A Day of Unexpected Turns

Lenny woke up early that Friday morning, the alarm buzzing in his ear a full hour before he had planned to start his day. His Warrior System had already updated his daily tasks, and for the first time, they felt more intense than usual. He rubbed his eyes and squinted at the screen on his phone, the numbers and words stark against the pale morning light creeping in through his curtains.

Updated Tasks:

Jog 3 km (+60 XP)

Do 60 Push-ups (+60 XP)

The previous day's walk had been easy enough, but today was different. The jog required more effort, and the push-ups had doubled in number. Lenny sighed, not particularly looking forward to the increase, but the thought of his steadily growing strength was enough to get him moving. He dressed quickly in his usual jogging gear and tied his sneakers tightly.

His mom was still asleep, as was his younger sister, Lizzy. His dad, however, was already up, preparing for work as usual. Lenny slipped out of his room, careful not to make too much noise. As he walked toward the front door, he saw his dad in the kitchen, sipping his coffee.

"Morning, Dad," Lenny greeted, stretching his arms above his head.

Jared looked up from his mug, a half-smile appearing on his face. "Good morning, son. You up early today?"

"Yeah, just heading out for my jog," Lenny said, already feeling the cold air from the open door. "Thought I'd start the day right."

Jared raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "Jogging now, huh? Guess I'll be seeing less of you on the couch, huh?"

Lenny chuckled, shaking his head. "You know I'm just following some... personal goals."

His dad gave him a scrutinizing look, sensing there was something more to it than just a spur-of-the-moment decision. Lenny had been more active recently, and Jared had noticed the subtle changes in his son. The increased energy, the way Lenny's clothes seemed to fit a little differently, how his confidence had been steadily building.

"Well, I'm glad to see you taking things seriously," Jared said, his voice a little warmer. "You know, when I was your age, I never thought much about health or exercise. I was too busy with other things. But I wish I'd started earlier. Keep it up."

Lenny smiled, feeling the warmth of his dad's approval. "I will. Have a good day at work, Dad."

"You too, son. Don't overdo it."

With that, Lenny jogged out the door, the cool morning air hitting his face as he stepped onto the sidewalk. He had a long way to go, but he felt a strange sense of pride. It wasn't just about the XP anymore—it was about proving something to himself.

As he made his way through Silversun City, he thought about his dad's words. His dad was right. If he could stick with this, if he could keep getting better every day, maybe there was something more for him than just the life he'd always known. Maybe this Warrior System could lead him to something bigger, something beyond the ordinary life his parents had always envisioned for him.

His thoughts were interrupted by a small group of students walking in the opposite direction, their voices full of nervous excitement. The nationwide tests looming over everyone were the talk of the campus. The tests would be held on Monday, and the rumors were flying.

"Have you heard about the tests? They say it's going to be brutal."

"I don't know, I've been studying, but I don't think I'm ready. What if I mess up?"

"I'm just going to go in and do my best. I'm sure we'll all make it."

Lenny's ears perked up as he jogged past them. The tests were starting to feel more like a looming storm rather than just another academic hurdle. People were excited but also terrified, and the pressure was mounting. It wasn't just about academics anymore; this test would decide who would be eligible for the military training programs, including roles like warrior and pilot.

The rest of the jog passed in a blur, the thoughts of the upcoming test swirling in his head. By the time he reached the university gates, he was sweating but feeling invigorated. He hadn't expected to feel this good after a 3 km jog, but the rush of adrenaline was a powerful motivator.

When he entered the main building and walked into the AI Theory lecture hall, he was greeted by the usual sea of students. The air felt tense, and the murmur of whispered conversations filled the room. Everyone was on edge about the tests, their excitement palpable.

"Hey, Lenny," Emma's voice called from across the room. Lenny turned to find her waving at him, her usual bright smile a little more subdued today, as if she, too, was feeling the weight of the upcoming test.

"Hey, Emma," he replied, walking over to her. "You ready for Monday?"

"I don't know. I guess we'll see," she said with a laugh, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "It's kind of hard to concentrate with all the uncertainty in the air, you know?"

Lenny nodded in agreement, but before they could continue the conversation, the professor, Dr. O'Donnell, entered the room. He was a tall man in his forties, his glasses perched on the tip of his nose, and his hair slightly disheveled, like he'd been awake far too early to deal with the excitement of his students.

"Alright, settle down, everyone," Dr. O'Donnell called, his voice commanding despite its casual tone. "Today's class is going to be a little different. We're doing a pair competition. You'll form pairs, and each pair will complete a coding task. The winner gets to show their work to the class. This will be a good exercise for Monday, so pay attention."

Lenny exchanged a glance with Emma, who grinned at him. "I'm picking you, if you're up for the challenge."

He nodded. "Let's do it."

The task was simple enough: they had to write a quick algorithm to sort a series of data points, something that Lenny and Emma could both do in their sleep. But the catch was the time limit. They had twenty minutes, and only the best execution would win.

As the clock started, Lenny and Emma worked seamlessly together, each of them focusing on their respective parts. Lenny handled the back-end logic, while Emma focused on the front-end presentation. They worked quickly, the tension in the air adding a sense of urgency to their every movement.

With only a few seconds left, Lenny saw the algorithm finally take shape, the numbers falling into place like puzzle pieces. But Emma's front-end design had one last touch to finalize.

"Done!" Emma called, and they both exhaled in unison.

Dr. O'Donnell walked over to check their work, his glasses reflecting the glow of their computer screens. He reviewed their code silently, nodding to himself as he read. After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke.

"Impressive. Both of you did well. Lenny, Emma, you've got this one."

Lenny felt a rush of pride. They had won, narrowly, but they had done it. And Emma was beaming at him.

"Dinner tonight?" she asked, her smile wide. "I'm going out with a few friends—would love for you to join us."

Lenny, still riding the high of victory, agreed without hesitation. "Sounds good. I'll be there."

After the class ended, Lenny had some time before his next class at 1 pm, so he decided to head to the washroom. As he walked through the hallways of the university, he heard a muffled voice coming from one of the stalls.

"You're looking real good today, Emma. How about we hang out sometime?"

Lenny's senses immediately sharpened. He recognized the voice—it was a guy who had been in a few of his classes. The tone was aggressive, and Lenny could tell Emma wasn't comfortable.

Without thinking, he pushed the door open, his eyes locking with the guy who was blocking Emma's path.

"Hey, get lost," Lenny said, his voice steady but firm.

The guy sneered. "And who's going to make me?"

Lenny stood his ground. "I am."

There was a tense moment where neither of them moved, but the guy finally scoffed and backed away, muttering something under his breath as he left the washroom.

Emma, looking relieved, gave Lenny a grateful look. "Thanks, Lenny. I didn't know what to do."

"No problem," he said, giving her a small smile. "Just stick with your friends next time."

She nodded, her eyes softening. "I will."

As they left together, Lenny felt something shift between them. It wasn't just about the fight. It was about trust, about standing up for each other, even when things felt uncertain. It was the beginning of something, a bond that was growing stronger by the day.