Ryan stood there breathing heavily, the taste of blood faint on his tongue, the smell of spilled alcohol and smoke filling the bar. The broken table pieces under Carl, Joshua unconscious near the counter, and the mess of the bar created an atmosphere that felt like a battlefield more than anything else.

Ryan's chest rose and fell slowly. The adrenaline that carried him through the fight was now fading, leaving behind the weight of exhaustion spreading through every corner of his body.

Daniel wiped his foot on the broken table like it was nothing and looked toward Ryan with a smile that was still bright, still the same as ever.

Ryan took a slow step toward him, arms aching, shoulders burning. His vision was a little hazy, but Daniel's figure still stood out clearly — relaxed posture, hands casually in his pockets, eyes cheerful as if they weren't surrounded by chaos.

Daniel lifted one hand in a small wave. "Ryan," he said with that same warm smile, "damn… you've gotten way too much in shape lately. And way stronger too."

Ryan let out a tired breath, his voice low. "Thanks to Arthur."

Daniel paused — not shocked, but like something clicked. "Ahh, Arthur…" He chuckled softly as he scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, then it makes sense. Arthur's training is… well… Arthur-level."

Ryan nodded slowly. "Yeah."

For a moment they both just stood there — surrounded by knocked-out bodies and broken furniture — as if it was normal.

Then Ryan raised his eyes toward Daniel and asked tiredly, "Why are you here?"

Daniel blinked once, then gave an embarrassed laugh as he rubbed the back of his head again. His voice came out a little sheepish. "Ahh… well… I was here for some fun, you know? Drinks, a little entertainment… just chilling."

Ryan let out a long, exhausted sigh. "Yeah… sure."

Daniel leaned a bit closer, grinning. "And then I heard some noise — loud ones — so I came to check. And guess what? It was you. In your small hoodie disguise. Trying to fight alone."

Ryan clicked his tongue softly and looked away. "Yeah… sure."

Daniel's smile didn't fade, but his tone softened slightly. "So I jumped in. Thought you might… you know… appreciate the help."

Ryan sighed again, but this time not from pain — from pure tiredness. "Yeah… thanks."

Daniel's face lit up again. "No problem!"

A second of silence passed before Ryan exhaled sharply. "I have to leave soon."

Daniel's smile dropped instantly — like a kid whose ice cream was taken away. "Ahh man… so cold."

Ryan didn't respond. He turned around, pulling his hoodie up properly this time, checking if his mask was still on right. His legs felt like heavy metal — but he forced himself to walk toward the exit.

Behind him, Daniel watched with a slight pout.

As soon as Ryan stepped out into the cold night air, the System's voice echoed quietly inside his head, like a whispering bell.

[DING!

Side Quest Complete.

Rewards:

(1) Interest of Daniel

(2) Intel about the executives of West High Crew]

Ryan stopped walking for a moment, froze in place, then sighed a long, irritated sigh.

"What the fuck?" he muttered. "Just the intel… and the interest of Daniel? That's hardcore-level difficulty reward. I almost died for this shit. What the actual fuck…"

[System: Not my fault, host. This isn't a cheat code. It's real life.]

Ryan rubbed his face with both hands, dragging his palms down slowly. "You're the worst, you know that?"

The system didn't respond.

Ryan didn't wait for it either. He kept walking, his steps heavy, breath slow, until he reached his apartment. The entire climb up the staircase felt like torture — each step sending a sharp sting up his sore legs.

He opened his door with a tired push, threw his hoodie towards the chair, didn't even bother taking off the mask, just yanked it down from his face and let it hang around his neck.

His bed looked like heaven.

He didn't even sit — he fell straight onto the mattress, face-first, letting his entire body sink into the pillow.

He didn't even know when he fell asleep.

He just blinked once.

And the next moment… it was morning.

Morning Pain — The Reality of Fighting

Ryan woke up with a groan that sounded like someone waking up from a two-year coma.

His whole body ached.

His shoulders felt like they were stabbed.

His knuckles were swollen like balloons.

His ribs felt squeezed.

His back hurt like someone kicked him down several flights of stairs.

"Fff… fuck…" he breathed out slowly, rolling to his side. "I have to do it all over again… no fucking breaks… god damn it…"

[System: Host, do it — and then you'll be able to rest as much as you want.]

Ryan turned his head toward the invisible panel like he wanted to punch it.

"Yeah right… blue bastard…" he muttered. "You said that yesterday too, and I got beaten the hell up."

[Host, it is not my fault that the enemies are stronger. This is not child's play.]

Ryan closed his eyes. "Why the fuck are you talking like Arthur now?"

