Starting a new life was strangely similar to starting a new world in Minecraft.
Everything was unfamiliar.
Everything needed to be explored.
And, most importantly, Hikaru had absolutely no idea whether he had spawned somewhere safe… or right beside something that could kill him before he even understood the controls.
Who am I in this world?
Where do I belong?
What kind of world is this?
How dangerous is it?
Those were all very important questions.
Questions that needed answers.
Unfortunately, Hikaru was currently too busy staring at the translucent blue screen floating in front of him like a child who had just received the greatest birthday present of his life.
A system.
A real system.
Not an app.
Not a dream.
Not some cheap hallucination caused by head trauma.
A genuine, supernatural, life-changing system.
"Super Lazy System…"
Hikaru repeated the name quietly.
Then he smiled.
"Honestly, the name is stupid, but the concept is beautiful."
[The System accepts the compliment.]
"That was not entirely a compliment."
[The System accepts the compliment.]
"Selective hearing, huh?"
Before Hikaru could continue arguing with the floating screen, something suddenly appeared in his hands.
A sheet of paper.
A perfectly normal A4 sheet.
Hikaru froze.
Then he looked down.
"...What the hell?"
There was no flash of light.
No magical circle.
No dramatic sound effect.
One second, his hands were empty.
The next, he was holding a letter.
Hikaru stared at it for a few seconds.
Then his eyes narrowed.
"This has to be that God's doing."
There was no envelope. No stamp. No divine seal.
Just a neatly folded paper with his name written on the front.
To Hikaru Fujiwara.
"That guy really has a casual way of handling reincarnation."
With a sigh, Hikaru unfolded the letter.
The handwriting was elegant, but somehow annoying. It gave him the strange impression that the person who wrote it was smiling while doing so.
He began to read.
---
Congratulations on reincarnating safely and without any major problems, Hikaru Fujiwara.
I did not have enough time to explain everything before sending you off, so I will use this letter to clarify a few things.
First, who are you in this world?
You are Hikaru Fujiwara, a seventeen-year-old orphan living in Kuoh Town.
You are currently a second-year student at Kuoh Academy.
The apartment you are in was left behind by your deceased parents. Inside the wardrobe in your bedroom, you will find your documents, wallet, cards, and everything else you need to live legally in this world.
You can check your bank balance through the banking app on your phone.
That is all the money you currently possess.
As for this world, it is a mixture of several anime worlds you watched in your previous life.
I hope you enjoy the surprises.
Lastly, be happy in this new life.
Use the system I gave you well, enjoy yourself, and do your best to retire early.
All the best, my boy.
---
Hikaru remained silent.
He read the letter once.
Then again.
Then a third time, just to make sure he had not misunderstood something extremely important.
A second-year student at Kuoh Academy.
Kuoh Town.
A mixture of several anime worlds.
His expression slowly changed.
Confusion.
Surprise.
Joy.
Concern.
Then, finally, exhaustion.
"Thank you for the consideration and for sending me this letter."
He folded the paper carefully.
Then he inhaled deeply.
"Kuoh, huh?"
Hikaru looked toward the ceiling.
"That God really knows how to pick places. Did he send me here because he wants me to live happily, or because he wants to see how long I last before getting dragged into supernatural nonsense?"
Kuoh Town.
If it really was the Kuoh he was thinking of, then this world was connected to High School DxD.
Which meant devils.
Fallen angels.
Angels.
Sacred Gears.
Dragons.
Perverts with protagonist-level survival rates.
And a frightening number of people who could destroy a normal human without even trying.
Hikaru pinched the bridge of his nose.
"DxD is a problem disguised as a school romance."
Then he paused.
"Actually, no. It's a supernatural war zone disguised as a school romance."
That said…
He could not deny something.
"I'm curious about the other worlds mixed in here."
A dangerous world was terrifying.
A crossover world was even more terrifying.
But for someone who had lived a life where everything felt gray, repetitive, and unrewarding, there was also a strange excitement in not knowing what waited outside.
This was his new life.
His second chance.
And according to God, his efforts would finally be rewarded here.
"Alright."
Hikaru slapped his cheeks lightly.
"Let's follow God's advice and check my money first."
