In the morning;

1. Systemagic

Music drifted through the room, blasting its energy from the speakers. Fletcher pushed through the crowd of drunken, hideous, rich snobs. He brought up his rough fingertips to his temple as a heavy sigh left his lips, he felt an almost invisible bump underneath his rose skin while he held a minuscule circular device in his  left hand. This was idiotic, but it was too late to return the chip anyways. The chip he had under his skin was some sort of match maker, AI, coach, whatever you feel like calling it. This stupid thing who is supposed to help you select an ultimate compatible other.

Fletcher tilted his head to his left as he heard his name being called from the back of the room, he hastily shoved the device into his pocket and turned his heel before making his way over to his friend. "Fletcher, is it done?" Rihan asked, a slight excited tone could be heard in his voice, after all, he was the one who suggested Fletcher got this device. People seemed to depend on it a lot, if you weren't matched with someone, they simply wouldn't acknowledge you as a love interest.

After Rihan got a confirmation from Fletcher they headed out, Fletcher was free to eye whoever he saw here, however Rihan wasn't, he was in a relationship. One that would last for twenty-two more days, not his worse though. He was stuck with an irritating brat for two whole years once, they hated each other the moment they met, and when they saw their expiration date it just got worse. Expiration dates is something that comes with the systematized relationships, they quite literally tell you how long the relationship will last, whether you like the other person or not. You're simply stuck with them until your time with them runs out. It's so that the system gains insight as each participant progresses through numerous relationships and uses the gathered date to eventually select an ultimate compatible other, or so the coach tells you.

The following morning was supposed to be like any other regular day, a day filled with a wondrous activity, known to humanity as sleep. Though today's activity was interrupted by a horrendous sound accruing from the circular device, "What was that?" Fletcher mumbled, a female robotic voice spoke from it's microscopic speakers, "A new relationship."

"Already?" Fletcher said, grumbling as he sat up on the soft surface of his mattress. "You've got to be kidding me, right? It's fucking ten AM." He told the device, a tone of annoyance in his husky morning voice, whilst his eyes were fixated on the clock that hung on the grey wall. "You will be having lunch with the other at 1PM. The address will be sent to your mobile phone within a minute." The device replied to him. Fletcher sat still for a brief moment, waiting to be fully awoken, when his phone received a notification it had also woken him up entirely. He then pushed himself off his bed and made his way across the bedroom and into the bathroom, "This is ridiculous, if I knew this would mess with my sleeping schedule I wouldn't have gotten that stupid device." Fletcher whispered under his breath, whilst pulling off his sweatpants, together with his boxers and stepped into the cool shower cabinet.

After his warm shower he got ready for this supposed date, not even a date, it was more like meeting the person you're in a relationship with for a whatever amount of time the system estimates is efficient enough to gather the needed information. Once ready and at the cafe, he had taken his seat in a booth by the window. This was ridiculous, why was he even doing this. It was embarrassing, he should just get out while he still can. Fletcher decided that that was for the best and got ready to leave the table, until he saw a woman approach, with a short stature, fine physique with not many curves yet not lacking any, brunette hair so light that, her eyes had an azure, like clear ice or a cloudless sky on a sunny day.,the girl glanced down at the device she held, identical to the one Fletcher had in his pocket. "You must be my date." She spoke, her voice wasn't exactly how he expected it to be, lower than expected, but that wasn't something to judge one on, right?

"I suppose I am. Let's just get this over with." Fletcher replied to the brunette, she raised an eyebrow at him, probably expecting a different reaction. "Adelaide." She introduced herself, Fletcher did the same. Adelaide looked down at the circular device and her lips twitched into a smile, "Let's check our expiration date, shall we?", Fletcher merely nodded at her and grabbed the odd device "How do we check it, it's my first time using it.." He mumbled.

"Mine too, I believe we just press the screen at the same time, so, let's. One, two, three." She counted down, and after three they both pressed, her smile faded into a frown and Fletcher seemed to smile. nine hours. "That's.. an awful short time." She simply stated, hearing Fletcher mutter thank god under his voice. "No worries though, let's just enjoy the time we have, I'm interested in getting to know you Fletcher!" Adelaide beamed. The day went by quite slowly for Fletcher, most likely thanks to the girl boring him quite a lot, all she spoke about were interests he had no eye for. He was also quite hoping to get something more out of this than just talking, a little sinful activity couldn't harm anyone right? But no, Adelaide wished to wait for such things, and she found that nine hours were too short.

Once the horrid date was over, Fletcherhurried to his apartment, shutting the door with his foot and throwing his jacket on the sofa. "How was this date supposed to be fun, all she did was talk about ancient authors, I honestly don't care if there's one who's named Fletcher as well." He complained, "Because of these relationships, we can progress what your likes and dislikes are by analyzing your live reaction." The coach replied, "Right, whatever, I'm off to sleep seeing as you interrupted my beauty sleep with this useless nine hour relationship." Fletcher threw his shirt off, it landing on the floor as he let himself fall forward on the soft surface of his mattress. Not too long later, the device dinged, indicating there was another relationship, and that was confirmed by the coach telling him there was indeed a new relationship awaiting.

How lovely.