Reincarnation is not the worst, she decided after dying in a horrific accident.
While staying alive and well would be preferable, being not dead is an acceptable outcome in the given situation. As pragmatic as ever (and definitely not deeply in denial) she decided to accept the unexpected circumstances.
So there she was. An adult ass woman with an okay-paying job, betta fish named Bluey, and a mortgage, currently occupying the body of a 3-year-old baby. Kinda depressing to think of all those achievements and relationships now gone.
At least there were small mercies connected with impromptu body conversion. For one, being gifted with a body capable of eating normal food. As fun, as the prospect of sucking some random ass lady's tit for a few might be, it did not bring joy to her heart. So that's great.
What's even better was apparently being able to comprehend Japanese on a basic level, which is absolutely amazing considering that before she didn't understand anything beyond the 10 most popular words for a protagonist to shout in a considerably popular anime.
And some truths were harder to swallow.
Like new parents.
They weren't bad, in fact as far as she could say they were quite good but there was nothing wrong with the first ones. But it was hard to act as their normal baby daughter that's the least they deserve for bodysnaching the real one. Nonetheless, she was determined to adjust to the new life.
So.
Fresh start.
New identity.
Kieruko.
Her new parents call her Kieruko-chan now.
That is her name.
She's basically a toddler. Black hair and black eyes. Chubby cheeks. Way too short legs.
Conclusion: she's a standard baby. A win in her books.
Problem: that's where the "ordinary" ends.
Kieruko realized that maybe she did not reincarnated into the usual world about 5 minutes into watching the ceiling after an unmeasurable amount of time spent having something between an existential crisis and a mental breakdown. That's when she noticed another person in the room.
My mother, brain supplies.
The new mom was a pretty lady with amazing black hair (that Kieruko hopes she inherited) and the look of a dreamer. As in she looks like just a humble passerby in someone else's incredibly detailed memory. Not exactly present in this reality.
Her name was Ishiki and she had a pair of the most vibrant violet eyes. An impossible shade of it that could not be found in nature. And yet.
"Time to get up sunshine." Even her voice sounds slightly distant.
Reincarnee decided to follow her mom around the house like a little duckling while she was quietly absorbing information. The place was clean, bright, with enough wood and glass to indicate an upper-middle-class dwelling.
Good place to be raised.
Ishiki noticing her little shadow, smiles and begins to hum an unfamiliar melody as they both make their way down the hallway. Everything feels so unreal in the morning light.
As Kieruko enters the kitchen, she's met with the smell of delicious breakfast and the sight of another figure. Guy in a white shirt, with short dark hair (why does it look kinda green?), glasses, and wide amber eyes. He smiles at the newly arriv- oh wow the guy, her dad, has a kind smile. It makes her feel guilty for so many reason.
"Good morning sleepy head."
Dad gets a noncommittal hum as an answer and the morning routine organically continues.
It seems like quiet breakfasts and her behavior is normal enough because no one questions the newly kid-sized reincarnee why she fucking stole kid's body and is eating toast with it like nothing happened.
So she's playing her part well.
Also. Motor skills? Downgrade of the fucking century. Not to even mention walking because Kieruko is proud that somehow she didn't fall on her face, despite her limbs' best attempt at sabotage. Useless little stubs. Grabbing food is a slight challenge but she is a grown woman capable of consuming a slice of bread with at least some dignity.
She is still in a haze figuring out the new re:life when her new parents start talking about plans for the day. Kieruko does her best to focus and absorb any information possible despite faint confusion lingering in the back of her mind.
Both of them are some kind of counselors, working in the same place. There is some kind of kid that Ishiki has a problem categorizing. Dad, Ishiki calls him Seichi, notices their daughter's confusion, misunderstanding it for boredom, and sits her in front of the TV leaving her in the graces of whatever morning programming has to offer when two things happen.
Mom says "I can't just call it hydrokinesis when obviously there's more to the quirk, even if that's the only visible manifestation at the moment"
At the same time, the screen plays a short clip of ALL MIGHT followed by a shameless advert for his new action figure.
