It seems like the night always slips away quickly. By the time Leo Bright realized he should head to bed, it was nearly four in the morning.
Unsurprisingly, he was late again.
Or rather, he was late for the afternoon because when he finally strolled into school, the second class had already started.
He'd slept until one in the afternoon!
Leo could already picture Professor Will's stern, zombie-like face.
Surely, he'd hover around Leo like an annoying bug, ready to drone on with a lecture.
But, to Leo's surprise, that wasn't the case.
Professor Will greeted him with a nod and a smile, such a friendly demeanor that Leo wondered if the old professor had developed an unexpected interest in him. It was baffling, far from normal. What on earth had caused such a shift in attitude?
Leo didn't dwell on it. As long as the professor wasn't giving him a hard time, he couldn't care less about the reason behind the change.
However, at the end of the second class, Peter hurried over with news that caught Leo's attention.
"You're trending?" Peter said.
"What?" Leo looked puzzled.
A minute later, Leo understood when he saw a news clip from the New York News.
The video of him handling Thompson and his crew had gone viral!
Though the footage from Martin's antique camera was shaky and unclear, viewers could still recognize the young man defeating five or six tough guys within ten seconds was an Asian.
From the background, students at Midtown High could easily identify the street near their school.
With Thompson absent from class today, many had their suspicions, occasionally glancing at Leo.
There weren't many Asians at the school, making it easy to guess.
But no one dared to ask, keeping their curiosity contained as they avoided confrontation.
At least for now, students at Midtown High were steering clear of trouble.
"How did you do it? They're saying all Asians know martial arts and can fly across rooftops. Is that true?" Peter asked eagerly, lowering his voice.
"Not just that, everyone in our hometown keeps a giant panda as a pet.
People in Tibet commute on horseback.
Folks in Montana ride bison to work.
And rumor has it, the foodies in New Orleans feast on Cajun people."
Leo said with a playful smirk.
"Cannibals! Whoa... scary..." Peter Parker was startled.
"Not eating people, eating the food made by Cajun people," Leo clarified.
"???"
"Aren't Cajun people human?" Peter scratched his head, perplexed.
"Uh..." Leo was at a loss.
"I don't know, but that's what they say."
Although Leo was Asian, he'd grown up in Chinatown, learning about his heritage mainly from the internet. And even then, he couldn't access everything, only hearing snippets from those who bridged the informational gap.
His main source of knowledge was gaming.
In gaming worlds, whether interstellar journeys or survival challenges, whenever there was a large-scale multiplayer confrontation, the Chinese community was a formidable force, a nightmare for many players worldwide.
They'd don red outfits, rallying cries of "Chinese players don't kill," then swarm like a crimson tide, obliterating foreign bases.
Leo had joined several alliances, leveraging his unique skills and game savvy to secure leadership roles.
Most of his knowledge about China came from gaming chats and banter.
"Can you teach me kung fu?" Peter asked, eyes sparkling with hope.
"Me? I don't do kung fu. How do I explain it? I have heightened reflexes and coordination, stronger than average. Think of it as a natural ability," Leo explained truthfully.
"I get it. Is it because you like parkour? So your reflexes are sharper than most?"
"Maybe I should give it a shot," Peter Parker mused.
"Hey, buddy, drop that thought immediately. Don't try anything reckless, you'll really get hurt," Leo warned, exasperated.
"Okay... I really envy you. If only I were as skilled," Peter said wistfully.
"Then what would you do?" Leo asked, curious.
"I'd do a lot. First off, I'd never let Thompson bully me again."
"Then... I'd help others who've been in my shoes," Peter Parker dreamed aloud, a smile creeping onto his face.
"Start with 100 push-ups daily. Keep at it, and you'll build strength," Leo laughed, patting Peter's head.
"Well, I'll try. I usually tire out after ten..." Peter admitted sheepishly.
As Leo contemplated, watching Peter and the bustling crowd outside the window, he considered moonlighting like Daredevil.
Pursuing justice, helping the weak—why not?
And taking down criminals... could be quite lucrative, right?
Leo was definitely the type to seize opportunities.
The goal wasn't just money.
Gaming gear was expensive.
Recently, he'd gotten hooked on a game from his homeland, Nexon, becoming somewhat addicted.
He felt as if he'd unlocked a new world.
He was nearing the third star, and with a bit more investment, he could snag an epic weapon at a bargain in the latest event.
It was too good a deal to pass up.
He feared Nexon might go bankrupt from such generosity.
A fool would pass up such an offer!
With that resolve, that night, Leo borrowed his roommate's stockings, pulled them over his head, and examined his reflection.
No matter how he looked, he felt like a pervert.
Ditching the stockings, he reconsidered, styling his hair silver-white, donning large sunglasses and a mask from his drawer, dressing like a local celebrity, and headed out.