The past few days had turned Ichiro's peaceful life upside down. Each morning, he ventured into the dense forest to hunt for food, and occasionally, he would sneak into the main house's kitchen to gather some simple ingredients. Throughout this time, he made every effort to keep his distance from his family, going days without seeing them.
"I'm sure they'll be shocked to see me now," Ichiro mused aloud.
-With your current appearance, they will be.-
Ichiro chose to ignore the system's comment. At the moment, he resembled more of a wild man than a member of the family. His hair hung long and unkempt, his body was caked in layers of dirt, and he carried the earthy scent of the forest on his person. He had spent countless hours honing his skills in the wilderness and had just completed his daily workout routine.
"It seems like working out is no longer much of a challenge," he thought aloud.
Despite intensifying the rigor of his training, Ichiro hadn't experienced any failures in completing his tasks. His body had undergone significant changes, making him more resilient to potential threats. Unfortunately, one aspect of his life remained frustratingly stagnant: his magical abilities. Despite all the knowledge he had gained from the enigmatic system, it appeared that nothing had improved concerning his capacity to cast magic.
Each day, Ichiro grappled with his apparent lack of progress in the realm of magic. He knew he possessed the knowledge, the techniques, and the determination, yet the results remained elusive. As the days turned into weeks, he couldn't help but wonder if there was a hidden secret or a missing piece of the puzzle that could unlock his dormant magical potential.
As Ichiro returned to his place, he hurriedly took a shower before anyone could see him. Thanks to the system, he had been able to keep what he was doing a secret and avoid anyone from catching on.
After a refreshing shower, Ichiro stared at his reflection in shock.
"Is this really me?"
He scrutinized his body and realized it had changed drastically over the weeks of intense training.
"I even have a six-pack?" He pondered, wondering if his well-toned body was indeed real.
He quickly got dressed since it was the first day he would be returning to school. He wondered how everyone would perceive him now. Ichiro decided to keep his long hair as a sign that he was still recovering and appeared weaker.
The school entrance buzzed with energy as students showcased their magical abilities to one another. It was a daily ritual, a chance for them to flex their supernatural talents and exchange awe-inspiring feats. Amid this bustling display of magic, Ichiro made his way through the crowd, an eerie presence that sent ripples of shock and wonder through the gathering.
Many of the students were taken aback to see him, their whispers and gasps rippling through the throng. Rumors had spread like wildfire about his supposed demise, making his reappearance nothing short of a supernatural mystery.
"Is that really Ichiro?"
"Damn it, why did he need to go back to school? He's like a living ghost."
"Ah, I'm going to complain to my parents. He's scaring me!"
Voices murmured with a mix of fear, awe, and curiosity. Ichiro could hear them clearly, even without using his system abilities. His return to school, especially in his transformed state, had clearly unsettled many.
'I think going back to school like this wasn't a good idea,' he thought to himself, realizing how frightened some of the students appeared. Even those who had once been his tormentors now had pale faces as they stared at him. To them, he must have seemed like a true apparition, a ghostly figure returned from the beyond.
But Ichiro had his reasons for returning to school, and he was determined to face this new chapter in his life with resilience.
"Alright, all of you, stop standing there and head to class!" barked a stern voice echoing through the crowded hallway.
Ichiro, making his way through the bustling corridor, unintentionally bumped into one of the teachers who harbored a strong dislike for him – Mr. Yamaguchi.
"Ichiro, is that really you?" Mr. Yamaguchi's disbelief was palpable as he stared at the boy before him.
"Mr. Yamaguchi, good morning…" Ichiro lifted his head to meet the teacher's gaze, his ghostly appearance causing even the impatient and fearsome Mr. Yamaguchi to turn pale.
"You-" Mr. Yamaguchi started, anger in his eyes, but before he could take any action, another teacher intervened.
"Mr. Yamaguchi, what are you doing?" It was Ms. Nakamura, a teacher known for her wind manipulation abilities, who used her powers to push Mr. Yamaguchi aside.
