The cool, smooth surface of the AI device felt grounding in my hand, a tangible piece of the impossible reality I now inhabited. "Alright, AI," I'd said, my voice still strange to my own ears, "Let's see what this 'new life' is all about. What's the first quest?"
The AI's holographic projection, visible only to me hovering above the device, responded immediately. "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."
Right. School. The wave of abstract panic from earlier solidified into something more concrete and immediate. High school, as a girl, with no idea how to perform the most basic morning rituals in this body.
"Basics?" I echoed, my voice tight. My mind flashed back to my old routine: wake up, protein shake, gym clothes, out the door. This was... going to be different.
"Affirmative," the AI confirmed calmly. "Navigating daily life requires adherence to social expectations. I can guide you through the process."
Okay. Deep breath. One impossible step at a time. The AI's projection displayed a simple interface on the device in my hand, showing different categories. 'Morning Routine'. I tapped it, feeling absurdly like I was starting a tutorial level in a video game.
The AI's voice began providing instructions, gentle but efficient. "Begin with personal hygiene. Proceed to the washroom. I can display relevant information and step-by-step guidance there."
Washroom. Right. I walked towards the door I assumed led to it, the unfamiliar lightness and sway of this body throwing me off balance slightly. Inside, a typical bathroom – sink, toilet, shower, mirror. But lined up on the counter were bottles and tubes I had no clue about. Moisturizer? Toner? Serum? My brain short-circuited slightly.
"Okay, AI," I mumbled, feeling a blush creep up my neck (another new, unwelcome sensation). "What's... all this?"
The AI patiently explained the function of various products, guiding me through washing my face, brushing my teeth, and navigating things like hair care which, with Chizuru's long hair, was significantly more complicated than my old buzz cut. It was awkward. Terribly, embarrassingly awkward, even with just an AI watching. Every movement felt foreign, every product a mystery. My old self would have just splashed water on his face and been done with it. This was... an ordeal.
Getting dressed was another hurdle. The wardrobe was full of clothes that were definitely not gym wear or my old worn t-shirts. Skirts, blouses, dresses... bewildering options.
"Select items appropriate for a high school environment," the AI suggested, displaying examples.
I stared at the options, feeling completely lost. What even was "appropriate"? And how did you put on some of this stuff? My hands fumbled with unfamiliar fasteners and fabrics. The idea of wearing a skirt in public made my stomach clench.
Eventually, guided by the AI, I managed to assemble an outfit that seemed... normal enough. Looking in the mirror felt like seeing someone else playing dress-up. The face was Chizuru, the clothes were hers, but the stiff, awkward way I held myself was all me, the confused guy trapped inside.
As I finished dressing, a flicker of my old self reasserted itself. All this... delicate, complicated daily life felt exhausting. What I really wanted was something familiar, something that connected me to my past identity. Something like the gym.
The AI had mentioned my enhanced physical potential, the virtual shop, the points... The sheer amount of that starting currency, 300,000 points, still felt unreal. It was a massive advantage, a lifeline in this bizarre new world.
"AI," I said, clutching the device in my hand, a spark of my old enthusiasm cutting through the morning's awkwardness. "About that shop... and the training stuff. Can we look at that now?"
The AI's projection immediately shifted, the calm face replaced by a structured interface displaying categories like 'Training', 'Equipment', 'Resources', and 'Shop'. "Accessing the Training & Resources module," the AI stated. "Your initial currency allocation is confirmed and available." A prominent number, 300,000, glowed on the screen – visible only to my eyes.
A genuine smile, the first I'd felt since waking up, touched my lips. "Okay, let's see what I can get."
I navigated to the 'Equipment' section of the shop. The options were extensive, ranging from basic resistance bands to high-tech weight systems that looked like something out of a sci-fi movie. With 300,000 points, I could buy a significant amount.
"Should I prioritize versatile equipment for home or maybe look into specific training programs first?" I mused aloud, more to myself than the AI, the old planning habits kicking in.
"Both are viable approaches," the AI responded smoothly, as if it had heard my private thought clearly. "Acquiring foundational equipment allows for immediate physical application within your current environment. Investing in a comprehensive training regimen, specifically one designed to leverage your enhanced physiological adaptability, will provide structure and optimize your progress. A combination is often most effective."
A combination. Right. My eyes scanned the equipment list. Dumbbells were a must. Adjustable ones would be smart. A good quality mat. Resistance bands. Maybe a pull-up bar for a doorframe? And workout clothes – not just for comfort, but... okay, yes, the new body meant new considerations. Sports bras. Leggings. Stuff that actually fit.
