"Wait, I'm Supposed to Become a Goddess?! But I'm a Guy!"

Mize heaved a deep breath, tossing his bag onto the soft mattress with a thud. His body followed right after, collapsing onto the bed as the springs beneath him creaked and coiled. 

He bounced slightly, the plush surface catching him like a warm embrace. 

His long black hair, sleek and dark like ink, fanned out beneath him, spilling over the edges of the bed.

His eyes—those pitiful, watery eyes—gazed up at the ceiling, wide and shimmering as if they were always on the verge of tears.

It wasn't that he was about to cry, of course. It was just how his eyes looked—large, glistening, designed to stir something in the people who stared into them.

A natural gift that could evoke pity, protectiveness… or even darker desires. It was an appearance fine-tuned for seduction, and just now, Mize had put it to good use.

A small smile crept onto his lips, subtle, barely visible. But as he replayed the evening events in his mind, the smile grew wider, stretching across his face until it became a full-blown grin. 

His soft laugh broke the silence, a high, almost girlish sound that echoed in the small room. 

Mize kicked the air excitedly, his legs flailing as he rolled onto his back, unable to contain his glee any longer. 

His eyes crinkled into crescents, shimmering with satisfaction. The laughter kept coming... light, airy, and filled with triumph. He'd done it.

Tonight wasn't just any night. No, this was his first time pulling off something like this.

Mize had always been confident in his abilities, but it had never occurred to him that he would be able to perform such an act tonight. From the lift to the cafe and finally to the mall, everything seemed to be so surreal or even unreal. 

Derek was one hell of a person, more like a surprise ticking bomb for Mize's judgment. He tried his best to keep everything under his control, 'But... sometimes my acting would falter, and I was acting so cool too, and then I ruined it' Mize rolled all over the bed while thinking of this, his cheeks red.

The thought made Mize's smile widen again as he kicked his legs into the air once more. 

And it wasn't just about playing Derek for the fool, either. Mize had gotten exactly what he wanted or unexpectedly craved for, that is to be paid for at the mall. He had filled his cart in the store with branded items, essentials that he would never have been able to afford on his own.

He had picked up everything he needed without even a second thought, his fingers grazing each item, and instantly snatched them on the spot into the shopping cart. 

Hundreds of dollars worth of goods, all neatly packed into plastic bags. 

Mize's heart raced just thinking about it. 

He had caught a glimpse of the total when they were at the register, watching the cashier scan each item.

Four hundred and twenty-three dollars. His eyes had widened slightly at the sight of the final number, but Derek?

Derek had simply swiped his black-and-gold card without batting an eye.

The way the card had slipped effortlessly through the machine, the way the transaction went through without a pause—it had left Mize almost breathless. 'That is a lot of money, he just spent a month's worth of allowance that I am used to' Mize wailed internally, if only I could have that much money for myself' 

Even now, lying on his bed, he could still hear the sound of that card swiping.

He laughed again, softer this time, as he rolled over, clutching a long pillow to his chest.

His fingers dug into the fabric as he hugged it tightly, his mind spinning with possibilities. Derek had money. Real money. The kind of money that could change things for Mize if he played his cards right. But it wasn't for a long-term prospect as he too had to target other men in the future. 

And the best part? Derek was interested. There had been no mistaking that look in his eyes, the hesitant, hopeful way he had asked for friendship. It was almost too easy, "Despite being embarrassed a couple of times, my acting breaking up and all... ultimately the result is satisfactory"

"I can play with him a little more" Mize whispered to himself, his voice barely audible, as if speaking the words out loud might solidify something unspoken. His smile deepened, and a soft chuckle escaped his lips. 

The excitement bubbled inside him, a giddiness that made him squirm against the sheets. He rolled onto his side, eyes gleaming.

But then, as if to temper the thrill, he paused, tilting his head thoughtfully. "It's not like I'm being a jerk or anything" he muttered, trying to convince himself. 

