I paced around my room, thinking deeply on what I had discovered on the bus ride home yesterday. The Affection meter was supposed to measure up to 100, and yet...

...Anna's Affection was at 110!!!

"You don't know why, Sally?" I asked.

"I don't Host." Sally replied.

"But aren't you the System?" I asked, confused.

"No, I'm rather the "AI" attached to the System. I cannot control what the System does." Sally informed me.

"Oh..." I muttered. I didn't realize that Sally wasn't the System herself...

"Can you remind me what the Affection numbers mean?" I asked. Maybe this would help with figuring out what 110 means.

"Sure, Host." Sally replied. "0 is neutral. 10 - 29 means they consider you an acquaintance. 30 - 59 means they consider you a friend. 60 - 79 means they consider you an extremely close friend. 80 - 90 means they have a crush, and 91 - 100 means that they love you, familial or as one of the opposite sex."

Nope, it didn't help.

"Okay..." I replied. Wow, that's a lot. "Then what the hell does 110 mean?!"

"I don't know." Sally told me once more.

Thanks a lot.

Suddenly, a new mission from the [Harem System] appeared in front of me.

[Mission] - Survive your date with Anna.

[Reward] - 70 AP

[Punishment] - Unsuccessful Date

[Bonus] - Learn more about Anna.

[Bonus Reward] - 50 AP

[Y/N]

"What's a Bonus?" I asked Sally.

"A Bonus is a 'side mission'. If you complete it, you earn more rewards and if you fail there is no punishment." Sally informed.

"Awesome." I said. I could feel a grin forming across my face. More rewards, and no penalty! A win-win!

Speaking of penalties, it's pretty tame compared to the last one. Well, it's not like I'm trying to fail the mission, so it doesn't matter too much.

Clicking the [Y] button, I accepted the mission and the screen disappeared back into thin air. It didn't fell as strange as last time.

I think I'm starting to get used to the System.

I pulled my phone out, checking the time. It was currently 8:30 in the morning. Perfect. Still had an hour and a half to get ready for the date.

Because this really is a date. I mean, her Affection meter is over 100! And 100 means love! So 110 has to be at least Love, right?

But why an Ice Cream Parlor at 10 in the morning?

So, I got ready for the date. I showered, put on some jeans with a white shirt, brushed my teeth, and did my hair.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I have to say I look good. I mean, I wasn't handsome or anything, but I looked decent.

Alright, now what time was it? Checking my phone, the time read as 9:00. Sweet, I had enough time to go to the parlor early!

Of course I have to be early, you know? Gotta make a good impression, so this date does well.

I walked down the stairs, heading past the kitchen and living room towards the front door. Today was Saturday, so the rest of my family was at home. No school and no work.

My mother, father, and little sister all sat on the couch, watching the television.

"What are you doing, honey?" My mom asked, turning her head towards me. Her sudden interjection caused the other two to look at me as well.

My mother looked just like my sister. She had the same golden curly hair and shining green eyes. My father on the other hand had snow white hair with piercing red eyes.

I'm not exactly sure how they mixed together to make a brown haired, amber eyed boy like me. Maybe they both had recessive alleles. Ha! Learned that one in science!

"Idiot." I heard Sally sigh in my head.

Shut up!

"I'm heading on a date." I replied, grinning.

"Oh!" Mom gasped, holding her hand over her mouth. "How wonderful! Who's the lucky girl?"

"What?!" My sister exclaimed, completely shocked.

Hey. Have some more faith in your older brother.

"It's Anna." I stated. The Webb twins had come over multiple times, so my family knew them well.

"Finally!" Mom cheered.

"Good job Son." Dad said, congratulating me with a thumbs up.

I saw Lilia's hands tighten. Awww, don't worry. Anna is a good girl.

"Sis-con." Sally retorted.

I'm not a sis-con!

"Have a good date!" Mom happily said.

"I will, thanks!" I yelled, waving towards them as I exited the house. Locking the door behind me, I started to head towards Uncle Dave's.

