Max shuffled into the kitchen, phone in hand, and stared at the shelves and fridge like they were some kind of puzzle. His family didn't exactly stock up on health food. There were frozen pizzas, instant ramen, a loaf of white bread, and half a jar of peanut butter. Not exactly the stuff of bodybuilding legends.
Still, he wasn't going to let a little thing like lack of supplies stop him. He opened the freezer, pulling out a package of frozen chicken breast. It was freezer-burned, but it'd have to do. Next, he found a dusty bag of rice in the back of the pantry and a wilted head of broccoli in the crisper drawer.
"This… is not what I imagined when I thought about meal prepping like a pro," Max muttered, turning the broccoli over in his hand. He shrugged. "Gotta start somewhere."
He set to work, Googling how to cook chicken on the stove while rinsing the rice in a strainer. He filled a small pot with water, tossing in a pinch of salt before dumping the rice in. Meanwhile, he thawed the chicken in the microwave, grimacing at how sad it looked when it came out.
As he heated a pan on the stove, the system chimed softly in the corner of his vision.
Tip: Cooking your own meals is the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. Keep it simple—lean protein, whole grains, and vegetables are all you need to start!
Max chuckled. "Alright, coach. I hear you."
He added a drizzle of oil to the pan and placed the chicken in with a satisfying sizzle. The sound filled the tiny kitchen, and for a moment, Max felt… competent. Like he was actually doing something good for himself. He seasoned the chicken with salt and pepper—probably not as fancy as what the pros ate, but it was better than nothing.
The rice simmered, the broccoli steamed in the microwave, and soon Max had something resembling a real meal sitting on a plate in front of him. It wasn't pretty, but it smelled surprisingly decent. The chicken was a little overcooked, the broccoli slightly mushy, but he didn't care.
The system chimed again, and a notification popped up.
Quest Completed: Fuel for Change!
Reward: +1 Muscle Growth
New Module Unlocked: Nutrition Guide
Muscle Growth: Minimal → +1 (Beginner)
Max grinned as the faint warmth returned, this time settling in his chest and shoulders. He could swear his muscles felt slightly firmer, though it might've just been his imagination. Either way, the system had made something as mundane as cooking feel like a victory.
He tapped on the Nutrition Guide module, which opened up a new screen filled with colorful charts and tips.
Nutrition Guide:
Daily Calorie Goal: 2,200 (for weight loss and muscle gain)
Macronutrient Breakdown:
Protein: 150g
Carbs: 180g
Fat: 60g
Tip: Start tracking your meals! Use simple recipes with whole foods, and avoid processed snacks.
Max whistled, scratching the back of his head. "Guess that's the next step, huh?" He took a bite of his chicken, chewing thoughtfully. "Could use some seasoning," he muttered, already making mental notes for the next time.
The evening passed quietly as he finished his meal and tidied up. For the first time in a long while, he felt a flicker of hope. The system wasn't just some gimmick—it was holding him accountable, pushing him forward step by step.
Later that night, lying in bed, Max opened the Progress Visualizer again. The holographic version of himself appeared, and he stared at it for a long moment. It still looked like him, but the faintest hint of change was there. His shoulders seemed slightly broader, his posture a bit straighter.
He reached out to touch the screen, the faint glow lighting up his room. "Someday," he whispered. "Someday, that's gonna be me."
With that thought in mind, Max closed the interface and drifted off to sleep, his muscles sore but his heart lighter than it had been in years. Tomorrow was a new day, and for once, he couldn't wait to face it.
Max groaned as the shrill buzz of his phone yanked him out of sleep. He rolled over, blindly fumbling for it on his nightstand. His hand knocked over a water bottle, his alarm clock, and finally found the phone, shutting off the noise with a groggy swipe.
Blinking at the bright screen, he saw the time: 6:30 a.m. A notification was plastered across the top.
System Alert:
Morning Challenge Available!
Name: Rise and Grind
Objective: Start your day with 10 minutes of activity (stretching, walking, or light cardio).
Reward: +1 Stamina, Improved Morning Energy
Max squinted at the words, his brain still foggy. He rubbed his face, groaning. "It's too early for this," he mumbled, tossing the phone back onto the bed.
But as he lay there, staring up at the ceiling, the thought of ignoring the challenge gnawed at him. The memory of how good it had felt yesterday—the push-ups, the meal prep, the little progress he'd made—crept into his mind. This system was giving him a chance to finally be who he always wanted to be.
He let out a heavy sigh, tossing the blanket aside. "Alright, alright. I'm up."
His legs swung over the edge of the bed, and he stretched, wincing at the soreness in his chest and arms. The push-ups from yesterday had definitely left their mark.
"Morning activity, huh?" he muttered, glancing at the system notification still glowing faintly in the corner of his vision. "Guess I'll start small."
