Ch. 1: The Devil's in the Details

I take it back. That quote is ridiculous.

Who the hell said that death was a god? Clearly, they were mistaken.

If he really was then he would have truly granted me my one and only wish.

But of course, as all things go in life, nothing went my way.

Death isn't a god.

He's a snake, a backstabber, a traitor. No, it would be more accurate to describe him as a malevolent genie with how mischievous he acted.

When he came to me, he disguised himself as a friend who cared about my wellbeing. And when he listened to my wish, he deliberately misconstrued it.

Like a genie with their shrewd mischievous nature, he's making me play this game on his terms. He is the umpire and I am simply no more but a pawn on his field.

Death willfully screwed me over.

I wished for the ceasing of my existence and for eternal rest.

But this….

This situation right here…..

"Usually newborns would cry a lot more." A woman looks down at me worryingly. "Should we go back to the hospital?" she turns to look behind her.

…..What the fuck is this?!

This has got to be some cruel joke.

All I remember was diving off the balcony and it being black for a while. And when I came to it, I found myself here in this crib next to a stuffed unicorn surrounded by two people who I can only conclude to be my parents.

I'm a baby. An infant, a goddamn newborn.

I was waiting for an angel to come out and say "sike". Come out and tell me that it's just good ole God being the little prankster that he is or something. Or even better, "this was your free 7-day trial to a new life. We are now cancelling your subscription."

But it has been more than 7 days. More than a week.

Well, at least I think it has. I can't keep track of anything because this newborn body makes me sleep more than half my days away.

I think I'm gonna go insane.

I didn't ask for this. I didn't ask to be reborn.

"You make it sound like you want her to cry," the man I assume to be my dad approaches the crib and looks down at me.

I want to cry.

"I'm just worried about her," mom comments. "Especially since she's so quiet and sleeps like the dead too," she adds.

Hah. Rather than sleep like it, I wish I were dead.

"She's quiet for sure but don't worry too much," dad hugs her waist and places a kiss on her forehead, "she sleeps in this room with us."

No, worry. You two better worry because I'm gonna try to manifest passing away peacefully in my sleep with all my might. "I think, therefore I am", right?

Mom nods and leans in towards his touch, hugging him back.

I frown. What is this corny lovey-dovey act happening in front of me right now?

Not being able to take this gushy vanilla scene happening over my demise, I loll my head the other way. This stupid head of mine is too heavy and I don't have enough strength to fully turn my whole body around yet. In fact, anything physical I try to do with this body results in massive amounts of fatigue and has me sleeping for hours upon hours.

I currently don't have the privilege of teeth to grind or clench on, so I glare at the wall as it is all I could do.

I don't get any of this. If anything, this body should've been given to someone else. To someone who lusts for life or to someone who accumulated great karma points. In other words, literally anybody but me.

I glare even harder at the wall vigorously wishing that I'll just spontaneously combust.

I was really rushing towards the concrete that day. Paradise was really at my fingertips, it was in the grasp of my hands. But why did I have to be reborn?! When did I ever ask for this?! Is Death really at fault or did God have a hand in this? Or are they both teaming up with one another and screwing with me?

I never do this, but for once I'd like to speak to the manager. Who the hell is in charge of the reincarnation department because what kind of fuck-up is this?!

Because this….

This…

This….

I fucking hate this with every fibre of my being!

"Abubah!" I cry in protest kicking the stuffed unicorn in my crib.

The unicorn didn't commit any offences towards me, but I couldn't even be slightly apologetic as kicking it is the only way I can physically take out my anger.

"Look!" I can hear the excited tone in my dad's voice. "Ah, honey our baby is really going through it," he laughs.

"Haha, finally," mom lets out a laugh of relief. "I was seriously debating on calling the doctors tomorrow."

I loll my head back to face them and glower at them.

This isn't funny. Not in the slightest. They're practically mocking me and having a heyday while I'm currently going through a crisis.

"It's probably an exhaustion tantrum. She hasn't slept all day," mom explains. She reaches out to try to pick me up but is stopped by dad's hand on her shoulder.

"I'll take care of it," he tells her as he pulls the sleeves of his shirt to his elbows. "You must be tired taking care of her all day while I was out. Go rest and leave it all to me."

The corners of her mouth curved upwards as she retracts her arms away from me.

"You're the best," she tip-toes up to place a peck on his cheek.

"I know," he says smiling big and wide as he wraps her in his arms and sways her back and forth.

I crinkle my face at the sight.

Not this cheesy shit again….

I would like to tell them to 'go get a room', but even if I could perfectly pronounce and enunciate that, I know they wouldn't leave.

I've been watched like a hawk ever since I came here. I am constantly under surveillance. Even in sleep, I'm not free from their watchful eyes.

