Part 1
"Don't worry... I am here!"
...This news, or rather this footage... how many times have I seen it on TV by now?
Even without specifically searching for it, just living in this country gives you plenty of opportunities to see this VTR—too many, in fact. It's footage from the scene of a major disaster from long ago.
It shows a muscular, hero-like looking man rescuing about a thousand victims from what appears to be a collapsed building. And he did it all by himself.
Well, if someone saves a thousand people single-handedly without using any machinery or anything, of course the media would go wild. People would unanimously praise that person, instantly making him a hero.
But the "hero" in this case is a bit different...
In the world I used to live in, "hero" was both a term of praise for someone who performed heroic deeds and, ultimately, a metaphorical expression.
It didn't refer to supernatural beings like masked motorcycle riders, five-person combat teams, or silver aliens from the that appear on TV. Those existed only in fiction, after all.
Why am I stating the obvious? Well, you see... apparently that's not the case in this world.
Let me briefly state two facts.
First: In this world... "heroes" exist.
And I mean in the sense of warriors who use superhuman powers to fight evil villains and protect world peace, the kind we only ever saw on TV screens.
And second:
Many of you have probably been wondering what I mean by "this world" or "the world I used to live in"... Ah, my apologies for the late introduction.
My name is Fumiko Towa. I'm 15 years old.
A former man, currently a girl... your everyday "reincarnator."
...You're saying there's no such thing anywhere? I know.
☆☆☆
Fifteen years have already passed since I, just your average salaryman in my previous life, somehow ended up living a second life.
And... in this world that's clearly different from my original one.
This is definitely Japan, and the scenery, the buildings and roads standing around here, isn't that different from what I remember from my previous life.
At most, you can see slightly futuristic buildings and structures scattered about here and there.
So if you only looked at this part, I would've thought, "What, I've been reborn in my original world, or one similar to it,". There wouldn't be any particular problems from relying on my previous life's values.
However, there's one major difference between this world and the one I originally came from.
In this world, there exists a power called "Quirks"... something that would undoubtedly be categorized as "superpowers" or "special abilities."
And what's surprising is that it's not something only a limited few possess, apparently 80% of the world's population has them.
Perhaps in satire of this, the current world seems to be called things like "superhuman society" or "superhuman era."
Quirks come in all varieties, each completely different. Some are plain or low-risk, like attracting objects or having better eyesight than others, while others are flashy and high-risk, like being able to exert superhuman strength, manipulate fire or electricity, things you'd only see in fantasy.
Furthermore, there are even those categorized as "Heteromorphic Type" who have appearances that barely look human at all.
Even now, just by looking around as I walk normally, I can spot two or three people (?) with such appearances.
There's a guy who looks like a college student walking toward me with horns on his head, and a few steps ahead of me is a girl who appears to be a junior high student (probably), she looks like a normal human, but... her hair is like plant vines or thorns. As for the salaryman-looking middle-aged man walking on the street across the road, his face is completely that of a lion. The sight of a fierce-looking lion tightly wearing a tie and running while checking the time on his watch is more than just a little surreal.
And nobody finds this situation strange.
In this world, this is normal.
Suddenly, I stop and look to the side.
My "current" figure is reflected in the large glass of a show window.
Frankly speaking, I'm pretty. I can confidently say I'm a beautiful girl.
My face is well-proportioned, my skin is fair without a single blemish. My eyes are slightly upturned, which might make me look a bit strong-willed, but few would probably mind.
I have a good figure, with curves in all the right places. You could say I have a perfect build, with long, slender arms and legs.
My chest, which has developed to the point where I don't look like a junior high student, has enough appeal that about one out of every two men who pass by gives it a glance or a double-take... I used to be a man, so I understand the feeling. Even though it's my own chest.
If you're just looking and not making a big deal about it, go ahead, but I won't allow any touching.
My smooth black hair is semi-long, reaching about shoulder-length. It's at a level that other girls would envy. When I first entered junior high and said I didn't do any particular maintenance, they were super surprised.
I wanted to cut it short, to about the same length as a boy's (is it called a bob?), but I was stopped because it would be a waste to cut such beautiful hair, so I've settled for this length ever since. Some friends suggested growing it longer, but that would make washing it too much of a hassle.
My height is 188 cm (measured during last spring's physical exam; I might have grown a bit more since) is quite tall for a girl, which might be divisive... but overall, I'd say I'm a beautiful girl.
...At the very least, I'm glad I look human-like.
Not that I'm speaking ill of those with Heteromorphic Type Quirks... but, you know, personal values are what they are. Especially when you're a reincarnator inside.
I know several web novels where people reincarnate as slimes, dragons, demons, or swords, but if I were actually in such a situation, I'd panic and probably wouldn't be able to survive.
Cutting off that train of thought, I start walking again.
I'm acting with plenty of time to spare, but if I waste time and end up "late," that would be no laughing matter. I absolutely have to make sure I'm on time.
After all, today is... the day of the high school entrance exam.
Having reserved a hotel room to stay overnight in preparation for today, I'm now about to take the exam for U.A. High School, which could be called the center of hero education in this world.