The streets were already thinning out as Jason and Sam walked side by side, Sophie skipping just a few paces behind them with a bag of sweets clutched in her hands. The workshop had been louder than usual that day, filled with laughter and teasing, but now the night settled around them like a calm blanket.
Jason carried a small bag of groceries he had picked up on the way—a few fruits, milk, bread, and a couple of Sophie's favorite treats. Sam had chipped in for some items too, insisting he wouldn't take no for an answer. Sophie hummed to herself, a quiet little tune that echoed faintly through the still air.
"You really didn't have to get her all that candy," Jason muttered with a tired smirk, looking at Sam.
Sam shrugged, grinning. "What? Let the girl enjoy herself. She deserves it after all she's been through. Besides, if she gets a sugar rush, it's your problem, not mine."
Jason rolled his eyes, though a quiet chuckle escaped him. His body ached from fatigue, but seeing Sophie smile so openly warmed a part of him he thought had been buried long ago. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen her like this—without fear, without the weight of sickness looming over her.
By the time they reached his small apartment, Sophie was rubbing her eyes. She had been so full of energy in the workshop, answering questions, giggling at the jokes, even boldly telling one of Jason's coworkers that he looked like "an angry potato." But now her small body gave in to exhaustion, and the candy bag dropped softly on the couch the moment she stepped inside.
Jason quickly guided her to the bedroom, setting aside the new clothes he'd bought for her earlier in the day. "Come on, Soph, let's get you in bed," he said gently, tucking her in like he used to when she was little.
"Mm-hmm," she mumbled, curling into the blanket. "Today was… fun… Jason."
He smiled at that, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. "I'm glad you think so. Get some sleep. We've got another day ahead of us tomorrow."
Within minutes, she was asleep.
Jason lingered there for a while, listening to her steady breathing. The soft rhythm reminded him that for the first time in a long while, things were moving forward. He wasn't just surviving anymore; he was making a life for her again.
Finally, he stepped out quietly into the living room and sank onto the old couch. His bones screamed for rest, but his mind wouldn't let him. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and pulled out the hidden bag from underneath the worn coffee table.
Inside was a small stack of bills and coins—his savings. Mariana's money had been helping, the little he managed to stash away after paying for Sophie's medical bills and food. And now, with the fight winnings, the pile had grown slightly thicker. Still, to his eyes, it looked pitiful.
As he counted the bills, the faint blue glow of the system flickered into existence in front of him.
[System Notification]
Subject: Jason Tyler
Query: Financial Assessment
Jason blinked. "You can… show me money now?" he muttered.
The numbers aligned across the screen with eerie precision:
Total Saved Amount: $542.36
Projected Survival Period (Basic Needs): 2 Days, 14 Hours
Jason sat back, stunned. "You've got to be kidding me… you can actually calculate this stuff?"
The system flickered again, another window opening.
[Secondary Assessment: Dependent Health and Happiness Metrics]
Sophie Tyler
Health: 56% (+2% since last check)
Happiness: 61% (+5% since last check)
Jason froze. His chest tightened, his breath caught. For a moment, he just stared at the glowing numbers, the reality of them sinking deep. She really was getting better. Not just from the doctor's words. Not just from his hopes. But measurably—genuinely.
A shaky laugh slipped from him, the kind that comes from relief too heavy to keep inside. He ran his hand down his face and leaned back against the couch, staring at the ceiling.
"All right… all right," he whispered. "Maybe I'm doing something right after all."
But then another notification popped up, interrupting the fragile moment.
[System Directive: Pending Training Regimen Reminder]
Routine: Strength Development Protocol
Target Increase: +20% across base attributes (strength, speed, endurance, agility, reflex)
Timeframe: 3 Months
Recommendation: Begin at local gymnasium at 06:00 tomorrow.
Jason groaned, dragging his palms down his face. "You just couldn't let me enjoy that moment, could you?"
Still, he knew the system was right. If he was going to keep fighting in the underground events—and keep winning—he couldn't rely on luck or improvised moves. He needed discipline. He needed to build himself into someone stronger, someone worthy of the responsibility Sophie placed on him just by existing.
"Six in the morning, huh?" Jason muttered. He looked toward the bedroom door, toward Sophie's resting figure beyond it. "Fine. I'll do it. But you better not kill me with some insane regimen."
[System Reply: Success requires discomfort.]
Jason rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, motivational speech noted."
He placed the bag of money back in its hiding spot, feeling a small sense of pride despite its meager size. It wasn't much—but it was a start. He was finally building something for himself and Sophie. A fragile foundation, but one he was determined not to let crumble.
As he leaned back into the couch, exhaustion finally caught up with him. His eyelids grew heavy, the hum of the system fading into the background. His last thought before drifting off was a simple one—tomorrow had to be better than today, and the day after that had to be better still.
For Sophie's sake, and for his own.
And so, while Sophie slept peacefully in her room, Jason drifted into uneasy dreams, the faint glow of the system still hovering silently in the corner of the room, watching, waiting, and planning.
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