Urban LitRPG System-Chapter 51: What’s Masala?

*Tut...Tut...Tut...*

Max turned his bike off in front of Finn’s parked car in front of his apartment building. Finn got out of the car with a smile, while the cab with the laptops halted behind the bike.

Max loosened the straps from his chin and removed the helmet. His hair came down to his lips, looking messy, as he didn’t remember when was the last time he had gotten a haircut. He brushed his hair with his fingers, then, after locking the bike, got down and handed the helmet to Finn.

"You don’t need to come upstairs, just give me all four."

When Sunny and his female co-worker wanted to take the laptops upstairs for him, Max just took two from the lady, then told and gestured Sunny to place them all on his hand. He would take care of it. Seeing his assured look, Sunny stacked the other two on top. The weight didn’t even lower his arms. For Max, this much was almost nothing.

Taking the laptops in his hand, he said goodbye to Sunny, then walked with Finn inside his apartment building. Finn looked around the building as he entered it. Although not as impressive as where he lived, this building was equipped with modern facilities.

"So, why did you purchase so many laptops?"

"Well, I was planning on buying only one but got carried away into buying three more. This one is for casual use when I am home, and the silver Macs are basically gifts for someone else."

Finn was a very curious person, so Max had to explain himself. He couldn’t be just an antisocial person. He had decided to be a good friend and open up a little about himself, so that in the future his life could be more easygoing.

"Oh, alright... wait, do you have a girlfriend?"

Ding-Dong

Finn didn’t bother when he was told about Max giving Macs away, but when Max pressed the doorbell, he looked shocked. Then, seeing the person who opened the door, he was shocked to his core. A girl looked kind of similar to Max but super attractive, and she was tall, at least half a foot taller than him.

"I don’t have a girlfriend... you’re back, you could’ve texted me."

"After coming back, I went to Jenny’s place to pick up my new clothes. She was not home. I was about to text you, and you pressed the doorbell."

Machina didn’t even look at Finn, who was staring at her with a shocked face. She easily took the laptops from Max’s hand and, after placing them down on the coffee table, she even brought a glass of water for him.

"Finn, this is Machina, my step-sis. Machina, this is Finn, he’s a friend of mine."

Max finally sat down on the couch and gestured for Finn to sit across from him casually. Finn, although he sat down, kept looking at Machina, who locked the door and gently sat beside Max, close enough that their shoulders almost touched, her thigh lightly brushing against his. The way she sat looked too intimate for a step-sibling. Even his mother doesn’t sit like this with his father.

"So... you guys grew up together?"

"Well... you want to tell him?"

Max, hearing the question, narrowed his eyes slightly. Machina had this story built up in her, so he asked her if she was interested in telling it to Finn. Machina looked at Max and nodded her head in response.

"So, we didn’t grow up together... I grew up somewhere else. I recently found out about him..."

Machina looked at Finn and started that old story she was given by the system once again. Max just sat there, quietly nodding his head in approval to whatever she was saying.

"So... you guys are not blood related, is that what you’re saying?"

"That’s right."

Finn, hearing this, felt a little weirded out, because Machina didn’t look like she knew what or how step-siblings should act.

"Maki, how about you make lunch for the three of us? You bought ingredients, right?"

Hearing Max call her Maki, Machina looked at him for two whole seconds, then blushed slightly and nodded her head. She stood up almost instantly and went to the kitchen, while Finn smiled, his smile looking a little weird.

Max picked up the four laptops and gestured for Finn to follow him inside. He took him to his bedroom. He was planning to use his new laptop, and Finn could help set up the Mac while he set up the MSI Titan.

"Dude, ever heard of a website called ’BrattySis’?"

"Bratty-sis?"

Max looked at Finn, narrowing his eyes in confusion. The name felt familiar, but he couldn’t remember where he had heard it. A second later, his narrowed eyes widened with realization.

*THAP*

He used thirty percent of his strength to pat Finn’s back with a smile. This Finn was too naughty. That was an adult website name he was talking about, about step-siblings having sex.

"Ow... aou... Dude, harmless... harmless joke but... she’s into you, that’s for certain."

Finn rubbed his back against the nearby wall as he looked at Max. He was laughing even though he was in pain. Max just shook his head, and a small chuckle left his mouth.

"Here, you use Mac, right? Set it up."

Max handed Finn his ash black Mac and sat down on the bed. Finn took the Mac and sat on the small chair beside the huge window. He soon focused on setting up the Mac, while Max opened his newly bought MSI Titan.

...(An Hour Later)...

Max was now standing beside Finn, who was filling up the last portion on the Mac and setting up a few websites important to lectures, a few translated anatomy classes from American Ivy League colleges.

"There, this much should do for now, you can pretty much cover the whole first semester with this, but lectures are, of course, the best way to learn."

Finn cracked his fingers as he leaned back. Max took the Mac in his hand and checked if everything was okay. Seeing everything looked perfect and clean, Max nodded his head with satisfaction.

"Although you’re a bit spoiled, I have to agree, you know your stuff around books and academics."

"Who are you calling spoiled?"

Finn looked offended. After working for almost an hour, he didn’t even get a thank you but got accused instead.

"You know... you’re spoiled."

"Hehe, I am kind of spoiled, aren’t I?"

Max didn’t even look up when Finn was offended. He just rolled his eyes instead. Finn laughed a little and showed his tongue. Both of them were just playing around.

"Maxxx, lunch is ready."

From outside, Machina’s voice flowed in, and then a rich, warm smell drifted inside. Finn was taken aback a little. Even Max was surprised just by the smell.

"Let’s go eat."

Max shut his laptop and looked at Finn, who nodded instantly. Both of them were already hungry, and the smell was just that good.

Max and Finn sat at the dining table and saw there were two dishes already present on the table. They looked over-the-top colorful. Machina then brought another dish with smoke coming out of it. This one also looked very colorful.

"I made Indian dishes today, hope you don’t mind a little masala."

"What’s masala?"

Finn blurted it out, but seeing Machina glaring at him, he quickly put his right hand over his mouth, meaning he wouldn’t talk anymore.