Rei Hoshikawa is 19, jobless, and seen as a failure by everyone—including himself. Rejected by companies, misunderstood by his family, and forgotten by society, Rei’s life seems to be going nowhere.

Until one day, a mysterious system suddenly activates on his phone.

[Self-Improvement System Activated]
Mission: Change your life. One level at a time.

With each completed mission, Rei earns experience points, unlocks new skills, and gets closer to turning his life around. But in a world that only respects results, can someone who started from zero really rise to the top?

A journey of growth, rejection, and quiet defiance begins here.

Level up or stay left behind. The choice is yours.

The next night, I stood in front of Komorebi Cafe, wearing my new uniform—which was still a bit loose. It felt strange. I used to just walk past this place. Now, I was part of it.


I took a deep breath and pushed the door open.


The bell chimed softly. A warm atmosphere welcomed me.


"Rei! Right on time." Yukari greeted me with a smile. She wore an apron stained with coffee but still looked professional.


I nodded. "Thanks for giving me a chance."


She gave me a quick rundown—cash register, storage areas, how to greet customers, and some important codes written in a notebook. It looked simple, but honestly? I was panicking inside.


Special Mission: Serve at least 3 customers with high satisfaction


"Alright, let's get started," Yukari said.


The first customer came in—a tired-looking office lady. I tried to smile and asked, "Good evening, what would you like?"


Her tone was cold. My hand trembled slightly as I pressed the buttons on the register, but I managed to complete the order and serve her coffee neatly.


Next was a young couple, laughing as they entered. They were friendlier but their order was complicated—two customized drinks with special toppings and plant-based milk. I made a small mistake at first, but Yukari helped me fix it.[Customer Satisfaction: 92%]


Finally, an old man with a raspy voice. He only ordered tea and sat in the corner. I served him quietly, and he looked up at me.


He smiled. "Keep going. This world's tough, but young people like you still have hope."


Near the end of the shift, my phone buzzed.


+New Active Skill Acquired: Quick Focus (Lv.1)


You can sharply enhance focus for a short time to avoid mistakes or make fast decisions


I looked at the screen and smiled faintly.


I hadn't fully changed yet—but I was finally walking in the right direction.


Chapter 5 - First Shift