After entering a small, simple diner near the shopping street, Hikaru ordered the cheapest decent meal he could find and sat down near the corner.
It was not a fancy place.
The tables were plain.
The chairs were ordinary.
The menu was affordable.
In other words, it was perfect for a poor reincarnated student with early retirement ambitions.
When the food arrived, Hikaru clasped his hands together.
"Thanks for the meal."
Then he took the first bite.
A few seconds later, he froze.
"...Good."
It was not heavenly.
It was not gourmet.
It was not the kind of meal that would make a cooking anime character explode their shirt with emotion.
But it was warm.
It was tasty.
And most importantly, it was his first proper meal outside since coming to this world.
For Hikaru, that was enough.
He took a few more bites, enjoying the quiet moment, when the familiar blue screen appeared in front of him.
[Daily evaluation completed.]
Hikaru paused with his chopsticks halfway to his mouth.
"Oh?"
[After evaluating the Host's day, the System has concluded that the Host's academic efforts are also worthy of a reward.]
[Congratulations, Host.]
[You now have two rewards available.]
[Would you like to view them?]
Hikaru stared at the screen.
Then he slowly lowered his chopsticks.
"That question is about as obvious as asking a blind man if he would like to see."
[That is a cruel analogy.]
"I admit it was not my best one."
[Displaying rewards.]
The screen changed.
[Reward 1: Meaningful Social Connections.]
[Reward: 300 Status Points.]
For a moment, Hikaru did not move.
Then his eyes widened.
"Three hundred?"
His voice came out low, but sharp.
"Did I read that correctly?"
[Correct.]
[Status Points can be freely distributed by the Host to increase status attributes.]
[They may be used to increase Strength, Agility, Endurance, Dexterity, Intelligence, Magic Power, Charm, or other compatible attributes unlocked in the future.]
Hikaru leaned back in his chair.
"That is an excellent reward."
No.
Excellent was too weak.
Three hundred points was absurd.
Considering an ordinary healthy adult human had around 10 in most basic stats, those points could completely change his physical level overnight.
He placed a hand over his chin.
"Man, this is phenomenal."
Then his eyes narrowed slightly.
"If a normal human sits around 10, I wonder what a devil looks like."
The system screen remained silent.
Hikaru smiled.
"I think I'll try checking one tomorrow."
[The Host is bold.]
"Strategically bold, please."
[If the Host prefers that wording, the System will accept it.]
"I do."
Hikaru took another bite of his food.
"Now, my other reward, please."
[Of course.]
[Reward 2: Academic Effort.]
[Skill acquired.]
[Born Student.]
Hikaru blinked.
"Born Student?"
The skill description appeared immediately.
---
[Born Student]
Rank: Rare
Type: Passive Skill
Description: A skill granted to those who naturally adapt to study, learning, and academic environments.
Effects:
1. The Host learns more easily when studying.
2. The Host absorbs information more efficiently from books, lectures, notes, and structured lessons.
3. When the Host studies in an academic or learning-focused environment, such as a school, library, quiet study room, or similar location, Intelligence growth becomes easier.
4. Long study sessions cause slightly less mental fatigue.
5. The Host has an increased chance of acquiring knowledge-based skills through repeated study.
System Note: Studying is your life!
---
Hikaru stared at the skill.
Then he placed a hand over his chest.
"Damn."
[The Host appears pleased.]
"Of course I am pleased. All my rewards so far have been ridiculously useful."
He smiled.
"With this, I don't have to worry too much about my Intelligence stat anymore."
[Correction: The Host should still worry.]
"Why?"
[Because the Host is letting his food get cold.]
Hikaru looked down.
Then immediately resumed eating.
"Thank you."
[You are welcome.]
After finishing a good meal, Hikaru paid the bill with a slightly wounded expression.
Even affordable food hurt when one's bank account was tragic.
Still, he had eaten well.
That mattered.
By the time he arrived home, the sky was already darkening.
Hikaru placed his bag down, changed into comfortable clothes, and sat on the floor in the middle of his living room.
A familiar blue screen floated before him.
[Status Points Available: 300.]
Hikaru looked at the number.
Then he inhaled slowly.
"Alright."
His expression became serious.
"Let's use these wisely."
In a dangerous world like this, spreading his points evenly seemed safer than putting everything into one attribute.
Strength mattered.
Agility mattered.
Endurance mattered.
Dexterity would help with body control, training, crafts, instruments, and probably weapons in the future.
Magic Power was important because this was DxD, and he would be stupid to ignore supernatural potential.
Intelligence and Charm were useful, but he already had Born Student for learning support, and Charm was not something he wanted to overprioritize right now.
So, after thinking carefully, Hikaru made his decision.
"System. Distribute the points like this."
[Awaiting allocation.]
"Strength, plus 60."
[Confirmed.]
