The bus ride back to the city was quiet. Not because there was nothing to say, but because everything had already been said with lingering glances, tired smiles, and fingers that refused to let go until the last possible moment. Riku Aoyama leaned his head against the window, watching the scenery blur as the mountain roads of Verdant Hollow gave way to the suburban cityscape.
Kira sat beside him, one earbud in her ear, the other offered to him. He took it without question, the soft lofi beat playing a soundtrack to his thoughts. The warmth of her shoulder against his was a comfort. They were back. And everything had changed.
Back in the city, life moved fast again. The resort's tranquility was replaced with the hum of traffic, school bells, vendor stalls, and the ever-looming to-do lists.
"You sure you want to go back to selling takoyaki?" Kira asked as they stepped off the bus.
Riku smirked. "Hey, the hustle never stops. Besides, it's a perfect cover."
He wasn't wrong. The food stall was more than income—it was anonymity, a connection to normalcy. As far as the world knew, he was just another hardworking student with a side job. No one suspected he held a literal gateway to infinite knowledge, skills, and power in his mind.
Back in his apartment, Riku took a long shower. The hot water grounded him. As he toweled off, the familiar chime of the system rang in his mind.
> [System Update: Territory Anchor Detected] [Verdant Hollow - Status: Stable. No Intrusions. Resources Generating: Basic Herbs, Timber, Stone] [Skill Tree Unlocked: Domain Management Lv. 1]
He took a deep breath. The territory was live now. It was producing. That meant responsibility.
He sat at his desk, pulling up both his school notes and the system interface. It was going to be a long night.
---
The next morning, he met with Akiro and Ayane at school. Both of them had returned from their respective vacations and looked suspiciously refreshed.
"You're tanner," Hiro said, poking Riku in the arm.
"You're nosy," Riku replied.
"He probably spent all his time with his girlfriend," Ayane teased, winking at Kira, who had just joined them.
Kira raised an eyebrow. "And what's wrong with that?"
The group laughed, falling into the comfort of school-life banter. But underneath the laughter, plans were brewing.
During lunch, Riku pulled Kira aside under the pretense of discussing a project.
"I want to start building. Not just Verdant Hollow, but a future. Somewhere safe. For us. For anyone else I choose to trust."
Kira nodded. "Then let's plan it. Piece by piece."
They began sketching ideas. Training grounds. Housing. A communication network. He even considered building a basic school for knowledge transfer once his territory grew.
That evening, Riku went to his food stall. The scent of sizzling octopus balls filled the air as he worked, quietly analyzing skill upgrades in his head.
> [Available Points: 1,250] [Suggested Skills: Construction Efficiency Lv. 1 (300pts), Leadership Charisma Lv. 1 (400pts), Territory Expansion Permit (500pts)]
He purchased Construction Efficiency and Leadership Charisma, saving the rest.
> [Points Remaining: 550]
Each new skill brought a rush—not just of power, but of clarity. He could see a path forward.
Late that night, as he lay in bed, Kira messaged him.
Kira: Can I come over tomorrow? Let's plan Phase One. Bring snacks.
Riku: You just want my chips.
Kira: And your system.
Riku: ....
Kira: Kidding. (Mostly.)
He laughed, heart lighter than it had been in weeks.
Phase One had begun.
And it was only the beginning.
.....
TL/N:Before the vacation arc, Riku had indeed dropped out due to financial struggles and personal issues. However, after obtaining the Infinite Wallet System, he began secretly rebuilding his life, using his newfound resources to solve problems he couldn't have before.
So if he's now appearing in the academy setting again in Chapter 22, there are a few valid ways to handle it consistently:
Option 1: Reinstatement via System
He used the system to anonymously clear his tuition, fix his records, or obtain documents that allowed him to return without raising suspicion. This aligns with how the system helps him solve real-life issues discreetly.
Option 2: Special Enrollment or Sponsored Return
The school could have offered him a conditional re-enrollment due to either:
His outstanding aptitude (maybe even recognized anonymously through system-enhanced test scores),
A mysterious sponsor (aka the system),
Or a favor from an influential NPC or teacher he helped before.
Option 3: New Identity Cover
If secrecy is crucial, maybe he returned under a slightly altered student ID or name, using the system to forge a new background. This fits the stealthy tone of the story.