Standing in my room, where there was a little sunlight streaming in, I looked in the mirror and examined myself from all angles. Today was my first day of school, and I needed to look at least normal and not look sorry for myself. Because of the fact that most likely I will be the only one who comes alone. So, I had to at least look normal.
So, I wore black pants with a wide bottom, my feet were the usual black shoes, and my top was occupied by my only legendary item, which was a dirty white shirt. After looking all over, I realized that it fit me like a fit and was also quite comfortable, but most importantly, it looked good on me, even though it was the same sloppy style it had been before. Even though it was a little messy.
I smoothed my dark hair, which was still soft and silky, and which had managed to grow a little lately and was starting to reach the middle of my neck. I don't really like this bulging strand on my head so I tried to smooth my hair into some sort of hairstyle, but as was clear to me from the beginning I lost that battle, which left my hair in such a creative mess. After all, it wasn't the first time, and I couldn't cut it off. After taking my gaze off the mirror, I turned toward the room.
And the first thing that caught my attention was the usual black briefcase with school supplies I tried to remember at least something about what I had to take with me, but as far as I remembered today, I didn't need anything and usually buy everything within a week after the first day, but everything seemed to be already bought, so just in case I put the whole briefcase in my inventory and left the apartment, not forgetting to close the door behind me. The weather outside was quite pleasant, as they say not cold and not hot.
The school I was enrolled at was about half an hour's walk from my house, so there shouldn't have been a problem. I got there a little early so I had to stand at the gate and look around. There were already people here with children waiting for the appointed time, and people were still coming.
The first thing that came to my mind after I looked around was that it was a fairly ordinary building, painted white, with the usual iron fence around the grounds. Here I could see a small park in front of the entrance and most likely they were around the whole school, also there were a few sakura trees that were just in bloom at this time of year, maybe that was why the school year started in April. But I think it had something to do with taxes and government convenience.
In all the time I've been looking around the school it's almost past the right time for some people to start going inside the school and the number of people started to dwindle in front of the entrance and because of that I had to follow them not to get lost and not to be asked unnecessary questions.
All this flow of people led us to the assembly hall, which had a large number of chairs, and in front of them in the center of the hall stood a dozen other demo chairs, on which the children of about my age were already sitting. Without any prompting or help, I knew I had to go and sit in one of the empty seats. There were, of course, a few strange looks from the adults at me, but they disappeared from me almost immediately.
Walking over to the chairs, I sat down in one of the empty seats that was between two other children. Next to our chairs wanderer a few adults in office clothes, who I take it were our new teachers. Looking around, I realized that my, I understand my new class did not stand out almost anything special and only two girls were somehow different in appearance from the rest. Not for the better, though.
The first was a girl with layered slightly messy hair, she had gray-blue eyes, and also had a scattering of freckles visible on the bridge of her nose. She was wearing what looked like a man's style, consisting of shorts and a T-shirt, but that completely disappeared when you looked at the look of the clothes. It was disgusting and that's putting it mildly, it felt like it had been picked up from the garbage, then sewn up a couple of times, put a couple of patches on and without going through the laundry process they put it on right away.
I think that's why there was no one sitting next to her, and you could tell she was all alone, because there was no one sitting next to her on either side. But you could not tell by her appearance that it bothered her in any way. The only thing she glanced at, while trying to hide it, as if she did not want to be tied up, was the other girl who caught my attention and next to whom I sat.
Her situation was not much different from the first girl, but I think because of her sweet appearance, the children dared to sit in front and behind her, but it was still obvious that no one dared to sit next to her because of her clothes. Unlike the first girl, she was wearing a dress, also of the most daring quality, which was no different in condition from the first girl, if not worse. Her ------------ hair showed even more layers of dirt, because the first girl's black hair didn't make it stand out as much, and her -------- eyes, which showed sadness, had bruises under them. When I sat down next to her, though, her eyes turned in surprise in my direction. I do not know how it was with the first girl, but as if it was not decent to talk about the girl, but she clearly smelled not of violets, but if so, you can say the garbage, I certainly did not care much because I could just not breathe.
