The soft hum of motors filled the robotics clubroom, accompanied by the faint whirring of sensors as their project slowly came to life. A sleek, wheeled robot stood on the workbench, its metallic frame reflecting the bright overhead lights. Unlike humanoid models, this one had no arms—just a ft ptform designed for users to pce objects on.

  After weeks of trial and error, ‘Theo’, the chore robot, was finally responding to voice commands with a decent level of efficiency. Constantly scanning its surroundings with a combination of cameras and sensors, it mapped the room in real-time, navigating smoothly to deliver objects where instructed.

  Evan leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he watched the robot glide across the table, stopping precisely at a designated spot before beeping softly. It wasn’t perfect, but the navigation was accurate enough to be impressive.

  “We’re so close,” one of the girls, Amelia, said excitedly, cpping her hands together. She had been one of the most enthusiastic members of the team since day one. “At this rate, we could actually sell this thing! Imagine—households with their very own chore assistant!”

  Finn, who was sitting across from her, gave a zy shrug. “You make it sound easy, but let’s be real. Getting people to actually buy something like this is a whole different challenge.”

  The other girl, Naomi, nodded in agreement, adjusting her gsses as she observed the robot critically. “Even if we make it work perfectly, who’s going to afford it? This is high-tech stuff. Only the rich would be interested, and reaching them? That’s a whole other problem. Marketing, production, funding... we’re just a group of students. How do we even begin to scale this up?”

  Finn leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms. “Exactly. I mean, don’t get me wrong, this has been a fun project, but I never really saw it as anything more than a hobby.”

  Evan listened quietly, his fingers idly tapping against the table. He understood where they were coming from—scaling a product like this wasn’t as simple as just building it. But there was something here, something more than just a ‘hobby project.’ He could feel it.

  He gnced at the robot again, watching as it smoothly stacked a few books under Amelia’s instruction. Maybe they were all looking at this from the wrong angle. Maybe the real potential wasn’t in marketing it as a household helper. But... what was the right angle?

  He exhaled softly and chose to keep his thoughts to himself for now. Without a concrete idea, anything he said would just sound like blind optimism. Instead, he leaned back and watched as the discussion continued, his mind already working through possibilities he would explore ter.

  ***

  After the club meeting, Evan checked his phone and saw a message from Sienna. She wouldn't be able to pick him up today. Instead, his family’s chauffeur was already waiting outside.

  As he slung his bag over his shoulder, he turned to Finn. “Hey, want a ride home? I’ve got the car waiting.”

  Finn hesitated, a hand nervously rubbing the back of his neck, a small motion that always made him seem like he was trying to make himself smaller. “I don’t know… I usually just take the bus.”

  Evan rolled his eyes with a smirk. “Come on, don’t make me ride alone.”

  After a bit of back and forth, Finn finally gave in. “Fine, fine. But only because I don’t feel like waiting for the bus.”

  They made their way out of the building, Evan’s thoughts drifting back to the robot. As they reached the door, Evan excused himself to use the restroom. Finn waited by the entrance, standing in a casual stance, his shoulders slightly hunched, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. His posture had that unintentional vulnerability to it, like he was trying to be unnoticed, but at the same time, it made him seem more endearing.

  When Evan returned, his steps faltered as his eyes narrowed at the scene in front of him. A tall girl, clearly a senior, stood in front of Finn, leaning in close. Her tight, revealing sports outfit was more about showcasing her figure than anything practical, and the way she smiled at Finn was anything but subtle.

  Evan’s stomach twisted in a way he couldn’t quite expin, a strange mix of discomfort and something else—something protective, maybe? Finn, whose usually soft demeanor and delicate features made him appear less threatening, was clearly uncomfortable with the situation. His body nguage spoke volumes—his shoulders were pulled up, his eyes darting away, his hands shifting uncomfortably at his sides, as if he were trying to shrink away without causing a scene.

  “You know, just your number. What’s the harm?” the girl cooed, her voice dripping with sweet persuasion.

  Finn shifted uneasily, his shoulders tense as he tried to inch away. “I said no. Not interested.”

  The girl twirled a strand of her hair, her smirk widening. “Pying hard to get, huh?”

  Evan’s pulse quickened. He didn’t like where this was going. Without thinking, he stepped between them, positioning himself firmly in front of Finn.

  “What exactly is your business here?” Evan’s voice was smooth, but his tone carried an unmistakable edge.

  The girl blinked, caught off guard by the sudden interruption. “And who are you?” she asked, her arms folding in challenge. “His guardian or something?”

  Evan didn’t hesitate. “I don’t need to be. He already told you he’s not interested. So leave.”

  For a moment, the girl’s cocky demeanor faltered. Her eyes flickered with hesitation, but she quickly regained her composure. “Rex, I was just messing around. No need to get all defensive,” she muttered, clearly irritated.

  “No,” Evan replied calmly, his voice unwavering. “You weren’t ‘just messing around.’ You were ignoring him when he told you no.”

