Chapter 2

Yuna, you no longer wanted me.

Then I had no choice but to stop wanting you, too.

…

[All right. New hosts have been detected to take over the System.]

[Host, are you sure you want to transfer me to both of them?]

I heard the System’s voice and looked at Yuna and Joshua.

They were kissing in each other’s arms, fireworks exploding behind them as if celebrating their love.

For a moment, I saw the Yuna she used to be—the innocent, foolish girl she had once been.

“Finn, thank you for staying by my side. I love you.”

She used to massage me every day and wash my clothes for me.

No one had ever loved me like that before. I used to believe she was the person I could rely on for the rest of my life.

But I was wrong.

“I’m sure.”

The words came bitterly to mind.

[All right, Host. I will begin the transfer.]

“Why hasn’t the System appeared yet?”

Joshua suddenly asked.

Yuna explained, “Finn is probably communicating with it. Just wait a little longer.

“Whenever he communicates with the System, he spaces out.”

[Hello, new hosts.]

The System’s voice played aloud. It was no longer something only I could hear.

[From today onward, you will be my new hosts. Please choose the person you wish to win over.]

“I choose Joshua.”

“I choose Yuna.”

They spoke at the same time, their unwavering expressions making them look deeply in love.

I suddenly remembered Yuna, back when she was still clueless, telling me, “No matter what happens, I’ll always choose Finn.”

But now, she chose someone else.

[All right. However, the transfer will take three days to complete, so you will have to wait.]

The System then disappeared and spoke to me alone.

[You will be able to leave in three days. I will heal the injuries from your accident, and you can say goodbye to your loved ones here.]

The moment it finished speaking, the wounds on my body began healing at a visible speed.

Yuna exclaimed in surprise, “See, Joshua? I told you he could make the System heal his body.”

“The System is really wonderful. We’ll be able to do the same in the future. We won’t have to fear injury or death anymore.”

I pushed myself to my feet and looked at Yuna in disappointment.

But she had no idea that the System was not nearly as wonderful as she thought.

…

I went to the hospital to visit my grandfather.

In this world, aside from Yuna, Grandpa was my only family.

He had always been so good to me.

He gave me all his savings so Yuna and I could buy a car.

He would even save the food he could not bear to eat for me.

When I arrived at the hospital, I ran into Yuna and Joshua.

Their fingers were intertwined, and Yuna held a pregnancy test report in her hand.

“This is wonderful, Joshua. I’m going to be a mother.”

Her words were like a sword driven straight through my heart.

I once wanted to have a child with Yuna, too.

Back then, she was still playing dumb.

She told me, “I don’t want children. They’re such a bother.”

At the time, I thought she was just talking nonsense.

Only now did I realize she had meant every word.

She never wanted a child with me. She wanted one with Joshua.

She had been involved with Joshua even while she was still with me.

[Host, the punishment mechanism has now been removed. From now on, you will no longer be punished because of your target’s feelings.]

The moment the System finished speaking, my entire body felt lighter.

At last, I would no longer be bound by it.

I could live freely.

Maybe that was not so bad after all.

…

The moment Grandpa saw me, he handed me a box of cakes.

He looked at me kindly. “A nurse gave these to me. Finn, you eat them.”

Tears immediately filled my eyes.