You think being reincarnated would make you the protagonist, wouldn't you?
So did Adam.
When Adam reincarnated as a baby, he thought he was chosen.
In reality?
He was just a baby.
Couldn't do a damn thing.
So he cried.
Cried a lot.
Cursed too.
Around his 3rd birthday, he accepted that he was probably just going to be a smart person.
He wasn't a genius, and he didn't want the world treating him like one.
So he limited his outside appearance to being just gifted, not transcendentally smart.
Then.. then Kindergarten started.
Adam stayed in his lane, using his 'too mature for his age' demeanor to rely on teachers letting him slack off.
But his whole game plan changed the moment he woke up on his 5th Birthday.
***
[Activation of Last Human System… Stand by…]
Adam stared at the system window.
Then looked outside.
Mr.Harold was jogging with his dog, Buddy, like he always did.
Then came his parents voices, His dad's voice singing in the bathroom probably styling his hair like always.
His mom's voice was coming from the living room, telling his dad to stop the god awful solo he was doing.
*Doesn't feel like I'm the last human…*
[Last Human System Online. Initializing Body Scan of Host!]
Adam didn't feel a damn thing happen.
*Usually System scans involve some sort of pain or something, right? That's the cliche.*
Adam shook his head, pain or no pain, he had a System!
After 5 years of life here on Terra, he thought he was just lucky to reincarnate into a world where it matched Earth.
*5 years too late, but at least it's not 20 years like some other protagonists…*
[Body scan completed, loading System Window…
Title: The Last Human
Host: Adam Cross
Strength: 1 / 10
Agility: 1 / 10
Vitality: 1 / 10
Intelligence: 2 / 10
Perception: 2 / 10
Charisma: 1 / 10
Diagnosis: Host will perish in less than 24 hours.]
*Oh.*
Adam let himself stare at the system window for a long moment.
*Well, it makes sense, my body is just a child, my brain is an adult.*
[Gained 0.01% towards the next level of Intelligence.]
*This is going to be a drag, huh?*
Adam never thought he would get a system that enforced grinding.
But he did enjoy watching the number go up.
"Adam! Are you awake, buddy?" His dad's voice came from the bathroom, probably just now done with his 20 minute routine.
"Yeah dad, I am."
His mom pushed open the bedroom door, her clothes screamed corporate woman.
By Adam's standards, both his parents were good looking.
A fact he was happy about when he first reincarnated.
*I'll look miles better once I grow up.*
"Happy birthday~ Made your favorite today before going to work."
Adam focused on the plate, stacked high with pancakes and whip cream.
"Dad's going to make me run that off. I just know it."
"You sure bet I am." Dad said as he appeared behind Mom, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Need to keep you healthy so you grow up strong."
Mom looked up at Dad with an infatuated gaze.
Adam just shook his head.
Its always been like this.
His cool and composed mom loved his ridiculous dad to death.
It was heartwarming… but it still felt like being fed dogfood every damn day.
Not to mention in his 'baby' era when they put his crib in their room.
Adam shuddered at the memory.
"Well, Buddy, clocks a ticking, eat up and I'll take you to school." Dad reached over with his free hand to ruffle Adam's hair.
Adam tried to dodge but he was too slow.
*Maybe the system is right about my low agility.*
***
Kindergarten was exactly how you'd expect.
Loud, energetic, and most importantly…Dangerous?
[WARNING: JUVENILE MUTANT BRUTE IN YOUR AREA!
EXPECTED SURVIVABILITY… 3%
ADVICE TO THE HOST: RUN.]
Adam looked to where the system was freaking out.
He saw a girl take a boy's toy truck, causing the boy to cry.
The girl, Rachel if Adam recalled correctly, was one of the loudest, energetic kids in his class.
She fit the "Juvenile Mutant Brute" title more than anyone.
Rachel paused, looking up, she looked around before seeing Adam.
"You! Play tag with me!"
[WARNING: Host has been targeted by JUVENILE MUTANT BRUTE.
Recommended Action: RUN or placate.]
"Sure. You're it!" Adam took off before Rachel could respond.
"CHEATER!!"
[JUVENILE MUTANT BRUTE ON PURSUIT!]
[Gained 0.03% towards the next level of Agility.]
[Gained 0.02% towards the next level of Agility.]
[Gained…]
Notifications kept pinging Adam for every minute of playing tag with Rachel.
Oddly enough, Tag + seeing each minute of improvement made Adam like the game WAY more than he should have.
But that ended as soon as Rachel tackled him into the sandbox.
Adam spat out sand as the system pinged once more.
[HOST CAPTURED.]
[RECOMMEND ACTION: BEG]
Adam mentally rolled his eyes at the system's antics.
"Got you, cheater!"
"Yeah, yeah, you got me. But I'm not a cheater, just smarter than you."
Rachel went to pout but her eyes went wide as Adam tickled her sides.
She twisted away from him as he got up and RAN.
"See! Smarter!"
[Host has successfully escaped capture!]
[Gained 0.07% towards the next level of Charisma.]
[Gained 0.01% towards the next level of Intelligence.]
Playtime wound down without Adam and Rachel exhausted but with wide smiles.
"You're good at this… other kids cry or tell on me to the teacher."
"Well, that makes sense, you're a brute."
Rachel looked confused. "Bwute? What's that?"
"A very energetic person."
"Then I'm the biggest bwute!!"
"Mhm, the biggest." Adam couldn't suppress a small laugh as he got up, extending a hand to her.
"Let's get back to class, think I heard something about reading."
Rachel groaned at the mention of reading. "Words are hard…"
***
As kindergarten let out for the day, Adam checked over his notifications.
[Host has survived prolonged contact with Juvenile Mutant Brute. Calculating…]
[Host has begun teaching Juvenile Mutant Brute. Calculating…]
[Gained 0.02% towards the next level of Charisma.]
[Gained 0.03% towards the next level of Intelligence.]
His check was interrupted by Rachel taking his hand and guiding him.
"Let's go meet my daddy! He always wants to talk to my friends!!"