The fire crackled merrily in the dimly lit office, casting dancing shadows on the plush chairs where two figures sat. Suddenly, a deep voice broke the silence and said, "So you're telling me the manga isn't finished yet?"
The speaker was a man pushing fifty, his face etched with the lines of a life well-lived. Across from him, a boy barely out of his teens chuckled. "Yeah, right? Can you believe One Piece is over a thousand chapters?" A hint of exhaustion tinged his voice, despite the amusement in his eyes.
The older man sighed, setting his glass down with a soft clink. "Alright, enough stalling. Tell me, kid, what's next for you? You can't dodge this conversation forever. Afterlife, or reincarnation?" His voice was gentle, yet firm.
The boy shifted nervously in his plush chair. The weight of his recent death and the unknown of a new life pressed heavily on him. He swallowed, his voice barely a whisper, "Can I... can I really have two wishes, like you said, to help me out in this new world?"
The older man nodded a confirmation, a hint of amusement twinkling in his eyes.
The boy squeezed his eyelids shut, picturing a plethora of possibilities these wishes offered. A single, powerful ability, or a combination of perks? He hadn't mentioned limitations on the wishes of being a single, all-encompassing package deal... A sly grin tugged at the corner of his lips as he cracked open his eyes, meeting the man's gaze head-on.
The boy's gaze snapped open, boring directly into the kind-faced man across from him. Despite the gentleman's warm demeanor, a shroud of mystery hung around him, his power an enigma.
"For my first wish," the boy declared, his voice firm despite the tremor in his hands, "I want the abilities of Garou from One-Punch Man."
He braced himself, squeezing his eyes shut in anticipation of rejection. This wish was a gamble, hinging entirely on the world he'd be reborn into. It could make him a god amongst men, or leave him utterly powerless.
The old man chuckled. "Granted, but with a slight tweak. No messing with the cosmic powers, that's beyond the scope of your reincarnation."
He took a leisurely sip of his drink before continuing.
"Everything else is fair game, though. You'll still need to train your ass off to reach your full potential, but with Garou's monstrous growth rate, you'll be a force to be reckoned with in no time."
A deep sigh escaped his lips as he processed the confirmation.
He also gleaned something else - the lack of cosmic beings.
A hearty chuckle sounded through the room, startling the boy out of his thoughts.
"Don't fret, kid," the old man reassured, his amusement clear.
"You hit the nail on the head. This world you're going to - no planet-devouring overlords there. Not your typical Marvel or DC scenario."
"For my second wish," he stated, his voice gaining strength, "I want a happy life. You probably know my previous one wasn't exactly sunshine and rainbows. Nobody wants a rerun of an abusive childhood."
A sad smile, laced with a hint of longing, played on his lips as he looked down at his hands, clenching them and unclenching them in a silent battle against the ghosts of his past.
The silence stretched, thick with understanding. Then, a single, harsh word shattered the stillness.
"Denied."
Shock ran through the boy's body as he felt the words crashing down on his mind. His body involuntarily shivering at the thought of having to relive the life he had once had. He almost lost himself in the dark thoughts of his past, but a moment later, something pulled him back.
"I can't give you a life of happiness. That request is too ambiguous. The concept of happiness you hold at this moment could be vastly different in 10 years' time. All I can give you are the tools to lead a life of your own, with no restraints. From there, you can forge the happiness you want."
Hearing his words, the boy shook slightly before understanding the deeper meaning in his words. His wish was rash, and not well thought out. Pausing momentarily, he looked back up and locked eyes with the man.
"I want the complete powers of Alucard from Hellsing."
An awkward silence stretched between them, punctuated only by the crackling of the fireplace. The boy held the old man's gaze, a nervous tremor lingering in his hands.
Then, a laugh erupted from the older man, a sound so infectious it seemed to rattle the very furniture. He doubled over in his chair, clutching his stomach as tears welled in his eyes.
"Boy, oh boy!" he finally wheezed, wiping away a stray tear.
"That was absolutely brilliant! The most astute wish you could have made, considering what I have planned for your reincarnation! You've earned yourself a gold star, my friend."
Leaning forward, a hint of mischief twinkling in his eyes, he placed his hands on his knees.
"Now, there's just one loose thread before we send you spinning into your next life," the old man said, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "We can't have you waltz into this new world clueless, can we? You deserve some context, some understanding of who you'll be and where you come from."
A sly grin tugged at the corners of his lips, a glint of something more flickering behind his wise facade.
"Let's just say your new family won't be struggling financially for lifetimes to come. The amount of money your parents have is beyond your wildest imagination. Neither will be home much, but hey, a life of luxury has its perks, wouldn't you say?"
The weight of the old man's words settled over him. Gone were the days of gnawing hunger and nights spent shivering in the cold. With a voice thick with emotion, he managed a choked, "Thank you... truly."
A gentle smile played on the old man's lips. "No need for thanks, young one. Now," he continued, his voice taking on a more purposeful tone, "close your eyes. May you find the happiness you deserve."
The boy obeyed, squeezing his eyelids shut.
A hand, warm and comforting, rested on his head. He felt a gentle ruffle of his hair, a last farewell from the only guide he'd known in this strange purgatory.
Then, darkness.