The next morning, the sunlight felt a little too bright.
After the situation with Black Widow, the meeting with Fury, and the warning about staying "low profile," he had expected the system to stay quiet for a while. But the moment he opened his eyes, the familiar blue screen shimmered into view.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
New Quest Available: Maintain Dual Identity
Reward: +300 Points, 1 Power Reroll Token
Objective: Release a new hit song while avoiding all government suspicion for 30 days.
He groaned.
"Thirty days? You really want me to multitask like that?"
[Yes.]
Great. The system had started giving attitude.
Still, he knew one thing: music came first. Before the powers, before the weird MCU threats, before secret agents watching the school from disguised vans. Music was the only thing that felt truly his.
And recently… fame was accelerating faster than ever.
A New Song, A New Storm
When he got to school, people were whispering again. Not in a rude way — more like they were trying to figure out a mystery.
"That kid… the 'Blue Echo' singer… does he go here?"
"No way. He'd be surrounded."
"I swear his voice sounds just like the guy in the new track!"
He kept his hood low, pretending not to hear.
Perfect. Still unnoticed.
Sabrina caught up to him at the lockers, breathless.
"You released another song last night, didn't you?"
He blinked. "How'd you know?"
She held up her phone, showing the trending page.
His new remake — 'Lovely' — was blowing up at a speed even faster than 'Idol'.
Comments were piling in. Reaction videos were forming. Small channels were calling it "the mysterious revival of a forgotten classic."
Sabrina stared at him, cheeks pink.
"I don't know how you do it. But… it's amazing."
He rubbed his neck awkwardly. "Thanks. Just trying to keep up momentum."
"You're doing more than that." She nudged him lightly. "You're creating a whole movement."
The Rumors Reach the Wrong Ears
By lunch, news had spread even further — but this time, not among students.
A black sedan parked near the school.
Two men in suits stepped out.
They weren't S.H.I.E.L.D… but they definitely weren't normal.
The system beeped again.
[Warning: Unknown surveillance detected.]
He froze mid-bite of his sandwich.
Sabrina noticed immediately. "Hey, what's wrong?"
He forced a smile. "Nothing. Just thinking about the next song."
But inside his chest, his heart pressed against his ribs.
Was it another government agency?
Were they tracking his singing now?
Did they think his powers were dangerous?
No. No panicking.
Fast pace. Constant movement.
He had to stay ahead.
Training and Tension
After school, he trained again — testing the electromagnetic aura he gained from the last MCU power the system let him copy.
Sparks glowed around his palms as he concentrated.
He could feel the electricity humming beneath his skin.
He was getting stronger. Faster. More capable.
But also… more exposed.
Because someone was watching him train.
A faint rustle in the trees.
A glint of a scope.
Not aimed at him — but observing.
He swallowed hard.
"Okay… whoever that is, they're not here to kill me."
Which meant they were gathering information.
Wonderful.
A Moment of Peace… And a Promise
That night, needing a break from danger and secrecy, he visited Sabrina's house — purely for music work, of course.
She opened the door with her usual shy smile.
"Ready to help me practice?"
He nodded, setting his backpack down.
"Yeah. Let's get you singing without hiding behind your hair."
She laughed softly, brushing it back.
"Baby steps."
They spent an hour practicing scales, breathing, and confidence techniques.
At first she trembled.
Then she wavered.
Then she grew steady.
And then — finally — her voice blossomed.
Soft but beautiful.
Quiet but full of potential.
He felt something warm in his chest.
"You're gonna be great," he said. "Trust me."
Her face flushed a shade darker.
"Only because you believe in me."
For a brief moment, the world outside — the spies, the system, the danger — didn't matter.
It was just them.
Music.
Growing talent.
Growing connection.
The Cliffhanger
As he walked home later, feeling more relaxed than he had in days, the system suddenly flashed again.
[New Event Triggered: INTERFERENCE]
A message followed.
Someone has discovered your true abilities.
Prepare yourself.
His blood ran cold.
Not S.H.I.E.L.D.
Not the school.
Not even the mysterious suits earlier.
A single name appeared on the screen.
[Target Identified: Yelena Belova]
He stopped walking.
"…Oh no."