"Reincarnation"—a concept that always seemed like something from a fantasy, a belief that balanced between intrigue and skepticism. For years, I brushed it off as nothing more than a theme in the anime I loved. But little did I know, this distant idea would become my reality in a way I never imagined.
My name was Yuki Mitsumu, a 20-year-old college student majoring in Business Management. I was a regular guy—half-Filipino, half-Japanese, living a relatively simple life. I spent my days buried in textbooks, my nights watching anime, and my weekends were reserved for going home, enjoying my mom's cooking, and spending time with my dad, who worked in the military. I was content, and I thought life was moving smoothly.
But life had its own plans.
It was a regular Friday afternoon when everything changed. I was heading home, exhausted from a long week at university. My phone buzzed in my pocket—it was Mom calling. I picked it up, hearing her voice crack with emotion. "Yuki, I miss you so much. I'm making your favorite dishes for dinner, and your dad is coming home too. It's going to be a perfect evening."
I smiled to myself. Everything felt so normal, so comforting. But in an instant, that peace was shattered.
A truck came out of nowhere, screeching toward me with alarming speed. I barely had time to react before it slammed into me. The world seemed to blur, the sound of horns, voices, and chaos overwhelming my senses. My phone fell from my hand, and in that fleeting moment, I heard my mom's voice on the other end, frantic and scared: "Yuki! Are you okay? What's happening?!"
But I couldn't answer. I couldn't move. The pain was immediate, sharp, and suffocating. The world spun, and everything went dark.
That was the last thing I remembered—until I woke up in a place I didn't recognize.
I didn't know where I was. I didn't know who I was. My body—this small, weak, fragile body—felt so alien. I had no voice to scream, no hands strong enough to push myself up. I just lay there, confused. The thoughts that ran through my mind were jumbled at first. Am I dead? Is this… is this it? But then the truth began to hit me like a cold wave.
I had been reborn. But as who?
The realization came slowly: A baby… a baby? I felt my heart race. What happened to me? What happened to my life, my family? Was it gone forever? Panic started to rise in my chest, and for a moment, the reality felt too much to bear.
But then I heard a soft voice. A gentle voice that seemed to calm my frantic mind.
"Shh, it's okay, little one," a woman said, her tone soothing and kind. "You must be hungry."
She picked me up, and her warmth comforted me, grounding me in a way I couldn't explain. Her arms were gentle, her touch tender. I couldn't comprehend what was happening, but in that moment, I wasn't entirely alone. She fed me, and her soft hums seemed to quiet my racing thoughts, guiding me into a sleep I desperately needed.
I had no idea what the future held for me. I didn't know if this was truly reincarnation or just a bizarre twist of fate. But as I lay there in her arms, a part of me wanted to believe that this was another chance—another shot at something, though I couldn't yet make sense of it all.
What I did know was that I was Arius now. And somehow, I had to find my way in this strange new world.