The world ended quietly for Kazuki.
Not with a bang, not with fire or storm—but with a hollow silence that pressed against his chest, making it hard to breathe, even though there was no air. One moment, he was living the mundane ache of his existence—the weight of unfinished tasks, the sting of failure, the memories of laughter he had let slip away. The next, everything was… nothing.
It was not darkness, nor light. It was the absence of all things. A vacuum where even time seemed to have no meaning. He could feel his heartbeat… or perhaps it was memory of his heartbeat. His limbs felt heavy and impossibly light at the same time. He wanted to move, to scream, to claw at something real—but there was nothing.
A voice.
"Kazuki."
It was deep, resonant, and calm, yet it vibrated inside him, making his bones hum.
"Who… who's there?" he croaked, voice barely a whisper, though the sound seemed to echo through every part of his consciousness.
"I am Rob," the voice said. "A being beyond life, beyond death. You have reached the end of your world, and yet… an opportunity remains."
Kazuki tried to speak, tried to move, tried to understand—but the void held him suspended. Panic rose, twisting in his chest like fire. He wanted desperately to deny it, to fight it. This cannot be real. I cannot be dead. Not now. Not like this.
"You… you can't be real," he murmured.
"I am as real as the consequences of choice," Rob replied. "And you have choices to make."
Kazuki's mind spun. Memories of his life—the laughter of friends he'd failed to protect, the regrets he'd buried in the quiet corners of his heart, the family he'd left behind—hit him all at once. He felt a sob rising, and tears burned at the edges of his vision… though there was no air, no body, no way to cry.
"I… I don't understand," he whispered. "I… I don't want this…"
"You have died, Kazuki," Rob said softly, like a teacher speaking to a student. "But death is not the end. Not for you. Five wishes. Five chances to reshape your fate. But know this: every gift carries weight. Every power has consequence. Even I cannot remove the cost."
Kazuki trembled. His mind screamed. Five wishes? Why me? Why now? I… I'm not ready for this…
And yet… the allure, the glimmer of hope in the impossibility, seeped into him.
He swallowed, forcing words past the lump in his throat. "I… I'll choose. I'll… try to be careful."
The void pulsed, almost approvingly. Time seemed to stretch, bending around his hesitation.
Wish 1: Full Counter
He closed his eyes, trying to quiet the panic. "I… I wish for a cursed technique that can reflect attacks back at enemies. Amplified… stronger than they were."
Rob's form, shifting like molten light, shimmered. "A reflection technique… precise, dangerous. Timing and control will decide its effectiveness. Overuse will harm body and mind alike."
Kazuki felt a ripple, a spark of something in his consciousness, something alive. Not yet power—but potential. It felt heavy, like holding a newborn star in his chest. His chest ached, his mind whirled, and for a moment, he wondered if he could even bear it.
Wish 2: Toji-Level Body
His second wish came shakily, instinctively. "I… I wish for a body… one that can handle this power. Peak strength, speed, endurance… a body built for battle."
Rob's form pulsed like a heartbeat. "A vessel worthy of legends. But remember… potential is not mastery. You will grow. You must learn to wield it."
A warmth spread through him, starting small in his core, then radiating outward. His limbs felt alive with potential, not yet fully realized, but promising. He could feel himself capable of more than he ever had been in life—but also… small, vulnerable, fragile, still growing.
A pang of fear struck him. I'm not ready. I'm still a boy. How can I survive with this power if I don't even understand it?
Wish 3: Reverse Cursed Technique
"I… I want to protect those I care about. I wish for the ability to heal, restore energy, and reverse curses—on myself or others."
Rob's light shimmered softly. "Healing comes at a cost. Energy must be spent, mastery must be earned. Even so, versatility and survival will be within your grasp."
A tingle ran along his veins. He imagined being able to touch someone and see the pain lift, to reverse the damage of curses. It was faint, ethereal, like a whisper of wind—but he knew it would grow.
Wish 4: Full Knowledge of the JJK World
"I wish… to know this world. Its history, its curses, its people…"
Rob's presence seemed to expand, filling every corner of the void. "Knowledge is a burden as well as a gift. You will glimpse events, victories, tragedies… but not all is yours to control."
A flood of faint memories, names, and events washed over him. He could recognize places, recall famous sorcerers, anticipate dangers—but only in glimpses. The future was not fully written; he would still need to act, to learn, to grow.
Wish 5: Rebirth in the JJK World
Finally, he whispered, voice quivering but determined: "I… I wish to be reborn in this world. To grow, to survive, and to claim these gifts when the time comes."
Rob's aura shone like the sun breaking through darkness. "So it shall be. You will awaken as youth, with all potential intact. But mastery… mastery is yours to earn. Power alone does not create destiny."
A blinding light. Time fractured. Reality twisted. Kazuki felt himself fall—not like death this time, but like being unraveled and rewoven. Every nerve, every fiber, every thought spun into new existence.
When he opened his eyes, he was smaller. Younger. The world smelled of earth, of rain, of faint cursed energy humming beneath reality. His body was not yet legendary, but he could feel the seeds of greatness pulsing through him.
His hands twitched, faint sparks of cursed energy flickering at his fingertips. His heart raced with terror, wonder, and determination.
"I… I'm alive," he whispered, tears he could feel welling again. "I… I can do this. I have to."
The long journey had begun.