Two days had passed, and Rito had continued experimenting with his system, testing its limits while adjusting to his new reality.
Morning in the Yūki Household
Mikan stood by the kitchen counter, peeling vegetables while keeping a wary eye on Rito, who had volunteered to help. She wasn't sure what to expect—her brother had always been a walking disaster in the kitchen.
Yet, as she watched him effortlessly handle the knife, cutting ingredients with a level of precision she didn't expect from a high schooler, she couldn't help but blink in surprise.
"Okay," she muttered, watching as he neatly diced onions into perfect cubes. "This is suspicious."
Rito looked up. "What is?"
"You." She narrowed her eyes. "Since when did you learn how to cut things like a pro?"
"I wouldn't say 'pro'." Rito scratched his cheek. "Just... practiced a bit?"
Mikan didn't buy it. Just two days ago, this guy could barely handle a peeler without nearly taking his fingers off. Now, he was moving like a seasoned home cook?
Rito, of course, knew the real reason—his [Cooking] skill had reached Level 3, making him absurdly good at basic food prep. Not chef-level, but still far beyond what Mikan expected.
"Well," Mikan huffed. "At least you're finally useful for something."
Rito chuckled, feeling a rare sense of accomplishment.
After finishing his morning routine, Rito decided to test a new skill—Kenjutsu.
It wasn't that he had a sudden urge to become a swordsman, but he had noticed a pattern in his system. If he performed certain actions repeatedly, he could gain skills related to them.
Since he had already tested cooking, hairstyling, and basic physical activities, why not try swordplay?
But he needed a reason.
"If I suddenly pick up a sword out of nowhere, Mikan's gonna call me an idiot again."
That's when he remembered.
It was back in middle school.
Rito had never been particularly athletic, but he had once enjoyed football. He wasn't the best, but he had fun playing with friends.
Then came the disaster.
One day, the entire school garden was found in ruins—flattened flower beds, trampled plants, and soil scattered everywhere.
Before he could even process what had happened, someone pointed at him.
"It was him! Rito Yūki did it!"
And just like that, he became the prime suspect.
He had tried to defend himself, but most of his classmates didn't believe him.
Except for one person.
"I don't believe it," Haruna had said, standing firm amidst the accusations. "Rito wouldn't do something like this."
Her voice had been calm but resolute.
She had trusted him without hesitation.
That moment... was when Rito had fallen for her.
Even now, recalling that memory, Rito felt a strange pull in his chest.
It wasn't his own emotion, but the lingering feelings of the original Rito.
"Damn... this guy really loved her, huh?"
It wasn't just a small crush. It was something deep.
A proof of how strongly he had felt for her.
Shaking off the thoughts, Rito focused on his wooden sword, gripping it firmly.
The past was the past—he wasn't the same Rito anymore.
But if he could use this second chance to grow stronger, to experience life in a way the original Rito never could...
Then he would embrace it.
[Ding! New Skill Acquired: Kenjutsu (Lv. 1)]
[Quest: First Strike]
Task: Land 100 proper strikes. Reward: +100 EXP in Kenjutsu.
As Rito swung the wooden blade, determination flared in his eyes.
His journey was just beginning.
The morning air was crisp as Rito stretched his sore limbs. The past two days had flown by, and while he had adjusted somewhat to the surreal reality of his reincarnation, the feeling of being inside an anime still messed with his head.
But there was one thing he knew for sure—if he wanted to survive in this chaotic world, he needed to improve himself.
He leaned back against his bed's headboard, tapping a pen against his notebook. His mind had been running in overdrive ever since he gained Kenjutsu.
"If I can gain skills by simply repeating actions, then I should take full advantage of this."
With that thought in mind, he started writing out a plan.
A New RoutineMorning
Jog: Stamina Training
Kenjutsu: Weapon Combat
Martial Arts: Hand-to-Hand Fighting
Other Sports: General Agility and Strength
Study Sessions: Intelligence Growth
It wasn't just about getting stronger physically. If something like planning could become a skill, then improving his mindset and strategy was just as important.
As soon as he finished writing the list, a familiar sound rang in his head.
[Ding! New Skill Acquired: Planning (Lv. 1)]
Effect: Increases efficiency in creating schedules and optimising growth.
Rito blinked. "Wait, even this counts as a skill?"
He glanced back at his notebook and smirked. If thinking ahead was something the system rewarded, then he was going to abuse it to the fullest.
A New Path to Strength
Rito sighed and closed his notebook. He needed to start small, and the best place to begin was basic endurance training.
"Morning jogs, huh? Might as well start tomorrow."
His stamina wasn't exactly high, and if he wanted to keep up with the madness that came with living in this world, he needed better endurance.
But why stop at just running?
"If I can train my swordsmanship, then martial arts should work too."
The moment that thought crossed his mind, a familiar notification appeared.
[Ding! New Skill Acquired: Basic Martial Arts (Lv. 1)]
Effect: Increases learning efficiency for hand-to-hand combat techniques.
Rito grinned. "This system is broken."
If thinking about something and trying it out led to new abilities, then how far could he take this?
He cracked his knuckles, already eager to push himself further. He was starting to enjoy this.
Boosting His Studies
His eyes flickered to his desk, where his textbooks were stacked in an intimidating pile.
"I wonder… if I can get skills for fighting, can I also get skills for studying?"
Curious, he grabbed a math textbook, flipping through the pages while attempting to focus on memorisation techniques.
[Ding! New Skill Acquired: Study Enhancement (Lv. 1)]
Effect: Improves retention and comprehension of academic subjects.
His grip tightened on the book. "No way... does this mean I won't have to suffer through math anymore?"
It wasn't like he instantly knew everything, but if this skill helped him learn faster, then he actually stood a chance of acing his classes.
"This is insane... no, this is amazing."