  The tension in the air thickened. The girl’s face flushed with frustration, her pride clearly wounded. With a huff and a dismissive click of her tongue, she finally turned on her heel, strutting off with an exaggerated sway of her hips.

  “Whatever,” she muttered over her shoulder. “Not worth the trouble.”

  As the girl disappeared around the corner, Finn let out a breath of relief, his shoulders sagging. The contrast of his slight frame with his obvious relief made him seem even more vulnerable, like someone in need of protection. “Wow… that was... something.”

  Evan turned to him, his voice softening. “Are you okay?”

  Finn nodded, but his lips curled into a grin. “You were really cool just now, almost like a princess protecting me.”

  Evan froze. “A... princess?”

  Finn tilted his head slightly, an innocent look on his face, his wide eyes glimmering with genuine admiration. “Yeah. You know, poised, graceful, but also strong and commanding. It was kind of impressive.”

  Evan’s face instantly flushed crimson. The words hit him like a freight train. “A princess?” he repeated, his voice trailing off.

  Finn blinked, clearly confused by Evan’s reaction. “Yeah, like... you know, someone who stands up for others in a way that feels effortless. You were like that.”

  Evan could feel the heat in his cheeks intensify. “Uh... thanks? I guess?” He rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly feeling very self-conscious. His mind struggled to process what had just happened. Being called “cool” was one thing, but being compared to a princess? To him, it just didn’t feel right. Evan wasn’t sure how to respond to that.

  Trying to shake off the awkwardness, he flexed his arm slightly, attempting to appear casual. “Well, I have been working out tely,” he added, the words feeling strange as they left his mouth.

  Finn blinked at him, then let out a loud ugh. “Yeah, sure you have,” he teased, his grin widening. His ughter was light, almost like a musical chime, and the way his eyes sparkled with amusement made him seem even more adorable. “Good one, Evan.”

  Evan’s lips pressed together in an almost imperceptible frown. He had been putting in the effort—enduring Sienna’s punishing stamina drills all week, pushing himself harder than ever. But apparently, it hadn’t made any visible difference. She still wouldn’t let him near any real weights, so maybe that was why.

  He sighed, rolling his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Let’s just get to the car.”

  Finn continued to ugh as they walked toward the waiting vehicle, leaving Evan flustered and questioning his life choices. He gnced sideways at Finn, still smiling from the exchange, and couldn’t help but feel a pang of embarrassment mixed with something else—something that had nothing to do with the robot and everything to do with the way he was feeling right now.

  ***

  Later that night, Evan found himself lounging on his bed, his MacBook resting on his p as he idly scrolled through movie options. Since coming to this world, he’d picked up another new hobby—watching movies. It was something he never cared for before, but now that he had the time and access to this kind of entertainment, he found himself drawn to it more than he expected. He wasn’t sure if it was the novelty of the luxury or simply the fascination with a world he was slowly becoming part of, but it was a distraction he welcomed.

  He flipped through a few thrillers and some action-packed blockbusters, but none of them felt quite right. His fingers hovered over the mouse before nding on a random film—something about luxury and power. It seemed fitting.

  He hit py and leaned back, letting the movie wash over him. The opening scene was cinematic perfection, with sweeping shots of a stunning five-star hotel. The grand architecture, gleaming marble floors, and chandeliers hanging from the high ceilings—all of it exuded wealth and sophistication. The hotel staff, impeccably dressed in crisp, white uniforms, moved with smooth, precise steps, delivering food and drinks to the guests. Every action was deliberate, graceful, and fwless, like an intricate ballet of service.

  Evan watched, fascinated. The precision of it all. The seamless efficiency.

  That’s when it hit him.

  His mind jolted, suddenly clear as the idea formed in an instant. He sat up straight, his eyes widening with realization.

  The robot—they had been looking at it all wrong.

  This wasn’t just a simple project or a machine designed for mundane tasks. This could be something more.

  A bellhop. A robotic bellhop.

  The idea rushed through him, thrilling him with its possibilities. He could already picture it—sleek, efficient, and polished, gliding through a luxury hotel. Not just a tool, but an enhancement to the experience. It could deliver luggage, food, drinks—everything done with the same precision as the human staff, but without the limitations. No fatigue. No breaks. Just endless, fwless service.

  His heart began to race as he snapped out of his reverie. He didn’t even stop to think. Ideas flooded into his mind, he paused the movie and started typing feverishly. He was searching for competitors in the market, figuring out how others had approached simir concepts. He needed to see how he could refine this idea, make it stand out. The more he researched, the more confident he became that this could be the breakthrough they needed.

  A game-changer. Something that could take their project from a simple css assignment to a revolutionary product. He could feel it—a rush of energy, excitement, and crity.

  After hours of research and refining his thoughts, Evan leaned back in his chair, exhausted but exhirated. He opened a bnk document and started writing, organizing his ideas, tightening the concept. Tomorrow, he would pitch this to the club. This time, he wouldn’t hold back. He had a vision, and he was determined to make it happen.

  LunarEcho