It was night and Zai held a corndog in one hand, marveling at the free hot chocolate that came with it. What a night, he thought, taking a sip and savoring the sweetness. His grandfather didn't mind him walking around at night, as long as he was back before midnight. Zai smiled at the thought, he was a good kid, really. Well… mostly.
He wandered past couples chatting, hands entwined, laughter floating through the air. His eyes, however, were locked on their food.
If I were to steal, I could probably escape jail, right? he thought, a smirk tugging at his lips. Then he shook his head. Nevermind. Maybe stealing food is bad.
Content with finishing his corndog and hot chocolate, he continued down the street. That's when his gaze landed on it: the latest phone.
Sleek, enormous screen, the one he'd seen plastered in ads just days ago.
He paused, jaw tightening. I'm not that desperate.
But curiosity got the better of him. The couple nearby were deep in conversation, laughing, oblivious. Zai leaned slightly closer, just to admire the massive screen.
"Wow… she's got a live 4k wallpaper on," he whispered, eyes sparkling.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" the girl snapped, spinning toward him.
Zai jerked back, startled. The girl's voice was sharp, accusing. "Uh… I'm… just looking?"
"Looking?! His eyes are all over my phone!" she shot back, pointing.
"Wait, what?!" the guy jumped in, glaring at Zai.
Zai held up his hands defensively. "I swear, I'm not touching it. I just noticed the screen. Cool wallpaper, that's all!"
"Not touching it? It looks like you were leaning in to steal it!" she insisted.
"I… I wasn't! I'm just… admiring technology!" Zai muttered, glancing around as a small crowd began to form.
The guy stepped forward. "You think you can just stare at people's phones?"
Zai blinked. "No? I… didn't think this was a crime. Seriously."
The girl huffed. "Well, it should be, apparently!"
Before Zai could come up with a better excuse, the murmurs grew louder. His brain clicked into overdrive. Time to run.
Zai barely had time to register the girl's shout before panic surged through him.
"Security! Call security!"
He started running instinctively, heart hammering. He didn't notice the first guard until the man was almost on him.
Great.
His legs pumped frantically, but he was no athlete. Every step felt heavy. His lungs burned. His sneakers slipped on a slick patch of asphalt. He glanced behind him and saw two guards closing in.
I can't die… but that doesn't make me fast.
SYSTEM ALERT – HOST IN DANGER
Survival Assistance – Limited Skills Activated
Zai stumbled over a curb, barely catching himself. A soft hum in his ears. Reflexes felt sharper, slightly, not enough to make him a hero, but just enough to dodge a guard's grab.
Skill Unlocked – Minor Reflex Boost
He gasped. "What… what is this?"
Another guard shouted, and Zai swerved into an alley, knees scraping against brick walls. He wasn't invincible, if he fell, he'd hurt himself but the system seemed to keep him from catastrophic mistakes.
System Note:Host cannot die. Survival efficiency minimally enhanced.
Zai's chest heaved. Sweat ran down his forehead. "Okay fine. I can run a little. Maybe."
Zai wasn't a hero. He was just surviving.