"Going out, Alex?"
Elena Klein watched her son with soft relief as he stood before her, hair slicked, jacket crisp, and posture sharp with confidence. For days she had hovered by his side, afraid of losing him again after his collapse. The near-death scare had left her shaken, but now, seeing her boy smiling like he used to, some of that fear finally melted.
"Yeah, Mom. I'm meeting Ryan and the guys," Alex said warmly.
Every time his mother called him son, a gentle warmth rose in his chest. In his previous life, he couldn't even remember the last time he'd heard his mother's voice. Now, every word was a blessing.
"Go on, then. Just don't stay out too late—come back for dinner. Your sister will be visiting tonight, and she said she bought you that limited-edition mecha figurine you've been dreaming about." Elena handed him her sleek Bluetooth headset with a fond smile.
"Wait—Isabella really bought it?!" Alex's eyes lit up instantly. Beneath his outward composure, he was still a gamer at heart; his love for those iconic mecha characters was bone-deep.
Isabella Klein, his stylish and free-spirited older sister, had always supported his odd hobbies. Nearly a third of his prized figure collection came from her. And when he'd landed in trouble during that terrible accident, Isabella had quietly paid off family debts so their parents wouldn't discover how much had actually been lost.
Alex slipped on the headset. A lightbeam projected a virtual keyboard onto his palm. With a few taps, he dialed.
"Ryan, you around in Central City? I'll head over," Alex said once the call connected.
"I'll be damned! Alex Klein, alive and kicking at last!" Ryan Cross's voice boomed with excitement. His childhood friend only knew Alex had been in a rough spot with his strict father, not the brush with death. But he'd worried nonetheless. Hearing Alex sound alive, energetic, and ready to meet up was enough to thrill him.
"I'll wait for you at the Maid Café," Ryan said.
"Half an hour. See you there," Alex replied, returning the headset to his mother.
"Go on. The driver will take you," Elena said, though her eyes betrayed a lingering worry. Alex's recovery was a relief, yes—but deep down she feared he might slide back into obsession, waste his youth on games, and invite ridicule as the family's "prodigal son."
When will you truly grow up, Alex? she thought with a sigh as she watched him leave.
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Alex leaned against the back seat of his family's luxury electric sedan, gazing out the tinted window.
Central City—the beating heart of Aurelia—looked even more dazzling than he remembered. Towering spires of steel and glass pierced the skyline, neon veins lighting the streets below. Aurelia had surged forward in technology decades earlier than his past life, abandoning combustion engines entirely. By 2016, sleek electric cars like his family's own Gravity brand dominated the streets, while gasoline models had become rare toys for billionaires and collectors.
No wonder I ended up the spoiled heir in this world, Alex thought wryly, recalling his grandfather's success here. A twist of fate compared to the man's struggles in his past life.
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"Master Klein, we've arrived."
The car rolled to a stop outside a chic three-story café. Inside, young women in elaborate maid uniforms flitted between tables, their charm deliberate and disarming. The Maid Café was Ryan Cross's pet project—a mix of hobby and status symbol—and it had become a favorite hangout spot for their circle.
The maids recognized Alex immediately, rushing forward with greetings and teasing winks. One bold girl even slipped her hand around his arm, personally guiding him to the VIP suite.
Inside, Ryan was lounging with a board game spread across the table, surrounded by giggling maids. At the sight of Alex, he shot up with theatrical enthusiasm.
"Well, well! If it isn't the resurrected man himself! Alex Klein, back from the grave!" Ryan clapped him on the shoulder, eyes sparkling.
Handsome, wealthy, and infamously flirtatious, Ryan Cross was Aurelia's classic playboy second-gen. He burned through girlfriends like other people changed socks—though, in Alex's opinion, they all looked suspiciously similar.
"Sit down! Drinks, snacks, the usual for him!" Ryan waved the maids over, ordering without hesitation.
But Alex shook his head. "Not today. I need to talk business."
Ryan blinked. "Business? From you?" He leaned back with exaggerated seriousness. "Go on, then. You have my attention."
"I want to start a company. To become a dungeon supplier in Infinite Time and Space. But I need startup funds—five hundred thousand."
Ryan's smile faltered. His brow furrowed. "You're serious?"
"Dead serious."
"Alex…" Ryan's face darkened. "Why can't you let go of games? They're illusions—pixels and data. Look around you." He gestured at one of the maids, who obediently perched beside Alex. Grabbing Alex's hand, Ryan pressed it against the girl's smooth, stocking-clad thigh.
"See this? Warm, real, fragrant. Isn't reality better than some virtual world?"
Alex's eyes narrowed. "Did my mom put you up to this?"
Ryan coughed, gaze sliding sideways. "What? No, of course, not…"
In truth, Elena Klein had called him earlier, pleading for Ryan to steer Alex away from gaming. So, when Alex had mentioned a "business" tied to games, Ryan had panicked.
"Cut the act," Alex snapped, pulling his hand back. "I know exactly what she told you. Enough lecturing. The question's simple—will you lend me the money or not?"
Ryan forced a laugh. "Heh… Alex, it's not that I don't want to. But you know how my café's been bleeding cash lately. Keeping this place—and these girls—ain't cheap. Give me some time. I'll find another way to help."
Alex sighed, shaking his head as he stood. "Forget it. I knew I couldn't count on you."
Leaving the café, he pulled out his phone and dialed another number—his steadier friend, Ethan Vale. Unlike Ryan, Ethan was the type to back him up without hesitation.
If Ryan wouldn't help, Ethan might.