Granted, I would always sleep facing the wall, but most times during the night I can feel a pair of eyes staring holes at my back.

Other times, courtesy of the little night light on the drawer chest near my crib, one of their shadows would simply just loom over my body for a couple minutes before it disappears with the sound of their footsteps returning to bed and the rustling of their blankets.

I'm sure they're just making sure I'm breathing and willing to make it to tomorrow (or just sadists), but you have no idea how eerie and frightening their shadows are.

The first time I saw their shadow looming over my tiny body I felt blood drain straight out of my body, and my heart dropped straight down to my booty hole that I was so certain I shat it out.

I couldn't even go back to sleep after that but later in the morning when my mom woke up I found out that the blood and heart thing was very much all in my head.

Never thought I would ever be saying these words in my life but thank God for diapers.

If you get it, I don't know whether to congratulate you or apologize as you could've gone your whole life without knowing. And if you didn't get it….know that ignorance is bliss and that some things are better off unknown.

Anyways, they would continue to do this terrifying looming stalking shadow thing every night! And the intense feeling of their eyes on me did not help but only make it creepier.

All I could do was fake sleep, peep one eye to see if their shadow is still there, clench the little stuffed unicorn for comfort, and hope for them to quickly leave me alone, return to their bed, and stop staring at me.

Their shadow legit gave me top-tier boogeyman nightmares today and yet my mom wonders why I didn't sleep all day? It's because of you two!

I don't recall jolting that violently awake ever from a nightmare before in my entire life. I even believed I was suffering a heart attack the moment I woke up with how fast my heart was beating against my chest and how hard I was trying to catch my breath. I wholeheartedly believed I was waking up dead this early morning.

They really turned what I once considered to be a sanctuary and escape from reality into such a huge turn-off to me for the entire day.

A shiver runs down my spine.

No longer wanting to think about those damnable shadows, I tune back into reality.

"And because you're the best you're going to make dinner too, yeah?" mom grins up at dad as they continue rocking each other back and forth.

He pecks her on her lips, "of course."

She giggles and they continue swaying stuck in their own little world.

On second thought, maybe going to sleep and risking a nightmare isn't so bad compared to whatever is happening in front of me right now.

But for real, they're still continuing with this mushy mushy stuff?

Maybe I should go back to facing the wall. Plaster is more pleasing to the eye than whatever accursed lovefest these two are trying to cook up.

I get shaken out of my thoughts as I feel a pair of arms hold me.

"Is wittle baby Eri sleepy?" dad rubs his nose with mine as he holds me in his arms.

Oh my god….

My face contorts in disgust.

….Please spare me with the baby talk.

He smiles down at me and rubs his cheek against mine.

I recoil in his arms shying away from his touch.

No, no, no, this. Spare me from whatever that atrocious cheek rub thing was.

"You're just so adorable~" he coos.

I blink as my mouth went slack.

Am I in a coma? This must be it, right?

While I raced down towards the city street I didn't die but instead, I sustained great bodily injuries. The injuries were especially so terrible towards my brain which left me in a coma. I am currently now recuperating in a hospital most likely on life support while I'm stuck here in my head. The parents I am seeing now are simply nothing but fragments of my subconscious trying to make me feel better by making up parents that aren't as pitiful as the ones I currently have.

Yeah, that's it. Well, at least that's the only logical explanation for this whole shitshow. And for the sake of my sanity, I'm gonna believe in that too.

….But why does this all feel so real?

I look down at my hands and move my fingers.

"What'chu doing?" he asks, fascinated about my sudden finger movement.

Shhhh, not now.

I ignore him and focus on the sensation of my fingers. They feel just like how I moved my fingers up on the balcony….I think? I don't exactly remember how they felt on the balcony but they feel normal when I move them like this. How are real fingers supposed to feel like again?

"Wow Eri, this is the most you've been vocal and acti-"

Slap

I slap my cheeks.

His eyes went wide and his brows rose in shock.

It hurts…

"H-hey, hey, what was that?" his eyes quickly scan over my face in panic. "Honey!" he turns his head shouting towards the open door. "I think you should maybe call— no," he shakes his head, "you should bring Eri to the doctors tomorrow."

I crease my brows (did I even have any?) at his statement. Does he think there's something wrong with me enough to send me to the doctors? No way this man could be my dad. Just to make sure….

Slap

I slap myself again.

It still hurts…

I think the second slap spooked him because he quickly places me on the changing table mat on top of the drawer chest, and swiftly goes through the drawers.

I raise my brow at this. What is he doing?

I get the answer to my question as I feel my hands suddenly being enveloped in warmth. I bring my hands up a bit to look at them. Gloves? I frown at this and narrow my eyes at him.

