The 1st Hater

[📜 System Message]
[✨ Smooth Operator → Successfully charmed a cute girl into your apartment: +500 Aura]
[Aura bank: 3000]

Nokia smiled doing a silent fist pump behind Dodo as she walked into his apartment.
.
He glanced back at the glowing system log.

“Wait… so you’re telling me I get Aura for talking to girls?”

[📜 System Message]
[Correct. The level of interaction—and the level of charm—has correlation to Aura gain.]

“Nice” Nokia replied

“So this is your place?” Dodo asked, scanning the decrepit apartment.

The walls were bare, the cupboards were empty, and the floor had no trace of furniture. Without a couch or table Nokia and Dodo stood together in the open space.

She folded her arms. “I’m surprised you even have tea.”

She opened up his cupboard finding nothing but dust.

“Yeah,” Nokia jived. “Good thing I grabbed those free tea bags from the restaurant.” He thought back to last night.

Luckily they left a kettle here too. Guess those execs figured at the very least I should be able to boil water—that’s why they gave me a pot and some cups.

With a swift and subtle movement, he set the kettle on the stove. Steam rose as he brewed the tea. Behind him, Dodo Peered over his shoulder in silence, twiddling her fingers.

“You’ve been really, really quiet,” Nokia said, glancing over his shoulder. “Something on your mind?”

“Well…” Dodo’s fingers twisted together nervously. Her eyes looked down at Nokia's pecs and then quickly darted away.

“It’s just… you’ve been half-naked this whole time.”

“Oh—sorry. Is that bothering you? I can throw on a shirt.” He said setting the kettle down.

“No, it’s not that it’s bothering me.” She said as her cheeks faintly went red. “It’s just… your body. It’s in impeccable shape. I can tell you work really hard to maintain it.”

“Yeah… I worked very hard,” Nokia thought, smirking as the Aura counter flickered in his vision.

“But…” she went on, “You just seem like one of those influencer-type guys.”

“Influencer-type guys? What do you mean by that?”

“You know… influencer guys. They’re always full of themselves. Narcissistic. They look good, sure, but they’re nothing but trouble.” Dodo said, shaking her head.

“How can you be so sure? Have you ever dated an influencer type guy?” Nokia asked.

“No. Never. But…” Dodo smiled faintly. “…I happen to be an influencer myself. So I tend to run into them all the time.”

“What?!” Nokia almost dropped the teacup. “You’re an influencer?”

“That’s right.” Dodo reached into her purse and pulled out a gleaming card.

[📜 System Message]
[Name: Dodo Torimi]
[ ★ 1-Star Influencer]
[Aura Level: 1]
[Aura Bank: 1000]
[Followers: 5]

“Whoa…” Nokia muttered, eyes widening. “Wait, system!” He pointed accusingly at the glowing interface.

“Why weren’t you able to identify her as an influencer right away?”

[📜 System Message]
[The system is only able to detect influencers whose status is active.]

“Status is active?” Nokia asked. “What do you mean by that?”

[When a user or influencer is active, they have a feed or chat following them. Only then can we identify them. This protects influencers who want to go under the radar.]

[The only other way to detect an influencer is if they use Aura—since influencers are the only ones capable of doing so. That Aura usage would link to their influencer card and status, revealing them.]

“So that’s why you couldn’t notice Ado?” Nokia said.

“Correct. Ado must have had his status set to inactive. It’s also why he didn’t know who you were because your chat was set to inactive at the time by the Security at the building.”

“That’s right, The drone didn’t follow me into the room. Then how is it I got that Aura boost if his or my chat wasn’t watching? I thought that’s how it worked.”

[📜 System Message]
[This system does not need an observer in order for you to gain Aura.]

“What?”

[📜 System Message]
[Correct. You have the ability to Aura Farm. By performing actions in coordination with the system, you are awarded Aura—unlike other influencers, who must perform for an audience.]

“I see…” Nokia muttered. “So how do I activate Aura Farming mode?”

