I turned toward the direction of the voice. Standing there was a girl wearing the same school uniform as mine, her bright orange hair catching the sunlight and her large eyes filled with a keen observation. Her face was strikingly beautiful, a feature that stood out even in the ordinary school surroundings. I felt an odd sense of familiarity as though I had seen her before, but I couldn't place where or when.
Without warning, Kazuya clicked his tongue in irritation and dismissed the situation, saying, "Nothing." His gaze then shifted back to me, hardening into a glare. "Count yourself lucky today," he muttered under his breath.
He turned and walked off, Shiro and Ren following him, their footsteps echoing off the pavement as they left the scene. The immediate tension dissolved, but I still felt the weight of the encounter. It had been close, and I knew this wouldn't be the last time.
I looked back at the girl. "Thank you," I said, my tone sincere.
She met my gaze with a contemplative look, her eyes narrowing slightly as if weighing something in her mind before responding. "You should learn some self-defense," she suggested. "Otherwise, he's just going to keep doing this."
Her words carried a sense of practicality, and she was right. I knew that physical confrontation might be inevitable at some point, but I also understood the importance of timing. It wasn't the right moment yet—I needed to stay low until I could pass the UA Entrance Exam. But I couldn't deny that she had a point.
I instinctively nodded, acknowledging her advice, even though my thoughts were already shifting to the bigger picture. I was just getting started in this new body, and I couldn't afford to let these kinds of encounters distract me.
As she turned to leave, I quickly called after her. "I'm Jin Kuroda, from 3-E. May I know your name?"
She paused, looking over her shoulder. "Kendo Itsuka, class 3-A," she responded briefly before continuing on her way.
My mind registered the name almost immediately. Kendo Itsuka—the class B leader at UA, a prominent character in the original timeline. While she wasn't a main character in the grand scheme of things, she played a significant role. The realization hit me, but before I could dwell on it, she was already out of earshot, disappearing down the street.
I shook my head slightly. Focus.
I needed to stay grounded. There were bigger things at play, and my goals were clear. I had to get to work.
I made my way to a nearby park—a quiet, secluded area that I'd chosen for my physical training. The fresh air and the isolated location would provide me with the space I needed to focus without interruption.
I started the physical exercises outlined by the system. The task was simple in theory—push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, and running 1 km. But after my first few sets, it became clear that my body wasn't in any condition to handle this challenge effortlessly. I could feel the strain in every muscle. The workout was exhausting, and the system's requirements demanded perfection. Any slip-up would render the effort meaningless.
Despite the physical discomfort, I pushed through each set, struggling to finish. My body was weaker than I had anticipated. My current stats explained a lot about the difficulty I was facing.
By the time I finished the final exercise, I was exhausted, my limbs heavy, and my mind foggy. My body was in no condition to keep going, but I had done what I needed to do, even if it was far from optimal.
I dragged myself home, every step feeling like a monumental effort. Once inside, I took a long, hot bath to ease the tension in my muscles. The warm water helped soothe the aches and clear my head, but the fatigue still lingered.
Dinner was the usual—simple and routine, but it was enough to refuel my body. I ate slowly, savoring the brief moments of peace before diving back into training.
Afterward, I practiced the Qi Liberating Technique in my room. It was part of my ongoing effort to unlock the body's potential and lay the foundation. The technique was mentally demanding, and after the physical strain of the day, I was physically and mentally drained.
Finally, I collapsed into bed, too tired to think of anything else. The day's exhaustion settled over me like a weight, and I fell into a deep, uninterrupted sleep, ready to face whatever challenges tomorrow might bring.