(….)
"….. I think I'm dead."
Or so I think so, but looking at the endless darkness around me, so it either the case or I'm just in a coma.
And would be thinking, why's he think that he dead.
It simple, it seems that I become one of the many victims of Truck-Kun.
It all began on a fateful day.
Ah and by the way, my name is or was Bernard Clovis Boudin.
(… A bit nasty, but I lived with that.)
And if that wasn't already obvious enough — I'm French.
Well, more precisely, I'm half-French and half-Japanese, even though that's not exactly the first thing you'd guess from someone with a look like mine.
And I can say with 100 percent certainty that am an absolutely normal person.
Well, it the case if you ignore that I'm currently talking to myself in a place where there are any other
By day, I was an ordinary office worker at an indie game production house. Luckily, some of my colleagues are old buddies from campus, so I quite enjoy my position there.
And at night — or whenever I have a bit of free time outside — I run a specialised Pokémon YouTube channel.
Lastly I'm was stuck in the most complicated, grueling Nuzlocke I've ever attempted.
For those who don't know what a Nuzlocke Challenge is, it's a set of self-imposed rules you add to a Pokémon game to make it significantly harder — and a whole lot more emotional.
The core rules are :
1. If a Pokémon faints, it's considered dead → You release it or permanently box it.
2. You can only catch the FIRST Pokémon you encounter in each area → If it faints or you fail to catch it, you get nothing for that route.
3. You must nickname every Pokémon → This makes you far more attached to them.
There are optional rules to make it even more "fun," but that's not the point right now.
So why put myself through all this?
Content, obviously and I don't see myself getting into anything else in the meanwhile.
The point is, that recently I've had my eye on a junior who's still studying on campus nearby.
….And I'm not a predator by any means.
She just happens to be my landlord's daughter, so we run into each other pretty often — and somewhere along the way, I grew quite fond of her.
She even shows up in some of my livestreams, even though it mostly unannounced.
She'll walk in, cause some kind of scene that's either completely unhinged or inexplicably bold, and then leave like nothing happened.
I still have no idea why she got a copy of my apartment keys.
What I do know is that my channel only really started taking off after one of her first appearances on stream.
Which also means that a significant portion of my audience tunes in specifically for her — and frankly, some of them probably want to see her more than me.
Anyway, I was quite happy with my life in general.
But like in all the novels, it seems that someone who is quite happy about the life is destined to live a tragic early end.
And it happened on one particular night, right after I took a break from the Nuzlocke to get ready for a gathering with some friends and my junior.
We had just closed up the production house for the weekend.
We were about to cross the road when my junior, who had been chatting with her friends on the other side, spotted me and waved. I waved back.
She started making her way toward me, crossing the zebra crossing with that light, carefree stride of hers — the light was still red, so it should have been fine.
And then, out of nowhere —
A Wild Truck-kun Appeared.
I am not even slightly kidding.
A massive container truck came barreling down the road at full speed, showing absolutely no sign of slowing down — not even with the light clearly still red.
Panic erupted immediately. Everyone still on the crossing scrambled for the sidewalk, turning the zebra crossing into pure chaos.
I grabbed her hand so we wouldn't get separated in the crowd.
And then some unknown bastard shoved us both out of the way just to get himself clear faster.
We hit the ground hard. I think she sprained her ankle in the fall.
I looked up. The truck was still coming.
I did what any man who loves his girl would do.
Mustering every last bit of strength I had, I threw her clear of the truck's path.
And stayed behind.
The last thing I heard before the darkness took me was the sound of someone screaming my name.
One of my biggest regrets is leaving the Nuzlocke unfinished.
The other is not tracking down the son of a b*tch who shoved us.
What? I'm allowed to be angry. I had so many projects in the works, and I'm not the type to just let things slide.
If I'd had one more chance, I would have taken her somewhere quiet. Somewhere far less crowded. Just the two of us, chilling.
Too bad life doesn't give you second chances.
I guess this was really a Game Over for me.
…
…
…
—And now my current problem is to know how long am I going to be stuck in this dark place ?
In fact, I just finished my whole monologue — isn't this usually when the cosmic being shows up ?
Shouldn't I be heading to Heaven ? Or at least getting reincarnated ?
