A-city
Inside the car, a frail child sat, his sickly appearance contrasting sharply with the bright sunlight streaming through the window.
The rays illuminated his sharp nose and framed his delicate face, accentuating his black hair and captivating gray irises.
Dressed in a gray t-shirt, black pants, and crocs, he stared blankly out the window, lost in thought.
Just before his death, he recalled a half-hearted wish he had made as a joke. To his astonishment, it appeared that wish had come true.
Though he had yet to fully understand his newfound abilities, he was eager to explore them.
If he had known, his wish would manifest.
'I wouldn't have wish for a stupid ass tragic backstory' he cursed, shaking his head in frustration.
An overpowered ability would have been the best wish.
Alas, there was no way he could turn back time.
Clenching his fist, he felt a surge of strength coursing through his veins. It was hard to believe that such strength resided within his small, frail body. Remarkably, he felt vibrant and alive.
"Ren-chan, how are you feeling?" Aki asked with a gentle smile.
Startled, Ren quickly responded, "I'm good, Oba-san! It's just that it was so boring lying in bed all day," he complained, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice.
He reminisced about his stay at the hospital, recalling the liquid food they called nutritious.
'Ugh.'
"About your mom and dad," Aki began, her voice tinged with sorrow, "I know it might be tough for you, but we can visit their graves next time when you're ready."
Aki felt deep grief for the loss of her brother and sister-in-law, but when she looked at Ren, who appeared outwardly fine, she thought it was a facade.
"It's fine, Oba-san. There's no need to worry about me," Ren said seriously, not wanting her to overthink or fret unnecessarily.
His aunt had cared for him many times since his arrival in this new world, as both of his parents were consumed by their jobs.
He often spent more time with his aunt than with them. Tragically, even the caretaker hired by his parents had succumbed to radiation.
'Shouldn't have brought her with me to the lab,'he thought sadly. It would have been nice to have someone like her around to make his life easier.
In a world plagued by an unusually high death rate, the birth rate struggled to keep pace with the relentless toll taken by monsters that emerged sporadically.
While the cities offered relative safety, uncertainty loomed large with the constant emergence of monsters.
_____
On the outskirts of A-City Cemetery, under the blazing summer sun.
Two figures dressed in black stood before a particular tomb adorned with withering flowers.
A frail child and a mature-looking woman. Their hands clutched a bouquet of white chrysanthemums, each petal blooming with a hint of yellow at the center.
The buzzing sound of cicadas interrupted the awkward silence.
Tears streamed down the boy's cheeks as he knelt before the grave. "I hope you have a better life in your next reincarnation," Ren whispered, placing the bouquet gently at the base of the tombstone.
'Who knows, you might even reincarnate like me,' he mused.
While his aunt sobbed quietly, Ren stood still, allowing her the time she needed to compose herself.
Although he felt a slight annoyance at having to feign tears, he was mostly indifferent to their passing.
After what felt like an eternity, they made their way back to his aunt's home.
Her house was a traditional Japanese residence, complete with a sprawling courtyard and numerous buildings within the compound.
Upon arriving home, Ren was eager to test his abilities, but he suppressed the impulse, mindful of his surroundings.
For safety reason, his aunt had hired a team of bodyguards and maids who managed the household work.
_____
"Ren-chan, it's already 8 AM! Time to get up!" his aunt called out.
With a twitch of his eye, he reluctantly rose from bed, still groggy from a night spent contemplating his future adventures as a superhero.
He decided to keep his newfound powers a secret from his aunt for the time being and focus on researching them further.
After washing his face, he headed downstairs to find his aunt preparing breakfast.
"By the way, Oba-san, I forgot to ask last night, who are the people in that photograph?" Ren inquired, pointing to a family photo depicting three individuals on a beach, holding a balloon.
Aki looked toward the picture, her expression momentarily clouded with sadness. "That's your uncle Daisuke and my daughter," she replied. "They met with an unfortunate accident and passed away before you were born."
"Eh, I'm sorry to hear that," Ren said, his tone apologetic.
"It's alright, Ren-chan. It's been so long," she said.
Quickly shifting the topic. "Speaking of which, we need to discuss your education and decide which school you should attend."
"School? I think it's a waste of time. Even my parents agreed and let me stay home to self-study," Ren replied, disliking the idea of returning to school.
"I know you're smart and more mature than your peers, but you still need to make friends," his aunt insisted firmly.
"I don't have time to attend school," he declared, his seriousness evident. "If I have to, maybe go for senior high for 12th grade?" he continued.
"What do you mean you don't have time?" his aunt questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"I have a plan that will take years to complete. I don't have time to waste playing house with kids at school. And please don't ask me about my plan. It's a secret for now," Ren replied, a hint of seriousness in his tone.
"Alright, fine. But you must complete high school. Even if there's an age difference, I'm sure you can make a few friends," she said, trying not to pressure him too much.
"Haiz, alright… I'll attend school," Ren relented.
"I took a leave from work today, so let's search for a suitable school after breakfast. You'll need to prepare for the entrance exam," his aunt said.
"Yes, ma'am," Ren replied, a playful salute accompanying his words.
It took them the entire day to find a suitable private school where he could take the entrance exam in two weeks.
During that time, he planned to study independently.
His aunt had recently taken over the family pharmaceutical company following the tragic deaths of his parents, and she would soon be busy managing the business, as she was a chemist herself.
'I guess the Nakamura genes rub off on everyone in our family,' he thought, a small smile creeping onto his face.
During their discussion, his aunt explained her role as his guardian and shared the astonishing wealth his parents had left behind.
He was shocked to learn that their net worth was estimated at nearly ¥130 billion, not including various assets and properties. Although the company had suffered a major blow after the tragedy.
It remained one of the largest companies in the world. His aunt was now working diligently to restore public trust.
As his legal guardian and a shareholder, she wielded significant influence within the company, making her time incredibly valuable.
After finishing dinner and confirming the specifics of his new school online, Ren began to surf the internet.
He needed to understand the current timeline and strategize accordingly.
_____
The following days were a whirlwind of activity.
Ren immersed himself in his studies, balancing the need to prepare for school while secretly experimenting with his abilities.
He discovered that he could manipulate small objects with his mind, a skill he found both exhilarating and terrifying.
Each time he successfully moved an object, a thrill coursed through him, igniting a desire to push his limits further.
His aunt, unaware of his telekinesis, continued to support him, encouraging him to make friends and adapt to his new life.
One evening, after a long day of studying, Ren sat in his room, contemplating his next steps.
He knew that the world outside was fraught with danger.
The monsters that roamed the land were a constant reminder of the fragility of life.
As he gazed out the window at the setting sun, a sense of purpose washed over him.
He would not only attend school but would also train himself to become stronger.
Someone who could stand against the darkness that threatened to consume their world.
He would train in secret, pushing his abilities to their limits while maintaining his facade as a normal student.
It was a delicate balance, but he was ready to embrace the challenge.
The days turned into weeks, and soon the entrance exam approached.
Ren studied diligently, blending his academic pursuits with his training. He felt stronger, more capable.
On the day of the entrance exam, Ren walked into the school building with a mix of anticipation and apprehension.
As he took his seat and glanced around at the classroom.
A teacher sat near the front desk, while the class was deserted, leaving only Ren.
With a deep breath, he focused on the question papers before him, ready to embrace the future.
_____
Author's Note.
Thanks to @UnderwaterDreamer and @chaddts for pointing out the mistakes I made.
I've Re-edited the chapter and add a few more sentences.
Before you get confused, read chap 1 about his wish.
Basically, he got everything from those wishes.