He searched around the apartment and quickly found a smartphone on the low table. Thankfully, it unlocked with his fingerprint.
That was convenient.
Too convenient, honestly.
But Hikaru decided not to complain.
A reincarnated person should appreciate quality-of-life features.
He opened the banking app.
His eyes scanned the screen.
Then his soul almost left his body for the second time that day.
"...I'm broke as hell."
The number displayed in his account was tragic.
Not completely hopeless, but definitely not enough to support a comfortable lazy lifestyle.
Hikaru stared at the phone with trembling hands.
Then he looked toward the bedroom, as if accusing the previous owners of the apartment.
"What did my ancestors do for me to have this little money?"
A moment of silence passed.
Then he remembered that his parents in this world were dead.
He immediately looked away.
"Sorry. That was rude."
Still, poverty was poverty.
And his bank balance was not the kind of number that inspired dreams.
It inspired part-time jobs.
Hikaru collapsed onto the sofa and covered his face with one arm.
"So let me get this straight…"
He raised one finger.
"I was thrown into a crazy anime world."
Another finger.
"I live in Kuoh, which is basically supernatural trouble central."
Another finger.
"I'm seventeen again and apparently still have to go to school."
Another finger.
"And I'm poor."
He stayed silent for a few seconds.
Then he sighed dramatically.
"Life really could not be more cruel."
[Correction: the Host has obtained a second life, a private apartment, legal identification, and a growth-support system.]
Hikaru lowered his arm and stared at the blue screen.
"Are you trying to comfort me?"
[The System is providing perspective.]
"You sound like a motivational coach."
[If that motivates the Host, the System accepts this role.]
"A system and a life coach. What a bargain."
Despite his complaints, Hikaru slowly sat up.
His expression softened.
The truth was, even though things were far from perfect, he did feel different.
Alive.
Really alive.
Not just breathing.
Not just surviving.
For the first time in a long while, the future felt uncertain in a good way.
And that scared him.
But it also made his chest feel lighter.
"Fine."
Hikaru stood up.
"Being poor is bad. Living in a dangerous world is worse. But honestly…"
He looked at his hands.
"I feel more alive than I did before."
The screen remained in front of him, silent.
Hikaru smiled faintly.
"Let's work hard enough to make this life satisfying."
[That is the vision, Host!]
"Yeah, yeah. Don't get too excited."
Then another thought hit him.
A very important one.
"But despite all that, how the hell am I supposed to survive in a world full of devils and gods?"
The system screen flickered.
[Calm down, Host.]
[Mission generated.]
[Mission: Know Your System, Know Yourself.]
[Description: Everything is new in this world, but every journey begins with a single step. Learn about your daily tasks, complete them, and receive your first rewards.]
[Completion Reward: Extra reward upon completing all daily tasks.]
Hikaru stared at the screen.
"That was fast as hell."
[Come on, Host. You can do it. Take your first step toward early retirement.]
Hikaru's eyes sharpened.
For some reason, those words worked better than any motivational speech he had ever heard.
Early retirement.
Peace.
Comfort.
A life where effort actually meant something.
He clenched his fist.
"I like you, System."
[The System is pleased.]
"Show me the daily tasks."
[Of course.]
[Daily Tasks:]
[Run 2 kilometers.]
[Do 20 push-ups.]
[Do 20 squats.]
[Do 20 sit-ups.]
Hikaru blinked.
Then he looked at the screen with a deadpan expression.
"Perfect. Now the system is a personal trainer."
[That is not my primary function.]
"But it is what you are doing."
[If that interpretation motivates the Host, please continue.]
"What choice do I have?"
Hikaru stretched his arms.
"Let's do it."
A few minutes later, Hikaru changed into comfortable clothes he found in the bedroom wardrobe.
The clothes fit perfectly.
Which was both convenient and slightly creepy.
He also found his wallet, student ID, residence card, and a few other documents. Seeing his own face on those cards confirmed what the letter had said.
Hikaru Fujiwara.
Seventeen years old.
Second-year student.
Kuoh Academy.
"Guess I really exist here."
He looked in the mirror for the first time.
The face staring back at him was his, but younger.
Cleaner.
Less tired.
His features were sharper than before, his skin healthier, and his eyes had a liveliness he did not remember having in years.