He grabbed a hoodie and some sneakers, shuffled downstairs as quietly as he could so he wouldn't wake his parents, and stepped out into the cool morning air. The neighborhood was still and peaceful, the faint orange glow of the sunrise peeking over the rooftops.
Max opened the system interface, and a countdown began.
Challenge Timer: 10:00
Start Moving!
He started with a few light stretches, rolling his shoulders and bending to touch his toes—well, almost touch his toes. The stiffness in his hamstrings reminded him how long it had been since he'd done anything remotely athletic.
"Okay," he muttered, standing upright and shaking out his arms. "Time to move."
He set off down the sidewalk at a slow, steady pace. His steps were awkward at first, but as he walked, his body seemed to loosen up. The cool air filled his lungs, and he began to pick up the pace, falling into an easy rhythm.
The system chimed softly as he walked, displaying his step count.
Step Count: 432/5,000
Max smirked. "Guess this counts toward the cardio quest too. Killing two birds with one stone."
By the time the timer hit zero, Max was back at his front door, his breath steady and his heart beating just a little faster.
Challenge Complete: Rise and Grind
Reward: +1 Stamina, Improved Morning Energy
Stamina: 2 → 3
The warmth spread through his body again, this time settling in his legs. He felt… lighter somehow, like moving around wasn't as much of a chore as it usually was.
He headed back inside, glancing at the clock on the wall. It was still early, and he had time before school to shower, eat, and maybe even tackle another quest.
As he climbed the stairs, the system pinged again.
Daily Reminder:
Fuel your day with a high-protein breakfast!
Max chuckled, already thinking about what he could throw together. Eggs, maybe? He wasn't sure if there were any left, but he'd make do. For once, he was starting his day on the right foot.
And it felt good.
As Max stepped into the house, the familiar creak of the front door echoed softly through the quiet home. He kicked off his sneakers, the cool air from outside still clinging to his hoodie. As he made his way toward the kitchen, he froze when he saw his mom sitting on the couch in the living room, sipping a mug of coffee and scrolling through her phone.
"Morning, Mom," Max said, his voice casual but a little strained.
She looked up, raising an eyebrow at him. "Morning. You're up early. Where were you?"
Max hesitated for half a second, then shrugged, playing it off. "Just went for a walk," he said, continuing his path toward the kitchen.
His mom's eyebrows rose higher. "A walk? At this hour? That's… new."
He chuckled nervously, opening the fridge to avoid her gaze. "Yeah, figured I'd, uh, start moving more, y'know?"
"That's good," she said, her tone a mix of surprise and approval. "You've been saying you wanted to be more active for a while now. I'm proud of you for actually doing it."
Max paused, his hand lingering on a carton of eggs. Her words hit harder than they should have, and for a moment, he felt a pang of guilt for not telling her the full truth. But the system… it wasn't something he was ready to share yet. How would he even explain it?
"Thanks, Mom," he said, his voice softer this time. "Just trying to make some changes, I guess."
"Well, good for you," she said, leaning back into the couch. "Don't overdo it, though. You're just starting out."
"I won't," Max replied, grabbing the eggs and setting them on the counter. He pulled a frying pan from the cabinet and turned on the stove, his thoughts swirling as he cracked a few eggs into the pan.
The system's presence lingered in the corner of his vision, quietly tracking his movements and progress as he cooked.
Tip: A high-protein breakfast fuels your muscles and keeps you full longer. Combine eggs with vegetables or whole grains for optimal nutrition.
Max glanced at the fridge again and spotted half a bell pepper and some spinach left in the crisper drawer. He pulled them out, chopping the pepper into uneven chunks and tossing everything into the pan with the eggs. It wasn't fancy, but it would do the job.
As he worked, his mom appeared in the kitchen doorway, holding her mug. "You really are serious about this, huh?"
"Guess so," Max said with a small smile, stirring the eggs. "Figured it's time to stop just talking about it and actually do something."
She smiled warmly at him, her expression softening. "I'm glad, Max. You deserve to feel good about yourself."
He nodded, focusing on his cooking to avoid getting too emotional. Her words meant more to him than he wanted to admit, but there was no way he was ready to tell her about the system just yet. This was his journey, and he wanted to prove to himself that he could stick with it before sharing it with anyone else.
Max plated his scrambled eggs and vegetables, grabbing a slice of whole-grain toast he'd managed to dig out of the pantry. He sat at the table, digging in as his mom returned to the living room.
As he ate, the system chimed softly again.
Quest Completed: Healthy Breakfast!
Reward: +1 Stamina, +1 Muscle Growth
Stamina: 3 → 4
Muscle Growth: 1 → 2
The familiar warmth spread through his body, this time settling in his arms and legs. Max smirked to himself, feeling a little stronger and a little more confident.
This was only the beginning.