-----
*Blink*
Ignoring the fact that I forgot to mention Hell as an option earlier — the place suddenly got bright.
Like someone flipped a light switch in this pitch-black room.
Speaking of rooms, I now appear to be standing in one. An entirely white one. An endless, featureless void of pure white, and I'm floating somewhere in the middle of it.
(—Great, at least there's are a change in the scenery and at least now I can see — even if there's nothing to look at.)
Just as I was resigning myself to spending an unknown amount of time completely alone in this place, a figure materialized in front of me.
The apparition grew more solid by the second, and within ten seconds, I found myself face to face with a very familiar man in a white lab coat.
The spitting image of the elegant Professor from Pokémon Series as well one of the most iconic or at least top 3 in my book.
" Welcome to the Crossroads of Afterlife."
"—— Hi Professor Sycamore ?" I greeted him, with perhaps a bit too much enthusiasm for someone who had just died.
" Well, I'm glad you seem to be taking this well — but I'm not Professor Sycamore." said the figure, with a small, patient smile.
Somehow, I got the distinct impression he'd had to say that many, many times before.
" Then who are you ?" I asked.
"A good question — but not one I can answer right now. What matters at this moment is something far more important." He clasped his hands together. "So tell me — are you a boy, or are you a girl? Or perhaps… something else entirely?"
The moment he finished speaking, a translucent panel materialized in front of me, displaying eight choices.
-----
— 1. A Half Boy : You wake up somewhere half between masculine and feminine.
— 2. A Girl : A perfectly ordinary female body. No hidden powers, no secret advantages, and no suspicious fine print. Just a fresh start and a second chance at life.
— 3. I am a Trap : Blessed (or cursed) with an appearance capable of deceiving almost anyone.
— 4. Best of Both Worlds : Why choose? Gain traits from both sexes while avoiding most biological inconveniences.
— 5. I'm Not a Robot : Become a mechanical lifeform with a body built for efficiency. Enhanced strength, endurance, and processing power included.
— 6. Attack Helicopter : Become an actual attack helicopter. Fly through the skies. Rain destruction upon your enemies. Fuel costs may vary.
— 7. I Don't Want To Be in Your Balls : Reincarnate as a Pokémon. Gain access to incredible abilities, elemental powers, and evolution. Species not guaranteed.
— 8. Let's Go Gambling : Leave everything to chance. Species, race, talent, appearance, and destiny are all randomized. You could become a legendary hero. You could become a cabbage farmer. The wheel does not care.
-----
I looked a little dumbfounded by the current option there.
"Hm… just to know, there are all my only options ?
He nodded.
"— And what just to know, what do mean half a boy ?"
<( a bit of explanation)>
"—So in resume exactly a half a boy ?"
Seeing that I couldn't not get a single boy body in take a proper look at the other option.
"Alright then."
(— 6 and 8 are immediately out. I was just killed by a truck — there is absolutely no universe in which I choose to become one.)
(… 5 is interesting, but I don't think I want to spend the rest of my existence as a robot.)
(— and 1 and 2 feel too plain and I don't feel like to be a half boy.)
That left numbers 3, 4, and 7.
( — I think that I will be a Pokémon, but the odds of ending up as a Caterpie rather than anything desirable are not in my favor.)
(—And as for option 4… would I have to deal with a monthly cycle? Because I have seen women go through that. I have heard them talk about it. And that is not an experience I am volunteering for.)
My choice was made.
Without much hesitation, I pressed my palm against the third option.
(— So then go for the trap route, at least my junior will still be with me.)
The moment I made my selection, a immense mirror materialized in front of me, reflecting a appearance back at me.
The standard character I think was a long purple hair boy cascading down to the back of my knees.
With the classically Japanese face with eyes as violet as the hair framing it.
(— A bit too traditionally Japanese for my taste.)
"—So how I change that ?"
No sooner had the thought crossed my mind than a panel appears in my hand.
I reached up and touched the panel, several dozen of options displayed on the panel.
(—So I really can customize my appearance here.)
"This is the Character Creation Space." said the one who was definitely not Professor Sycamore, answering my unspoken question with the calm ease of someone who had done this many times before.
