The wooden floors of the Amamiya residence creaked as Menma stepped inside.
His breathing was still heavy, the remnants of the poison and the beating in the school restroom left a sharp, visceral sting.
However, what hurt more was the icy atmosphere that greeted him.
In the living room, warm laughter filled the air.
His father and mother sat around the dining table, doting on Amamiya Masaki, his brother.
Masaki's plate was piled high with the finest food.
Their laughter died instantly the moment they saw Menma standing in the doorway, his face battered and bruised.
His father spared a glance at the wounds on Menma's face before indifferently turning away.
"You're home late again, Menma. And look at your face... you'll bring shame to the family name if the neighbors see you," his father said coldly, without a trace of concern.
His mother didn't even bother to look up.
"Clean yourself up"
"Don't let your blood stain the floor.
"Masaki just won a math competition at school, don't ruin the mood with that pathetic look of yours"
Menma remained silent.
Deep within this body, Masashi's soul felt a surge of profound sorrow, but it clearly wasn't his.
It was the lingering echo of the original Menma's feelings.
'So this is why you gave up, Menma? Brutally tortured by delinquents at school, and treated like trash at home because you couldn't get good grades, always living in the shadow of your brother, Masaki,' Masashi thought.
A flicker of sympathy arose, but it was quickly forged into iron resolve.
"Understood," Menma replied curtly. He headed straight for the stairs to the second floor without looking back.
'If I were the one who died… would they even care?' he wondered.
Inside his cramped room, Menma locked the door.
He sat on the floor, ignoring the pain, and began to summon the remaining memories in the boy's brain.
He needed this knowledge if he was to survive in this world.
The Hierarchy of Okato High
This school was a wolf's den. From his memories, there was a supreme ruler at the top of the food chain.
The Zoragumi Faction, boasting 90 members, was led by the "Monster King," Oozora Juugo, and his lieutenant, the "Demon King," Sakamoto Daizen.
In the second-year ranks, the situation was split into four factions. One of them was the Shintora Faction, led by Shin Torao with 30 members. The three delinquents who bullied Menma earlier were merely bottom-tier grunts of this faction.
However, Okato High was just a small piece of this hell.
The real world lay outside the school gates. Menma's ambition didn't stop at the school; he wanted all of Okayami City.
The Power Map of Okayami City
Okayami City was divided into four major territories:
West District: Mugen Rider. A motorcycle gang ruling the streets and illegal racing. Led by Oyama Cobra and his right hand, Senju Yamato. A gathering place for the adrenaline-hungry children of officials and the wealthy.
South District: Rashomon Army. The most sadistic group, managing gambling dens and high-interest loans. Led by Hyuga Shoji and the deadly Masao Brothers (Yasushi & Kiyoshi).
North District: Housen Club. Rulers of the nightlife district and luxury clubs. Led by Nakamura Rocky and his two executioners, Kageyama Kumakiri and Hoshino Hakuso.
East District: The Student Delinquents. This district was the battleground for the city's schools. There were three powerhouse schools here, but the strongest was Okato High, which controlled two-thirds of the district.
These memories were enough to make him realize that even with superior fighting techniques, it wouldn't be enough to become the strongest in Okayami.
"Too many monsters in this city," Menma muttered.
He then tapped the air, bringing up the transparent System screen.
____________________________
PLAYER STATUS
Name: Amamiya Menma
Level 1: 30/100 (EXP)
Strength: 10
Speed: 10
Endurance: 11
Spirit: 21
Intelligence: 12
(An average person has 10 points in all attributes)
[STREET FIGHTING] (PASSIVE)
-Increased combat adaptation
-Increased pain tolerance
-Dirty strikes are more effective
EXP Yield per Target:
Common Delinquent: 10 EXP
Class Ruler: 100 EXP
School King: 1,000 EXP
Gangster Boss: 10,000 EXP
_____________________________
Looking at the EXP from the three delinquents he defeated, Menma realized he needed 70 more EXP to reach Level 2 and gain 5 free attribute points.
He was still weak, facing just three ordinary delinquents had taken considerable effort.
He needed to fight and defeat more enemies to level up and grow stronger.
"In this world, the weak are stepped on. If I don't become the strongest, I'll be crushed again."
To survive... he needed a foothold.
Tomorrow presented the perfect opportunity. In Class 1-E, there was a monster named Chisato Chuta.
Standing at 180cm with a vertical scar over his eye, he was known as the Steel Tank.
With 14 loyal followers out of 20 students, Chuta was the absolute king of Class 1-E.
Chuta wasn't the strongest in the school... but he was the gateway to a deeper hell.
'If I defeat Chuta, I'll get 100 EXP and his crew immediately,' Menma calculated.
'That's enough to level me up and give me 5 additional attribute points.'
[WARNING: HOST IS TOO WEAK FOR THIS TARGET]
Menma ignored the system's warning and lay down on his thin futon, his eyes staring sharply at the ceiling.
He closed his eyes, feeling a tingling sensation like static electricity crawling under his skin.
[DING! RECOVERY PROCESS ACTIVE: 15%...]
"This system... isn't just a cold machine," Menma whispered.
He felt the bruises on his stomach throb, as if his muscle fibers were being stitched back together by invisible hands.
He looked at his status again. The Spirit stat of 21 was the only thing that made him feel he had a chance. In a world where high schoolers had the physical strength of monsters, only the mentality of a grown man who had already died once could keep him stable.
"Chuta isn't just a delinquent; he's a wall," Menma analyzed the remaining memories. "If I attack him frontally with 10 Strength, I'll be crushed in seconds. But..."
Menma smirked thinly. As Masashi, he knew that power wasn't just about muscle—it was about tactics and intelligence.
"If I can drain his stamina to the point of exhaustion, I have a chance to win."
With 21 Soul points, he possessed a will and spirit more than double that of a normal person.
"Strength determines damage, Speed determines life or death, Endurance determines defense... but Soul? That's what keeps a man standing even when his body is broken. And Intelligence determines how fast one learns," Menma mused.
Chuta might have the strength and endurance of a beast, but his soul wouldn't be as tempered as Menma's.
If he could push Chuta to his physical limits, victory was possible.
He also began mapping his steps beyond Okato High.
Okayami City wasn't a playground; it was a lethal labyrinth.
Mugen Rider in the West with their family backgrounds.
Rashomon Army in the South with their cruelty.
Housen Club in the North with their dark business networks.
"If I want to rule the whole city, I can't do it alone. I need subordinates, and Chuta is the perfect fit for my first unit."
Outside the room, Masaki's boastful laughter echoed as he recounted his achievements, followed by the exaggerated praise of his parents.
To Menma, those voices felt worlds away.
He no longer needed their affection. In this world, he only needed power.
Menma took a deep breath, letting the darkness of the room envelop him.
The pain in his ribs gradually faded, replaced by an overflowing spirit.
"Sleep well, Chuta. Enjoy your last night as the ruler of Class 1-E. Because tomorrow morning, I'm coming for you."
Menma fell asleep, unaware that his first step toward defeating Chuta would soon draw the attention of monsters far more dangerous than any he had ever imagined.