"Agility, plus 60."
[Confirmed.]
"Endurance, plus 60."
[Confirmed.]
"Dexterity, plus 60."
[Confirmed.]
"Magic Power, plus 40."
[Confirmed.]
"Intelligence, plus 10."
[Confirmed.]
"Charm, plus 10."
[Confirmed.]
[300 Status Points consumed.]
[Status Updated.]
---
[Status]
Name: Hikaru Fujiwara
Age: 17
Race: Human
Condition: Healthy / Slight Muscle Soreness
HP: 700/700
SP: 709/709
Strength: 74
Agility: 71
Endurance: 73
Dexterity: 70
Intelligence: 22
Magic Power: 50
Charm: 21
Available Points: 0
---
[Skills]
Limitless Potential
Iron Virtue
Appraisal
Born Student
---
Hikaru stared at the numbers.
His brain stopped working for a few seconds.
Then he slowly clenched his hand.
The sensation was strange.
His body did not explode with power.
His muscles did not suddenly bulge.
But something had definitely changed.
The air felt lighter.
His body felt easier to control.
His breathing felt deeper.
His limbs felt stronger.
His senses seemed sharper.
It was as if his entire body had been upgraded from an old, unreliable machine into something far more responsive.
Hikaru stood up carefully.
Then he took a step.
Another.
He moved his arm.
Turned his wrist.
Bent his knees.
Jumped lightly.
His feet left the floor higher than expected.
He landed, almost lost balance, then caught himself.
"Whoa."
[The Host's body has undergone a significant increase in physical ability.]
"I noticed."
[The Host should avoid sudden movements until fully adjusted.]
"Good advice."
He looked at his status again.
His HP and SP had increased dramatically because of the rise in Endurance.
"So HP scales with Endurance too?"
[Correct.]
[HP represents the Host's life force and physical durability. A normal healthy human has around 100 HP. The Host's current HP is far beyond that of an ordinary human.]
Hikaru smiled.
"Now this feels like progress."
[The Host is still weak compared to supernatural beings.]
His smile twitched.
"You always know how to ruin a beautiful moment."
[Accuracy is important.]
"Fine. Then I will keep improving."
Hikaru stretched his arms.
"From now on, every morning after waking up, I'll complete my daily tasks."
[Excellent decision.]
"But today, I'll do them now."
[Daily Tasks have updated according to the Host's current progress.]
Hikaru froze.
"Updated?"
The screen changed.
[Daily Tasks:]
[Run 5 kilometers.]
[Do 50 push-ups.]
[Do 50 squats.]
[Do 50 sit-ups.]
Hikaru stared.
Then stared some more.
"System."
[Yes, Host?]
"You increased the difficulty very quickly."
[The Host's abilities increased very quickly.]
"That is a valid but irritating argument."
[Daily Task Reward: 10,000 yen.]
Hikaru's expression changed instantly.
"Where are my running shoes?"
[The Host's motivation is easily influenced by money.]
"Financial stability is essential for early retirement."
[The Host learns quickly.]
And so, Hikaru trained again.
This time, it was different.
The five-kilometer run was still tiring, but no longer felt impossible.
His body moved with surprising power.
His legs carried him forward smoothly.
His breathing remained stable for far longer than before.
The push-ups, squats, and sit-ups were also difficult, but compared to yesterday's suffering, Hikaru could feel the difference.
His body was stronger.
His endurance was higher.
And Iron Virtue made the repetitive effort easier to tolerate.
By the time he finished, he was sweating heavily, but he was not destroyed.
[Daily Tasks completed.]
[Reward received: 10,000 yen.]
Hikaru raised both arms weakly.
"Money."
[The Host has earned it.]
"That sentence heals my soul."
After showering, eating something simple, and preparing for the next day, Hikaru collapsed onto his bed.
His body was tired again.
But this time, it was a satisfying tiredness.
The kind that came from effort with results.
Before sleeping, he looked at the ceiling and smiled faintly.
"Tomorrow, school again."
He paused.
"That sounds awful."
[The Host has friends at school.]
"That makes it slightly less awful."
[The Host may obtain more rewards.]
"That makes it significantly less awful."
With that, Hikaru closed his eyes.
The next morning, he woke up before the alarm.
His body felt surprisingly refreshed.
There was still some soreness, but it was far lighter than he expected.
Iron Virtue and his improved stats were already showing their value.
Hikaru sat up and stretched.
"Good morning, new world."
[Good morning, Host.]
"Daily tasks."
[Displaying Daily Tasks.]
The same routine appeared.
Run 5 kilometers.
50 push-ups.
50 squats.
50 sit-ups.
And the same reward.
10,000 yen.
Hikaru smiled.
"Let's go."
He completed the routine again.
The run felt smoother than the night before.
The exercises were still challenging, but manageable.
