After months of grueling training with Dmitri and Nejire, life had fallen into a steady rhythm.
Wake up, train, eat, train again, hang out with Nejire, and sleep.
My body grew stronger, my quirk sharper, and my bond with Nejire deeper with every passing day.
But amidst all this progress, there was one mystery I couldn't ignore forever—the Save and Load System.
The system had saved my life during the villain attack, but its true potential remained an enigma.
I'd put off exploring it for too long, caught up in training and the excitement of daily life.
Now, it was time to unlock its secrets.
Sitting cross-legged on my bedroom floor, I closed my eyes and focused on the faint hum that lingered in the back of my mind.
[System Interface Activated.]
The words resonated within me, crisp and clear, as though they were a part of my thoughts.
A translucent menu appeared, simple yet intuitive, like the perfect blend of reality and imagination.
Two prominent options stood out:
[Create Save File]
[Load Save File]
Below them was another button labeled [Save File Storage], currently empty.
"So this is the Save and Load System," I murmured, feeling a mix of awe and anticipation.
I selected [Create Save File], and a prompt appeared:
[Save the current moment in time?]
Without hesitation, I confirmed. A faint ripple passed through me, as though the universe had briefly paused.
[Save File Created: September 5, 2070 - 10:00 AM.]
The timestamp appeared neatly under the [Save File Storage] tab.
The system worked just like a game—except this was real life.
Curiosity tugged at me, urging me to test the [Load Save File] feature.
I selected it, and the system asked:
[Load Save File: September 5, 2070 - 10:00 AM?]
A warning followed:
[Loading will reset all events and changes after the save point. Do you wish to proceed?]
My heart raced as I hovered over the confirmation. Was I really about to rewind time?
I hesitated for a moment, then steeled myself. I had to know what this system was capable of.
I confirmed.
In an instant, the world dissolved into light.
Colors blurred and faded until I felt weightless.
Then, just as quickly, everything snapped back into focus.
I was sitting cross-legged on my bedroom floor.
The digital clock on my desk read 10:00 AM—exactly when I'd created the save.
"It worked," I whispered, a grin spreading across my face. "I rewound time."
Grabbing a glass vase from my desk, I held it up before deliberately dropping it.
The vase shattered, shards scattering across the floor.
"Alright, let's see…"
I selected the save file and confirmed the [Load Save File] option.
The same cascade of light enveloped me, and when it cleared, the vase was back on my desk, completely intact.
Then, I spent the next hour testing the system.
The second experiment was simple. I grabbed the glass vase again, this time throwing it harder. It shattered into even smaller fragments.
I selected the save file and activated [Load Save File].
Light and weightlessness enveloped me briefly, and when the world stabilized, the vase was back on my desk, pristine.
A grin crept onto my face. "This is insane."
Afterward, I moved on to testing physical training.
Standing in my room, I practiced basic stretches and push-ups until my arms ached.
My breathing grew ragged as I pushed myself further than usual. Then, once I couldn't lift myself anymore, I activated the save file.
Moments later, I was back on my bedroom floor, my body fully restored to the state it was at 10:00 AM, but all the effort I had exerted remained in my muscles. It was as if I had gained the strength from hours of training in mere moments.
"This isn't just about recovery," I murmured. "This is about progress."
My mind raced with possibilities. If I trained endlessly within the same day and reset each time I hit my limits, I could achieve weeks' worth of growth in a fraction of the time. The implications were staggering.
But it didn't take long to hit the limits of my small bedroom. I needed more space, better equipment, and guidance if I was going to take full advantage of this system.
…
The next morning, I approached Dmitri in the living room, where he was sipping his morning coffee and reading a newspaper.
"Papa," I began cautiously, "can we use the dojo today?"
He glanced up, raising an eyebrow. "The dojo? You want to train more?"
I nodded, the determination in my voice firm. "Yes. I want to work harder—push myself more. I don't want to waste any opportunities."
For a moment, Dmitri studied me, his piercing blue eyes narrowing slightly in thought.
Then, with a small smile, he nodded. "Alright. Let's make today count."
…
By mid-morning, we were in the dojo.
The warm light streaming through the windows illuminated the polished wooden floors, and the faint scent of lacquer and sweat filled the air.
Dmitri adjusted his gloves and gestured for me to start with the basics—stretches, balance exercises, and light drills.
"What's gotten into you, Renjiro?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity. "You've always been motivated, but today, it feels like you're on fire."
Without hesitation, I dismissed the fleeting thought of sharing the system. This was my secret, my advantage, and I wasn't about to risk it—even with family.
Instead, I shrugged and smiled. "I just realized I can be better, Papa. I want to protect everyone, like you do."
His expression softened, and he patted my shoulder. "Good. That's the mindset of a hero."
For hours, I pushed myself to my limits under Dmitri's watchful eye.
Each time my muscles burned, each time I felt on the verge of collapse, I used the system to rewind, returning to the start of the day.
But unlike the day before, I wasn't just in my room doing push-ups—I was in the dojo, utilizing every resource at my disposal.
Dmitri's drills became sharper with each loop. Movements I had struggled with at first became fluid and instinctive. Techniques that had seemed impossible were now second nature.
And as the day repeated over and over, I began incorporating my Restoration quirk more effectively, creating barriers mid-action and mending objects with greater precision.
By the time I finally let the day progress for real, my body felt fine—thanks to the resets—but my mind was another story.
The strain of repeated effort, the constant resets, and the stockpile of memories weighed heavily on me. It wasn't exhaustion in the physical sense—it was the toll of mental endurance.
"You're improving, Renjiro," Dmitri said as we packed up. "Faster than I expected. Keep this up, and you'll be stronger than I was at your age."
His words filled me with pride, but deep down, I knew the secret behind my progress.
It wasn't just discipline or determination—it was the Save and Load System.
As we headed home, I resolved to keep honing my skills. The system wasn't just a tool—it was a chance to rewrite my future, and I wasn't going to waste it.