If you ask my personal assumption, we can say that they were sisters, although they were very different in appearance from each other, but it was obvious some similarities, at least for me, but also hinted at by their clothes, which were clearly taken from the same place. Also worth noting was the fact that they were both a little thin and clearly malnourished.
In all the time I was looking around there were more people in the room and the children's seats, meaning ours, were practically all taken. When I saw one of the teachers closing the front doors, I realized that all the kids had arrived, so a woman came out and introduced herself as Asuka Mori, and then started saying things that were useless to me, like what we would be doing in class and how it would all be going. Trying to take my mind off of it, I decided to look up my status.
[Name: Yasuke Matsuda]
[Health: 169/169 (Regeneration per hour: 16.1)]
[Stamina: 130/130 (Regeneration per minute: 13)]
[Level: 3 (85/100%)]
[Title: None]
[Race: Human/Gamer]
It already looked more decent compared to what it was and didn't look like I could be killed with a single hit, I was especially happy with the fact that my level went up, even though it was only 3 for now, but I was also just the beginning of the path. Also, if you make simple calculations with a simple calculation, you can understand that to raise the level I need to raise the same number of skills because if you add up all the levels of skills, just turns out just 285, but perhaps with more than one level this will change.
I lowered my gaze a little lower to look at my characteristics.
[Strength: 13].
[Description: determines the parameter of your physical power and how much you can lift.]
[You're a bit strong].
[Dexterity: 34((19) +15)]
[Description: determines your speed, coordination, accuracy, and reaction.]
[Among your peers, you are the most dexterous.]
[Endurance:13]
[Description: determines your stamina and how much physical damage you can take.]
[You can run a few dozen meters]
[Charisma: 40((15)+25)]
[Description: determines the power of your words and external appeal.]
[You can be believed by adults.]
[Luck: ∞]
[Description: determines your luck and random actions.]
[You can play Russian Roulette with a full reel and not only survive, but win. You will not die without your wish. Everything that happens to you leads you to luck.]
[Bonus: It is so great because you are reborn]
[Intelligence: 54]
[Description: determines your speed of thinking and remembering information.]
[You can be considered a genius.]
[Free Points: 6]
[Description: shows how many free points you have. You get 3 points per level].
[You can spend them].
And what was in my IQ value made me strut like a peacock in the place where I was sitting, which made --------- who was sitting next to me look at me with a strange look. But immediately turned it away in embarrassment when I looked at her. Not concentrating on it any longer, I went back to looking at the statistics.
My intellect has almost reached the average value of a person, which couldn't help but make me happy, if you think about it, the average figures of a person should be about 85, if you don't take into account that a person can have health problems and if you don't take into account luck, because I don't know what average figures people have and whether they can improve it at all. Also, if you figure out the average health of a person, it comes out to be around 8000 thousand, and this figure confused me because it can't be that big of a figure for regular people.
After all, the only damage I received was "-15" and that was because my head was hit by a glass and cannot withstand «553» blows to the head, it just on just die even earlier, but perhaps it should take into account that may impose status "Bleeding", as well as possible will happen "Critical hits, but that the first that the second I do not know how to act. And I think you should not try people on my characteristics, perhaps they have everything calculated differently and should not be on them "Critical hits", and perhaps I am wrong about everything, starting with the fact that the blow should be much stronger.
But I don't think we need to concentrate too much on that with such a small amount of information. The next thing I noticed was the Charisma and Dexterity lines that stood out quite a bit compared to the others, and they also had extra brackets, but if you draw a pretty easy line to one of the other, you can tell that they were bonuses from my shirt. And I hated to admit it, but it was pretty powerful, especially if you collect a few more of those clothing items and I think it would be pretty easy to collect an extra hundred. So, I guess waiting for the shirt might as well keep it on in principle.
