Chapter 2: A Fresh Start
Leon groaned, stretching his arms as he sat upright in bed. The morning sun filtered weakly through the blinds, and the quiet hum of the city outside barely registered in his mind. He fumbled for his phone and glanced at the screen.
9:30.
"Ah… I'm late," he muttered under his breath, blinking at the numbers. His heart raced, but a wide grin spread across his face. Half an hour before class. That's enough… and Rina should be in class too. Plus… I've got two million credits. This time, I can do things differently.
He swung his legs over the side of the bed and quickly stood, feeling the thrill of possibility surge through him. The first thing to do: prepare. He darted to his closet, rifling through his clothes with practiced urgency. Pulling out a clean hoodie, he slipped it over his head and adjusted the drawstrings. His long black hair was tied neatly into a low ponytail, a small improvement that made him feel lighter, sharper.
Leon grabbed his bag and checked the door repeatedly as he locked it behind him. His mind ticked through the plan like a finely wound clock. I should start running… it's only a little far. I know what's going to happen, so I just need to act like the regressers do.
With a deep breath and a surge of excitement, he bolted from the apartment. His footsteps echoed against the empty streets, bouncing off the wet pavement still damp from yesterday's rain. The wind brushed his face, cool and invigorating, as he ran like a kid on his first day of school, heart pounding in pure anticipation.
After about twenty minutes, the towering structure of Nyser University loomed in front of him. Students streamed through the gates in every direction, chattering and laughing, carrying backpacks and notebooks. Leon panted lightly, hands on his knees, but before he could fully recover, a sudden weight pressed against his back.
"Leon!"
He spun around, startled, and found himself enveloped in a tight hug. The familiar scent of perfume and the warmth of a friend's embrace hit him instantly. Lenora.
"You made it early today. What's the occasion?" she asked, her black hair swinging with the movement. Her red eyes—so sharp, so vivid—looked at him with the same mix of curiosity and affection he remembered.
Leon blinked, almost tearing up at the memory of her bravery—the way she had tried to save him before. But he forced himself to speak, controlling his voice. "Am I… early, Lenora?"
Her gaze lingered, scanning him from head to toe. "Hm… something's different today," she said softly, tilting her head. Leon's mind spun in panic. Did she… notice? No, she can't… unless she regressed too.
"You look more… feminine today," she continued, then paused, her sharp eyes catching his. "And your eyes… they look more pink than ever."
Oh… thank goodness, Leon thought in relief. She was just looking at my face.
He straightened, offering a faint smile. "Hey, let's go. It's getting late, Lenora."
"Yeah, we should," she replied, falling into step beside him as they hurried toward their department of arts. The chatter of students and the squeak of shoes on polished floors filled the corridor.
Once inside the classroom, they moved to their usual seats in the middle. Lenora nudged him lightly, a teasing glint in her eyes.
"Hey, Leon," she said, her tone slightly annoyed.
"What?" he asked, leaning back, pretending not to notice.
"Did you know Rina got at least 1.5 million credits in super chats during her morning stream?" she continued, her voice low enough for only him to hear.
Leon froze for a heartbeat, trying to act oblivious. How would know? he said . I was late waking up…
Lenora sighed softly, shaking her head. "It was someone named Mr. K. He started doubling the money in the chats, but at some points, he spent only a thousand credits. Why do you think that is?"
Because I was checking how the system works, Leon thought, biting his tongue. He couldn't reveal the truth, not yet.
"Well…" he said aloud, leaning casually against the edge of his desk, trying to appear indifferent. "Maybe he has some… unusual tastes? Likes seeing attention? Or something like that."
Lenora arched an eyebrow. "Wow… you're always spot-on, Leon."
Good, she's buying it, Leon thought, relieved. "I think so too," he murmured quietly.
He glanced around the classroom, noticing the steady stream of students finding their seats. Among them, someone approached quietly from the back. She was dressed simply but neatly, silver hair gleaming under the classroom lights, and striking blue eyes fixed on them.
Rina.
Lenora leaned slightly toward him, whispering, "Hey, Leon… see? A celebrity is sitting right behind us."
Leon turned, catching a glimpse of Rina settling down, and he felt a mix of awe and nostalgia.
"So what?" he whispered back. "Just… stop it. The class is about to start. You're no fun."
Lenora smirked. "That's why you have zero friends."
Leon frowned, exasperated. "What about you then?"
"I'm your childhood friend… so that doesn't count," she said, smirking mischievously.
Leon's irritation melted into amusement, but he was about to respond when the professor walked in. Instantly, the chatter ceased, and the room fell silent.
As the lecture began, Leon leaned closer to Lenora, whispering, "Hey… what were we doing yesterday?"
Lenora tilted her head, whispering back, "It was something about club activities."
Leon nodded slowly, remembering. "Ah… I see."
The professor continued, explaining that all students must join a club within two weeks—or have the opportunity to create one with permission. Leon's mind raced. I should definitely join what I didn't in the past… the theater club.
Two hours later, the class ended. The students spilled into the hallways, talking and laughing. Lenora's stomach rumbled audibly, and she sighed. "Ah… I want to eat something."
Leon's thoughts drifted to the past. We were poor… only rice and stew, nothing fancy. But this time… I can change that.
"Lenora," he said, a spark of excitement in his eyes, "let's eat something different. It's on me."
Lenora blinked, stunned. "Did you hit the jackpot? Or… did you steal?"
Leon chuckled. "No, of course not. You know I invested in some stocks—they went up. Just some pocket change."
"How much?" she asked, her curiosity sharp.
Leon hesitated, calculating how much to reveal. "Well… I just withdrew two million credits for now."
Lenora's jaw dropped. "Two million credits? Are you serious? And… how much do you have left?"
Leon smiled faintly, keeping his poker face. I can't tell her about system so . "It's still… growing."
Her eyes sparkled. "So… if it keeps going, it can become even more?"
Leon nodded. "Exactly. So… what do you want?"
Lenora's grin widened. "I want the special burgers… the ones that cost 500 credits. I want two."
Leon raised an eyebrow, matching her excitement. "I want one too. Let's get them."
They hurried off, side by side, their laughter blending with the bustling sounds of the university. Leon's heart pounded—not from running, but from the thrill of a new beginning, a second chance, and the small, shining moments that felt like magic between them.
This… this is how I'll do things differently this time, he thought, a small, determined smile crossing his face.
—