The first thing Haru felt when consciousness returned was pain.
like every bone in his body was aching
The second thing he felt was… soft?
Something warm pressed against his cheek, trembling slightly.
Then he heard it.
"Haru… Haru baby… wake up…"
His mom's voice.
He cracked his eyes open.
White ceiling.
Bright lights.
The faint smell of antiseptic.
Hospital.
Oh.
Right.
He got beaten half to death by middle-schooler wannabes in an abandoned building.
He groaned.
"M…mom…?"
His mom instantly crushed him into a hug.
The system flashed in his vision:
[WARNING: Host Under Compression]
[Structural Integrity: Compromised]
[Recommend: Escape Hug]
Haru tried to speak but could only wheeze. "R…ribs…"
She let go, horrified. "Oh my god, I'm sorry!"
Then she hugged him again, gently this time, while sniffing loudly.
Haru blinked around. Dr. Takamura stood nearby, clipboard in hand.
"Ah, good timing," the doctor said, adjusting his glasses. "Welcome back, Haruyuki."
Haru tried to sit up, whimpered, and immediately decided lying down forever was the correct life choice.
Dr. Takamura tapped his chart.
"Well, the good news is: no internal bleeding, and your concussion is mild. You do have bruised ribs, deep tissue contusions, and several nasty kicks left marks, but you will make a full recovery."
He paused.
"The bad news is that you seem to attract trouble like a magnet."
Haru attempted to smile. "I'm very popular?"
His mom sniffed. "Not like this!"
Dr. Takamura sighed and patted Haru's blanket-covered leg.
"Rest for today. No running. No excitement. No stress."
The universe, hearing this, immediately decided to ignore him.
Because the police entered the room.
Two officers stepped inside, one kind-looking, one built like a vending machine.
The good cop, bad cop type of duo.
"Good afternoon, Arita-kun," the kind one said. "We'd like to ask a few questions about the assault."
"I-I'm fine," Haru blurted. "It wasn't that bad, I just tripped" He said this as He didnt want to cause his mom trouble
The thermometer in his mother's hand cracked from her grip.
The officer blinked. "You tripped… into multiple bruises?"
"Yes?" Haru squeaked.
His mom snapped.
"NO he did NOT! These brats dragged him, cornered him, beat him, kicked him, and LEFT HIM UNCONSCIOUS!"
She pointed at the officers with wild fury.
Her anger radiated like a second sun.
"Arrest them. Arrest their parents. Arrest their DOG if they have one!"
The vending-machine officer nodded gravely. "We'll… start with the kids."
The kind officer cleared his throat. "Ma'am, thank you. We already have the boys for questioning."
"GOOD!" she thundered.
Haru sank into his pillow.
His bullies might be terrifying, but his mom was an S-rank raid boss.
The officers asked a few more questions. Haru answered honestly to a point. He didn't say why he was there or that his system gave him a quest. Instead, he explained:
"They said I owed them something. Money. Stuff like that."
His mom inhaled sharply, fury rising again.
When the police left, the room fell into a heavy silence.
Then
SLAM
The door slid open again.
"Haru!!"
A tiny missile named Chiyuri launched onto his bed.
"Ow ow ow….. my ribs...
CHIYURI!"
She completely ignored his suffering and hugged him tighter.
"You IDIOT! Don't scare me like that! Why didn't you tell me you were going anywhere?!"
"I didn't know I was going to get beaten either," Haru wheezed.
Then a softer, quieter voice came from the doorway.
"…Arita."
Haru blinked.
There stood a blue-haired boy wearing glasses, posture stiff, hands clenched at his sides.
He looked… familiar.
But not familiar enough.
Chiyuri turned and waved him over.
"Taku, hurry up!"
Taku?
The boy stepped closer, eyes scanning Haru.
"You look terrible," he said flatly.
"Thanks?" Haru blinked.
Chiyuri sighed loudly. "Haru, this is Takumu. You know, Taku? We three have been friends since we were six."
Haru froze.
Takumu froze harder.
"…Oh," Haru said slowly. "Um. Hi?"
Takumu adjusted his glasses to hide the flicker of hurt in his eyes.
"I was informed of your… memory situation," he said carefully. "Chiyuri told me you don't remember much."
"Yeah. Sorry," Haru mumbled, embarrassed.
Takumu shook his head. "Don't apologize. It's not your fault. I should… reintroduce myself."
He took a small step forward, bowed stiffly, and said:
"I'm Takumu Mayuzumi. We used to be best friends."
Haru's stomach twisted.
He didn't remember.
Not even a little.
But Takumu's voice strained, trying to sound calm made Haru's chest ache with guilt.
"Oh," Haru murmured. "I'm… glad to meet you. Again."
Takumu gave a tight, polite smile.
But his eyes softened, relief bleeding through.
Chiyuri sniffed and smacked Haru lightly.
"Next time something happens, you tell us. Got it? You don't get to be dumb by yourself!"
Takumu nodded, trying to look stern but failing.
"That's correct. You used to rely on us. You can still do that."
Haru swallowed.
"…Okay. I will."
Takumu nodded slowly. "We were your closest friends. Please rely on us again."
Haru swallowed hard.
"I… I will. I promise."
For a moment, everything felt peaceful.
Then
PING.
A blue system notification appeared.
[Quest Completed: Survive 15 Minutes]
Rewards Granted:
[Pain Resistance; Host can endure physical pain more easily without panic; Reduces chance of fainting from shock.]
[Emergency Adrenal Trigger; In life-threatening situations, system can activate an adrenaline boost which Temporarily increases reflexes and strength.]
Haru tried not to react visibly.
Chiyuri frowned. "Haru, why did your face glitch just now?"
"It didn't glitch," Haru lied. "That's just my… concussion."
Takumu pushed up his glasses suspiciously. "Your pupils dilated a bit."
"That's normal, right?!"
Before more interrogation could begin, his mother returned carrying paperwork.
Her expression was terrifying.
"Good news," she said with a smile that promised violence.
"I spoke to the school board."
Haru felt cold.
Chiyuri and Takumu shivered.
"Araya has been expelled," she announced triumphantly.
"And his little followers are suspended for a month. Mandatory counseling. Parental review. Full compensation for Haru's medical bills."
She crossed her arms.
"No one touches my son ever again."
Haru's heart felt warm.
Also slightly terrified.
Takumu spoke first. "Mrs. Arita… remind me never to anger you."
Chiyuri nodded vigorously. "Seconded."
His mom softened and kissed Haru's forehead gently.
"You're safe now. And you're never walking home alone again."
Haru smiled tiredly.
For the first time since waking up in this world…
He felt at ease.