Max checked his phone anxiously every few minutes, waiting for a response from Amy. The hours dragged on, and as the evening faded into night, the silence felt louder. He'd made the leap to start this tutoring service, but without clients, it was just an idea.
Finally, his phone buzzed, and he grabbed it quickly, heart racing.
"Amy: Hey, Max! I might know someone! My cousin's kid is struggling with math. I'll let her know about you. What's your rate?"
Max blinked. He hadn't actually expected a reply, much less a potential client so soon. His fingers hovered over the screen before he typed, "$15 an hour. I'm flexible, though."
He waited. A few seconds later, Amy's response came.
"Amy: Sounds good! I'll pass on your info, and she'll probably call you soon. Hang in there, Max :)"
He felt a small surge of relief. It wasn't a done deal, but it was closer than he'd been before. Leaning back, he closed his eyes for a moment, savoring the thought of a possible way out of his routine.
Later that night, his phone buzzed again. This time, it was an unknown number. He picked up, half-nervous, half-hopeful.
"Hello, is this Max?" a voice on the other end asked. It was a woman, sounding hesitant.
"Yes, this is Max."
"Hi, my name's Lila. Amy told me you do tutoring. My son, Kevin, is really struggling with his math class, and I thought I'd give this a try. Do you think you could help?"
"Yes, of course," Max replied, trying to keep his tone calm. "I'd be happy to help. What grade is he in?"
"Sixth grade," Lila said. "He's having a tough time with fractions and basic algebra. I'm willing to pay your rate, but would you mind doing a trial session first?"
"That sounds fair," he said, heart pounding. He wanted to say yes to any conditions she might have just to make this real. "We can schedule a session anytime you'd like."
They set a time for the next evening. After hanging up, Max felt a strange mixture of excitement and dread. This was his chance, but it also meant he'd have to pull off a real lesson—and actually help the kid. This was no longer hypothetical.
The next day, Max spent every free moment preparing. He made lists of math exercises, problems he remembered from high school that might work for sixth grade. He didn't have any fancy resources, but he jotted down example problems in his notebook, scribbling quick notes on how he'd explain concepts.
By the time he arrived for his shift at the cafeteria, he felt more prepared, though exhaustion loomed over him. He was so distracted by his thoughts about tutoring that he barely registered his tasks, moving through them on autopilot.
Amy spotted him during a break and came over with a quick smile. "Hey, tutoring business guy!" she teased. "Did Lila call you?"
Max laughed, feeling more confident now. "Yeah, thanks to you. I have my first session with her son tonight."
Amy's smile grew. "That's awesome, Max! It's a start, right?"
"Yeah, definitely," he said, the weight of his words hitting him. For once, it actually felt like a start.
After work, Max rushed back to his apartment to get ready. He set up a small corner by his laptop, tidying his desk and making sure everything was organized. He didn't have much, but he wanted this first session to go as smoothly as possible.
When the video call came through, he took a deep breath and answered. On the screen, a boy with glasses and messy hair appeared, looking shy and uncomfortable. His mom was there too, but after a quick introduction, she left them to start the session.
"Hey, Kevin," Max said, trying to sound friendly. "So, I hear math isn't your favorite subject?"
Kevin looked away, shrugging. "Not really. I just don't get it."
"That's okay," Max said, nodding. "Math can be tough. Let's start with something small, just to see where you're at. No pressure."
He shared a few problems on his screen, walking Kevin through each step. It was slow going at first. Kevin was hesitant and frustrated, but as Max kept things light and explained things step-by-step, he saw the boy begin to engage more. Max realized he was actually good at this—breaking things down, making the steps seem manageable. And when Kevin finally got a problem right, he couldn't help but smile.
By the end of the hour, Kevin was visibly more comfortable, even a little proud. They'd covered fractions and a bit of simple algebra, and Kevin was getting the hang of it.
"Thanks, Max," Kevin said, a shy smile spreading across his face.
"You did great," Max said, giving him a thumbs-up. "I'll see you next time?"
Kevin nodded, and they ended the call. A few minutes later, Max received a text from Lila, thanking him and confirming she'd like to continue with the sessions.
As he put his notebook away, a new notification from the system appeared:
"Quest Complete: Secure Your First Client. Reward: 10 Coins."
The notification was followed by a slight shimmer on the screen, as if the system was acknowledging this step in a meaningful way. Max tapped on his available coins and saw them updated.
A second message appeared beneath it:
"New Quest Available: Establish Consistent Business Income. Goal: Earn $500 in tutoring fees."
The number made his head spin. Five hundred dollars. That was rent. That was food for the month. He wouldn't have to scrape by. He'd actually be living, not just surviving.
For the first time, he felt like the system wasn't just some mysterious, unreal entity. It was something that was changing his life, one step at a time. He had a real chance here, a path forward that was more than the cafeteria or endless debt.
The next few weeks went by in a blur. Max threw himself into tutoring, gradually building his client list. He advertised through friends, made a simple flyer for online forums, and even posted on community boards. The system nudged him occasionally with tips and small quests, each one giving him a boost in either confidence or resources.
Amy kept checking in, giving him encouragement whenever they saw each other at work. Zach, his old friend from class, noticed the change too. He even asked Max one day if he was "up to something" because he seemed less tired, more alert.
Max shrugged it off, keeping the system a secret. It was too strange, too personal, and he didn't want anyone questioning it or thinking he'd gone crazy.
As the tutoring hours piled up, Max finally reached the $500 goal set by the system. The moment he confirmed the last payment, his phone buzzed.
"Quest Complete: Earn $500 in Tutoring Fees. Reward: 25 Coins."
Max grinned. The coins felt like validation. The system wasn't just about surviving; it was about building. Creating. This wasn't just income—it was the foundation of something he could build a future on.
But the system wasn't done. Another quest appeared:
"New Quest: Expand Your Business. Open Your First Bank Account and Create an Online Payment System. Reward: 50 Coins."
Max sat back, taking it all in. This was real. The system was pushing him to take the next step. He needed a bank account, a place to handle this new stream of income. And once he set up online payments, he'd be able to grow the business even further.
It was more than he'd dreamed possible a few weeks ago. He had a clear goal, a system guiding him, and for the first time, a future that didn't feel like a dead end.
Curious to see just how much his efforts had paid off, he logged into his bank account. He expected to see the regular payments he'd received for tutoring, a bit over $500. But as the screen loaded, his jaw dropped.
The balance was nearly $2,500.
The system's 5x income multiplier had kicked in, silently amplifying every payment he'd earned from tutoring. It wasn't just enough for rent and food; it was enough to give him some breathing room, to make a real start.
For the first time in months, Max felt like he was living, not just scraping by. And the journey was only just beginning.