[📜 System Message]
[That is not something we can go into at this moment. After all… your tea is overheating.]

Nokia glanced back as the kettle started to scream with steam. “Oh, shoot,” he said, turning it down.

“So you’re an influencer then?” Nokia asked taking the kettle off the stove.

“Yes,” Dodo said with a smile. “And apparently… so are you” Dodo said, looking up at Nokias drone. “I…Didn’t notice it outside but I can see it now”

“Haha you were to busy lookin gat something else” Nokia joked.

“No I wasn’t!” Dodo said blushing.

“Sure Dodo whatever you say”

“Well whatever! Can I see your influencer card?”

“Absolutely.”

Nokia handed his card to Dodo.

[Nokia Ora]
[★ 2-Star Influencer — 10 Followers]
[Aura Level: 2]
[Aura Bank: 3,000]

“Wow… a Bronze Card? That’s usually reserved for Level Two or Three-Star influencers. How the heck did you get one of these?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” Nokia said, shaking his head.

“Try me. I’m all ears.” Dodo said cutely resting her chin on her hands.

“Well… are you familiar with a streamer named Ado Ross?”

“Ado Ross?” She blinked. “THE Ado Ross? Who doesn’t?”

“Well… this was a gift from him.”

“You know Ado Ross?! I can’t believe this.”

“Yeah, It’s been a crazy couple of days.”

As Nokia scratched the back of his head a system message popped up

[📜 System Message]
[🏋️ Shadow Boxing Routine: 9,920 / 10,000 strikes performed.]
[Please resume exercise to be awarded Aura for the nightly routine.]

“Uh… can this wait?” Nokia muttered.

[📜 System Message]
[Failure to comply will not result in Aura loss. However, if the nightly routine is not performed, access to the routine will be lost permanently.]

“Damnit,” Nokia thought. “So if I don’t do it now, I’ll lose it forever?”

[📜 System Message]
[Correct.]

“Wait… it’s not that simple is it! If I just start fighting here, I’ll probably lose Aura for doing something uncool.”

[📜 System Message]
[That is also correct.]

“Damnit,” Nokia grumbled, setting out the cups for tea. “How do I gain Aura in this situation while juggling these messages?”

“Is it true? Are you really close with Ado Ross?” Dodo asked, completely starstruck.

“That’s right,” Nokia said. “Actually…” Nokia said making a fist “If you believe it or not… it’s my goal to become as strong as Ado.”

“What? You? Become a Five-Star?”

“That’s right.” Nokia said, throwing a strike. “Right now I’m weak. But as I fight, I’ll get stronger and stronger.

As He spoke he through out a barrage of Punches. A gust of wind danced around him as his punches increased in speed.

“Woah” Dodo remarked as her hair was pushed back by the turbulence.

He threw a final punch holding a stance, his hardened fist pressed against the wall.

“It’ll take some time but at some point I'll be strong enough to get to that five star level.”

[📜 System Message]
[Shadow Boxing Complete: 10,000 / 10,000 strikes.]
[✅ No Aura lost from speaking.]
[✅ No Aura lost from random punches.]
[✨ +100 Aura.]
[Nightly Routine – Step Two complete.]
[Aura bank: 3100]

“Excellent,” Nokia thought, returning to the table where Dodo sat sipping tea.

“Wait a minute,” Dodo said suddenly, she still had his influencer card in her hand. “Why has your influencer card gained 100 Aura just now?”

“Huh?” Nokia scratched his head. “What do you mean?”

“Usually when your stream is active—that much I can tell from the drone following you—anytime a follower gifts you Aura there’s a transaction sound. Have you muted yours?”

“No… I didn’t get any transaction.”

“Then how did your Aura increase by a hundred! Your follower count is still the same!”

“…I was farming, I guess.”

“You… farm Aura?” Dodo blinked in disbelief.

“Yeah… I’m a little different than others,” Nokia admitted. “I have the ability to farm Aura.”

“Farm Aura?” Dodo gasped.

