In public junior high schools across Japan, classes end quite early in the day.
Afterward, students are free to join clubs, attend cram school, or simply head home.
Neither Lock nor Jiro Kyoka was in any clubs, so the two usually went straight home together.
Stepping out of the classroom, Lock looked up.
The sky was painted in layers of crimson clouds, the setting sun burning red like spilled blood.
They walked side by side along the quiet street, neither saying a word.
Their shadows, however, overlapped and stretched ahead of them—so close they almost looked like lovers.
After a few steps, Jiro Kyoka noticed she had fallen slightly behind and quickened her pace.
"Lock, you've gotten so tall lately."
Rising on tiptoe, she reached out to measure the difference between them.
Back when they were kids, she'd been taller by a full head.
But once they entered junior high, that gap completely reversed.
"Guess that's just genetics," Lock said with a faint smile. "It's normal for boys to shoot up during adolescence."
Life after reincarnation couldn't exactly be called good or bad—but it was comfortable enough, peaceful even.
Of course, at first, he'd been anxious and confused.
Even after accepting all the original Lock's memories, he worried people might notice something off about him.
But over a year had passed, and even Jiro—his closest friend—hadn't noticed a thing.
If not even his childhood sweetheart could tell, then surely no one else could.
"I already decided what I'm putting on the volunteer form," Lock said suddenly, breaking the silence.
He'd noticed the faint worry between Jiro's brows the whole way home.
"I'm going to become a Pro Hero—and inherit my parents' Hero agency."
Jiro stopped in her tracks, eyes wide.
A gust of wind swept past, whipping her hair and tugging at the hem of her uniform skirt.
"But Lock… you're Quirkless, aren't you?" she asked, pressing her skirt down as she stared at him.
"Actually, Kyoka… can I ask you for a favor instead?" Lock said, smoothly changing the subject.
Magic… magician…
He believed in the system's power—he had to—but it hadn't awakened yet.
So he'd wait until he really had that strength, until he had proof he wasn't powerless, before telling her the truth.
That he wasn't Quirkless.
That he could become a Hero too.
"What kind of favor?" Jiro asked, blinking, still a little thrown off by the sudden shift. "If it's something I can help with…"
"I want to borrow some money."
"Eh?"
The sound slipped out before she could stop it.
She'd read enough to know that boys their age usually had a lot of pride—especially about money. Borrowing from anyone, much less a girl, wasn't something they did unless they had no other choice.
Still, she knew about Lock's family situation. Maybe he was having trouble covering his expenses again.
"How much do you need?" she asked, pulling out her wallet and silently praying she had enough—since no one usually brought much cash to school.
"One hundred yen will do," Lock said.
"Eh? That's it?"
Lock's eyes shifted toward the open-air shopping mall nearby. He pointed to a convenience store in the distance.
"I rushed out this morning and forgot my wallet. I just want to borrow enough to buy a drink."
Jiro grit her teeth. For a second, she wanted to hit him.
She'd been bracing herself for something serious, worrying for nothing!
"Then lend me another hundred yen," Lock added.
"What for?"
"For your drink."
"…"
Jiro's lips twitched.
Seeing Lock's bright, teasing smile, she clenched her fists. The urge to punch her childhood friend was very real.
Deep breath. Stay calm. Be ladylike.
Don't get angry…
Still—this guy! He actually used her money to buy her a drink! Did his math teacher secretly moonlight as a P.E. instructor?!
Wait—she was in the same class as him.
So that meant her math teacher was the P.E. teacher too, wasn't it?
"I'll go buy it," Jiro said, shaking her head. "You wait here."
"Okay. Coke's fine," Lock replied casually.
He watched her walk away, her slender figure framed by the sunset.
After living two lives, it still felt strange being a junior high student again.
Deep down, Lock felt lost—but he refused to show it.
"Become a Hero and inherit the agency," he murmured.
That dream didn't belong to him—it belonged to the body's original owner.
But in this world, a place brimming with Heroics and wonder, wasn't it natural to want to be a Hero?
Why shouldn't that become his dream, too?
…
Just as his thoughts drifted and Jiro took a few steps toward the store—
BOOM!
A deafening explosion tore through the air.
High above the open-air mall, one of the huge decorative signs came loose.
Lock's ears rang. The shriek of twisting metal grew louder, closer—
The falling mass was heading straight for Jiro.
If it hit her, even if she survived, she'd be gravely injured.
"Kyoka! Look out!!!"
Lock dashed forward with everything he had.
His shout startled Jiro—she looked up, eyes wide—
And the massive shadow swallowed her whole.
Her Quirk couldn't help with speed or strength. There was no way she could dodge in time.
And Lock—Quirkless, his stored magic useless without control—
Could only feel the crushing weight of powerlessness.
That helplessness he'd been denying suddenly became painfully, vividly real.
For the first time, he truly wished for strength—
Enough strength to change fate, to save her.
Catch up to her. Save her!
He couldn't—wouldn't—let his childhood friend die in front of him!
The thought roared through his mind as he pushed his body to its limits.
He felt something stir inside him—an energy he couldn't control, flaring violently.
The dormant magic he'd cultivated for a year suddenly surged to life, wrapping around him like fire.
And then—
[Ding!]
[Strong emotional response detected. Awakening the Strongest Mage System!]
[Congratulations, Host. You have received a Beginner's Gift Pack. Would you like to open it?]
A cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind—
But to Lock, it sounded like the sweetest sound in the world.