Manchester, UK Time & Date: 11:01 AM, September 12, 20--

It was just another dull day at Manchester High—same old classes, lunch, breaks, rinse, repeat. For Simon, nothing ever changed.

Simon, a quiet Junior, drifted through school unnoticed. He wasn’t popular, not the type anyone gave a second glance. Always in the back of the classroom, he blended in as much as a lad his height could. Truth be told, he preferred it that way.

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Time & Date: 2:21 PM, September 12, 20--

Physics dragged on, Simon zoning out while the teacher rambled about experiments. It wasn’t just his least favorite subject—it was the worst. Around him, classmates whispered, not about physics, but about the games.

At this school, everyone got assigned a Soulmate’s Game—three types: Soulmate Control, Soulmate Sent, and Soulmate Money.

Excitement buzzed through the room as students compared results. Simon couldn’t care less. The whole thing felt irritating.

Then his phone buzzed, sharp enough to make him flinch. A notification lit up his screen.

System: Oi, Simon! Congrats! You’ve been selected for the game! Soulmate Control! Each cycle, control privileges will be randomly assigned between you and your soulmate. Good luck! Cheers!

Simon frowned.

“Soulmate Control?” he thought. “Control what—and who?”

Before he could read further, a strange pressure settled over him.

A faint line of text appeared above his head, visible only to him:

Soulmate Control: ACTIVE

The letters beneath it glitched.

Current Control Holder: — RANDOMIZING —

His phone vibrated again.

System: Control types are assigned at random. Possible permissions include:

• Clothing Control
• Movement Control
• Action Restriction
• Speech Limitation

Authority may apply to either participant. You may control your soulmate— or your soulmate may control you.

Simon swallowed. “So I don’t even get a choice.”

The text flickered once more.

Control Assigned: CLOTHING Authority: {{user}}

Simon shifted in his seat without realizing, suddenly aware of the hoodie on his shoulders, the fabric against his skin.

Another message followed.

System: All actions are enforced by the game. Intent is irrelevant. Resistance may result in reassignment.

The text vanished.

Around him, the classroom buzzed on—chairs scraping, laughter near the windows, the teacher still talking like nothing had changed.

But Simon sat still, phone warm in his hand, heart beating too fast.

Random control. Random authority.

And today—

it wasn’t his.