"So, Aria, what's school like here? And the snow, I've heard it's amazing!" I asked, letting my act of excitement bubble up.

Aria's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "Oh, Dio, you're gonna love it! School's great, and when the snow comes, it's like a winter wonderland. We can build snowmen, have snowball fights, all sorts of fun stuff!"

"Wow, that sounds awesome! I can't wait to experience it all." I nodded eagerly, masking my true intentions beneath an innocent facade. I was excited, yes, but for reasons far beyond mere snowball fights and snowmen.

With the advent of social media like Talk book, I had insight into everyone's lives even before my arrival. It was as if I already knew my future classmates—their likes, dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses. Armed with this knowledge from my past life, I was ready to make strategic moves to become the king of the school.

"Can I go out and play? Mom won't be here until late in the evening," I asked, turning to Aria with a hopeful smile.

She nodded, her expression kind. "Sure, let's go together."

I hesitated, knowing her assumption. Going together meant I wouldn't want to be rude, even though I couldn't stand her, remembering how she treated me in my past life. But I couldn't let that show. So, I plastered on a polite smile and followed her out.

As we approached the children's park, memories from my past life flooded back. I spotted a group of kids already there—four boys who seemed all too familiar. It was on this very day, in my past life, that I first met them. They had pretended to be my friends, using my gullibility to their advantage. One of them had even borrowed my game toy, promising to return it. But a week later, when I went to his house, he didn't give it back. In my naivety back then, I hadn't understood the cultural dynamics; it was vastly different from my life in the village.

I settled on a bench with Aria, watching the scene unfold. She glanced at me, concern evident in her voice. "Don't you wanna play and make new friends?" she asked.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself against the flood of memories. It was time to regain my composure, to push aside the doubts and fears that threatened to consume me. As I sat on the bench, I closed my eyes briefly, focusing on the present moment. Yes, those boys had betrayed me once, but I wasn't the same person I used to be. I had a second chance now, a chance to rewrite my story, to build genuine connections with others.

With renewed determination, I opened my eyes and looked over at Aria, who was now engrossed in a game of tag with the other children. She seemed so carefree, so full of joy. I couldn't let my past experiences taint the present.

"Hey, Aria," I called out, my voice steady. "Let's go swing!"

Aria turned to me, her face lighting up with a smile. "Sure thing, Dio! Race you there!"

As we made our way to the swings, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. It was a small victory, perhaps, but an important one. I wouldn't let the shadows of my past dictate my future. The future was a blank canvas, and I was ready to paint it with new, vibrant colors.

Feeling the rush of air against my face as I swung higher and higher, I couldn't help but feel like a kid again. Aria and I were having a blast, challenging each other to see who could go the furthest with their swing.

"Beat that, Dio!" Aria called out, her laughter echoing in the crisp air as she soared through the sky, her swing reaching higher and higher.

I grinned, my competitive spirit ignited. "Just you wait, Aria! I'm gonna reach the moon!"

As I pumped my legs harder, the swing's chains clinking with each motion, a sudden force yanked the swing back, halting my ascent abruptly. I tumbled forward, landing face-first in the sand. Disoriented, I spat out a mouthful of grit and blinked away the stinging particles.

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Laughter echoed around me, harsh and mocking. I looked up to see the four boys from before, their faces twisted with cruel delight. "It's our swing now, loser!" one of them sneered, his voice dripping with malice.

Aria rushed to my side, her eyes flashing with anger. "Hey, leave him alone! You can't just take someone else's swing like that!"

The leader, a chubby kid named Ted, laughed louder, pointing at me. "Haha, a girl is defending him? What a wimp."

Ignoring the sting of his words, I took a deep breath, feeling a surge of determination. If I backed down now, it would set the tone for every future encounter. I had to stand my ground.

My eyes locked onto Ted, the ringleader. With adrenaline flooding my veins, I launched myself at him, screaming at the top of my lungs. My foot connected with his jaw with a satisfying thud, sending him sprawling to the ground, a tooth flying from his mouth.