Ichiro, taken aback by the sudden turn of events, watched in astonishment as Ms. Nakamura effortlessly sent Mr. Yamaguchi tumbling away from him in the blink of an eye. The other students in the hallway stood frozen, their eyes wide with awe at the display of magical prowess.
As Mr. Yamaguchi lay disheveled on the ground, Ichiro couldn't help but wonder how his return to school had caused such a dramatic change in the dynamics of power and respect among the teachers.
"Mr. Yamaguchi, you well know that Ichiro just came back from the hospital, and to think you were about to lay your hand on him. You even cast a spell to strengthen the force of your slap. If that slap had hit Ichiro, do you think he'd still be able to stand up?" Ms. Nakamura's voice was stern and filled with authority as she confronted her colleague.
Mr. Yamaguchi, now lost for words, could only stammer, "Ay, wait... I can explain..." Fear had clouded his judgment, and in that moment, he genuinely believed Ichiro to be a monster, leading him dangerously close to harming the boy.
"Then explain, what were you thinking?" Ms. Nakamura, someone of higher status and power, had strong family connections that would protect her from any retaliation by Mr. Yamaguchi. If he even dared to seek revenge, he'd need more than a few men to challenge her. "Get out of here, and know that what happened will be reported to the Director."
"F*ck!" Mr. Yamaguchi cursed inwardly as he got up, anger burning in his eyes as he surveyed the situation. "What are you all doing here? Get to class!"
In fear of being implicated in Mr. Yamaguchi's actions, the students hurriedly dispersed, scurrying off to their classrooms.
"Ichiro, are you alright?" Ms. Nakamura asked with genuine concern as she approached him.
"I'm good, thank you," Ichiro replied shyly, though he was secretly reading the reports the system had generated about Ms. Nakamura. 'To think she's that strong,' he thought, realizing the extent of her magical abilities and influence within the school.
The system swiftly generated a report detailing the events that had transpired earlier, providing a clear explanation of the power Ms. Nakamura had employed to handle Mr. Yamaguchi. Despite Mr. Nakamura's aggressive attack, Ms. Nakamura had also cast another spell to ensure that he wasn't severely wounded, focusing on intensifying the pain rather than causing lasting harm.
'Her physical strength is three times stronger than Mr. Yamaguchi's, and if they were to engage in hand-to-hand combat, he would undoubtedly lose. Furthermore, when combined with magic, she becomes five times stronger.'
However, the system's analysis noted a potential weakness in Ms. Nakamura's abilities.
-Ms. Nakamura is comparatively weaker in the use of combined magic. Mr. Yamaguchi possesses a powerful magical weapon that could withstand a confrontation with Ms. Nakamura. In such battles, only the truly formidable can emerge victorious.-
Ichiro absorbed this information with a determined nod. "Yeah, I'll definitely work on my cardio when we get home."
He was acutely aware that some battles couldn't be won through physical strength alone. Mental fortitude, determination, and the ability to stand firm in the face of adversity were just as crucial. Despite his newfound powers and training, he couldn't shake the feeling that his legs might tremble if he were to confront a true monster in the battlefield. It was a challenge he knew he needed to overcome, one step at a time.
"Ichiro, are you sure you're ready to go back to school?" Ms. Nakamura inquired, concern evident in her voice.
"I'm fine," Ichiro replied with a forced smile, brushing aside her worries. "The doctor has given me a notice that I'm fine to go back to school as long as I don't do any rigorous activity."
Little did Ms. Nakamura know that Ichiro had been engaging in extreme workouts since his miraculous return from the dead. The intensity of his activities would have likely given any doctor a heart attack had they known the truth. But Ichiro was determined to keep his newfound abilities a secret, even if it meant hiding the extent of his physical prowess.
"Anyways, take it easy. If you need any help, do look for me," Ms. Nakamura advised with a warm smile.
"Thank you," Ichiro replied gratefully.
With a nod of acknowledgment, Ichiro proceeded towards his classroom. The hallways were now deserted, with everyone having moved on to their respective classes. However, a strange feeling washed over him, a sense that someone was still lingering nearby.