Lenny stepped out of the classroom, still replaying Emma's comment in his head. It wasn't much, but for someone like him, who never got that kind of attention, it lingered longer than it probably should have. He shook it off and checked the time. His Systems Engineering department had organized a brief first-year orientation meeting in the multipurpose hall, and it was starting in less than twenty minutes.
He made his way there with his bag slung over his shoulder, blending into the steady stream of students walking through the campus. The crowd thinned as he neared the hall, replaced by a cluster of students that looked more focused. Most were already seated when Lenny arrived, but he managed to slip into a row near the back.
The orientation wasn't long. A few department heads came up to speak. They introduced themselves, talked about course expectations, and warned them not to fall behind. To be honest, Lenny found it rather boring. But just as he started zoning out, something changed.
"Before we wrap up," the lead lecturer, an older man with a white beard and a sharp voice, announced, "we'd like a few of you to participate in a short team activity. It's just to get you thinking and get familiar with fellow students. Don't worry, nothing too serious."
Murmurs rippled through the students.
"We'll form five groups. Each group will be given a small system-design problem. You'll have thirty minutes to work on it, then someone from each group will present your approach."
That got Lenny's attention. He wasn't the most talkative guy, but he liked solving problems. And since this was his major, he figured it wouldn't hurt to show what he could do.
The groups were formed quickly. Lenny ended up with four others, none of whom he'd met before. They were given a basic problem about designing an energy-efficient security system for a small building. It sounded simple, but with the constraints they were given—low budget, limited sensors, solar power dependency—it became a little more complicated.
As expected, the group wasn't clicking immediately. Two guys were more interested in throwing out buzzwords than actual ideas, and the others seemed unsure where to begin.
Lenny stayed quiet for a bit, letting everyone throw their opinions around. Then he pulled his tablet out and started sketching something. After a while, he spoke up.
"What if we divide the building into zones, place minimal sensors in each zone, and create a basic logic system that only triggers alarms if two or more sensors in the same zone detect movement within five seconds?"
The others paused. One of the girls leaned closer.
"That would reduce false alarms too," she said.
Lenny nodded. "Exactly. And if we add a simple solar-charge scheduler to the central control unit, we can prioritize sensor use during low-power times."
This time, everyone listened.
In the end, his design became the group's core plan. When it came time to present, no one else volunteered, so Lenny decided to do it. He walked to the front, explained the problem, laid out their solution clearly, and kept it straight to the point. No big words. Just the idea and how it worked.
When he finished, the room was quiet for a few seconds before polite applause broke out. A couple of the lecturers nodded to each other. One even scribbled something down.
Back at his seat, Lenny noticed a small ding sound in his head.
System Notification:
A hidden system trait has been detected.
Title Unlocked: "Hidden Talent"
Description: Awarded for demonstrating early signs of leadership and innovation.
Rewards: +5 Intelligence, +12 Charm, +30 EXP.
Lenny blinked. This was the first time he was seeing something like that.
He thought the system was all about physical tasks, like push-ups and walking. But this… this was different.
His status had updated again:
Name: Lenny
Species: Human [enhanced by the system]
Level: 4
EXP: 73/100
Health: 150/150
Strength: 25
Speed: 20
Agility: 15
Intelligence: 40
Endurance: 20
Charm: 13
The jump in intelligence and charm was real. He didn't feel smarter exactly, but it was like his thoughts connected just a little faster.
He didn't get to dwell on it much though. The orientation ended, and the students were dismissed. Lenny packed up and made his way to the bus stop near the school gate.
But as he stepped out of the hall, a voice called out behind him.
"Yo, is that really Lenny?"
He stopped. He knew that voice.
Three guys stood near the side of the walkway, arms crossed. One of them was taller than the others with short dreadlocks and a familiar smirk. His name was Craig, and he used to sit behind Lenny in high school. He and his two friends, Mike and Timo, were the classic school bullies. Nothing too violent, but they made Lenny's life annoying during lunch breaks and group projects.
Lenny turned slowly, already bracing himself for some remark.
"What's up, genius?" Craig said, walking over. "Still reading ten books a week?"
The other two chuckled. Lenny didn't answer. He didn't smile either. He just stared at them.
Mike nudged Craig. "He's taller now, yeah?"
"Not taller than me," Craig shot back.
Then he took a step closer and poked Lenny lightly in the chest.
Lenny grabbed his wrist—not roughly, just firm—and pushed it back.
Craig looked surprised. "Oh? Since when did nerd-boy grow a spine?"
"Since he stopped being scared of you," Lenny said plainly.
The moment hung in the air.
Craig blinked. His smirk faltered, but only slightly. Then he laughed and stepped back.
"Alright then. Maybe college did toughen you up."
Lenny didn't wait for another remark. He turned and walked toward the gate. He didn't look back.
Inside, his heart was beating faster than usual, but it wasn't fear. It was more like a quiet charge running through him.
System Notification:
Minor intimidation resisted.
Confidence increased.
+2 EXP
Now he was just 25 EXP away from Level 5.
The bus ride home was uneventful. He sat by the window, watching the streets pass by, thinking about everything that had happened that day. The system, the points, the questions, Emma, the presentation, the bullies—it all felt like pieces of something bigger.
When he got home, it was around 6:30 PM. His mom was in the kitchen making something that smelled like fried chicken. Lizzy was sitting at the dining table with her tablet, watching a video and eating biscuits.
"Hey," Lenny said as he walked in.
Lizzy looked up. "You're late."
"I had some meetings after class."
His mom peeked out from the kitchen. "There's food if you're hungry."
"Thanks. I'll shower first."
In his room, Lenny sat on his bed after the shower and opened the system interface again.
Level: 4
EXP: 75/100
Daily Task Progress:
• Walk 1 km – Completed
• 30 push-ups – Completed
Bonus Task: Classroom participation – Completed
Bonus Task: Leadership and innovation – Completed
Title: Hidden Talent
Just 25 more points to Level 5.