The aftermath of the warehouse brawl was… complicated. Maya was grateful, but also deeply concerned about my sudden foray into vigilanteism. She kept asking me why I was dressed like a "low-budget ninja" and what I thought I was doing going up against armed thugs.
"I was helping you!" I insisted, trying to sound heroic despite the persistent feeling that I'd mostly just tripped over things and yelled a lot.
"I had it under control, Scott," she said, her voice firm. "You could have gotten seriously hurt."
"But I didn't!" I countered. "And besides, someone had to rescue the damsel in distress!" I winked, immediately regretting it when she just gave me a flat stare.
『Harem Streamer System: Attempted flirtatious banter: Failed. Heroine affection level: Stagnant. Recommendation: Re-evaluate romantic strategy.』
Clearly, my online "Sexyman" persona didn't translate well to real-life interactions with my girlfriend.
The Harem Streamer System, however, was undeterred. It kept throwing pairing suggestions my way, even going so far as to analyze Maya's bio (which it somehow had access to) and suggest "compatible villainous activities" we could do together. Apparently, "synchronized bank robbing" had a 92% compatibility rating. I decided to keep that information to myself.
What was more concerning was the System's increasing… invasiveness. It seemed to be accessing information it shouldn't have, offering insights into Maya's thoughts and feelings that made me deeply uneasy.
"Malice Media," I muttered under my breath, adjusting my helmet cam. "Are you… are you spying on my girlfriend?"
The System's response was a cheerful chime and a pop-up notification.
『Harem Streamer System: Data acquisition is essential for optimal pairing and reward distribution. Heroine emotional state analysis: Currently experiencing 'mild concern' mixed with 'faint admiration.' Proceed with caution.』
"This is creepy," I whispered.
But there were more pressing matters. Maya had been acting strangely ever since the warehouse incident. She was quieter than usual, often lost in thought, and she kept glancing at me with a worried expression.
Finally, one evening, as we were having a (surprisingly tense) dinner at the noodle bar, she dropped a bombshell.
"Scott," she began, her voice hesitant, "there's something I need to tell you."
My heart pounded in my chest. Was she breaking up with me? Had she seen my ridiculous "Sexyman" streams?
"I… I'm not just Pulsar," she confessed, her gaze fixed on her half-eaten bowl of noodles. "There's… there's another part of me."
Before I could even process that, a figure landed gracefully beside our table. She was clad in a sleek, dark purple costume, her eyes glowing with an inner, ethereal light.
"Hello, Scott," she said, her voice a melodic whisper. "I am… Nova."
I blinked. Then I blinked again. Then I choked on my water.
"Nova?" I stammered. "But… but you look exactly like…"
"Me?" Maya finished, a sheepish grin on her face. "It's… complicated. The pulsar radiation didn't just give me super strength and energy blasts. It… it split me. Into two distinct personalities, each with their own powers."
Nova nodded. "I am the more… cosmically attuned aspect. Maya is more grounded, more… human."
I stared at them, my brain struggling to catch up. My girlfriend was two superheroes in one? And one of them had just joined us for dinner?
The Harem Streamer System was practically buzzing with excitement.
『Harem Streamer System: New heroine introduced! Potential pairing opportunity: 99%! Initiate 'charming confusion' protocol! 』
"So," I said slowly, trying to wrap my head around this, "you're telling me… I'm on a date… with my girlfriend… and her cosmic alter ego?"
Maya and Nova exchanged a look, a mixture of amusement and nervousness in their eyes.
"Well," Maya said, "it's more like… we're both here. Because… well, because we both… we both care about you, Scott."
Nova nodded in agreement, her purple eyes meeting mine. "And we both wanted to… to explain things."
The noodle bar, already a surreal place, suddenly felt like the center of the universe. My life, already spiraling into bizarre territory, had just taken a sharp turn into the truly unbelievable. And the Harem Streamer System, no doubt, was recording every single awkward, confusing moment.