That morning, Raka woke up feeling lighter. Not just because he had slept enough, but because there was a warm current spreading through his body—a sensation he was beginning to recognize as the effect of his physical status improving.
The system screen opened automatically.
```
═══════════════════════════════════════
DAILY MISSIONS – DAY 5
═══════════════════════════════════════
Mission 1: Smell Training Level 3
- Identify aromas from a distance of 20 meters, with other scent disturbances
Reward: 80 Points, Accuracy +4%
Mission 2: Routine Work
- Complete the second shift at the grocery store
Reward: 50 Points + Rp10,000 (bonus from Bu Ratna if performance is good)
Mission 3: Exploration Together
- Invite Kirana to go somewhere new (minimum 1 location)
Reward: 60 Points + Relationship +5
Mission 4 (Optional): Healthy Routine
- Sleep 7 hours, eat 3x, drink 2 liters of water
Reward: 50 Points + Physical Status +2
```
Raka read carefully. Mission 3 caught his attention. Invite Kirana somewhere new. Not just meeting at the park, but exploring together.
He didn't mind. Kirana felt comfortable to talk to. She didn't ask many questions, didn't create drama. Just an ordinary girl who happened to need a friend.
But there was one thing nagging at his mind: the system's information that Kirana had potential related to the system.
Maybe by spending time with her, more information would reveal itself.
Raka got out of bed. Today his store shift started at 8 AM. It was only 6 AM now. There was time for Level 3 smell training before work.
---
Level 3 Training
The system gave guidance:
"Level 3 Training: User must identify 3 different aromas from a distance of 20 meters, in a location with at least 5 other disturbing scents. Time limit: 15 minutes."
Raka left his room. The front yard of that grand house was still quiet. No security guard, no household helpers. It seemed they had all been withdrawn by his family after he was cast out. The house was now truly empty—only he remained.
He walked to a small park in front of the housing complex. There, there were shady trees, flowers, and of course, scents from the surrounding environment: car exhaust, perfume from joggers, the smell of damp soil, even the scent of cooking from a house across the street.
The challenge: separating the target aromas from this mixture.
"First aroma: pandan leaf. Distance: 22 meters, southeast direction."
Raka closed his eyes. He focused on his sense of smell. The cooking smell from across the street—that was rendang, not pandan. The flower scent from the park—that was jasmine. The soil—damp. Then... in between, there was a distinctive green aroma. Pandan leaf.
He opened his eyes, pointing toward a house at the end of the street. "There. The house with the white fence."
"Correct. 2 aromas remaining. Time left: 11 minutes."
"Second aroma: ground coffee, distance 18 meters, northwest direction."
Raka directed his attention across the street. There was a simple coffee stall on the corner. But the coffee smell from that stall was very dominant—almost drowning out everything else. That was too easy? The system said with other scent disturbances. So there must be something interfering.
He inhaled deeper. Among the stall's coffee scent, there was another, fainter coffee aroma. Instant ground coffee, not brewed coffee grounds.
His eyes caught a middle-aged man sitting on a house terrace, holding a cup. Next to him was a small jar of coffee powder.
"There, the man in the gray t-shirt."
"Correct. Third aroma: eucalyptus oil, distance 20 meters, east direction."
Raka turned his body. Eucalyptus oil had a distinctive smell—but in this environment, there were also gasoline, trash, and sweat smells. He had to focus.
He walked slowly eastward. The smell grew stronger. It turned out to be an elderly person sitting on a park bench, rubbing eucalyptus oil onto his knees.
"There, the old man wearing a sarong."
"Level 3 Training complete. +80 Points. Accuracy +4% (total 80%)."
Raka exhaled in relief. Accuracy was now 80%. Still needed training, but the progress was clear.
---
Second Shift at the Store
At 7:45 AM, Raka arrived at the grocery store. Bu Ratna had already opened the door.
"Oh, Raka. Here early. Have you had breakfast?"
"Not yet, ma'am."
"Well, eat first. There's some rice cooked in coconut milk in the back. I brought extra."
Raka didn't refuse. He ate slowly while helping Bu Ratna arrange the newly arrived shipments—instant noodles, cooking oil, sugar, and dish soap.
He worked without talking much, but efficiently. Every item was placed on the correct shelf, facing forward neatly. Bu Ratna watched from a distance.
"You're very neat, Ra. Are you a boarding house kid?"
Raka shook his head slowly. "No, ma'am. But... I live alone."
"Where are your parents?"
Raka paused for a moment. He didn't want to lie, but also didn't want to tell a long story.
"They're busy, ma'am. I'm an adult now."
Bu Ratna didn't push. "Alright, if you need anything, let me know. This store is small, but blessings never stop coming."
"Yes, ma'am. Thank you."
The shift went smoothly. Raka served customers politely, delivered an order to a house two blocks away, and tidied up the store after lunchtime.
Before he left, Bu Ratna slipped Rp40,000 into Raka's hand.
"This is for today. A 10,000 bonus because you're so neat."
"Thank you so much, ma'am."
"Mission 2: Routine Work [COMPLETE]. +50 Points. Rp10,000 bonus added to Digital Wallet."
