The next morning, Vash woke up earlier than usual.
For a few seconds, he simply stared at the ceiling.
Then he remembered.
School.
He was officially a Class 10 student now.
After two years away, he finally had a classroom to return to.
Vash got dressed and walked toward the restaurant. The moment he stepped inside, he saw his grandparents already working. The restaurant was still showing signs of yesterday's rush. Empty ingredient containers had been cleaned and stacked, while Grandpa was checking the remaining supplies.
Vash looked at him.
"Grandpa."
"Hmm?"
"Do you need help today?"
Grandpa looked up.
"Why?"
"I can stay here."
Grandpa immediately understood what Vash meant.
"You're going to school."
"I know, but the restaurant is getting busier. Yesterday you and Grandma were exhausted."
Grandma looked over from the kitchen.
"Vash."
He turned toward her.
"You have school today."
"But—"
She walked over and gently adjusted his shirt collar.
"The restaurant is our responsibility."
Vash frowned.
"But I can help."
Grandma smiled.
"We know."
She placed a hand on his shoulder.
"And we're proud that you want to help us."
Grandpa nodded.
"But we didn't spend two years waiting for you to wake up just so you could stop studying again."
Vash became quiet.
Grandpa's voice remained gentle.
"You've been given another chance at school. Use it."
Grandma smiled.
"Let us worry about the restaurant. You worry about your studies."
Vash looked at both of them.
He wanted to argue.
But he knew they were right.
"Okay."
Grandpa smiled.
"Good."
Vash picked up his school bag.
"I'll come back after school."
"We'll be here," Grandma replied.
Vash stepped outside.
As he walked toward the bus stop, he couldn't help smiling.
His grandparents were stubborn.
Very stubborn.
But he knew exactly why.
They wanted him to have a future that wasn't limited to the restaurant.
---
The bus arrived a few minutes later.
Vash climbed aboard and found a seat near the window.
As the school came into view, his nervousness returned.
Yesterday, he had visited the school.
Today was different.
Today he was actually going to attend classes.
When Vash entered the school grounds, he heard students talking around him.
Some recognized him immediately.
A few smiled.
Others whispered to their friends.
Vash ignored most of it and continued walking.
He checked the paper showing his class assignment.
Class 10 — Section C.
"Section C..."
He looked around for the classroom.
Before he could find it, someone grabbed his shoulder.
"Vash!"
Vash turned.
He immediately recognized the face.
"Rohan!"
Rohan grinned.
"You're actually here!"
Vash laughed.
"Apparently."
Rohan looked at his school bag.
"So we're classmates again."
"Looks like it."
Rohan smiled.
"Come on. I'll show you the classroom."
They walked together.
As they entered Section C, several students looked toward Vash.
Some of them had already heard about him.
Rohan introduced him to a few classmates.
"This is Vash. He just joined us."
One student smiled.
"Welcome."
Another said, "We heard about you."
Vash sighed.
"Everyone has heard about me."
Rohan laughed.
"Get used to it."
Vash shook his head.
"I'd rather people know me for something else."
Rohan raised an eyebrow.
"Like what?"
Vash thought for a moment.
"Being good at math?"
Rohan laughed.
"Then you're definitely going to need some work."
Vash stared at him.
"Thanks for the encouragement."
The two laughed.
For the first time, Vash felt like being back at school might actually be fun.
After the first few classes, Rohan suddenly leaned toward him.
"Come with me."
"Where?"
"The library."
"Why?"
"I want you to meet someone."
Vash looked suspicious.
"Who?"
Rohan simply smiled.
"You'll see."
Vash followed him.
They walked through the corridor and eventually reached the library.
When they entered, Vash immediately noticed a girl sitting near one of the shelves.
She was reading a book quietly.
Several students nearby occasionally glanced in her direction.
Vash looked at Rohan.
"Who is she?"
Rohan suddenly became nervous.
Vash noticed.
He looked at Rohan.
Then at the girl.
Then back at Rohan.
A smile slowly appeared on his face.
"Wait."
Rohan looked away.
Vash's smile grew.
"Don't tell me..."
"Shut up."
Vash laughed.
Rohan walked toward the girl.
She looked up from her book.
"You're late."
"Sorry."
Rohan pointed toward Vash.
"I brought someone."
The girl looked at Vash.
Rohan smiled.
"Vash, this is Riya."
Vash nodded.
"Hi."
Riya smiled.
"Hi, Vash."
Vash looked at Rohan.
Then at Riya.
Then back at Rohan.
"So..."
Rohan immediately knew what was coming.
"Don't."
Vash grinned.
"You have a girlfriend."
Rohan's face turned red.
Riya covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
"How did you figure that out so quickly?" she asked.
Vash pointed between them.
"The way he's acting."
Rohan sighed.
"You're impossible."
Vash laughed.
"So when did this happen?"
Rohan looked at Riya.
Riya smiled.
"A few months ago."
Vash's eyes widened.
