Warmth.
That was the first sensation Jerry felt — a blanket of comforting heat wrapped around his tiny body as though the world itself was welcoming him.
Soft light seeped through his eyelids. A blurry silhouette hovered above him, shifting slightly like an out-of-focus shadow. A man's voice vibrated through the air, deep and proud.
For a moment, Jerry thought he was dreaming.
Then he heard it clearly.
"I still can't believe it," the man boomed. "Triplets! And all boys. They'll grow up to be great warriors — just like their father!"
Jerry's mind froze.
Triplets? Warriors? Father?
His eyes blinked open, and the world rushed in — too bright, too large, too overwhelming. Everything looked enormous, like he had shrunk into a toy-sized version of himself.
"Wait… I'm a baby?" Jerry whispered — or thought he whispered, because nothing came out except a faint squeak.
His mind raced. The bus. The crash. The explosion of metal and glass. The moment everything went dark.
So… that really happened? We died? And now… reincarnated? For real?
He tried to lift his head, but it felt impossible — like his neck was made of wet noodles. He managed only an awkward wobble to the left.
There, lying peacefully with a serene expression, was a baby with soft green hair.
Jerry stared.
"That… that looks like Mike," he muttered internally. "Even though he didn't have green hair in our past life… that complexion? That calm, 'I'm judging you' baby face? That's definitely him."
His tiny heart thumped rapidly. Relief washed through him like warm water.
If he's here… then maybe…
Jerry tried to tilt his head to the right. The movement was clumsy, strenuous, painful — but it worked.
A pair of large blue eyes blinked directly at him.
A baby with fluffy sky-blue hair stared back, wide-awake, as if he had been waiting for Jerry to notice him.
Jerry almost burst out laughing.
"That has to be Bob. Still looks like him… just not fat this time. Lucky guy got a head start on life."
The blue-haired baby's eyes widened even more.
"Jerry?" a familiar voice echoed in his head — Bob's mental voice, nerdy and shocked.
Jerry's spirit jumped. "Bob?! Yes, it's me! You can hear me?"
"I think… we're communicating telepathically!" Bob replied. "Jerry… I think we died in that bus accident."
"Obviously!" Jerry snapped. "But listen — what color is my hair?"
Bob blinked like that was the last question he expected.
"What? Why does that matter now?"
"Just tell me the color!"
Bob thought deeply for a moment — typical Bob.
"It's… Crimson Ember."
Jerry stared. "What kind of anime nonsense—just say the color!"
"It's red!" Bob finally admitted.
Jerry almost cheered — until the baby on the left stretched, eyes slowly fluttering open.
Mike.
He blinked once, twice, then let out a calm sigh — as if waking up reincarnated was just a mild inconvenience.
"Hey… guys," Mike's mind-voice murmured.
"Mike!" Jerry cried. "You're awake!"
Bob immediately repeated, "We got reincarnated!"
Mike paused. "Yeah… I see that."
To the parents, the triplets' conversation was nothing but squeaks, giggles, and baby hand-flailing.
Their father — Ren — let out a booming laugh.
"What are they even yapping about?" he said, adjusting the cloth wrapped around his waist. "Barely a minute old and already making noise."
Their mother, Elia, rolled her eyes. She had warm brown hair tied loosely behind her shoulders, and the gentle expression of someone who could smile even during a storm.
"They're newborns, Ren," she said softly. "Maybe give them five minutes before calling them talkative."
Ren shrugged proudly. "Talkative or not, they'll be warriors. Mark my words."
Jerry ignored the grown-ups. He was too busy soaking in the surreal reality.
Mike was here.
Bob was here.
And he… Jerry… was alive again.
Possibly in a world where magic existed.
He could barely contain himself.
Elia leaned closer, her eyes sparkling. "Do you boys want to see something?"
Jerry's mental voice shot up several octaves. "Magic? MAGIC? Please tell me she means magic!"
Bob's brain practically exploded. "No way. No way. Are we actually in a fantasy world—"
Elia waved her hand gently.