"It's the place where you can still adjust your appearance freely, before you're sent to your new world."
I stared at the search bar.
Then at the list beneath it.
Then back at the search bar.
For a few seconds, I simply stood there in silence.
"…Professor."
"Yes?"
"Why does the character creator have a search engine?"
The man who definitely wasn't Professor Sycamore adjusted his glasses.
"For convenience."
I blinked.
"For convenience?"
"You don't know how many souls arrive here with no idea what they want to look like ? Most people spend hours adjusting facial features one slider at a time."
"…"
"…"
"This somehow raises even more questions."
While listening to the explication of the professor, I begin to experience a bit of the characteristics of the panel.
I clicked on it.
————
[ Top Character Search :
0- Muzan (Smooth Demon)
1- Satoru Mojo (White Kit-Kat)
2- Makima (Mommy's boy)
3- Sung Jinwoo (Solo Rizzler)
4- Kakashi Hatake (Copy Ninja)
5- Loid Forger (Best Espion)
6- Jonathan Joestar (Fast Runner)
...…]
Beneath it was a ranking list with some interesting nicknames with it.
"Professor."
"Yes?"
"Why does this look like a YouTube comment section?"
The Professor glanced at the panel.
"Oh. Those aren't the official names."
"They very clearly aren't."
"The users vote on the nicknames."
"The users?"
"Previous reincarnates."
I slowly turned back toward the list.
"…There were others before me."
"Thousands."
"…"
"…"
"…People really spend their afterlife browsing character presets."
"Well at least it's interesting to see."
I wasn't sure whether that made humanity better or worse.
Out of curiosity, I tapped the search bar.
A keyboard instantly materialized beneath it.
My fingers hovered above the keys for a moment.
Then I typed the most obvious name.
- Satoru Gojo.
A soft chime echoed through the room.
Immediately, a life-sized hologram appeared before me.
(— Classic white hair, this op blues eyes and still ridiculously handsomest.)
That face at already proved his efficiency when we see the current state of the fanbases.
"…Huh."
I circled around the projection.
The resemblance was perfect.
There's even an option with or without the blindfold.
"Not bad."
"One of the more popular choices."
"I can see why."
Curious, I tapped the hologram.
The world flashed.
A pulse of light washed across my body.
The mirror beside me updated instantly.
I looked up.
Then froze.
"…Professor."
"Yes?"
" I'm not sure but last time I've checked, Gojo should have a dih-hih and not a pair booba with a kitty kat right ?"
The not-Professor glanced toward the mirror.
"Oh."
"Oh?"
"You selected the Trap option."
"…"
"The system automatically applies a gender inversion modifier."
I stared at him totally dumbfounded by the meaning of his words.
"The appearance is preserved, only the sex will changes."
"…"
I sighed.
(—Apparently I couldn't cheat the system that easily, my future involved dealing with a trap body or otherwise—.)
Wonderful.
Still, I had to admit something.
Female Gojo actually looked pretty good.
The white hair remained.
The striking blue eyes remained.
The overwhelming aura of confidence remained.
The only difference was that everything had somehow become elegant instead of imposing.
I dismissed the preset.
(—Next.)
Over the next several minutes, I tested dozens of appearances.
Heroes.
Villains.
Anime protagonists.
Video game characters.
Famous idols.
Legendary warriors.
Every time I selected one, the system dutifully applied the Trap modifier and presented an alternate version.
Some were impressive.
Some were terrifying.
A few were genuinely hilarious.
Eventually, however, a problem emerged.
None of them felt right.
Not because they were ugly.
Not because they were bad.
Quite the opposite.
Many of them looked incredible.
But they weren't me.
I had already spent an entire life as Bernard Clovis Boudin.
The idea of spending my next life wearing somebody else's face felt strangely wrong.
Slowly, I closed the search window.
The rankings vanished.
The holograms disappeared.
The room became quiet once again.
The Professor watched me curiously.
"Finished?"
"Yeah."
"You found something you liked?"
I considered the question.
Then shook my head.
"No."
A blank customization template appeared before me.
(—Hair, eyes, faces, height, build, everything empty.)
"I think I'd rather make my own."
