Chapter 99: 99 | Sooner

Jason stared at Sarah for a moment.

Then he smiled.

"Maybe you're just starting to notice."

Sarah narrowed her eyes.

"You're acting suspicious."

"I'm always suspicious."

"No, you're not."

"Then I'm improving."

She laughed.

Jason relaxed.

For a few seconds, the strange notification disappeared from his mind.

Then Sarah leaned against him again.

"You know what I want?"

"What?"

"Food."

Jason looked at the time.

"Now?"

"Yes."

"You just gave me a drink."

"That isn't food."

"Fair."

She stood.

"Let's go."

"Where?"

"I don't know."

Jason stared at her.

"You dragged me here without a plan?"

"Yes."

"Impressive."

"Thank you."

They left the apartment together.

Outside, the evening air had cooled.

Sarah walked beside him, occasionally bumping her shoulder against his.

The normality of it made Jason feel strangely peaceful.

They eventually stopped at a small restaurant a few streets away.

They ordered something simple and sat across from each other.

Sarah rested her chin on her hand.

"So."

"So?"

"Tell me something."

"Like what?"

"Anything."

Jason thought for a moment.

"I've been thinking about changing my workout routine."

Sarah raised an eyebrow.

"That's what you chose?"

"It's important."

"You're boring."

"I know."

She laughed.

Then her expression became more thoughtful.

"Actually..."

"What?"

"I've noticed you've changed."

Jason paused.

"How?"

"You seem more confident."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

She studied him.

"Not arrogant. Just..."

She searched for the word.

"More comfortable."

Jason smiled.

"I guess I'm getting used to things."

Sarah nodded.

"I like it."

Their food arrived.

They ate while continuing to talk.

It was easy.

Almost too easy.

Jason found himself forgetting about the system again.

Until his phone vibrated.

He ignored it.

Sarah noticed.

"You're not checking?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I'm eating."

She smiled.

"Good answer."

Jason smiled back.

The phone vibrated again.

Then again.

Sarah looked at it.

"Someone really wants you."

Jason glanced at the screen.

Three notifications.

All from the system.

He didn't open them.

"Probably nothing important."

Sarah nodded.

They continued eating.

But Jason's curiosity grew.

Eventually, he couldn't resist.

He picked up his phone beneath the table.

[Quest Update.]

[Target: Vivian.]

[Progress: 8%.]

[Additional condition approaching.]

Jason frowned.

Additional condition?

He opened the next notification.

[Host is advised to maintain emotional clarity.]

Jason stared.

"Emotional clarity?"

That wasn't a normal system instruction.

Before he could think about it, Sarah spoke.

"Jason."

He looked up.

"Yeah?"

"You disappeared for a second."

"Sorry."

She smiled.

"You've been doing that a lot."

Jason put the phone away.

"I was just thinking."

"About what?"

He hesitated.

"Us."

Sarah's expression softened.

"Good things?"

"Yeah."

She smiled.

"Then keep thinking."

Jason laughed.

They finished eating.

On the walk back, Sarah suddenly stopped.

Jason turned.

"What?"

She looked at him.

"Do you regret today?"

Jason knew immediately what she meant.

"No."

"Not even a little?"

"No."

Sarah watched him carefully.

"Even though everything got complicated?"

"Especially because it got complicated."

She frowned slightly.

"Why?"

"Because running away from something doesn't make it disappear."

Sarah nodded slowly.

"I was scared you would say you wanted to avoid Vivian completely."

Jason looked at her.

"Would that make you feel better?"

"Maybe."

"But would it actually solve anything?"

Sarah didn't answer.

Jason continued.

"I don't want to pretend she doesn't exist just because the situation is uncomfortable."

Sarah looked away.

"I don't either."

There was a pause.

"But I don't want to lose you."

Jason stepped closer.

"You won't."

Sarah looked at him.

"Promise?"

Jason smiled.

"I promise I'll do everything I can."

She frowned.

"That's not the same thing."

"I know."

She sighed.

"You're annoying."

"I've heard that before."

She smiled despite herself.

Then she reached for his hand.

They continued walking.

Neither noticed the figure standing near the entrance of the building ahead.

Vivian.

She was carrying a small grocery bag.

When she saw them approaching, she stopped.

Jason noticed her first.

Their eyes met.

Vivian's expression changed.

Sarah followed his gaze.

"Oh."

Vivian gave a small smile.

"Hey."

Sarah smiled.

"You're back."

"Yeah."

Vivian looked at Jason.

"Hi."

"Hi."

The three stood there awkwardly.

Sarah looked between them.

Then she surprised Jason.

"Do you want to come upstairs?"

Vivian blinked.

"Me?"

"Yeah."

Vivian hesitated.

"I thought..."

Sarah shrugged.

"We're not doing this again."

"Doing what?"

"Making everything awkward."

Vivian looked at Jason.

He couldn't tell what she was thinking.

Finally, she nodded.

"Okay."

They went upstairs together.

The atmosphere was different from yesterday.

Less tense.

But not completely comfortable.

Sarah placed herself between them on the couch.

"So."

Vivian looked at her.

"So?"

Sarah smiled.

"I've decided something."

Jason immediately became cautious.

"That's never a good sign."

Sarah ignored him.

"We're going to stop treating this like some huge disaster."

Vivian was quiet.

Sarah continued.

