[General POV]
In the Saitoni Orphanage, the air crackled with the untamed energy of a children's birthday party. Streamers twisted like playful serpents, balloons bobbed and weaved through the air, and the scent of sugary treats hung heavy in the air. Laughter echoed through the room, a chorus of joyous shrieks and excited chatter. Two four-year-olds, Iruma and Astro, were at the center of the whirlwind, though their reactions couldn't have been more different.
[Iruma's POV]
I stood there, amidst the swirling chaos, feeling like an observer in a play I didn't quite understand. My eyes darted around the room, taking in the scene with a mix of amusement and bewilderment. Why was everyone so hyped about birthdays? I mean, sure, cake was good, and presents were nice, but this… this was a whole other level. Back in my past life, birthdays were… well, they weren't really a thing. Unless you counted another day confined to my bed, hooked up to machines. This whole "party" thing felt foreign, like trying to speak a language I'd only heard whispers of. I put on a brightly colored party hat—because why not? Everyone else was doing it. Picked up a slice of cake, a mountain of frosting threatening to slide off, grabbed a cup of fizzy orange juice, and began to wander off, seeking refuge from the buzzing hive of activity.
Might as well give this whole party thing a shot, right? Maybe I'd even discover the appeal.
A few minutes later, while I was trying to decipher the complex social dynamics of a group of four-year-olds arguing over a stray balloon, a blur of motion dashed in front of me. Shimou, her cheeks flushed with excitement, stood before me, holding out a small, neatly wrapped box tied with a blue-and-black striped ribbon.
Shimou: "Iruma! I got you something! Happy birthday!" she chirped, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm.
I took the box, giving her a lazy smile. "Thanks, Shimou. Hope you're having fun." I gave her a light pat on the head.
Shimou blinked up at me, her cheeks turning a little pink. "Baka..." she mumbled, before darting off, hiding her face in embarrassment.
'Baka? What, like 'stupid'? I guess my vibe is off. I mean, I am 17 in a 4-year-old's body. This isn't exactly my usual scene. Maybe I was being too distant. I should probably try harder to… participate.'
I scanned the room and spotted Astro, chatting happily with a group of girls. He looked a little shy, probably from the overwhelming amount of birthday praise. He was beaming, though, clearly enjoying the attention. It was good to see him so happy. He deserved it.
'Man, they grow up so fast'... I wiped an imaginary tear from my eye, turning away before anyone could notice.
A few more presents came my way—a coloring book, a set of crayons, a toy car—but I eventually retreated to my room. It was quieter here, a welcome change. With a flick of my wrist and a tiny bit of magic, I teleported all my gifts into my room—nobody noticed the 'Birthday King' sneak off with their spoils.
I shut the door behind me with a soft click and collapsed face-first onto my bed. The ceiling was falling apart—seriously, there were water stains everywhere, and the paint was practically begging to be retired. Yeah, no kidding. This place wasn't exactly luxury, but it was home. And it was safe. That was what mattered.
I pulled out my notebook and pen from a hidden spot in the wall with a flick of my magic. My fingers manipulated the pen through the air like a lazy marionette.
To-Do List:
* Sell a few games and manga from my past life here:
* Manga:
* One Piece
* JJK
* Dragon Ball
* Solo Leveling
* Games:
* Undertale
* Cursed Clash
* Overwatch
* Fortnite
* Meet a main character:
* Help Green Bean before he receives OFA
* Give Bakugo a bad time (a *gentle* bad time, I reminded myself)
* Become friends with the Big Three
* Help Nezu plan for future situations
* Save Eri
* Save Koda
* Try to heal All Might's wounds with my magic
* Set up a Saitama Training Regime for my age
* Pick up my socks (seriously, where did they all go?)
* Get into UA
* Pass most grades and ace the entrance exam
* Form meaningful relationships with several key individuals (ahem, *not* a harem, I told myself firmly)
* Hide my magic from AFO
I paused, the pen hovering over the paper.
Iruma: "What else do I want to do in this world...?"
Sigh. There was so much to do. So much to change. So much to protect.
Iruma: "We'll figure that out when we get there..."
Knock! Knock!
I didn't even look up.
Iruma: "Who is it?" I asked, already bored. My head was in a different world, a world of intricate plans and carefully calculated moves.
Click!
The door creaked open, and in stumbled Lucy, a little tipsy—great, just what I needed.
Iruma: "Onee-san? Something up?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
She gave me a warm smile, and it was obvious she'd had a little too much to drink.
Lucy: "Enjoying the party, Iruma?" she asked, ignoring my question completely.
I yawned, stretching like a cat who had just finished a ten-hour nap.
Iruma: "Mhm. Just peachy…"
She chuckled, patted the bed, and motioned for me to come over. Without much hesitation, I crawled over to lie on her lap—yeah, it was comfortable. Who wouldn't want to rest on plump thighs? It was… comforting. A sense of warmth and belonging that I hadn't realized I was craving.
As she hummed softly and ran her fingers through my hair, I felt sleep pulling at my eyelids. My mind wandered to memories of my past life.
How's Mom doing, anyway? I wondered. Is she… is she watching? Does she even know what happened to me?