He touched his own cheek.
"Not bad."
Then he noticed his expression becoming a little too satisfied and immediately cleared his throat.
"Focus, Hikaru. Retirement first. Vanity later."
With that, he left the apartment.
The outside world greeted him with warm sunlight, clean streets, and a peaceful atmosphere that made Kuoh Town seem completely normal.
That was the scary part.
It looked normal.
A quiet residential area.
Students walking in the distance.
Small shops opening for the day.
People riding bicycles.
A mother holding her child's hand.
Nothing about the town screamed supernatural battlefield.
And yet, Hikaru knew better.
"This is how they get you," he muttered.
"They make the town look peaceful, and then some fallen angel asks you out."
[Host, please begin running.]
"Fine, fine."
Hikaru started jogging.
At first, it felt easy.
His body was young, light, and far less worn down than the body he remembered. His legs moved smoothly, his breathing was stable, and for a moment, he almost thought running two kilometers would be simple.
Then reality arrived.
After a few minutes, his lungs began to burn.
His legs grew heavy.
His confidence cracked.
"Why…"
Huff.
"Does…"
Huff.
"Being alive…"
Huff.
"Require cardio?"
[Because the Host has a body.]
"I want a refund on biology."
[Refund unavailable.]
"You're useless."
[The Host is currently running because of the System.]
"Emotionally useless, then."
Still, he kept moving.
It was not impressive.
It was not heroic.
It was not the kind of training scene where the protagonist looked cool while sweat sparkled under the sun.
Hikaru looked miserable.
He slowed down.
Sped up.
Almost tripped.
Questioned his life choices.
Then remembered he had already died once and decided that being embarrassed by jogging was not the worst thing that had happened to him.
By the time the system finally announced the completion of the first task, Hikaru was leaning against a railing, breathing like an old man who had just challenged a mountain.
[Daily Task Completed: Run 2 kilometers.]
"Great…"
He raised a trembling thumb.
"Only three more forms of suffering to go."
He returned to a nearby small park and chose a quiet corner.
Push-ups came next.
The first five were fine.
The next five were unpleasant.
By fifteen, his arms were shaking.
By twenty, Hikaru collapsed face-first onto the grass.
[Daily Task Completed: 20 push-ups.]
"I have discovered something important."
[What has the Host discovered?]
"My arms are decorative."
[Incorrect. They successfully completed the assigned task.]
"Barely."
After a short rest, he moved on to squats.
Those were easier at first.
Then his legs remembered the two-kilometer run and filed a formal complaint.
By the twentieth squat, Hikaru was staring into the distance with the eyes of a man betrayed by his own muscles.
[Daily Task Completed: 20 squats.]
"Good job, legs. I forgive you."
Finally came the sit-ups.
They were terrible.
Not impossible.
Just terrible.
Every movement made Hikaru question why humans had abdominal muscles if they were only going to complain when used.
But somehow, he finished.
[Daily Task Completed: 20 sit-ups.]
[All Daily Tasks completed.]
Hikaru rolled onto his back and stared at the sky.
"I did it."
His voice was weak, but there was pride in it.
"I actually did it."
For someone else, it might have been nothing.
A light workout.
A simple routine.
But for Hikaru, this was his first effort in a new life.
And this time, the world answered.
[Daily Task Reward received.]
[Function Unlocked: Status.]
A new screen appeared before him.
---
[Status]
Name: Hikaru Fujiwara
Age: 17
Race: Human
Condition: Healthy
HP: 100/100
SP: 82/100
Strength: 10
Agility: 10
Endurance: 10
Dexterity: 10
Intelligence: 12
Magic Power: 10
Charm: 11
Available Points: 0
---
Hikaru sat up immediately.
"Oh?"
His exhaustion was almost forgotten.
"This is my status?"
[Correct.]
He stared at the numbers.
"They look… normal."
[Correct.]
"Was that an insult?"
[Explanation: A value of 10 represents the average status of a healthy adult human.]
Hikaru looked back at the screen.
"So my physical stats are basically normal adult level?"
[Correct. The Host's body is healthy and balanced, despite being seventeen years old.]
"And HP?"
[HP represents the Host's current life force and physical condition. 100 HP indicates that the Host is currently healthy and uninjured.]
