Part-67

  Despite the ued perks of his newfound fame, a knot of apprehension tightened in James' stomabsp; The thrill of victainst Sourov had faded, repced by a dull ache in his muscles and a nagging worry. He wasn't naive. Sourov's defeat wouldn't magically erase his reputation as a target. There were bigger fish in the schoolyard pond, sharks with sharper teeth and more refined fighting styles.

  James muttered to himself, realizing he had been too hasty in his reply about beating Alex. He shouldn't have dohat at all.

  Alex, the nky boy who'd offered to "show him the ropes," beloo that category. James had seen him practice with the Kickboxing club – all whipcord-lean muscle and lightning-fast kicks that could fell a man twice his size. Unlike Sourov's brute force, Alex relied on precision and speed, a far more dangerous bination.

  A shiver ran down James' spine. He craved normalcy, a return to the quiet obscurity he'd known before the fight. His mind was still reeling from the events of Crisis Mode, the terrifying feeling of being a puppet in the System's trol. Right now, the st thing he needed was another brawl, aest of his newfound strength.

  "Maybe I politely dee," he muttered to himself, already formuting a script in his head. He wasn't about to throw away his newfound respect by admitting fear, but maybe he could spin it as a scheduling flict, a sudden i in the debate team… anything to avoid a face-off with Alex.

  Just then, Nuri, the quiet girl from css, materialized beside his desk, her ever-present book clutched in her hand. "Hey, James," she mumbled, her voice barely a whisper. "That was… amazing the other day. I hought anyone would stand up to Sourov like that."

  James forced a smile, surprised by her sudden appearanbsp; "Uh, thanks, Nuri. It wasn't that big of a deal…"

  "It was a big deal," she insisted, her dark eyes gleaming with something akin to admiration. "You were really brave."

  James felt his cheeks flush. He wasn't sure he deserved such praise. Yet, Nuri's words, coupled with the newfound respect he'd glimpsed in the , sparked a flicker of something within him. Maybe this wasn't just about him anymore. Maybe he could use his (somewhat questionable) newfouation to help others, to stand up to bullies like Sourov.

  He took a deep breath, the knot of apprehension loosening slightly. Maybe fag Alex wouldn't be so bad after all. Maybe it could be an opportunity to learn, to grow stronger, not just physically but mentally as well.

  With newfound resolve, James looked at Nuri, a small but determined smile pying on his lips. "Thanks, Nuri. Maybe Alex's offer isn't such a bad idea after all. Who knows, I might even learn to dodge a kick or two."

  James pondered how to hahe situation. Should he join the Judo club? Or should he take lessons from a good martial arts teacher? Alternatively, should he rely solely on the system's instrus? Thehought, 'Future me will take care of that. For now, I want to stay calm and serene.'