"Stamina Boost Capsule?"
Jason’s mouth twisted. "System, are you serious right now? You think I need that?"
The mechanical voice replied without emotion.
[The Stamina Boost Capsule improves the host’s physical endurance and recovery by approximately 30–50% from baseline.]
Jason was quiet for a second.
"...Alright. Fair enough. Every man wants an edge in that department."
He wasn’t in a rush, though. This would be Emma’s first real kiss. He wanted it to happen naturally, when the moment was right. Something in his gut told him the opportunity would come tonight.
"Jason, look—what are they doing? That’s terrifying."
Emma suddenly stopped walking. Her eyes were locked on something ahead, wide with distress. Her hands had already tightened around his arm.
Jason followed her gaze.
A small family of three was performing on a clear patch of sidewalk. A crowd had formed a loose circle around them. The man was in the middle of a brutal strength act: a thick steel cable wrapped tightly around his neck. His wife held the other end while he turned in slow, straining circles, letting the cable coil tighter and tighter. His neck was already an angry red, face shifting from flushed to dark, veins standing out on his forehead. The pain on his face was raw and unfiltered.
The woman bit down hard on her lip, eyes shining with unshed tears, arms shaking from the effort of holding the cable steady. Beside them stood a little girl no older than five or six, two thin braids hanging down her back, clothes old but clean. Tears welled in her eyes too, but she refused to cry out loud.
The neck is one of the most fragile parts of the human body—and somehow this man was using his to keep a family fed.
Emma pressed closer to Jason’s side, body trembling slightly. Her voice came out thick.
"Jason... they’re trying so hard. What if something goes wrong?"
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and rubbed her back in slow, steady circles, saying nothing for a moment.
The performance finally ended. The man staggered, nearly collapsing. He coughed hard, one hand clamped around his throat, clothes soaked through with sweat. His wife rushed forward to support him, face full of worry as she rubbed his back. The little girl wiped her eyes, picked up a small battered bowl, and began moving through the crowd, head slightly lowered.
"Thank you, mister... thank you, ma’am..."
Her voice was tiny, almost afraid.
People watched with a mixture of pity and discomfort. Some dug into their pockets and dropped a few bills or coins into the bowl. Others simply shook their heads and walked away.
Emma’s eyes had gone red. She started searching for her wallet on pure instinct—only to remember the white dress had no pockets. All she had was the cash inside her small purse, money she had originally planned to use for their movie tickets.
She hesitated, then looked up at Jason with wet eyes, still holding his hand.
"Jason... can we skip the movie? I want to give them the ticket money. They’re struggling so much."
Even though the money was hers, she still asked him first.
Jason felt something twist quietly in his chest. He reached up and gently brushed a tear from her cheek with his thumb.
"Of course we can. I’ve got money."
He pulled five hundred-dollar bills from his pocket and pressed them into her hand.
"Add this to it."
It wasn’t a fortune, but it was enough to matter for a night or two. Sometimes the only thing you could offer was a little temporary relief and the knowledge that someone had noticed.
Emma stared at the cash in surprise. In her mind Jason was still a college student whose mother was in the hospital—someone who should be counting every dollar. She almost refused, worried the money was part of his living expenses. Then she remembered something Victoria had told her years ago: when you’re out with a boy you like, you protect his pride.
So she only nodded, quiet, and took the bills.
She walked over to the little girl, added her own money to Jason’s, and placed everything carefully into the bowl. Then she rested a gentle hand on the child’s head.
"Hey, sweetheart. Your mom and dad are working really hard. You be good and take care of yourself, okay?"
The little girl’s eyes went wide. A tip that large was clearly rare. She looked up at Emma with shining gratitude.
"Thank you, pretty big sister! Thank you, handsome big brother! I hope you get married soon and have a baby!"
Emma let out a watery laugh, eyes curving into crescents.
"You’re welcome, little one. You’re very sweet."
The girl ran back to her parents and started telling them, animated and breathless, about the "angel sister." The couple looked over, faces full of thanks, and pressed their hands together in a grateful gesture toward Emma and Jason.
Jason took Emma’s hand again and guided her away from the crowd.
Once they were a short distance down the street he glanced at her.
"You know, back there you looked like an actual angel. Kind of hard to look away from."
Emma’s cheeks turned pink. She shook her head.
"I just... they needed help. Even a little is better than nothing."
She still looked embarrassed, as if she had only done the smallest possible thing.
After a few more steps she glanced up at him, hesitation clear in her eyes.
"Jason... do you actually have enough money? We can watch the movie another night if you’re tight right now."
She was still worried he was only putting on a front and spending money he couldn’t afford to lose.