“I don’t even really understand it myself,” Nokia said, rubbing the back of his neck. “But by doing certain things… my Aura can increase.”

“You can increase your Aura just by doing basic things? Wait—hold on…”

Her eyes widened. “I’m seeing that your Aura went up by 500 since I came over but your follower count hasn’t change since this afternoon... Were you… were you able to get Aura somehow by talking to me?”

“What? What are you talking about?” Nokia blinked.

“Is that why you invited me over here?!” Dodo’s voice cracked. “Am I just an Aura part collection for you?!”

“Oh God…” Nokia muttered. “How did this happen?”

[Chat]

ChatUser77: You better comfort her right now!
AuraFan99: How could you use her for Aura??
LurkerMan: Bruh… a man’s gotta survive one way or another.

[...]

Nokia sighed. Walking over, he gently placed a hand on Dodo’s shoulder.

“You’re the first person I’ve really met here,” he said softly. “I’m not using you for Aura farming or anything like that.”

Blushing, Dodo drooped her head, unable to keep eye contact.

“…Hey, Nokia,” Dodo whispered, twiddling her fingers.

“Yeah? What’s up?”

“Do you… have a girlfriend right now?”

“No. Not really.”

[Chat]

EmoteLord23: Ohhhh here it comes!
PixelPunk44: W girlfriend incoming?? Pog!

[...]

“So…” Dodo said nervously, “Does that mean you’re looking for one?”

“No. Not really,” Nokia replied flatly.

Dodo stumbled backward, falling to the floor as the shock from Nokias words hit her like a punch to the gut.

[📜 System Message]
[❌ Denying a pretty girl: +100 Aura]
[Aura bank 3200]

[Chat]

AuraBro69: WOW. Absolute Chad.
Fangirl33: Can’t believe this guy… W Nokia!
StreamerStan: Guess our boy’s not settling down anytime soon.

[...]

Swivel Swivel Swivel

As the chat spammed, the small black pebble that had been swiveling around earlier grew larger, now the size of a bowling ball, scraping against the floor with an eerie sound.

“What the…?” Nokia muttered. “Do you hear that?”

“I don’t hear anything,” Dodo said quietly.

“No, I swear I hear swiveling… and I just saw something out of the corner of my eye.”

“Oh no…” Dodo whispered. “It can’t be…”

“What is it!” Nokia exclaimed

“Does your chat…” Dodo said nervously “Have any negative messages?”

Nokia went through his chat searching for any negative remarks that stood out. Suddenly He found one user spamming negativity in the chat. His messages were all bold and in big red letters as he went on

[Chat]

DODOSTRULOVE12: NOKIA. WHAT A FUMBLE. DODO WOULD’VE BEEN A GREAT GIRL!

[...]

Nokia clenched his jaw as agitation built.

[Chat]

DODOSTRULOVE12:What kind of Chad turns down a girl like that? He’s a loser. I’m unfollowing.
DODOSTRULOVE12: Barely has any Aura and thinks he can hang with Ado Ross.
DODOSTRULOVE12: Overrated trash.

[...]

“I found one! What does this mean?” Nokia demanded, turning toward Dodo.

“When there are negative messages in your chat,” Dodo said, trembling, “This usually only happens to high-tier influencers.”

“What are you saying?”

“Sometimes… a Hate is created.”

“A hate?”

SWIVEL!! SWIVEL!! SWIVELL!!

A deep rumble shook the room. From the shadows behind Nokia, a monstrous black mass began to form. It oozed itself together as it grew to nearly twice his size emitting an ominous black aura as it grew. It was eyeless and limbless, with only its razor sharp teeth and two massive inky arms bursting out of the wall.

The shadow surged forward.

“Nokia—behind you!” Dodo shrieked.

Nokia spun, but the Hate struck too fast.

“NO!” Dodo screamed, throwing herself in front of it. The inky appendage slammed her across the room, sending her crashing into the wall. She fell, coughing.

[📜 System Message]
[Dodo −2500 Aura]