The snow had stopped by morning, leaving the streets of Sapporo glazed in ice and sunlight. Ethan stepped out of his house with a backpack slung over one shoulder and a notebook tucked under his arm. The System pulsed quietly in the back of his mind, its interface folded away for now, but its presence constant.
He had a goal: ¥50,000 to build the MVP for StudySync. His investment in Nintendo stock was promising, but it wouldn't mature for years. He needed fast capital. Something liquid. Something clever.
[System Tip: Local opportunity detected — Vintage Game Auction. ROI: 300%]
Ethan followed the prompt to a small community center near the edge of town. Inside, folding tables were lined with boxes of old manga, cartridges, and consoles. A handwritten sign read: Retro Game & Comic Fair — One Day Only.
He scanned the room. Most of the sellers were older men, hobbyists with deep collections and little interest in market trends. To them, these items were memories. To Ethan, they were assets.
He approached a table stacked with early volumes of One Piece, Naruto, and Dragon Ball. The seller, a man in his sixties with thick glasses and a faded baseball cap, looked up.
"Looking for anything in particular?" he asked.
Ethan picked up a pristine copy of One Piece Vol. 1. He remembered reading it in college — and remembered how much collectors paid for first editions in mint condition.
"How much for this?" he asked.
"¥300," the man said. "Take two for ¥500."
Ethan nodded, scanning the rest of the box. The System highlighted several items in green — undervalued, high future demand. He selected ten volumes and paid ¥2,500 in cash.
[Inventory Updated: Manga Collection (10 items)]
Estimated Resale Value: ¥12,000
ROI: 380%
He moved to the next table, where a younger seller had a stack of Famicom cartridges and a boxed Game Boy. Ethan's pulse quickened. He remembered the retro gaming boom in the 2010s — streamers, collectors, nostalgia-driven auctions. These items would skyrocket in value.
"How much for the Game Boy?" he asked.
"¥4,000," the seller replied. "It works. Comes with Tetris and Pokémon Red."
Ethan didn't hesitate. He bought it, along with five cartridges for another ¥2,000.
[Inventory Updated: Retro Console Bundle]
Estimated Resale Value: ¥18,000
ROI: 300%
By noon, his backpack was full and his wallet nearly empty. But the System confirmed his progress.
Total Assets Acquired: ¥32,000
Projected Net Gain: ¥22,000
Time to Liquidate: 3–5 days
Ethan walked home through the slush, his steps light despite the weight on his back. He felt the thrill of momentum — not just the rush of profit, but the satisfaction of outsmarting time. He wasn't just surviving. He was building.
Back in his room, he laid everything out on the floor. Manga volumes, cartridges, the Game Boy. He opened his notebook and began cataloging each item, noting condition, edition, and projected value. The System assisted, offering pricing trends and resale platforms.
He would start small — local classifieds, school bulletin boards, and a few online forums. He remembered which sites would gain traction in the next few years. He'd be ahead of the curve.
As he worked, a message appeared.
[New Milestone Reached: First Flip Complete]
Module Unlocked: Micro-Venture Tracker
Track short-term hustles, optimize resale strategy, monitor local trends.
Ethan smiled. The System was evolving with him. Every move unlocked new tools. Every risk sharpened his edge.
He paused to check the time. Isabelle would be at the café soon. They'd agreed to meet again — to sketch out StudySync's core features and begin planning the prototype. He looked at the Game Boy, then at her sketchbook from yesterday, still sitting on his desk.
He wasn't just flipping games.
He was flipping his entire future.