The System In My Head

Katie's Story

[Current target attraction level: interested(+1)]

[Current target comfort level: acquaintance(+1)]

'That was a good move accusing her of liking Rachel from the Tower of God ...' Ben becomes well versed in the art of flirting. He came a long way from accusing people of being Hitler ...

Meanwhile, Katie leaned against the anime shelf, pouting.

'Now the appeal is quite high, it's time to work more on comfort.' Ben takes Katie to a cafe where they can sit and talk in a more familiar atmosphere. They arrived at a black leather sofa with an oval arrangement, where '90s music played. The smell of coffee floated in the air.

The presence of a sofa is another reason Ben chose this location. Beluga tells him that the sofa is very helpful for building comfort. Sitting side by side allows for easier touch, and thus builds up kino and comfort as a result. It is a fact that almost everyone knows nothing about.

'If I think about it, it's hard to remember the sitting dates I've seen in movies, TV, or anywhere where the couple didn't sit opposite each other at the table.' Ben realized he was ahead of the game. As he searched for the best seat, he suddenly felt an extra burden on his right side. Glancing up, she found Katie had jumped on it, and held her arm tightly for protection as she stared at something.

Following his gaze, he saw a bearded middle-aged man leaving the cafe. Turning back to Katie, Ben couldn't help but appreciate her cute expression of fear. He prefers the feeling of his arm in between*********** which is convenient even more ... but he does not understand what makes it work. "What's wrong? Do you know him?"

He shook his head, then looked down. "No, i... It's humiliating..."

"You can tell me anything," she assured him. 'Except that my story just got a gender dent tag ...'

Ben showed an expression of concern to her, but then turned around when he remembered something important. 'Incest would be even worse.because not only do some publishers accept it as a novel.but it will never be made into a film because there is already Oldboy...'

She twists back to Katie, prompting her with a warm smile and a light nod to continue telling her sensitive story, before spinning again as she recalls more important details ... 'Didn't the Oldboy remake have Thanos f* ck Red Witch???'

...

'Really, it could have been a reality at Wandavision...' Ben gasps. From that day on, the Marvel Universe swirled with new fan theories...

A few seconds later, Ben coughed. "Katie, you're telling me something that seems very important to you..." Ben didn't mean to be insensitive to Katie, but this was a serious canon affair he was dealing with...

After hesitating, Katie nods and tells Ben about her personal problems. "I have a fear.it's called pogonophobia."

Ben blinked. "Fear of pogo sticks?"

He pinched his shoulder. "Ck, don't be silly..."

Ben laughs. "I think it's gonna be ridiculous."

"This is the fear of beards..."

...

Ben's face froze in the middle of his laughter... "U wot m8?"

Katie took off her arms and looked at her feet as her face turned red.

He's looking for clarity. "As in Blackbeard? ...Bluebeard? ...Or Jim Carrey's beard?"

"...Just, any beard.even the shadow of five o'clock makes me uneasy..."

Before making an assessment, Ben always tries to consider the positive side. 'At least I don't have to worry she's fucking me for a witch...'

Despite his analysis, Ben is unsure of the proper way to respond to these disclosures. "I'm so sorry..."

He realized it didn't sound right and tried again. "I mean, it seems difficult. How did you uh.. endure?"

Now that the bearded middle-aged man had left, Katie was slacking off. "Not bad as long as I'm not right next to those creatures.they just make me nervous."

'Creatures...Does he think beards are gremlins?'

Katie is back to her usual self. "That's one of the reasons I like trottin' around manga and anime stuff, it's the younger crowd, the beard-free safe zone ..."

'Will I get bonus points if I tell him I'm manscape? ...No, don't take risks, it's better to change the subject.' Ben took Katie to sit next to him on the couch. They ordered a few drinks and started chatting about more intimate topics.

She learns that Katie was once unattractive, or at least that's what she believes. He was flat-chested and the birthmark on his face always made him self-conscious. Then he experienced a growth spurt.

Ben decoded this information. 'He evolved into his last form ...'

"One summer, I just rocketed from my cocoon."

Ben showed a wise listener smile. 'Lol, C*ck..ok, come on Ben, you're not 12...'

"Then I turned into a butterfly."

He patted her on the back to encourage. 'Bantat...'

Ben sipped his coffee. 'Now I have fulfilled the daily juvenile quota to feed my inner demons. She really looks like a good girl, I want to know better.' They chatted while continuing to do kino, building up his comfort.

[Current target comfort level: familiar(+1)]

After a while, he put his arm behind his chair, establishing dominance and making his intentions known. This made Katie open up further. She tells him how she dated someone in high school for a long time. She's also a fan of anime, but she dumped her because she said she would never be as good as a 2D girl...

...

Katie looked at Ben with a vulnerable expression, looking for reassurance as she leaned on him, squeezing the fat melon into his arm. 'Sorry dear, Otaku Bible, Keima 16:12 - Do not slander the goddess 2d...'

...

When Katie took her bag off her arm and returned to her story, Ben heaved a sigh of relief in his mind. 'I'm not a rat, but every man has his temptation limit...'

"I lost confidence after that. because there was no way I could be like one of those girls.." she lowered her head and rubbed her thighs for self-comfort.

Ben thought of something. 'He was wrong. If I don't die tomorrow, and my biography becomes a best seller, a webcomic adaptation is impossible ... '

...

But he wasn't sure if he should tell her. 'After much thought, I better not expect him too much... Unless my life turns into fulfillment of meaningless desires soon, it will be difficult to influence the masses...'

Then, he imagined a potential win-win situation. While recalling her plans for the next step to bring Katie to her dorm room, she glanced at*********** large and her full lips. 'Katie, this needs teamwork. I can't do the fan service myself, so our 2D future is up to you now ...'