Morning sunlight hit Haru's face like an insult.
He stood outside the house, tiny shoes tied horribly (one loop shorter than the other), staring down the length of the neighborhood sidewalk.
Three laps.
THREE. LAPS.
"Why couldn't the system give me a quest like 'Eat cake' or 'Sleep for 14 hours'?" he muttered.
The blue screen only blinked cheerfully in front of him:
[Daily Quest: Run 3 laps around your neighborhood]
Reward: Improved Genetics (after 7 days)
Progress: 0/3 laps today
"Yeah, yeah… I get it," he grumbled. "Run now, be less squishy later."
He inhaled.
He exhaled.
Then he began his run.
Which immediately turned into a jog.
Which immediately turned into a slightly faster waddle.
Lap 1: The Warm-Up to Death
Haru's arms pumped like he was trying to swat invisible mosquitoes. His breath echoed across the neighborhood like a broken vacuum cleaner.
"Hah… hah… why does my chest feel… like it's a rock band at a concert…?!"
A dog barked at him.
A kid scooted past him on a tricycle.
He questioned every life decision that led him here.
He wobbled around the first corner and practically face-planted onto the grass.
The system dinged:
[Micro Progress: +0.2 Stamina, lap 1 done]
"Only 2 more laps until I'm done for the day," he groaned.
After a minute of lying dramatically like a fallen soldier, he dragged himself back to his feet.
"Lap 2… I hate Lap 2…"
Lap 2: The Betrayal
Haru waddled forward again with the determination of a man being chased by responsibility.
Halfway through, a voice creaked behind him:
"Sweetie, move a little to the side, grandma's going through."
He turned.
An elderly woman with white perm, floral jogging suit was power-walking behind him.
Power-walking.
"Ah, uh….. sure, grandma," Haru wheezed, stumbling to the side.
The old lady passed him with perfect posture and the smug aura of someone who drank kale smoothies.
She even smiled kindly as she overtook him.
"Keep it up, dear! Exercise is so good for you!"
Haru almost cried.
He watched her disappear into the distance like a fitness legend.
"I'm being humbled… by someone who's basically… vintage…"
"Is this what everyone in the nba felt when they were getting clapped by 40 year old lebron"
His suffering echoed across the street as he forced himself onward.
Lap 3: Bargaining with the Universe
By the final lap, Haru was sweating enough to water crops.
"I swear," he gasped, "if I finish this…..
if I survive….
I'll never laugh at fitness commercials again. I'll stop eating cake at night. I'll....okay maybe not that one
BUT STILL!"
He collapsed again near the finish point face-first onto the grass for dramatic effect.
The system chimed:
[Daily Quest (3/3) Complete!]
[Rewards: +0.5 Stamina, +0.3 Vitality, +1 Determination (tiny)]
Haru lay spread-eagled like a discarded potato.
"I did it… I'm alive… barely…"
Mom's Worry Level: MAX
He rolled onto his back, panting, staring at the sky—
And saw his mother sprinting toward him in panic.
"HARU!!"
Oh no.
"Haru! Why are you on the ground!? Did you fall? Are you dizzy!? Are you having another episode!?"
"N–not an episode… just death," Haru croaked.
"YOU'RE DYING!?"
"No! No, that's not what I—!"
She scooped him up anyway, hugging him like he was made of Glass.
"You shouldn't push yourself! You need rest! The doctor said—!"
Haru panicked internally.
He couldn't just say, "Mom, don't worry, a system is turning me into a healthier child."
She'd definitely call an exorcist.
So he did what any tiny, sweaty man-child would do:
He lied poorly.
"I, uh… wanted to exercise? Because… exercise is good?"
She stared at him.
Eyes narrowing.
Suspicious mom mode activated.
"…Since when?"
He froze.
"I… don't know."
Smooth, Haru. Smooth.
She carried him home like an overcooked sack of rice.
Haru knew one thing for sure now:
He absolutely needed to hide the system.
Later, as he lay in bed recovering from his walk of shame, the system popped up again:
[Progress: Day 1/7 complete]
[Hint: Completing all 7 days will unlock an Early Development Perk]
Haru blinked.
"…Early development? Like… I'll evolve?"
The system sparkled ominously.
"…Please don't make me grow extra limbs."
And as he drifted off to sleep, sore and traumatized by grandma's fitness supremacy, he muttered:
"Cardio is evil… but fine… seven days… for science…"