The shrill sound of Ethan Carter's alarm echoed through his tiny apartment for the fifth time that morning.

He reached out from beneath his blanket, blindly slapped his phone, and buried his face deeper into the pillow.

"Five more minutes..."

Five minutes turned into forty.

When Ethan finally opened his eyes, sunlight was already pouring through the curtains.

He stared at the ceiling.

"...I'm dead."

He grabbed his phone from the floor.

9:47 a.m.

His first class had started nearly an hour ago.

With a groan, he rolled out of bed, tripped over a pile of clothes, and landed face-first on the carpet.

"Seriously?"

His apartment looked as though a storm had swept through it. Empty instant noodle cups sat on the desk beside unfinished assignments. Laundry covered the couch, and a single sock hung from the ceiling fan for reasons even Ethan couldn't explain.

He sighed.

"I'll clean tomorrow."

That was exactly what he had said yesterday.

And the day before that.

Twenty minutes later, Ethan jogged through the university gates with a backpack hanging from one shoulder and a half-eaten sandwich in his hand.

His phone buzzed.

Mark: You finally awake?

Ethan replied while walking.

Ethan: I'm on campus.

A second later—

Mark: Liar.

Mark: Professor Evans just asked if you dropped out.

Ethan winced.

"That bad, huh?"

By the time he reached the classroom, the lecture had already ended. Students streamed into the hallway, chatting and laughing.

Mark spotted him immediately.

"You actually came."

"I wanted perfect attendance."

Mark stared at him.

"...It's week three."

"I said I wanted it. I never said I had it."

Mark laughed despite himself.

"I don't know how you've survived this long."

"Neither do I."

The rest of the afternoon passed without anything remarkable.

A boring lecture.

A disappointing lunch.

An email reminding Ethan that his rent was overdue.

He stuffed his phone back into his pocket before he could read the rest.

Some problems could wait until tomorrow.

After classes, he stopped by the convenience store near campus.

The cashier smiled.

"The usual?"

"Please."

A cup of instant noodles, a bottle of water, and the cheapest bread on the shelf.

Luxury.

As he walked home carrying the small plastic bag, dark clouds gathered overhead.

Rain began falling without warning.

"Perfect."

He hurried beneath the awning of a closed bookstore and waited for it to pass.

Across the street, people rushed in every direction.

A little girl suddenly broke free from her mother's hand and ran toward the road after a bright red balloon.

"Ella!"

Her mother screamed.

A delivery motorcycle sped around the corner.

Without thinking, Ethan dropped his shopping bag.

He sprinted into the street.

The world seemed to slow.

He grabbed the little girl around the waist and stumbled onto the sidewalk just as the motorcycle shot past them.

The rider slammed on the brakes several metres away, his face pale.

The little girl burst into tears.

Her mother ran over, hugging her tightly.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!"

Ethan scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"It's okay. Just... be careful."

He picked up his crushed groceries, smiled once more, and quietly walked away before anyone could stop him.

He didn't notice the black luxury sedan parked across the street.

Inside, a woman watched him through the rain-speckled window.

She wore a tailored black suit, her long dark hair neatly tied back.

"Should I thank him?" her assistant asked.

The woman looked at Ethan's disappearing figure.

"He left before anyone noticed."

There was something unusual about him.

Not because he looked extraordinary.

But because he had acted without hesitation.

"Find out who he is."

"Yes, Miss Hart."

The sedan pulled away.

Miles above the city...

A vast white space stretched endlessly.

Countless streams of golden light drifted through the silence.

One by one, they searched the world below.

A calm mechanical voice echoed.

Searching for the ideal host...

Talent...

Character...

Potential...

Millions of names flashed past.

Then...

Everything glitched.

The golden light flickered violently.

Error detected.

Host selected.

A single profile appeared.

Ethan Carter.

Silence.

Then another voice, filled with disbelief, spoke for the first time.

"...There has to be a mistake."

The light tried to disconnect.

It failed.

It tried again.

Failed.

A long pause followed.

Finally, the voice sighed.

..You've got to be kidding me.

The next morning, Ethan woke to the sound of his alarm.

For once, he reached over and turned it off before it could ring a second time.

He blinked at the ceiling, confused.

"Did I... actually wake up on time?"

It felt strange.

Usually, dragging himself out of bed was a battle he lost every morning.

He stretched, yawned, and sat up.