"There," he says with his chest out and hands on his hip. "This oughta do the trick." He proudly grins and 'boops' my nose.

I don't know why, perhaps I'm just sensitive, but seeing him so proud and happy about this made the anger within me bubble up.

"Agubahpah!" I shout while flailing my arms around trying to get the gloves to fly off my hands. Get these things off me!

"Yes Eri, agubahpah!" he repeats with a laugh. "I know!" he claps his hands together as he gets a sudden idea. "Let me grab the camera. You're so active and adorable as ever right now!" He squeals. "Should we take some pictures? Hmmm? How about it?" He wiggles his eyebrows at me.

He wants to mock me and treat this all like a game? Fine. Let's play.

I halt the movement of my flailing arms and calm down. I put forward a smile and slowly raise my hands.

"Is that a yes?" He squeals with excitement seeing my smile. His smile now ear to ear. "That bright little smile of yours can rival— no, it does rival the sun. I need it on came-"

Slap

I immediately slap my cheeks. This time harder than the last two.

The smile I once served no longer on my face but replaced with a cold deep frown as I scowl at him.

What, you thought these gloves would stop me?

Consequently, the smile he was serving prior could no longer be found on his face as well. Replacing it is now a face filled with horror and shock.

"BAHPAH KAKAT GOOPA!" I shout a string of curses at him. I huff catching my breath as I put all my remaining energy into those bursts of curses. If only I could growl or had teeth to bite him with, I would've done all that too. I harden my glare at him and lift my hands in his direction.

Now take these fucking atrocious gloves off me!

…

And that ladies and gentlemen is how I got my motor privileges revoked.

I am now in his arms with my entire limbs being swaddled up in a blanket. I feel like a mummy with how tight and wrapped up I currently am. I pursed my lips feeling defeated being swaddled like this. The stinging sensation from my cheeks did nothing but rub salt in my wounds.

I feel bitter. Awfully bitter.

And what makes this even worse is that I still got those fucking gloves on my hands under this blanket!

Dad: 1 — Me: 0

"Now we will certainly have no more hitting," he beams. "But ahhhh~" he pulls me close, rubbing his cheek against mine. "You look like a cute little bundle of joy," he squeals.

Death. And I want it now.

"Wait here for papa, okay?" He places me down in my crib. "Don't worry Eri, papa will be so quick you wouldn't even know I'm gone," he assures me with a wink before he rushes out the room.

I know you're gone…

I huff at my predicament. I'm wrapped up to the point I can't even move an inch and yet he tells me to wait here for him like I have a choice?

"Ta-dah!" He zooms back in the room showing off the camera hanging around his neck. "I was so quick you didn't even notice I was gone eh?".

Is that what you think?

"Smile Eri!" He places the camera in front of me.

I look at the camera with a straight face.

Click

He takes a photo.

Despite me not smiling in the photo his face lightens up immensely and his eyes sparkle as he looks at the photo he took.

"My daughter is so beautiful," he says softly in awe to himself, looking down adoringly at the camera. He stays silent for about 30 more seconds just looking down at that one photo before quickly wiping his eyes.

My jaw went slack. Did…did he just shed a tear?

"Want to take another one?" He grins.

No.

I close my eyes hoping he'd get the message. I have absolutely zero plans to entertain whatever this is.

"You must be tired from all that movement," he picks me up in his arms. "Sleep for now and we'll take some more pictures next time," he says softly as he slowly rocks me back and forth in his arms.

He's correct. Today was the most I have ever moved since I was reborn. All that movement and the fact I haven't slept all day has seriously tired me out. And I hate to admit it but being swaddled up like this is actually very cozy and warm.

I yawn as I feel my eyes beginning to feel heavy. I start to doze off and eventually drift off to sleep.

"I'll sing you a little lullaby," he says. "Twinkle twinkle little star…" he sings.

My eyes once filled with lethargy immediately open as I jerk awake in shock.

I heavily grimace.

If torture had a sound, his singing would definitely be it. No, that, that…that thing coming out of his throat shouldn't ever be classified as singing. It's someone using their vocal cords to create a sinful, agonizing, tormenting sound. It sounds like pure torture. Almost akin to nails against a chalkboard.

"Bahp," I make sounds of protest. But regardless of my feelings, he kept on with his horrid singing. Or to be more accurate, he took it as sounds of encouragement and continued on.

A criminal would certainly confess to all their crimes if they were forced down to listen to this for a full 10 minutes.

Oh, God.

I close my eyes and try blocking out his singing.

It may just be all in my head but It feels like there's blood trickling out of my ears. However, I don't have much doubt about it considering how my ears are actively being violated right now. In fact, I don't think I have to rely on life to take me out early since his singing might just do the deed.

