WebNovels

Chapter 2 - chapter 2

Kai took a deep breath, pushing off the sink. The blue system screen still hovered right there, dazzling and impossible. His mind was buzzing with the possibilities of the 10000x Return System. He could make a fortune, get insanely powerful, and turn this mundane, new life into something extraordinary.

But he had to stop.

He forced his mind to slow down. He had been through a massive shock, an event that defied all laws of his old universe. Adding this system on top of it was too much to process all at once. If he focused on the system now, he would lose his grip on reality completely. The system was a big deal, and it needed a clear head.

Later, he told himself. I will deal with this later.

He consciously broke his stare away from the text. He walked over and turned the shower knob. He needed the noise, the running water, to break his concentration. He needed to wash away the shock of the past few hours.

There were more important, immediate problems than the system's power. He needed to reconnect with the life the previous owner had left behind.

The real Kai Reids had been depressed, locking himself in this room for the last month. That fact alone had consequences. His sister-in-law, Natasha, would be worried. She was the one who was supposed to be his guardian and caretaker, yet he had shut her out. She was the first human connection he had in this strange world, and he could not afford to mess that up.

I need to act like him. I need to figure out .

The hot water was a simple, grounding sensation. As the water ran down his body, Kai closed his eyes and began to sort through his thoughts.

The previous Kai's memories were still cloudy. He knew the essentials Natasha, the apartment, but the emotional context was hard to grasp. How do you fake a month of deep depression and then suddenly snap out of it without looking suspicious?

He had to get his story straight. He had to understand the family dynamics. He had to figure out what was on the schedule for today. All this had to be sorted out before he could even think about testing his brand-new, game-breaking system.

The system was a key to a new life, but first, he had to survive this one. He had to make peace with the small, fat body he now inhabited. He had to face Natasha and act like the troubled brother-in-law who had just decided to rejoin the world.

He finished his bath, dried himself, and stepped out, feeling cleaner but no less burdened.

He looked back at the space where the screen had been floating. It was gone. He felt a sudden, mild panic, thinking it was truly a dream. But then a faint, shimmering screen appeared again in his vision.

It was real. It was waiting.

He dressed in fresh, simple clothes. The first step was leaving the room.

The bedroom door opened.

For Kai, the simple act of stepping out felt alien. He felt the stale air of the hallway as if he was breaching a containment zone. The previous owner had kept himself locked away for so long that leaving the room was an event.

He followed the faint scent of cooking until he reached the kitchen.

Natasha was at the stove, humming softly as she worked. She turned when she heard his footsteps. Her eyes went wide for a brief moment, a flicker of shock crossing her features. It quickly melted into the warmest smile Kai had seen since waking up in this body.

"Kai! You're finally out," she said, her voice soft but genuinely happy. "Are you hungry? Come sit down."

She gestured toward the small dining table. Kai walked over and slid onto a chair. He watched her return to the stove. She looked tired, he noted, but her focus was all on the meal.

He still had no good explanation for his month of isolation, or for his sudden recovery. He decided on the most basic, slightly unbelievable truth.

"I just... woke up this morning and realized I didn't want to waste my life anymore," he finally said, testing the words.

Natasha glanced back hesitantly, she put another smile. She didn't press for details. "That's good, Kai. That's really good. I'm happy you feel better."

She set a plate of simple, savory-smelling food in front of him. As he began to eat, she sat across from him.

"You know," she started, leaning forward slightly. "If you want to, we could go somewhere. We could take a drive. Maybe see a museum, or a picnic by the lake? It's a nice day."

Kai paused with his fork halfway to his mouth. He remembered the previous Kai's circumstances. "Natasha, the high school final exams are in two weeks."

She waved a dismissive hand. "The exam can wait, Kai. You can take it next year. The important thing is you getting out and feeling like yourself again."

He couldn't believe her kindness. She had known the previous owner for only a few months before the accident, yet she had taken him in and was now willing to drop everything to help him recover emotionally. He could feel the sincere love she had for the troubled young man he was pretending to be.

"No," Kai said, shaking his head gently. "I am going to try and pass this exam."

Natasha's face fell a little.

"But," Kai added quickly, "I don't think I can go back to school yet. I won't have time to catch up on lessons and make new friends. I think I can study better here at home, just for these two weeks."

Her lips pressed together into a line after thinking for a moment, she smiled again. "Okay. If you think you can focus here, that's fine. But listen, the exam is nothing. Even if you don't pass, it's okay. You can always try again. Don't push yourself too hard, alright?"

He saw the worry in her eyes. She knew how badly the previous owner had been doing and was afraid he would fall back into depression if he failed. He gave her a firm nod, trying to convey a new level of determination.

"I understand. Thank you," he said. He took another bite and then brought up his second point. "I was also planning to join a gym. I know it will disturb my study schedule a bit, but..."

Before he could finish, Natasha beamed. A full, brilliant smile broke across her face.

"That is a wonderful idea, Kai!" she exclaimed.

He smiled too, understanding exactly what she was thinking. He had been shutting himself away, and now he was asking to go to a gym. In her eyes, it meant he was starting to care about his body and his appearance, just like any other normal person his age. It was a clear, positive signal that he was finally healing.

"Okay," Kai said, his heart feeling a little lighter.

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