His fingers trailed absently along the pillow, drawing invisible patterns. "Right, I will just use him a little, and it's not like I will ask too much from him. And in return, I will give him the attention that he has been craving"

His voice dropped to a near whisper, but the conviction was there. This wasn't just manipulation for the sake of it—this was a mutually beneficial arrangement, wasn't it?

Derek would get something from this too.

The way Mize saw it, he was providing companionship, attention, and maybe even a little affection if it came to that. In return, Derek would offer his wealth and his resources. It was a win-win situation. And it's just for a short bit while the he was still bored right now.

Mize cackled softly, a grin spreading across his face again as he buried his face into the pillow, hugging it tighter. "Yeah… a win-win," he repeated, his voice muffled by the soft fabric.

Mize lay sprawled on the bed, grinning ear to ear, his legs kicking playfully as if he were some giddy kid who'd just won a prize. His hair fanned out around him, his thoughts bouncing between his success tonight and the satisfying weight of it.

"At the very least," he muttered, smiling slyly, "I can show off a little to those bastards at school that I have some money"

Because, beneath all the schemes and lies, Mize was still, in essence, a child.

He craved attention, validation, and yes, even a bit of envy from those around him.

The idea of flashing his newfound wealth sent a cruise of thrill into him.

For all their teasing and jeering, Mize would finally have something tangible to flaunt.

Rolling over, his laughter broke the silence of the room. He kicked his legs higher, enjoying the rare feeling of control—control over his situation, his image, and especially over Derek, the man who had walked so easily into his web.

But then, a familiar ding echoed from his phone. The notification sounds from Talktie, the government-supervised app that connects the entire world.

Mize lazily reached over to the bedside table and grabbed his phone, unlocking it with a quick swipe.

At the top of his chats, a message flashed on the screen. A familiar profile picture, paired with a simple text: "Hi, it's me, Derek."

Mize's grin deepened.

How predictable. He typed out a quick response, sending back an emoji with a wide, innocent smile—one that mirrored the innocent expression he so often wore.

Derek, on the other hand, had not expected such a quick reply. He was prepared to be ignored, or at the very least left on read for a while.

His heart raced a little as he stared at the screen, surprised by the immediate response. A nervous excitement bubbled up in him, and his thumbs fumbled as he typed.

"W-well... are you free tomorrow?" Derek sent, feeling the thrill of taking a bold step forward.

He knew Mize had school, but he couldn't help himself. It was like tossing a hook into the water, hoping the fish would bite anyway.

Mize raised an eyebrow as he read the message, instantly recognizing Derek's clumsy attempt to make more time for them.

It was almost amusing, the way he was trying so hard to push things along. But while Derek was trying to orchestrate his plans, Mize wasn't stupid enough to fall into any traps that didn't benefit him.

Well, not usually. Mize may have been clever in some ways, but there were gaps in his knowledge—he wasn't always as sharp as he liked to think he was.

"No," he typed back, still smiling to himself, "I have school tomorrow, and on Wednesday, I'll have to do the Awakening Ceremony."

He paused before hitting send, knowing the mention of the ceremony would shift the conversation. It always did.

Derek's next message came through quickly, exactly as Mize had anticipated.

"Ah, yes. The Awakening Ceremony." The message was short, but the tone was clear.

Derek knew all too well what Mize was facing. He hesitated for a moment, memories of his ceremony resurfacing.

The weight of that day, the hope, the crushing disappointment—it all came back in a wave.

He remembered vividly the hope that the ceremony inspired in young students, the promise of becoming something more than just ordinary.

Derek's fingers hovered over the keyboard, carefully crafting his next message.

He didn't want to sound bitter or pessimistic, but he also knew the odds. Most people didn't awaken. Most people didn't become anything more than what they already were.

"You must be hoping to become an Awakener too, no?" Derek finally typed, his tone neutral but with a hint of caution. He didn't want to crush the young girl's dreams, but he knew reality could be harsh.