And then suddenly Kieruko's vision sharpens for the first time in this life as enlightenment comes.
Quirk.
All Might.
Holy shit.
She knows where she got reincarnated.
Boku no fucking Hero Academia.
Following that revelation began one of the most suspicious interrogations, if not for the fact that it was conducted by a 3-year-old also known as one of the most curious creatures on the planet.
"Mom, what's your job?"
"I help kids figure out what their Quirks are and how to safely use them."
Kieruko decided to play the oblivious kid part.
"What's a quirk?"
"It's a special unique ability that most people get."
"What's my quirk?"
"You haven't manifested yet."
"When will I get a quirk?"
"Probably in a year."
"That's a long time."
"It is," Ishiki says barely holding her laughter. Her husband's giggling like a schoolgirl into his coffee.
Kieruko isn't sure why rapid-fire questioning is working so well, she's not going to look a gifted horse in the mouth, so she continues her currently successful interrogation technique.
"What's your quirk?"
There is a glint in Ishiki's eye when she begins the explanation. "I call it Quirk's True Color. It allows me to see the unique color, shade, texture, and pattern of each quirk. This way I can figure out how they work. For example, all fire quirks have an orange-ish hue to them. Also, that makes me see a lot more colors than possible with a human eye."
So she can see like forbidden shrimp colors but with superpowers. That's honestly so fucking cool.
"Wow, I hope I get a quirk like yours." That comment makes Ishiki smile again. "Dad, what's your quirk?"
"It's called Lock-on. I can track the location of a single person in a 7km radius." His eyes begin to glow slightly for a moment. Kieruko's fascinated by whatever anime magic makes that possible.
"How does that help you in your work?"
"It doesn't."
"Huh."
"You don't want to have a quirk like your dad?" There is a mischievous note in his expression as he asks.
"Nope."
That awards Kieruko with another round of laughter for some reason. Maybe her destiny in this life is to become the best stand-up comedian of the century.
Then Seichi speaks finally shining light on their confusing behavior "I can't believe our Kieru-chan was quiet for so long if the only thing needed for her to open up was quirk talk. If that doesn't prove she's a Hiseki then nothing does."
Oh, that explains a lot.
Hiseki Kieruko. The kid who wasn't speaking before.
Now she did.
And now she loved to talk about the same topics as her parents.
Now she was Kieruko.
There is no going back, isn't it?
It took her one morning to accept the new reality. Much shorter than she would ever guess.
After that first chaotic day, she quickly adjusted to the new normal. First family breakfast, then they would go together to a fancy office where parents were working leaving Kieruko alone in a corner where she was quickly relearning alphabets (yes multiple because Japanese is anything but simple), slowly picking up books again. She breezed through those intended for 4yo and started to read anything she could put her pudgy hands on. Which meant mostly scientific literature on quirks. That was fine by her considering her unquenchable thirst for knowledge of the new world.
After a few weeks, Kieruko was sure that both parental units were aware of her educational endeavors yet no one made a single comment about her astounding academic achievements. Maybe they thought she was pretending to understand complicated scientific terms. She wasn't sure. Then again, she was in sight of at least one competent adult at all times, (along with unlimited access to a tablet with a wi-fi connection and a wall of books about the most fascinating scientific topic).
Quirks were so cool.
Her parents were weird though.
Both of them were quirk counselors. Their job was to look at people using their supernatural abilities, analyze, test them, and advise how to use them better. There could not possibly be a better job than that.
While Seichi never allowed Kieruko to even take a glimpse at any of the tests, Ishiki loved to carry her while older kids were performing various tasks in special training rooms behind thic glass windows.
Her mom would always explain the reason behind every exercise, the typical activation conditions, side effects, and terminology. Kieruko loved being treated like a tiny adult (that she was to a certain extent) and getting university-level lectures.
