Chapter One: A New Beginning

Aoki Tsukasa pressed his hand to his head and slowly sat up, staring in bewilderment at the Japanese-style room before him—something he’d only seen in movies and anime. After a long pause, he sighed, muttering weakly, “So I really do have a new life now…”

Yes, Aoki Tsukasa had died once. Back then, he was a man named Zheng Qian, an ordinary person from China, living an unremarkable life with perhaps a rather extraordinary ending.

When he learned he was terminally ill, with little hope of recovery, he resolutely gave up treatment and signed a voluntary heart donation form, quietly awaiting death until his brief life came to an end.

He had no regrets. The heart he donated would grant his younger brother a new lease on life.

The only pity was that he couldn’t live to see his little brother grow up, marry, and have children, nor could he care for his aging parents in their twilight years.

Just as he was preparing to say goodbye to a world that was neither wholly beautiful nor utterly tormenting, the so-called ‘god’ appeared. This entity offered him a new life, on the condition that he live in another world as a seventeen-year-old boy named Aoki Tsukasa, bind himself to a “system” as the ‘god’ called it, and become a delinquent.

The system would help him adapt to his new identity and serve as a supervisor to ensure he fulfilled this agreement.

Aoki Tsukasa did not refuse, nor did he have any reason to. He had always been a model child, with sound values and a loving heart, and when he entered society, he was considered a promising elite. Never had he imagined becoming a delinquent.

But if it meant living again, he found the conditions acceptable. Moreover, with the burden lifted, he was eager to try things he’d never dared before.

He walked to the window, gazing at the clean Japanese streets and buildings, opened it, and let the cool breeze wash over him. From the depths of his heart, he sighed, “It’s wonderful to be alive!”

Leaning against the window, Aoki Tsukasa closed his eyes and began to accept the memories of this other life in his mind. After a while, he opened his eyes, smacked his lips, and muttered, “Looks like I’m still a loser in this life.”

From memories that felt as if they were his own, Aoki Tsukasa learned everything about this existence so far.

Just looking at his parents in this life, Aoki Tsukasa was unfortunate enough—his father, a hapless laborer, lost his arm in an accident and was laid off. His mother, who had always despised his father, divorced and left when the family’s finances went south, leaving the disabled father to raise Aoki Tsukasa alone.

As he grew up, his father, with one arm, worked construction by day and drank by night, successfully turning Tsukasa into a delinquent.

Worse yet, a month before Tsukasa’s arrival, his father drunkenly fell into a river and died. An uncle from Chiba came to help with the funeral and decided to adopt Aoki Tsukasa. But the original Tsukasa, feeling hopeless, swallowed sleeping pills and committed suicide the night he moved to Chiba.

By rights, Aoki Tsukasa should have died in the hospital.

But the god granted him new life, allowing Zheng Qian from another world to take his place and begin anew.

“Tsukasa-kun, may I come in?” The gentle knock at the door snapped Aoki Tsukasa from his reverie.

“Please, come in.” Aoki Tsukasa closed the window and turned around. A kindly middle-aged man cautiously slid open the wooden door. “Um, I’ve spoken to the school. You’ll start attending tomorrow—is that alright?”

This was Aoki Tsukasa’s adoptive uncle, Kasugano Masao, with whom he shared no blood relation.

Aoki Tsukasa smiled and nodded. “Alright, Uncle.”

From his memories, he knew Kasugano Masao was truly a good man. Not everyone would have the courage to adopt a seventeen-year-old delinquent, especially when his own finances were tight.

Moreover, Masao had no blood ties to Tsukasa, only childhood friendship with his father. That he made such a decision in this situation made Tsukasa respect him deeply.

Seeing Tsukasa’s smile, Kasugano Masao relaxed and hurriedly said, “Um, lunch will be ready in about ten minutes. Will you come down to eat?”

“Yes, alright,” Tsukasa replied, warm and respectful. Masao was momentarily taken aback, his expression turning awkward as he laughed, “Ha, ha, then I’ll head downstairs first.”

“Wait!” Tsukasa stopped him, and under Masao’s bewildered gaze, bowed properly and thanked him, “Thank you very much for helping me, Uncle. From today, I’ll try not to cause you any trouble!”

Masao, flustered, quickly helped Tsukasa up, speaking in his somewhat wooden tone, “No need, really—don’t be so formal.”

Not knowing how to handle the situation, Masao made a hasty excuse and rushed downstairs.

Tsukasa, meanwhile, touched his long hair, frowned, picked up his phone, and examined himself in selfie mode.

Fortunately, his features hadn’t changed much—though not handsome, they were defined, with no particular strengths or weaknesses.

Well, there was one flaw.

The mop of yellow hair atop his head.

Tsukasa stared at the messy, mid-length blond hair, his mouth twitching. “Do Japanese punks identify each other by hairstyle or something? I remember back in school, my teacher would pull me aside if my bangs grew past my eyebrows; if I didn’t cut them, I’d be shaved bald…”

“Better visit a barber before school tomorrow.” Having decided, Tsukasa smiled at his reflection. “A delinquent high schooler… Isn’t it all up to me? A few late arrivals, some early departures, a bit of rebellion, and I should fulfill that ‘god’s’ bargain.”

