The next morning came with a question:
Was I ready to let the world see me?
Not the quiet builder in a rented room. Not the kid running street stalls.
But me—the one behind this product, this idea, this version of myself that was beginning to feel real.
The answer was simple.
I wasn't ready.
But I was going to do it anyway.
It started with a name.
Project Forge.
A simple page. A logo I sketched on paper and cleaned up using free design tools at a local library. Black and silver, with a stylized flame forged from resistance bands.
I launched a basic site using a free builder.
Homepage.
"Built from nothing. Designed for everyone."
A product page with photos of the harness. A demo video I filmed in my room, editing awkwardly through free software.
No studio. No lights. Just sweat, honesty, and a voice-over done in one take.
I uploaded everything. Posted links on fitness forums, local community pages, and Reddit threads about minimalist training.
Then I waited.
[System Notification: Public Launch Detected]
You've taken your first step toward full independence.
New Feature Unlocked: Feedback Metrics
Tracks site traffic, product engagement, and user sentiment in real time.
Within hours, the first views trickled in.
Then 43.
My chest tightened.
Some clicked through. One liked the video. Two emailed questions.
Then came the first comment.
"Looks cheap. Why would I buy this over bands from Amazon?"
Then another.
"Interesting idea. Execution looks rough, but I respect the hustle."
Then a DM:
"Hey, I can't afford a gym. Can this really help me train at home?"
I responded to every message. Carefully. Honestly. No marketing.
Just me.
One by one.
Over the next three days, I barely slept.
Orders? Just two.
But traffic kept growing.
50 views became 300. Comments turned into real discussions. Some negative. Most cautious. A few curious.
And then, something happened.
A small fitness blogger named AyakaFit reviewed the page.
"Stumbled on this handmade harness today. Nothing fancy, but the founder's story is worth reading. Real passion. Not sponsored. Just impressed."
That tweet got 200 likes.
My site crashed for two hours.
When it came back online—five new orders.
[System Notification: Minor Viral Spike Detected]
Buff Applied: Momentum Flow – Increased chance of conversion during growth windows.
+2 Intelligence+2 CharismaMilestone Reached: First Week of Business Online
But it wasn't all praise.
One popular forum thread mocked the design.
"Looks like trash from a junkyard. Dude thinks he's Tony Stark with duct tape."
Another user posted:
"This is why DIY startups fail. No polish, no brand. Just desperation."
I stared at the screen for a long time.
Then I closed the browser.
And opened my notebook.
Title: Criticism Worth Keeping
Straps need reinforcement.
Design too raw for premium users.
Lack of certification may turn off serious buyers.
All true. All fixable.
That night, I sat at my desk and whispered something I hadn't said in years.
"Thank you."
To the criticism. To the slow growth. To the version of myself that dared to show up.
Because even if I was getting punched by strangers behind screens—
At least I was in the ring.
The next morning, I dressed early. Packed five harnesses in a reused cardboard box, each one rolled and wrapped neatly with a band of printed instructions.
I was heading to a local weekend fitness expo.
No booth. No sponsor. Just a flyer I printed on gray-scale paper and taped to the back of my box.
PROJECT FORGE "Train Anywhere. Rebuild Everything."
I took a seat near the edge of the crowd. Not inside the event, but just outside—beside the sidewalk where attendees passed by with protein bars and flyers.
Some glanced. Some ignored me. Some laughed.
But one man in gym shorts paused.
He looked down at the harness. Then up at me.
"You selling this?"
"Yeah. 1500 yen. Built by hand. Adjustable resistance. Anchors to doors, poles, racks."
He rubbed his chin.
"I've seen something like this before. But this one looks… tougher."
I nodded. "It is. Reinforced core. Steel clip. Sewn strap threading."
He handed me cash without a word.
[System Notification: Event Sale – Cold Pitch Success]
+1 Charisma +1 Confidence Trait Boost: Street Seller (5%) Bonus: Urban Business Instinct
An hour later, a woman from a local fitness studio asked if she could borrow a unit to test in a free class.
By the end of the expo, I'd sold three, handed out ten flyers, and gained two emails asking for bulk pricing.
That night, I collapsed on my bed. Exhausted. Throat dry. Heart full.
No magic. No instant fame.
Just real growth.
And for the first time, the system didn't prompt me.
No pings. No rewards. Just a quiet notification:
[You've earned a moment of peace.]
And I took it.
Eyes closed. Chest rising slowly.
Because tomorrow, the fire would burn higher.
But tonight?
I rested in the glow.