Administrative Issues Come First

The walk home felt lighter than it had in years.

I couldn’t stop replaying the storage room in my head. The way Raine’s fists had bounced off me. The way Max’s little Ultra Instinct assist had made her look completely helpless. And most of all, the moment the light left her eyes when I said the word - ‘Bitch’. One single word and years of her bullshit had finally been put on a leash.

I was still grinning when I decided to check the system.

The Wish-Interface flickered into existence in front of me as I walked.

A bright notification pulsed at the top.

Ability Upgraded

Hypnotic Touch Level 3 Unlocked

I felt a small surge of satisfaction. Fifth girl. Level up complete. Exactly as planned.

I opened the attribute menu. Five fresh points sat there, waiting to be spent. I stared at the Strength bar for a second, remembering how three points earlier had turned me from “pretty fit for a high schooler” into someone who could tank punches from a girl who had trained for years as a softball athlete. Raine had swung on me like she meant it, and it had felt like a gentle massage. That kind of jump was no joke.

It did concern me a little that I didn’t feel any smarter after putting points into Intelligence before. No sudden genius insights, no photographic memory. The change was probably more subtle - better focus, quicker thinking under pressure, that kind of thing. Harder to notice day to day. Still, I wasn’t about to ignore it.

I dumped three more points into Strength. A familiar sharp tingle ran through my arms and chest, muscles tightening further under my shirt. Then one point into Intelligence and the last one into Charm.

I closed the interface and kept walking, enjoying the quiet evening air. For once, everything felt under control. Raine was handled. My power was stronger. And the real consequences of what I’d done to her would start kicking in every two hours.

I reached my front door, unlocked it, and stepped inside.

The living room lights were on.

Sarah was sitting on the couch with a textbook open on the coffee table… and next to her, pink hair and all, was Ricole Laurens.

They both looked up when I walked in.

“Yo,” Sarah said casually. “You’re late. We’re studying for the English quiz tomorrow. Ricole needed notes.”

Ricole gave me that same easy, popular-girl smile she always wore after school in the storeroom.

“Hey, Ward,” she said. “Your cousin’s notes are actually decent, so I’m borrowing her for a bit.”

I stood there in the doorway for a second, processing the scene.

Sarah and Ricole. In my living room. Studying together.

Max and I thought the same thing simultaneously.

Oh, fuck yes.