The Best MC Netori

Sung-Min woke up to the sound of a phone buzzing like an angry hornet. His head throbbed faintly—not a hangover, just the dull ache of too little sleep and too much adrenaline. He blinked, groggy, and realized he wasn't in his own bed. The sheets were softer, smelled faintly of lavender, and… oh, right. Ji-Yeon.

He turned his head. She was sprawled beside him, one arm flung across his chest, her bare skin warm against his. The messy bun she'd worn last night had unraveled, dark hair fanning out over the pillow like ink on a canvas. She was still out cold, lips parted, breathing soft and steady. Sung-Min's gaze drifted lower—her naked curves half-covered by the tangled sheet—and a smug grin spread across his face.

"Hell yeah," he whispered. "I did that."

The phone buzzed again, louder this time, from somewhere on the floor. Probably hers. He ignored it, stretching his arms above his head. Every muscle ached in the best way possible, like he'd run a marathon and won. Which, in a way, he had. His first mission with the Netori Protagonist System: seduce Park Ji-Yeon, Tae-Ho's girlfriend. Check. And damn, what a victory lap that had been.

A familiar ding! chimed in his head, and the blue screen materialized above him, hovering like a smug little god.

[Good morning, protagonist! Enjoyed your reward last night, I assume? Current stats: Charm 15 (+5), Stamina 13 (+3), Basic Seduction Skill unlocked. Ready for your next mission?]

Sung-Min propped himself up on one elbow, careful not to wake Ji-Yeon. "Already? Give me a minute to bask, will you? I'm still processing the fact that I'm not a total loser anymore."

[Bask later. Success breeds momentum. New mission incoming.]

Before he could protest, the screen flickered, and a new profile popped up.

[Target: Kim Soo-Jin. Age: 23. Occupation: Barista at Café Luna. Relationship status: Dating Lee Min-Soo, 8 months. Difficulty: Medium. Reward: +7 Charm, Intermediate Flirtation Skill.]

A photo loaded: a petite girl with a sharp bob haircut, big doe eyes, and a mischievous smile, posing with a latte in her barista apron. Sung-Min's eyebrows shot up. "Wait, I know her. She works at the coffee shop near campus. Always flirts with me when I order my iced americano."

[Exactly. She's primed for the taking. Min-Soo's a slacker—barely pays her attention. Mission starts today. Suggested approach: Visit the café, turn on the charm.]

Sung-Min smirked. "You're a real piece of work, system. What's the catch? Medium difficulty sounds like trouble."

[No catch. Just a slightly clingier boyfriend. You'll figure it out. Or not. Up to you.]

The screen vanished with a smug pop, leaving him staring at the ceiling. Kim Soo-Jin, huh? She was cute—those little winks she threw his way always made his day—but stealing her from Min-Soo? He didn't know the guy, but "slacker" didn't sound like much competition. Still, medium difficulty meant he'd have to step up his game.

Ji-Yeon stirred beside him, mumbling something incoherent before rolling onto her side. Sung-Min froze, holding his breath. She didn't wake up, just nuzzled deeper into the pillow. He exhaled, then glanced at the clock on her nightstand: 7:43 a.m. Too early for Tae-Ho to be back from his overnight gym bro sessions, right?

The phone buzzed again, insistent. Curiosity got the better of him. He slid out of bed—careful not to jostle her—and fished the phone from the pile of clothes on the floor. The screen lit up with notifications:

Tae-Ho: "Babe, u awake? Heading home soon."

Tae-Ho: "Why aren't u answering??"

Tae-Ho: "Ji-Yeon, pick up. I'm 10 mins away."

Sung-Min's stomach dropped. Ten minutes? Shit. He glanced at Ji-Yeon, still blissfully asleep, then at the clock. 7:44 now. Tae-Ho could walk through that door any second, and Sung-Min had no desire to explain why he was naked in the guy's apartment with his girlfriend passed out beside him.

"Time to bounce," he muttered, scrambling to grab his clothes. Jeans, shirt, boxers—where the hell were his socks? Screw it, no time. He yanked on what he could, shoved his feet into his sneakers, and snatched his backpack from the living room. One last look at Ji-Yeon—damn, she looked good even drooling on the pillow—and he bolted for the door.

The hallway was still quiet as he slipped out, shutting 3B behind him with a soft click. His heart raced, but a giddy laugh bubbled up as he jogged to his own apartment two doors down. He'd done it. He'd actually pulled off a netori, and Tae-Ho was none the wiser. Yet.

Back in 3D, Sung-Min collapsed onto his couch, still buzzing with adrenaline. His tiny studio smelled like stale ramen and unwashed laundry—nothing like Ji-Yeon's cozy setup—but it felt like a palace right now. He kicked off his shoes, grinning like an idiot. "System, you're a genius. I'm a genius. We're unstoppable."

