"Urgh… headache… one star… my back hurts. I didn't bring Panadol for quick relief." He stumbled into a trash can.
"Ugh, I'm going to stink later… oh well, at least I didn't hit the ground, or I'd be dead." He quickly got up from the area.
"But where am I? What's my task again? Huh? The tablet!" He tried to turn the tablet back on, but the battery was dead.
"Man, my life is so sad… while I figure this out, might as well walk around."
He looked around the modern area. Adrian held his head, perhaps a side effect of what Professor Zach had done to him, though he didn't know exactly what had been done.
"Everything seems normal… nothing seems—huh?" He saw a boy being harassed by a group of teenage girls.
"Usually, it's teenage boys harassing girls. This is the other way around… I can't let this happen." Adrian ran toward them.
"Don't, sis! I didn't do anything, I swear!" The girls, dressed like gangsters, grabbed the boy with sinister smiles, followed by their friends.
"Little kid~ haha."
"Hey, stop that!!" They looked at Adrian, seeing him as a nuisance.
"Oh? Someone wants to play hero." They approached Adrian with fierce expressions.
"Oh man… looks like I'll have to fight them, like in anime." He thought to himself. With pride, he stepped toward them.
"Heh, ready to get beaten?!!"
"Bring it on! Dark Knight!" Adrian tried to dodge the fast attacks.
"Hey hey, calm down! Whoa! If you keep this up, you'll ruin your beauty!"
"Shut up!" The girl continuously attacked him.
"Stop—ouch!" One punch landed, sending Adrian flying backward. The girl smirked with satisfaction while her friends cheered.
"Take that!"
"Urgh… no way I can lose to girls…" Adrian steadied himself and thought quickly.
"Kneel, and maybe I'll forgive you," Amy laughed.
"Me? Kneel? Hah! Never! POLICE!! HELP!" Adrian shouted loudly.
"Where?!" They panicked and looked around.
"There's no—wait, huh? Where did those two go?!"
For a moment, the girl felt tricked by Adrian's bluff.
"Amy, they ran away!" one of her friends shouted, pointing to where they fled.
"This can't happen." Amy immediately got on her motorcycle and sped off.
"Oh no!! Kid, hide somewhere."
"Huh? Where?"
"Umm… anywhere… over there." Adrian pointed to nearby bushes.
"But what about you?"
"Don't worry, I'm the main character."
"Isn't the main character supposed to lose first?"
"Huh?" Suddenly, Amy appeared behind him.
"HAHAHA, found you!"
"Oh no, is this what they mean by 'if it's meant to be, it'll happen'?"
"Stop joking around!!" Amy dramatically turned off her bike and kicked at Adrian, but he dodged.
"What now… huh, a river? Looks like I have no choice." Adrian led Amy toward the river, blocking her attacks. Amy didn't notice his strategy.
Once they reached the riverbank, Adrian gently kicked Amy into the water. Being too aggressive could lead to a court case.
"Ha—" Unexpectedly, Amy grabbed Adrian's leg, pulling him in as well.
"Huh?" They both raced to the surface. Adrian pushed Amy aside, but she grabbed his pants.
"HUH?! Blup blup blup!! (Don't pull my pants!!)"
Amy smirked evilly and shoved Adrian back. They both eventually made it out.
"Huff huff… heh, take that," Amy taunted while catching her breath.
"Huff huff… so… why were you chasing me?" Adrian asked.
"…Ah, where's the kid?"
"He went home. Why did you mess with him?"
"He let his dog pee on my bike."
"Hah." Adrian paused. Maybe he should've looked at the situation better. His brain cells must have just started connecting.
"So… now what?" Adrian glanced at Amy and noticed something red. He quickly looked away.
"A great heaven," he whispered to himself.
"I guess I'll let that kid go… why is your face red?" Amy looked at him curiously.
"I… saw… something… red… beautiful."
"Huh?" Amy glanced at her body and realized what Adrian meant.
"You perv! Prepare to get hit!!"
"W-Wait!" Boom. A red mark appeared on Adrian's cheek.
"Ow…"
"You cry from one hit? You're weak, man." Amy tried to think of a name.
"Bob? Steven? Abdul?"
