I woke up the next morning with a single, horrifying realization—my life was no longer my own.
[Good morning, Host! Ready for another exciting day?]
"No," I groaned into my pillow. "Shut up."
[Error! The Supreme System cannot shut up! Instead, how about a fresh new mission to start the day?]
My eye twitched as a new translucent blue panel popped up.
[Mission: Accidental Bathhouse Encounter] Task: Enter the women's side of the bathhouse 'by accident.' Reward: +5 Strength, +5 Speed, One Free Dinner Coupon Penalty: Forced streaking through campus]
I shot up in bed. "WHAT KIND OF MISSION IS THIS?!"
[It's a classic, Host! All great protagonists go through this moment at least once!]
"No! This is how people get arrested!"
[Host may decline, but remember, the penalty is…]
I gulped, rereading the punishment. "There is no way in hell I'm running naked through campus."
[Then it's settled! Time to prepare for your inevitable fate!]
I buried my face in my hands. I hate this system.
Fast forward to the afternoon, and I found myself standing outside the famous Onsen Bliss bathhouse. It was a luxurious hot spring spa that students often visited to relax. Normally, I'd never set foot in such an expensive place, but my system was determined to throw me into maximum danger zones.
The plan was simple: Find a way to 'accidentally' end up in the women's section, fulfill the mission requirements, and escape before I was murdered.
"Okay, Ethan," I muttered to myself. "You got this. Just get in, trigger the mission, and get out."
Taking a deep breath, I walked in.
The moment I stepped inside, I was hit with the calming scent of lavender and fresh steam curling through the air. The men's section was fairly empty—just a few old guys enjoying their soak.
Perfect.
I cautiously made my way toward the dividing area, searching for a way to 'accidentally' mess up.
Then I saw it.
A wooden sign with two arrows.
Left: Men's Bath. Right: Women's Bath.
This was it. The moment of truth.
My hand hovered between the two paths. My body screamed at me to turn left. My system laughed in my face.
[Host, let fate take control!]
I squeezed my eyes shut, took a deep breath, and 'accidentally' took a step to the right.
The air changed. The silence felt heavier. I peeked one eye open.
Oh no.
Steam filled the air, creating a dreamy haze over the natural hot spring pools. And through that haze, I saw them.
Girls.
So many girls.
And then—
"...Ethan?"
My soul nearly left my body as I turned and saw her.
Isabella Frost. The Ice Queen. The same girl I had awkwardly hit on yesterday.
And she was right there, dripping wet, a towel wrapped around her, staring at me with wide, murderous eyes.
My brain went into full-blown panic mode. I needed an escape route. NOW.
"W-Wait, I can explain—"
"PERVERT!"
A bar of soap flew at my face like a homing missile. I barely dodged before chaos erupted. Towels were flung. Buckets were thrown. Voices shrieked in outrage.
I had one chance. I turned on my heel and sprinted.
[Mission Completed!]
[+5 Strength Acquired! +5 Speed Acquired! One Free Dinner Coupon Obtained!]
Oh, wonderful. Now I could run faster—while being chased by an angry mob of women.
"GET BACK HERE, YOU CREEP!"
"IT WAS A MISTAKE, I SWEAR!"
I barely made it to the exit before a flying slipper smacked me across the face and sent me crashing into the hallway.
I lay there, gasping for breath, my body aching from soap-related injuries. The system chimed cheerfully.
[Congratulations, Host! You have successfully completed an essential rom-com trope!]
I groaned. "I want a refund on this system…"
[Denied!]
Just then, I heard footsteps. I turned my head and saw Luna standing there, holding a vending machine drink, staring down at me with a blank expression.
"…Why am I not surprised?" she said dryly.
"I can explain," I wheezed.
She took a sip of her drink, watching me suffer. "Oh, this I gotta hear."
And that's how I spent the next thirty minutes explaining how I accidentally ended up in the worst situation possible.
Again.
I hated my life.