It was sunny outside one of those days when the world felt loud and busy, like everyone else had a purpose. Everyone except me.
Meanwhile, I was inside my room, playing computer games and eating like it was a full-time job. I had already mastered every game I touched. When I played, I felt my sadness and anger melt away. Inside those games, I wasn't judged. No one mocked me. No one pointed out how fat I was or how my thick glasses made me look like a walking anime stereotype.
In the game, I was free.
Time slipped by without mercy. One moment it was noon, and suddenly it was 7:00 p.m. dinnertime… and worse, I was out of snacks. For someone of my impressive size, that was practically a state of emergency.
Sighing, I stepped out of my cave uh, room making sure to cover my face. People always mocked me: my weight, my glasses, my entire existence. So I preferred hiding.
As I walked, thinking only of food, I bumped into something. Or rather, someone.
A kid.
A kid who was currently being robbed by an older boy holding a rubber shoe like it was a weapon. Don't ask me why only in my country do you get attacked with a slipper.
I didn't even see them properly before I accidentally bumped into the robber's back. The kid immediately burst into loud crying, pale and terrified but still smart enough to sprint away screaming for help.
The robber turned to me, furious.
I froze.
I didn't even know what was happening! I wasn't trying to be a hero I was just trying to find snacks!
But he thought I was defending the kid.
He glared.
He shouted.
And before I could even say "Wrong person, bro," he throw me and hit by a truck.
Everything stopped.
I collapsed onto the ground as the world blurred. The kid came running back with his parents and two policemen. They lifted me, rushed me to the hospital, voices loud and urgent. But I could barely hear anything.
My eyelids felt heavy. The pain was unbearable.
At that moment, all I could think was:
*I should've stayed in my room and played games.*
Would anyone even visit me if I died?
The world faded.
Then—
Light.
Bright, blinding light.
"Heaven…?" I croaked. "Wait WHAT? Where am I?!"
I looked down still fat. Still glasses.
"This has to be a punishment. Even in heaven?! Seriously?!"
Suddenly, someone appeared in front of me. An old man with a long beard, laughing like a retired Santa Claus.
"W–who are you?" I asked.
He put a hand on his stomach as he laughed. "I am *Yakashi*."
"Yakashi…? So I really died? Just like that? Because of a guy with a slipper?"
Yakashi nodded calmly. "Indeed. A ridiculous way to go, but death is still death."
I groaned. "This is so embarrassing… But why am I here? What happened? I didn't even mean to help that kid!"
Yakashi's expression softened.
"You didn't have to help him," he said. "Yet you stood up."
"I didn't *stand up*! I bumped into him by accident!" I protested.
Yakashi chuckled. "Even so. You acted when many would have turned away. Intentional or not, you became a shield. You showed courage you didn't know you had."
"I… courage…? Old man, I literally tripped."
He ignored that. "Takahaji, whether by accident or choice, you changed something in that moment. And because of that… you have been chosen."
"Chosen? For what?! Why me?! And can you PLEASE stop being mysterious?"
Yakashi grinned like he enjoyed my suffering. "You will understand in time."
"What does that even mean?!"
The old man raised a hand as glowing light began swirling around me.
"You will be reborn. Your new name will be *Hikaru*. When you turn six, come find me. Then everything will make sense."
"What?! Six?! Where do I find you? What world? Why reborn? Why not explain now?! OLD MAN, WAIT—!"
But Yakashi was already fading, still laughing mischievously.
"Noooo—at least answer ONE question!" I shouted.
Too late.
Everything vanished.
The next moment—
Warmth.
Voices.
Light, not divine this time.
I opened my eyes and saw two faces looking down at me—one man, one woman. And in place of my old body…
…tiny hands.
"Wait," I thought.
"Did I actually get reborn?!"
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