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 most—my best friend—stood 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 me—anger, 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 just…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 beautiful…"

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.

This… 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 chance… A new life…

I wasn't going to waste it.

---

Ten Years Later

Life as Ray was… 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 something—this 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: Common—Old Sneakers!]

[You rolled: Common—A Rusty Spoon!]

[You rolled: Common—A Plastic Toy Sword!]

But sometimes, I struck gold.

[You rolled: Rare—Low-Tier Healing Potion!]

[You rolled: Rare—Beginner 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.