"My name's Adrian."
"Oh, Adrian." Amy nodded.
"So, what's your name?"
"Just call me Amy."
"Hey, can I ask you a favor? Also i hope your name is not copyright"
"No, name is universal...also, what is a favor?" Amy grew suspicious.
"Can I stay at your place for the night?"
"I thought—Hah? Why? We just met!" Amy was shocked. Not a little, but a lot.
"Because… I have nowhere to stay."
"You're homeless? But you don't look like it from your clothes."
"Well um…" Adrian tried to think of a good excuse. (There's no way she'd believe I'm from another dimension… Even the readers wouldn't believe that.)
"Because I can."
"Wow, so confident! I'll ask my sister first. You're weird." Amy called her sister.
"Sis, some random dude wants to stay at our place… and he's a guy. Can he?" Amy spoke to her sister. After a brief chat, her sister agreed. (with power of MC, finally he get what he want, congratulation Adrian)
"So, you'll stay with me and my sister for now. But behave!" Amy grabbed Adrian's shoulder. "If you spy on me, my sister, or the neighbors, you're done!"
Adrian's life changed a little while staying at Amy's house. He thought about the tablet Professor Zach gave him.
"Huh, it still works, even after going in the river. What is this made of?" Adrian inspected the tablet.
"Peh, feels like Nokia-level durability." He almost threw it but stopped himself. (Don't, you'll get kicked out.)
He picked up Amy's charger.
"Alright, let's see what's inside this tablet. Any games?" He booted it up, but only data appeared.
"Come on! No games… but it's useful… summon items? Like Doraemon… Can I summon a phone?" A brand-new phone materialized.
"Whoa! Real or fake? Real! Wow!!"
He pondered. "Can I summon a waifu?"
'Only real things can be summoned.'
"Darn it… at least let me try."
No, you won't do anything if I give you that.'"Ummm, can I get a power that lets me possess people, or instant kill, or maybe a book where writing someone's name causes their death?"
'No, that would make you overpowered. That's why you were nerfed from the start,' the tablet's notification warned him.
"Well, never mind then… haish, a little bit–"
"Adrian, can I come in?" Amy knocked on the door. Adrian quickly hid his phone and tucked the tablet away before opening it.
"What is it, Amy?" Amy sat on the bed, watching Adrian.
"Starting tomorrow, I have to go to school."
"Hah? A gangster like you goes to school?"
"Shut up, or I'll hit you with a frying pan. Besides, they're all my close friends," Amy clenched her fist, pretending to punch Adrian.
"Sorry, can't even joke around… so what does that have to do with me?"
"You have to go too."
"Huh? Why?" Adrian was puzzled.
"Because the government made it mandatory for 17-year-olds to attend school."
"Wow, I didn't know the government cared so much about youth education."
"What era are you living in? That's been enforced for ages."
Adrian pondered for a moment. "Hmm, how would I know? I'm from a dimension where the king only cares about himself… but fine, I'll give it a try," he thought.
"But do you have the documents for registration?"
"Yes… yes, I do. Don't worry, I can handle it." Adrian avoided Amy's gaze, thinking about what he needed.
"Alright then, I'll go pack my stuff and prepare for tomorrow."
"What should I wear tomorrow?"
"It's your first day of school; you can't just wear a T-shirt. You might get kicked out on the first day." Amy stood up and left Adrian's room. He got up and closed the door behind her. Adrian grabbed the tablet and created his own documents, including personal information and a transfer certificate from his "previous school." He wasn't sure which school he pulled it from. Let's just call it a sample.
"Hmm, exam grades? I'll keep it average—some A's, B's, and one C… done. What else? Let me Google it real quick." The transcript he created was 100% identical to a real school record.
"Heh, I learned this from a manga." (Wait, how do you know manga?) "I don't know, but I've read it before… wait… déjà vu… can't remember which manga." Adrian stretched.
"All done. I'm getting sleepy… let's sleep." Adrian turned off all the lights except for the fan—too hot without it. Finally, he went to bed. In the quiet of the night, he dreamed of two figures—his mysterious parents. Their names, ages, and why his sister never appeared in his dreams remained unknown.