When I woke up, I had turned into an anime heroine. Since I had gone to sleep as a male human, this was somewhat distressing.

I didn’t know it at first, of course. The first thing I really noticed was the ceiling. It wasn’t mine. Wooden eaves overhead, sunlight pouring through the large window to light up a room that was like something out of a cottagecore fantasy. Wood floors and furniture, painted yellow flowers, the smell of grass and growing things from the window…

“Where the honey am I?”

That was things two and three I noticed. Instead of a nice solid curse word, I said honey, and the voice that came out of my mouth was a high sweet lilting thing.

I sat up, hand on my throat, and that caused thing four to become readily apparent.

“What the Frip!?”

Even the sudden substitution of my well-deserved curse paled into insignificance at this. Two weights rested on my chest, weights which pushed the delicate frilly nightdress I most definitely had not been wearing last night out in a pronounced swell. A thick braid of vibrant pink hair hung over my shoulder to my waist. Floral pattern sheets and blankets curled around my waist.

“No. Way. It’s impossible.” But the urgent signals from between my thighs and the soft weight on my chest didn’t vanish. I lifted my hands to my chest, and squeezed gently.

“Ah!” The sensation was very real. My hand dove under the covers to feel my groin, and met only smooth flatness between my thighs, and folds of flesh that made my body tingle and shiver when my fingers brushed against them. Sensitive nubs of flesh stiffened on my chest, and my nightgown gained two very distinct points on top of the soft thrust.

“What the honeysuckle is going on?! Why am I a girl?!”

Which is where you came in.

I sat there in my impossible bed for a long moment, trying to process. It didn’t get any easier, but the fact that nothing changed, and the sheer normalcy of the room eventually got me to throw back the floral comforters, and slide out of the bed. It really was the most charming cottagecore fantasy room. Floral decorations, cushions, and wood floors with throw rugs in the same warm pastels and floral patterns.

I slid my legs out of bed, a part of my brain noting as I did, that they were quite long and shapely. Tiny feet hit the floral pattern throw rug, and I stood up, padding softly over to the dresser with the large mirror. Large soft blue eyes met mine. The girl in the mirror looked to be in her late teens. She had long bright pink hair in a thick braid that trailed to her waist, a frankly adorable soft oval of a face with pouted pink lips, and a rumpled nightie (quite modest) with (again) a floral pattern.

“What the honeysuckle is going on?!”

The girl in the mirror had the most adorable pout. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to stomp my foot and demand “And why can’t I swear!?”

An older feminine voice called from beyond the door. “Lilyanna! Breakfast is ready! Hurry up, or you won’t have time to eat before the town festival!”

My mouth replied without any interaction from me. “Coming, Mother!”

I stood there stunned for a bit, blinking. Mother!? Town festival? What is going on!?

A sort of… mental ‘nudge’ started poking me. It wasn’t like when it made me reply to the woman outside the door… but it was most definitely directing me, and becoming more insistent by the moment.

I suppose you’ll laugh, but I really didn’t know what else to do… so I let it guide me, hoping that I could figure out what was happening as I went on.

The nudges directed me to shuck my nightie, and as I did so, a small crystal pendant bounced against my chest. I stopped and stared at it.

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“Well. I guess that settles it… I’m in the body of an anime heroine alright.” I picked up the pendant and examined it. It was remarkably pretty and sparkled with a rainbow of colors like it held a prism inside itself.

It was very strange, feeling my body guiding me on how to put it on, but really, I had no choice, with all my new bumps and curves I had no idea how to get dressed. What struck me most (outside of the very strange feeling of seeing a girl’s secret panty drawer (all white!) and then casually pulling them on) was just how… anime-fantasy the outfit was. It was almost a platonic ideal of what you’d expect the anime heroine to wear. Modest, yet clinging. Layered skirts flared by the swell of my hips and falling to midcalf. Subtle floral patterns at hem and sleeve. High heeled leather boots white stockings. Which, now that I thought about it, fit with my pink hair and blue eyes and general anime heroine vibe.

“Now all I’m missing is a magic staff…” I murmured softly.