It was only a 20 minute walk, so I should end up about 40 minutes early. It may be a little much, but this date needs to work! Not just for the AP of course! I also want to make Anna happy.

A sudden shiver ran down my spine. I didn't like the feel of that. I quickly looked around for something strange, but I didn't notice anything wrong. Maybe it was just my imagination...

Well, I guess I should start heading there now.

The twenty minutes I spent walking didn't take that long. Checking one more time, I still had my phone, keys, and some money. Perfect.

I stood in front of Uncle Dave's Ice Cream Parlor. It was a small, simple ice cream restaurant. The Parlor itself was part of a large, red bricked building. Other stores and restaurants made up the rest of the building.

On the top of the roof of the Parlor, was a glowing neon sign of an ice cream. It really gave a small business, homemade aesthetic to the parlor. In a good way.

And by the entrance to Uncle Dave's stood Anna.

Wait, what?

I checked the time once more. 9:24. I was 36 minutes early and Anna was already here. What?

Was she that excited for the date?

"Hey Anna." I greeted, walking up to her.

"Oh, hey Jack!" She cheerfully replied. "Are you ready?" She asked.

She seems much more cheerful and energetic than yesterday. That's good. It seems she is back to her normal self.

"I am." I replied.

"Great!" She happily responded. "Let's go get some ice cream!"

We walked into the ice cream parlor, empty except for at the desk, where a man stood. He wore a white and baby blue employee outfit with a small paper boat hat on his head.

The man was bald and had a scar running across his left eye. He looked incredibly threatening, it was actually amazingly kind. Certainly not who you would expect to run an ice cream shop.

"Hey Uncle Dave!" Greeted Anna.

"Oh, if it isn't Anna and Jack! Are you two on a date?" He asked. His voice was gruff, but it held such a kind and soft tone to it.

"We are." Confirmed Anna, shyly nodding. Looking at her face, I could see a blush rising on her cheeks.

Yes! She confirmed it! It's a date! Hoorah!

"You're an idiot." Sally repeated again.

You can say it all you want, but I'm too excited! I'm on the path to finally getting a girlfriend! Goodbye lonely years!

"Finally!" Uncle Dave cheered.

...Why is everybody saying "Finally"? Was she obvious? Was I a dense anime protagonist?!

"What would you two like?" Uncle Dave asked.

"I would like two scoops of vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles." I politely requested.

"Okay." Uncle Dave nodded. "You?" He asked, turning towards Anna.

"Two scoops of Cotton Candy with rainbow sprinkles, chocolate and strawberry syrup, a cherry, and whipped cream please." Anna asked Uncle Dave.

...I forgot how much Anna loves sweets.

"Of course missy!" He happily replied, despite the long request.

He turned around, scooping the ice cream from the frozen tubs into two bowls. After adding in the ice cream, he grabbed the containers for the toppings, opening them and placing the ingredients onto the ice cream.

Turning around, he put the two finished ice creams onto the counter.

"That will be 10.79." He informed.

I nodded, quickly taking out one 10 dollar bill and one 1 dollar bill, handing it to Uncle Dave.

"You can keep the change." I told him.

"Alright. Here's your ice cream. Have a good date!" He replied.

"Thank you!" Both me and Anna responded, grabbing our ice cream. We walked outside of the parlor, heading towards a round, red table right in front of the store.

He had seats and tables right outside of the parlor, so on nice days like this his customers could sit down outside, enjoying their ice cream.

Luckily it hadn't become too cold yet, so we will be able to completely enjoy the our ice cream with the cool weather.

We ate our ice cream, laughing at each other whenever one of us would get a brain freeze. When we both finished, I threw the empty, plastic cups away in a nearby trash can.

Walking back to my seat, I sat back down. Anna nervously shifted in her seat glancing at me. I think she wanted to say something, but was embarrassed.

"What is it?" I asked.

"There's something I want to tell you. I-" she started, before being cut off.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" A blood curdling scream rang through the air.

