Leon and Lenora stood in line at the bustling university canteen, the midday crowd forming a winding queue that stretched toward the counters. Students jabbered excitedly around them, some joking, some scrolling on their phones, while the smell of fried food and fresh bread hung thick in the air. The anticipation in Leon's chest buzzed like electricity. This was a small, mundane moment—but today, it felt monumental.
Finally, their turn came. Lenora stepped forward, her eyes bright with hunger and excitement. "Miss, could we get three of the special burgers, please?"
The young woman behind the counter nodded immediately and began preparing their order with practiced efficiency. Leon stepped up, scanning the tray of golden-brown burgers as they were set aside. He pulled out his wallet and paid, handing over 1,500 credits.
A soft notification chimed in his mind. System: Host has spent 1,500 credits. 3,000 credits transferred to the host's bank account.
Leon's eyes widened slightly, a faint smirk curling at his lips. Oh… the money doubles. I see now.
"Lenora, let's find a seat," he said, glancing around for a suitable spot.
Lenora, practically bouncing with excitement, grabbed the tray. "Yes! I'm starving!"
Their eyes scanned the room, and they spotted a quiet corner near a small group of chatting girls. They hurried over, sliding into the empty seats with their burgers. The chatter around them didn't bother Leon; he was focused on the simple joy of this first meal done differently.
"Hmm… Leon," Lenora began thoughtfully, nibbling at the edge of her burger, "you tied your hair back nicely. And I think you should start wearing colored lenses too. It would suit you."
Leon's lips quirked into a small smile. "I will, after class. Let's go shopping afterward—I want to get some new clothes and lenses too."
Lenora nodded, excitement flickering in her eyes. "Alright, with two million in hand, you should be able to get some nice things for yourself too, right?"
Leon chuckled softly. "Yeah, but for now… let's just eat."
As they dug into their meals, Lenora's eyes drifted toward a nearby table, where a small group of girls were chatting animatedly. One of them, a girl with neat glasses and serious features, seemed to be in the middle of the conversation.
"Look," Lenora whispered, nudging Leon lightly, "that's rina in that group right."
Leon subtly leaned to glance without being obvious, hearing snatches of conversation.
"So, Rina," the girl with glasses was saying, "how much did Mr. K donate? I've never noticed him on your stream before."
Rina's soft laugh echoed lightly. "Well… he spent 1.6 million this morning. I think he joined partway through the stream, so I didn't notice him at first."
Leon's mind flickered as he processed the information. Ah… back then, I was poor. How would she have noticed me?
Rina continued speaking to the group. "So, which club are you all going to join?"
The girl with glasses smiled brightly. "I'm joining the theater club to learn scriptwriting!"
The girl standing beside her eyes lit up. "Oh! I'll join that too!"
Other girls chimed in with their own interests, but Lenora's curiosity shifted to Leon. "So, Leon, are you joining the literature club or… going for the go-home club?"
Leon rolled his eyes, a faint blush rising. "I'm joining the theater club."
Lenora's jaw dropped slightly. "What? Here? Why?"
"Well… I want to try something new. I can't just study all the time."
Lenora sighed softly. "Yeah… that's true. You're always buried in books whenever I try to get you to do anything fun."
Leon's mind wandered, remembering all the times she had tried to pull him out of his studies. Yeah… she always tried to get me to do new things, but I never did. Maybe I can finally spend some time with this idiot.
"Well," he said aloud, a small grin on his face, "let's try new things from now on, okay?"
Lenora's eyes sparkled, her smile lighting up her face. "Yay! Let's do it, Leon!"
"After class though," he added, smirking slightly.
"Ugh… you're seriously no fun," she murmured, shaking her head with mock annoyance.
They finished their burgers, the savory flavors mingling with the quiet thrill of a small, victorious moment. The class would continue shortly, but Leon felt that for once, he was ahead of himself—living in the present and shaping the future at the same time.
Once their meal was done, they moved through the hallway, still chatting lightly. The girl from Rina's group approached, her steps quick and confident.
"Hello there, Lenora," she said warmly.
Lenora "Hm… aren't you the one who was talking with Rina's group?"
"I'm Raine, from the literature department," the girl replied with a bright smile. Leon's mind clicked instantly. Ah… Raine. The famous scriptwriter who works exclusively with Rina in the future.
"I'm Leon," he said cautiously, leaning slightly back. "What do you want from us?"
Raine's eyes sparkled. "I heard you're joining the theater club too. Can we go there together?"
Lenora's expression was firm. "No, he's coming with me shopping."
Raine blinked, startled for a moment, before nodding. "I see… then, can we meet tomorrow at the theater club at three?"
Leon lifted an eyebrow. "That works."
"Absolutely!" Raine said brightly, then turned and walked away, disappearing quickly into the sea of students.
Lenora exhaled softly. "So… can we finally head to class now?"
Leon groaned, shoulders sagging in mock exhaustion. "Fine… let's go."
They entered the classroom, still bustling with students. They slid into their usual seats just as the chatter began to die down. The next two hours passed in a blur of lectures and note-taking. Leon's mind, however, wandered, planning the small adventures he would undertake after class.
At 2:30, the bell rang, signaling the end of the session. Lenora stretched, her stomach growling again. "Ah… I want to eat something."
Leon sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "We just ate… two hours ago."
"But I'm still hungry!" Lenora protested, her eyes wide.
"Fine," Leon relented with a smile. "Let's go to the mall then. We can eat there."
Lenora's grin widened. "Yay! Let's go!"
They stepped onto the sunlit grounds of Nyser University, moving through the small crowds as various club recruitment booths lined the pathways. Students waved flyers and called out, trying to convince their peers to join their activities.
leaon asks , "Hey! Which club are you joining?"
Leon glanced toward Lenora. "The theater club,
What?.
Lenora nodded. what do you mean what I want to try something new too!"
Leon's mind spun. Is this because of me? Could my choices actually change the future?
He gave a small smile. "I see. Then we'll go tomorrow. For now, let's catch the bus to the mall."
Lenora nodded eagerly. "Okay!"
At the bus stand, they waited for the arriving vehicle, the chatter of students all around them mixing with the sounds of the city.
"So… what do you want to get first?" Lenora asked, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face.
"Clothes and lenses," Leon said confidently.
Lenoea smirked. "That's all? No phone or gadgets?"
"Hmm… a new phone too, I guess," he admitted.
Leon's mind ticked quickly. Mirror Mobile… the famous model… costs 100,000 credits. That's doable with my investments.
"Okay," he said with a faint grin. "We can get that too."
Lenora's eyes sparkled. "I knew you'd be able to!"
The bus arrived, its doors sliding open with a hiss, and the two of them stepped inside, the day stretching out before them, full of possibilities. Leon felt a thrill he hadn't known in years—this second chance, these small victories, the mundane yet magical moments with Lenora—they all felt like pieces of a life finally worth living.
As the bus drove away, Leon settled into the seat beside her, looking out the window at the bustling city. This… this is how I'm going to do things differently this time, he thought, a determined smile on his face. And I'm going to enjoy every single moment.