The nudges had me unbind my braid and hurriedly comb and brush out the long fall of pink (down to my hips!) before pulling it back and tying it with a bow. It was a good thing that whatever was piloting me knew how to do that, because I had no idea how to even start… but by the time I was done and gave a reflexive glance in the mirror, the results were obvious. The platonic ideal of an anime jrpg heroine gave a quick bright smile and then a little wave to her reflection and then dashed for the door to her room hurrying down unfamiliar stairs and hallway with distressing familiarity to a large kitchen that looked equally fantasy cottagecore, with wide wooden beams, a large farmhouse table and a warm roaring fire, and a matronly looking woman who smiled at me.

“Good morning, Lilyanna!” she greeted me warmly, turning from the stove to slide a heaping plate of food onto the table in front of a chair.

I felt a shock of impossible recognition. I’d never seen this woman before in my life, but my heart was suddenly filled with a mix of powerfully strong affection and teenage exasperation. “I’m surprised you slept in as long as you did, with how excited you were last night!” I found myself sitting without realizing it, replying “Yes Mother, I know. I was so excited I’m afraid I stayed up too late!”

The food really was astonishingly good, and apparently, I had impeccable manners, since I was taking dainty… ladylike, even… bites and not making even the slightest mess, despite the dripping syrup, gravy, and bacon grease of the astonishingly good meal. It was so good, I almost forgave whatever turned me into… Lilyanna, I supposed my name must be.

My… mother? Continued to talk as I ate.

“It’s been 17 years now since you arrived at my doorstep, wearing only that mysterious pendant of yours. I’ve always thought of you as my daughter, even though we’re not truly related-“

Hold on, what?! Was this…?

“-and in two days you head to the cavern of trials to have your coming of age ceremony. I’m so proud of you!”

It is! I’m getting a jrpg intro?! Who talks like this? “I know, Mother.” This other me clasped my hands in front of my bosom. “You may not be my mother by blood, but you are the mother of my heart!” … Oh. Apparently, I do. Or at least, Lilyanna does. The Lilyanna part of me continued to pour out her earnest heartfelt feelings which amounted to “I love you too, Mother.” And then gave a little cry of distress. “Oh no! It’s starting soon! I’ll be late!” And then that familiar ‘nudge’ picked me up and dashed me out the door. I was briefly grateful that this other me knew how to run in heels. Quite adeptly, too, otherwise I would be face down in the gravel! I skidded to a stop at the end of the gravel path, hearing my mother calling after me.

“Lilyanna! You forgot your purse! And your lunch!”

Oh my god, is this-?

And sure enough, as I ran back to my mother, she handed me a small bundle and a purse, saying “I’ve packed a little something extra for you. Don’t be afraid to come back and rest whenever you need to.”

-starter gear and money! And the usual exhortation to come back and rest and not overdo it!

I was briefly torn, thinking I don’t want to be an anime heroine! Something terrible is going to happen!

And with that exact thought, my otherself hugged my mother tight. “Thank you so much Mother. I love you!” and then I turned and dashed down the path towards the town square.

“Hold on, stop, me!” I hauled myself to a stop, skidding on the dirt road, bosom heaving slightly. “Just… stop! I don’t want to be a heroine!” that ‘nudge’ picked up, prodded me fiercely. I was clearly supposed to be heading to the town festival! “No! If I go there something terrible will happen!”

Although… what if something terrible happens, and I’m not there…? Hold on, the anime heroine is the white mage! If I don’t go, people could be really badly hurt! Or die!

Even as I felt that, a bubble of fear and worry blossomed in me… it was so strange, as though I was feeling two hearts, two sets of emotions, both feeling the same. Me and… Lilyanna in sync… my hearts squeezed with the thought that I could help and wouldn’t, and I let out a little cry as something blossomed in me, the crystal pendant around my neck burst into a brilliant white light.

<{Spiritualist} Unlocked. Thanks to the purity of your heart and the strength of your emotions, you’ve unlocked {Spiritualist:1} You may learn one spell.>

“Oh…” and I sat down hard on the gravel path, my feet folding to either side of my hips as the light in my pendant went out. “Oh no. I’m in an isekai.”