A/N: Speech presented as "[speech]" means the characters are speaking Japanese. All other speech is in English.

Chapter the Second

Begin: New Life+

Nearly a year and a half later after that very jarring wake-up, I've found myself more or less settled into what I can only call a new life. More or less. Seeing as my new body was still growing and developing, I had trouble doing just about... everything. And it was annoying as all hell. I had to rely on my new... parents (dear god that alone took getting used to and I still had trouble with it), for all of it. Getting dressed, being fed which was kind of weird considering that I had a more mature mind to notice what was happening, bathing.

Long story short, try to avoid experiencing it. It's not fun. If anything, it tends to be horrendously embarrassing and excruciatingly boring. There was one particular part of my body that I found out very quickly, and I'm not sure if whoever was in charge of my reincarnation was mocking me or something, but...

I was now a girl. A girl. Are you freaking kidding me?! Not only did I have to adjust to a new life, nearly half of my old memories were null and void because I'd been a boy then. Just my fuckin' luck. There was one, tiny other detail that I saw.

As I reflected, Mom stepped into view at that moment, cooing softly at me, interrupting my train of thought. Her large, tan wings wrapped around me as she picked me up and started rocking me to try to get me to sleep.

This had become routine, particularly when it was parent-mandated nap and bedtime. It didn't help that I had frequent nightmares. Sleep was little more than a wish, some nights. Other nights I didn't get much rest no matter how long I actually slept.

Always about the same damn things, too.

So to be honest, being granted a lullaby and gentle rocking to try to help me sleep better was more than welcome.

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"Momma."

She turned her attention to me in an instant, military paperwork forgotten on the desk. "Asuka?"

"Momma."

Even though I kind of expected it, it was still surprising for my Mom to actually squee as she dashed over to my little play pen and picked me up. Her wings fluttered in excitement, too. I couldn't help but giggle as she hugged me for it.

Waiting a year and a half for this? I thought as she brought me back to the desk with her. Completely worth it.

"You can keep me company while I do this paperwork then, Asuka-chan."

There was that, too. My Mom was born and raised American. But my father was Japanese. So they tried to help me learn both languages.

But that was neither here nor there right now. Right now, I was in mom's lap and watching her do paperwork for her position as an Air Force Captain.

Even in a world rife with what my parents called Quirks, paperwork never dies. So I thought that maybe I could help. Wasn't really doing much else, anyway.

"Huh? Asuka-chan?" Mom looked at where I was reaching. "Ah, crayons. Of course, sweetie."

They'd been surprised when I'd demanded these. Something about too young and immature. Bah! I'll show these fool adults who's immature! I resemble that remark!

Mom had to really stretch to reach my little collection of crayons. Or at least she tried. In the end she just used one of her wings (which, by the way, are just epic in every way) to drag them over.

"Thank you, Asu-chan." Mom giggled as I clapped happily. Both for getting my crayons and because of how cool that looked. "The red one again?"

But of course! Red is, and shall always be, the best color. Particularly for what I was gonna do. I'd spotted a non-sensitive report that Mom was working on. I think taking care of my overly needy infant ass was wearing down on her, particularly while Dad was on a business trip. Otherwise I don't think she'd have made so many writing mistakes.

So I did something that I'd always wanted to do in my last life.

I marked it full of red.

...well, I tried to. Toddler arms and hands are nowhere near as precise as they need to be. So at least it made it look like a random mess.

"Asuka!"

Oop. Caught. I looked up at her innocently right as she wrenched the paper away from me.

"Don't look like that. These are important!" Momma scolded me sternly. Even knowing I was doing something helpful, being scolded by your mom sucks. "I'm afraid it's back to the pen."

I pouted as she picked me up off her lap and promptly put me back in the play pen. Well. Looks like I was in time out. Giving a quick mental shrug - couldn't do it physically just yet - I returned to playing with the little toys I'd been given. At least now I knew for sure what my new mother's name was.

Captain Alexis Gōkin. I'd admit that it was definitely a very pretty sounding name. I'm kind of curious as to what they meant.

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[POV: Alexis Gōkin, Captain]

"Almost lost half an hour of work because of my daughter," I complained at lunch the next day. My husband had finally gotten home the night before, he and Asuka were going to the park today.

