Volume 2: Chapter 1 : Teitan High School 20 Years Ago
A sudden blur overcame Kogoro Mouri. When he came to his senses, he found himself back at Teitan High School. To his astonishment, he was even wearing the school's uniform.
The Recall Card shimmered once again: "A momentary glimpse back to the towering mountains of time reveals the truth that I am not myself, yet I am still me."
V-chan said, [Recall Card usage is complete. A new recall task has been initiated: Crossing the river of time, you have returned to Teitan High School 20 years ago. Perhaps you can alter certain events. Please note, your every action may have profound effects on the future. Proceed with caution. The task will only be considered complete when you return to the present, at which point the completion rate will determine your reward.]
'What a bizarre task,' Kogoro thought. It was the first time he'd encountered something so abstract and surreal. Still, he muttered, 'Since I'm here, I might as well make the most of it.'
Looking at his younger self in the mirror, Kogoro saw his short, neat hair and the striking aura of a confident young man.
He quickly checked his stats. Fortunately, all his skills and states were intact, and his system inventory remained accessible. That brought him some relief.
Suddenly, a rush of memories surged into his mind. These were the memories of Kogoro Mouri at 18 years old—a vivid recollection of his youth spent alongside Eri Kisaki, his childhood friend.
For most people, unless they had an exceptional memory, it was impossible to recall every moment of their lives. Usually, only significant fragments remained. Even during past memory fusions, it had felt more like waking from a dream. If not for this sudden influx of 18-year-old Kogoro's memories, Kogoro wouldn't have remembered the long years he had shared with Eri.
The memories were startlingly vivid, as if he had lived them all over again. Or rather, they were his own experiences. In the original timeline, Kogoro Mouri wasn't portrayed as particularly sharp or heroic. Yet the Kogoro in these memories was exactly that: wise and bold.
At this time, Kogoro Mouri was a prominent figure at Teitan High School. Known as the school's "Knight," he was admired by countless students. He also served as the president of the high school karate club. The more Kogoro delved into these memories, the more uncanny they felt. The actions of the Kogoro in these memories mirrored his own choices. It was as if they were one and the same.
"What the heck is going on?" Kogoro demanded. "V-chan, get out here and explain why the memories of this version of me don't match the original story's lazy and clumsy Kogoro!"
V-chan said, [It seems you've noticed the anomaly. As the system's host, uncovering the truth is your mission. Please explore it yourself.]
And with that, V-chan disappeared. No matter how much Kogoro called out, there was no response.
While Kogoro was processing his memories, a familiar voice called out from behind him. "What are you doing, spacing out here?"
He turned around to see Eri Kisaki, 20 years younger. She wore a simple Teitan High School uniform, exuding the aura of a queen. Her black hair was tied into a neat ponytail, and her glasses accentuated her proud and confident expression.
This was none other than the "Queen of Teitan," Eri Kisaki. Her brilliance was unparalleled; at just 16, she had received an acceptance letter from Harvard in the United States but had turned it down. Now, she had passed the entrance exam for Tokyo University with a perfect score and was admitted to the Faculty of Law. Her commanding presence was undeniable.
Beside her stood a lively and adorable girl. She had golden curls framing a small, delicate face. Her crescent-shaped eyebrows complemented a pair of smiling eyes. It was said that anyone with such eyes was destined for happiness.
This was the youthful Yukiko Fujimine, though at this time, she hadn't yet taken the stage name "Yukiko Kudo." With her angelic beauty, she was hailed as the "Princess of Teitan."
The two stood before Kogoro Mouri, their presence lighting up his world.
Yukiko teased him with a grin. "Well, well, our school's Knight, the mighty Kogoro Mouri, isn't scared, is he? Hiding here all by yourself? Are you nervous about this afternoon's martial arts competition? Oh, if your club members saw this, they'd be so heartbroken."
As Eri's best friend, Yukiko was also a close friend of Kogoro's.
"Yukiko, don't say such nonsense. There's no way Kogoro would be scared," Eri defended him.
"Wow, wow, wow! Such a loyal childhood friend," Yukiko teased further, making silly faces.
"And why are you so free today, Yukiko? Did you fail that big movie audition you were preparing for? Tsk, tsk. That's not good. When will you finally become a big star?" Kogoro countered.
At this, Yukiko's face turned red with frustration, her golden curls bouncing as she fumed. She lashed out with a light kick to Kogoro's shin, but it didn't hurt him at all.
Kogoro stood confidently. "Just you wait. Winning that youth martial arts tournament is a piece of cake for me. I'll bring back the championship."
With his maxed-out karate skills and the peak physical condition of his younger self, Kogoro was confident he could dominate the competition.
In the original timeline, Kogoro Mouri had been so nervous before the competition that he couldn't perform well and never won. But the current Kogoro was no longer that timid, underperforming man.
Yukiko crossed her arms, her expression doubtful. "Hmph, I don't believe you'll win the championship. The youth martial arts tournament has many events: seven disciplines, including karate, judo, kendo, iaido, aikido, sumo, and taekwondo. Each one crowns a champion, and then the ultimate martial arts champion is chosen from among them. Do you think your arrogance alone can win?"
Her skeptical gaze stoked Kogoro's competitive spirit. "How about a bet? I'll prove I can become the ultimate martial arts champion. The loser has to grant the winner one request."
"Of course, I'll bet! I've never misjudged anyone. If you win, I'll grant your request, no matter what. But if you lose, you must fulfill one of my requests."
"Anything, even something naughty?" Kogoro smirked.
Yukiko's face flushed with anger. "Eri, control your Kogoro!"
Eri's glasses glinted coldly. She reached out and pinched Kogoro's ear. "How dare you, Kogoro-kun! I didn't know you were such a pervert."
Kogoro instinctively tried to dodge but failed. Clutching his ear in pain, he flailed his arms. "Ouch, ouch, ouch! Eri, let go! I still have a match this afternoon!"
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