Haru pressed his face against the car window, staring at the city of Shibuya flashing by.
It was… enormous. Crowded. Noisy. And somehow, in all of this chaos, he was supposed to heal.
His mom, Saya, smiled gently beside him.
"You'll be okay, Haru. Just a few months here with your grandparents. A fresh start."
Haru wasn't so sure. His ribs still ached from the hospital incident, and his pride felt bruised alongside his body. He didn't want a "fresh start."
He wanted to come back to school stronger but apparently, his mom, and everyone else thought Shibuya's air might do the trick.
By the time they arrived at his grandparents' traditional apartment, Haru was already being bombarded.
"HARU-KUN! Welcome back!" Grandma's voice echoed as she shoved a steaming plate of vegetables toward him.
Haru blinked.
"Uh… thanks, I guess?"
Grandpa leaned on his cane, smirking.
"You survived Shibuya traffic to get here? Impressive… but not impressive enough to skip dinner."
Haru groaned. This was going to be a long few months.
That night, after the chaos of unpacking and narrowly dodging the family cat, Haru's vision flickered blue.
PING.
[SYSTEM QUEST DETECTED]
[Physical Reconstruction Arc Initiated]
New Quests:
Daily 2 km Jog — Build stamina & improve cardiovascular health.
Healthy Eating (7 Days) — Consume at least 3 balanced meals per day.
Sleep Before 9 PM — Optimize recovery and hormone regulation.
Rewards: stamina boosts, fat-burning modifiers
Haru stared at the glowing text floating before his eyes.
"…Wait. do I get… giant muscles overnight?"
The system sparkled innocently.
Haru's cheeks burned.
He sighed and shoved the holographic interface aside. Tomorrow, he'd start jogging.
Jogging Day 1 — The Pain Saga
The next morning, the streets of Shibuya were quiet. Too quiet for Haru's taste.
He tightened the laces of his running shoes.
"2 km… how hard can it be, i did three laps around my neighborhood for a week?"
(A/N: Famous last words.)
The first fifty meters were okay. Then the hundred-meter mark hit like a ton of bricks.
Haru's lungs felt like they were being vacuumed. His legs quivered, wobbling like jelly in a blender.
"Why… why did I agree to this?" he wheezed.
Grandpa appeared like a spectral coach on a bicycle.
"Push yourself, boy! Every meter counts!"
Haru gaped.
"…You're not helping. Stop pedaling next to me like a motivational speaker!"
Grandpa merely grinned.
"You want muscles and stamina? You must endure."
Haru gritted his teeth. One leg in front of the other. The system quietly pinged:
[Quest Progress: 5% Complete]
He stumbled, nearly kissed the pavement, and puffed out a sigh of resignation.
"…I can do this. For… my mom, my friends, and for myself."
By the time he finished the 2 kilometer run, he collapsed dramatically onto the sidewalk, chest heaving, arms spread wide like a tiny superhero who had survived a villainous attack.
PING.
[Daily Jog Complete — Reward: +0.2 Stamina, Minor Fat Burn]
Haru weakly raised a hand in victory.
"Yeah… that's… that's what I call… surviving."
Grandpa shook his head, laughing.
"You call that surviving? Amateur. Tomorrow, we double it."
Haru groaned.
Regular Calls With Chiyuri
By mid-week, Chiyuri had discovered Haru's location thanks to the Neurolink. Video calls began immediately after his runs.
"HARU! WHY ARE YOU BREATHING LIKE THAT?" Chiyuri yelled into his floating screen, eyes wide and hands on her hips.
"I'm fine! I just… ran 2 kilometers!" Haru wheezed.
"TWO KILOMETER? That's it? THATS CHILD PLAY, You need to do 4! " chiyuri said
Takumu appeared behind her, adjusting his glasses.
"Chiyuri, calm down. He's making progress. Besides, forcing him to overexert would be counterproductive."
Haru blinked.
"…Thanks, Taku. I guess."
The calls became daily. Chiyuri's energy and Takumu's calm balance made him feel… connected, even while far from school.
Somewhere between "Don't overexert!" and "You must survive!" Haru started to actually look forward to jogging not just for the system, but for the moments when they could laugh together.
After two weeks, Haru noticed changes. Small, but significant.
He felt lighter when walking.
His breaths came easier.
His reflection showed the faint beginnings of muscle in his arms and legs.
PING.
[Growth Potential Activated — Minor Height Increase Detected]
Haru stumbled back from the mirror.
"…Wait. Am I taller? Or… is it just my imagination?"
His mom peeked into the room, blinking at him.
"You're… smaller? Or slimmer? No… taller?"
Haru froze.
"…Probably both?"
The system flashed, confirming: +5 cm possible growth unlocked later, small but noticeable.
He felt… stronger. More confident. Not fully back to normal but on his way.
The First Real Victory
One afternoon, after finishing a run that used to leave him gasping and collapsing, Haru sat on a Shibuya bench.
His muscles ached pleasantly. He took a sip of water and looked at his reflection in the polished metal railing nearby.
The changes were subtle. His posture was straighter. His chest rose higher. His legs didn't wobble like noodles.
He flexed slightly, smiling to himself.
"Not bad… not bad at all."
His phone pinged. Video call: Chiyuri.
"I see you grinning, Haru!" she exclaimed.
"Are you finally going to tell me how your runs went without sounding like a dying whale?"
Haru laughed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I survived today. Barely."
"Barely? Don't you dare slack!"
Takumu added, calmly:
"Progress is steady. Keep it consistent. You'll reach your goal."
Haru glanced around. Empty streets. Pink sunset reflecting on Shibuya's buildings.
He was far from school. Far from his friends in person.
But through the calls, through the system, through running… he felt connected.
His body was changing. His heart was changing.
Even his height might change soon.
Haru grinned.
"This… feels good."
And with the system quietly pinging him in the corner of his vision, he silently promised:
I'll return stronger. For Chiyuri, for Takumu, for myself… and for the day I walk back into school taller than everyone expects.
Haru laughed maniacally on the streets of shibuya