I Hate Systems

"Can I also get your number?" A girl asked with sparkling eyes. She was one of the students of the Stronvile University of Arts.

"My number's not for sale, ma'am." Compass Carburettor smiled, as usual, saying, "That'll be 348 bucks."

"Fine," The girl was mildly disappointed as she handed over the cash, receiving her receipt as she returned to her table, whispering to her friend, "I felt like my heart would burst. He's really handsome."

"Right," Her friend nodded in response, her cheeks slightly reddened, "But, no matter who asked him, he never gave out his number."

"Someone that handsome must have been hit on by many women. He won't give in so easily." Another of her friend chimed in, saying, "If you simply ask him for his number, he won't give it. No sane person would hand over his number to a stranger, right?"

"Then, are you saying you can do better, Kehra?" The girl asked her in response.

"Well…it's not like I have a better chance…" The girl addressed as Kehra waved her hand when her friends booed her.

"Che, for a moment, I thought you had a soundproof plan there." One of her friends mocked her.

"I'm telling you, things like these require tact," Kehra said in her defence.

The girls constantly bantered after that, shooting glances at Compass Carburettor from time to time before giggling.

As for the person in question, he was in a pretty helpless state, replying the same lines over and over. Though, he was neither flustered nor angered by this. Rather, he wasn't much affected by this sense of attention.

After all, he had become used to that on Earth. That was why the Money-Making System decided to return to the System World in the first place. He was no longer someone affected by the thoughts and opinions of others.

But despite everything, the gazes from others kind of pricked him, causing him to feel a bit embarrassed.

"That'll be 1216 bucks, ma'am." He flashed a professional smile, receiving the money as he spoke, "Would you also like to order today's special? It's a fla…"

"Sure," The customer grinned, saying, "Can you bring it to our table? I hurt my hands, so my doctor forbid me from lifting any weight."

'But, you came with a group of friends. They can carry the items…' He didn't say it out loud though, replying, "Sure, please wait for five minutes. I'll bring your orders to your table, ma'am."

"Thank you," The girl took her bill and walked away, gazing at her friends to wink once. In response, her friends grinned.

"It sure is hard being popular." Fernsher muttered, almost pitying Compass Carburettor now, "They sure want everything to be done by you."

"I am a bit used to it by now." Compass Carburettor laughed wryly, carrying a plate full of all the ordered items as he carefully moved through the crowd, flinching once when someone stealthily pinched his buttocks.

He didn't react beyond that, deftly arriving at the table before setting down all the items, "Here are your orders!"

He then returned with the empty plate, placing it in its respective position in the kitchen before returning to his spot as a cashier.

'Man, that's pretty humiliating. It's no different from when a pretty girl works here.' Fernsher sighed, 'There is practically no difference in the behaviour of the genders here.'

He was disillusioned now, having once assumed that those that were pretty had good times in life. It made him appreciate being a youth with an average face. None harassed him. And at times, even he would get a couple of flirtatious looks. Even though it was once in a blue moon.

Suddenly, his thoughts changed when a girl approached Compass Carburettor, asking with an apologetic tone, "Sorry to ask you this, but my scooty is stuck and I'm unable to pull it out. I can't find anyone else to ask this."

"I'll be right there, ma'am." Compass Carburettor smiled cordially, asking Fernsher, "Can you take care of it for a minute?"

"Sure, break a leg," Fernsher said, exasperated. The one that approached Compass Carburettor was the girl that he had been trying to woo for over a month now. She had never reciprocated with anything, and now, she took the initiative to approach him with the most blatant of scenarios.

Compass Carburettor exited the café, noticing the girl point at her scooty. He noticed that it had been parked diagonally. And now, a couple of bikes had been closely parked around it, preventing her from taking it out without toppling the bikes. For, there was no space for her legs to balance herself while pulling it out.

And, the bikes were too heavy for her thin self to move.

'This is pretty genuine.' Compass Carburettor understood based on the Mental Energy stream he received. He then adjusted the bikes, barely creating enough space for him to set foot beside the scooty before bringing it out little by little.

It took him over a minute to carefully bring it out when the girl thanked him, "Wow, you're really strong."

"I…exercise." Compass Carburettor flashed a smile before entering the café.

Time passed in such a fashion as he felt at peace just working for a change of pace. He didn't have to think about anything, didn't have to scheme, and most definitely didn't have to fight for his life.  Before all of that started, this current period was something that allowed him to relax.

When he was in the Darble World, even though he no longer felt any danger after killing the Slave Harem System, he was still anxious about when one of the three System Hosts he discovered would return to the System World.

He didn't wish to spend time there than beyond necessary. So, only now was he able to completely relax.

It was because he knew that this peace was short-lived, and wished to immerse himself in it fully, enjoying the mundane things in life while appreciating their value.

Finally, his shift was done as the manager handed him an envelope, "If you don't wish to receive it like this, you can receive your salary monthly. It'll be directly credited into your bank account."

"No, I'll receive it like this. Thank you very much." Compass Carburettor received the envelope.

"Remember to be here at 11 AM tomorrow. Your work would start at noon."