Marvel: Emotion Farming System

During lunch, instead of the cafeteria, Gwen took a bag of chips and a burger to the computer lab after saying goodbye to Peter.

With the work’s name fresh in her mind, she searched Rivulta and found it in no time. The author’s name made her chuckle as it matched the protagonist’s name from the book she had discussed with John.

‘John Doe6769, huh? Not very John Doe, is he?’ Glancing over the title and the spoiler-free setting she heard about, this looked like a proper romance comedy.

Settling into her chair, while taking a bite of the burger, Gwen clicked on the first chapter.

But the differences from the mainstay of the genre emerged from the first line. Unlike other romances, this one had an introspective tone; there wasn’t any purple prose or exaggerated actions. Only a quiet, ambiguous routine of two adults in Tokyo who were searching for someone without even knowing if the other existed.

‘Tokyo… that’s new.’ It wasn’t every day one would come across a novel set in another country, unless it was fantasy. Regardless, she was a bit peeved by the short first chapter and hoped the second one was longer.

And her demands were answered; the second chapter was longer. It started with Taki, the boy, in Mitsuha’s body after their first switch.

“Ugh, guys.” She visibly shrank at the scene where Taki, in Mitsuha’s body, started to feel up the breasts.

This may be funny from a neutral point, but as a woman herself, a chill went up her spine. If someone switched bodies with her, she prayed he didn’t do this.

Still, the real comedy started when Mitsuha supposedly returned to her body. The reactions of others around her, especially her little sister’s, to her becoming normal compared to the her from yesterday was fun to watch.

‘Comet Tiamat, yeah, better remember that.’ Gwen could feel that this would be important.

The chapter followed Mitsuha getting flabbergasted by Taki’s demolition of her entire character, and the Who are you? in her textbook. Another interesting part was the sake made from the chewed rice and learning about the shrine maidens. It made Gwen lean in with focus.

I am sick of this town! Make me a hot guy in Tokyo in my next life, puhleaseeeeee!

This part made Gwen chuckle hard at this line; this was exactly why people said to be careful what they wished for. Because Mitsuha got her wish in the very next chapter, in the most literal sense possible.

The third chapter mirrored the second one, but with Mitsuha in Taki’s body. And just like how he felt up her breasts, she too had a striking curiosity regarding that thing.

‘It's fine since he also did it.’ She would too; not every day one would get an experience like that. Double standards be damned.

However, Mitsuha followed Taki’s daily life with a surprising elegance. A bit too much elegance.

The way she talked with his friends, the closeness with Okudera, Taki’s secret crush, and her love for cafés. Gwen almost spat her drink when Mitsuha asked Okudera to take her skirt off.

The writing was smooth and light as Mitsuha left her entries in the diary app on Taki’s phone with precision. And before sleeping, she remembered his question and wrote her name on his palm.

Gwen couldn’t stop her smile as the focus switched between the two, showing them mess up while figuring out that they were switching bodies for real.

She had already heard of this detail, but it was handled very naturally with a solid build-up. The following events left her chuckling: the not-to-do list, the friends and classmates being shocked at Mitsuha’s(Taki) masculinity, and Taki’s(Mitsuha) feminine side as they kept snapping at one another by writing to one each other’s bodies.

Their dynamic was cute and super charming to read about. The two had lived each other’s lives, been in each other’s body in the most literal sense, and they bounced off one another well. She could see the romance blossoming in real time.

‘They will be dating for sure.’ Gwen was convinced as Mitsuha had landed Taki a date with Okudera.

“Wait… this is not the development I expected.” She leaned forward, hanging on each word.

However, the more she read, the more relaxed her brow got. And a smirk finally appeared when Okudera spoke.

You used to like me, right? Now you like someone else.

It was the official confirmation of the romance’s start; with the two switching bodies, it was bound to happen. And she looked forward to more of their shenanigans, but another twist awaited her.

“What do you mean they didn’t switch bodies after that?” Gwen’s fist struck the wooden desk, rattling the keyboard.

There was a sense of dread choking her as she hurriedly clicked on the next chapter. Hoping one of them would go find the other. And the first line made her sigh in relief.

Taki was on his way to find Mitsuha; that was a good sign. But a lump started to form in her throat the more she read: the drawing, the trip to the countryside, and finally the couple that claimed to know of Mitsuha’s hometown.

But the moment the name of the town was spoken, the atmosphere got heavy. The comet from the chapter before resurfaced, just not the way she had thought of.

That Tiamat comet had landed right on Itomori, but three years ago. The impact had killed everyone in town.

‘How were they switching bodies three years across?’ Gwen almost choked when the list of victims appeared, and right there at the end was a name she wished wasn’t there.

Mitsuha Miyamizu (17)

The chapter ended right there.

“Why the fuck would you end it there?!” Gwen howled; she almost turned the computer upside down hoping the rest would show up below, but things didn’t work like that.

With a groan, she slumped into the chair, finding a little solace in the comments of her fellow readers going through the same frustrations as her.

‘This author, honestly, he had no human decency.’ However, Gwen’s complaints were cut short as the door to the computer lab opened.

‘Was I too loud? I was definitely too loud.’ She slipped under the desk while shutting off the computer.

She thought a professor had come into the lab to check why the lights were on, or someone had reported her shouting, but it was someone else.

“Can’t wait to check the progress.” It was John; his steps were practically radiating energy as he skipped over to a computer in the far corner.

He didn’t have a free period after lunch, but who cared about that right now?

[Gwen Stacy is feeling happy +5 EP.]

[Gwen Stacy is feeling happy +5 EP.]

[Gwen Stacy is anxious +7 EP.]

[Gwen Stacy is greatly shocked +9 EP.]

[Gwen Stacy is fuming +10 EP.]

With each notification, his smile widened and hardened into something not possible by human standards; if he had gone to the lecture, the professor might have called the psych ward on him.

But how could he not be happy? He had gotten 33 EP from her alone. Adding to the total of 15 he already had, and the extra 15 he had earned since coming to Uni thanks to the almighty cliffhanger, he had a total of 63 EP before 24 hours had even passed.

All this before the climax, the most anxiety-inducing part, that has yet to arrive.

Of course, he had to attribute all this to his genius plans and 5,982,987 IQ brain power.

‘Let’s check them sweet comments stewing in unease.’ He felt eager to see their frustrations, because he too went through the same thing.

The views had tripled from before, but comments were mostly concentrated on the last chapter.

Nicaria—How could you be this cruel? Are you even human @JohnDoe6769?

BeastMaster123—This cliffhanger deserves crucifixion!

Padoru—Do it after the novel is finished, please.

Imanahaq—Don’t worry guys, I’ll keep the author well fed; my basement is super comfy.

He felt a bit comfortable watching the unchanged state of the comment section, no matter the world, but he vowed to be more careful about his identity. No matter how comfy a basement was, it was still a basement.

‘Better not let them find out who I am.’ John shuddered at the very thought of being discovered, considering what he had in the chamber.

“Hey…” That was when a voice came over his shoulder.

...

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