...I hope she's okay...
I drifted off to sleep, the sound of Lucy's humming lulling me into oblivion. Tears streamed silently down my face as my thoughts lingered on the mother I'd lost and the new life I'd been given.
Lucy whispered softly, her voice like a balm to my aching heart.
Lucy: "Happy birthday, Iruma..."
I wiped my face, letting her comfort wash over me. After a few minutes, she gently tucked me in. As she turned to leave, she placed a small gift box on my bedside table.
The next morning...
Iruma: "Yeah, this world is definitely merging with Undertale..." I muttered as I examined the heart-shaped locket in my hands. The royal crest embroidery was unmistakable. It was beautiful, intricately woven with gold thread.
[IMAGE]
I smirked, hooking the chain around my neck.
Iruma: "Not too shabby, if I do say so myself." I looked at my reflection in the mirror. "Guess I'll have to thank Onee-san later. Oh, and maybe I should ask about this Toriel character too."
Before I left my room, I snapped my fingers, and in an instant, the room was spotless. Trash bags appeared from thin air, and all the leftover sweets and cookies were secured in my pockets.
But as I turned to head out for my training grounds, I heard the unmistakable sound of a chuckle from behind me.
Taisho: "The lazy kid's finally cleaning up, huh? You know it was your birthday yesterday, right?" His amused tone caught me off guard.
I turned to see Taisho, leaning against the corridor entrance like he was some kind of cool guy in an action movie.
Iruma: "Morning, Onii-san. Just cleaning a bit. You know, taking care of business," I replied nonchalantly as I tossed another piece of trash into the bag.
Taisho: "I didn't think you'd wake up so early after yesterday. Guess I owe Lucy for that bet now..." he muttered with a sigh, rubbing his forehead.
Iruma: "Wait, you bet on me?" My interest piqued, and I raised an eyebrow. "What did you bet on?"
Taisho: "Oh, nothing. Just that you wouldn't wake up early. Guess I was wrong," he shrugged, trying to play it off.
Iruma: "How much?"
He hesitated, his face shifting uncomfortably.
Iruma: "That much, huh?"
Taisho: "Shut up!"
I couldn't help but laugh at his expense.
Iruma: "Hey, Onii-san. Can you train me?"
His eyes widened in shock, and I could practically hear his brain short-circuiting.
Taisho: "What? No! Why would I train a brat like you?" he snapped, trying to backpedal.
I just shrugged.
Iruma: "Guess it can't be helped. I mean, it's not like I want to train with you anyway. Maybe I'll just tell the others about how you lost a bet to Onee-san again. Oh, and how you didn't even give me a gift." I paused for dramatic effect. "Unless… that was the gift?"
I gestured vaguely towards the pristine room.
His face paled, and he immediately called me back.
Taisho: "W-Wait! Okay, okay. Fine! I'll train you, just don't tell anyone, alright?" He looked around nervously, as if the walls themselves might be listening.
I gave him a smug grin.
Iruma: "Good. So...when do we start?"
Taisho sighed in defeat, adjusting his glasses. "I'll see you at 2 pm. But just so you know, my training is hell." He tried to sound intimidating, but the tremor in his voice betrayed him.
Iruma: "I'm in your care, Onii-san." I bowed exaggeratedly, making sure to add a little dramatic flair.
With that, I waved goodbye and shut the door behind me. Time to open my real gifts.
The wrapping paper tore with a satisfying rip as I began pulling off the layers.
The excitement of presents was...well, nothing compared to the thrill of kicking villain ass, but hey, free stuff was free stuff.
And some of this stuff was actually pretty useful. A new target, perfect for practicing my bone manipulation. A first-aid kit, which was always a good idea in this world. And… a small, intricately carved wooden box.
I glanced over at Astro, who was still passed out from his sugar coma. Poor kid was probably going to feel the aftereffects of his cake binge in about five minutes.
Iruma: "This kid's gonna be clutching his stomach when he wakes up..." I muttered, shaking my head.
I picked up the wooden box, curious. It was light, almost weightless, and the carvings were intricate, depicting scenes of nature – forests, mountains, flowing rivers. I opened it carefully, and inside, nestled on a bed of soft velvet, was a single, smooth, grey stone. It pulsed faintly with a warm, almost comforting energy.
"Huh?" I tilted my head, examining the stone. It felt… familiar. Like I'd held it before, though I couldn't quite place when.
I looked over my Saitama workout regime—20 push-ups, 20 sit-ups, 4km run... Should be easy enough, considering I had magic to fall back on. But I wasn't going to rely on it forever. Magic was nice, but building real strength? That was the long game. Besides, who knew what limitations my magic might have? It was better to be prepared.
I grinned as I looked out the window, watching the sunlight dance off my shiny new locket. "Filled with determination..." I muttered, the words coming out with a touch of amusement. It was a silly phrase, a remnant from my past life, but it resonated with me now. I was determined. To protect the people I cared about. To change the future.
To make this world a better place.
Bring on the villains. I'll give them a bad time. And maybe, just maybe, I'd even figure out what this weird rock was all about. It felt important. Like it was a piece of a puzzle I didn't even know I was trying to solve.