I started adding items to the virtual cart. Quality dumbbells, adjustable ones that could go up to a decent weight. Several sets of resistance bands. A durable yoga/workout mat. A simple, sturdy doorframe pull-up bar. Then I browsed the apparel section, picking out a few sets of workout leggings and tops, and, awkwardly, a few different styles of sports bras based on the AI's subtle hints about support needs. It felt surreal, shopping for this stuff for myself, but also... practical. And with 300k points, the cost barely made a dent.
After selecting the physical gear, I looked at the 'Training' section. There were programs for strength, endurance, flexibility, even specific athletic goals. I filtered for strength training programs designed for female physiology, looking for something that seemed intense but also adaptable. I selected a comprehensive 'Foundation Strength Protocol' that the AI flagged as 'Optimal for Enhanced Physiology'.
With everything in the cart, I hit checkout. The AI confirmed the purchase, deducting the points. A notification appeared: 'Items purchased will manifest within your immediate environment shortly.'
Manifest? What did that mean? I looked around the room, bewildered. Did they just... appear?
As I watched, a shimmering, almost glitchy effect appeared in a corner of the room near the closet. It solidified, resolving into neat stacks of folded clothes and boxes containing the weights and equipment. It was instantaneous. Teleportation? Fabrication? Whatever it was, it was incredibly efficient.
A grin spread across my face, wider and more genuine than the forced smile I'd managed earlier. This was real. The gear was here. My hands actually ached slightly with phantom anticipation. This was something I understood. Something I could do.
With renewed energy, the awkwardness of the morning momentarily forgotten, I started unpacking. I laid out the new workout clothes on the bed – sleek leggings, supportive-looking sports bras in different colours. I checked the dumbbells; solid, good weight distribution. I found a spot near the window for the mat and set up the pull-up bar in the doorframe. It wasn't a full gym, but it was mine. Or, well, Chizuru's, but filled with my purpose.
Slipping into a pair of the new leggings and a sports bra felt... different. The fabric was soft, stretchy, designed to move. The sports bra felt strange, confining in a way I'd never experienced, but also supportive. It was another physical reminder of the change, but seeing myself in the mirror in actual workout gear, ready to train, felt like a step towards reclaiming a piece of my identity.
I picked up a pair of dumbbells, the weight familiar in my new hands, though the muscle memory felt slightly off, requiring adjustment. The AI's projection hovered beside me, displaying the first exercises in the protocol I'd purchased.
"Begin with a warm-up sequence," the AI's voice instructed, and the digital display showed dynamic stretches.
As I moved through the warm-up, following the AI's guidance, my mind drifted. The initial shock of the morning, the sheer terror of the body swap, the surreal interaction with the AI, the bizarre shopping experience – it was all starting to settle into a strange new normal. The familiar burn in my muscles as I started the first set of squats was incredibly comforting, a language my old body had spoken fluently, and this new one seemed willing to learn.
Sweat began to bead on my forehead, trickling down my temple. The ache in my legs grew, deep and satisfying. This was it. This was mine. The enhanced aptitude the AI mentioned wasn't just theory; I could feel the muscles responding, feel the potential stirring in this new form.
During rest periods, my thoughts inevitably turned to the future. Dating all the girls... How did that even work now? Could I, as Chizuru, pursue relationships with women? What would that look like? And Kazuya... the pathetic main character from the manga. The AI said our paths might converge. How would I, with my knowledge and my old self's personality, interact with him? Would I follow Chizuru's script, or completely derail it? The possibilities were terrifyingly, thrillingly open.
I pushed through the sets, the physical effort a welcome distraction from the mental overload. By the time the AI announced the end of the main workout, I was exhausted, breathing heavily, muscles trembling with fatigue. I collapsed onto the mat, sweat soaking my clothes, my heart pounding a rapid, joyful rhythm.
Lying there, looking up at the ceiling, a small, weary smile spread across my face. This was real. All of it. The new body, the AI, the points, the potential. Today had started with total confusion and terror. It was ending with sweat, exhaustion, and a strange sense of purpose. I was still processing the sheer absurdity of being Chizuru Ichinose, navigating high school as a girl, but I had found a foothold. A familiar anchor in the storm.
With the AI's quiet hum and the soft blue glow of its projection a silent presence in the corner of the room – invisible to anyone else – I closed my eyes. My old life was definitively over. The gym-obsessed guy was gone. But in his place was... me. In this body. With a chance to build something new. To embrace the strangeness, to push the limits of this enhanced body, and maybe, just maybe, figure out what "dating all the girls I want" looked like from this side of the fence.
I drifted towards sleep, the familiar ache of worked muscles a lullaby. The world had indeed changed. And so had I. But I had resources, knowledge, and a flicker of that old, stubborn determination. I was ready for... whatever came next.