"So 100 is the limit?"
[Incorrect.]
The screen flickered.
[100 is only the current value of an ordinary healthy human.]
[Through training, growth, skills, rewards, and special conditions, HP and all other status values can increase far beyond ordinary human standards.]
Hikaru's eyes widened.
"Far beyond?"
[Correct.]
A slow smile spread across his face.
"That sounds promising."
[Additional explanation: All status values can be improved through effort. However, as the Host grows stronger, natural improvement will become progressively more difficult.]
"So beginner gains exist even in another world."
[Simple but accurate.]
Hikaru nodded seriously.
"I respect that."
Then another notification appeared.
[Daily Task Reward Applied.]
[Strength increased by 1.]
[Agility increased by 1.]
[Endurance increased by 1.]
Hikaru's eyes widened.
"Wait. Just like that?"
He opened his hands and closed them again.
His body did not suddenly transform.
He did not become a superhero.
But he felt… slightly better.
A little more solid.
A little lighter.
A little more energetic.
It was subtle.
But it was real.
[Current Status Updated.]
---
[Status]
Name: Hikaru Fujiwara
Age: 17
Race: Human
Condition: Healthy
HP: 100/100
SP: 76/103
Strength: 11
Agility: 11
Endurance: 11
Dexterity: 10
Intelligence: 12
Magic Power: 10
Charm: 11
Available Points: 0
---
"My SP maximum increased too?"
[Correct. Endurance influences stamina.]
Hikaru stared at the screen like it was a treasure map.
"This is dangerous."
[The Host is concerned?]
"No. I mean dangerous for my motivation."
He clenched his fist.
"If I can actually see results, I might end up working hard."
[That would be beneficial.]
"That is what scares me."
Before he could continue, the system screen changed again.
[Mission Completed: Know Your System, Know Yourself.]
[Completion Reward received.]
[Function Unlocked: Skill Section.]
Another part of the status screen opened.
---
[Skills]
None.
---
Hikaru's excitement died instantly.
"None?"
[The Host has not yet acquired any skills.]
"That hurts more than it should."
[Reward processing.]
The screen flashed.
[Skill acquired.]
[Limitless Potential.]
Hikaru froze.
The name alone sounded absurd.
Slowly, he opened the skill description.
---
[Limitless Potential]
Rank: Unique
Description: A special skill granted to the Host as proof of his second chance.
Effect 1: Removes the natural growth limit of the Host.
Effect 2: Makes it easier for the Host to increase status values through effort.
Effect 3: Makes it easier for the Host to acquire new skills through repeated actions.
Effect 4: Skills obtained by the Host can continue improving without a fixed upper limit, provided sufficient effort, practice, and experience are accumulated.
Example: If the Host begins cooking repeatedly, the Host may acquire a Cooking skill. Continued practice may raise that skill to increasingly higher levels without a predetermined ceiling.
---
Hikaru read the description.
Then he read it again.
Then he read it a third time, because his brain refused to process something that good too quickly.
"Dude…"
His voice came out in a whisper.
"This is way too good."
He stood up, ignoring the soreness in his body.
"What an incredible skill."
[The Host has only seen the beginning.]
Hikaru stared at the screen.
The system's words were simple.
But they carried weight.
Limitless Potential.
No growth limit.
Skills from repeated actions.
Stats that could rise through effort.
For someone like Hikaru, who had spent his first life feeling like effort vanished into nothing, this was more than a cheat.
It was validation.
It was a promise.
If he tried, he would grow.
If he worked, he would receive.
If he moved forward, the world would finally move with him.
Hikaru smiled.
"You're right."
He looked at the bright sky above Kuoh.
"This is only the beginning."
[Also, Host.]
"What?"
[Please remember that the Host needs money.]
Hikaru's smile vanished.
"Damn it."
He lowered his head.
"I had successfully forgotten that for almost thirty seconds."
[Financial stability is essential for early retirement.]
"Unfortunately, you're right."
After resting for a while, Hikaru began walking back home.
His body was tired, but his mood was strangely good.
The streets of Kuoh looked peaceful as he walked through them. A few students passed by in uniforms. Elderly people chatted near a shop. A delivery truck stopped in front of a convenience store.
