The weekend arrived slower than Connor expected.
It had been a week of routines school, quick lunches with Noah and Dylan, short conversations with Harper before class. Nothing dramatic, just steady. Still, the constant hum of the SetterOS in the background kept him uneasy. Every day, small notifications popped up on his phone:
[Calibration Available]
[Goal Incomplete – Motivation Level: Low]
He kept ignoring them. Until Saturday morning.
The house was quiet, the light pale through the curtains. His dad was in the kitchen, finishing coffee and checking emails before heading out to run errands. It had been weeks since Connor really talked to him, small things, sure, but nothing that mattered.
When Connor came in, his dad glanced up. "You're up early for a Saturday."
"Yeah," Connor said, rubbing his eyes. "Couldn't sleep."
His dad smiled faintly. "New place, new walls. Takes time."
They talked for a while, simple things how Sophie had loved her art class, how the neighbors had a dog that wouldn't stop barking, how Ridgefield seemed quieter than their old town. Connor relaxed a little, realizing he missed that calm tone in his dad's voice.
Then his dad asked, "You've been limping less. You doing some stretches again?"
Connor hesitated. "Something like that."
His father nodded approvingly. "Good. Don't push yourself too hard, though. You'll know when you're ready for more."
The words lingered long after his dad left.
Later that day, Connor sat on the back porch, phone in hand. The SetterOS logo glowed softl,an outline of a hand setting a volleyball. He tapped it without really thinking.
The blue light expanded again, calm and fluid this time.
[System Check Complete]
[Welcome back, Connor.]
A simple message followed, cleaner than before:
[Goal Assignment Detected]
— Register for School Volleyball Tryouts
— Schedule First Therapy Session
[Rewards Available Upon Completion]
• Rehabilitation Module: Activate Elixir Assist
Connor blinked at the screen. "Therapy?" he muttered under his breath.
The cursor blinked once, then text appeared beneath.
[Emotional stability enhances physical recovery.]
He wasn't sure whether to laugh or shut it off. The idea of combining both, tryouts and therapy, felt… deliberate. Like the system knew exactly where to poke.
He stood up, moving slowly. His knee tensed when he shifted his weight, a reminder of what was still fragile.
The system glowed again.
[Recommended Activity: Light Passing Session.]
He picked up the ball from the porch, the same one that had triggered everything. Just holding it made his pulse quicken. He bounced it once, twice. The contact still carried that faint ache he couldn't ignore.
He passed the ball against the wall a few times, short, controlled motions. The sound of impact echoed through the yard. It wasn't perfect, but it wasn't bad either.
When he stopped, sweat clinging to his neck, his phone chimed.
[Calibration +3%]
[Movement Efficiency Improved]
[Progress toward Reward: 10%]
He stared at the numbers, then at his leg. No miracles. No sudden power-ups. But it felt… smoother. Just enough to notice.
Sunday afternoon, his dad found him sitting in the living room with the school website open.
"You're thinking about joining the team?"
Connor froze, then shrugged. "Maybe. Just… trying to see how it works here."
His dad smiled a little. "You were good. You still are, probably. Just don't let one thing make you give up what you love."
The words hit harder than expected. He wanted to ask if his dad had talked to his mom about that night, about what really happened, but instead he just nodded.
After his dad left the room, Connor opened the registration form for the volleyball team. His hand hovered over the keyboard.
The SetterOS pulsed faintly on the edge of the screen:
[Progress milestone available.]
He clicked Submit.
The confirmation page loaded. At the same moment, a new message appeared from the system:
[Milestone Complete: Step 1]
[Reward Progress: 50%]
[Next Step: Confirm therapy session.]
Connor leaned back in the chair, exhaling slowly. "You're really not gonna make this easy, huh?" he murmured.
The screen flashed once, almost like it was amused.
[Growth never is.]
That night, as the house quieted, Connor sat on his bed scrolling through the local clinic page. His mom had mentioned the school counselor offered free sessions for new students. He hovered over the "Request Appointment" button.
Outside, rain began to fall softly against the windows.
He clicked.
The screen vibrated immediately:
[Milestone Complete: Step 2]
[Rehabilitation Module Activated]
A faint warmth spread through his leg not sharp, not overwhelming, just a low hum beneath the skin. The system's light flickered across his room one last time before dimming.
[Physical Assist Online.]
[Performance Output: +5%.]
Connor closed his eyes. The ache in his knee faded just slightly. Enough to make him smile.
Maybe it wasn't magic. Maybe it was something like faith the idea that he was doing something again.
He leaned back, letting the sound of rain fill the silence. For the first time, the future didn't seem impossible. Just unfinished.