(Author note: It's May 30th, 2005 now)
*RING RING RING*
The first rays of sunlight slipped through the blinds and stretched across the room, landing right on my face. I groaned softly, rolling onto my back as I blinked open. The house was quiet—the calm, early-morning kind of quiet where the world hasn't fully started moving yet.
I've been here 7 days and feeling better since I first came into this world. It seems like my body isn't hurting as much and I guess it's because of the system.
I sat up slowly, stretching his arms over his head until his shoulders popped. Rubbed the sleep from my eyes and swung my legs out of bed, feet meeting the cool floorboards.
A yawn escaped him "Well, new day new morning" I murmured. Time to get my ass up.I got a whole lot of plans for today, as he pushed himself upright and shuffled toward the hallway.
The smell of last night's escapade lingered faintly in the air as I made way into the kitchen. Morning light poured through the window above the sink, casting a warm glow over the room. I flicked on the TV in the living room, then opened the fridge and surveyed the options.
"Eggs it is," I mumbled to myself. I need to go to the store to get more food. It seems like I've used a lot of food since I came here because of my health.
I cracked two eggs into a pan, listening to the familiar sizzle as they met the heat. While they cooked, I set two slices of bread into the toaster and leaned against the counter, watching the pan with slow, comfortable patience. "How long has it been since I was this free" I thought. I don't need to worry about work, bills, family, exs and friends like my past life.
The toast popped making me get out of my thoughts. The eggs slid neatly onto a plate. And within minutes, I was sitting at the small kitchen table, fork in hand, enjoying the simple, satisfying breakfast that always helped me start my day right and to also wake up my brain.
I took the last bite, and glanced toward the window. Outside, the sky had turned a clear, soft blue. A slight breeze rustled the leaves of the tree in his yard. Something about it made me pause.
Maybe I should get a jog in today and explore more of my area and see my neighbors.
I looked down at his empty plate, then at the shoes by the door. It felt like a good morning—one with enough energy to take on a little extra.
Decision made, I rinsed his dishes, went up and bush my teeth and I noticed a scale close by the door and decided to step on it. 71 pounds, not bad. The reason why I didn't check the system is mostly because I don't want to have the hobbit looking at the system 24/7 and looking like a stupid guy just staring.
I've seen it in a lot of fanfics of the mc just staring vacantly like not noticing his weird behavior especially in front of people. Like are you in deep in thought thinking something stupid or inappropriate or are you just mentally challenged. My family in this life already thinks I'm special ed and I really don't want to prove that fact.
I finished brushing and grab what needs to be grabbed and went back downstairs. I slipped into some running shoes and stretched his legs and body for 5 mins than took 10 mins to do some pushups, planks, squats, and jumping jacks. Now going to wait for 5 min to cool down.
[Bodybuilder lv 1 -> 2]
[Muscle Exercise Lv 1 ->2]
I decided to level this up but would be turned off when it leveled up. Mmmm that feels good, Skills are the best.
[Mission: Walk, Jog or Run 3 km (1.8 miles) in 1 Hour.
Rewards: +1 CON
Accept?]
Accept I said as I walked out of the place and close the door behind me. The cool air greeted me as I stepped outside, refreshing and full of promise.
I should walk first for a bit before I start jogging.
[Walking lv 1 -> 2]
[Walking lv 2 ->3]
10 minutes has passed, and my body is a little heated but I'm feeling good. The skills are doing their wonders. Now I think I should start jogging and see how long I can last.
25 mins in and total of 35 mins me being out here my body is aching quite a bit and my breathing is as bad when I first did this. I passed 1.2 miles now and I see huge improvements. Just going to slow down to a walk for 5 mins.
While I was maintaining the right way of walking, I noticed this is like the anime solo leveling, the higher the level the more exp it would take to level up. 5 mins are up and back to jogging.
As I jogged down the quiet street, the world around me slowly waking, I felt the calm rhythm of the morning settle into something brighter—something steady. Each step felt like a small victory, and with every breath, I woke up just a little more.
At the 58 min mark I finished the mission, but I didn't stop there, I decided to run .2 miles to make it 2 miles total, and my guess was right. Finished 2 miles in an hour. I guess I need to start pushing myself more than I thought while I look at the screen.
[+ 1 CON]
[Mission: Walk, Jog or Run 3 km (1.8 miles) in 1 Hour.
Rewards: +1 CON
Accept reward?]
Accept I said in my mind. It was going to be a good day and then I realized something... Where tf am I??? I decided to just walk around to figure out where tf I am at and level up my skill.
[Walking lv 3 -> 4]
18 mins of me just walking and wondering around I happened to find a diner so I went in to get some food inside of me.
I looked at the diner name and the name of this place is called "A Morning at Melody Diner"
(Author note: A morning at Melody Diner is a place I just made up)
I pushed open the glass door of Melody Diner, and the little bell above it gave a cheerful ding. The place had that classic breakfast-diner smell—fresh coffee, frying bacon, warm syrup—and the clatter of plates and murmured conversations filled the air like a cozy soundtrack.
I slid into a booth near the window, the red vinyl seat sighing softly under me. Before I could pick up the menu, the jukebox in the corner crackled to life. A familiar guitar riff poured out-. I recognized it instantly: "Mr. Brightside." A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Morning, hon," a waitress said as she approached with a notepad. Her name tag read Marlene in sparkly letters. "What can I get you started with?"
"Just water for now," I said. "And, uh… I'll take the breakfast combo. Eggs over easy, bacon, and pancakes."
"You got it," she replied, scribbling quickly before heading off.
