Chapter 1
Okaza Harusoto had always been the kind of man who worked too much and expected too little in return. At twenty-four, he was already tired of the world, his dreams buried under endless paperwork and the heavy fluorescent glow of an office that never slept.
"Harusoto! Get in here!"
The sharp voice of his manager cut through the silence. Okaza straightened his tie, knocked on the door, and stepped inside.
Sera Tachibana, his thirty-year-old manager, sat behind her desk with fire in her eyes. Beautiful, cold, and intimidating—she had a reputation for chewing subordinates alive.
"You sent the wrong draft. Three mistakes in the Kinoshita file," she snapped, slamming a folder on the desk. "Do you want to sink this company?"
Okaza bowed his head. "I'm sorry, Manager Tachibana. I'll correct it right away—"
"Sorry doesn't cut it." Her words were like knives. "If you can't even handle this, why are you even here?"
His chest tightened. He wanted to shout back, to ask why he was killing himself for a job that only spat on him. But instead, he clenched his fists and swallowed the anger.
And then—
Without warning, Sera stood, crossed the room, and pulled him into a kiss.
Okaza's eyes went wide. His brain froze. Her lips were warm, soft, and utterly out of place in the sterile air of the office. Just as quickly as it began, she pulled away, expression unreadable.
"…Get back to work."
Okaza stumbled out of the office, face burning. What the hell was that!?
---
The city lights blurred as he walked aimlessly through the streets.
What is my life even?
His thoughts spiraled. Childhood memories of parents screaming before their divorce. Teenage years wasted on a hopeless crush with his senpai, who used him and left. And now, a boss who kissed him between scoldings like it was just another form of paperwork.
"A rollercoaster… that's what it is," he muttered bitterly. "But this isn't the dream I wanted."
He bumped into a young woman at the corner.
"Ah, sorry!" she said with a polite bow.
Okaza waved his hands quickly. "No, my fault—" His eyes lingered on her legs, her figure—instantly, he caught himself.
Damn it… she's younger than my little sister. What am I thinking? Am I really this creepy now…?
He shook his head and hailed a taxi, trying to push away the thoughts clawing at him.
---
When he reached his apartment, he froze at the door. He could already feel Mina's anger from inside. His little sister had been waiting all day.
"I… forgot her birthday present…" he whispered, eyes wide.
"Mina's going to kill me!"
He turned on his heel and sprinted to the convenience store, grabbed chocolates and a scarf, and rushed back out, panting.
At the crosswalk, the light flicked green. He stepped forward, clutching the small bag with relief.
At least this will make her smile.
Then—
HONNNNNNK!!!
Headlights. Deafening metal. Time froze.
Okaza's body locked in place. His mind flashed through his life: his sister's smile, his childhood tears, his wasted love, his stupid mistakes, and the kiss from his manager that felt more like a curse than a blessing.
If I get another life… please… let me live better.
Impact. Darkness.
---
When he opened his eyes, the world was wrong.
Grass towered like skyscrapers. Leaves stretched as wide as umbrellas. His body felt strange—light, small, fragile. He twitched his limbs and realized there were too many of them.
Then he felt it—wings. Thin, translucent wings beating on his back.
"…No way…" He stared at his tiny shadow on the ground. "Don't tell me… I reincarnated… as a BUG!?"
Before panic could take over, a clear, feminine voice rang inside his head.
"Activation complete. Awakening successful. Perverted person reincarnated."
Okaza nearly fell over. "Wha—WHAT!? Perverted person!? I'm not—!"
"…Correction: ex-pervert."
"That doesn't make it better!"
The voice continued smoothly, ignoring his protests.
"My name is Chloe. I am your system assistant in this world. Please decide your new name, 'Pervert.'"
Okaza clicked his mandibles in frustration. "Stop calling me that! Fine—my name… my name is Steinz Terstie!"
"Name confirmed: Steinz Terstie."
A pause. Then the voice spoke again, flat and merciless.
"But you are not the ruler of the Insecta."
Okaza's new insect eyes widened. "Wait—what do you mean by that!?"
The forest around him buzzed with unknown sounds. Strange shadows moved in the tall grass.
For the first time since he'd opened his eyes, Okaza realized—
His tiny life had already begun.
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[End of Chapter 1]
Next time: "First Encounter with destiny"