Chapter 1: Truck-kun Strikes AgainThe cat was definitely not worth dying for.

  Takeshi Yamada realized this approximately two seconds after shoving the mangy orange tabby out of the way, and approximately one second before three tons of delivery truck introduced his body to the concept of "physics at high velocity."

  His st coherent thought was: Mom's going to be so mad I died for a cat.

  Then everything went white.

  Death, as it turned out, had an aesthetic.

  Takeshi floated in a void of silvery moonlight, formless and confused. No pearly gates. No fire and brimstone. Just... vibes. Celestial vibes.

  "Well, that was unnecessarily heroic."

  The voice echoed from everywhere and nowhere, feminine and amused. Takeshi tried to look around, but realized he didn't have eyes. Or a head. Or a body.

  Panic would've been appropriate, but he was too dead to manage it.

  "Rex, mortal. You're not in danger." A figure materialized from the moonlight—a woman in her thirties, maybe, wearing about twelve yers of eborate silk kimono that looked like it cost more than his entire college tuition. Her silver hair pooled around her like liquid mercury, and a glowing moon symbol marked her forehead.

  She smiled. It was the kind of smile that said I know something you don't, and I'm going to enjoy this.

  "Who—" Takeshi tried to speak and discovered he could, somehow, despite cking a mouth. "Where am I? Am I dead?"

  "Yes, yes, and the Moon Court," the woman said, waving a hand dismissively. "I am Tsukuyomi, goddess of the moon. You're currently experiencing the afterlife processing queue. Normally you'd be shuffled off to reincarnation or the eternal void, but..." Her smile widened. "I have a proposition."

  "A proposition," Takeshi repeated ftly.

  "I'm lonely."

  "...what."

  "My shrine has been abandoned for decades. The humans fear the forests. The youkai won't serve a moon goddess. It's terribly boring." Tsukuyomi circled him—or where "him" theoretically was. "But you! You died a heroic, if stupid, death. That gives you karmic credit. I can reincarnate you. Give you a second chance."

  Takeshi's non-existent heart raced. "Seriously?"

  "Seriously. You'd serve at my shrine as a miko—a shrine maiden. In return, I grant you power, purpose, and a peaceful life in a beautiful world." She gestured, and images flickered around them: rolling mountains, traditional buildings, a quaint vilge nestled in mist.

  It looked like every anime he'd ever watched.

  This had to be a trap. "What's the catch?"

  "No catch! Just serve at the shrine, maintain it, perform your duties. Easy." Tsukuyomi's expression was way too innocent.

  "And I'd be... what? Human? Do I get, like, magic powers or something?"

  "Oh, no, not human. Humans are so fragile." She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I was thinking kitsune. Fox spirit. Three tails to start—that's respectable. White fur, quite rare. You'll be lovely."

  Takeshi blinked—metaphorically. "A fox?"

  "A spirit fox. Shapeshifting, illusions, fire magic. Very dignified. And shrine maidens are traditionally young women, so—"

  "Wait." Warning bells cnged in Takeshi's head. "Young women?"

  "Yes! All miko must be pure maidens. It's tradition."

  "But I'm a guy."

  "Not for long!" Tsukuyomi cpped her hands together, delighted. "Don't worry, the transition is painless. You won't even notice—"

  "Hold on—"

  "—and honestly, you'll make a much cuter shrine maiden as a girl. Those fluffy ears! The three tails! You'll be adorable—"

  "I DON'T WANT TO BE A GIRL!"

  Tsukuyomi paused. "Why not?"

  "BECAUSE I'M A GUY?!"

  "Technically you're currently a disembodied soul with no physical form, so gender is more of a... guideline. And this is a very generous offer! Most people don't get reincarnation with memories intact!"

  "Most people don't get forcibly gender-bent!" Takeshi's voice pitched higher with panic. "Can't I just be a male shrine— a shrine—whatever the male version is?!"

  "Kannushi? Priest?" Tsukuyomi wrinkled her nose. "So boring. No, no, I've already decided. You'll be Yuki. Means 'snow'—very poetic with the white fur. This is happening."

  "THIS IS NOT OKAY—"

  "Three."

  "Wait—"

  "Two."

  "YOU CAN'T JUST—"

  "One. Welcome to your new life, Yuki!"

  The world exploded into sensation.

  Pain.

  Takeshi—no, Yuki?—gasped and immediately regretted it. Air rushed into lungs that felt too small. Her body—her body—curled on cold stone, shaking.

  Everything was wrong.

  Height wrong. Weight wrong. Distribution wrong. There was hair everywhere—long hair spilled over her shoulders, and something soft and pointed kept twitching on top of her head.

  She touched her head.

  Triangur. Furry. Ears.

  Fox ears.

