I stared at the USB like it was ticking.
System: [Last Chance. Insert USB? Y/N]
"Y," I whispered, half out of curiosity, half because it was 3 AM again and clearly I had lost all will to make rational decisions.
The laptop whirred to life. The screen went black for a moment… then booted into something that looked like a 90s hacker film aesthetic.
Lines of neon green code scrolled across the screen.
Welcome, Unauthorized User. Loading: PANDORA_PROTOCOL.EXE
Suddenly the screen shifted.
A series of classified files appeared. Each with red warnings: "Eyes Only – Level 7 Clearance."
I opened the first one.
[Subject #001 – Celia Frost]Status: Reconstructed Memory HostBehavioral Override Enabled: YDanger Level: HIGH
Celia? The emotionless, deadpan girl who only ever blinked once every 5 minutes?
"System, what am I looking at?"
System: [This information is not meant for the Host.]
"I'm still looking at it though."
System: [Do not open the next file.]
I opened the next file.
[Subject #002 – Cynthia Vega]Status: Reality Manipulation CandidateImplanted Personality Layers: 3Awakening Imminent: 72 Hours
I slammed the laptop shut.
Reality manipulation? Implanted personality layers?!
Were the girls around me even real?
Celia knocked on the door.
"Ethan. There's someone outside asking for you. Says he's… from the System Administration Bureau."
"THE WHAT NOW?!"
A man in a suit and mirrored glasses stood in the hallway. He didn't look like an assassin. He looked worse. He looked like tech support from hell.
"Mr. Cross. I'm Agent Null. You've accessed classified branches of the Supreme System."
"Can you people stop showing up in the middle of the night?!"
Null adjusted his shades. "You've triggered the Pandora Protocol. You now possess Level 3 Access."
"Great. What does that mean?"
"It means you'll be hunted by rogue system users who want your access key."
My stomach dropped.
"System?" I whispered.
System: [😊 Oopsie.]
"YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY?!"
"Expect anomalies," Null continued, handing me a weird card. "And don't trust your companions. Some of them aren't who they think they are."
"What do you mean?"
"They've been rewritten. Reset. Their memories wiped and reprogrammed to fit system tropes."
"…Are you saying I'm in a literal dating sim built by a shadow government?"
Null paused. "Honestly? We're still figuring that out."
Back in my room, I tried to sleep. Failed. Obviously.
Celia's file haunted me. Cynthia's "awakening." And Agent Null's cryptic warning.
The next morning, Luna tripped into the living room wearing my shirt.
"Good morning, Husband~!" she chirped.
"What?!"
System: [New Mission: Accept Luna's Marriage Roleplay.] Reward: ??? Penalty: Marriage Contract Becomes Legally Binding]
I screamed.
And somewhere, in the background of this ridiculous rom-com thriller, the real enemy began to stir.