The next day.
"Tch."
Jack groaned as he rolled over on his injured shoulder, turning away from the thin rays of sunlight sneaking through the gaps of the curtains.
On his desk, the digital clock on his desk blinked lazily.
"Six hours again…" he said as he stood up and brushed aside the curtains to let the sunlight in.
Jack had noticed this one detail since he obtained the system. He always woke up exactly after six hours of sleep.
'I guess it isn't a coincidence anymore. The system doesn't just grant me abilities… it's changing me.'
Jack smiled wryly.
It was like the system was telling him himself that his habits weren't good.
The thought should've been alarming, but he wasn't sure anymore.
"Well, it is a good thing I guess." He sighed. If anything, this was now his life.
While the sunlight slowly melted his reflection through the misty window, he couldn't help but think of what happened last night.
He and Lucy got home around two in the morning, which was very late. He would have never imagined he would come that late.
When they arrived, Samantha was already at the gate with a phone in her hand and was pale from worry. Beside her was his father, Rudy Crawluster, a forty year old man in a police uniform. Jack could tell he had rushed home from duty.
Samantha's relief quickly turned to alarm when she saw his bandaged shoulder.
"Jack! What happened to you?!" she cried, rushing toward him.
Behind her, his father looked calm but concerned.
The black SUV parked by the street didn't help the tension. It was a red-plated car after all, meaning it was a government vehicle.
Soon enough, Chris and the team leader stepped out from the driver's seat, with Chris flashing a polite smile. His presence alone was enough to ease some of Samantha's worries.
Jack don't know if his parents believed what was said, but basically, the cover story was he somewhat helped in stopping a random stabber late at night while he was heading home and got slashed instead.
Luckily, the wound wasn't too deep or Jack don't know what kind of story would have been made up.
Jack wasn't sure too if that was enough, but thankfully, the fact that it was simple made it believable.
'In the end, if their son confirms what is said, they should believe me at least.' Jack thought, thinking of how many times he had lied before he even got the system.
'Thankfully, I have been lying to my parents all my life anyways.' Jack thought to himself, unsure whether to be proud or not.
Using a business card, Chris even introduced himself as a member of the Department of Civil Defense, saying he happened to be nearby during the incident and was a friend of the team leader.
'Department of Civil Defense. It is responsible for planning community health programs and medical care of civilians in the event of a military attack on the nation. The Association is no joke. They have people everywhere.' Jack thought, shaking his head.
By the time the SUV drove away, Samantha's panic had softened into an awkward smile, half-relieved, half-proud.
The image of her son being dropped off by government agents was enough to settle her heart.
But Jack put the thought to the back of his mind for now.
From now on, he knew that stuff like that and last night and the days before will be more of the norm so it wasn't surprising anymore, was what he thought.
What really worried Jack more until the next morning was different.
Neither Joe Carlos nor the black cat, Shadow, were found in the lab.
All that was left was the aftermath of what seemed to be a fight.
Still, it was hard to imagine that they just vanished.
Jack couldn't believe that they hadn't found the cat Shadow and Joe Carlos inside.
'I checked every possible escape route with my appraisal skill. I must have missed some place?' Jack laughed, and sighed, 'I can't believe they would be out there in under five minutes.'
Even after he himself went inside to check with Chris, they found no Joe Carlos or a black cat.
The whole situation made his stomach twist.
'I've really stepped into something way beyond my level. I can't believe I'm thinking about something like this this early in the morning,' Jack admitted to himself, running a hand through his hair.
Then he sighed, scanning his messy room.
Nothing had changed to be honest. It was still the same garbage-like room he had, since he hadn't had the time to clean. That was his excuse at least.
After taking a bath, Jack removed his bandage since it wasn't pretty deep of a wound and seemed to be even beginning to close anytime soon.
Walking out of the room, he wore another simple office attire and grabbed a new bag from the ground since he hadn't found his old bag yet.
When he walked to the kitchen, Samantha was preparing breakfast already.
