Saturday arrived quietly.
No alarms.
No rush.
No pressure from school bells or watchful eyes.
West woke up earlier than he expected with sunlight slipping through the curtains and pooling softly across the floor of his room. For a few seconds, he lay there, staring at the ceiling, letting his body register the difference.
He felt... good... he felt energetic.
His limbs felt lighter, his breathing deeper, his head clear in a way it rarely had been before. The dull soreness from earlier in the week had almost completely faded, replaced by comfortable vitality.
West pushed himself up and stretched.
"...Huh," he muttered.
He rolled his shoulders, flexed his fingers, then stood and walked out into the living room. The apartment was still quiet and empty as always. The faint smell of detergent lingered from the laundry he’d done the night before.
West didn’t dwell on it.
He cleaned thoroughly.
He wiped down counters, swept the floor, folded clothes properly instead of leaving them draped over chairs. By the time he was done, the place felt... orderly.
Like it belonged to someone who was in control.
He made breakfast next—eggs, toast, something simple but filling—and ate slowly, letting his body fuel itself properly.
Afterward, he moved to the small open space near the window and began exercising.
Push-ups.
Squats.
Planks.
He paid attention to how his body reacted.
The difference was undeniable.
His breathing stayed steady longer.
His muscles burned later.
Recovery between sets was faster.
West wiped sweat from his brow and let out a short laugh.
"All thanks to the system, huh..."
His phone buzzed and he checked it.
Dad:
Won’t be home this weekend. Work.
West stared at the message for a moment.
Then sighed.
"As expected," he said quietly.
He tossed the phone onto the couch and grabbed his wallet.
---
The neighborhood convenience store wasn’t far. It was a short walk through familiar streets lined with aging apartment blocks and old trees that had seen better days.
As West stepped outside, the air felt crisp and alive.
He nodded to a few neighbors he recognized... all older women who’d lived in the same block for years, the kind who knew everyone’s business whether they wanted them to or not.
"Morning, West!" one called out.
"Good morning," he replied easily.
One particular woman... Auntie Maribel, who was overly friendly and perpetually nosy, stepped closer, peering at him with narrowed eyes.
"Hmmm," she hummed. "You’ve changed."
West raised an eyebrow. "Changed how?"
She reached out without warning and ruffled his hair affectionately. "More handsome. A little more taller too."
Normally, that would’ve made him awkward, bashful and unsure on how to respond.
But today—
West smirked.
"Careful, Auntie Maribel," he said smoothly while stepping back just enough to avoid another hair rub. "Compliments like that might start a fire you won’t be able to quench."
She froze and then burst out laughing.
"Oh my," she voiced with widened eyes. "Since when did you learn to talk like that?"
West waved casually as he continued down the street. "Since I learned not to waste good words."
Auntie Maribel stood there for a moment longer, watching him leave with a thoughtful look on her face.
"...That boy," she muttered. "he is becoming dangerous."
---
The convenience store was moderately busy when West arrived.
He grabbed a basket and moved through the aisles swiftly, picking up essentials—vegetables, bread, milk, a few snacks. He reached up for an item on a higher shelf when he heard a familiar voice beside him.
"Um—sorry—could you help me with that?"
West turned and it was Nina.
She stood on her toes, reaching for something just out of her grasp with her brows furrowed in mild frustration. Up close, she looked even softer than she did at school. Her hair was loose... she was clad in casual clothes and the faint scent of lavender perfume lingered around her.
"Sure," West said.
He reached up effortlessly and handed the item to her.
"Thanks," she said, then paused as her eyes widened. "Wait—West?"
He smiled faintly. "Didn’t expect to see you here?"
"I—uh—do you live around here?" she asked.
"Yeah," he replied. "Just a few blocks down."
They fell into step together as they headed toward the counter with conversation flowing naturally.
West cracked a few jokes about grocery shopping being an adult’s final boss. Nina laughed with her hand covering her mouth as her shoulders shook.
"You’re different outside of school," she said.
"So are you," West replied lightly. "Less guarded."
Her cheeks warmed.
As they paid and exited the store, they realized they were heading in the same direction.
"Guess we’re neighbors," Nina said.
"Looks like it," West replied.
They walked together, footsteps in sync.
West kept it light, teasing and occasionally leaning just close enough to make her aware of his presence. He watched her reactions carefully.
The way she bit her lip when he complimented her laugh.
The way her eyes flicked away when he held her gaze a little too long.
> [Cuck Points +1]
"I should remind you," Nina said suddenly, trying to sound firm, "I have a boyfriend."
West didn’t miss a beat.
"Why limit yourself to one person?" he asked casually.
She stumbled mid-step.
"What?"
West leaned in slightly, lowering his voice so only she could hear.
He whispered something in her ear and Nina’s breath paused in her lungs.
Her throat worked as she swallowed and her cheeks flushed deeply as her imagination ran wild.
> [Cuck Points +2]
West straightened and pointed ahead.
"My place is over there," he said calmly. "Feel free to visit anytime."
And then, he walked away.
Nina stood there, frozen with the grocery bag dangling from her hand and her heart pounding wildly in her chest.
By the time she realized she hadn’t responded...
He was already gone.
---
Back in his apartment, West put the groceries away neatly.
He sat down on the couch afterward, letting his body relax fully for the first time that day.
It was time.
He opened the system.
The familiar interface unfolded before him, brighter than ever.
His eyes went straight to the SHOP.
Then—
<[ Tier 1 Awakening Voucher
Available ]>
West tapped it.
The screen changed and three options appeared.
---
<[ Tier 1 Awakening Options ]>
<< Tier 1 Bloodline Awakening Voucher >>
<< Tier 1 Transformation Awakening Voucher >>
<< Tier 1 Summoning Awakening Voucher >>
---
West stared in confusion. "...What?"
His pulse quickened.
Bloodline... Transformation... and Summoning.
Different paths.
Different futures.
West eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he leaned back.
This choice...
...will decide everything.