By the end, he was sweating, breathing hard, and feeling strangely proud.
[Daily Tasks completed.]
[Reward received: 10,000 yen.]
[Repeated Physical Effort Recognized.]
[Strength increased by 1.]
[Agility increased by 1.]
[Endurance increased by 1.]
Hikaru wiped sweat from his forehead.
"Beautiful."
[Status Updated.]
---
[Status]
Name: Hikaru Fujiwara
Age: 17
Race: Human
Condition: Healthy
HP: 710/710
SP: 719/719
Strength: 75
Agility: 72
Endurance: 74
Dexterity: 70
Intelligence: 22
Magic Power: 50
Charm: 21
Available Points: 0
Skills:
Limitless Potential
Iron Virtue
Appraisal
Born Student
---
After showering and putting on his Kuoh Academy uniform, Hikaru prepared to leave.
He checked his phone.
His wallet.
His keys.
His student bag.
Then he looked at himself in the mirror.
Compared to yesterday, he seemed more confident.
Not arrogant.
Just steadier.
His body felt stronger, his posture better, and his mind clearer.
"Alright."
He adjusted his collar.
"Second day of school."
[The Host sounds calm.]
"I am not calm. I am acting calm."
[Effective.]
"Thank you."
Hikaru left the apartment and walked toward Kuoh Academy.
The morning streets were familiar now, but still full of things he did not understand.
Every person he passed could be ordinary.
Or not.
Every peaceful corner could belong to another story.
Or another problem.
When he reached the school gate, several students were already entering.
Hikaru moved with the crowd, trying to look natural.
That was when he saw her.
A small girl with white hair.
Quiet steps.
Expressionless face.
Petite frame.
But somehow, her presence felt heavier than it should.
Koneko Toujou.
Hikaru stopped walking for half a second.
His heart reacted before his brain did.
That girl was dangerous.
Not in the obvious way.
Not like someone threatening.
But like a small stone hiding the weight of a mountain.
Hikaru swallowed.
"System."
[Yes, Host?]
"Appraisal."
His vision focused.
A screen appeared.
---
[Appraisal]
Name: Koneko Toujou
Age: 15
Race: Reincarnated Devil / Nekoshou
Condition: Stable
HP: 3,200/3,200
SP: 2,850/2,850
Strength: 420
Agility: 360
Endurance: 390
Dexterity: 280
Intelligence: 120
Magic Power: 250
Charm: 90
Threat Level: Extremely High for the Host
Note: Physical ability far exceeds the Host.
Warning: Information may be incomplete.
---
Hikaru went silent.
Completely silent.
He looked at Koneko.
Then at his own hand.
Then at the screen again.
Then at Koneko.
She walked past the gate without even noticing him.
A small, quiet girl.
A first-year student.
A member of Rias Gremory's peerage.
And compared to Hikaru, an absurd wall of stats.
Hikaru smiled stiffly.
"System."
[Yes, Host?]
"I would like to formally apologize for feeling strong."
[Apology acknowledged.]
"She has over four hundred Strength."
[Correct.]
"I have seventy-five."
[Correct.]
"She is small."
[Correct.]
"I am emotionally damaged."
[Also correct.]
"Thank you for confirming."
At that moment, another notification appeared.
[Mission Generated.]
[Hikaru Fujiwara Recognizes His Insignificance.]
[Description: The Host has witnessed the difference between himself and a relatively young supernatural being. Accept reality, grow stronger, and raise your physical ability until you can stand on the same level as Koneko Toujou.]
[Objective: Increase physical status values and reach Koneko Toujou's current physical level.]
[Reward: ???]
Hikaru stared at the mission.
Then he looked up at the sky.
"I just arrived at school."
[Correct.]
"And you already gave me a mountain to climb?"
[Correct.]
"Not even a hill. A mountain."
[Correct.]
"At least I don't have to do this immediately, right?"
[No time limit has been established.]
Hikaru placed a hand over his chest.
"Thank God."
[The Host has already thanked God recently.]
"I will thank him again. This world is stressful."
[Stress may encourage growth.]
"You sound like a villainous fitness instructor."
[The System is supporting the Host's development.]
"Same thing."
Despite the shock, Hikaru did not feel discouraged.
Actually, it was the opposite.
Seeing Koneko's status made the danger of this world real.
But it also gave him a target.
Not vague strength.
Not abstract survival.
A clear number.
A wall.
A goal.
He looked at his own status again.
He was still far weaker than her.
But yesterday, his Strength had been 14.
Today, it was 75.
He had already changed.
He could change more.
Hikaru took a deep breath.
"Alright."
His expression became calmer.
"One step at a time."
[That is the correct approach.]
"And preferably without getting punched by Koneko."
[That is also the correct approach.]
Hikaru entered the school building and headed toward his classroom.
