Chapter 4: 4 NORMAL

Indulging himself in normal life, Stray continues his school life like any other kid. Voluntarily not looking on the system’s way is but one of his few ways of indulging himself.

For a kid like him, he cannot ask for more…. He won’t do more. He will only do what other people ask and expect of him. He’ll study just like any other kid, he’ll participate in all kinds of events, and he’ll be a part of the community.

Vigilantism? Super Heroes?

Though he admires heroes, Stray is not someone who’d want to become one. This world already has plenty anyway. Just like that, a couple of years quietly pass by.

In the short two years as a student, he has become a crucial member of the Academic Decathlon Team of Midtown High. From a slum kid to a good student, Stray was able to work his way up by steadily grinding through.

His past life in terms of achievements when it comes to education is really lacking. Only through hard work did Stray manages to catch up with his peers. But Stray didn’t stop at simply catching up to them. He even was able to surpass his other classmates by joining the Academic Decathlon team.

Strangely enough, this team consists of peculiar characters.

There is Love Foster who has this stereotypical aura on her of a rebel. Her get-up from ripped jeans and the punk-like jacket is enough indication of how she is a... bad girl.

There is also Toussaint Shauku, definitely a sigma. Though others perceive him as quite a loner, those on the Decathlon Team see him more as a quiet guy that likes being in a group.

There is also… Morgan H. Stark… She is quite the dictator.

“Love, was it you who told Stray that we are having a meeting here?”

“What!? No, it wasn’t me. You do know that I won’t do something so stupid as that!”

Stray quietly listens from the corner as Morgan grits her teeth and angrily scolds Love. Stray is not sure what they are arguing about. What he knows though is that he is here, because of an anonymous email requesting his attendance.

In the deep of the night, the Academic Decathlon Team gathers in the school’s basketball courtyard. Stray’s eyes land on a curious contraption hiding under a veil of cloth. From its silhouette, Stray imagines a phone booth, or maybe something similar in nature.

The two, Morgan and Love, continue arguing.

“Then, if it’s not you who brought him here, then who?”

“I don’t know! I am telling you, it wasn’t me.”

Before their arguing escalates into a fight, Toussaint yells out. “It was me.”

Toussaint has a grim look on his face as he explains his reasoning for bringing Stray here. “What we are about to do is insane. I emailed Martin here to be a witness to our diabolical undertaking. We don’t know if what we are doing is right. If it comes to it, Stray can oversee the machine so that if something wrong does happen, he will pull us out.”

Love sighs with a heavy breath. She grabs at the rails by the bleachers and squeezes them out of anger. “I wasn’t always an Asgardian. I have told you many times about this story. We shared our own stories with each other so that the selfish drive that is fueling our actions won’t die. Please, Toussaint, don’t tell me you are chickening out now.”

Morgan adds with blatant disgust. “She is right. If you are not playing, you should have just said it to me. Stray doesn’t need to be here. You know how this project can go catastrophically wrong. That’s why we chose midnight to enact this. Bringing Stray here was nonsense, it won't change anything. What do you really want?”

“We are technically killing this reality by doing this! If we do go into that machine and achieve our goals, then what!? Morgan... Does your father’s sacrifice mean nothing to you!?” Toussaint raises his voice almost shouting.

“YOU DON’T GET TO TELL ME THAT!” Out of anger, Morgan jerks her right arm off— a palm blaster suddenly over her palm. The energy blaster hits Toussaint squarely causing the latter to fly off.

Toussaint flies off into the distance sliding on the smooth basketball court.

“Don’t worry, that won’t kill you. It was set in repulsor mode.” Morgan coldly says as she retrieves the palm blaster.

Staying his back on the floor, Toussaint just stares at the ceiling. After a few coughing, Toussaint gets back on his feet and with a calm voice, speaks to Morgan. “I brought Martin for two reasons. One, he listens to you. And two, he is honest. I too want my father back. And for that, I will need to hear Martin’s words."