[The Strongest Delinquent High Schooler System has successfully activated.]

A synthesized voice suddenly rang in his ear.

“Who?” Tsukasa’s right eyelid twitched as he recalled the fact he’d nearly forgotten. “By the way, that system name is way too long.”

[Please be sure to read the user manual.]

As the voice spoke, an AR-like light screen appeared before Tsukasa. He reached out, and as expected, his hand passed through it. As he touched the text, the screen changed.

[User Manual: Greetings, Host. This system was specially created by an unknown great entity and tailored for you, designed to help you become the strongest delinquent high schooler in history. Please follow the system’s requirements and strive to grow into a qualified delinquent, or you will lose your second life.]

[Supplement: As long as you complete the basic tasks and survive these three years, you will gain control over your new life. Note: This world is parallel to your previous one. Do not bring your past experience or common sense into it.]

Tsukasa rubbed his forehead, troubled. “Honestly, aside from studying, I can barely keep up with girls in the fifty-meter dash. I don’t really get this delinquent thing… Isn’t it all about fighting? If you’d let me transmigrate into some muscle-bound brute, I’d give it a shot… But this body’s not much different from my younger self.”

[Rest assured, Host. This system has a unique task and reward structure. The attached skills and growth systems will help you transform. With effort, you can become strong.]

“At least it’s better than some Antarctic creatures, no need to pay money.” Tsukasa spoke feebly, then lay back on the bed, completely unmotivated. “Honestly, I hate trouble. With this second life, I’d like to live carefree and happy, true to myself.”

[When you complete these three years with the system’s help, you’ll have a wonderful future. No matter what career or lifestyle you seek, the system can assist you—provided you complete the tasks seriously within these three years.]

“Actually, I can accept that.” Tsukasa sat up, pinching his chin thoughtfully. “Can you show me what you mean by basic tasks?”

[Tasks will be generated according to real-world events.]

Tsukasa pursed his lips. Looks like he couldn’t coast. But if he only needed to be managed by this system for three years, once high school ended, he’d be free as a fish in the sea or a bird in the sky. Three years as the price for a new life seemed fair—last time, his brother’s poor health and his parents’ expectations all fell on him, and Tsukasa studied so hard he fainted from low blood sugar in class.

When he entered society, to help with his brother’s medical bills and ease his parents’ load, he worked himself to exhaustion. In two years, his six-pack became a beer belly, and his long hair was reduced to a crew cut. Bald, he worked even harder… Looking back, since he was old enough to understand, he’d never lived for himself. When his brother needed a heart transplant and he was found to be a match, he signed the donation form—perhaps, deep down, he was simply too tired and wanted it all to end.

This time, just three more years, and he could finally live for himself.

“I endured twenty-six years in my last life; surely I can handle three more.” Tsukasa stretched lazily, setting himself the modest goal of scraping by, then jumped off the bed, felt his firm abs, savoring the youthful vitality of this body, and asked, “By the way, you mentioned skills and growth systems?”

[Host: Aoki Tsukasa]

[Strength: 7 (Average adult is 10; based on overall muscle strength.)]

[Agility: 8 (Average adult is 10; based on coordination, muscle explosiveness, etc.)]

[Endurance: 6 (Average adult is 10; based on muscle stamina and overall endurance.)]

[Mental Ability: 13 (Average adult is 10; based on memory, logic, learning ability, etc. Note: this score does not equal IQ or EQ.)]

[Charisma: 11 (Average adult is 10; based on appearance, physique, temperament, etc.)]

Oh… Tsukasa let out a surprised sound, habitually stroking his chin, only to feel soft fuzz. “Skills? Do I need skills to boost my attributes?”

[Skill slots: (empty) (empty) (empty)]

[Attribute increases are gained through skills and task rewards.]

Unexpectedly, his physical stats were decent. Tsukasa thought it over and realized it was likely because the original Aoki Tsukasa had put his talent into his body rather than studies. “So how do I acquire skills?”

[Anything you want—eating, using the bathroom, running, walking, sleeping, even opening and closing doors—can become a skill. But note: Once a skill is added to a slot, it cannot be removed. Each skill grants attribute bonuses and effects, and can be upgraded through practice and use. Skill slots may expand only through difficult tasks.]

Tsukasa laughed awkwardly, abandoning his idea of learning how to open doors as a skill—what bizarre effect would that have? Would maxing it out let him blast doors open like some special ops soldier, taking hostages in the process…?

And who would want to learn using the bathroom as a skill? Even if it were useful, leveling it up would mean endless visits to the proctology clinic…

Suppressing his curiosity, Tsukasa decided to cherish these precious skill slots.

“Tsukasa-kun, lunch is ready.”

Mrs. Kasugano’s voice from downstairs interrupted his conversation with the system. Anyway, he’d have plenty of time to deal with it in the future. Judging by its AI, maybe he could even teach it to crack jokes as a companion…

[…]

Oh, the system even uses an ellipsis on the light screen to express silence? Seems it’s got potential. Satisfied, Tsukasa left his room and went downstairs.

------------

PS: This chapter has been revised and should be much improved. No more toxic points, I hope… If you have any feedback, please leave it in the reviews. As long as it’s constructive, I’ll do my best to learn.