The crowd in the gym slowly dispersed, still buzzing about Ethan's one sided victory over Jake. Lila stayed by his side, her eyes bright with admiration as students he barely knew waved and called his name. For the first time in his life, Ethan felt truly seen—not as a punching bag or a failure, but as someone worth noticing.
"Ethan, that was incredible," Lila said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I've never seen anyone move like that. Where did you even learn to play football?"Ethan smiled lightly. He couldn't exactly tell her about the system, so he kept it simple."Just some natural reflexes, I guess. Stress can make you do surprising things."Lila laughed softly. It was a warm, genuine sound that made Ethan's chest feel light."Well, whatever it was, it worked. Jake looked like he was going to collapse. I don't think he'll bother you again."As they walked toward the school exit, Ethan's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, pretending to check a message, but his eyes locked onto the banking app notification he'd been waiting for.
[Deposit successful. New balance: $1,001,428.75]
Ethan's breath caught. Over a million dollars.Just a week ago, he'd been counting change to buy cheap snacks after school. His parents worked double shifts just to keep their small apartment from falling apart. Now, he had more money than he could ever imagine spending as a high school student."Everything okay?" Lila asked, noticing his silence.Ethan quickly locked his phone and nodded. "Yeah, just… some family stuff. Good stuff, actually."They stepped outside into the afternoon sun. Lila hesitated for a moment, then spoke in a quieter, more nervous voice."Ethan… can I ask you something personal?""Sure," Ethan said."Why did you stand up to Jake like that?" she asked. "You could have walked away. You could have avoided the fight. But you didn't. Most people in this school only care about themselves."Ethan looked at her sincerely."Because I was tired of being the kid everyone walked over," he said. "I was tired of watching people get hurt just because someone stronger thought it was fun. If standing up to him makes even one person feel braver… then it was worth it."Lila stared at him, her expression softening. In that moment, she wasn't just looking at the boy who'd suddenly become a genius and an athlete. She was looking at someone with real character."That's why I wanted to talk to you," she admitted. "I've seen you alone in the library for months. I always thought you were quiet, not weak. When you aced that exam… I knew there was more to you than everyone thought."Ethan's heart skipped a beat.[Ding!][Host has gained significant favor from Lila Chen.][Reward: Charisma increased by 15 points.][New passive ability unlocked: Natural Leadership.]
Before Ethan could respond, a loud engine roared up the street. A shiny black sports car slid to a stop in front of them. The window rolled down, revealing a sharply dressed man with sunglasses and a calm, professional expression."Mr. Reed," the man said. "I'm Kane, your personal assistant. I was instructed to pick you up and take you to your new residence."Ethan froze.New residence?Lila's eyes widened in shock. "Mr. Reed? Personal assistant? New residence?"Ethan quickly gestured for the man to wait, then turned to Lila, flustered."I… I can explain this. It's a long story," he said.Kane smiled faintly from the car. "Your penthouse is fully prepared, sir. The system has arranged everything."Ethan mentally cursed the system for being so dramatic.Lila looked back and forth between Ethan and the luxury car, completely stunned. The boy who'd been a nobody just days ago had a personal driver and a penthouse?"Ethan… who exactly are you?" she asked, half amused, half incredulous.Ethan took a deep breath. He couldn't tell her the whole truth, but he didn't want to lie to her either."I'm still the same Ethan," he said gently. "Just… with a few new opportunities. I promise I'll explain everything when the time is right."Lila studied him for a moment, then smiled."Okay," she said. "I'll wait. But you owe me a proper explanation. Over study session. For the math competition."Ethan relaxed and smiled back. "Deal."He waved goodbye and climbed into the car. As it pulled away, he watched Lila standing there until she disappeared from view.[Ding!][Host has successfully maintained trust with key character Lila Chen.][Math competition preparation progress unlocked.][New Quest: Prepare for the regional math competition.][Objective: Gather the math team and begin official training.][Reward: Advanced Intelligence Boost, $25,000 cash, competition strategy package.]
Ethan leaned back in the leather seat, staring at the city passing by.He had money.He had power.He had respect.And for the first time, he even had someone who truly saw him.The old Ethan was gone.The new Ethan Reed was just getting started.