He didn’t hear her. His cursor was a blur. Click. Click. Click. The candies weren’t just numbers anymore—they were a hum, a pulse, a promise. Each click bought another upgrade: the Waffle Whacker, the Cosmic Cotton Candy Compressor, the legendary .

Leo hesitated. Then he clicked.

The screen flashed white. The Chromebook’s fan roared. When his vision cleared, the candies were real . They spilled from the USB port, cascading over his desk, swirling around his ankles. The other students gasped—but they weren’t looking at candy. They were looking at Leo, who now held a crackling, golden jawbreaker in his palm, his eyes glowing faintly pink.

“Detention,” Ms. Carver whispered, backing away. “And also… how did you do that?”

“Leo, question three?” called Ms. Carver from the front of the room.

Leo grinned, candy coating his teeth. “Unblocked 76,” he said. “You should try it.”