The AI's calm declaration hung in the air, a stark contrast to the whirlwind in my gut. "You have a new life now, with new opportunities and challenges." New life. Right. In a stranger's body. A girl's body.
I sank back onto the bed, the soft mattress a surreal anchor in the chaos. My head was spinning, trying to reconcile the brutal reality of the truck impact with the impossible one of sitting here, looking at a holographic projection only I could see, talking about... transmigration? My gym-obsessed life, the one built on iron and sweat, felt a million miles away, a faded photograph.
Taking the deep breath the AI suggested, I focused on the serene digital face hovering before me. "Alright," I managed, the word shaky but firm. "Where do we start?"
"First," the AI said with that unsettlingly gentle smile, "we should get you familiar with your new identity and surroundings. Welcome to your new life, Chizuru."
Chizuru. The name felt weird on my non-existent tongue muscles. I looked back at the mirror again, at the beautiful, unfamiliar face staring back. Fear was still a cold knot in my stomach, but it was now laced with a profound, almost detached curiosity. What did "being Chizuru" even mean?
My eyes scanned the room properly this time. It looked like a small but neat apartment bedroom. A desk with a laptop, a bookshelf packed with academic-looking texts and... scripts? There was a small calendar hanging near the desk. My eyes darted to the date displayed on the AI's projection screen. October 14th, 20XX. I quickly did the math in my head. Wait. That date... it wasn't right.
"Hold on," I interrupted, pushing myself off the bed again. My bare feet padded softly on the floor. "The date... What year is it?"
The AI displayed the full date. "October 14th, 20XX. The current year is two years prior to the start of the primary narrative events you may be familiar with."
Two years prior? The primary narrative... meaning the manga. I stumbled back towards the mirror, the implications hitting me. Chizuru Ichinose in the manga started college at 18. If it was two years earlier, that meant... "I'm... I'm 16?" I whispered, running a hand through the long, dark hair that definitely wasn't mine.
The AI confirmed, "Correct. This body's biological age is 16 years. You have integrated into Chizuru Ichinose at the beginning of her second year of high school."
High school. The word tasted like ash. High school in a girl's body. At 16. That meant... navigating teenage social hell, but as someone completely unfamiliar with the rules, the expectations, the sheer physicality of being a teenage girl. And with a past life full of memories as an 18-year-old guy who'd actively avoided complex social interactions in favour of lifting heavy things. This wasn't just a challenge; it felt like a sick cosmic joke.
My mind, still reeling, immediately jumped to the only "plot points" I knew. "Okay, so... high school," I muttered, pacing a small circle in the room. "And the manga characters... Kazuya Kinoshita. Is he... is he around? At the same school?" My original dating wish felt perverse now, but the characters were the only reference points I had.
The AI's digital eyes seemed to look somewhere beyond me for a moment, accessing information. "Kazuya Kinoshita is currently attending a different high school within the same city. Your paths, in the original narrative, converge in college. Given the temporal shift, it is impossible to predict if or when your interaction will occur. You have two additional years to potentially encounter him earlier, or diverge entirely."
He wasn't even here yet. That felt... surprisingly relieving, in a weird way. One less immediate complication. But then, my mind went to others. "What about the others? Mami? Ruka? Are they... are their lives running parallel to hers?"
"Based on available data extracted from the original narrative framework," the AI replied, "key individuals such as Mami Nanami and Ruka Sarashina are projected to enter or remain within Chizuru's life sphere as she progresses through her academic and professional pursuits. Their presence, and potential impact, is highly probable."
"Great," I mumbled, rubbing my temples. Potential romantic rivals, or friends, or... whatever they'd be now, also potentially showing up earlier. This was getting more complicated by the second. My dying wish to "date all the girls" seemed monumentally stupid now. How the hell was I supposed to do that when I was one? The irony was so thick it was suffocating. Maybe... maybe I could twist that wish? Navigate relationships from this side? Make genuine connections? The thought was foreign and terrifying.
"Okay, okay," I said, trying to regain some control. "So I'm 16, in high school, in Chizuru's body, two years early, and the main cast are potentially still going to show up. What... how do I even function? What do I need to know? How do I... be her, or be myself as her?"
The AI's display shifted slightly, pulling up various categories. "To facilitate integration, we will address several key areas. Firstly, behavioral and social norms for a 16-year-old female in this society. This includes communication styles, fashion, hygiene, and recreational activities. Secondly, academic and extracurricular commitments – Chizuru is a diligent student with aspirations. Thirdly, her existing relationships and family structure, though limited. And finally, managing public perception, as Chizuru maintains a carefully curated facade."
It sounded like a crash course in Witness Protection meets finishing school, all while crammed into someone else's body. Hygiene? Fashion? Social norms? My brain was still stuck on rep calculations and protein shakes. How did I even... apply makeup? What was the deal with bras? A wave of genuine, gender-specific panic washed over me.
"As for creating your own path," the AI continued smoothly, "my guidance is informational. The choices, reactions, and emotional responses are yours. You possess the accumulated knowledge and experiences of your previous life, which, while not quantifiable as simple 'stats,' provide a significant advantage in terms of maturity, perspective, and problem-solving skills. You can choose to follow Chizuru's original trajectory, or diverge entirely based on your own will. This is an opportunity to live a life that is uniquely yours, albeit within this specific biological framework."