Captain Ward, sitting across from me, looked up. She looked amused. "Really? How so, 'Lexi?"

I pulled out the report in question and pushed it across to her. Ward put aside her own paperwork to take a look. Half a second later, she snorted as she looked it over. I gave a light chuckle myself.

"She surprised me! I took her out of the play pen and -"

"Hey wait." Ward stopped me, looking over the report more intently. Then she snorted again, even less ladylike than before. Then she held the report out to me. "Look again, dumbass."

I gave her a look as I snatched the paper back. Then I blinked when I noticed it. "...huh."

I hadn't noticed it the day before. I'd just been annoyed and busy catching up on the paperwork I'd missed during my maternity leave. But now that I was looking more closely, it seemed that somehow, Asuka had done some kind of proofreading.

Though the look was ruined by it having been done by a red crayon. And lots of imprecise other messy bits.

Either way. Asuka was my first child, but even I knew that this was strange. Well. Looks like Katashi and I had another thing to talk about regarding her.

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[Asuka Gōkin, Age 3]

Time had continued to pass. I had learned that my father was Katashi Gōkin. My Mom and Dad had met and married while Mom was off on a visit to Okinawa's base several years ago. Obviously, things had just gone from there. But it also meant that I was being charged and challenged with learning both English and Japanese at the same time. I had known a little bit of Japanese in my previous life, but I was rapidly learning a hell of a lot more. English was easy. It had been my primary language last time around, anyway.

I think they might have become suspicious of how quickly I "picked up" English. But to be honest, I didn't really care. If they thought it was odd that I found it far too easy, let them wonder.

Not to mention the fact that I don't know how this is supposed to go! I don't remember this shit from my first life, and I'm not gonna bother trying to emulate what I can't remember.

Anyway. Dad came over to me and gently picked me up, speaking softly in Japanese. "[Asu-chan.]"

I hugged him in return, taking care to respond in the same language. It can be really difficult sometimes. "[Yes, Papa?]"

"[Almost time to wave bye-bye to your mother.]" He started taking me over to the dresser in my room. "[Shall we get ready?]"

"[Okay!]"

If there was one thing that I absolutely enjoyed about finally being old enough to be able to speak like a "normal" child, it was being able to deny certain clothing choices. Mom and Dad had tried to do the baby girl dresses with me. I was a male in my last life, for a little over twenty-seven years. I'm still working on adjusting to being a girl. Dresses were a no-no for me. I was glad to have made that clear when I did.

I wasn't too obstinate about it, though. I knew that Mom and Dad only had a limited selection for me. Plus some of the small tunic-like things were actually very comfortable. And since they weren't the overly flowery dresses that were gathering dust, I was fine with that.

"[Alright, Asu-chan. Banzai!]"

I giggled as I held up my arms. "[Banzai!]"

Dad chuckled with me as he finished pulling the tunic on over my head. He was overwhelmingly gentle with me. Just as he was with Mom all the time. I don't think I'd ever seen him mad before.

"[Okay. Do you want your hat?]"

"[Yes!]"

"[Yes...?]"

"[Please?]"

Dad smiled and dug out the hat. It was like, four sizes too big. And an old hat that I'd totally stolen from Mom. But I still loved the dark blue cap sitting on my head. Dad's calloused fingers brushed my skin again as he worked on securing it to me.

I'd found out that my new Dad worked at a steel factory. Which was apparently a really good line of work for him, considering what his Quirk entailed. Let me tell you, that was a really freaky event. Happened about two months ago. During one of our routine walks through town (primarily for exercise), a decent-sized chunk of concrete fell off an old building and headed straight for us.

Dad's Quirk, which was a mixture of super strength and super toughness, allowed him to more or less just brush it off when he caught it. Mom had crouched and covered me and her with her wings. If he wasn't Japanese, I may or may not have dubbed him Luke Cage.

As it stands, however, I hadn't developed one yet. I think I was close. I could feel something occuring in my body. I just didn't know what.

"There you two are!" Mom called, waving from next to the road. A small sedan with the Air Force logo on the side was there, one of the doors open and the engine running. "Just in time."

Dad walked over and hugged and kissed her, while I just took the chance to hug Mom.

I also decided to make my demand clear. "Home safe!"

