Chapter 1: A Second Chance and a Gacha Fate
Pain.
That was the last thing I felt. The sharp sting of betrayal, the warmth of my own blood soaking through my clothes, and the growing numbness as my body refused to move.
I wanted to scream, to fight back, but my strength faded with each passing second. Above me, the one I had trusted mostāmy best friendāstood there, eyes cold, expression unreadable.
"Why...?" I choked out, barely able to form words.
No answer came. Just silence.
Darkness swallowed me whole.
---
When I opened my eyes, I was no longer in the world I knew. The cold, damp sensation of blood was gone, replaced by an eerie weightlessness. I was floating in an endless white void, my body strangely whole despite my recent murder.
"Ah, another lost soul," a deep, amused voice echoed around me.
I turned sharply, or at least, I thought I turned. The concept of movement felt strange here. In front of me stood a figure draped in flowing robes of gold and white, their face obscured by a shifting veil of light.
"A god?" I muttered, half-expecting this to be a weird dream.
The figure chuckled. "Something like that. You died, child. Your journey in your previous world has ended, but fate is not yet done with you."
A wave of emotions crashed over meāanger, confusion, and most of all, regret. I was dead. Killed by my best friend. The person I trusted most had taken my life, and now I was justā¦here.
"Since you're here before me, you've earned a second chance," the god continued. "As a small compensation for your untimely demise, I shall grant you three wishes before reincarnating you into a new world."
My thoughts screeched to a halt. A second chance? Wishes? This was every reincarnation story I had ever read come to life.
I clenched my fists. I couldn't change what happened, but if I was given another chance, I wouldn't waste it.
"I want to be reincarnated in My Hero Academia," I said without hesitation.
The god nodded. "Granted. And your second wish?"
I hesitated. If this was truly a new life, would I even remember my past? The thought of forgetting who I was, of losing my identity, terrified me.
"I want to keep my memories," I declared firmly.
The god let out a hum, as if considering my request. "A wise choice. Normally, reincarnation would erase all traces of your past self. But very well, I shall allow it."
I exhaled in relief. No matter what happened, I would remain me.
"And your final wish?" the god asked.
I grinned. "I want a system."
The god paused. Then, they let out a deep, almost mischievous chuckle. "Ah, but you weren't specific."
Before I could ask what they meant, they snapped their fingers. A bright golden light enveloped me, pulling me downward as the void around me shattered.
"Enjoy your new life, Ray."
---
A sharp cry filled the air, followed by the sensation of warmth surrounding me. I felt weak, my limbs barely responding as I struggled to open my eyes.
A woman's gentle voice cooed above me. "He's beautifulā¦"
I blinked blearily, my vision adjusting to the sight of a worn but kind face. Her dark hair was pulled into a loose ponytail, and despite the exhaustion evident in her features, she was smiling.
Thisā¦ was my mother.
The realization hit me like a truck. I had really been reincarnated.
"Ray," she whispered. "His name will be Ray."
Another voice, higher and younger, giggled nearby. "I have a little brother!"
My heart clenched. That must be my sister.
A second chanceā¦ A new lifeā¦
I wasn't going to waste it.
---
Ten Years Later
Life as Ray wasā¦ tough. My mother worked endlessly to provide for us, but we were undeniably poor. Our home was small, barely holding together, but it was warm in a way my past life never was.
And then there was my sister, Maki.
Maki was my rock. She was strong, stubborn, and fiercely protective of me. She always made sure I had food to eat, even if she had to give up her own share. I owed her more than I could ever say.
Despite our struggles, I was happy.
That didn't mean I had forgotten about my third wish.
From the moment I turned four, a small, glowing screen had appeared in my vision.
[Welcome to the Gacha System!]
[Roll to receive random rewards!]
That was it.
No quests. No stat bonuses. Just a damn gacha system.
I had screamed internally for days. Of all the systems I could have gotten, I ended up with one that relied on sheer luck.
But after calming down, I realized somethingāthis system was my power. In a world of heroes and quirks, I couldn't afford to waste it.
Every day, I received a single free roll.
Most of the time, I got garbage.
[You rolled: CommonāOld Sneakers!]
[You rolled: CommonāA Rusty Spoon!]
[You rolled: CommonāA Plastic Toy Sword!]
But sometimes, I struck gold.
[You rolled: RareāLow-Tier Healing Potion!]
[You rolled: RareāBeginner Strength Enhancement!]
The strength enhancement had been my best pull yet. It wasn't much, but it made my punches pack a little more power than a normal kid's.
I wasn't naive. If I wanted to survive in My Hero Academia, where villains ran rampant and even children weren't safe, I needed more.
I needed to get stronger.
And so, at ten years old, I made a promise to myself.
I would master this system, use whatever it gave me to my advantage, and carve out my own path in this world.
No matter what.