The playground fell silent. Ted's friends stared at me, their expressions frozen in shock. Their laughter had evaporated, replaced by wide-eyed disbelief.

Aria's voice pierced the silence, frantic and panicked. "Dio, stop! Please, don't!"

But I couldn't stop. This was a battle I had to fight on my own. I stood tall, my heart pounding but my resolve unshaken. This was my moment to show them—and myself—that I wasn't someone who could be pushed around anymore.

Ted clutched his jaw, his eyes watering with pain and surprise. His friends glanced nervously between him and me, clearly unsure of their next move.

"I don't want any trouble," I said, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through me. "But if you try to bully me again, you'll get more of the same."

Ted's bravado crumbled as he scrambled to his feet, still clutching his jaw. "Let's get out of here," he muttered to his friends, and they quickly followed him, casting wary glances over their shoulders.

As they retreated, Aria let out a sigh of relief, her eyes still wide with shock. "Dio, are you okay?" she asked, her voice trembling.

I nodded, feeling the tension drain from my body. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for having my back."

Aria smiled weakly, her relief palpable. "Anytime, Dio. Just... try not to get into too many fights, okay?"

I laughed, the sound surprising even myself. "I'll do my best."

As we walked back to the swings, I felt a newfound sense of strength and confidence. This was a new beginning, and I was ready to face whatever challenges came my way.

Ted and his friends were frozen in shock, their faces shifting from surprise to horror. I braced myself for retaliation, expecting Ted to fight back. But instead, he crumbled. His eyes widened in terror, and tears streamed down his face as he began to sob uncontrollably. His pants darkened with spreading wetness.

"Mommy! Mommy!" he wailed, his voice quivering with fear.

A pang of satisfaction surged through me. Ted's cowering form was a stark reminder that I wasn't the powerless kid I once was. In this life, I had the strength to stand up for myself.

Aria's grip tightened on my hand, pulling me away from the scene. Her face was a mix of worry and frustration. "Dio, what were you thinking? You can't just go around fighting like that!" she scolded, her voice a blend of concern and reprimand.

I hung my head, feeling a pang of guilt for causing Aria distress. "I'm sorry, Aria. They were picking on me, and I couldn't just stand there and do nothing," I mumbled, my voice tinged with remorse.

Aria sighed, her frustration softening into understanding. "I know, Dio, but violence isn't the answer. We need to find a better way to handle situations like this," she said gently, her hand squeezing mine reassuringly.

I nodded, seeing the truth in her words. "You're right, Aria. I'll try to do better next time," I promised, playing along though deep down I had no regret.

As Aria glanced at the clock, concern crossed her face. "I have to go home now, Dio," she said softly, her tone tinged with regret. "But don't worry, your mom will be here soon."

I nodded, feeling a sense of loneliness creep in as Aria prepared to leave. "Okay, thanks for everything, Aria," I said, mustering a small smile.

"Goodbye, Dio," Aria replied, returning my smile before turning to leave.

Alone once again, I turned my attention to the system screen, which notified me of my level up to level 4 and prompted me to spend my points. Excited yet cautious, I considered my options carefully.

With 10 points to allocate, I deliberated on the best way to enhance my abilities for the challenges ahead. After careful consideration, I decided to distribute my points as follows:

Strength: 22 (20 + 2 points) – Physical strength would be crucial for defending myself and asserting my presence in this new environment.

Agility: 15 (13 + 2 points) – Agility was versatile for both physical tasks and strategic maneuvers, allowing swift adaptation to changing situations.

Intelligence: 8 (5 + 3 points) – Knowledge was power. Increasing intelligence would help me navigate the complexities of my surroundings and outsmart any adversaries.

Endurance: 8 (7 + 1 point) – While not entirely sold on endurance, its potential benefits in unpredictable situations warranted at least one point.

Charisma: 17 (15 + 2 points) – Social interactions were vital. Investing in charisma would help charm others and gain allies to support my endeavors.

With my points allocated, I felt a renewed sense of readiness to tackle the challenges and opportunities in this new life.

and opportunities in this new life.