Chapter 1: Farewell to the Ordinary
The cherry blossoms bloomed in resplendent pinks and whites, their delicate petals drifting lazily on the spring breeze. It was a scene of perfection, as if painted by a divine hand. Yet, for Kato Megumi, the world had never felt more painfully ordinary. She walked along the bustling streets of Tokyo, her expression calm, almost serene. The noise of the city surrounded her: the hum of cars, the distant chatter of passersby, the shrill chirping of birds in the trees above. But to Megumi, it was all background noise. Today, something felt... off.
She tightened her grip on the paper bag in her hands, which carried a freshly baked melon pan from her favorite bakery. "Maybe I should've taken a different route," she thought absentmindedly. But the thought was fleeting. Megumi was the kind of person who rarely drew attention to herself, blending into the world like an unseen thread in a tapestry. Her classmates often joked that she could vanish into thin air, and no one would notice.
Little did they know how prophetic that joke would become.
As she crossed the intersection near Shinjuku Station, her thoughts drifted. She remembered her plans for the weekend: reorganizing her bookshelf, maybe trying out that new visual novel everyone was raving about. The idea brought a small, almost imperceptible smile to her lips.
Then came the screeching of tires.
The world seemed to slow as Megumi turned her head, her brown eyes locking onto the source of the sound. A large delivery truck barreled down the road, its driver frantically honking and waving his hands. The brakes screamed, but it was too late. Time seemed to freeze as she realized the truck was heading straight for her.
For a moment, her life flashed before her eyes. The quiet childhood, the mundane school days, the fleeting moments of joy that came from the smallest things. "I suppose this is it," she thought, a strange calm washing over her.
The impact never came.
Instead, a sharp, blinding light enveloped her. She felt weightless, as if her very soul had been plucked from her body and hurled into the infinite void. The noise of the city faded, replaced by an eerie silence. For what felt like an eternity, there was nothing. No sound, no sensation, no time. Just an endless, comforting emptiness.
Then, the silence broke.
A voice echoed in the void, calm and mechanical, yet impossibly ancient.
"Soul identified: Kato Megumi. Cause of death: vehicular accident. Condition: Compatible for reincarnation. Initializing transfer to alternate world."
"Reincarnation?" Megumi's mind reeled, though her body—or whatever form she was now in—remained still. The voice continued without pause.
"Special ability granted: Copy Power. You may replicate the abilities and techniques of any being you encounter. Compatibility with initial form: 97%. Reincarnation commencing."
Before Megumi could process the words, the light consumed her once more. This time, it was warm, like sunlight filtering through a canopy of leaves. She felt the ground beneath her—soft, earthy, and covered in grass. A gentle breeze brushed against her skin, carrying the scent of flowers and something unfamiliar yet oddly comforting.
Megumi opened her eyes.
She was lying in a field surrounded by towering trees, their emerald leaves swaying gently in the wind. The sky above was a brilliant shade of blue, dotted with fluffy white clouds. Birds chirped melodiously in the distance, and somewhere nearby, she could hear the faint rush of a stream.
But something was different. Her body felt strange, lighter yet more agile. She looked down and froze. Her hands were... paws. Covered in soft, silvery fur. Her slender fingers ended in sharp, retractable claws. A swish of movement caught her eye, and she turned to see a long, fluffy tail swaying behind her. Her reflection in the nearby stream confirmed it: she now had cat-like ears perched atop her head, matching her silvery hair, and her eyes had taken on an unnatural golden hue.
"I'm... a cat girl?" she muttered, her voice softer and more melodic than she remembered. It took a moment to process, but there was no denying it. She had been reincarnated, just as the voice had said.
A translucent blue screen suddenly appeared in front of her, displaying her status:
________________________________________
Name: Kato Megumi
Race: Catkin
Level: 1
Skills: Copy Power, Enhanced Agility, Keen Senses
Unique Trait: Soul of Tranquility (Reduces stress and increases focus in high-pressure situations)
Megumi stared at the screen, her mind racing. "Copy Power... so it's true," she thought. The presence of the other skills and the unique trait intrigued her, but there was little time to dwell on it.
The sound of approaching footsteps snapped her out of her daze. She turned to see a group of people—or rather, beings—walking toward her. They were humanoid, but their feline features mirrored her own. Fur of various colors, tails swaying, and eyes gleaming with curiosity. One of them, a tall figure with jet-black fur and a commanding presence, stepped forward. His piercing green eyes locked onto hers.
"You're awake," he said, his voice deep and steady. "Welcome to Nekomura, the village of the Catkin. Who are you, and how did you come to be here?"
Megumi hesitated, her mind racing. She had no answers, only questions. But for now, she decided to go with the truth—or as much of it as she understood.
"My name is Kato Megumi," she began, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions within her. "I... don't know how I got here. But I think... I've been given a second chance."
The villagers exchanged glances, murmuring among themselves. The black-furred leader studied her for a long moment before nodding.
"Then perhaps fate has brought you to us for a reason," he said. "Come. You must be hungry. We'll talk more once you've had a chance to rest."
As the villagers led her toward their settlement, Megumi couldn't help but marvel at her surroundings. The village was a picturesque collection of wooden houses nestled among the trees, with bridges spanning clear streams and gardens bursting with vibrant flowers. Children—young Catkin—played in the open spaces, their laughter filling the air.
For the first time in her life—or rather, her new life—Megumi felt truly seen. She didn't know what lay ahead, but one thing was certain: her ordinary days were over. A new adventure had begun.