For a brief moment, the not-Professor looked genuinely pleased.
"Besides," I said, rolling up my sleeves.
(—With so many people looking the same way I think the reader will think that I'm not original.)
" And If I'm going to spend the rest of my next life looking with a face, I should probably put some effort into it."
The customization panel expanded dramatically.
Hundreds of options appeared.
- Hair colors.
- Eye shapes.
- Skin tones.
- Body proportions.
- Facial structures.
I cracked my knuckles.
"Alright."
The Professor quietly stepped backward.
Experience told him exactly what was about to happen.
Several hours of unnecessary optimization.
"Let's build a character."
————-
After several minutes of experimenting, I finally had a direction.
(—First, the face.)
The answer came surprisingly quickly.
Ilima.
You know, the guy who got eliminated by Guzma at the Alola Championship.
He didn't make it far in the competition, which is a bit of a shame considering the glaze that he received in the anime.
And obviously I won't just copy paste his face.
Firstly that would be lazy and I doubt it will be 'female' enough.
But the overall aesthetic?
He have the face that made people think "responsible upperclassman" instead of "future criminal mastermind."
The rosy hair changed, because I used to be blonde and I want it to stay the same.
The warm skin tone stayed, because white is pretty overdue right now, and I don't think I can handle a jade body/snow bunny skin care.
I just accentuate the colour eyes for a bit of contrast stayed.
(—Next came the build part.)
And that required considerably more thought.
Because, most of the trap knows for there fragile and delicate bodies.
(—FUCK THAT!!!!!!!!)
Obviously there no way I would have a body like this, it just a bait for the people who think to much of themselves.
And I don't want to be short.
I opened the physique tab.
Immediately, hundreds of templates appeared.
(— Several athletes, models, some martial artists, and why Heroes/Villains are in the package ?)
I ignored those.
If I was getting a second life, I wanted something practical.
(— At least look physically feat, enough to be fast, and a good appeal will be great.)
Not some decorative ornament that would collapse after carrying a backpack for two hours.
I take several minutes searching for a physique appropriate.
And eventually, one particular template caught my eye.
[ Maki Zenin (Awakened) ]
I paused.
(— Perfect!!!)
The kind of physique that looked fast even while standing still.
(—Maybe I should also add some scars ?)
After deciding on whatever I want to wear some scars or not,(—I do)— I finally take care of the last but certainly the most important feature in my new body.
(—Around 6-7 inches should be enough right ?)
I think a bit about it, before I simply confirmed 7 inches.
(— Let's make sure the family isn't ending with me this time.)
[ For the people who don't know about inches, 6 inches = 15,2 cm, and 7 inches = 17,78 cm.]
Looking at my own perfection, a immense amount of joy flows into my heart.
I selected the display, and the mirror shifted.
[ Configuration Accepted.]
(—Yes I still have my dih !!!!!!!!)
And for the first time since arriving here, I found myself genuinely impressed.
I flexed experimentally.
The overall look was something like a sporty, approachable and fun type.
I still look mostly like a girl, but I think I take my hair in a ponytail, all my problems are gone.
(—Yes. This works perfectly.)
I gave my reflection one last look and nodded, satisfied.
"You've settled on your gender and appearance, then?" the not-Professor asked.
"Yes."
"Very well. Let's move on." He folded his hands neatly in front of him. "Now — what is your name?"
A new interface appeared : a transparent keyboard and a name display panel, both floating at exactly eye level.
I stared at it for a long moment.
(— My last name was Bernard Clovis Boudin, there is no saving with that name.) I think a bit for several alternative.
(—Something more neutral, that could work both ways.)
—One Eternity Later—
In the end, I settled on two words and typed them in.
[ Noah Delacroix.]
(—Now, I think that ok.)
...
"…You took considerably longer on the name than you did on your gender and your entire physical appearance," the not-Professor observed.
"Naming things is hard," I said. "Ask any Pokémon player."
He looked at me for a moment, then appeared to decide that was a reasonable answer.
"Very well, Noah." He straightened slightly, the air around us shifting in a way that felt deliberate — like a page turning. "Before I send you to the world that is waiting for you, allow me to tell you a little about where you're going."
-----End of Chapter 1——