I'm No Good For You And I Never Will Be

World hopping is now my new job

Chess Barron.

Probably the biggest fiction geek you will ever meet.

He lives and breathes stories. Not something that you would expect from him really, that is if you don't know him well. He is a very popular boy at his school and is friends with almost everybody. But that sure as hell doesn't stop him from literally living in the school library.

He was an avid reader since he was young, books being his only source of entertainment since his parents were too busy for him anyway. And from there his love for stories grew.

He loved all kinds of stories from murder filled mystery novels to fantasy full of elves, fairies and other creatures, he loved them all.

He only had one criteria: The story should make sense.

That's why he made such a good beta reader, at least that's what his friend who was an aspiring author, said.

Here he was, reading a chapter draft for a new book that she was writing. It was about a classic cafe romance between a barista who worked there and a florist who worked across the street. It was a really cute story and gave him a fluff overdose. As he reached the part where the florist was about to give the barista a kiss on the cheek, his head started hurting. 

He gasped sharply as he reached for his head, the pain getting worse. His eyes drooped as he tried making his way to his medicine cabinet. When suddenly, he dropped to the floor. He lay still as his phone rung, his friend calling him to get his feedback.

"Host..."

Huh?

"Hoooost..."

Chess scrunched his face for a moment, he didn't know that voice. 

"Host!"

And with that he sat up, a bit startled. In front of him was a soft, cute looking creature that resembled a crow. It reminded him of his favorite plush that he always kept next to his pillow.

"Hello Host! Welcome to the runway. After I explain more about your journey and my role, we will take off to our destination."

Chess looked around. It appears that he was sitting on the runway of an airport, a futuristic airport. But there were no airplanes in sight, not a single one.

He shook his head. What happened, one moment he was sitting on his couch all comfy and now he's sitting on an airport runway made of- wait what was this made of exactly?

Before he could further contemplate about...well everything, the crow started speaking.

"I hope the time passed was enough to get back to your senses. It'd be best, Host if I make it easier for you to understand your current situation.

Chess finally spoke up. "Ah yeah t-that would be great actually. So I assume I'm either dreaming or dead because there is like no way this is happening for real."

"I'm sorry to inform you Host but this is real and you are unfortunately dead. Don't fear, after you have travelled enough worlds to meet your assigned quota, you can return to planet Earth should you choose to."

Chess sighed, of course this was happening. He just wanted to see some fluff moments and cute, wholesome romance dammit! He couldn't just die and not complete that chapter! 

"So would you like me to proceed with the explanation now or would you need more time to compose yourself, Host?"

"No I'm fine, you can continue." He has an inkling if where this was going, given the number of stories he's read on this topic but it'd be best for him if the system properly explain it instead of relying on his poor memory to get through...whatever this was.

"Well Host, you are an important person. The Pix-Matrix has taken always taken special care in choosing the system hosts, so if a life form is chosen by it, they are considered exceptional. Hosts usually have a trait that appeals to the needs of the Pix-Matrix and yours is your knowledge and expertise in the world of fiction."

Chess blinked in surprise at that. "I-I'm not an author though?"

"Nevertheless you have read countless stories of all genres and have a good sense of judgement when it comes to fiction. Interested by your abilities, The Pix-Matrix chose you. I am assigned to be your guide and helper as you complete tasks and restore the Pix-Matrix's power."

"I see. Now that's a big responsibility. So what am I basically getting into?"

"There are a series of randomly assigned worlds that you will go through. You will hop from world to world, complete tasks and finish the story. You will get to keep one to three items from the world as a souvenir and as a sign of your success. These items can also be exchanged for points at the System Airport Exchange exclusively. On the other hand, I can provide you with abilities and items from the System Shop which can be bought using points, all you have to do is ask me. I will explain the workings of each world based on that data provided to me by the higher ups. There might be restrictions in a few worlds here and there but for the majority of it, there are none. If there are I will inform you as we get there. Once you have completed the tasks of one world, you'll get an option to leave to the next or stay until you, well die there. Upon finishing your quota, you can either go back to Planet Earth or become a member of the Pix-Matrix System. If you choose the latter, I still be by your side as an assistant. Is that clear, Host?"

If that wasn't a more sensible explanation that whatever his brain could come up with, then he didn't what was.

"How many points do I have right now?"

"Newly appointed hosts get 10,000 points to spend."

"That could come in handy. The Shop can be accessed when I'm in a world, right?"

"Absolutely Host."

"Alright then. Sounds hard but hey I get to live in stories without having to pay a dime, so I'm in."

"Wonderful response Host, quite expected given your upbeat  attitude. Anymore queries?"

"What's...your name? If you have one that is."

"My name is System RV-54, Host."

"Can I call you something else, if your okay with that?"

"Of course Host, I'd be honored."

"I'll call you...Rook. My name is Chess. You are basically my helper, my defense against the uncertainties I would face, so your name will be Rook."

"Rook...I like that name. Thank you Host."

"No problem, let's...take off then?"

"Sit still Host and close your eyes. We will be taking off in 10..."

Chess shut his eyes and held his breath. Looks like he has a new job now huh?

"9...8...7"

He hopes the stories are interesting enough.

"6...5...4"

He really wants to know what the barista's reaction to the cheek kiss was...

"3...2...1"

Oh, done already?

"And we're taking off."

And with that, Chess's interesting new life had begun.