Project: Socialize

"Can you let go of me?"

Muria's voice is cold, just like how I'd imagine it would be. However, I didn't anticipate her lowering her head, which made it so that her bangs concealed her face from my point of view.

I released her wrist and watched it as it swayed back to her side. Then, the two of us stood there waiting, waiting for the other person to speak up first. I looked at her with unease in my eyes, but this unease will likely past just like the clouds above that blocked the suns rays from the earth. That cloud will soon move away and the shade will vanish. In the end, the sun will always show, no matter what happens. 

Due to us standing still in the station square, the crowd walked around us. Passersby didn't acknowledge our brief pause, they merely faced forward and went on with their daily lives. From the office workers dressed in suits to employees of local restaurants handing out fliers, we were ignored as the current of people rushed on around us.

"If you think the same," I broke the silent seal, anxious to escape this awkward situation, "I think we can go now." 

I paused for a second, waiting for a response from her. However, seeing that she is still silent, I decided that someone must be the one to trigger a change.

"...I'll be going now," I said to her, turning back around to reenter the train station.

Just go home. That is what suits me the best. Spending a Saturday with a girl isn't like me. Leave that to the others. People like me should be rotting at home.

"Stop!" 

Her voice was loud and made with authority. Immediately, my legs locked, forcing me to halt and stand in place. Some people around us stopped to look what the commotion is, pausing in their footsteps and waiting to see if things get any bit more interesting.

"Do you really think you can head home without my permission?" 

She lifted her head and from her face, I could see that supercilious look on her face once again. What are you? An empress?

"Isn't that my basic human right?" I turned around and said back to her. For some reason, my body language is suddenly submissive as I answered her.

"Not anymore," she crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Follow." 

She made a 180 degrees turn and began walking once again. With my basic human right being denied, I had no choice but to go along with her agenda.

"So where're we going?" I asked as I quickened my walking pace so as to catch up with her. 

"You don't need to worry about that," she responded without looking over at me.

I let out a deep sigh. Why is it that she can interact with others in such a normal way but when it is me she's just so different.

Muria immediately paused in her steps, which caused me to almost bump into her if not for my superior self control of my lower body.

"You're right," she placed a hand on her chin. 

"So like I said," I sighed, "let us each go our own ways. You don't owe me anything."

"Then take it as you owing me a favor." She looked at me with a look that is as if what she's saying is an obvious fact.

"Why?"

"Because you don't usually get the chance to spend time with people. Especially of my caliber."

"..." I sighed once again, giving up any hopes to reason with or argue with her. 

After following her on the streets of Nocsinis for a few minutes, we arrived at the foot of a mall that is about ten stories tall. A metal statue of what appears to be the mall's mascot stood in the clearing in front of the escalators that led up to the main entrance of the mall. Right by the escalators is a large map of the mall locked safely within a glass display board like a picture within a picture frame.

"So which floor are we going to?" I asked Muria.

"Third," she responded as she stepped foot onto the escalator with me following close behind her.

"Are we watching a movie?" I recalled the map of the mall marking the third floor as a movie theater.

"What else is there on the third floor then?"

I decided to not argue any further with her and just quietly follow her as we made our way up to the third floor of the mall. If it's just a movie, then I can manage since all that I'll be required to do is sit there and watch something for an hour and a half. Plus it'll be dark in the theater so no one should be able to see us. I mean it doesn't matter to me who sees us because I don't care about my reputation already and people from our school most likely wouldn't even know who I am if they do see me. Instead, I think it matters to Muria, since unlike me, she's somewhat active on the socializing stage.

Lucky for us, we didn't encounter anyone that we knew from school at the lobby of the movie theater. We waited in line in front of the many kiosk machines and approached one machine when it was our turn. I stood behind Muria as I waited for her to choose the movie that we were going to watch, standing idle and occasionally yawning. 

"Give me 150 Vil," she said as she walked over to me after buying the tickets.

"Why?" I looked at her with a bad feeling in mind.

"It's the price of admission." The way her eyes looked at me with such innocence made it seem like it was only natural that I pay for my own ticket.

"You're not gonna pay for me?"

"When did I ever say I will?"

"Didn't you invite me out for compensation for my injury?" I lifted my bandaged left hand into the air and pointed at it with my right. "Don't you remember?"

"I said the compensation is allowing you to spend time with me. You just weren't listening."

"..." I looked at her with a look of disbelief. However, I know my limits and know that I will not be able to win in an argument against her so I just sighed and gave up. 

Then, a light bulb suddenly went off in my head. I remembered the mission that I was tasked with and thought of a perfect and natural way to get her contact information.

"What's your phone number?" I took out my phone from my pockets.

"W-what do you need that for?" She covered her chest with her arms almost as if in fear.

Is she mistaking my intentions for something else?

"To transfer you money," I said, showing her my virtual wallet on my phone. "I don't have enough cash on me."

