---
A dull ache pulsed through Ren Yamazaki's head as he struggled to open his eyes. Everything around him felt heavy and strange. The last thing he remembered was...pain. The clash of weapons, the angry shouts of his family, and then...darkness.
He blinked, trying to clear his vision. As his surroundings sharpened, he realized he was lying in a familiar yet strange room-his childhood room in the Yamazaki estate. The thin, worn-out futon, the paper walls, the dim light filtering through... It couldn't be.
No... this isn't possible, he thought, sitting up slowly.
Ren ran a hand through his hair, his fingers pausing as they brushed over smoother skin. No scars, no bruises from countless battles, no worn calluses from years of training. His hands were smooth, young.
His heart pounded as the realization hit him like a wave.
I'm...back? he whispered, disbelief coloring his voice. I'm really...back to the past?
He threw off the blanket and quickly found the old mirror by the corner of the room, staring into it with wide eyes. A younger version of himself stared back-no sign of the exhaustion and bitterness that had lined his face in his past life.
But how?
he murmured, reaching up to touch his face.
How am I...alive again?
He tried to remember the last moments of his life. He'd been in the middle of a clan conflict, outmatched and outnumbered. As the Yamazaki clan's outcast, he'd barely been given a chance to prove himself. And yet, even as he lay dying, something in him had burned with an unfulfilled desire, a deep-rooted frustration that he'd never truly become strong enough to earn the clan's respect.
And now, by some impossible twist of fate, he was back to square one.
As he processed this, a sudden flash of light filled his vision. A message appeared before his eyes, hovering in the air with an otherworldly glow:
---
[SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
Welcome, Ren Yamazaki. You have been granted the unique chance to rewrite your fate. Training will be provided to overcome your weaknesses and earn respect within the Yamazaki clan.
Mission : Begin Basic Training - Boxing Fundamentals
Reward : 100 Points, Boxing Stance & Jab Technique Unlocked
---
Ren stared at the glowing message, his mouth agape. "A...System?" he murmured, trying to comprehend what he was seeing.
Is this real?
As if responding to his disbelief, the System's voice spoke in his mind, steady and calm.
Ren Yamazaki, you have been granted a second chance. Training will be provided to help you rise in strength, skill, and standing. Complete missions to unlock new techniques and abilities. Every effort brings you closer to true mastery.
Ren's eyes narrowed. This System-this strange guiding force-was his ticket out of the endless cycle of shame and failure that had defined his past life. If he could truly learn the skills it promised, he could stand up to the powerful figures in his family and finally prove his worth.
Taking a deep breath, Ren focused on the mission in front of him.
"Basic Training," he thought, feeling the fire of determination spark within him. If I want to survive in this clan, I'll need to be more than just the black sheep. I'll need to be someone they can't ignore.
He clenched his fists, the young skin soft but filled with the promise of strength. I may be starting from zero, he muttered to himself, but this time, I have something no one else does. I have a second chance.
The System spoke again, instructing him on his first task.
Stand up straight. Feet shoulder-width apart. Hands up, protect your face.
Ren followed the directions carefully, each movement precise. It felt odd, but as he positioned himself, he could feel his balance shifting. The stance felt steady, his weight balanced between his feet. The System's guidance was slow and deliberate, giving him just enough time to adjust.
Throw a jab-left fist forward, then return to guard.
Ren took a breath and threw his first punch, his fist slicing through the air. It felt weak, awkward, but he repeated it again and again, focusing on the motion.
Good, the System acknowledged.
Repeat for ten minutes.
Despite the simplicity of the task, Ren felt his muscles begin to tire, his body unaccustomed to even the most basic techniques. But he refused to stop. This was his start-a first, faltering step toward becoming something greater.
As he continued, the System chimed softly in his mind,
Mission Progress: 10%.
With every jab he threw, every moment he maintained his stance, Ren's conviction grew stronger. He had been the weakest, the one looked down upon. But now, he had a purpose, a path laid out in front of him. This time, he wouldn't fail.
Yamazaki or not, I'll show them, he muttered, eyes blazing with newfound determination. I'll show them all what the 'black sheep' is truly capable of.
And as he trained, the System continued to guide him, each completed movement taking him one step closer to the destiny he was determined to seize.
---
--End of Chapter 1--