“Who the fuck is this?”
The boy muttered, bewildered, not believing his own eyes.
[That is you, from now on.]
A voice suddenly sounded in his mind, as if it was planted there.
The boy scanned the room frantically, searching for the source of the voice.
But all he saw was the luxury radiating off of every inch of the bathroom.
“W-where are you?”
The boy sounded scared, trying to make sense of the completely unfamiliar situation.
[Right in front of you.]
The boy looked in front of him, but there was absolutely nothing, only more bathroom.
“Are you pla–”
His words died short when several white hexagons and black pentagons appeared out of nowhere.
The shapes spun and swirled for a few seconds until something took form.
Emerging from the shapes was a small…
ball.
A miniature football, to be precise.
Black and white.
It had glowing blue eyes and a mouth.
“…uhh.” the boy was lost for words, not knowing what to believe anymore.
He scanned the bathroom again, before turning his head back to the ball.
“Is that you?”
[Yes.]
The voice sounded again, and the boy could see the ball move as if nodding.
“W-what are you?” The boy’s confusion thickened.
[I don’t really know.] The ball started spinning around, as if trying to look at itself.
[I can’t really see myself.]
It stopped spinning and turned to the boy.
[What do I look like in your eyes?]
“L-like a ball. A mini football.” The boy didn’t know why he answered, the words left him before he could stop himself.
[I guess that’s what I am then… a ball. A mini-ball.]
“Yeah.” The boy nodded in agreement before shaking his head.
“Wait a minute. Who are you?”
[Me?] The ball asked.
[I’m you. Or rather, you’re me.]
“…Explain.”
[Sigh.] A disappointed sigh left the ball as it shook its head, clearly not impressed by the boy’s lacking intelligence.
[You see that body you’re occupying?]
“Yes.”
The boy already discerned that he was in someone else’s body.
[That used to be me, and now it’s you.]
“…”
The boy was completely silent, even his breathing stopped, staring motionless at the ball.
“I died.” He began after a pause.
“And then I reincarnated into your body. That’s what you’re saying, right?”
[Yes, that’s what I’m saying.]
“Alright. That is totally not crazy.”
The boy took several deep breaths, calming down his emotions, mind replaying the moment he died like a broken record, still feeling the bone in his neck.
‘Fucking chicken bone.’
“Now that we’ve established why I’m here, tell me why you’re like that.”
[I drank pills.]
“…”
‘That answers why I vomited so many pills.’
“…why?”
[You don’t need to know that.] The ball shook its head.
Its ball?
[All you need to know is how we’re going to help each other.]
“Help each other?”
The boy stood up from the floor and dusted himself off.
[Yes. You’re going to help me save my family and I’m going to help you become the best footballer in the world.]
The boy’s head snapped to the ball, eyes locked onto it like predator on prey.
“You are?”
[Yes.]
“What do I need to do?”
There was no hesitation from the boy.
He already lived a mediocre life, a life filled with wallowing in regret and self-pity in a dingy apartment that smelled of sweat and unwashed armpits.
So when the chance to reach his lifelong dream was presented to him on a silver platter, there was no way he would say no.
He may not yet know how the mini-ball is going to make his dream come true, and neither did he ask.
From his past life he learned that when someone offered to help you, you don’t ask questions.
Questions makes you look hesitant.
Hesitation leads to inaction.
Like the saying goes:
“Hesitation is the enemy of success and inaction is the grave of potential.”
[Wait. Just like that?] The ball voice its confusion.
[You’re not going to ask me how?]
“You were going to tell me anyway, right?”
The boy put a hand on the bathroom door handle before pushing it open.
He was finally able to get a decent look at the bedroom.
And just like the bathroom, every inch of the place screamed luxury, even more so.
A large bed with soft linens stood at the center, big enough to hold four.
The chair he pushed of earlier stood next to a study table, both made from the finest redwood with intricate carvings in them.
A large and soft rug was under the bed, covering half the room, leaving enough spaces to see your reflection in the spotless marble floor.
A closet was at the back of the room, probably holding a bunch of different but expensive clothes.
A large divider was off to the side of the room, which the boy calmly walked to, eager to see what was beyond it.
[Yes.] The ball answered.
[But you could’ve–]
The ball cut itself off.
[You know what? Fuck it.] It shrugged.
If it can be called that.
[I like your eagerness.]
“Now we’re talking.”
The boy moved the divider to the side and what greeted him was a big open plan house.
On one side was the living room with comfy white leather couches and a large tv.
On the other side was a kitchen with top of the line appliances and marble countertops.
The boy wasn’t from this world, but he could tell that it must have cost a fortune.
The boy stepped to the large floor to ceiling windows and moved the blinders aside, the sight beyond him stunned him for a bit before he regained his composure.
Only then did the boy realize that he was at the top of a very, very tall building, gazing down on the rooftops of other tall buildings, unable to even make out the streets below despite the morning sun make it clear for him to see.
“Come to think of it,” the boy turned to the mini-ball floating next to him.
“Where am I?”
[Sorry fo the late introduction, but welcome to Presna.]
“The city or the country?”
[The planet.]
The boy turned away from the window and walked to the living room, one of the couches screamed his name.
“What city and in what country am I?”
[You’re in Rushall, the Capital City of the Ashton Empire.]
“Empire?” He threw himself down on the couch, sinking into its soft confines.
“Like in kingdoms and royalty and stuff?”
[Yes.]
‘A modern world with nobility.’
The boy sat up when a thought struck him up.
“And who am I?”
‘Pleasedontbeanobody, pleasedontbeanobody.’ He chanted like a mantra, almost closing his eyes as he held onto fragile hope.
[You’re name is Julian Valecrest. Heir of the Valecrest Grand Duchy.]
“Grand Duchy? That is like… below royalty, right?” The boy asked, calling upon his limited novel knowledge from his past life.
[Below kings and queens, equal with princes and princesses.]
“Damn.” The boy sucked through his teeth.
“That means I am a big deal.”
[Yes.]
The leaned back into the couch, before asking the question on everyone’s mind.
“How are you going to help me?”
[Say “Status”]