Shido emerged from his room, his steps slow and measured as his mind raced with thoughts. The faint light of the morning sun filtered through the hallway window, casting a soft glow over his surroundings.
While the modest home was familiar, the layers of new experiences left Shido feeling both comforted and alienated.
The presence of the System, now intertwined with his existence, added a surreal edge to the mundane act of stepping into his day.
Shido mentally reviewed what he had learned so far.
The System was seamlessly integrated into his body, responding to his thoughts and commands. It showed panels for Status, Inventory, Skills, and Quests, along with features like a Starter Pack that granted him randomized rewards.
The Interdimensional Traveler ability held the potential of visiting other worlds in the future, an opportunity that thrilled and stunned him equally. For now, though, it felt like a distant goal.
His Status Panel, which he could summon at will, displayed key details about his abilities:
Name: Itsuka Shido
Level: 1
Race: Human (Sealed)
Class: None
STR: 10
VIT: 8
DEX: 8
INT: 12
Charm: 15
Luck: 20
Skill:
Auto-Translation (All languages automatically understood)
Interdimensional Traveler (Grants ability to travel between worlds after completing certain conditions)
Sharingan (Three-Tomoe)
Swordsmanship (Basic Level)
System Points (SP): 0
World Points (WP): 0
Soul Fragment (SF): 0
He paused, his gaze shifting to his abilities. Auto-Translation was a powerful feature that automatically allowed him to understand all languages, no matter where or when he found himself. This could prove invaluable as he traveled to different worlds.
Along with that ability, he had Interdimensional Traveler, granting him the potential to traverse different worlds after fulfilling certain conditions.
He still wasn't sure exactly what the conditions would be, but the prospect was exciting.
Shido's focus lingered on his stats, particularly Charm and Luck. Charm seemed to influence how others perceived him, affecting both interactions and negotiations especially when interacting with girls, while Luck was inexplicably high for someone in his position.
It seemed that it improved his chances for getting better item drops and luck in general.
He couldn't deny the potency of the rewards he had drawn from the Starter Pack since he got the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, a powerful visual ability that granted him heightened perception, movement analysis, and even limited hypnotic effects though still on the early stage.
However, there was a drawbacks, the Sharingan came with the same burdens it did for the Uchiha Clan, causing mental fatigue and draining MP each time it was used too much.
Alongside the Sharingan, the pack also granted Swordsmanship (Basic Level), a skill that provided him with a sense of instinctive blade usage and muscle memory.
Lastly, there was an HP Potion (Basic), a much, needed item to aid in his recovery during tough situations.
Currently, the inventory's storage capacity spanned 20 square meters, enough to carry various items he might need.
Shido marveled at its convenience, with the ability to store objects of almost any kind while also preserving their state indefinitely.
As for the three core currencies, System Points (SP) represented the universal currency of the System. These could be earned by completing quests, fulfilling system missions, or defeating opponents and were exchangeable for valuable skills, items, and equipment through the System's Store feature.
World Points (WP), on the other hand, were specific to interdimensional travel and considerably harder to acquire. They could only be earned by completing special world-specific quests or defeating formidable opponents in other dimensions and were vital for unlocking access to new worlds via the Interdimensional Traveler ability.
Soul Fragments (SF) were a mysterious resource tied to the essence of living beings, harvested through unique encounters, such as sealing powerful entities or conquering extraordinary foes. These fragments allowed for the summoning of characters from other worlds, presenting opportunities to forge powerful alliances or gain rare abilities.
Shido's gaze lingered on the display as the swirling possibilities occupied his mind.
The balance of earning these currencies would undoubtedly shape his choices and battles ahead. While the System's intricate mechanics laid a foundation for growth, each step forward would present a new challenge to overcome.
Shido sighed, unsure whether he should feel confident or apprehensive about the road ahead. His first quest, "Have Breakfast with Kotori and Go to School", might have seemed trivial, but he suspected these tasks were simply preparing him for something far grander.
The system's guidance might seem small for now, but Shido couldn't shake the feeling that much bigger challenges awaited.
Lost in his thoughts, he barely noticed that he had arrived in the living room.
Sitting on the couch, Kotori sat with her arms crossed, her legs swinging gently as she nibbled on her signature red lollipop.
