Death was supposed to be the end. After a life filled with betrayal, loss, and the kind of suffering that hollows a person out, Ren Takahashi had welcomed it. But death, it seemed, had other plans for him.
When he opened his eyes, he was no longer in the broken-down apartment where he had drawn his last breath. Instead, he was sitting on a bus, surrounded by the hum of conversation and the faint smell of leather seats. The sunlight streaming through the windows was warm, almost mocking in its cheerfulness. He blinked, his mind struggling to reconcile the stark contrast between his memories and this new reality.
'Where am I?'
The question echoed in his mind as he took in his surroundings. The bus was filled with students, most of them wearing the same uniform—a crisp, navy blazer with a crest he didn't recognize. He glanced down at himself and realized he was wearing the same uniform.
'Transmigrated as a school student,' he thought, the words bitter on his tongue. 'Of all the ways to get a second chance, this has to be the most twisted.'
A faint ache pulsed in his chest, a lingering echo of the body's former owner. This body had been kind, generous, and well-liked—a stark contrast to the person who now inhabited it. The dissonance should have been jarring, but it wasn't. The memories of this body's past life were there, but they felt distant, like a story he had read rather than a life he had lived. Still, the habits, the mannerisms, the way this body carried itself—they lingered, like a ghost haunting its own shell.
'How ironic,' he thought. 'I've become the mask I always despised.'
---
As the bus rumbled along the highway, a voice echoed in his mind. It was cold, mechanical, and utterly devoid of emotion.
[System Initialized.]
[Welcome, User. You have been granted access to the Black Market System.]
[Purpose: Complete missions to earn abilities, points, and influence.]
[User Status]
[Name: Ren Takahashi]
[Age: 15]
[Gender: Male]
[Core Attributes:]
[Intelligence: 85/100 [ Previously 69]]
[—A sharp mind for strategy and problem-solving.]
[Charisma: 73/100 [Previously 91]]
[—A natural charm perfect for manipulation.]
[Perception: 83/100 [Previously 71]]
[—Enhanced to notice even the smallest details and hidden motives.]
[Willpower: 92/100 [Previously 54]]
[—Unshakable determination, tempered by a lifetime of hardship and betrayal.]
[Abilities]
[Strategic Mind]
[—A natural talent for planning and foresight, honed by his previous life's struggles.]
[Social Camouflage]
[—The ability to blend into any social setting, adopting the persona most advantageous to his goals.]
[Social Butterfly]
[—effortlessly integrate himself into any social group, gaining trust, influence, and information with minimal effort]
[Cold Reading]
[—Can quickly assess a person's weaknesses, desires, and fears, making them easier to manipulate.]
[Adaptive Learning]
[—Quickly absorbs and applies new information, especially in high-pressure situations.]
[System Missions]
[Current: Nil]
[Completed: Nil]
[System Points: 0]
[—Accumulated through completed missions. Can be used to unlock new abilities or enhance existing ones.]
[Inventory:]
[Basic School Supplies: Standard issue for ANHS students. Includes textbooks, notebooks, stationery.]
He leaned back in his seat, his lips curling into a faint smirk. 'A system. Of course. Because why wouldn't my second chance come with a built-in cheat? A black market system? How fitting. It seems even in this new world, power comes at a price.'
But he wasn't naive. He knew better than to trust anything that came for free. The system was a tool, and like all tools, it could be used or been made use of. He intended to do the former.
[Ding! Generating Mission!]
[First Mission: Observe and analyze the interactions on the bus. Reward: +10 Enhanced Perception, +100 System Points]
'Enhanced Perception,' he mused. 'A useful starting point. But I'll need more than that to survive in what I imagine this new world will have to offer.'
---
Ren's gaze swept across the bus, taking in the students with a detached curiosity. They were all so young, so full of hope and naivety. It was almost endearing, in a pathetic sort of way.
His eyes landed on a girl sitting a few rows ahead. She had long black hair and an aloof expression, her arms crossed as if to ward off any potential conversation. 'Interesting,' he thought. 'She's either shy or arrogant. Either way, she's someone to keep an eye on.'
Nearby, another girl was chatting animatedly with a group of classmates. She was petite with a striking figure, her beige bob framing a face that radiated charm and confidence. Her smile was radiant, her laughter infectious, but there was something about her eyes—something sharp, calculating. 'She's hiding something,' Ren realized. 'A wolf in sheep's clothing. I can feel the calling of a kindred spirit within her. Heh.'
Across the same row as the loner girl, a boy sat alone, his expression blank and unreadable. There was something abnormal about him, something that made Ren's instincts prickle. 'He's… odd,' Ren thought. 'But I don't know why yet. Why does it feel like he's transmigrated along with me? As though someone new to the world.'
The system's voice chimed in his head.