"Is that so." She reluctantly took out her phone with a look troubled look on her face.

"Come on." I gestured with my phone for her to hurry up, trying my best to not let a smile betray my victory.

Muria sighed. "Fine." She then proceeded to enter in her number into my phone.

"Thanks." I immediately grabbed my phone from her hands so that she won't be able to see the incoming notification from the Socialization APP.

—

Congratulations! You've completed your assignment on time.

The reward of 15 SP has been added to your account.

Your SP balance is: 45 SP

—

I grinned as I read the text on my phone, basking in my victory. Then, I looked up at Muria who eyed me with a weird look in her eyes. Is she mistaking my grin of victory for completing this task as a grin of victory for acquiring her number?

"Tell if you've received it." I immediately changed the subject and transferred the money to her.

"Got it," she said after checking the notification on her phone and seeing that the money has been added to her account. "Movie should be beginning soon. Let's go."

Just as she turned and began walking towards the ticket gates, I stopped her. "You want to get some popcorn and some drinks? I'll pay."

She looked at me with a surprised look, eyes wide and mouth slightly opened in surprise.

"You don't have to be that surprised," I whispered to myself.

After buying our movie time snacks, the two of us entered the theater and searched for our seats. After settling down in my seat, I laid back in the reclined chair and took out my phone. It was about 3:55 PM so the movie begins in five more minutes. I sighed as I realized that there's more waiting to be done.

As I sat there, I realized that Muria had an excited look on her face. She was sitting on the edge of her seat and her eyes just gleamed in anticipation. Her unusual behavior made me frown in confusion but I didn't say anything. 

She is a normal high school girl after all. So she's bound to have her own tastes in things. I wonder what movie we're watching. I'm hoping it's something interesting or else I'll just be bored and waiting for another hour and a half.    

When the movie began playing, I realized that it is one of those romantic animated movies. I didn't know that she's into those kind of stuff. But, it doesn't matter to me. All I have to do now is just lean back and enjoy it since I have no more tasks for me to do.

The sudden notification on my phone destroyed all of my hopes for a peaceful movie. I rigidly moved my trembling hands to my phone and checked the notification.

--

Current Objective:

Make Muria flustered.

Time Limit: 2 hr

Reward: 15 SP

--

How am I supposed to do that?! Plus there's not enough time at all! We're watching a movie and that'll take about two hours. I don't have time!

The movie has started playing. I glanced over at Muria and realized that her eyes are locked onto the giant screen, completely focused on the movie and nothing else.

Make her flustered? I studied her in search for any opportunities that I can take advantage of. I see that her hands are on the arm rests, so I slowly moved my hands there in a natural motion. Nervousness made my heart race, but I was still able to bring my hand down onto hers. However, it seems that she's to engrossed with the movie to even notice.

What do I do? What do I do!? Help me. Anyone.

Despite my constant struggle, I made no further progress and the movie ended. The entire time the movie played, I wasn't able to even relax for a single minute to watch what was going on. Leaving the theater, my head hang low in defeat as I slowly waited for the punishment to come. 

However, it would appear that we are waiting for something else too since we were waiting in line behind others. Confused, I observed the general demographic of the line, which is about an even split between male and female ranging between the age groups of young adults to adults.

"Here you go." A movie theater employee handed Muria a pair of plushies that she accepted gratefully. If I remember correctly, these plushies are of the mascot looking characters from the movie we just watched.

I looked over at the sign by the employee and it says: Couples Only! Come and pick up a pair of lovers plushies from the movie.

"You used me?" I confronted Muria when we got onto the escalator outside.

"What're you talking about?" She asked, still holding the two plushies in hand. 

"Fine fine," I sighed, acknowledging my defeat.

We soon arrived at the front entrance of the mall and stood there beside the statue we saw earlier. The outside world is as lively as ever and the summer sun shined its deadly rays on me.

"That'll be it for today," Muria said, having recovered back to her usual apathetic self.

"So you call me out to come watch a movie with you as compensation but you used me to get the free plushies..." I summarized her plan.

"I don't know what're you talking about," she crossed her arms before her chest and smiled in an emotionless manner.

"I'm not complaining or anything, but I can't believe you would rather pretend to be a couple with me than anyone else. Don't you have a bunch of people that're probably willing to help you out?"

"That is a good question."

I forced a bitter smile as I'm puzzled by her complex reasoning.

Soon, the two of us arrived back at Nocsinis station, ready to head our separate ways.

"See ya in school." I said as she boarded her transit train. 

She nodded in response.

Then, the doors closed and the train sped off.

A notification suddenly popped up on my phone, and I proceeded to check it.

--

Congratulations! You've completed your assignment on time.

The reward of 15 SP has been added to your account.

Your SP balance is: 60 SP

--

"What the hell?" I stared at my phone, rereading the text once again to make sure that I wasn't mistaken.

Hugh, must've been a system error. I'll take it.

I slipped my phone back into my pocket.