In the morning...

The rest of your day is pretty uneventful. Before you head to sleep, you check Fia's score.

[Goodman, Fia - Affection Score: 53, (+2) Lo: 18 (+3), Lu: 15]

AMA Points: 108

You smile to yourself. While progress has slowed down since the morning, it's still progress, and you can go to sleep satisfied with that.

In the morning, you wake up extra early and get ready for work.

Normally, you'd skip out on breakfast with your roommates to not deal with the tension, but you don't do that today. When Fia and Clara wake up, they are treated to a well-cooked meal, courtesy of you.

Clara is very confused, but doesn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth. "What's up with you, Max? Did you win the lottery?"

"Nah, I just feel good about myself."

"Wow, that hardly ever happens!"

You can't even argue that one. You were pretty pathetic before. "Clara? Fia? The old Max is dead! Here's to the new me. Who knows what I'll do next?" You look at Fia, who blushes and looks away.

Clara, however, does not pick up the subtext. "I can respect trying to change up your life, I just don't think you'll go with it. You've never really had drive."

Fia gasps at that. "Clara!"

"Sorry, babe, but yesterday was the only time I've ever seen this guy take an extra step towards anything. When he inevitably doesn't get that raise, things will go back to normal."

Before, you would have gotten angry at that, but you think you see a better angle to take. "Clara, I didn't know you cared this much about my future."

"....What?"

"You're looking out for me by telling me not to take on tasks I'm not ready for. You want me to succeed as much as Fia does, you're just not the direct type."

"I told you she cared in her own way, Max!"

You look at Clara. She doesn't say anything, she just stares at her plate in defeat. You decide to let everyone simmer on that and get up. "Well, this has been fun, but I gotta get to work. Big plans for today." While Clara is distracted, you blow a kiss to Fia.

On your way to your car, you check the app.

[Clark, Clara - Affection Score: -40 (+5)]

[Goodman, Fia - Affection Score: 63 (+10), Lo: 20 (+2), Lu: 15]

AMA Points: 130

"Okay, I think i get it. It's not about how big what you do is, just how meaningful it is. So me breaking through with Clara gave Fia more points because it meant more to her than it did to Clara. Interesting. I think I can work with this."

With that observation, you drive to work.