolph, remember?"
Rachel gasped. "You're right! You're my Rudolph."
"I'm your best friend there too! Adam, this is perfect!"
"Duh, I did say we'd get the starring roles."
Adam pushed up off the classroom floor, sitting up. Rachel was still half hugging him.
"You can let go now."
"Don't want to." Rachel recommitted to the hug.
"You have to, we got a play to do."
"Urrgh…okay…" Rachel reluctantly let go, offering a hand to Adam to stand.
"Thanks." Adam took the help and stood.
With that, Class started. But everyone seemed excited about the play causing their teacher, Mrs. White to calm everyone down repeatedly.
Adam just sat in silence, watching his Academics skill click over to 99%
First level 2 skill, hopefully the first of many.
***
The lead up to the play wasn't all that glorious, it was a kindergarten play after all.
But everyone seemed excited, especially Rachel.
Adam however, was taking it seriously.
He had system rewards riding on this.
He talked to all the kids who had speaking parts, helping them along with their own issues or hang-ups.
I'll make this the best 5-year-old play to ever exist.
By the time the play started, Adam switched up his demeanor.
No longer was he the mature child, but now he was Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
And to Adam's delight, the other kids took his earlier help to heart.
They weren't perfect but they didn't forget their lines.
When the end of the play finally came around, Adam and his class bowed and exited the stage to the applause of surprised parents.
Rachel was glued to Adam's side the entire time.
When they finally made it off stage, she hugged him.
"We were so awesome!"
"Yeah yeah, we were amazing."
[Host has-]
Adam dismissed the system before it could continue.
Not now.
Mrs. White clapped her hands.
"Now now, Class, pay attention. You all did wonderfully tonight. And as a reward, we're going to have a Christmas party before break."
"Now, off you go. I imagine your parents are going to be happy to see you."
The class didn't wait, rushing off to find their own parents with laughs and excitement.
"Cmon Adam!" Rachel was no exception, already pulling Adam along.
When they found Adam's parents, Adam heard a raised male voice.
"Selena! I will not let you near my daughter!"
Mr. Morgan?
Adam stopped letting himself be pulled by Rachel.
"Rae, let's go over there." Adam made eye contact with his parents, motioning with his head away from the yelling.
"Mark, you know it was rough when you-"
The doors closed, cutting off anything else Adam may have heard.
I have a feeling this is about to get a whole lot more complicated.