"Months?"
He looked at Rohan.
"And you didn't tell me?"
"You were in the hospital!"
Vash paused.
"Fair point."
Riya laughed.
Vash looked at her.
"So how did you two get together?"
Rohan immediately became uncomfortable.
"You don't need to know."
"Now I definitely need to know."
Riya smiled.
"I can tell him."
"Riya..."
She ignored him.
"We started studying together."
Vash looked at Rohan.
"Studying?"
Rohan nodded.
"Yes."
Vash looked suspicious.
"That's it?"
Riya laughed.
"Not exactly."
She explained that they had started talking while working on a school project. Rohan had helped her with something she was struggling with, and they gradually became friends.
Eventually, Rohan admitted that he liked her.
Vash stared at him.
"You confessed?"
Rohan nodded.
Vash immediately laughed.
"I can't believe it."
"What?"
"You were brave enough to confess to her?"
Rohan crossed his arms.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
Vash grinned.
"I don't know. You used to be afraid of answering the teacher."
Riya laughed.
Rohan looked at her.
"Don't encourage him."
Vash continued teasing him.
"So the great Rohan finally became brave."
"Stop."
"And she's from Section A."
Riya smiled.
Vash looked between them.
"How did a Section C student get a Section A girlfriend?"
Rohan groaned.
"It's not like sections decide who can date."
Riya laughed.
"He's right."
Vash smiled.
"I know. I'm just messing with him."
The three of them continued talking for a while.
Vash noticed something while they spoke.
Rohan hadn't changed completely.
He was still the same friend who had walked beside Vash before the accident.
And now Riya had become part of his life too.
It felt strangely normal.
For a moment, Vash forgot about the accident.
He forgot about the hospital.
He forgot about the system.
He was simply sitting with his friends.
And he liked it.
---
The school day eventually ended.
Vash said goodbye to Rohan and Riya before heading home.
On the bus ride back, he looked out the window.
His first proper day of Class 10 had been better than he expected.
When he arrived at Grandpa's Noodles, the restaurant was busy again.
Vash smiled.
He could already hear his grandparents working inside.
He entered and immediately received a question from Grandma.
"How was school?"
Vash smiled.
"Good."
Grandpa looked at him.
"Make any friends?"
"Some."
Vash paused.
"And I met Rohan again."
Grandpa smiled.
"That's good."
Vash sat down for dinner.
He told his grandparents about his first day.
He mentioned his classmates.
Then he mentioned Riya.
Grandpa smiled.
"So Rohan has a girlfriend now?"
Vash laughed.
"Yes."
Grandma smiled.
"You were probably teasing him."
"Of course."
After dinner, Vash helped clean up before finally going to his room.
He changed into his night clothes and sat on his bed.
The day had been long.
He was tired.
But before sleeping, something suddenly crossed his mind.
"The system."
Vash had been so busy with school and the restaurant that he hadn't checked it properly.
He sat up.
"Open full status."
The familiar transparent interface appeared before him.
---
[ORDINARY SYSTEM]
Host: Vash
Age: 14
Level: 1
Physical Attributes
Strength: 6.0 / 10
Agility: 5.0 / 10
Endurance: 4.0 / 10
Reaction: 5.0 / 10
Mental Attributes
Intelligence: 6.0 / 10
Memory: 7.0 / 10
Comprehension: 6.0 / 10
Concentration: 4.0 / 10
Recovery Data
Rehabilitation Progress: 4.5 / 10
Walking Stability: 5.0 / 10
Balance: 4.8 / 10
Skills
Cooking: Basic
Mathematics: Basic
English: Basic
Science: Basic
Social Studies: Basic
Business Management: Beginner
System Points
47 / 100
Vash blinked.
"Forty-seven?"
He stared at the number.
Then a notification appeared.
---
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
10 Assignments Completed
Reward Granted.
Daily Task Completion Bonus Granted.
Additional System Points Accumulated.
Current System Points: 47
---
Vash stared at the interface.
He had been so focused on everything happening around him that he hadn't realized how many points he had collected.
"Forty-seven..."
He leaned back.
"Almost halfway to one hundred."
The system had previously told him that reaching 100 System Points would unlock something new.
Vash looked at the number again.
47 / 100
"Only fifty-three more."
He smiled.
Then he noticed something else.
His recovery numbers.
4.5.
5.0.
4.8.
They were much higher than when he had first opened the system.
He looked at his legs.
He could walk.
He could stand.
He could go to school.
He could work in the restaurant.
He still wasn't fully recovered.
But he was getting there.
Vash slowly closed the interface.
"Not bad."
He lay down.
Today, he had returned to school.
He had met Rohan again.
He had met Riya.
He had laughed with his friends.
And his system had reached 47 points.
For the first time in a long time, Vash felt like his life was moving forward in more than one direction.
He closed his eyes.
Tomorrow would be another day.
And this time, Vash wasn't afraid of what it would bring.