Nelson’s eyes locked onto Derek. His voice was cold and controlled, but there was venom behind his words. “I don’t have time to play games with you, Derek. Stop talking shit, or I’ll show you exactly what you deserve.”Derek, confident with his goons flanking him, scoffed and laughed mockingly. “You can’t touch me, Nelson. Hah! You’re just all bark, no bite. I've been waiting to get back at you for the shit you pulled a few weeks ago… consider this revenge.”But Nelson had enough. His patience was already thin and it had snapped like a taut string. With slow, deliberate steps, he walked toward Derek, the tension in the air growing with each step. Before anyone could react, Nelson grabbed Derek by the collar with one hand and effortlessly lifted him off the ground. The sheer display of strength shocked everyone. Derek, who wasn’t exactly small—around 200 pounds lean—flailed helplessly in Nelson’s grip.Derek’s face twisted in fear and disbelief. “Let go of me! Now fish!” he sputtered,

The campus gates stood tall ahead with iron bars reflecting dully light from the late afternoon sun. Students walked past in clusters, their voices a low murmur of post-exam relief. Nelson walked shoulder to shoulder with Hibino, his bag slung loosely over one shoulder, and his hands were shoved deep into his pockets."Bro, I think I actually aced that Fundamental Physics paper," Hibino said, his voice buzzing with barely contained excitement. "Like, I mean genuinely aced it. I didn't even have to guess on the last two questions, I just saw the answer and it was as if they were calling out to me to tick ‘em."Nelson smirked. "That's because I taught you everything you know buddy.""Correction: you taught me some things. The rest was natural talent and genius-level intuition.""Uh-huh. Sure."They were laughing when they passed the old oak tree near the exit, it had large branches spreading wide like welcoming arms. And there, leaning against the trunk with his arms crossed and his goo

The taxi glided through the city's arteries, its windows framing a moving portrait of neon and shadow. Hibino sat in the backseat, still clutching the iPhone boxes like they might disappear if he loosened his grip. The new clothes felt strange against his skin—stiffer than his usual worn-out t-shirts, the fabric whispering with every movement. He kept catching his reflection in the window, startling himself each time. That man with the clean jawline and the confident posture couldn't possibly be him.Nelson watched his friend from the corner of his eye with a quiet satisfaction settling in his chest. This was what money was supposed to do, not just fill bank accounts, but lift people, transform them. Give them a fighting chance at the life they deserved.The taxi wound through increasingly exclusive neighborhoods, the buildings growing sleeker and more grand with each passing block. Hibino's eyes widened as they passed a row of townhouses that looked like they belonged in architectura

Hibino walked to the giant screen placed at the far end of the room. He plugged his laptop into it and a series of slides appeared on the screen containing detailed engineering diagrams, material specifications and financial projections.“Good morning, everyone," Hibino began, his voice shaking slightly but then became steadier as he continued. “My name is Hibino Shibasaki. I am a Civil Engineering major at Columbia University, graduating this semester…" “... And I know what you're thinking, he's just a student, what could he possibly know?" He paused, flashing a glance at Mr. Aldridge.“Well, here's what I know. The Manhattan project that was brought up a few minutes ago? It has a fifteen percent lower safety margin than building code requires. In the unfortunate event of seismic activity, the foundation would likely fail within thirty seconds. That's a liability and that's why I'm here.”He clicked to the next slide, revealing a detailed proposal for the retrofitting of the project

The Corvette's engine purred softly as Nelson pulled into the familiar driveway. The old house looked different now, not because anything had changed physically, but because he saw it through new eyes. The chipped paint, the slightly crooked porch step, the overgrown garden his mother had always wanted to tend but never had the energy for. He killed the engine and sat for a moment, letting the silence settle around him. This was one of the moments he'd been working toward since the system first appeared in his life. Nelson stepped out, adjusted his jacket, and walked up to the front door. He didn't knock, this was still his home, after all. "Mom? Irene? I'm back!" he called out, stepping into the narrow hallway. The house was a lot more quiet than he was used to. His heart clenched. The last time it was this quiet, his mother had been having one of her episodes, staring blankly at the kitchen walls like she didn't recognize her own reflection. "Mom?" he called again, his vo