Yuto felt... light. No, that wasn't right. It was more like a strange, weightless existence, as though he was floating in the void. His thoughts were hazy, fragmented, like pieces of a shattered mirror slowly coming back together.
"Where... am I?" he thought, trying to grasp onto some semblance of reality. Last thing he remembered was Abyss, the pain, and... death. Wasn't he supposed to be dead? But here he was, drifting, aware but not fully.
Suddenly, there was a pull, a strong force yanking him downwards, as if reality had a leash on him, dragging him back to something tangible. A moment later, Yuto gasped, eyes flying open.
Except something was wrong. Very wrong.
He tried to move, but the body beneath him felt unfamiliar, alien even. His limbs felt... softer? Smaller? And as he caught sight of his own hands, slender and delicate, his heart raced with panic.
"What the hell?!"
He bolted upright, his surroundings sharp and immediate. It wasn't a battlefield. It wasn't Zenith City. Instead, he found himself in a luxurious room, plush with velvet furnishings and extravagant décor that screamed wealth and decadence. His reflection caught in the massive mirror across the room, and he froze.
Staring back at him was not his own face—not Yuto Kisaragi, the boy who'd fought against Abyss, the boy who had sacrificed himself to protect those he cared for. No, in the mirror stood a woman. But not just any woman—a strikingly beautiful one. Her glossy black hair fell in soft waves down her shoulders, her skin was flawless, porcelain-like, and her eyes gleamed with a dangerous, predatory glint. She was... gorgeous.
Too gorgeous.
Yuto's mind spiraled as he stumbled towards the mirror, nearly tripping on the long, slinky dress that clung to his—or rather, her—body. She reached up and touched her face, feeling the soft contours of her new form. It didn't take long before her—no, his—gaze turned into one of horror.
"I'm... a woman?" His voice came out as a smooth, sultry whisper, the kind that could bring anyone to their knees if they weren't careful. "What... what is this?"
He stared at the reflection longer, slowly beginning to piece together what had happened. Had he... been reincarnated? In this body? Of all things, why a woman's body—and why did it have to be this woman?
Before Yuto could process the absurdity of his situation, a door creaked open. In walked a butler, bowing deeply. "Miss Kazane, you have a guest waiting for you downstairs. Shall I prepare refreshments?"
Yuto blinked, confused. "Miss Kazane? Is that... me?" he thought.
But as the butler raised his head and caught her gaze, there was a fleeting look of fear in his eyes, quickly masked by professionalism. Yuto, or rather Kazane, now, didn't miss the tension in the butler's posture, the way his hands trembled slightly.
"Of course, I'll be down in a moment," Yuto replied, testing out the voice again, marveling at how effortlessly smooth it sounded. The butler bowed once more and left.
Once alone, Yuto collapsed onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. This was insane. Reincarnation? In the body of a woman? And not just any woman, but someone with power, status, and clearly, fear-inducing influence.
"What kind of cruel joke is this?" Yuto muttered to himself. Then, almost instinctively, a sinister smile tugged at the corner of his lips. It was a smile that didn't belong to him—at least, not the Yuto he had been before. No, this smile was something else entirely.
"Well, well," he whispered, his eyes narrowing in thought. "If this is the hand I've been dealt... I might as well play the part."
Yuto—or rather, Kazane—rose from the bed, smoothing down the luxurious gown she wore. There was something deliciously dangerous about this body, and a thrill shot through her as she realized the kind of power this form possessed. Manipulation, beauty, allure—it was all at her fingertips now.
The old Yuto might have balked at the idea of using others, manipulating people for personal gain, but something had shifted deep within him. Maybe it was the darkness that still lingered from Abyss, maybe it was the sheer absurdity of his situation, or maybe... maybe this new form had brought out something he had always kept buried deep down.
He could feel it—the potential for deceit, for control. In this body, she could bend the world to her will, twist the hearts and minds of others with just a glance or a soft word. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, one that made her smirk even wider.
"Looks like this world is going to be a lot more fun than I thought."
Downstairs, Kazane—or Yuto—sauntered into the grand hall with a newfound confidence. Her every step was calculated, graceful, exuding a level of control that seemed second nature in this form. As she descended the staircase, the figure of a man waiting below caught her eye.
He was handsome, dressed in a fine suit, and wore the kind of nervous expression she'd seen before—someone looking to curry favor, someone desperate. Yuto could practically taste his desperation from where she stood.
"Kazane," the man greeted, his voice shaky, "I've come to—"
"Spare me the formalities," she interrupted, her voice dripping with a false sweetness. She approached him slowly, each step echoing through the marble-floored hall. "What is it you really want from me?"
The man swallowed hard, clearly unnerved by her. "I... I need your help. The business is failing, and I—"
Kazane tilted her head, cutting him off with a delicate wave of her hand. "And what makes you think I care about your failing business?" she asked, her voice soft, yet cold. "What's in it for me?"
"I-I can pay you! I'll do whatever you ask, just please, help me," the man stammered, his eyes wide with fear.
Kazane smiled—a cruel, predatory smile. "Anything, you say?"
The man nodded frantically. "Yes, anything."
She leaned in closer, her lips brushing his ear as she whispered, "Then let's make a deal, shall we? You'll give me control of your assets, and in return, I'll save your pathetic little business."
The man hesitated, but under her intense gaze, he quickly caved. "A-alright. Whatever you want, just... please."
"Good boy," Kazane purred, stepping back. "I knew you'd see things my way."
As the man rushed to bow and thank her, Yuto—now fully embracing the persona of Kazane—watched him with a mixture of amusement and contempt.
Yes, this world was going to be a lot more fun.
And for the first time in a long while, Yuto didn't care if he played the villain. In fact, he relished it.