Gift

"speech" 'thoughts

5 - Gift

~~~~~~1st person POV~~~~~~

"How did you acquire this item little Nejire?" I asked her with a hint of urgency. Maybe I could finally get answers to the questions that are plaguing my mind.

"Hm? I bought it when I was out with mom a few days ago. I thought it looked pretty, don't you?" Nejire answered, a smile still on her face.

"Indeed It does, even when compared to the most expensive pieces of art and jewelry in the world, it looks one of a kind, simply captivatingly beautiful..." Genuinely, whether its due to my personal bias or not, this necklace is the most beautiful piece of jewelry I have ever seen and maybe will ever see in my unknown future. It was simply timeless.

Nejire nodded proudly in agreement "Of course it is, I got it for you after all"

"I can see that" I chuckled. "Buf if I may ask.." I continued.

"Ask away big brother Hy!" She said cheerfully

"But before you do, can I ask why you are talking like that?" Nejire asked me a question regarding my current behavior.

Although she has only made jokes about me acting like an old man at times, it looks like I may have talked a little bit too much like one in my surprised state.

After all, a 3 year old shouldn't know the meaning of the words I'm using let alone in the tone of voice in which I say them, not unless they've gone under special training or they have an intelligence type quirk.

I have gotten away with it for now, thanks to Nejire also being smart enough to know enough about the words to understand me, and also due to everyone around me just chalking it up to prodigious talent especially when my 'parents' are 2 of the most influential and intelligent people on the planet.

"Oh don't worry about it little Nejire, I'm just trying out some of the words I read in a book yesterday" I answered her with a smile. I don't know why I'm hiding the fact that I'm from another world from her, but I don't know why I should reveal it to her either.

"Oooh! Can I read that book too? I wanna know what brother knows!" Nejire beamed with excitement, the thought of reading books with me making her happy.

"We'll read it together later okay little Nejire?" Although this book didn't exist, I'm sure I can find something that will fit, we have a huge library to ourselves after all.

"Yay!! So what were you gonna ask me?" She asked me eagerly.

"Where did you get this?" I asked pointing to the necklace in my hands.

"It was in the men's section, in one of the shops mother and I go to when we go shopping." She said tapping a finger on her chin.

"And did you see anything unusual while you were there? Did they say anything special about it?" I inquired.

"Hmm..."

"Nope!" She exclaimed cheerfully.

I let out a sigh, preparing to thank her for answering truthfully.

"But.. I did hear the shopkeeper at the jewelry store say something about it coming from an anonymous source, whatever that means." Nejire added thoughtfully, nodding her head.

While a part of me wanted, and even wished for it to be nothing more than a simple coincidence, for the sake of being able to carry out my future plans without having to worry about any unknown variables, but I knew there were too many signs, coincidence or not, pointing to the possibility of some other being interfering with this world for it not to be the case. My reincarnation, the necklace, and the anonymous provider to name a few.

"I see, thank you very much little Nejire. I'll make sure to give you a reward for this." I thanked her honestly, a sentiment I'm certain she understands even at her age, Nejire is a smart girl after all, even if she can be a bit oblivious at times.

"No." She shook her head, rejecting my offering of sorts, her smile evidently turning increasingly more gentle.

"I don't need a reward, I have you." Nejire being surprisingly mature, yet also corny, said with a bashful smile, a discrepancy between her usually enthusiastic self.

"...." Surprised by her reply, I stayed silent as I processed her words. Nejire stayed silent as well, mistaking my silence for displeasure.

"Did you just imitate Parry from 'Pair o' Parrots' ?" I asked her with a soft chuckle, interrupting the palpable silence occupying the room. 'Pair o' Parrots ' being a book Tsuko used to read to us when we were young. Well... younger.

"Maybe...." She said shyly, the relief of seeing displeasure absent on my face calmed her. She paused leaving a fleeting silence in the air of her room. "But that doesn't matter, it's how I feel, and mom always said to express how we feel, no matter what. Right?" Her question hung in the air, her shyness palpable.

"She did, always remember that okay? Also about that reward, let's just call it a gift then." I agreed. Speaking of, I will need to speak to Tsuko later about the necklace, and if she decides to ask about my way of acting then I will deal with that too.

"Okay!" Nejire nodded, happy with the compromise.

"Aren't you gonna put it on?" She managed an intrigued expression, suggesting that I should wear it.

I nodded and unhooked the clasp of the necklace, it's blue jewel gleaming under the light of Nejire's room, the gold particles seemingly shifting with every movement.

I grabbed each end of the silvery white chain and put them around my neck. As I connected the clasps together, I felt a sense of nostalgia within me, the familiarity that I shared with this necklace gave me comfort, as the short silence ended, those feelings faded away with it as well.

"You look great brother! I really am good at picking things for you." She exclaimed with childish pride.

I turned my head away from the necklace and towards Nejire, a fleeting moment of silence followed as our gazes met, each expressing our feelings wordlessly.

I stepped towards her and embraced her, wrapping my arms around her to show that I was genuinely grateful for this. I knew that even if, without her, whatever sent me here would've found a way to give me that necklace eventually. But it, instead coming from her, made me appreciate the sentiment and moment even more.

"Thank you little Nejire" I expressed again and she answered by reciprocating the hug.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

After spending time with Nejire and playing together, I gently closed the door to her room, deciding to resolve the matters with Tsuko swiftly, sooner rather than later.

I looked at the necklace on my neck in contemplation. I had expected something like this happening when I get my quirk, I didn't really know what exactly I expected, but I assumed it would just pop up out of nowhere when I awaken my quirk. Nejire's gift surprised me, leaving me a little tensed at its sudden appearance.

The necklace's presence answered one question and added a dozen more, something I was not certain was a bad thing.

As I reached a secluded and private part of the vast hallway, I tried calling for the power I once had, focusing my mind and using the necklace as a medium to channel my abilities.

During the peaceful final years of my past life, I hadn't encountered any problems or foes that warranted me to use the necklace, yet I'm sure I haven't lost my touch yet.

On pure instinct, I stretched my hand, my fingers taking a position that resembled the gesture of grabbing an object.

I felt it.

Something.

It was pulling me in closer to it, tempting me to catch it. Tempting me to try. In my mind, I tried reaching out to it, chasing the––something–– that threatened to lure me into an endless pit, unable to escape from it.

Unfortunately, it seems my efforts were in vain, the gravitating feeling of its presence ebbing away, with my concentration halting.

I can't say I didn't expect this outcome, the possibility of being to call the necklace's power this soon was too far-fetched. I theorize that it is the moment I awaken my quirk , and only then will I be able to access my power.

For now, the reality of the necklace itself being safe in my hands was enough, enough for me to be granted a sigh of relief.

The past, set in stone.

The future, uncertain, moldable, uncontrollable, predictable, yet unforseen.

The present, to be confronted, to be decided; like a gift for the future, determined by the past.

And now it was my present, that needed to be addressed, ironically decided by a gift given.

I started walking towards the direction of the office that Tsuko usually resided in, to resolve her suspicions and my own questions.

After a few minutes of walking, this opulently expansive mansion the cause for the time lost. I reached the entrance to her office and knocked on the door

Knock, Knock, Knock!