There was a pretty quiet commotion around me which made me take my mind off the system and look around, but the only thing I saw was that the kids around me just started whispering to each other because the teachers had gone back to their parents and started explaining something to them and that made the kids get bolder. So when I realized that there was nothing interesting I went back to my stats, with my eyes locked on how -------- wanted to tell me something, but did not dare and just lowered her gaze to her knees.
Not getting distracted yet I turned my attention to "Free Points" and what the description said was confirmed, although I don't understand why I doubted it, and I got 3 points per level, and in total for my two new levels they reached the number 6. I certainly wondered how it happens, maybe I'll feel pain all over my body, and maybe I'll light up, but as in any game I decided to save them for when I need them, but for now it was better to save up. But I had a naughty idea in my mind to try and invest some points in Luck and see what happens, but for now I didn't need it.
As I looked at all these increased characteristics, I realized two things. The first thing was that I didn't feel the change in my body, maybe it was because it was happening rather slowly one point at a time and I had time to adapt to the new abilities, but that didn't explain why I didn't notice the 15 units I got in Agility and maybe it was somehow affected by the system. The second thing was that I didn't see the extra characteristics in my status. After all, the shirt has additional bonuses in coolness, brutality, attractiveness and most importantly in defense, but I did not see anything like that. And attempts to call additional stats did not work, and additional buttons I have not seen anywhere near. So I think it's better to leave it for later.
"Yasuke-kun," - I heard a woman's voice.
When I looked around, I saw that the teachers had moved away from their parents and the children were starting to come back to them in a small bunch. The woman who called out to me was Asuka Mori, who introduced herself at the beginning.
"What is Mori-san?" - I said quietly.
"Let's go step aside." - She said and stepped back a few steps.
Standing up and walking past -------- I went to one of the walls with Mori-san. As I approached the wall, she turned to me and began to speak.
"Your guardian told me your situation. First let me say that I'm very sorry about your mother's condition and hope she gets better soon," - she sounded kind and soothing in her voice. It was immediately clear that she knew how to talk to children and tried to cheer me up.
I looked at her with a strange look. She was obviously quite skilled at it, of course the first thing I decided to pay attention to were her eyes, but they were plain but dark blue beautiful color, her face was very pretty and her raven wing hair gave her another +40 points to her beauty. After looking at her for a few more seconds, I realized I'd been silent for too long and decided to respond with something.
"Thank you, Mori-san, but I don't think your wishes are any cure for a deadly disease," - my voice was still calm.
Her eyes widened in mute shock at my calm voice, which even caused her mouth to open slightly, with dark red lipstick on her lips, but to her pride she pulled herself together rather quickly and decided to answer me.
"But it's never a good idea to give up hope!" - There was a titanic confidence in her voice.
"No. Hope is nonsense for the weak. That's why you can only hope for yourself. That's why I sat down to study Neuroscience in order to cure it myself!" - my voice was full of confidence, even more than the woman in front of me.
Her eyes opened in unbelievable shock and looked straight at me incessantly.
"So... Why did you call me?" - I decided to break the too long silence.
At my words, it was as if she had defrosted and a gentle smile was displayed on her face, which was also evident in her eyes.
"Yeah, I'm sorry. I was just a little shocked. Your classes start in a week, that's the time allotted for the other parents to get ready and buy everything they need, but I already told your guardian everything, and he should have already bought everything and brought it to you." - She said with concern.
"Yes. He already brought it," - I reassured her.
"All right then, I'll be expecting you in a week. You can go home now. So goodbye Yasuke-kun." - Her voice sounded confident again.
"See you later Mori-san." - I said and turned around. After which I followed the familiar path to the exit.
Once at the exit, I saw most of the people were in the park in front of the school, talking to their children. Also, on the way out I noticed a familiar brunette girl watching -------- go somewhere. And as I suspected they really did know each other, but just did not want to be together, really cannot determine whose initiative, but I think this is not my problem. So, I just walked out of the school gate and headed for the familiar library, but it was a pity that it was not on the way and I would have to make a little detour.