"What the hell was that?!" I yelled, the two of us scrambling to our feet.

We both glanced at each other. I could see it in her eyes. The curiosity, the worry. She wanted to see what happened.

"Let's check it out." I offered.

Anna nodded in response.

We both ran over to where the sound came from. It sounded like it was from an alley inbetween two stores across from Uncle Dave's.

Turning into the alley-

Oh god.

I resisted the urge to puke. A dead body was on the ground. A real dead body. Real real. Not like the ones from movies. Real.

I gripped my mouth, holding in the barf.

It was mauled, barely recognizable as a human. Blood was splattered across the floors and the walls, dying the alley in red. But the most frightening thing was standing above the body.

It was some sort of creature, hunched over the dead body. It turned around, standing straight up as it stared at us, giving us a clear view of what it was.

It looked like a werewolf, but it's fur was a dark purple. Lighter colored purple crystals jutted out of its backside. The creature's claws and muzzle were soaked red...

...And it wasn't paint.

"A Corrupted..." gasped Anna in horror.

A what now? Sally?!

"I'm afraid I don't know Host." Sally replied.

Why?!

"I only know things pertaining to the System." She stated.

Then how come you didn't know what an Affection meter over 100 means?!

The creature snarled at us, baring it's sharp, blood soaked teeth.

"Anna! Run!" I yelled, grabbing her hand.

I dashed out of the alleyway, dragging Anna behind me while a howl pierced the sky. I ran through the street, with no one but us and the Corrupted around.

I don't think Uncle Dave heard it from inside the parlor, and I don't want to risk killing Uncle Dave.

So I ran. I ran, dragging Anna with me.

Our feet pounded against the asphalt of the road as I kept going. I'm not sure where I'm heading, but anywhere away from that...thing.

Another howl pierced the air, closer than last time. Yeah, it was definitely running after us.

Wait. What's this? There's this feeling worming inside of my brain, suggesting I go right.

"That's your [Freerunner] skill you obtained from the Lottery." Stated Sally.

...I'll never underestimate a common skill again.

I sharply turned right into another alleyway. The feeling appeared again, this time to my left. So I turned left.

The Corrupted howled again, but this time it sounded farther away. Maybe we could escape it!

That's what I thought, until I heard a stumble as Anna's hand slipped from mine.

Oh no...

I quickly turned around, to see Anna fallen down on the ground in front of me.

"Anna!" I yelled.

The Corrupted howled once more, appearing at the end of the alleyway, approaching us. Fear quickly racked my body at the sight of the monster.

No. No no no. What can I do? I can't do anything! I'm about to lose one of my closest friends!

Move legs! Move! Ugh! Go forward! Do something!

But I can't. My legs are stiff, and I'm frozen in fear. I can only watch as the Corrupted stalks above Anna.

Anna slowly stood up, her back facing the Corrupted. It growled at her, ready to pounce on the unaware prey.

"Don't. Ruin. My. DATE!!!!" She furiously screamed, turning around towards the Corrupted.

The Corrupted jumped at Anna, only for eight, black appendages to rip through her clothing from her back, blocking the Corrupted.

They looked like spider legs...what...

Anna struggled against the Corrupted, before quickly overpowering it and slamming it onto the ground. Her spider legs pinned it onto the ground, while one rose up and pierced straight through the Corrupted's skull.

The Corrupted's struggling slowly died down, as it eventually went limp. It then crumbled into purple dust, blowing away in the wind.

Anna turned to me, now with eight giant spider legs sticking out of her back. Brushing her thick bangs out of the way, I finally saw her forehead...

...Which contained two more pairs of eyes, slightly smaller than her first pair.

"It's okay Jack! I took care of it!" She said as her usual cheerful self.

...

A new screen from my System popped up to my left.

[Mission] - Survive your date with Anna. Completed.

[Bonus] - Learn more about Anna. Completed.

(Claim?)

...I didn't think you meant literally survive the date System.