After 2 months of that arrangement, she was probably the only toddler who could give a lecture on the differences between Quirk Factor and quirk related mutations or categorization of telekinetic quirks. Ishiki was delighted with that development, Seichi was much less excited judging by his expression. Both of them had more than one heated conversation about it behind closed doors. Kieruko didn't have to be a genius to guess why.
What she should have predicted was that the whole arrangement was temporary and yet she was shocked when dad informed her that she was starting kindergarten next week.
Like any ex-adult idea of being grouped with actual toddlers was insulting to some extent.
Then there was a realization of being locked with kids in different educational institutions for the next 15 years
That thought brought pure dread to her usually stoic heart.
"No, thank you." She replied resolutely.
For the first time since reincarnating Kieruko was showing actual displeasure at her parents' decision.
"I'm sorry but it's not up for debate sunshine, you should spend time with kids your age."
This argument was shit for reasons Kieruko was unable to disclose. And so it became quite a fight. Hurtful words were said. Apple juice privileges were revoked.
It did not change the outcome in the end.
There was denial, anger, pleading, bargaining, attempts at bribery, long period of silence, and cold acceptance.
It was a difficult period in the Hiseki household.
The faithful first Monday of April arrived.
Seichi was holding the hand of a very pissed-off child with an adorable yellow hat but even in all of her acts of defiance, his daughter was incredibly cooperative considering she did not cry, scream or bite like some of the other children around. The kiddo with blue hair had an especially healthy pair of lungs was an example of contrary behavior. Both Hisekis cringed at the sound of ear-piercing shrieks performed by an unstable dumbass child.
Seichi could practically feel the burning gaze of his daughter conveying 'See? I could be so much worse if I really wanted to send a message'.
He did understand that. He appreciated the signs of goodwill from his way too-smart daughter. Didn't change the fact that she needed to socialize with her peers.
Seeing that his resolve did not waver, Kieruko clicked her tongue.
"Please, pick me up early." She murmured.
"Okay, sunshine. You know I'm very proud of how brave you are."
I am an adult. The problem lies with my patience, not my courage.
"Thank you," she says instead.
"And you can make so many new friends here."
That sentence is not met with enthusiasm.
"...and we will have pizza for dinner to celebrate first day, okay?" Now THAT on the other hand does spark joy in Kieruko's heart.
They finally reached the gate where a suspiciously enthusiastic-looking lady takes, more often than not, crying kids off their parents' hands.
When it's finally their turn Kieruko steps forward, turns to make eye contact with her dad, and with a solemn expression of a man approaching an electric chair she asks "Are you sure?"
Seichi barely stifling laughter nods seriously "Go and represent our family with honor." After a second of consideration, he adds "Think of it as an opportunity to witness multiple quirk manifestations. I'm sure you'll find something interesting."
That makes an impact. There is a new sparkle of interest as Kieruko salutes with newfound energy. "I will make you proud." Then she lets a kind lady take her inside.
A pair of amber, slightly teary eyes stays fixed on her as she enters the building.
He believes his daughter will do amazingly. There is a new kind of anxiety slowly building inside Seichi's chest. Why is she growing up so fast. It feels like barely yesterday she was a quiet, tiny baby, now it would be more appropriate to compare her to a little chaos gremlin. Much livelier, louder, and actively attempting to uncover secrets of the universe.
That's how growing up works.
It's going to be okay.
With that thought he finally turns around ready to go back to his work.
There is no God, Kieruko repeats the new mantra over and over in her head as she enters her new classroom.
Apparently, all the little morons have 3-second memory because they already are laughing and playing with toys without a care in the world. Like they didn't try to drown the entrance with tears a few minutes prior.
The kindergarten teacher beacons children to sit in a circle on the floor and introduce themselves.
Kieruko bets that after that they're going to learn the hiragana song, maybe how one plus one equals two.
Fuck, this is her life for the next 3 years: learning things she knows, screaming toddlers and HOLY SHIT is that baby Tokoyami?