Mom gave me one of her not-smile smiles. "I will be, sweetie." Then she kissed my forehead.

There were two problems here. One, her smile only barely reached her eyes. She was afraid of what was going to happen. And two, she hadn't brought up the combo of the goofy hat and my clothes being tacky and not going well together. Something she'd done every other time.

"I agree with Asu-chan, my love." Katashi murmured. Apparently he'd always been a sap like that. "Come home safe."

Mom hugged us tightly. "I'll call you both as soon as I can."

I had known that this might happen. I had known that. But still I had to try my best to swallow my tears and sniffles. Dad tried to comfort me.

Good father.

I waved with him as Mother left. I sincerely hoped that it wouldn't be the last time I'd seen her.

I could still remember as clear as day - and had the occasional nightmare about - the last time I'd seen my first mother.

I didn't want to see that list increase.

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[Asuka Gōkin, Age 4. And a half.]

Remember when counting age by halves mattered? I do. It's kind of fun being able to do it again. It's also fun to have very few responsibilities. Another year or so had passed since Mom had left to travel overseas on orders. Today was another scheduled day for a video call. In a few minutes, too. And now I had my Quirk, too, something Dad and I were gonna show off.

Of course, Japanese was pretty much the only language we used while Mom was gone. Which was fine.

"[Asu-chan! It's time!]"

Oop, there's my signal. I grabbed the things Dad had asked me to hold onto and walked over to where he was sitting, with the laptop on the floor. I sat in front of him on my own little cushion.

"[Ready, Daddy!]" I confirmed the moment I was settled. Once again I was in a small, gender-neutral little tunic. I grinned when he rubbed my head.

I might still be working through the whole gender-change and new-life thing (and by the gods it's a real pain in the ass, let me tell you). But having both parents be so supportive like this? The challenge is more than worth it.

Then Skype alerted us to an incoming video call. Dad reached over my head and hit accept.

Mother was right there, in her more casual uniform. She waved over her bright grin. "Hello, hun. Hi Sweetie!"

"Hi Momma!" I answered, waving back. Dad waved as well just behind me.

Dad spoke up next. "Are you alright, hun? You look tired."

Mom sighs. "I am tired. I just want to be home and watch our darling grow up, up close."

"You'll be home soon, Mommy."

"Thanks, sweetie." There was a short lull in the conversation. Just long enough for Dad to hand me one of the things we'd gotten ready. "Oh? What's the metal bar for?"

Oh now this was something I was excited to show off. "Watch, Momma!" And then I bent the metal like it was a stick. "Ta-da!"

Mother was clapping loudly enough to get the attention of some of her co-soldiers. "That's amazing, Asuka! You got your Quirk!"

Dad intervened. "It's a near copy of mine, Alexis."

"Really now?"

I stayed out of this talk for now, simply marvelling at the fact that I could bend metal. After seeing a Quirk specialist, Dad and I had found out that I also had his super-toughness.

Eat your heart out, Superman. Your shitty powerset's easy to copy. By a toddler.

"Sweetie?" I looked up when Mom called for me.

"Yes Momma?"

"I have to go now. I'll see you two soon, okay?"

Hold on. This was shorter than planned. "Huh? But Momma..."

She gave me a sad, apologetic smile. "Sorry, Asuka. Duty calls."

I glanced at some of the background behind her. Red alerts, quiet klaxons...

I tried (and failed) to swallow the lump that suddenly appeared in my throat. But I smiled and waved anyway. "Okay, Momma. Bye-bye!"

"Goodbye, Asuka. Goodbye, Katashi."

The video call ended right then and there. Dad gently picked me up and helped me get ready for bed.

We got the news before noon the next day.

A/N: I'll admit that I'm not very good at staying on a single topic for too long. Mostly as a result of customer service industry jobs where mincing words is a waste of time, so it kind of carries over. I'm trying to do better about it. And yes, while I am treating this as an SI/OC, I made the character female when I identify as male. Not as something to insult people with or to be bigoted or whatever (you can't pay me enough for that kind of bullshit). It's honestly pretty much just a writing challenge. And I thought it'd be fun.

In this chapter: Quirk is shown! Mom (v2.0) dies in battle! Being a kid again is awesome because no responsibility!

EDIT: Misspelled a name.