Ethan stood at the window, watching the snow fall in slow, deliberate spirals. The streets of Sapporo were quiet, muffled by the cold. Somewhere in the distance, a train rumbled past, its sound swallowed by the morning hush. He had always loved this city — its stillness, its order — but today it felt different. Like a chessboard waiting for its first move.
He turned back to the glowing interface hovering in his room. The Billionaire's Path System pulsed softly, waiting.
[Module: Market Forecast]
Status: Active
Opportunity Index: Moderate
Suggested Action: Invest in undervalued assets
Ethan opened the module. A list of Japanese companies appeared, each tagged with future performance predictions. He scanned the names: Sony, Panasonic, SoftBank, Rakuten. Some he recognized from memory, others from textbooks. But one stood out.
Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Current Value: ¥12,000/share
Projected Value (2005): ¥48,000/share
ROI: 300%
Risk Level: Low
He smiled. Nintendo was still riding the wave of the Super Famicom. The Game Boy was popular, but the real explosion — Pokémon, the DS, the Wii — hadn't happened yet. He knew what was coming. And he knew how to ride it.
He checked his ledger. The System had granted him a modest starting fund: ¥100,000 in liquid assets. Enough to make a move, but not enough to make a dent.
Still, it was a start.
Ethan dressed quickly, pulling on his old school uniform. The fabric felt stiff, unfamiliar. He hadn't worn it in years. He grabbed his coat, tucked the System's interface into the back of his mind, and stepped out into the snow.
The brokerage office was a fifteen-minute walk from his house — a small, unassuming building tucked between a bakery and a stationery shop. Inside, the air smelled of ink and cigarette smoke. A middle-aged clerk looked up from behind the counter.
"Can I help you?" he asked, eyeing Ethan's uniform.
"I'd like to open a trading account," Ethan said, voice steady.
The man raised an eyebrow. "You're in high school."
"I'm investing for my family," Ethan replied smoothly. "I have permission."
The clerk hesitated, then shrugged. "Alright. Fill out the form. Minimum deposit is ¥50,000."
Ethan completed the paperwork, handed over the cash, and placed his first order: ¥80,000 worth of Nintendo stock.
[System Update]
Investment Confirmed
Shares Purchased: 6.67
Projected Return: ¥320,000
Time Horizon: 10 years
He stepped back into the cold, heart pounding. It was a small move — barely a ripple — but it felt monumental. He had just bent time in his favor. Not with luck. Not with chance. But with knowledge.
As he walked home, the System pulsed again.
[New Module Unlocked: Strategic Planning]
Track ventures, set milestones, optimize growth.
Ethan opened it. A roadmap appeared — clean, minimal, efficient. It showed his current net worth, projected growth, and suggested next steps. It even offered a timeline for launching his own venture.
He stared at the screen, snow melting on his shoulders.
This wasn't just a second chance.
It was a blueprint.
And he was ready to build.