Oh, what stupidity, right? Is that me? I can't believe my reincarnation is so pathetic, and the worst part is—it's a cartoon character! exclaimed a young adult, roughly 23 to 26 years old. His skin was light-toned, his black eyes seemed like a kaleidoscope in motion, and his hair was a dark shade of brown. His voice carried a mix of disbelief and disdain as he sat on a dark stone throne, enjoying a juicy apple. He frowned as the large screen in the room began showing how his reincarnation was ruining his life and taking part in a magical genocide. His disgust was palpable as he booed at the projection.
"I won't let that idiot ruin our lives. Now, the question is, how do I get out of here? I managed to escape the soul cleansing, but leaving this place will be much harder," he muttered, contemplating the situation. While he would prefer to start over, it didn't seem like he had many options. "Well, I'll have to work with what I've got," he added, moving his hand, causing the very space around him to fold upon itself until only an infinitesimal yet infinitely dense sphere remained. The sphere resonated with the young man's voice: "One for all and all for one, nothing for no one and nothing for all. Unification."
Meanwhile, elsewhere, a brown-haired boy of about fourteen woke up with a persistent headache and a somewhat dazed expression.
?????: Ugh, he groaned, holding his head. It felt like incomprehensible things were being etched into his brain with needles. Strange visions of things he had never seen before flooded his mind, evoking nostalgia while simultaneously being unintelligible. After a while, the pain subsided, and the boy felt revitalized, as if he were stronger than before. However, he didn't give it much thought and stared into space for a long time, as if waiting for something to happen. Finally, a girl's voice interrupted him.
??????: Marcoooo! We're going to be late, hurry up! the girl shouted, addressing the boy named Marco.
Marco: Coming, Star! Marco shouted as he searched for something to wear in his closet. He noticed he had very few clothing options, which seemed both strange and oddly normal. Finally, he settled on a gray shirt, dark brown pants, and light brown shoes. "What else is in here?" he wondered as he rummaged through another closet in his room, finding a large number of red hoodies. "Well, whatever," he murmured, grabbing one of the hoodies and tying it around his waist. As he was about to leave, he accidentally caught his reflection in the window and made a self-evaluative expression. He ran his hands through his hair, smoothing it back, and looked again, saying, "Much better."
...
Star: Marco… Star was at a loss for words when she saw Marco's new appearance.
Marco: Let's go, Star, or we'll be late, Marco said as he took the blonde girl's hand. Together, they got on a bicycle, with Marco taking the lead.
...
We see Marco at his locker, searching for some things while whispering words even he didn't understand. Suddenly, a blonde girl with a streak of blue hair passed by on her skateboard. Marco stared at her for a few moments before finally waving at her.
Marco: Hi, Jackie, the boy said, initially blushing but with a voice that sounded more confident. The girl waved back.
Jackie: Hi, Marco, she said as she disappeared into the distance on her skateboard.
Marco nodded and continued collecting his things from his locker, murmuring to himself.
Classes for Marco were somewhat boring; he felt as if he had studied all this a long time ago. The classes continued as usual until lunch, when an incessant itch on his neck began to bother him. He spent the time scratching the area. His friends, Janna and Star, sat next to him during lunch. Janna was relaxed and joked about Marco's change in appearance, suggesting he did it to get Jackie to notice him more. Star also made comments, but in a calmer manner. Marco responded with calmness and a carefree attitude, something unusual for him.
Marco: Well, the change in appearance has nothing to do with her. I just wanted to try something different, he said confidently, a trait he had never displayed before. This surprised both Janna and Star, who weren't used to seeing their friend so self-assured.
Janna: Wow, Star! Have you accidentally cast a spell to give Marco self-esteem recently? Janna joked. Star laughed, but Marco raised an eyebrow as if he had taken it seriously. Star looked thoughtful.
Star: No, not that I recall, said the blonde as Marco pulled a sheet of paper from his backpack and asked Janna for a pen.
Marco: Pen, he said to Janna, who handed him the pen, somewhat confused. Marco began writing and then returned the pen to Janna.
Janna: What are you doi—? Janna stopped mid-sentence as she saw Marco heading toward the table where Jackie was sitting. No way, is he actually going to do it? she murmured, surprised.
Star: He did it! Star exclaimed, equally shocked to see Marco handing a letter to Jackie.
Marco, with a confidence he didn't seem to understand where it came from, returned to his table. Janna and Star were astonished, unable to believe their friend had been so self-assured.
Janna: How did you do that? Janna asked, incredulous at what she had just witnessed. Marco replied calmly, downplaying it, and continued eating his lunch. Star, meanwhile, stared at him in amazement as they finished eating.
Classes continued as usual, except for Marco's newfound confidence. At the end of the day, Star and Marco chatted as they left school until Jackie appeared and asked Marco if they could talk alone for a moment.
The conversation between Jackie and Marco was friendly, and the blonde accepted his invitation to go to the movies on Friday. Marco, with a smile on his face, assured her he would be there.
Star overheard the conversation from afar, and when Jackie left on her skateboard, she began interrogating Marco. The boy responded calmly, and Star congratulated her friend for getting a date with the girl he liked.
The evening passed normally until Marco returned home. He spent hours staring into nothingness, occasionally glancing at his reflection in the window or scratching his neck. He heard an annoying voice tormenting him. Finally, fed up with the voice, he shouted for it to shut up.
Marco: Silence. As if his voice were a universal command, silence reigned while the annoying voice screamed in agony until it disappeared. Ah, much better, he said to himself. The itch on his neck faded, and the voice slowly vanished. With the tranquility of silence, Marco fell asleep, though he had strange dreams that felt real, filled with knowledge and visions beyond his imagination.
...
Time has passed since Marco began experiencing these strange dreams, and his personality has gradually transformed as if something within him were being reconfigured. Despite still being himself, his self-confidence has grown considerably, and his intelligence seems to have multiplied. A burning drive has led him to immerse himself in physical exercise, in addition to his usual karate classes. Janna can no longer steal his wallet like she used to, though she keeps trying. Star has barely noticed the change in her friend, though it doesn't worry her in the slightest. However, his parents have noticed the newfound sense of security their son radiates. His friends, in general, have also noticed Marco's change but have accepted it naturally. Of all of them, Jackie is the one who has observed Marco's transformation most closely. That insecurity that used to characterize him is gone, something she hasn't overlooked.
The action takes place in the school gym, where preparations for a school dance are being organized. Marco is on a ladder hanging a banner while Star holds the ladder for his safety.
Marco: Star, I wanted to thank you for inviting me to the dance. The truth is, I didn't want to go alone; it would've been embarrassing, Marco mentions as he scratches his arm, showing a vulnerability that is no longer common in his new attitude.
Star: Why are you so embarrassed? Star responds calmly, emotionally supporting him.
Marco: It's just that with dances like this, I always went alone or, at best, in passing. I was never really part of them, Marco says, sighing. However, he quickly regains his composure.
Star: Don't worry, Marco. That won't happen again. Besides, you dance really well, she assures the blonde as she waves her hand to downplay his worries.
But then, an accident causes the ladder to wobble, and Marco and Star fall to the floor.
Marco: Are you okay, Star? the boy asks, concerned as he helps his friend up.
Star: Yes, I'm fine, Marco, the blonde replies, though she can't help but smile at her friend's concern.
It's at this moment that Janna appears, joining Star, and they begin talking about resurrecting a dead clown in the cemetery, with a touch of mystery in their voices.