I try to stop grimacing with my eyes closed. This way I can pretend to be sound asleep so he can stop with those atrocious sounds and allow me to sleep in silence.

My plan seemed to work as he places me back down in the crib about 7 minutes later.

Did he sing to me for those full 7 minutes? Unfortunately and painfully, yes he did. From Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, to Rockabye Baby, to random songs he was creating on the spot. And as if those sounds of his weren't criminal enough, he is currently standing next to my crib watching me in silence. I don't have my eyes open but I can feel his gaze.

Thank God the lights on the room are still on because I wouldn't know what to do if I had to experience a shadow on top of all this. A quick shiver runs down my spine as I recall the nightmare I had this early morning.

I feel his hands putting something warm and cotton material on my head.

A hat…?

Ah, I see. He must've thought that I shivered because I was cold.

If I have shivered earlier, would he have given me a pair of earmuffs too? I don't think they would've blocked out his singing entirely but I'll be grateful if his voice was muffled for even a tad bit.

I feel him stare at me for about 3 more minutes before he starts to move.

"Dream sweet Eri," he softly says.

Doesn't he mean 'sweet dreams'?…Is he trying to jinx me?

I feel the warmth of his lips on my forehead before he takes his leave.

I want to curse at him in reply but I don't have any remaining energy for that. Instead, I focus on the silence and start to succumb to the feeling of fatigue.

My breathing steadily becomes still and my consciousness starts ebbing away.

I wholeheartedly wish, from the bottom of my heart, that when I won't have to reopen these eyes.

This time for sure.

Death, God, or whoever is out there, please grant me my wish. Please. Do it for my sake

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.

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.

and for the sake of my ears.

• Author's Corner •

Greetings to you all again. It's been quite the while and I sincerely apologize! I really put an asterisk when I said the ideal update times are weekly but disappeared leaving you all high and dry for over a month. I'm the absolute worst asdfghjknbv. So as an apology I decided to write a long chapter for you all for this update.

I took the time off to focus and pour my energy on my studies and not like it entirely helped much since I'm close to failing one of my classes LMAOOOO (I'm fine in all my other classes though). I'm currently in the mid 50s for this one class and my teacher told me that I'll be able to get the class credit as long as I get 40% or higher on the exam. I feel so burnt out with school and I don't know whether to laugh or cry at this situation, but I'm just gonna laugh now and cry later. I'm not even gonna tell my parents either lolololol (I hate online school so much I'm gonna cryyyyyyyy).

Season 5 has officially started and I'm so pumped and fired up! I found the recent episode really interesting. I wanna know more about the first and previous successors, and just more about one for all as a quirk in general. Shinso is making a reappearance next episode so I'm even more pumped to see him. I think he has a lot of great potential to become a hero so I can't wait to see how he tackles the hero class training. I'll be rooting for his transference into the hero course.

Anyways, I am mostly free both this week and the next so expect to see more than one chapter frequently being put out within this week and the next. I'm gonna work really hard to catch up and quickly put out the 6 chapters I robbed you guys from! I have no plans on abandoning this story.

• Replying to Comments •

CloudySGamer — You're my first reviewer and I sincerely thank you for this 3 When I got a notification saying you reviewed my story I legit squealed and did a little dancey dance because I was so happy lol. English is my second language and I tend to get self-conscious about my verbal and mostly my literacy skills (I reread this chapter 3 times before deciding it was good enough to publish lmao) so thank you for your encouraging words. I'll work hard and try my best to make this a story you find worthy to continuously support!

Random65 — I'm glad to see you're excited for isekai Eri! Tbh, I don't know what happened but I fell down the rabbit hole of isekai and I fell in love with the genre. I've been reading a lot of isekai and reincarnation webtoons recently and I thought it'd be fun if I were to write my own isekai story since I'm currently so in love with the genre rn. That and because I've recently been watching Re:Zero and My Next Life as a Villainess which pumped me to write this. I also heard That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is good so I have that on my watchlist. Thank you for your review!

Pendora59 — Thank you for reviewing! I'm happy to hear that you like my story enough that you look forward to reading more! While I was focusing on school during this time I was also simultaneously planning future scenarios and chapters. I'm very happy with what I have planned out and I'm excited to show you all exactly what I have planned. I'm especially super super super excited to write the Overhaul Arc because I have some tragically beautiful things planned. But before that I'd like to take the time and showcase the dynamic and relationship Eri has with her family with you all before that. I can't wait to show you all so I'll work hard on catching up. Thank you for reviewing!

Thanks for reading and thank you for the reviews! It made me really happy to read them and it really powered me up to write this chapter. So thank you again 3 I'll see you all again this week so until then!

An author who's on the verge of failing a class but rather give her readers the chapters she's robbed them from rather than studying,

— Majesticies