When he opened the door, the familiar morning noise greeted him.
Students chatting.
Chairs moving.
Books opening.
Someone laughing.
A completely ordinary classroom.
At least on the surface.
"Fujiwara-kun!"
Marin waved at him energetically from near her seat.
"Good morning!"
Hikaru smiled.
"Good morning, Marin."
Gojo, sitting nearby, gave a small nod.
"Good morning, Fujiwara-kun."
"Morning, Gojo."
Issei also noticed him and grinned.
"Yo, Fujiwara!"
"Morning, Hyoudou."
Matsuda and Motohama appeared beside Issei with suspicious speed.
"Fujiwara."
"You have returned."
Hikaru looked at them carefully.
"Why does that sound ominous?"
Motohama adjusted his glasses.
"We were discussing yesterday's matter."
"The noble cause," Matsuda added.
Issei nodded solemnly.
"The appreciation of beauty."
Hikaru placed his bag on his desk.
"I already declined."
Issei clutched his chest.
"And yet, my heart refuses to give up."
"That sounds like a personal problem."
Marin, who had been listening, tilted her head.
"What are you guys talking about?"
The three perverts froze.
Hikaru smiled peacefully.
"They were inviting me to join a club of questionable future prospects."
Marin blinked.
"Huh?"
Gojo looked concerned.
Issei panicked.
"That's not wrong, but it sounds bad when you say it like that!"
"It sounds bad because it is bad."
Matsuda whispered, "He's strong."
Motohama whispered back, "Mentally."
Hikaru sat down, feeling strangely comfortable.
It was odd.
Yesterday, this classroom had been unknown territory.
Today, it already felt a little familiar.
Not home.
Not yet.
But familiar.
That mattered.
As classes began, Hikaru tried to focus properly.
Born Student made a noticeable difference.
The teacher's explanation felt easier to follow.
Details connected faster.
Things he would normally need to review several times settled more naturally in his mind.
It was not instant genius.
But it was real help.
[Academic effort recognized.]
Hikaru glanced at the screen.
"Not now."
[The Host is paying attention.]
"I am trying to."
[Continue.]
He almost smiled.
School, surprisingly, was becoming useful.
Not only for knowledge.
But for growth.
For connections.
For understanding this world.
For finding people who might become important to him.
By the time the morning classes ended and lunch break arrived, Hikaru felt more mentally tired than physically tired.
But it was manageable.
His stomach, however, had more urgent concerns.
"Food."
[The Host requires nutrition.]
"I know."
He bought a simple snack from the cafeteria, carefully choosing something cheap but filling.
Financial discipline was important.
With the snack in hand, Hikaru began walking through the hallway.
Part of him considered eating with Gojo and Marin.
Another part thought about Issei and immediately rejected that idea before it could become dangerous.
Then he remembered the quiet sound of a guitar from yesterday.
Hitori Gotoh.
Bocchi-chan.
He wondered if she would be in the same secluded corner again.
The answer came quickly.
She was there.
Sitting near the window.
Holding her guitar case.
But she was not playing.
Instead, she was curled up slightly, staring at the floor with the haunted expression of someone who had spent the entire morning fighting invisible demons.
As Hikaru approached, he heard her muttering.
"Maybe yesterday was a hallucination…"
Her voice was tiny.
"Maybe I imagined a normal conversation because my brain finally decided to create a social interaction DLC…"
Hikaru stopped.
Hitori continued.
"Or maybe Fujiwara-kun was a temporary event NPC who disappears after one interaction…"
Hikaru blinked.
Then he smiled.
"Good afternoon, Gotoh-san."
Hitori's entire body jolted.
She looked up so fast that Hikaru worried her neck might not survive.
Her eyes widened.
For a moment, she simply stared at him.
Then her face slowly turned red.
"Y-You're real…"
Hikaru raised his snack slightly.
"Probably."
Hitori gripped her guitar case tightly.
"You came back…"
There was so much disbelief in her voice that Hikaru's smile softened.
"Of course I did."
He sat down nearby, keeping a comfortable distance like before.
"I said I'd like to listen again sometime, didn't I?"
Hitori stared at him.
Her lips trembled slightly.
Then she lowered her head, hiding behind her pink hair.
"I thought… maybe you were just being polite."
Hikaru looked at her quietly.
Then he opened his snack.
"I can be polite."
He took a bite.
"But I try not to lie about things like that."
Hitori did not respond immediately.
But her shoulders relaxed.
Just a little.
Enough.
Hikaru looked at the guitar case.
"So…"
He smiled.
"Will today's performance require a friendship fee, or am I still covered by the free trial?"
Hitori froze.
Then, very slowly, she made a sound.
It was small.
Almost inaudible.
But it was there.
A tiny laugh.
For Hikaru, that was already worth coming back.