Magic Exist!?

A blinding light enveloped Ikuyo as he felt his consciousness being pulled away. The sensation was unlike anything he had ever experienced—weightless yet overwhelming, as if his very existence was being rewritten.
Then, suddenly, everything stopped. His eyelids fluttered open. The first thing he noticed was the softness surrounding him.

A gentle warmth cradled his small body, unlike anything he had ever known. His vision was blurry, and everything seemed unnaturally large.

Wait.

Something was wrong. His arms and legs felt too weak, too tiny. His voice—he couldn’t even form words. Panic surged through him.

Before he could fully process his situation, two figures appeared above him. A beautiful woman with long, flowing brown hair and warm eyes gazed down at him, her smile radiating pure love. Beside her stood a man with short, dark hair and a proud grin on his face.

Then, the woman spoke. "Aw, is our baby girl awake now? She’s so cute, darling!"
…Girl?

"Yeah, she is adorable," the man agreed, his voice filled with pride. "I’ll raise her to be the best daughter out there!"

Wait… Daughter!?

Ikuyo’s mind went blank. He tried to scream, to protest, but all that came out was an uncontrollable wail. His mother quickly scooped him up, holding him close as she gently rocked him back and forth.

"Shh… don’t cry now," she cooed, her voice soft and soothing. She began to hum a lullaby, the melody unfamiliar yet oddly comforting. His body relaxed against his will, and despite the chaos in his mind, his eyelids grew heavy.

This was unfair. 

Why did he have to be reincarnated like this? But why was he… a girl!?

No matter how much he resisted, the lullaby worked its magic. Before he knew it, he was drifting into a deep sleep. Days passed, and though it was still difficult to accept, Ikuyo or rather, who he had become, began to adjust. He had been reborn into a noble family in this new world, with loving parents who doted on him constantly.

But as much as he tried to deny reality, nothing changed the simple fact: He was no longer Ikuyo Kanana. He was now Sakura Flower.

His mother decided on the name one quiet evening while holding him in her arms.
"Darling, let’s decide on a name for our daughter," she said, looking at her husband with a smile. "What do you think suits her?"

His father nodded thoughtfully. "She deserves a name that fits her perfectly."
His mother beamed, clearly excited.
"How about Blue? Oceany? Molly? Candy? Sunflower?" she suggested enthusiastically.
One by one, his father shook his head. "No… none of those feel right."

Then, after a long pause, his father’s face lit up with inspiration. "Sakura," he said confidently. "Like the cherry blossoms. Delicate, yet strong." His mother’s eyes sparkled. "Sakura… Yes, that’s perfect!"

And just like that, his fate was sealed. Time passed, and by the time Sakura turned three years old, she had developed a deep curiosity about the world around her.
Unlike other children, she retained all her memories from her past life as Ikuyo. While most toddlers spent their time playing, Sakura devoted herself to understanding her new environment.

She quickly became obsessed with books, eager to absorb every bit of knowledge available.

Her mother, noticing her enthusiasm, decided it was time to teach her how to read and write.

"Sweetie, let’s try learning today," she said one morning, setting down some parchment and ink. Sakura nodded eagerly.

Her new world was unlike Earth, and she needed to learn everything she could. Magic, history, culture—all of it was vital.
By the time she was six, Sakura had officially become a bookworm.

Ironically, in her past life, she had been a gamer, a nerd, and a complete introvert—but never a fan of books. Yet here, in this strange new world, books were her greatest treasure.

And that passion for learning would soon lead her to an encounter that would change everything.

One day, her parents announced they were taking a trip to the city—a first for Sakura.
The journey took nearly four hours, and by the time they arrived, she was mesmerized.

"Whoa… It’s so huge!" she gasped.

The city was far larger than Ikutotsi, Flower City, Japan, from her previous life. Towering buildings made of enchanted stone loomed above, intricate symbols glowing faintly on their surfaces. Market vendors lined the streets, selling goods of all kinds—food, weapons, enchanted jewellery, and even spell scrolls.

Her hands itched to buy something, but she had no money. Noticing her interest, her father reassured her. "Don’t worry, Sakura. I’ll give you some money later."

Her mother smiled. "For now, let’s go to the library. There will be plenty of books there."
Sakura nodded eagerly.

However, when they arrived at the Royal Library, they were stopped at the entrance by a stern-looking cashier.

"We apologize, but the library is off-limits today," the cashier announced. "The King is inside and has ordered that no one may enter."

Her mother sighed. "Thank you for letting us know."

But Sakura refused to accept that answer.
Books were her lifeline. Without hesitation, she dashed past the cashier before anyone could stop her.

"H-hey! Get back here!" the cashier shouted, but it was too late. Sakura sprinted through the grand halls of the library, weaving between shelves, her small feet barely making a sound against the marble floors.

Then, she collided headfirst into something—or rather, someone. She tumbled backwards, landing ungracefully on the floor.

A deep chuckle echoed above her.
"Oh my, did someone manage to slip past my guards?"

Sakura looked up, her heart nearly stopping.

It was him.

The King.

To her surprise, the King wasn’t angry. Instead, he smiled and patted her head.
"You must love books," he mused. "Come with me."

He led her back toward the front of the library, where her parents and the stunned cashier stood waiting. Then, he placed a beautifully bound book into her small hands.

"This is a gift for you," he said. "Take good care of it."

Sakura hesitated before taking the book.
The title was written in English. She quickly masked her surprise. The King studied her carefully. "Is this book familiar to you, Sakura?"

She shook her head. "N-no… I’ve never seen it before."

Satisfied, the King nodded. "Alright. You may keep it. But remember—never lose it."

With that, he turned and left, leaving Sakura standing there, clutching the book tightly.
For the rest of the day, she refused to let go of it.

Later, when they passed by the market again, her father finally gave her some money. "D-dad, what coin is this?"
"That’s a Gakito," her father explained. "One Gakito can buy you a piece of bread."
Curious about the currency, Sakura quickly became fascinated by the different coins.
But her attention was soon drawn to a shimmering pendant at one of the vendor stalls.

"W-woah! It’s so pretty! How much is this, mister?" The merchant smiled. "Three Gakito."

Without hesitation, Sakura bought the pendant, feeling an odd connection to it.

That night, after dinner, Sakura locked herself in her room and finally opened the book. Her eyes widened as she read the title aloud.

"The New World?"

As she flipped through the pages, her hands trembled. The book detailed the experiences of another reincarnated person.

"Wh-what!? W-wait… this person was from Japan!?"

Before she could process it fully, exhaustion overtook her, and she drifted into sleep.
But the next morning— A loud knock echoed through the house.

Outside, soldiers stood at the doorstep.
The King himself had arrived.

Sakura’s stomach twisted with unease as he stepped inside. He looked at her with an unreadable expression."Sakura, I must take the book back."

She hesitated but handed it over. Then, the King did something unexpected. He placed the book on the table. "Now, Sakura…" he said, his voice calm yet firm. "Open it."

Her hands trembled. She knew—if she opened it now, everything would change.

She shaked her head as she didn't know the book. The King left with the book.

Months passed, but the encounter with the King lingered in Sakura's mind. Why had he given her the book only to take it back? And why did he ask her to open it in his presence? 

After many months had past by. Sakura is now going to her first High School again after she discorvered that she lives in a magical world.