Part-45

  James' heart sank. Reje, even when anticipated, never felt good. A familiar ache bloomed in his chest, a flicker of disappoi mingling with a surprising undercurrent of relief. He wasn't ied in Mili romantically, but the pressure to secure a date had g him heless. Now, with her gentle reje, that pressure lifted.

  But before he could dwell on his mixed emotions, a notification fshed in the blue window.

  **[Mission plete: Ask Mili for a date.]**

  **[+3 WIS]**

  His jaw dropped. He'd failed. He braced himself for the electric shock, the vengeful strike of lightning… but nothing happened. He stared at the window, fusion clouding his mind. Had the System malfuned?

  Then, a hought struck him. Maybe, just maybe, the System wasn't looking for a romantiion. Maybe the act of asking someo, of pushing himself outside his fort zone, was the true goal. The +3 WIS boost seemed to support that theory.

  A small smile tugged at James' lips. He hadn't gottee, but he'd gained something far more valuable – a new perspective on the System's enigmatic ways. And perhaps, a newfound fideo approach people, even if it wasn't for a date.

  As Mili walked away, James watched her go, a sense of acceptatling over him. He took a deep breath, the weight of the mission lifting from his shoulders.

  The familiar ache in his muscles was a wele reminder of a day well spent. Despite the exhaustion, a triumphant grin spread across his face as the blue window flickered ience.

  [Mission plete: All Loop Missions]

  [+1 CHA]

  He'd do. Every push-up, squat, luhe System's seemingly muasks had pushed him to his limits, and his body felt the sweet sting of aplishment. This wasn't just about the points; it was about proving something to himself. It was about g his way back from the helplessness he'd felt just fag down Sourov, about etg a new image of himself, ohat wasn't defined by fear or the whims of the Bully System. Each drop of sweat, each burning muscle, was a testament to his will, a brick id in the foundation of his own personal strength. Sure, the points were nice, a tangible reward for his efforts, but the true victory was the shift within. He wasn't just stronger; he felt a newfound resilience, a fidehat stemmed from perseverance.

  Riva's chuckle echoed in his mind. "Wele to the wonderful world of getting in shape, James," she'd said. Her words, once ced with amusement, n true. James wasn't just stronger; he felt a newfound resilience, a fidehat stemmed from perseverance.

  As he rouhe er onto his street, the familiar quiet settled over him. An uling calm, he'd thought just days ago. But now, with the absence of Lemon's taunts and the ever-present threat of the Bully System's goons, the tranquility felt almost… peaceful.

  Was this a temporary reprieve, or a sign of something more? James couldn't shake the feeling that the calm before the storm on him. The System was a fickle entity, and its sileen heralded a new challenge.

  With renewed determination fueled by his aplishment, James hurried towards his house. The aroma of his mom's cooking wafted through the doorway, a promise of fort and a wele distra.