The next morning, everything was... suspiciously normal.
Too normal.
Like, the-smoothie-bar-is-giving-out-free-acai-bowls normal. And that only happens when TrueMatch wants us to stop asking questions and start drinking overpriced antioxidants.
Leo was already double-fisting smoothies. "They're trying to distract us with flavor. And it's kinda working."
"I can't believe we almost got caught breaking into the control room," Zara said, pouring syrup on a pancake shaped like a heart. "I've never felt so alive. Or so bloated."
"Crystal's probably watching us right now," I muttered, poking my eggs with suspicion. "Do you think she eats? Or just recharges in a USB port?"
Milo sat next to me and leaned in. "Hey. I've got a plan."
"Does it involve robots, disguise mustaches, or faking a public breakup for dramatic effect?"
"No," he grinned. "Better. We go on a totally normal, non-suspicious friend date."
I blinked. "A… what now?"
"A friend date. You know—casual. Platonic. Like, 'We're not plotting your downfall, Crystal' energy."
Zara perked up. "Wait, are we doing friendship decoys now? That's so spycore. I'm obsessed."
Milo looked at me. "So? You in?"
I shrugged. "Fine. But if this ends with another emotional staring challenge, I'm throwing myself into the smoothie bar."
---
Thirty minutes later, we were standing inside the app's DIY Candle Room. Which, in theory, was romantic. In reality, it smelled like lavender and melted regrets.
Milo handed me a tiny pink jar. "So, what scent says 'we might be part of a secret experiment, but I still like your face'?"
"Maybe... citrus anxiety with a touch of betrayal?"
We laughed. The awkward kind. But it was a nice kind of awkward.
He stirred wax while I tried not to burn the place down.
"So," he said carefully, "if this wasn't all some twisted dating tech show… do you think we'd still be doing this?"
"Making candles together?"
"No. I mean… talking. Laughing. Liking each other."
I paused. "Probably. Maybe even more easily."
"Why?"
"Because then I'd know it was real."
He nodded. "Yeah. Same."
The silence hung for a second—warm, comfortable. Until—
POP.
Leo burst in dramatically with a clipboard.
"Alright lovebirds—sorry, friendship clause participants—we've got an update!"
He slammed down a piece of paper. "I found a list. Hidden behind the 'Zen Rock Garden.' It's got our names on it… with numbers."
Zara peeked over his shoulder. "Are these… compatibility scores?"
Milo read aloud. "Tess: 88. Milo: 89. Zara: 73. Leo: 19."
Leo pouted. "Hey! I have niche appeal!"
"But where's Jessie's score?" I asked.
They flipped the sheet. Nothing.
"That's weird," Zara said. "She's not even listed?"
"She was a glitch," I whispered. "Remember what Crystal said?"
We all went quiet again.
Milo stood, brushing wax off his hands. "Okay. Time to dig deeper. Maybe there's a hidden file room. Or... an emotional archive."
Zara raised an eyebrow. "What even is an emotional archive?"
Leo answered, "Probably a room full of old love letters and broken engagement rings."
Before we left, I looked back at my half-made candle.
It smelled like citrus anxiety.
And maybe, just maybe… a little hope.