"Ms. Zhao, it's late. How are you getting home?" Austin asked, wheeling his battered old bike out of the school's rack. The campus was eerily quiet now, the only sound being the distant hum of the city and the rhythmic clicking of his bicycle chain.
"I don't live far," Chloe—Ms. Zhao—replied, clutching her bag a little tighter as she walked beside him. "The school built some faculty housing just a few blocks ahead. It's mostly single dorms for the younger teachers who haven't bought property yet."
"In that case, let me walk you," Austin said. "I'll head home after you're safely inside."
Ms. Zhao let out a soft, melodic laugh that seemed to brighten the dim streetlights. "Austin, I'm the teacher here, remember? If anyone should be doing the escorting, it's me."
"You might be the teacher, Ms. Zhao, but you're also a lady," Austin replied, his voice dropping an octave, carrying a hint of protective masculinity that he hadn't possessed twenty-four hours ago. "It's pitch black out here. I wouldn't sleep well knowing you walked these alleys alone."
Ms. Zhao froze for a second, her eyes widening. It finally hit her—Austin was only three years younger than she was. Stripped of the 'Teacher-Student' labels, they were practically peers. The way he looked at her now wasn't with the rebellious defiance of a slacker, but with the steady gaze of a man.
"Alright," she whispered, her voice softening. "It's a short walk. We'll go together."
Austin had briefly considered the shameless idea of asking her to sit on the back of his bike, but he decided not to push his luck. Instead, they walked side-by-side into the darkness beyond the school gates.
Suddenly, Austin's hand shot out, gripping Ms. Zhao's silk sleeve and pulling her to a sharp halt.
"Ah! What are you doing?" she gasped, her heart leaping into her throat. For a terrifying split-second, she wondered if Austin was finally making a move. The memory of the 'incident' in the office flashed through her mind—the intensity in his eyes, the physical reaction she'd caught a glimpse of... she began to tremble.
But Austin wasn't looking at her. His expression was grim, his eyes fixed on a cluster of overflowing industrial trash bins fifty yards ahead.
"Don't move," he whispered. "There are people up there."
Ms. Zhao's fear shifted from Austin to the shadows. "People? I don't see anyone..."
Austin didn't explain. He couldn't tell her that his God-Eye lenses had just flickered into 'Night Vision' mode. To her, the alley was a wall of blackness. To him, it was as clear as a high-definition movie. He saw through the grime of the trash bins, detecting the thermal heat signatures of three men crouching in wait.
Wait—three?
Austin focused his vision, dialing the resolution higher. X-Ray: 20% Alpha. The wooden crates and metal bins turned into ghostly outlines. Austin almost laughed out loud when he identified the third person hiding further back. It was Jin Gang—the PE teacher. The idiot was wearing a cheap balaclava, but his massive frame and that distinctive 'tough guy' posture were unmistakable.
So that's the play, Austin thought, a cold smirk touching his lips. Jin Gang hired a couple of goons to stage a robbery so he can swoop in and 'save' the beautiful teacher while giving me a beatdown. Typical.
"Give me your money!"
Two figures leaped from behind the bins, stumbling slightly over the trash before brandishing what looked like a pair of rusted kitchen knives. They scurried toward Austin and Ms. Zhao, trying their best to look menacing.
"Oh my god!" Ms. Zhao shrieked, her instincts taking over. She grabbed Austin's arm with both hands, pressing her body against his side as if he were a human shield.
Austin felt the warmth of her body and the frantic beating of her heart. He decided right then and there to enjoy the show. If Jin Gang wanted to play 'Hero,' Austin was going to make sure he looked like a clown instead. He wrapped a protective arm around Ms. Zhao's shoulders, pulling her closer. "Don't worry, Ms. Zhao. I've got you."
The two goons stopped a few feet away, looking confused. They were clearly not professional criminals. One was short and stout, shaped like a propane tank (Goon #1), and the other was lanky and nervous (Goon #2).
"So... what are we supposed to rob them of again?" Goon #1 whispered loudly to his partner. "Did Boss Jin say we take the wallets or just the girl?"
"Shut up, you idiot!" Goon #2 hissed, glaring at his partner. He turned back to Austin, trying to deepen his voice. "Empty your pockets! Phones, cash, jewelry... give it all to us, or things are gonna get ugly!"
Austin stared at them with mock seriousness. "Gentlemen, look at me. I ride a bicycle from the eighties and wear a shirt with a coffee stain. My teacher here spends all her money on books. We have no cash. But hey, you can take the bike. It's a classic."
"Oh, uh... yeah, okay," Goon #1 nodded, reaching for the handlebars.
Whack! Goon #2 slapped his partner's hand away. "We don't want the damn bike! We want the valuables! Give us your wallets!"
"And your ID cards! And your IQ cards! Tell us the passwords to everything!" Goon #1 chimed in, looking proud of himself for remembering his 'lines.'
Ms. Zhao was trembling so hard her teeth were chattering. "Austin... maybe we should just give them whatever they want? My purse is in the bag..."
"Don't give them a cent," Austin said, his voice calm and steady. "If they want it, they can try to take it from me."
"You want to do this the hard way?" Goon #2 signaled to his partner. "Get the guy! I'll... uh... I'll secure the lady!"
"Wait!" Goon #1 yelled, slapping his forehead. "I almost forgot! Boss Jin said we have to break the kid's legs first!"
Ms. Zhao blinked, her fear momentarily replaced by confusion. "Boss Jin? Who are they talking about?"
Austin didn't wait for them to figure out their script. Goon #1 lunged forward, swinging a clumsy fist. Austin didn't even use his system's predictive abilities—he'd spent enough years in street fights to handle a novice like this.
He stepped to the side, let the punk's momentum carry him forward, and delivered a swift, brutal kick directly to the center of the man's face.
CRUNCH.
Goon #1's nose exploded in a spray of crimson. He let out a gurgling cry and collapsed into the dirt, clutching his face.
"Austin!" Ms. Zhao screamed, horrified by the sudden violence and the sight of the blood.
"Stay back, Chloe," Austin said, using her first name without thinking. He stepped over the fallen goon, his eyes locking onto Goon #2. "Your turn. Or do you want to wait for 'Boss Jin' to come out and help you?"