The night was quiet, only the sound of rain hitting the window of the office where Rintaro Shiba worked overtime. For a moment, he took off his glasses and massaged his temples. His body was tired, his mind full of reports and figures that had to be completed before the deadline.
"I have to go home soon..." he muttered.
However, before he could tidy up his desk, the sound of the door creaking was heard behind him. Familiar footsteps approached, making him lift his head with a confused expression.
"Why are you here? It's so late," he asked.
A faint smile appeared on the face of the man standing in front of him - a smile that felt wrong.
"I'm sorry, Shiba-san," the voice sounded low but cold. "It's nothing personal."
Instantly, pain stabbed his stomach. Rintaro's eyes widened, seeing the knife embedded deep in his body. Shaking hands reached for the table, but his strength faded as blood flowed out.
"Why..." he said breathlessly.
"The business world is cruel, you know that, right?" the man whispered, pulling out his knife with a smooth motion. Rintaro fell to the floor, his vision blurring.
His consciousness slowly faded, and for the first time in his life, he felt completely helpless.
Darkness.
However, instead of ending, everything began again.
The cold air pierced his bones. Rintaro woke up with a much smaller body, wrapped in shabby cloth. The sound of another baby crying around him, and above him, the gray sky greeted him gloomily.
He was no longer in the world he knew.
In this new world torn by war, he had to find a way to survive, or die once again without leaving a trace.
Darkness.
I couldn't see.
My body felt small, fragile, and helpless. The cold air hit my skin, as if freezing me to the bone. I tried to move my hands, but I had no strength. I couldn't even open my eyes.
"This child... are we really going to throw him away?" A woman's voice sounded soft, but full of fear.
"We have no choice," the man's voice replied, cold and emotionless. "If we take him home, we'll be punished too."
My heart was pounding. What did they mean? Was I really being thrown away?
"But... he's still a baby. At least let him..."
"Enough!" The man's shout silenced the woman. "Let's leave him here and leave now before anyone sees!"
I felt something soft—like a thin blanket—wrapping my body. Then, the sound of footsteps receded. The cold air became more piercing, the night wind blowing harshly, making my small body shiver.
"I'm going to die again? So soon?"
Not long after that, another sound of footsteps was heard. This time lighter, softer. The sound of gasping breaths mixed with worried murmurs.
"Oh my God... a baby?" A woman's voice sounded closer. "Who could leave you here...?"
I felt a warm touch lifting my body carefully. The faint scent of bread and damp earth filled my senses.
The woman murmured, her voice full of pity. "Don't worry, I'll take you to a warmer place."
For the first time since I was reborn, this small body felt a little warmth. But somehow, my instincts told me that my suffering had only just begun.
The night wind blew hard as the woman took me in her warm embrace. Her footsteps were hurried, as if afraid that someone would see her. I could feel her body trembling slightly—not because of the cold, but because of the fear that enveloped her.
A moment later, the sound of the iron gate creaked open. The woman stepped inside, and the air around her changed. The scent of candles and burning wood filled my nose, accompanied by the faint sound of prayer echoing in the distance.
"Sister Maria! Sister Maria!" the woman called in a trembling voice.
More footsteps approached. An old woman's voice sounded, full of authority but still gentle. "What happened, Ana? Why are you so panicked at this time of night?"
"Sister... I found this baby outside. Someone has abandoned him in the cold night."
For a moment, silence enveloped the room. Then, footsteps approached, and I felt another hand touch my forehead.
"Fever... his body is very weak," Sister Maria murmured. "This child is almost freezing to death. We must warm him up immediately."
I felt my body being carried into a warmer room. The cloth that had been wrapping me was replaced with something thicker and more comfortable. Warmth began to spread, although my body still felt weak.
"Poor child..." Sister Maria whispered. "From now on, you are part of our family at St. Elia Orphanage."
Without me realizing it, my new life in this world had begun.