When he sat, Lucy, to his surprise, according to his mother, seemed to have even wake up early again to clean.
'How productive.'
Jack thought as he heard from his mother.
And just then, Lucy had also finished preparing and walked down from the second floor.
'!!!'
Lucy was wearing somewhat familiar clothes.
"You noticed?" Samantha then said, blinking proudly.
"It's ma's clothes?"
"Yes!" Samantha grinned widely. "Doesn't she look nice?" and then went to Lucy, "It looks nice! You look adorable!"
The baby who was playing till now even looked mesmerized.
Lucy blushed slightly while the baby beside Samantha gawked at her like she was glowing.
Even Jack couldn't deny it.
Despite wearing old clothes, Lucy somehow made them look effortlessly fashionable.
He turned away quickly, hiding the faint color on his cheeks.
Jack looked around.
His father had left early again. Jack hadn't noticed until recently, but he hadn't been able to see his father's face a lot in the recent years, not just because of his work, but because he was always waking up late.
Jack stared at the empty mug on the table which was his father's favorite. He didn't even remember the last time they had breakfast together.
'He must have been so busy. I'll make it up to them someday,' he thought to his heart.
Breakfast went on quietly, with Lucy sneaking glances at his right shoulder.
Jack just smiled in response.
"It's fine. It's almost healed."
"That's nice to hear." Lucy responded quietly.
After last night, a faint thought lingered in his mind as he looked at the quiet Lucy.
'Was I just imaging things or is it really her I saw inside that time?'
He pushed the thought away for now.
After breakfast, they prepared to leave for work. Before heading out, Samantha stopped him by the door.
"Stay safe, alright? It's nice to help, but it's better not to just help if you're just gonna get hurt," she said, "Next time, it might not be your arm."
Jack laughed. "You're overreacting again."
"I'm being a mother!"
"Don't worry, Ma," Jack responded and grinned. "You and Dad can relax. I'll be safe."
Then he thought.
'I also make sure to make money so you guys can live life better."
It wasn't just bravado. It was conviction.
'I may not understand everything yet,' Jack thought with the system hovering in front of his eyes as he and Lucy boarded the morning bus, 'but I solved the missing cat case. Then in the process, I caught an unregistered awakener and uncovered a secret lab experimenting on humans. My contract's definitely getting extended. I'll be fine for a while.'
Lucy tapped her watchphone on the scanner. "I'll pay for now."
"Thanks," Jack said, smiling. "Once I buy a new phone, I'll return the favor. And don't forget , we're getting you new clothes later."
"Right, I'm sorry. It's a little embarrassing wearing your mother's things."
Jack tilted his head and then chuckled lightly.
"Don't worry, she probably loves it."
Sitting together, Jack leaned back on the bus seat, watching the city blur past the window.
He sighed, shaking his head.
Too many things were happening too fast.
'Let's analyze what I am at right now.' He started, 'If I'm being honest, I still have to worry about my finances. My salary credits won't transfer until the end of the month. I haven't even found my old bag. And classes… I've skipped two nights already. I hope I'm not yet dropped.'
He sighed again.
Beside him, Lucy quietly watched the passing scenery. Having her there felt strange — like he suddenly had a younger sister he never asked for.
When they arrived at the detective agency.
David then rushed towards them at the door happily while wearing a face mask.
"Good morning, older brother, older sister." He said cheerily.
Dust was everywhere, the floors half-wet, and David stood in the middle of it with a mop in hand. The paper documents were all outside.
Jack and Lucy blinked.
'...What happened here?'
"Oh, you're finally here? Looks like your right shoulder is just fine!"
The team leader appeared from the hallway wearing a face mask and holding a wet broom which slightly splashed towards his clothes. It hadn't even been ten seconds since he walked through the door, and his clothes were already dirty again.
"…"
"You're late. Grab something and start cleaning. That's the job for today. Starting from this day, I decided things need to change!"
Jack didn't argue. However, for some reason, the team leader now seemed to be glaring at him.
'Did something happen?' he grimly thought.