"If something is bothering us, we say it."

Jason nodded.

"Sounds reasonable."

Vivian looked down at her hands.

"What if saying it makes things worse?"

Sarah's expression softened.

"Then at least we're being honest."

Vivian looked at her.

"You really mean that?"

"Yeah."

Jason watched the two girls.

Something had shifted.

Not solved.

But shifted.

Vivian slowly nodded.

"Okay."

Sarah leaned back.

"Good."

For a while, they talked.

Not about Jason.

Not about relationships.

Just ordinary things.

School.

Friends.

Plans.

The tension slowly faded.

Then Sarah's phone rang.

She checked the screen.

"It's my mother."

She stood.

"I'll be right back."

She walked into the bedroom.

The moment she disappeared, silence returned.

Jason and Vivian looked at each other.

Vivian spoke first.

"This is exactly what I was afraid of."

"What?"

"This."

She gestured around them.

"Being alone with you."

Jason's expression became serious.

"Why?"

"Because it's easy."

He frowned.

"What is?"

"Talking to you."

Vivian looked away.

"Being around you."

She swallowed.

"And yesterday made me realize that I've been pretending I don't feel anything because it was easier."

Jason didn't know what to say.

Vivian continued.

"But I don't want to cross a line."

"You don't have to."

"I know."

She smiled sadly.

"That's why you're making it harder."

Jason remained silent.

Vivian looked at him.

"I need to know something."

"What?"

"If Sarah wasn't here..."

She stopped.

Jason remembered the sentence from yesterday.

"If Sarah wasn't here, what?"

Vivian took a breath.

"Would you want me to stay?"

Jason froze.

The question wasn't complicated.

The answer was.

He could have said yes.

He could have said no.

He could have avoided it.

But Vivian was looking directly at him.

And for the first time, Jason realized something important.

She wasn't asking what the system wanted.

She wasn't asking what Sarah wanted.

She was asking what he wanted.

Jason opened his mouth.

Then Sarah's voice came from the hallway.

"What's taking you guys so long?"

Vivian immediately looked away.

Jason turned.

"Nothing."

Sarah walked back in.

She looked between them.

Neither spoke.

Sarah's eyes narrowed slightly.

"What?"

"Nothing," Vivian said.

Sarah stared at her.

Then at Jason.

"Okay."

She sat down.

Jason's phone vibrated.

He didn't look.

It vibrated again.

And again.

Sarah glanced toward his pocket.

"You can check it."

Jason shook his head.

"It's fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

The phone stopped.

For several minutes, nobody said anything.

Then Jason finally felt it vibrate once more.

He pulled it out.

[Quest Progress: 12%.]

His eyes widened.

Four percent.

From what?

The conversation?

Vivian's question?

His hesitation?

He didn't know.

Another notification appeared.

[Emotional honesty detected.]

Jason's expression hardened.

So that was it.

The system wasn't simply tracking actions.

It was tracking emotional development.

He looked at Vivian.

Then Sarah.

This wasn't a game anymore.

At least, not in the way he'd originally thought.

The system was turning his relationships into measurable progress.

And the more honest they became with each other, the faster the quest advanced.

Jason locked his phone.

Sarah noticed his expression.

"Bad news?"

"No."

"Then what?"

Jason smiled faintly.

"Just realizing something."

"What?"

"That things are probably going to get more complicated before they get simpler."

Sarah sighed.

"Definitely."

Vivian gave a quiet laugh.

"At least you're honest."

Jason looked at her.

She smiled.

For a brief moment, their eyes met.

Sarah noticed.

But instead of reacting angrily, she simply watched them.

Then she said something Jason hadn't expected.

"Vivian."

"Yeah?"

"I meant what I said earlier."

Vivian looked at her.

"If you have something to say, say it."

Vivian hesitated.

Then nodded.

"Okay."

She took a breath.

"I think I like him."

The room went silent.

Jason's heart stopped for a beat.

Sarah stared at Vivian.

Vivian's face reddened.

"I didn't want to say it."

She looked down.

"But pretending otherwise is making everything worse."

Sarah remained quiet.

Jason didn't move.

Then Sarah asked softly:

"How much?"

Vivian looked up.

"I don't know."

Sarah nodded.

"Okay."

That was all she said.

Jason couldn't tell whether that was good or bad.

Sarah stood.

"I need some air."

She walked toward the balcony.

Jason immediately started to follow.

But Sarah stopped him.

"Not yet."

He froze.

She looked back.

"I just need a minute."

Jason nodded.

"Okay."

Sarah stepped outside.

The balcony door closed.

Jason remained inside with Vivian.

Neither spoke.

Then Vivian whispered:

"I'm sorry."

Jason shook his head.

"Don't be."

"But..."

"You were honest."

She looked at him.

"That doesn't make it right."

Jason didn't answer.

His phone vibrated again.

He checked it.

[Quest Progress: 15%.]

Then:

[Relationship conflict has entered Phase Two.]

Jason stared.

A final line appeared.

[Next objective will be unlocked after a decisive emotional development.]

Jason slowly lowered the phone.

He looked through the glass door at Sarah standing alone on the balcony.

Then at Vivian beside him.

He finally understood.

The system wasn't going to let this remain unresolved.

Sooner or later, someone would have to make a choice.

And Jason had a terrible feeling that the choice wouldn't be his alone.