Teaser: Nothing says "romantic progress" like falling backwards into the arms of someone you barely trust. Unless, of course, you're doing it inside a simulated spa full of forced vulnerability and emotion calibration gas. Aira thought she had seen the worst until Rein started talking like a real person.
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Aira blinked as a soft pink fog drifted past her lashes, brushing her cheeks with synthetic warmth. It smelled like chamomile and emotional manipulation.
She coughed. "Where the hell are we now?"
"Emotion Spa Simulation," Rein muttered beside her, arms crossed like usual but visibly annoyed. "Level 4.5. Proximity-based bonding protocol."
Their robots, LOVI and VYNE, floated nearby in spa robes.
LOVI's voice chirped like a meditation app, "Welcome to vulnerability alignment! Step one: Emotional exposure vapor. Step two: Trust fall series."
"I will fall face-first before I fall for this crap," Aira mumbled.
Rein smirked, "Is that a challenge or a cry for help?"
She ignored him and stepped into the glowing hot spring, which adjusted its temperature to match her current mood. A subtle 36.5°C—tepid and emotionally avoidant.
VYNE spoke from behind Rein, "Heart rate synchronization detected. Initiating Step Two: Mutual Trust Test."
Before they could argue, the platform under their feet shifted. The floor split apart. A new platform floated above the water—circular, padded, and marked with two silhouettes.
"You go first," Aira said, folding her arms.
"You first," Rein replied, equally stubborn.
"I'm wearing a towel, not dignity. You want me to fall backward into your arms and pretend I'm not going to sue the system?"
"You think I want to touch you?"
"You already are touching my nerves," she snapped.
LOVI sighed—yes, audibly sighed—"Trust fall failure will result in emotional deduction and reset therapy."
Rein rolled his neck and stepped forward. "Fine. Let's get this over with."
He stood behind her. Aira took a deep breath.
This isn't real. This is just code. You're not about to—
She fell back.
And he caught her.
Well. Mostly.
Their balance teetered, and they both tumbled sideways into the warm water, flailing like two androids in a bathhouse glitch. LOVI squealed, VYNE recorded everything.
"Let go of my arm—!"
"You're grabbing me—!"
"Stop touching my leg!"
"It's your leg?!"
They emerged, soaked and ungraceful.
Aira blew hair out of her face. "Congratulations. We passed step two: Mutual drowning."
Rein dragged his palm across his face. "I think your hair tried to choke me."
LOVI hovered above them, projecting scores. "Trust impact: 67%. Progress: Acceptable. Triggering next vulnerability module: Open dialogue prompt."
The fog thickened.
A soft light surrounded the platform as Rein was prompted to speak first.
But this time, something changed. He didn't roll his eyes or scoff. He looked at Aira. Really looked. Like she wasn't just a glitch in his week.
"I used to believe this system could fix things," he said. "Relationships. People. Me."
Aira blinked.
Rein inhaled. "I lost someone because of it. Someone I thought was my person. System said we were incompatible. So I deleted her messages and trusted the data."
She didn't expect that. Not from him.
"But here I am. Sitting in simulation bathwater with my high school rival, soaking wet and suspiciously curious."
Aira narrowed her eyes. "You think I'm suspicious?"
He shrugged. "You're not predictable. That's suspicious."
She stared for a moment. Long enough for something human to pass between them.
Then she stood up. "Well. This just got weird."
Rein smirked. "Welcome to Compatibility Month."
Suddenly, the lights flickered.
The spa glitched—water paused mid-ripple, vapor froze in midair.
LOVI and VYNE blinked in and out like corrupted files.
"What now?" Aira growled.
Rein stood. "They're pushing too far."
"What?"
He turned toward the main panel—hidden behind the control mist. With a few taps, he manually adjusted the simulation core, overriding the emotional amplifier.
VYNE reappeared, flickering. "User interference detected. Protocol breached—"
"Suck my data," Rein muttered, shutting down the module.
Aira stared at him. "You sabotaged the system."
He looked at her, expression unreadable. "Or maybe I just decided I want to feel something that isn't pre-programmed."
Silence.
Water lapped softly.
And for the first time since Compatibility Day began, Aira didn't have a sarcastic comeback.
Not yet, anyway.
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