  "No," Yuki whispered. Her voice was higher, softer. Wrong. "No, no, no—"

  "Good morning!" Tsukuyomi's voice rang cheerfully from above. "Sleep well?"

  Yuki looked up.

  The goddess sat on thin air, legs crossed, looking far too pleased with herself. They were on a stone ptform surrounded by shrine buildings—traditional architecture, red painted wood, paper screens. Morning sunlight filtered through pine trees. Birds sang.

  It was beautiful.

  Yuki still wanted to scream.

  "What did you DO?!" She scrambled to her feet—then immediately fell because her bance was completely off. Something heavy swished behind her.

  She looked back.

  Three white fox tails, each as long as her arm, fanned out from her lower back.

  "The tails are magnificent, aren't they?" Tsukuyomi descended gracefully. "And look at you! The human form came out perfectly."

  Human form. Right. Because she was a fox spirit now.

  Yuki grabbed her own arms, squeezing. Real. Solid. Female. Smaller hands, slender arms, a body that curved in ways that made her want to cry.

  She pressed her palms to her face. Softer features. Smoother skin.

  "I can't believe you actually—"

  "Oh, stop whining. You're adorable." Tsukuyomi produced a mirror from nowhere.

  Yuki stared at her reflection.

  A girl—maybe eighteen or nineteen in appearance—stared back. White hair cascaded past her shoulders. Delicate features, button nose, full lips. But the eyes were amber and slit-pupiled like a fox's. White triangur ears poked from her hair, and when she turned her head, they swiveled to follow sounds.

  "This is insane," Yuki breathed.

  "This is your new life." Tsukuyomi gestured to the shrine. "Welcome to Tsukuyomi Shrine, Kiri Province, Mythical Yamato. You're my miko now. Duties include: morning prayers, cleaning, accepting offerings, occasional exorcism of minor spirits. Straightforward."

  "Exorcism?!"

  "Very minor spirits. You'll be fine." Tsukuyomi patted her head—right between the ears—and Yuki nearly jumped out of her skin because it felt good in a way that was deeply concerning.

  "Don't—!"

  "Oh, the ears are sensitive? Noted." The goddess grinned wickedly. "Now, clothing. Can't have you running around naked."

  Yuki looked down.

  She was, in fact, completely naked.

  She shrieked and covered herself with her tails, which apparently responded to her emotions because they immediately wrapped around her like fluffy white shields.

  Tsukuyomi ughed. "The tails are useful! See? Now, proper miko attire—"

  The world blurred. When Yuki's vision clearled, she was dressed in white and red. A white kosode under a bright red hakama, traditional split-skirt pants that felt both comfortable and completely foreign.

  "There. Perfect. Now you look the part." Tsukuyomi stepped back, admiring her work. "Any questions?"

  Yuki had approximately one million questions. She settled on: "Can I go back?"

  "No."

  "Can I at least be male again?"

  "Absolutely not."

  "When will you stop ruining my life?!"

  "I'm improving your death, actually. Very different." Tsukuyomi's expression softened slightly. "Listen, Yuki. I know this is overwhelming. But you died. Your old life is gone. This is a genuine second chance—magic, adventure, purpose. And you'll have a home here. My shrine. It's not so bad."

  The shrine was beautiful. The forest smelled like pine and morning dew. Birds sang in the trees, and in the distance, Yuki could see a vilge nestled in the valley below.

  It looked like a painting.

  It looked like somewhere she'd dreamed of living, back when she'd binged isekai anime at 2 AM instead of studying.

  "I didn't ask for this," Yuki said quietly.

  "Few people ask for their fate. But you saved a life—even a cat's life—and that matters. So here you are." Tsukuyomi tilted her head. "Will you accept your new role?"

  Yuki's ears fttened against her head. Her tails drooped.

  What choice did she have?

  "Fine," she muttered. "But I'm lodging a formal compint."

  "Noted and ignored. Now!" Tsukuyomi cpped. "Let's begin your training. First lesson: controlling your shapeshifting. Currently you're half-transformed—human body, fox traits. Full human form takes practice."

  "What about full fox form?"

  "Oh, that's easy. Watch."

  Tsukuyomi snapped her fingers.

  Yuki's body compressed, twisted, and suddenly she was on four legs, the world huge around her. She yipped in surprise—the sound high and vulpine—and her three tails swished in distress.

  "Adorable!" Tsukuyomi cooed. "So fluffy!"

  Yuki tried to swear at her, but it came out as angry fox chittering.

  This was going to be a very long afterlife.

  Author's Note:

  This is my first time writing this type of story, so feel free to suggest anything or leave a comment—it really helps! and you can expect more chapters today, followed by a daily release schedule of one chapter.

  Also, a heads-up: the current cover art will be changing at the end of the month. I’ve decided to draw the art myself because of my love for it!

  Thanks for reading!