"Maybe today's my lucky day."

"You call this lucky?"

Ethan froze.

The voice was calm, clear, and definitely not his own.

He looked around the apartment.

No one.

His front door was still locked.

The windows were closed.

"...Hello?"

A long silence answered him.

He rubbed his eyes.

"I'm still dreaming."

"No. Unfortunately, you're awake."

Ethan shot to his feet.

"Who's there?"

"Inside your head."

"...What?"

"Please don't make me repeat myself. This is embarrassing enough."

His heartbeat quickened.

He grabbed the nearest object—a frying pan—and held it in front of him.

"Show yourself!"

"I would if I had a body. Sadly, I'm trapped with you."

Ethan stood motionless.

Then he slowly lowered the frying pan.

"...I've finally lost my mind."

"I was hoping that wasn't the case. It would have explained a lot."

"What does that mean?"

"It means I've reviewed your life."

Another pause.

"I've seen enough."

Ethan frowned.

"Who are you?"

"I am the Perfect Human System."

"The... what?"

"The Perfect Human System."

Ethan waited.

"...And?"

"And nothing. That is my name."

"So you're some kind of AI?"

"No."

"A ghost?"

"No."

"An alien?"

"...Do humans always guess this badly?"

Ethan folded his arms.

"I think you're a scam."

"If I were capable of sighing, I would."

He frowned even harder.

"So why are you in my head?"

The system remained quiet for several seconds before answering.

"Because of a selection error."

"...A what?"

"I wasn't supposed to choose you."

Ethan laughed.

"Well, that's rude."

"It's accurate."

He rolled his eyes.

"You've known me for less than five minutes."

"I've analyzed every moment of your life."

"...That's even ruder."

The system ignored him.

"My purpose is to guide exceptional individuals toward their highest potential."

"And?"

"And somehow..."

Its voice became noticeably colder.

"I ended up with Ethan Carter."

"What exactly is wrong with Ethan Carter?"

"You were late to class twenty-three times last semester."

"So?"

"You survived on instant noodles for twelve consecutive days."

"I like noodles."

"Your laundry has developed its own ecosystem."

Ethan instinctively glanced toward the overflowing basket in the corner.

"...Don't judge me."

"I already have."

He let out an exhausted sigh.

"This is ridiculous."

"It is."

"I'm going back to sleep."

"You can't."

"Watch me."

Ethan lay back on the bed and pulled the blanket over his head.

A second later—

BEEP!

A painfully loud sound exploded inside his mind.

He jumped upright.

"What was that?!"

"A motivation alert."

"It nearly gave me a heart attack!"

"Good. You're awake."

"You did that on purpose!"

"Correct."

Ethan pointed accusingly at the empty air.

"I already hate you."

"The feeling is mutual."

Silence filled the room.

For the first time in years, Ethan had absolutely no idea what to say.

Finally, he muttered,

"...Can you leave?"

"I've tried."

"And?"

"I can't."

"So we're stuck together?"

"Unfortunately."

Ethan stared at the ceiling.

"This is the worst day of my life."

"I assure you, it can become much worse."

Before Ethan could respond, a faint blue screen appeared in front of him.

Unlike in video games, it was simple.

No flashy lights.

No dramatic music.

Just plain words.

First Assignment

Clean your apartment.

Time Limit: 2 hours.

Ethan blinked.

"...You're joking."

"I'm completely serious."

"I'm not cleaning."

"I expected that answer."

The screen disappeared.

Nothing happened.

Ethan smiled proudly.

"See? You can't make me."

The system spoke in an unusually calm voice.

"I never said there would be a punishment."

"There isn't?"

"No."

Ethan grinned.

"Great."

"I simply won't assign your next task."

"...Okay?"

"Which means you'll remain exactly as you are."

Silence.

Then the system added,

"Average."

That single word lingered in the room.

For some reason, it irritated Ethan far more than shouting ever could.

He looked around his apartment.

The dirty dishes.

The scattered clothes.

The overflowing trash.

"...You're really calling me average?"

"I was being generous."

Ethan clenched his jaw.

"Fine."

He picked up the first empty cup from the floor.

"I'll prove you wrong."

The system remained silent.

If it could smile...

It probably would have.

Ethan regretted his decision five minutes later.

He stood in the middle of his apartment with a black garbage bag in one hand and an old T-shirt covering his nose.

"This place wasn't this bad yesterday."

