to work, had dinner with his family, and spent time playing video games with his friends. Yet, there was always t

h bookkeeping projects hours ahead of schedule, leaving him with an unsettling amount

Mr. Harris said, his voice tinged with suspicion.

ly. "Just staying

e could retain every number, every transaction with perfect clarity, reducing the workload to nothing more

-

h his family, the sounds of clinking silverw

sked, "anything excit

etty routine. Just handling reports, fil

oo boring!" she said with a grin, twirling a fork full of spaghetti. "You should com

esides, I've been there, done that.

aos that middle school brings," Amilia retorted wi

prised, Amilia. I think your brother has a wa

kind of observation. He played it off as just another dinner conversation,

is system gave him an edge no one else had. But no. Alex quickly

-

strategy game, trying to outmaneuver each other in a battle of wits. Normally, Alex wou

?" his friend Ben asked, frustration clear in his

, Kyle, chimed in. "It's like you

tugged at the corner of his

saw the game's strategies, calculated his friends' likely moves, and adjusted his own tacti

opponent, be the undisputed king of their friend group. But after a few more minutes, Ale

" wasn't something he could sustain for long. It left him drained if he pushed it too far. And besid

chair and sighed. He could feel the itch to do more-to see just how far the syst

-

ker Jane greeted him at the door with her usual

h the company longer than he had, and they had developed a friendly rapport. She was alw

walked inside together. "It's a mystery-thriller, kind of like th

aven't had time to check it

ruth. You should totally

eries in a weekend wasn't just possible-it would be effortless. He could probably recall every scene with photogra

Alex half-listened, focusing instead on the day ahead. He had a few reports to finish up, b

to do more-to use the system's full potential in ways that went beyond simple bookkeepin

all, he had plenty of time to figure out just how far t

ar job, regular friends, and a not-so-regula