Walking through unfamiliar places, but having the right direction with the map, I discovered new places on the map. But other thoughts swirled in my head, namely, that word "hope" again. It's not that I don't feel bad about it, and I don't feel bad about the concept of hope itself, but people need to cope on their own, rather than hoping for a messiah to come down from the sky and help. This feeling was eerily familiar to me when I was in that space and could not get out and the only thing I could do was hope for a miracle and that is why I do not want to overestimate anything, but to make my own future and not hope for a miracle. It's just like with my mother, you can sit around and fill up with hope that she will magically get better, or you can at least try to do something yourself.
Of course, in a former life I held exactly the first position, but now that I have a system, I feel that for the first time I can do everything myself and I will not let this chance to just disappear.
When I reached the library, I said hello to Arata-san and sat down at the books again.
(Time Skip.)
Another week passed and today was supposed to be my first day of elementary school. Today's weather was rather overcast, which caused the sky to show gray clouds, but it still wasn't cold enough to wear anything over the top. Now I have to spend several hours a day to sit here, it only took my time and could not give me anything new, I literally sit to study neurosurgery and at the same time I have to sit in classes where they teach what does + and -, of course in kindergarten we went through all the basics, but I do not think that the program will be too difficult. It's good that Arata-san let me borrow some books to read at my free time or at least during the class itself, otherwise I'm afraid my brain would degenerate completely, though it's impossible because of my body.
As expected, I was one of the first in the class a few dozen minutes before the start, but even so, some seats were taken by children unfamiliar to me. It was the usual white shoes on which was written in advance the number of my locker, namely the numbers 01 10, as far as I know the first two digits were the number of the class, and the last was a personal number. And as far as I know this number would be used for almost everything.
At the teacher's desk sat Mori-san, who was already familiar to me, who saw me and said hello with a gentle smile, to which I just nodded coldly in greeting and went to the back of the class. Her eye twitched at that, but she didn't say anything.
I went to the coolest place in Japanese schools and to the place where the main characters usually sit, the last desk by the window. It was an ordinary single-seat desk. After putting my bag next to the desk, which I had to carry all the way in my hands instead of in my inventory, I sat down in my new seat. I don't know how things were distributed around here, and maybe this seat was already assigned to someone, but I don't think anyone could have turned me away.
Once I got comfortable, I tried to remember anything I knew about Japanese schools. The first thing I can remember is that there is no permanent schedule here and it changes every week, which won't be the most familiar thing to me, but I think I'll get used to it pretty quickly. Also, there are no grades in the usual sense for me, but without estimates not as so sometimes there are tests on all subjects, which are evaluated on a scale of one hundred points and like already these figures are determined by the overall grade. Also, it seems that in elementary school do not give homework, but I am not sure about this.
Also not forgetting to look at their new classmates, although as far as I remember, every year classmates will change so that we have more social skills. But anyway, looking at this year's classmates I saw that they were wearing different clothes and it confirmed that in elementary school the uniforms would be loose, unless of course you count identifying clothes like panama hat or stickers on their briefcases.
The class was almost full and only a few people were missing, one of which was -------- because the dark-haired girl was already in class which meant that she should be coming soon. Also after looking around my class more closely I realized that this year I also do not make friends with anyone, because they were all normal kids with whom I would have difficulty communicating because of my spiritual age and intellectual development.
What stressed me out the most was that no one wanted to sit next to me, was I really that scary? Or did the kids feel that I wasn't like them. And then finally the last people arrived, and the last person to come in was -------- still wearing the same garbage clothes, but she was wearing the new white shoes, which were the replacement shoes given out by the school. And I must say that the pride and joy with which she looked at the shoes with her --------- eyes could not help but evoke sympathy, realizing that this girl, along with her sister, most likely lives in terrible conditions, since she is happy about such simple things. Which makes me realize that there are people who live worse than I do.
As strange as it may sound and perhaps a little offensive, but the only empty seat that was left in our class was next to me and what was logical was the girl sat down next to me with the embarrassment on her face. And I guess I didn't have to pay attention to her stuff again.
