The sun crept over the horizon, casting a warm glow that filtered through the slats of the window in my apartment. It was another ordinary day in the life of a salaryman. At precisely 6:30 AM, the shrill ring of my alarm clock broke the silence, jolting me from the remnants of a dream I could barely remember.
I stretched, the familiar aches of sleep lingering in my limbs. I slipped out of bed and performed my morning routine. After a quick wash and a bowl of cereal, I donned my somewhat neatly suit—a charcoal gray affair that had seen better days—and filled my rucksack with the day's reports.
By 7:30 AM, I was on the streets, navigating the bustling city. The early morning atmosphere was thick with the scent of street food and the sounds of vendors setting up their stalls. I blended into the crowd, a small cog in the grand machine of Tokyo's economy. I passed by a colleague on the way to the train station, exchanging polite nods until she came up to me, her name was mai Matsuda, she was 24 same age as me and my senior in the company we worked at because she was manager
Mai: hello kenji
Kenji: oh, mai
Mai had a warm smile that lights up anyone's day, she had very long black hair with hazelnut eyes, she was a natural beauty with such a kind soul, she was very sweet and would kinda took care of me during my first few days in the company so we made a friendship with each other.
Mai: have you done that report yet I asked you?
Kenji: yes I did
Mai: good, I'll look into them when we go to the office
The commute was always the same: a packed train filled with the hum of conversation and people staring down at their phones. I often found solace in the rhythm of the train, allowing my mind to drift as I talked to mai about topics we had similar interest in or news
Today, I came across an article about the changing tides of the world— apparently America was making great strides in finding a new energy source to reduce pollution.
Arriving at the office, I was greeted by the familiar sight of my colleagues huddled around their desks I saw mai go into her manager office, immersed in paperwork. I settled into my own space, the clatter of keyboards and the rustle of papers forming a backdrop to my daily grind. The hours passed in a blur of meetings, phone calls, and the ever-present pressure to meet deadlines. Amid the routine, I often stole glances at the clock and mai, my mind wandering to thoughts of me and mai being married and what family life would be like—a wife and two young children with a dog that would be gentle with the kids. But that probably won't happen since my love for anime and manga, I would probably be called childish and will remain single forever, forever single.
As the afternoon sun dipped low in the sky, my thoughts turned to what I'm gonna have for dinner. I had thought of something simple from a store, something that would fill me up before bed. But as the day dragged on, the weight of responsibility pressed down on me. I focused on my work because day dreaming ain't gonna finish these reports, pushing aside the growing fatigue that settled in my bones.
Just as the clock struck nine, signaling the end of the workday, I clock out and grab my coat, mai usually works late so I never could walk her home, oh corporate thou art a heartless mistress. I make my way down stairs and stepped onto the pavement, I was struck by the cacophony of sirens and shouts. I was confused and curious as to what's happening. Then, in an instant a loud crash echoed through the air as a heavy van, out of control, careened down the street. I barely had time to react before it struck me, the world blurring into a vortex of pain and confusion.
In the final moments of consciousness, as darkness enveloped me, I felt an inexplicable warmth wash over my soul. Memories flashed before my eyes: Mia's laughter, my family, the mundane yet cherished moments of my life. And then, silence.
When I opened my eyes again, I was greeted by the soft cooing of a baby. Confusion washed over me as he took in his surroundings—a small, dimly lit room adorned with wooden furniture and delicate lace curtains. I looked down to see tiny hands, pudgy and innocent, grasping at the blanket that swaddled me. The realization dawned upon me: I was no longer a salaryman in Tokyo, but a baby in some tiny apartment.
Memories flooded my mind, and with them came questions. What had happened? Why was I here? The world outside was unfamiliar, yet somehow, I felt an odd sense of comfort. I could still recall the life I had lived, the responsibilities I had borne, and now… now I had a second chance.
As the cooing continued and a soft voice filled the air, I hear footsteps, they get closer and two people look at me, one was a woman with brown hair and blue sky eyes she looked cute but not mai cute she dawned some long dress withered with age with repairs from a table cloth, the other was a man with a muscular build with short black hair, pointy ears and black eyes, he had a scruffy beard same colour as his hair also with a suit fitted what looks like oil. The woman who I'm assuming is my mother picked me up and spoke in some weird language I couldn't understand, it wasn't Japanese but sounded like German mixed with Russian.
I look out at the sky and notice that it's purple and not in the occasional blue that I'm used to, so far this life seems odd. Have I reincarnated?