[Mission Progress: 50%]
Just as Ren was about to delve deeper into his observations, a sharp voice cut through the silence.
"Don't you think you should give up your seat?"
Ren's gaze shifted to the source of the commotion. A blonde-haired boy was lounging in the priority seat, his legs crossed and a defiant smirk on his face. An elderly woman stood beside him, clutching the overhead rail for support. An office lady was glaring at the boy, her tone accusatory.
"You there, can't you see the old woman having trouble?"
The boy didn't even flinch. "That's a really crazy question, lady. Why should I give this seat to an old woman? There's absolutely no reason for me to give it up."
The office lady's face flushed with anger. "Isn't it natural to hand over the priority seat to the elderly?"
The boy chuckled, his tone dripping with condescension. "Priority seats are just priority seats. There's no legal obligation for me to move. Whether or not I move should be decided by me, who's currently sitting in this seat. Will you give up your seat because I'm a young man? Hahaha, that's a stupid way of thinking."
Ren leaned forward slightly, his expression one of polite concern. 'Interesting. This one's got a mouth on him. He's either incredibly arrogant or brutally honest. Either way, he's not someone to underestimate.'
The office lady spluttered, her frustration mounting. "What kind of attitude is that towards your superiors!?"
The boy's smirk widened. "Superior? It's obvious that both you and the old woman have lived longer than me. But that 'superiority' refers to height, not social standing. Also, I have a problem with you. Even if there's a difference in age, isn't that an awfully rude and impertinent attitude?"
The office lady looked like she was about to explode, but the elderly woman intervened, her voice trembling. "It's fine, it's fine…"
The boy leaned back, putting on his headphones with a flourish. "Apparently the older woman has better hearing than you do. Oh dear, I guess Japanese society isn't completely useless yet. Enjoy the rest of your life to your heart's content."
The office lady clenched her fists, her face red with humiliation. The other passengers watched in silence, some amused, others uncomfortable.
Seeing the radiant girl from earlier about to draw attention to herself, Ren stood up, his expression softening into one of polite concern. "Excuse me, ma'am. You can take my seat."
The elderly woman turned to him, her eyes widening in gratitude. "Oh, thank you, young man. That's very kind of you."
Ren smiled warmly, stepping aside to let her sit down. "It's no trouble at all. Please, take your time."
The office lady shot him a grateful look, her anger momentarily forgotten. "Thank you. It's good to see there are still polite young people around."
Ren nodded politely, his mind already racing. 'A calculated move. A small act of kindness to craft the perfect facade. Timing was everything—too late, and it would've looked insincere.'
As he stood, holding onto the overhead rail, his gaze swept across the bus. The blonde boy was still smirking, clearly unbothered by the exchange. The girl who had been about to speak up earlier was watching him with a curious expression, her determination momentarily replaced by surprise.
'Good,' Ren thought. 'Let them see what they want to see. A kind, selfless student. The perfect facade.'
As the bus arrived at the school, Ren noticed the students in identical uniforms filing out. He stepped off, his mind already racing with possibilities.
The system's voice chimed in his head.
[Mission Complete]
[Reward: +10 Enhanced Perception, +100 System Points]
Ren's senses sharpened instantly—the faint hum of the bus engine, the subtle shifts in body language, even the flicker of emotions on the passengers' faces. The world around him came into sharper focus.
[New Mission: Establish a connection with a key character within 24 hours. Reward: +10 Charisma Boost, +100 System Points]
'A charisma boost, huh? Perfect for playing the part.'
Ren adjusted his bag, his sharpened gaze taking in the grandeur of the entrance of a building labelled 'Koudo Ikusei High School'. The stone gate loomed ahead, a symbol of something interesting to come.
"Hey, wait a second!"
Ren turned to see the busty girl approaching him, her smile as bright as ever. "You were the one who gave up your seat earlier, right? That was really kind of you."
Ren smiled politely, his tone warm but measured. "It was nothing, really. I just thought it was the right thing to do."
The girl tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Not many people would do that, especially with how crowded the bus was. You must be a first year as well, right?"
Confidence was key, so he replied without hesitation. "Yep. I'm Ren Takahashi. It's nice to meet you."
"I'm Kikyō Kushida," she said, extending her hand. "It's nice to meet someone who's so considerate. Maybe we'll be in the same class!"
Ren shook her hand, his smile never wavering. "I hope so. It's always nice to have a friendly face around."
As they walked through the gate together, Ren's mind was already working. 'Kushida is exactly the kind of person I need—popular, influential, and seemingly genuine. If I can earn her trust, she'll be a valuable pawn. But I'll need to tread carefully; someone like her doesn't stay at the top without being sharp.'
'Well, whatever this transmigration has shaped up for me,' he thought, his smirk widening beneath his polite smile. 'Let the games begin.'
---