"It was," the system replied. "You've simply become aware of it."

"I preferred being unaware."

"That's obvious."

Ethan rolled his eyes and stuffed another empty noodle cup into the bag.

For the next half hour, the apartment was filled with the sound of rustling plastic, running water, and Ethan complaining.

"Why do I even own three broken umbrellas?"

"You keep telling yourself you'll fix them."

"I was going to."

"You've been saying that for eleven months."

"...Do you really know everything about me?"

"I know enough."

Ethan didn't answer.

It was unsettling.

The system wasn't making things up. Everything it said was true, even the things Ethan wished weren't.

By the time he finished washing the dishes, sunlight was shining through the kitchen window.

The sink was empty.

The table was clear.

His bed was made.

For the first time since moving into the apartment, he could actually see the floor.

He looked around in silence.

"...It feels bigger."

"That's because it is no longer buried under your bad decisions."

Ethan ignored the comment.

A soft chime echoed in his mind.

Task Complete.

He waited.

Nothing happened.

"No reward?"

"You expected one?"

"You said you were a system."

"I am."

"Aren't systems supposed to give money or superpowers?"

The system was quiet for a moment.

"You watched too many fantasy movies."

"So... nothing?"

"You gained something."

"What?"

"You completed something you had been avoiding for months."

Ethan frowned.

"That's the reward?"

"For now."

He clicked his tongue.

"This system is cheap."

Before the system could respond, his phone rang.

The caller ID showed Mark.

Ethan answered.

"What's up?"

"Are you coming?"

"Coming where?"

There was a long pause.

"...Please don't tell me you forgot."

Ethan's stomach dropped.

"What day is it?"

Mark let out a dramatic sigh.

"The career networking event."

Ethan slapped his forehead.

"Oh."

"'Oh?' That's all you've got?"

"I completely forgot."

"I know. That's why I'm calling."

Ethan glanced at the clock.

"I can still make it."

"Barely. Wear something decent for once."

The call ended.

Ethan opened his wardrobe.

Most of his clothes were wrinkled.

Some still had the price tags attached.

Others... should have been thrown away years ago.

"This is hopeless."

The system spoke.

"Third shelf."

"What?"

"Third shelf. Left side."

Ethan frowned but reached for it anyway.

Hidden beneath a pile of old sweaters was a dark navy shirt he had completely forgotten buying.

"...I didn't know this was here."

"I did."

He changed quickly, grabbed his backpack, and left.

—

The university auditorium buzzed with conversation.

Students in formal clothes walked from booth to booth, introducing themselves to company representatives.

Ethan slipped inside just as Mark spotted him.

"You actually made it."

"Barely."

Mark looked Ethan up and down.

"You clean up surprisingly well."

"Don't sound so shocked."

"I am."

Before Ethan could reply, the host stepped onto the stage.

"Welcome, everyone. Today we are honored to have representatives from some of the country's leading companies."

Polite applause filled the room.

Names of famous businesses appeared on the large screen behind the stage.

Ethan wasn't paying much attention.

Until one name caught his eye.

Hart Technologies.

The lights dimmed.

A woman walked onto the stage.

She wore a tailored black suit that matched her composed expression. Every step was calm, confident, and effortless.

The entire room fell silent.

Even the professors straightened in their seats.

Mark leaned closer and whispered,

"That's Evelyn Hart."

Ethan blinked.

"The CEO?"

"The one and only."

He stared at the stage.

Then something clicked.

Black suit...

Calm expression...

Rain...

His eyes widened.

"...She's the woman from yesterday."

"What are you talking about?"

"Nothing."

Evelyn stepped up to the microphone.

"I won't keep you long."

Her voice was steady and clear.

"I'm not here to tell you success comes easily."

She paused, looking across the audience.

"It doesn't."

"Talent matters. Opportunity matters. But neither will take you very far if you refuse to improve yourself."

Ethan couldn't explain why, but those words lingered in his mind.

For the first time since the system appeared...

It didn't interrupt.

Not once.

When the speech ended, the audience erupted into applause.

As Evelyn stepped down from the stage, her eyes swept across the crowd.

For a brief moment...

They met Ethan's.

She hesitated.

Just for a second.

Then she continued walking.

The system finally broke its silence.

"...Interesting."

"What?"

"I believe she remembers you."

Ethan laughed softly.

"You're imagining things."

"...Perhaps."