[Host, I am simply telling the truth.]

Ryan let out a long exhale through his nose and whispered, "System, you're actually a pain in the ass."

The System fell silent — maybe offended, maybe ignoring him.

Ryan didn't care.

He dragged himself out of the bed slowly, washed his face, put on his uniform carefully so it wouldn't hurt too much, and stepped out of the apartment.

School — A Normal Day for Everyone Except Ryan

The day felt long… painfully long.

Every class felt like a blur.

Every voice felt like noise.

Every step felt heavier than the last.

Maya waved at him from across the hallway, her smile bright as always.

Ryan gave a weak nod back.

Arthur passed him near the lockers, eyes sharp as usual, analyzing him silently.

Ryan pretended not to see him.

Leon yelled "YO CAPTAIN!" loudly from somewhere in the background.

Ryan didn't even have the energy to react.

He just wanted the day to end.

When the final bell rang, students rushed out like always. Ryan stayed seated for a moment — staring at nothing, breathing slowly, trying to gather the strength to stand.

His ribs hurt.

His shoulders hurt.

His legs hurt.

His fucking eyelids hurt.

But he still stood up.

Because today was the seventh day.

And they had a meeting.

Arthur — Quiet but Sharp

Ryan walked toward his classroom and spotted Arthur already sitting in his usual seat.

The sunlight caught the side of Arthur's face, making him look like a statue carved out of pure calmness and coldness.

Ryan sat next to him.

Arthur didn't look at him immediately.

But after a second, his eyes shifted… and Ryan felt his sharp gaze scan his face, then his neck, then his arms, then his overall posture.

It was like Arthur's eyes were checking every bruise, every movement, every wince Ryan made.

Arthur finally spoke — voice low, deep, and completely straight-forward.

"…Why are you completely bruised up?"

Ryan froze for a second.

He scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Uh… I'll tell later."

Arthur didn't reply.

He just looked away again, leaning back, closing his eyes like he was done with the conversation.

Ryan swallowed.

Sometimes Arthur was scarier than Daniel.

After a long moment, Arthur opened his eyes again and said quietly, "Today is the seventh day. Our meeting is in Room 212."

Ryan nodded slowly. "Yeah… time went so quickly."

Arthur didn't answer. He just shut his eyes again — not sleeping, just resting them, like someone waiting for time to move.

Lunch Break — The Meeting Begins

The lunch bell rang.

Ryan stood up, slinging his bag on his shoulder carefully so it wouldn't hurt too much.

Arthur stood up as well, calm as always.

They walked side by side through the hallway — Ryan limping slightly, Arthur walking straight and steady as if nothing in the world could bother him.

Students turned to look.

Some whispered.

Some avoided eye contact.

Some nodded respectfully at Arthur.

Ryan kept his focus forward.

Arthur glanced at him once. "You should walk properly."

His ribs hurt.

His shoulders hurt.

His legs hurt.

His fucking eyelids hurt.

But he still stood up.

Because today was the seventh day.

And they had a meeting.

Arthur — Quiet but Sharp

Ryan walked toward his classroom and spotted Arthur already sitting in his usual seat.

The sunlight caught the side of Arthur's face, making him look like a statue carved out of pure calmness and coldness.

Ryan sat next to him.

Arthur didn't look at him immediately.

But after a second, his eyes shifted… and Ryan felt his sharp gaze scan his face, then his neck, then his arms, then his overall posture.

It was like Arthur's eyes were checking every bruise, every movement, every wince Ryan made.

Arthur finally spoke — voice low, deep, and completely straight-forward.

"…Why are you completely bruised up?"

Ryan froze for a second.

He scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Uh… I'll tell later."

Arthur didn't reply.

He just looked away again, leaning back, closing his eyes like he was done with the conversation.

Ryan swallowed.

Sometimes Arthur was scarier than Daniel.

After a long moment, Arthur opened his eyes again and said quietly, "Today is the seventh day. Our meeting is in Room 212."

Ryan nodded slowly. "Yeah… time went so quickly."

Arthur didn't answer. He just shut his eyes again — not sleeping, just resting them, like someone waiting for time to move.

Lunch Break — The Meeting Begins

The lunch bell rang.

Ryan stood up, slinging his bag on his shoulder carefully so it wouldn't hurt too much.

Arthur stood up as well, calm as always.

They walked side by side through the hallway — Ryan limping slightly, Arthur walking straight and steady as if nothing in the world could bother him.

Students turned to look.

Some whispered.

Some avoided eye contact.

Some nodded respectfully at Arthur.

Ryan kept his focus forward.

Arthur glanced at him once. "You should walk properly."

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