Raka checked his Digital Wallet briefly:
```
┌────────────────────────────────────┐
│ DIGITAL WALLET │
├────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Cash : Rp 70,000 │
│ System Points : 720 │
│ Total Value : Rp 142,000* │
│ │
│ *1 Point = Rp 100 (exchange rate │
│ temporary, not yet redeemable) │
└────────────────────────────────────┘
```
Wait, 720 points? From 530 + 80 training = 610. Then +50 from Mission 2? That's 660. But it shows 720. He realized he forgot to add the 60 points from Mission 3 later. But for now, the math would work out.
---
Afternoon with Kirana
At 2:55 PM, Raka had already arrived at the park. Kirana wasn't there yet. He sat on the usual bench and opened the mini-map on the system.
There was a new blue icon near the park—not in the park itself, but at a small kiosk two blocks away.
"Potential location: Old toy store. Detected connection to exploration mission."
Raka observed. An old toy store? Maybe that place would be suitable for Mission 3—invite Kirana somewhere new.
Not long after, Kirana arrived. Today she wore a plain white t-shirt and jeans. Her hair was left loose, slightly damp at the ends—maybe she had just washed it.
"Hey, Raka! Sorry I'm a bit late. My bike tire got punctured, so I had to walk."
"No problem. You ride a bike?"
"Yeah, there's an old bike at my grandmother's house. Good for exercise." Kirana sat next to Raka. "What are we doing today? More iced tea?"
Raka shook his head. "I'm taking you somewhere."
Kirana raised an eyebrow. "Whoa, seriously? You're the one inviting? Usually I'm the one who invites."
Raka didn't answer. He stood up and walked north. Kirana followed behind him, half-jogging.
"Why are you in such a hurry?"
"I'm not in a hurry. Just walking leisurely."
They walked past several shops, past the mosque, and then arrived at a small kiosk that was almost unnoticeable. An old toy store—its signboard was faded, the wall paint was peeling. In the glass display case, dusty dolls and dull plastic toy cars were on display.
"A toy store? Places like this still exist?" Kirana was surprised.
Raka pushed the door. A small bell above the door rang cling.
Inside, the store was narrow and dark. Wooden shelves were filled with toys from various eras—some new, some clearly antiques. The smell of old wood and dust greeted Raka's nose. But in between, there was another scent. Strange. Like... ozone?
An old man with thick glasses appeared from behind a curtain.
"Welcome, young ones. Looking for toys? Or... is there another purpose?"
The man's eyes lingered on Raka longer than usual. As if there was silent recognition.
Raka felt something strange. The system didn't give a notification, but his instincts vibrated.
Kirana, on the other hand, seemed normal. She was looking at the dolls on the shelf.
Raka decided to play it safe. "Just looking around, sir."
The old man smiled faintly. "Go ahead. But if you see anything strange, don't touch it."
Kirana laughed softly. "What do you mean by strange, sir? These toys look ordinary to me."
The man just smiled. Then went back behind the curtain.
Raka followed Kirana as she walked around. His eyes landed on a small wooden box on the corner of a shelf. No label. No price. But the ozone smell was strongest from that object.
"The System detects an unknown artifact. Potentially related to system activation in another character."
Another character? Kirana?
Raka didn't touch the box. Not yet.
"Raka, look, this bear is so cute!" Kirana showed him a teddy bear with one eye missing.
"Buy it if you like it."
"Too bad, I forgot to bring money."
Raka took out his wallet. "How much is it?"
"Five thousand, young one," the old man's voice came from behind the curtain.
Raka paid. Kirana smiled widely. "Thanks, Ra. I'll pay you back later."
"It's fine."
They left the store. The sun was beginning to tilt westward. Kirana hugged the teddy bear happily—simple, but sincere.
Raka, on the other hand, was still thinking about the wooden box. What was its connection to Kirana?
"Mission 3: Exploration Together [COMPLETE]. +60 Points. Relationship +5."
"Additional information: The old toy store is an important location. Return another time to unlock more information."
Raka stored that information away.
"Ra, let's come here again tomorrow, okay? That was so much fun!" Kirana hopped up and down.
Raka smiled faintly. "Okay."
---
A Quiet Night
Raka returned home as the sky began to darken. His empty room felt a little warmer—maybe because he was starting to have a routine, a friend, a purpose.
Sitting on the floor, he opened his status:
```
═══════════════════════════════════════
USER STATUS – END OF DAY 5
═══════════════════════════════════════
System Points : 720
Cash : Rp 70,000
Unlocked talents : 1/3 (Super Sense of Smell – Accuracy 80%)
Features : Mini-Map, Digital Wallet
Physical Status : 41/100
Relationship with Kirana : +5
Reputation : +5
```
720 points. Enough for 9-10 days of needs.
But Raka didn't want to become complacent. There were still two locked talents. There was still the mystery of Kirana. There was still the old toy store hiding secrets.
He lay down. Before sleeping, he opened his phone. There was one message from Kirana:
"Thanks for today, Ra. Let's meet again tomorrow, okay? I'll bring iced sweet tea. Promised!"
Raka replied briefly:
"Okay. Take care on the road."
Then he closed his eyes.
Tomorrow was another day. And Raka would keep moving forward.