"Listen to our story, Martin, I want you to be the judge of what we are about to do.” Toussaint raises his head and looks at Stray with a decided mind.

“I am flattered,” Stray cannot listen anymore to this. “The first time we met, you saw me stealing, right? How does ‘honest’ can go with that? Two years back, and you think I have changed? Too farfetched, Toussaint. You are not cut out for lying.” Stray walks into the veiled machine and uncovers it.

What is behind it does resemble a phone booth, but rounder, like a standing capsule.

“Tell me the real reason why you brought me here. Just why?” Stray calmly asks Toussaint.

Toussaint bit his lips not keen on showing his real thoughts.

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With a thought, Stray activates his Skill System.

[SKILL SYSTEM— SKILL POINTS— (25)

SKILLS: Pickpocket (C), Stealth (E), Lockpick (D)]

Stray receives a single skill point every month. Now, Stray has an additional 24 skill points since his transmigration 2 years ago. Not touching the system was wishful thinking on Stray’s part. “This day is inevitable…” He mournfully whispers.

Catching his words, the three inexplicably feel that something is wrong.

Stray with a thought buy the Appraisal skill from the system.

[Appraisal (F): Offers the most basic insight depending on the user’s knowledge base.]

Stray knows that F is not enough to cut it, so he upgrades the skill. Spending three more skill points, the skill grows into C which is more than enough.

[Appraisal (C): Offers better insight depending on the user’s knowledge base and intuition.]

Stray touches the curious machine in front of him. Immediately, Stray uses his Appraisal skill on it.

[Time Machine: It is a machine for time traveling. Its builders are Morgan, Toussaint, and Love.]

Stray was already expecting this as the conversation between the three is too much of a giveaway.

This three want to travel back in time to do something. Stray looks at Morgan. He can think of only a single reason why she wants to travel back in time.

Stray brings up his system again and then buys the MCU Wiki skill. It costs a whopping 16 skill points.

[MCU Wiki (S): You now possess an incredible bank of information. Please rely on the search engine.]

Using his thoughts as a method of control, Stray quickly searches for information about any movie relating to Morgan’s time travel only to receive a bunch of ‘404 Not Found’ notifications. Stray inspects the wiki’s particular panel and sees a date in the lower right corner. It says 09/02/2023.

Stray was speechless as today’s year should be 2035.

Stray then makes up a series of searches for Love and Toussaint.

The result was less stellar than he hopes for. Though it wasn’t a ‘404 Not Found’ situation, anything relating to time travel cannot still be found.

“You three have special identities, don’t you? Morgan is pretty much open to it. Love’s Asgardian status is quite plain to see. But Toussaint, you are kind of averse to it, to this special identity. Is it the pressure? You can tell us. We are your friends.”

Stray softly speaks to Toussaint, trying to mellow it down and while at it break the walls.

Toussaint remains silent. It was Love who then speaks for him. “He is T’challa, son of T’challa… He is a prince. Sharing his father’s name as he grows up and learns of his origin is more painful than honorable. I can only imagine his pain…”

“And… you are a princess, Love…” Morgan intrudes on Love’s words. Love ignores her.

Morgan continues. “We got our vibranium from T’challa Jr. here. I have an arc reactor. And Love… have the time stone.”

The vibranium and the arc reactor? Understandable, no problem, it’s very self-explanatory to Stray… But the time stone? Stray is not showing it on his face, but the shock is too much.

Morgan not missing a beat throws something at Stray. “That smartphone keeps track of our vitals. If you see something wrong about to go off, you click the yellow button to pull us out.” She tells Stray of his confirmed participation even without the man himself in question admitting to it.

“I have a different reason why I brought Stray here…” From the background, Toussaint calls his friends' attention to him once again. “Please, just hear me out...” Finally, Toussaint has come to a decision to open up.

Stray, Morgan, and Love gather on Toussaint's side.

With an emotional sigh, Toussaint plainly reveals his intentions. "I..."

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