A Rock in the Cosmos

In the quiet, unassuming town of Shimizu, Takumi Yamazaki led a life as ordinary as the morning sun rising over his cluttered desk. A high school student with average grades, minimal athletic ability, and a penchant for daydreaming about grand adventures, he often wondered if life had more to offer than missed trains and forgotten homework assignments.

But that morning, life—or perhaps fate—had other plans.

It started like any other mundane day. Takumi scrambled to finish his homework during breakfast, dashed out the door with toast clenched in his teeth, and bolted down the familiar streets toward school. Everything about the day screamed normality, until the moment it didn't.

The intersection near the convenience store was always bustling, cars and bikes weaving through the crowd with a symphony of honks and chatter. Takumi's mind wandered as he waited for the pedestrian light to turn green. He thought about the latest fantasy novel he'd been reading the night before—a story about a hero chosen by destiny to wield the mightiest of magic.

If only life were like that, he mused. Something more exciting than math tests and—

The sound of screeching tires snapped him back to reality. He turned his head just in time to see the monstrous form of a delivery truck barreling toward the crosswalk.

Time seemed to slow. He couldn't move, couldn't even scream. All he could do was watch as the truck closed the distance, its horn blaring like a final warning.

The impact never came.

Instead, Takumi found himself floating in a void of infinite black, weightless and disoriented. Stars and galaxies shimmered around him like scattered jewels, and in the center of it all, a figure emerged—a luminous being with an aura of overwhelming power.

"Welcome, mortal," the figure said, their voice resonating like a symphony of bells.

Takumi blinked, struggling to comprehend the surreal scene. "W-where am I? What happened?"

"You have died," the figure replied simply. "But fear not. Your journey does not end here."

"Wait, died?!" Takumi's voice cracked. "How? Why? I don't even remember—"

"A truck," the figure interrupted, waving a hand dismissively. "It was… unfortunate. But such matters are trivial now."

Trivial? Takumi wanted to argue, but the figure's presence made him feel insignificant, like a grain of sand in an endless desert.

"I have chosen you," the figure continued, their tone as calm as it was commanding. "You will be granted new life in a different world. A world of magic and wonder."

Takumi's heart skipped a beat. "Magic? Like… spells and swords and all that?"

The figure nodded. "Indeed. You will be reborn with the ability to wield magic. It is both a gift and a test. Use it wisely, for the path ahead will not be easy."

Excitement bubbled in Takumi's chest. He had read countless stories about reincarnations into fantasy worlds, but he never imagined it could happen to him. "What kind of magic will I get?"

The figure's expression—or what Takumi assumed was their expression—turned unreadable. "That remains to be seen. Your abilities will reflect the nature of your soul."

Before Takumi could ask what that meant, the figure raised a hand. "Farewell, mortal. May your second life bring you the purpose you seek."

The void dissolved into light, and Takumi felt himself falling—plunging through clouds, past mountains, and into the unfamiliar warmth of a sunlit field.

He woke with a gasp, the scent of earth and grass filling his senses. Overhead, a clear blue sky stretched endlessly, and the sounds of a bustling village echoed in the distance.

It took him a moment to realize: this was it. His second chance.

Sitting up, Takumi noticed something strange. His hands, now smaller and rougher, clenched into fists. His body felt lighter, younger. He touched his face, realizing he must have been reincarnated as a teenager.

"Alright," he said aloud, his voice filled with cautious optimism. "This is my chance to start over. Let's see what this world has in store for me."

He didn't yet know about the gift—or curse—that awaited him. But for now, hope surged in his chest.

...A faint tremor rippled through the ground beneath him as he stood. Unbeknownst to Takumi, the earth itself seemed to stir in anticipation.