I stared at the clown in front of me, unsure if I should laugh, scream, or run. For a long moment, he just floated there, grinning like he knew something I didn't. Finally, he broke the silence.
"Well, let me introduce myself," he said cheerfully, waving one oversized white-gloved hand. "I'm Berry. That's all you need to know."
"Uh… okay," I said slowly, still trying to process everything. "So… what happens next?"
Berry floated lazily in the empty space around us, twirling in slow circles as he thought. The black cosmos stretched endlessly in every direction, sprinkled with distant stars. After a moment, he snapped his fingers dramatically.
"Alright!" he said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Since you're getting reborn, let's start with the basics. Hmmm, let's see…"
He leaned closer, staring at me so intensely it felt like he was looking straight into my soul. I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.
"Aha! Got it!" Berry shouted, clapping his hands together. "Let's start with your appearance!"
I stared at him blankly. "Uh… okay?"
Without missing a beat, Berry continued, "You'll look like Megumi — but more masculine. I always hated how he looked like a little boy."
I blinked, confused. "Okay…? I guess that's fine?"
"Good! One thing down!" Berry said with a big grin. "Now, your height… hmm… you'll grow to about 6'6 at your peak after puberty!"
A huge smile broke out across my face. "Yes! Finally! I'll have a real chance to make it to the NBA!"
Berry's smile faltered. His expression turned blank. "There's no NBA in the world you're going to," he said flatly.
My excitement died instantly. The reality hit me again — I was being sent to the world of a perverted 30-year-old man who liked kids. Not exactly the place for chasing NBA dreams. I sighed heavily.
Berry, oblivious to my pain, kept talking. "As for your body, it'll be lean but jacked. No matter what you eat, no matter how you treat it, you'll always stay ripped!"
He looked so proud of himself, like he had just given me the best gift in the universe.
I floated there silently, still lost in the endless cosmos, just wishing this was over. I muttered, "Cool."
Berry stood there, waiting for a bigger reaction. When none came, he slumped dramatically, his entire body drooping like a sad balloon.
"Not even a thank you?" he mumbled. "Not even a happy smile?" His voice cracked like he was about to cry.
Before I could say anything, he perked up again, grinning from ear to ear. "Anyway! Let's move on to your abilities — I'm getting so hyped over here!"
He started spinning in circles, faster and faster, until he was a colorful blur against the blackness of space. Suddenly, he stopped and pointed at me, shouting, "You'll have Sukuna's Innate Technique!"
Before I could even react, he barreled on, "Oh, and you'll also have a Heavenly Restriction — which means no mana for you!"
I floated there, stunned, unable to even process what he had just said. No mana?! What kind of messed up rebirth was this?
"And for your final ability…" Berry said with a flourish, "you'll get the Ten Shadows Technique! Because… why not?!"
He threw his arms up in the air, doing a little victory dance as he repeated, "Because why not!!"
I just floated there, numb, staring at the insane clown who apparently had total control over my new life.