It really looked like a normal town.
Then Hikaru saw a familiar sign.
Cake Shop Iori.
He stopped walking.
"Wait…"
He stared at the bakery across the street.
A cozy little shop with a warm atmosphere, clean windows, and the kind of display that made cakes look more emotionally supportive than some people.
Hikaru narrowed his eyes.
"Isn't that…?"
He remembered it.
Miyamura's family bakery from Horimiya.
"So this world really is mixed."
That confirmed it.
This was not just DxD.
Other stories were here too.
Maybe romantic comedies.
Maybe slice-of-life worlds.
Maybe worse things.
Hikaru was still staring at the bakery when a sudden voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Watch out!"
He turned his head.
A small boy had tripped near the sidewalk, and a paper bag full of groceries had fallen from his hands. Several items rolled across the pavement.
One of them, a glass bottle, was rolling straight toward the street.
A bicycle was approaching quickly.
It was not a life-threatening disaster.
It was not a supernatural battle.
It was just a small accident.
But Hikaru moved before thinking.
He stepped forward, caught the bottle before it rolled into the road, and helped gather the scattered groceries.
The boy looked close to tears.
"I-I'm sorry…"
"Relax."
Hikaru handed him the bottle.
"Nothing broke."
The boy sniffed and bowed his head.
"Thank you, mister."
Mister.
Hikaru felt invisible damage strike his heart.
"I'm seventeen."
The boy blinked.
"Thank you, older brother."
"Better."
A woman hurried over from the bakery, her expression filled with worry.
She looked gentle, but also had the aura of someone who could scold a person into proper posture.
"Are you okay?"
The boy nodded quickly.
"I'm okay. He helped me."
The woman turned to Hikaru and bowed politely.
"Thank you very much. That could have become troublesome."
"It was nothing."
Hikaru waved his hand awkwardly.
"I just happened to be nearby."
The woman smiled.
"Still, kindness should be rewarded."
Before Hikaru could refuse, she stepped back into the shop and returned with a small paper bag.
Inside were a few pastries and a slice of cake carefully packed in a box.
"Please take this."
Hikaru stared at the bag.
His stomach immediately betrayed him by growling.
The woman laughed softly.
"Good timing, it seems."
Hikaru coughed.
"Thank you."
As he accepted the bag, something else happened.
A small notification appeared at the corner of his vision.
[Spontaneous Action Recognized.]
[Helped someone in need.]
[Reward received: 5,000 yen.]
Hikaru froze.
His hand tightened around the paper bag.
Five thousand yen.
For helping pick up groceries.
He looked at the boy.
Then at the woman.
Then at the notification.
Then at the sky.
"God…"
His voice trembled.
"I owe you an apology."
The woman tilted her head.
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing. I was just reflecting on the beauty of kindness."
[The Host is reflecting on money.]
"Both can coexist."
Hikaru bowed slightly to the woman and boy before continuing his way home.
His steps felt lighter.
Not because of the exercise.
Not because of the pastries.
Well, maybe partly because of the pastries.
But mostly because, for the first time in his life, a small act of effort had immediately returned something to him.
Not years later.
Not after begging.
Not after being ignored.
Immediately.
It was only five thousand yen.
It would not solve his financial problems.
It would not make him safe from devils, fallen angels, or whatever other anime chaos waited in the shadows.
But it was proof.
Proof that this life was different.
Hikaru looked at the system screen floating quietly beside him.
Then he smiled.
"A world full of danger, no money, school starting soon, and probably supernatural nonsense waiting around the corner…"
He opened the bag and took out a pastry.
"But at least effort finally pays."
He took a bite.
The pastry was delicious.
Far too delicious.
Hikaru stopped walking.
His eyes sharpened.
"System."
[Yes, Host?]
"Important question."
[Proceed.]
"If I learn how to bake, can I eventually make something this good?"
[With sufficient effort and practice, yes.]
Hikaru stared at the pastry in his hand.
Then at Cake Shop Iori behind him.
Then at the road ahead.
A dangerous world.
A mysterious system.
Endless potential.
And delicious cake.
For a young man pursuing early retirement, there was only one possible conclusion.
"This second life…"
He smiled.
"Might actually be worth working for."