The morning sun filtered through pale clouds, casting a soft glow over the town. Steven woke with a calm confidence, stretching as the system's subtle hum made its presence known.
[Body functions stable. Recovery complete. Strength: +0.5. Agility: +0.5.]
He got dressed, slung his bag over one shoulder, and headed out the door. The same alley greeted him with quiet stillness—no bullies, no threats. Just the wind rustling through trash bins and distant footsteps on pavement.
Steven's strides were steady. Each step felt different now. His body moved in sync with his will, grounded and purposeful. This time, he wasn't just hoping to avoid trouble—he was ready for it.
But no one came.
The alley was clear.
By the time he reached school, the campus was already lively with chatter and footsteps. Students streamed in through the front gates, laughing, gossiping, stretching sleep from their limbs. Steven entered the classroom and quietly took his seat near the window.
Moments later, the door creaked open—and Veronica entered.
She scanned the room quickly, then her eyes landed on Steven. A smile spread across her face, open and genuine. Without hesitation, she walked straight to him and sat beside him, her movements casual but clearly deliberate.
"Hey, Steven," she said brightly. "Why weren't you here yesterday?"
Steven turned to her with a relaxed smile. "I wasn't feeling too well, so I decided to take the day off and rest."
"Got it. Feeling better today?"
"Yeah, much better. I've got a good feeling about today."
"That's awesome!" Veronica opened her bag and pulled out a small container. "By the way, I brought some homemade chocolate chip cookies. Want to try one?"
"Sure, I'd love to." Steven reached into the box and took a cookie without ceremony.
Veronica leaned in slightly, eager. "So? How is it? I made them myself!"
Steven took a bite, paused, and smiled. "No way. You made these?"
"Yup."
"They're amazing. The crunch is perfect, and the buttery chocolate just melts in your mouth. Seriously—these are the best cookies I've had."
Veronica looked pleased, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Really? Thanks!"
Around the classroom, several students had already noticed. Murmurs began to ripple through the room.
"Did Veronica just offer Steven cookies?"
"She's never shared food with anyone before."
"Our goddess… is falling for Steven? Nooo…"
"Man, I was holding onto hope…"
"Can you even dream of the goddess? Let's be real—Steven's the only one who actually has a shot."
"He's good at everything—grades, sports. What girl wouldn't like a guy like that?"
"But what about Leon and Arnold? They've been after Veronica too."
"Steven already crushed Leon. But Arnold… that's a different level."
"Yeah, Arnold's the real deal. His family owns that fashion factory chain. Super rich."
"And he's not just rich. He's smart. Academic star. Went to France on a student exchange."
"Exchange? That was just a front. He went there to study fashion and expand their business. The guy's basically his dad's right hand already."
Back at their desks, Veronica was still smiling as Steven grabbed another cookie. Her posture was relaxed, but her eyes were sharp, subtly scanning the reactions around the room. She knew exactly the kind of effect she and Steven had created—and she didn't seem to mind it at all.
Soon, the teacher walked in, cutting the whispers short. Everyone straightened up. Books opened. The lesson began.
Later, during a free period, many students gathered on the school football field. Some tossed balls around, others lounged on the grass. Steven joined a casual game, jogging across the field.
He wasn't especially skilled—yet.
[Activity Detected: Playing Soccer. Skill Unlocked: Basic Football (Proficiency: 1/10).]
The system activated almost instantly. Muscle memory, positioning, timing—it all clicked into place like puzzle pieces snapping together. Within minutes, Steven was weaving between players, intercepting passes, and setting up clean shots.
On the sidelines, Veronica watched from a bench, her eyes tracking Steven's movements. Her lips curved slightly, the beginning of a smile forming.
Leon, standing nearby, watched too—but with none of the amusement. His expression was hard. Bitter. The way Steven ran. The way Veronica looked at him. It made something burn in Leon's chest.
Unable to hold back, Leon approached her.
"So, you're choosing him now? Steven over me... over Arnold?"
Veronica looked up, unbothered. "I haven't chosen anyone. Steven and I are just good friends."
Leon's tone turned sharper. "You never acted like this with me. Or Arnold."
Veronica exhaled, folding her arms. "Want to know why? Because I actually have standards, Leon. I've known you for a while. You bully people weaker than you and cower when someone stronger shows up. That's not strength, that's cowardice."
Leon flinched slightly but covered it with a smirk.
"And Arnold? He might be smart and rich, but he's a spoiled playboy who leans too hard on his parents' money. Sure, he's impressive on paper—but character matters more to me than a résumé."
Leon's eyes narrowed. "You don't know the real Arnold. You only see what he wants you to see. The moment he thinks he's losing, he turns into something else entirely."
He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Arnold is a venomous snake. He toys with people—wears them down, traps them, and when they can't escape, he crushes them. I'm warning you—if he comes back and sees you getting close to Steven, both of you will be in his sights."
Veronica didn't blink. "Then we'll see how strong Steven really is."
The free period ended. Everyone returned to class. At the end of the last lesson, the teacher stood before the chalkboard and made an announcement.
"Students, the Christmas holiday begins tomorrow. The school will remain closed for a week. Enjoy your break, and please don't forget to revise your subjects. We'll meet again in the new year."
The classroom burst into a mix of cheers and chatter. Plans for the break flew around—ski trips, family gatherings, movie marathons.
Steven quietly packed his things and headed home.
As he neared the familiar shortcut, he noticed Leon slip into the alleyway ahead.
Steven narrowed his eyes. The last time he followed someone into an alley, he got ambushed. This time, he was ready.
He followed at a distance.
Sure enough, he spotted Leon at the far end, talking to the same two college bullies. Their conversation quickly grew heated.
Steven stepped into the open.
"So, you're here," he said coolly. "Perfect. I was hoping we'd meet."
One of the bullies turned, sneering. "Oh, the brat from last time. Didn't we already teach you to stay down?"
Steven smiled. "Guess I'm a slow learner. You might need to teach me again."
The bully snarled and lunged forward with a punch. Steven stepped to the side, caught his wrist, and drove a sharp elbow into his ribs. The man doubled over with a grunt.
The second one charged. Steven twisted into a low stance, swept his leg, and dropped him to the ground. In one fluid motion, he stepped forward and slammed a precise sidekick into the downed man's shoulder.
[Combat Engaged. Martial Arts Skills Activated.]
[Taekwondo: +1. Boxing: +1. Reflexes: +0.5. Strength: +0.5.]
It was over in seconds.
The bullies lay groaning on the ground, no longer laughing.
Steven turned to Leon, who stood frozen, mouth slightly open.
He took a step forward.
Leon's knees buckled. He dropped down, trembling. "Don't hurt me! Please, I'm sorry! I didn't know they'd actually hit you like that—I was just angry! I won't do it again!"
Steven stopped in front of him, gaze calm and unflinching.
"Yesterday, you had them teach me a lesson. Today, I'm returning the favor. Here's your lesson: stay away from Veronica."
Leon's lip trembled. "She's not even your girlfriend..."
Steven smiled faintly. "Not yet. But I'm not competing for a trophy. I'm proving myself to her, day by day. And I'm fine with that. Because my queen should have high standards."
Leon swallowed hard. "Even if I back off... Arnold's still coming back. You can't win against him."
Steven stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"Then let him come."