Live a life uniquely mine... in her body. The idea was both strangely empowering and deeply unsettling. I could try to be the 'perfect' Chizuru, or I could bring my old self, my gym-bro pragmatism and perhaps misguided dating goals, into this new form. What kind of hybrid would that create?
My eyes fell on the sleek device on the bedside table again, the one housing the AI. "And you..." I pointed. "You're how I access all this... information?"
The AI projection shimmered, then began to condense, folding in on itself until it formed a smaller, handheld version of the device on the table, still glowing with the soft blue light. "This is the AI Assistance core unit," the AI's voice said, now seeming to emanate from the physical object floating gently in the air before me. "It is attuned solely to your neurological signature. Carry this unit, and I can manifest the holographic interface and provide assistance anytime, anywhere. Think of it as your personal guide and database in this reality."
It drifted closer, settling into my palm. It felt cool, smooth, perfectly weighted. Incredible technology. And completely private. No one else could see or hear this. This was my secret, my weird reality copilot. The privacy was a relief, yes, but also... isolating. I was truly alone in this experience, save for the AI.
"Can others... see you? When you project?" I asked, just to be absolutely sure.
The AI's projection reformed above the device in my hand, its face calm. "No, Chizuru. As previously stated, the holographic interface is generated and perceived solely by your consciousness. To any other observer, it would appear as if you are speaking to an empty space, or perhaps simply talking to yourself."
Talking to myself. Yeah, that about summed up the situation.
"Okay," I sighed, closing my hand around the cool device. "Okay. So, what about the... the physical stuff? My muscles are gone. Is there any way...?" The old obsession surfaced instinctively. Could I get them back? In this body?
The AI seemed to process this, its digital eyes softening slightly. "Your previous physical conditioning was indeed significant. While this body's physiology is different, your past life's experience with physical training is a considerable asset. You retain the knowledge of proper form, training principles, and the discipline required. Furthermore, as a transmigrator, your body exhibits an enhanced adaptability to physical stress and muscle development. You possess an aptitude for strength training that is estimated to be significantly higher than average for this biological form."
An enhanced aptitude? Significantly higher? Hope, a tiny, persistent spark, flickered. So, the gym wasn't completely out. My old world could intersect with this new one in a meaningful way. "So I can train?" I asked, feeling a genuine surge of interest for the first time since waking up. "And gain muscle?"
"Precisely," the AI confirmed. "Your body will respond exceptionally well to consistent training. To further assist you, I offer access to a 'Training & Resources' module within my system. This module contains tailored workout routines, nutritional guidance adjusted for this body's needs, and theoretical knowledge from your previous life, now structured and accessible."
The AI's tone brightened slightly. "Additionally, there is a virtual shop integrated into my system. You can utilize this to acquire training equipment, specialized supplements, performance-enhancing knowledge modules, and even cosmetic alterations, should you desire them. The shop can be accessed using local currency via a connected interface, or through a proprietary 'System Points' currency."
"System Points?"
"Affirmative. System Points can be earned by completing specific 'Quests' or 'Challenges' that I can provide, often related to successfully navigating social situations, achieving personal goals, or resolving narrative conflicts within this reality. Think of them as rewards for progress."
A game system, then? Quests and points? It was absurd, but also... oddly concrete. A goal. Something familiar in the completely unfamiliar. And a shop... with equipment and knowledge. It appealed directly to my old instincts.
"How do I... get System Points?" I asked, clutching the device.
The AI's face beamed, a purely digital expression of satisfaction. "As a baseline allocation for your successful transmigration and integration initialization, you have been granted a starting balance." A number appeared on the projection screen hovering above the device in my hand. "Three hundred thousand System Points."
My jaw dropped. Three hundred thousand? Just... for being here? That was an insane amount. Enough for... what? A lifetime supply of supplements? A home gym setup? High-level training guides?
"Wait," I stammered, "I get 300,000 just for... showing up?"
"Correct," the AI stated, the number still glowing reassuringly. "Consider it an initial resource buffer to assist your transition and enable you to pursue your objectives, both personal and physiological. Utilize these resources wisely, Chizuru. This new life is yours to shape."
Three hundred thousand points. An entire new identity, a new body, high school, manga characters potentially appearing... and a digital AI with a hidden shop and quest system, starting me off with a fortune. It was overwhelming, terrifying, and in the weirdest possible way, exhilarating. My old life was gone, reduced to a dying thought about dating and the memory of muscle soreness. My new life was a blank page, albeit one with existing characters and a frankly insane cheat code. I had died a gym rat with a simple, unfulfilled wish. I had woken up a beautiful girl with a secret AI assistant and enough points to buy... anything.
My hand tightened around the AI device. My path was unclear, the challenges immense. But for the first time, looking past the panic and confusion, I felt a strange flicker of determination. Maybe I couldn't date all the girls as a guy, but maybe... just maybe... I could figure out something just as interesting. Or at least get back into shape.
"Alright, AI," I said, my voice still not quite mine, but gaining confidence. "Let's see what this 'new life' is all about. What's the first quest?"
The AI's projection smiled. "First, Chizuru, we need to get you ready for school. Your first class begins in ninety minutes. Let's start with... the basics of selecting appropriate attire and personal grooming."
High school. Right. Deep breath. This was going to be interesting.