Forced Nuptials

It wasn’t a single catastrophe, but a slow, calculated response to an inevitable end. Five centuries ago, global scientists issued a dire ultimatum: without a radical shift in human reproduction, the species would vanish within five generations. In the face of extinction, the world’s major powers unified to form a centralized Global Government. Their solution was the Arranged Marriage System—a cold, mathematical formula designed to prioritize biological compatibility and maximum fertility.

The results were undeniable. Over five hundred years, birth rates steadily climbed, but the price of survival was a total shift in the social order. Five hundred years ago only 15% men were deemed viable, today, only 35% of the male population is deemed "viable." These men have become the state's most protected assets, while the women have been conditioned from birth to see a "Match" not just as a marriage, but as a biological coronation.

At this exclusive academy, the process is finalized in senior year with a mandatory chemical injection—a sophisticated biological fail-safe. This injection serves a dual purpose: it acts as a pheromone lock, causing a woman’s attraction levels to spike into euphoria when near her partner while rendering other men biologically "dull." Furthermore, it acts as a permanent physical augment, significantly increasing a woman’s strength, speed, and reflexes to ensure she can protect her "viable" partner at all costs.

Arnold Smith was an anomaly in this environment. While most boys were celebrated for athleticism, Arnold was a top-tier scholar on the debate team. His "timid" disposition was officially classified as a "High-Compatibility Trait," making him an ideal candidate for the pheromone bonding process. He was currently in a fierce academic battle for the highest grades in the school, a feat no male had achieved in a decade.

This morning, a simple text summoned him to the advisor’s office. Inside, the atmosphere was sterile and professional. Mrs. Jones looked up from her terminal with a business-like nod."Mr. Smith, this is your big day," she said, her voice devoid of sentiment. "Once your partner arrives, you will be escorted to Medical for your injection. Your updated class schedule will follow."

The door slid open. A girl stepped into the room. She was a star athlete and stood nearly half a head taller than Arnold, her frame already humming with the anticipation of the coming augmentation. Her eyes were wide with a mixture of shock and breathless triumph as she looked at him.

"I cannot believe we are compatible!" she exclaimed.