And then finally a minute later my first bell rang in this world. Mori-san introduced herself once more, and then said hello to us, followed by a murmur of children's voices that began to wish her a good morning, too. Of course, in this hum of voices, mine didn't concentrate, which caused Mori-san to cast a prickly look at me.
So began my first school class of my second life and as I supposed it was incredibly boring, but I think one of the interesting things was that we were writing with pencils instead of pens, which was a bit unaccustomed, but nothing serious. I also got a notification to raise my "Japanese" level when I was writing, which meant that to raise the skill to 100 you need both practice and theory, and to raise to the end of each skill you need to pick up in each direction. But maybe not for everything, you don't need an "Ultimate Swimmer" to know 50 levels of theory, so maybe for some it wouldn't be necessary, or maybe even less necessary. This meant that in order to save my mother I needed some practice, so just theory for now.
So, at the next recess I pulled out a huge book on neuroscience and didn't pay attention to the way the bell rang, the way my shirt was gently tugged and the way Mori-san stood in front of my desk trying to stare me down, but most likely because she tried to read the contents of the book and didn't understand anything, she didn't interrupt me.
About this pace the week passed. The other teachers didn't try to stop me either, and only occasionally asked me how to solve or write some problem or word, which I had no problem with my skills. Also, as I understand it, the rest of the kids stayed behind to clean up the classrooms and other areas of the school after class, it seems that in Japanese schools, there were no janitors and they were replaced by children, cleaning up after themselves.
Of course, this was a good enough decision that children tried not to litter and always clean up after themselves if they had any, we can say that this instilled in them a responsibility to clean up and to other people's work, but... but it did not work for me, so I just left after class without paying attention to anything or anyone.
The first week of class passed at this pace, and I had practically no contact with anyone except Mori-san of course, then the weekend that I spent entirely in the library without even sleeping a wink, and a new one started, but this one was different because for the first time my neighbor decided to speak up and address me.
"Hey." - I heard the confused voice of the girl next to me. "H-Hello?"
It was that -------- who was addressing me and I had to note that it was the first time I had heard her voice and it was pretty sweet, but even so the only thing I did was to cast a quick glance at her and go back to my book. At this the girl was even more confused, but after a minute she continued.
"W-what are you reading?" - Again, she turned to me.
"A book." - I dumbfounded her with such a simple answer.
"Oh, what's it about?" -------- continued without giving up.
"About science." - my answer was pretty much generalized.
"Y-you can answer normally!" - she said, gaining a little courage.
"I'm okay answering." - Though I'll never admit that I'm wrong.
"No!" - she answered sharply again.
"Yes." - A titanic chill sounded in my voice.
"No!" - her voice was still full of confidence.
"And what don't you like, then?" - I asked the question.
"Well... You're not answering it right! Dry..." - she couldn't find the right answer and said in a general way.
"Ehhh." - I sighed. "What do you want from me?"
"Well." - she visibly mewed heavily, and a blush was visible on her slightly emaciated cheeks. "I want to socialize."
"Why me?" - That question interested me greatly. After all, no one had ever socialized with me or even approached me. "I am not the best conversationalist and few people want to talk to me because of my cold nature."
"..." - she lowered her gaze and began to look at her dirty and broken fingernails. "Whisper."
"What? Сould you talk louder?" - It was so quiet that even I couldn't hear it.
"I noticed you don't have any friends and I don't have any friends either and I thought we could be friends." - it was still quiet, but you could already hear it.
"It's a neuroscience book." - I didn't know what else to say. "I don't think the title or the authors will give you anything. My name is Yasuke Matsuda, by the way. Remember that name."
After I introduced myself, her eyes seemed to sparkle from within and a happy smile appeared on her face for the first time.
"My name is ------ --------! Nice to meet Yasuke-kun!"
"Hmm." though my face was calm and showed no emotion, there was an incredible revolt in my heart and mind.
A bell rang throughout the school, telling me that recess was over and class had begun.
For the rest of the day, I didn't take my eyes off the book while occasionally talking to ------. Which was a pretty good way to break up the day.