Daniel didn't expect the second viral clip to change his life so fast.
He didn't expect the first one to, either.
But this one?
This one hit harder.
Because now people recognized him everywhere.
Not like a superstar—more like a persistent rumor that kept following him on sneakers.
Monday morning, on the way to class, two students peeked at him like he was a strange urban legend.
"That's him," one whispered.
"The business kid who roasted that guy without blinking."
"He looks normal, though."
"That's how they lure you in."
Daniel wanted to crawl into a manhole and disappear.
He kept his hoodie up, hands in pockets, eyes forward—but even that felt suspicious.
People were taking photos.
Smiling at him.
Waving.
Mouthing "Brick Guy?" like some kind of summoning spell.
Great.
Fantastic.
Exactly the life I wanted: crippling anxiety with unlimited live observers.
His System chimed.
SYSTEM NOTICE:
FP gained: +7 (overnight organic spread)
Total Fame Points: 47 FP
Forty-seven.
Not enough for anything meaningful.
The System Shop's cheapest Skill Path was 120 FP.
Daniel grunted under his breath.
"Why does fame move slower than my GPA?"
The System did not answer.
It never did unless announcing something inconvenient.
In the lecture hall
Emily was already in her seat, legs crossed, scrolling through her phone like she was hunting someone. She looked up when Daniel entered… and immediately narrowed her eyes at the whispers behind him.
"Did you trend again?" she asked.
"No," Daniel said deadpan.
"I think the internet trended without me. I'm innocent this time."
Emily snorted. "You say that like your face doesn't attract chaos."
Daniel opened his mouth to object but realized… she kinda had a point.
He took the seat beside her, trying to shrink into it.
The room kept buzzing with small murmurs.
Emily leaned closer.
"Seriously, are you okay?"
Daniel blinked.
He wasn't used to her sounding worried.
Annoyed? Sure.
Judgmental? Frequently.
Concerned? That was new.
"I'm… adjusting," he managed.
"Slowly. Very slowly."
Emily nodded softly, eyes more serious than usual.
"You don't have to drown alone, you know."
Daniel froze at that.
But the lecture started before his heart could finish panicking.
Campus Plaza — After Class
Olivia waved him over, her backpack bouncing.
"Daniel! Hey! Wait!"
Daniel turned, smiling awkwardly.
"Hey, uh… good morning—no, afternoon. Time is fake."
Olivia giggled. "You look tired. You've been sleeping at normal hours, right?"
"…Define normal."
Olivia sighed, hands on her hips. "Okay, you need a fixed sleep schedule. Humans cannot run on chaos and noodle cups alone."
"Technically—"
"No. No technicalities. Sleep."
Daniel wanted to protest, but she stared at him with that warm, stern, "nurse mode" expression.
He shrank.
She smiled triumphantly.
Then Olivia's expression changed—subtle worry replacing her smile.
"I heard what happened last week," she said quietly.
"The pushy guy you spoke up to… You weren't hurt, right?"
"I'm fine," Daniel assured. "It wasn't even a fight."
That part was true.
Thank god it hadn't escalated.
Olivia lowered her voice.
"People say he's been asking about you."
Daniel's stomach dropped.
"Who? The guy from the plaza?"
"Yeah… just be careful, okay?"
Daniel forced a shaky smile.
"Don't worry. I'm very allergic to danger."
Olivia laughed softly.
"Good. Stay allergic."
Behind the Plaza
Someone watched from the back steps of the building.
Rocco Varelli leaned on a railing, hood up, phone lowered. His expression was unreadable, eyes locked on Daniel chatting with Olivia.
"He's getting attention. Too much attention," he muttered.
He typed a message to his contact.
ROCCO:
Kid's social stock rising again.
Not intentional. That's what makes it interesting.
A reply came seconds later.
UNKNOWN:
Observe longer. Report anomalies.
Do not interact.
Rocco clicked his tongue.
"Yeah, yeah. Keep watching. That's all I ever do."
He put his phone away.
Daniel laughed at something Olivia said—a soft laugh, brighter than usual.
Rocco tilted his head.
"…Doesn't look like a fighter."
But that wasn't a dismissal.
More like a puzzle.
He stepped back into the shadows, disappearing before anyone noticed.
Lunch Hall — 2 PM
Daniel sat with his tray of rice, chicken, and a drink he regretted buying.
Emily sat across from him.
Olivia sat beside him.
And this alone was enough to draw the attention of half the cafeteria.
The Campus Belle Duo sitting with "Brick Guy."
Ah yes.
Hell.
A guy from another table whispered loudly:
"Is that him? Is he dating both of them?"
Daniel choked on rice.
Emily glared dagger beams across the hall.
Olivia nearly dropped her fork from embarrassment.
"Wha—No!" Daniel sputtered. "We're just—friends! Very platonic! Not romantic! Super not romantic!"
Emily raised an eyebrow.
"…Not romantic?" she repeated.
Daniel panicked.
"I—I mean you're both—uh—very—like—uh… people! Yes! You're people!"
Emily facepalmed.
Olivia giggled, cheeks red.
System Mistakes His Panic for Courage
The System chimed.
SYSTEM NOTICE:
Minor Social Stress Endured.
Award: +1 SP
Daniel stared at the air.
"…I'm getting rewarded for suffering?"
Emily blinked. "Huh? What suffering?"
"Nothing!" Daniel squeaked.
Later That Evening — Daniel's Walk Home
The sun dipped behind Manhattan's skyline.
The street was peaceful.
Quiet.
But Daniel felt something.
A presence.
A pressure.
Not supernatural.
Not mystical.
Just… heavy.
Like someone dangerous had passed by earlier.
His System gave a small hum—nothing alarming, just a soft ping like it sensed something beyond Daniel's comprehension.
Daniel rubbed his arms.
"Why does it feel like trouble is leveling up around me?"
He tried to shrug it off.
He failed.
Someone Else Notices Daniel
In a black SUV parked near the corner, a man lowered his tinted window.
Not Rocco.
Someone older.
Someone heavier, in authority.
Someone watching Daniel's movements like he was reading a map.
He spoke into a phone with a quiet, cold tone.
"Yeah… I saw the kid."
A pause.
"…No. He's not impressive at first glance."
Another pause.
"…But he has something. Something we can't ignore."
He hangs up.
Daniel turns the corner, unaware he's now on multiple radars.
The man smirked.
"This city's getting interesting."