Playing an Original

Allen woke up to the sound of his phone buzzing against his nightstand, the early morning sunlight filtering through the thin blinds of his apartment. He groggily reached for his phone and squinted at the screen. It was a text from Benji:

"Yo, let's grab some lunch today. My treat, to celebrate all that crazy stuff happening for you!"

Allen smiled slightly and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He still felt the excitement from yesterday's call with Brightest Star lingering in the air like a charge. The competition was the opportunity he'd been waiting for, but it also brought with it a new sense of pressure.

He rolled out of bed, stretching, and made his way to the small kitchenette. The place was as cramped as ever—dishes piled up in the sink, a couple of empty takeout containers on the counter. It wasn't glamorous, but it was home, for now at least.

His thoughts drifted to his stats, which had been ticking in the back of his mind like an ever-present clock.

Vocal Talent: 4/10

Guitar: 3/10

Songwriting: 3/10

Charisma: 4/10

Appearance: 4/10

Intelligence: 5/10

He had 650 showbiz points, which wasn't enough to make any game-changing upgrades. And while he wasn't entirely sure what he wanted to improve next, he knew he had to get out there and do something. Perform, practice, write—anything that could earn him more points. His gaze wandered to his guitar, leaning against the wall near the door.

His phone buzzed again, this time with a notification from the system:

New Quest Available: Prove Your Street Cred

Objective: Perform at least five original songs during a busking session. The performance must attract an audience of at least 20 people.

Reward: 1000 showbiz points.

Allen blinked at the screen. It seemed like the system was always pushing him in the right direction, just when he needed it. Busking had worked well for him before, and it looked like it was about to help him out again.

He quickly shot Benji a reply: "Let's grab lunch around 2? I've got something to take care of first."

"Sounds good! See you then," Benji replied almost immediately.

Allen tossed his phone on the bed and picked up his guitar. His fingers ran along the strings as he tuned it, the familiar feeling settling his nerves. He needed to come up with at least five songs, but thankfully, he had been working on a few ideas already. The melodies played in his head as he mentally organized the setlist.

The weather outside was perfect for busking—not too hot, not too cold. The city was alive with the usual hustle and bustle, people moving through the streets, oblivious to the day's significance for him. Allen made his way to the park, the same spot he had played at before, and set up near a large fountain where the foot traffic was steady.

He felt a small twinge of nerves in his stomach. It wasn't the first time he had busked, but the stakes were different now. With Brightest Star on the horizon and the system keeping track of his every move, the pressure to succeed had only increased. He had to attract at least 20 people to complete the quest. That seemed like a small number on paper, but out here, with people walking by in a rush, it could be tricky.

Allen strummed a few chords, his fingers warming up as the sun kissed the back of his neck. He glanced around, waiting for the first group of pedestrians to pass by. A couple of tourists stopped for a moment, listening to his warm-up before moving on.

Okay, let's do this, Allen thought, taking a deep breath.

He started with one of his originals, a mid-tempo song about change and growth, the kind of track that felt appropriate for the moment. His fingers moved instinctively across the fretboard, the notes spilling out into the air. His voice followed, finding its groove as the music filled the space around him.

A few people stopped to listen. It wasn't much at first—a couple walking their dog, a man sitting on a nearby bench. But slowly, as he played, more people began to gather. His heart pounded as he noticed the crowd growing.

Song two was another original, something more upbeat and catchy. He poured his energy into it, watching as a few kids stopped with their parents, tapping their feet to the rhythm. His fingers moved faster, the music flowing naturally now, and he could feel the crowd's attention locking onto him.

By the time he reached song three, the audience had swelled to around 15 people. He was halfway through the quest, and the excitement was starting to build. Allen gave them everything he had, his voice cutting through the noise of the city, his guitar strumming confidently. A couple of people pulled out their phones, recording him. He pretended not to notice, but a flicker of pride surged through him. This was working.

The fourth song was a slower, more emotional track—something raw and stripped down. He saw a few people nodding along, some even swaying gently. A girl in the crowd held her phone out, live-streaming the performance. The thought of being broadcast to a wider audience gave him a sudden jolt of adrenaline, and he pushed harder, letting the emotion pour through his voice.

By the time he hit the final chorus, the crowd had swelled to at least 25 people. Allen grinned inwardly, realizing he'd hit his mark.

For the final song, he chose a personal favorite—a song about his journey, his struggles, and his dreams. The lyrics felt particularly fitting now, as he stood on the brink of something huge. He could feel the connection between him and the audience as they hung on his every word, his every note. It was moments like this that reminded him why he loved music in the first place.

As he played the final chords, a wave of applause rippled through the small crowd. A few people even cheered, and Allen felt the warmth of their appreciation wash over him. He smiled, nodding his thanks as he packed up his guitar.

His phone buzzed in his pocket.

Quest Completed: Prove Your Street Cred

Reward: 1000 showbiz points.

Allen grinned, feeling a surge of satisfaction. The system had come through for him again. He now had 1,650 showbiz points, enough to consider upgrading his stats soon.

As the crowd dispersed, one person lingered—a guy with a camera slung over his shoulder and a notebook in hand. He looked like a reporter, maybe someone who had spotted the live stream and come to check it out in person.

"Hey, man, that was awesome," the guy said, approaching Allen with a friendly smile. "I'm from a local blog that covers music and up-and-coming artists. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"

Allen's heart skipped a beat. This was unexpected, but in the best way. He nodded, trying to keep his cool. "Yeah, sure, that'd be great."

The guy asked him about his music, how long he'd been playing, and what his plans were for the future. Allen answered as honestly as he could, mentioning Brightest Star without going into too much detail. He didn't want to jinx anything.

By the time the impromptu interview was over, Allen felt a new sense of momentum building. Things were starting to happen. People were noticing him. And with the show just a month away, this felt like the perfect start to what could be his big break.

He checked his phone. 12:45 PM. He still had some time before meeting Benji for lunch. His phone buzzed again—it was Sarah.

"How'd busking go today?"

Allen smiled as he typed back. "Amazing. I think I might've just had my best performance yet."

He slung his guitar over his back and began walking toward the restaurant to meet Benji. His thoughts drifted back to his stats. With 1,650 showbiz points now, he was closer to upgrading something important. But what would make the biggest difference for the competition? His vocals were decent, but could be better. His charisma was strong, but there was always room to shine brighter in front of a crowd.

For now, though, he let the satisfaction of completing the quest settle in. He had done it—he had proven himself. And with Brightest Star looming on the horizon, Allen knew that this was just the beginning.