I leaned back in the booth, letting the jukebox music wash over him. Another song from the mid-2000s followed—this time "Since U Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson. The upbeat chorus echoed through the diner, mixing with the soft rumble of conversations and the hiss of the griddle in the kitchen.
I watched as the morning sunlight crept across the checkered floor, turning the chrome napkin dispensers into tiny mirrors. A couple in a nearby booth shared a stack of pancakes, laughing quietly about something only they understood. Two older men at the counter sipped coffee and debated baseball stats, as they probably had for the last twenty years.
I noticed how simple and comfy in the early 2000, it's pretty comfortable and the houses has style unlike the modern houses I use to see.
Marlene returned with his water, the ice clinking softly in the glass. "Food will be out soon," she said with a smile before moving on to another table.
I took a slow sip and felt the peacefulness settle in. There was something timeless about diners—how they always felt like stepping out of the rush of life, even for just a little while. The music from the jukebox switched again, this time to "Sugar, We're Goin Down." I tapped his fingers lightly against the table, keeping rhythm. I started humming and vibing,
When the food arrived, the plate looked like morning comfort itself: golden pancakes stacked high, crispy bacon, and perfectly cooked eggs. Fuck my stomach grumbled in approval even though I ate in the morning but to be fair I worked out earlier.
"Enjoy," Marlene said before the jukebox behind her chimed into another nostalgic tune. "thanks" I said.
As I ate, I let the music carry him back—back to old memories of car rides, high school summers, and all the Spotify music that didn't exist in this world. "I need to start putting their songs in this world and if I don't, they are missing out" I thought. The diner felt like a bubble outside of time, where the world slowed down just enough for him to enjoy his breakfast, his water, and the throwback soundtrack.
And for a quiet moment, everything felt just right then a notification made my face darken a bit.
[Homer Simpson Intake Lv 1 -> 2]
I forgot I had this shit; I hate this name not going to lie but the effects help me a lot.
I had just finished my last pancake when the mood in Melody Diner shifted—subtle at first, like a draft sneaking under the door. The jukebox kept playing upbeat 2005 songs, but the comfortable hum of conversation around him thinned, replaced by hushed murmurs.
Across the diner, a couple had begun arguing. At first, it was just raised voices—nothing unusual in a place where people came to work out their morning frustrations over coffee. But something about the man's tone made me look up.
The woman—mid-30s, brown hair tied back, hands wrapped tightly around a mug—spoke softly, trying to calm him. The man leaned over the table, face red, voice sharp enough to cut through the entire diner.
"I told you we're not talking about this here," the man snapped.
"Please, Mark," the woman said quietly. "Not now."
But his fist slammed down on the table, rattling plates and making Marlene flinch behind the counter. The few conversations still going died instantly. The jukebox kept playing—"Boulevard of Broken Dreams"—an oddly fitting soundtrack.
Then the man raised his hand.
Not dramatically, not theatrically—just a quick, angry motion that made the woman shrink back against the booth.
And I moved without thinking, stepping In,
I slid out of the booth in one smooth motion, crossing the diner before my brain had fully caught up with my body. In my mind I am screaming "WTF AM I DOING" A couple of other customers gasped, but nobody else reacted quickly enough to intercept what was about to happen.
"Hey," I said firmly trying to keep calm of what I just did, stepping between the man and his wife, my voice low but steady and sexy. "That's enough."
The man blinked, startled, his raised hand pausing mid-air. "Mind your own business," he growled.
"This is my business," I replied "and look at you, I rather look malnourished than looking like Peter Griffen" I thought, not backing up, not breaking eye contact. "You're scaring everyone in here. Sit down and calm yourself, or leave."
[CHA +1|
I ignored that and just silently staring at the man.
A tense silence spread. You could hear the sizzle from the kitchen, the hum of the jukebox, even the clinking of Marlene's nervous bracelets as she clutched her notepad.
The man glared at me—anger flaring, ego bruised—but I didn't budge. I stood solid, grounded, calm. Something in his expression made the man hesitate.
The woman whispered, "Please, Mark… just stop."
Mark's jaw tightened. He lowered his hand, though his breathing was still heavy. "This isn't over," he muttered, glaring at me one last time.
Then he stood, grabbed his jacket, and stormed out of the diner. The bell above the door rattled violently as he shoved it open.
The Quiet After
The tension dissolved slowly, like steam fading from a hot pan. The woman let out a shaky breath. Marlene rushed over, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Are you okay, sweetheart?"
She nodded weakly. "Yeah… yeah, I'm okay. Thank you."
She looked up at Liam with tired eyes.
"Thank you. Really."
I offered her a soft smile. "You don't deserve to be treated like that. Ever."
[CHA +1]
"Is this system a older player?" I thought musingly.
The woman's eyes glistened, but she nodded, holding onto the warm mug as though it anchored her.
Marlene turned to me. "Thank you for stepping in. Most people wouldn't have."
"Well," I said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, "breakfast tastes better when no one's yelling." "What was I suppose to say. My body moved on it's own." I thought.
A small wave of laughter rippled through the diner—light, relieved. The jukebox shifted to a new track, something a little brighter. People slowly returned to their food, but they kept glancing at me with subtle gratitude.
I returned to the booth, my heart still beating a bit faster than usual. I hadn't planned to be anyone's hero today. I just wanted breakfast. Also I think my soul reacted how I was in my past life. I need to control my urges. Is my age affected me in someway. In my past life I also did the same, Fight first and talk later or act first and talk later but I tempered that when I matured.
Sigh But sometimes, the morning has other plans.