The screen reappeared, hovering over his coffee table.

[Don't get cocky. Tae-Ho's not the sharpest tool, but he'll notice something's up eventually. Focus on Soo-Jin now. Café Luna opens at 8. Get moving.]

Sung-Min groaned, rubbing his face. "Can't I shower first? I smell like beer and… well, Ji-Yeon."

[Charm's at 15 now. You'll be fine. Go.]

"Slave driver," he grumbled, but he hauled himself up anyway. A quick splash of water on his face, a fresh shirt, and he was out the door, backpack slung over his shoulder. The morning air was crisp, the streets just starting to hum with life as Seoul woke up. Café Luna was a ten-minute walk—perfect timing if he hustled.

He got there at 8:07, pushing through the glass door to the chime of a little bell. The place was small, all warm wood and mismatched chairs, with the rich smell of coffee beans hitting him like a hug. A handful of early risers—students, office workers—were scattered at tables, tapping away on laptops. And there, behind the counter, was Kim Soo-Jin.

She looked exactly like her profile pic: short black hair, big eyes, that playful smile as she frothed milk for some poor sap's cappuccino. Her apron was tied tight, accentuating her slim waist, and when she glanced up and saw him, her face lit up.

"Sung-Min! My favorite customer!" she called, waving the steam wand like a magic wand. "The usual?"

He grinned, sauntering up to the counter. "You know me too well, Soo-Jin. Iced americano, please."

She winked—God, that wink—and got to work, her hands moving with practiced ease. "Rough night? You look… I dunno, different."

"Different good or different bad?" he asked, leaning casually on the counter. Charm 15, activate.

"Different good," she said, smirking as she poured espresso over ice. "Like you've got a secret or something. Spill."

"Maybe I do," he teased, lowering his voice. "But it's the kind of secret you'd have to get out of me over drinks, not coffee."

Soo-Jin laughed, handing him his drink. "Smooth, Sung-Min. Real smooth. Careful, I might take you up on that."

[Nice! Flirtation detected. Keep it up.]

He took a sip, holding her gaze over the rim. "I'm counting on it. When's your break?"

She raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Eleven. Why?"

"Thought I'd stick around. Keep you company. Unless your boyfriend's gonna show up and ruin the fun."

Her smile faltered, just for a second, before she rolled her eyes. "Min-Soo? Please. He's probably still asleep. Guy's useless before noon."

Jackpot. Sung-Min's grin widened. "Perfect. See you at eleven, then."

He grabbed a table near the counter, settling in with his drink and a textbook he had no intention of reading. Soo-Jin kept stealing glances his way, her flirty little smirks growing bolder each time. The system was right—Min-Soo wasn't a threat yet. But "medium difficulty" nagged at him. What was he missing?

The answer came at 10:45, when the café door swung open and a guy stomped in. Tall, lanky, with messy hair and a scowl that could curdle milk. He marched straight to the counter, barking, "Soo-Jin, why didn't you text me back last night?"

Soo-Jin sighed, wiping her hands on her apron. "Because I was working, Min-Soo. And then I crashed. Relax."

Sung-Min's eyes narrowed. So this was the boyfriend. Not a slacker in the "lazy stoner" sense—more like a clingy, whiny mess. He watched as Min-Soo leaned over the counter, voice rising. "You always do this. I'm your boyfriend, not some random dude you can ignore."

"Keep it down," Soo-Jin hissed, glancing around. "You're embarrassing me."

The system pinged.

[Target's relationship strain detected. Opportunity window: High. Push her buttons, protagonist.]

Sung-Min closed his textbook, standing up with a stretch. Time to play the villain. He strolled over, drink in hand, and flashed Soo-Jin his best smile. "Everything okay over here? Didn't mean to interrupt, but you looked like you could use a rescue."

Min-Soo whirled on him, eyes blazing. "Who the hell are you?"

"Just a regular," Sung-Min said, shrugging. "Soo-Jin's too nice to say it, but you're kinda harshing the vibe."

Soo-Jin's lips twitched, fighting a smile. Min-Soo's face went red. "Mind your own business, asshole."

"Min-Soo, stop," Soo-Jin snapped, stepping between them. "Sung-Min's cool. You're the one making a scene."

Sung-Min raised his hands, all innocence. "Hey, I'll back off. Just hate seeing a pretty girl stressed out."

That did it. Min-Soo stormed out, muttering curses, and Soo-Jin groaned, rubbing her temples. "God, he's such a child sometimes."

"Sounds exhausting," Sung-Min said, leaning closer. "You deserve better than that."

She met his eyes, and for a moment, something sparked. "Yeah," she murmured. "Maybe I do."

[Mission progress: 20%. Keep pushing, hotshot.]

Sung-Min grinned. Step one: complete. This netori thing was starting to feel like second nature.