Her gaze flickered toward him briefly before darting back to the TV. Her cheeks, faintly flushed, gave her the appearance of someone trying too hard to appear uninterested.
Shido paused, observing her for a moment before breaking the silence. "Morning, Kotori." His voice was even, maintaining the same calm tone he would have used as the original Shido. He decided it would be best not to bring up the earlier incident, at least not yet.
Kotori glanced at him, her ruby eyes lingering for a moment. "Morning," she muttered before turning back to the TV. Still, her subtle glances in his direction did not go unnoticed.
Shido let out a faint chuckle, amused by her attempt to act casual. "Have you had breakfast?" he asked.
Kotori shook her head. "You're the one who cooks, Onii-chan. So no, I haven't eaten yet."
Shido blinked in realization. Of course, the memories of the original Shido painted a clear picture he was the one who usually cooked for Kotori.
"Got it," he said with a wry smile. "I'll whip something up."
As he stepped into the kitchen, a strange sense of familiarity washed over him. Even though the task felt new to him as a reincarnated soul, his body moved with confidence. It seemed the memories, the muscle memory of the original Shido extended even to cooking.
While chopping vegetables and preparing rice, Shido's thoughts shifted to the story of Date A Live.
This is the world of Date A Live, he thought, reflecting on everything he knew from his past life. The key events played out in his mind as he organized them.
The story was set in a world frequently ravaged by Spatial Quakes, catastrophic events that caused immense destruction. The first of these quakes had occurred thirty years ago and had devastated the Eurasian continent.
While the world had rebuilt since then, these quakes remained an ongoing threat, their true cause hidden from the general populace.
But Shido knew the truth, the quakes were triggered by entities known as Spirits. These Spirits, powerful beings originating from another dimension, unknowingly caused destruction upon manifesting in the world.
Governments and organizations like the AST (Anti-Spirit Team) worked to combat these beings, often viewing them as nothing more than dangerous threats to be eliminated.
The original Shido's role and now his, was to approach these Spirits, earn their trust, and seal their powers through peaceful means.
It was a role that required both emotional intelligence and unshakable resolve.
As Shido worked, his eyes drifted toward Kotori, who remained glued to the television in the living room.
The news broadcast showed footage of the aftermath of a recent Spatial Quake. Buildings lay in ruins, plumes of smoke rising into the sky as reporters recounted the devastation.
Kotori, unfazed by the destruction, idly sucked on her lollipop, her expression unreadable. Despite her childlike demeanor, Shido could see the faint glint of intelligence and awareness behind her crimson gaze.
It was unsettling how naturally she balanced playfulness with authority.
Turning back to his task, Shido frowned. The start of the anime should be soon. 'If I remember right, today is when it all begins...'
As Shido plated the finished dishes, he carried them to the dining table, calling out to Kotori. "Breakfast is ready."
Kotori hopped off the couch, her earlier embarrassment seemingly gone as she sat at the table, her eyes lighting up at the sight of food. "Ooh, nice work, Onii-chan!" she said, her tone teasing yet genuine. "Did you put some love into it?"
Shido smirked, shaking his head. "Eat up, Kotori. You've got school too."
As they ate, Shido's mind kept wandering. He thought about the day ahead, the looming events that would kickstart the story he knew all too well.
Spirits...
Tohka, Yoshino, Kurumi… He imagined their personalities and wondered how they would respond to his efforts to "seal" them.
His lips twitched a bit at the thought of Kurumi, knowing her mischievous and unpredictable nature. That encounter would definitely be interesting.
"Hey, Kotori," he began, his tone casual, "have you ever thought about what causes the Spatial Quakes?"
Kotori looked up from her meal, her expression remain neutral. "Hmm? Not really. It's just one of those things, isn't it? Why are you asking all of a sudden?"
Shido hesitated, realizing he needed to tread carefully. "No reason. Just wondering."
She tilted her head, studying him briefly before shrugging and returning to her meal.
As the clock ticked closer to the start of the school day, Shido cleaned up the kitchen while Kotori lounged near the window, occasionally glancing at him when she thought he wasn't looking. Despite the strange undercurrent of familiarity and tension between them, the morning felt... peaceful.
Yet, in Shido's mind, he knew this peace would be fleeting. The events set to unfold later that day were only the beginning, and he steeled himself for the challenges ahead.
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Edited: I remove the HP and MP bar