The only surprising thing here is just now someone seeing this is slop. chapter one already sold it away.
"The cheers of the crowd taught him the joy of being recognized" i don't think they could let it more obvious what crowd this is aiming for, the magazine demographic rating yet again being...
These authors never fail to turn anything into a trope and spit mediocre content after another. by now i swear i read at least 3 to 4, maybe even 5 similar premises with the same shallow writing.