The wooden floor of the Amamiya family home creaked as Menma stepped inside. His breathing was still heavy. The lingering poison and the blows from the school bathroom earlier left a real, stinging pain. But what hurt more was the cold atmosphere that greeted him.
In the living room, warm laughter could be heard. His father and mother were sitting around the dining table, doting on Amamiya Masaki, his younger brother. Masaki's plate was full of the highest quality food.
Their laughter stopped instantly when they saw Menma standing at the door, his face battered and bruised.
His father glanced at the wounds on Menma's face, but ultimately looked away.
"You're late again, Menma. And look at your face... you'll embarrass the family if the neighbors see," his father said coldly, without a hint of concern.
His mother didn't even care. "Clean yourself up. Don't let your blood stain the floor. Masaki just won a math competition at his school. Don't ruin this mood with your stupid face."
Menma stood silent. Inside this body, Masashi's soul felt a sharp pang of sadness, but it clearly wasn't his own. It was the leftover feeling from the real Menma's soul.
'So this is why you gave up, Menma? Brutally tortured by those delinquents at school, and at home treated like trash because you couldn't get good grades, always being compared to your brother Masaki,' Masashi thought. A wave of sympathy rose, but it was quickly replaced by steel resolve.
"I understand," Menma replied curtly. He immediately went up the stairs to the second floor without looking back.
'If I were the one who died… would they even care?' Menma thought.
In the cramped room, Menma locked the door. He sat on the floor, ignoring his pain, and began summoning the memories left in this kid's brain. He needed the knowledge this kid had if he wanted to survive in this world.
The Hierarchy of Okato High
This school was a wolf's den. From his memories, there was a supreme ruler at the top of the food chain.
That was the Zoragumi Faction with 90 members, led by the monster king, Oozora Juugo, and his vice, the demon king, Sakamoto Daizen.
In the 2nd year, the situation was split into 4 factions. One of them was the Shintora Faction led by Shin Torao with 30 members. The three delinquents who bullied Menma earlier were just low-level lackeys from this faction.
But Okato High was just a small part of this hell. The real world was outside the school gates.
Menma's ambition after getting the Strongest Delinquent System didn't stop at school, but at the entirety of Okayami City itself.
The Power Map of Okayami City
Okayami City had been divided into four major territories of power.
In the Western District was Mugen Rider, the motorcycle gang that ruled the streets and illegal racing, led by Oyama Cobra and his right hand Senju Yamato. A gathering place for the kids of officials and rich people thirsty for adrenaline.
In the Southern District was Rashomon Army, the most sadistic group that ran gambling and high-interest loans, led by Hyuga Shoji and the deadly Masao Brothers (Yasushi & Kiyoshi).
In the Northern District was Housen Club, rulers of the night district and luxury clubs, led by Nakamura Rocky with his two enforcers, Kageyama Kumakiri and Hoshino Hakuso.
And the last district, the Eastern District, the gathering place for school delinquents. There were 3 strongest schools in this district, but the strongest was Okato High which had already controlled two-thirds of the Eastern District.
That memory was enough to make him realize that even if he understood countless fighting techniques,
It wouldn't be enough to make him the strongest and rule Okayami City.
"Too many monsters in this city," Menma muttered.
Then Menma stared at the transparent System screen that appeared before him.
_____________________
PLAYER STATUS
Name: Amamiya Menma
Level 1: 30/100(EXP)
Strength: 10
Speed: 10
Endurance: 11
Spirit: 21
Intelligence: 12
(Average person has 10 points in all attributes)
STREET FIGHTING]
- Combat adaptation increased
- Pain tolerance increased
- Dirty attacks more effective
Notes:
EXP gained from defeated targets:
- Regular Delinquent: 10 EXP
- Class Ruler: 100 EXP
- School King: 1000 EXP
- Gang Boss: 10000 EXP
____________________________
Seeing the EXP from the three delinquents he defeated, Menma realized he needed 70 more EXP to reach Level 2 and get 5 free attribute points.
Thinking about how he was still pretty weak—facing just 3 regular delinquents already took him a long time.
He had to start fighting and defeating more delinquents to gain EXP and level up to become stronger.
"In this world, the weak get stepped on. If I don't become the strongest, I'll get stepped on again."
To survive in this world… I need a first foothold.
Tomorrow was the perfect time. In Class 1-E there was a monster named Chisato Chuta. A 180cm tall man with a vertical scar over his eye, known as the Steel Tank.
With 14 loyal followers out of 20 students in his class, Chuta was the absolute king of Class 1-E.
Chuta wasn't the strongest in the school… but he was the entryway to a deeper hell.
"If I defeat Chuta, I'll get 100 EXP and his crew directly," Menma thought.
"That's enough to level me up and give me 5 additional attribute points."
[WARNING: HOST TOO WEAK FOR THIS TARGET]
Menma ignored the system's warning and lay down on the thin mattress (futon), his eyes staring sharply at the ceiling.
Menma closed his eyes, letting his back touch the thin futon whose padding had already worn thin.
At that moment, he felt a tingling sensation like static electricity crawling under his skin.
[DING! RECOVERY PROCESS ACTIVE: 15%...]
"This system... turns out it's not just a cold machine," Menma whispered.
He felt the bruise on his stomach throb, as if his muscle fibers were being stitched back together by unseen hands.
He stared at his status screen again. The Spirit stat of 21 was the only thing that made him feel like he had a chance.
In a world where high schoolers had monstrous physical strength, only the mentality of a grown man who had already died once could keep him stable.
"Chuta isn't just a delinquent, he's a wall," Menma analyzed the remaining memories. "If I attack him head-on with 10 Strength, I'll be crushed in seconds. But..."
Menma grinned slightly. As Masashi, he knew that strength wasn't just about muscle, but about tactics and intelligence.
"If I can drain his stamina until he's exhausted, I have a chance to win this fight."
With 21 points in Spirit, he had willpower and drive more than double that of most normal people.
"Strength determines attack damage, Speed determines life or death, Endurance determines damage resistance, but… Spirit, that's what keeps someone standing even when their body is wrecked, and Intelligence determines someone's learning comprehension," Menma muttered while thinking.
Chuta might have monstrous strength and endurance, but he had a spirit not that much weaker than his.
If he made Chuta fight until he hit his stamina limit, he had a chance to win the fight.
He also began mapping out his steps after Okato High. Okayami City wasn't just a playground, it was a death maze.
Mugen Rider in the West with their family backgrounds.
Rashomon Army in the South with their cruelty.
Housen Club in the North with their dark business network.
"If I want to rule the whole city, I can't do it alone. I need subordinates, and Chuta would be the perfect guy to be my crew," his resolve hardened.
Outside the room, Masaki's proud laughter could be heard as he recounted his achievements, met with excessive praise from both his parents.
That sound felt so distant to Menma. He no longer needed their affection. In this world, he only needed power.
Menma took a deep breath, letting the darkness of the room envelop him.
The pain in his ribs slowly faded, replaced by an overflowing fighting spirit.
"Sleep well, Chuta. Enjoy your last night as the ruler of Class 1-E. Because tomorrow morning, I'm coming to defeat you."
Menma fell asleep, unaware that his first step to defeat Chuta would attract the attention of far more dangerous monsters.