A baby rattle on the table shivered. A soft pink glow wrapped around it, lifting it into the air. It floated toward the triplets and jingled itself, shaking happily like an excited pet.
Jerry would have screamed if he had vocal cords. "SHE HAS MAGIC. SHE ACTUALLY HAS MAGIC!"
Bob lost all composure. "TELEKINESIS. REAL TELEKINESIS. I TAKE BACK EVERY COMPLAINT ABOUT DYING — THIS IS PEAK FICTION."
Mike nodded more calmly, but his eyes were shining. "If Mom can use magic… we probably can too."
Elia giggled. "Aww, look at them! Except the one with green hair. He still hasn't smiled."
"Shut up, Ren," she added playfully, elbowing her husband.
Ren smirked and straightened up, now looking like a proud general preparing for a ceremony.
"All right," he declared dramatically. "Time to name the future warriors."
Jerry felt like he was being drafted into the army.
Ren pointed directly at Jerry.
"You are Doari."
Jerry blinked. Doari…? Not the worst name.
Ren pointed at Bob.
"You are Koari."
Bob squealed happily in his mind. "We even got fantasy names! This is so cool!"
Finally, Ren pointed at Mike.
"And you — green hair — are Zoari."
Mike accepted it like a stoic baby warrior-sage.
Jerry grinned inside.
This really was going to be insane.
📜 MONTAGE — The Years of Laughter (Ages 0–5)
➤ Age 1 — Disaster Babies
Doari's attempt to crawl was a tragedy.
He pushed forward, slipped on a blanket, flipped over, and rolled face-first into a pillow.
Koari tried copying Ren's sword stance using a wooden spoon.
He tripped immediately, then proudly declared it a "successful test."
Zoari?
He levitated toys without anyone noticing — quietly, secretly, because even as a baby he acted like powers must be hidden.
➤ Age 2 — Magic Everywhere
Elia taught them how to feel "aura sparks."
Pink lights danced over their crib.
Tiny magical bursts made their hair float, lights flicker, and blankets lift for no reason.
Ren tried showing them basic aura control.
The boys sneezed — and Ren's long hair flew straight upward like a shocked porcupine.
Elia burst into laughter every time.
➤ Age 3 — Chaos Brothers
Doari ran around the small middle-class home yelling battle cries.
Koari tried reading books upside down and lecturing everyone anyway.
Zoari, calm as always, accidentally floated a spoon into Ren's face.
Ren declared it "war" and chased Zoari around the living room while Elia recorded it on a crystal orb.
➤ Age 4 — Sparks of Power
Doari created his first accidental fire spark.
Koari summoned a tiny gust of wind that knocked over an entire shelf.
Zoari created a faint green glow around his hands — and immediately hid it under a blanket.
The parents were half proud, half terrified.
➤ Age 5 — The Day Everything Changed
The montage faded.
And their fifth birthday arrived.
📅 Their Fifth Birthday
"Happy birthday to you~!"
Ren and Elia sang loudly, clapping off-beat in the cozy living room. The house was humble — wooden floors, simple furniture, hand-sewn curtains — but it radiated warmth.
Colorful paper ribbons hung from the ceiling. Handcrafted paper stars — some crooked, some surprisingly perfect — dangled from threads. The air smelled of chocolate and candle wax.
A simple round chocolate cake sat on the table, topped with five tiny candles shaped like swords. Elia had made it herself.
Doari, Koari, and Zoari stood behind the cake, smiling brightly.
Doari wore a red tunic that had been patched several times.
Koari wore sky-blue with uneven stitching.
Zoari wore green, perfectly matching his hair.
Their eyes shone in the flickering candlelight.
"Cut the cake!" Elia said joyfully.
The triplets placed their hands together on the knife and sliced through the cake. Then, giggling, they each fed a messy piece to their mom and dad.
Elia laughed, chocolate smudged on her cheek.
Ren wiped crumbs from his beard.
They looked proud. So proud.
Ren crossed his arms, face suddenly serious.
"You know what?" he said. "Tomorrow… I'll start training the three of you to become warriors."
The boys froze.
Doari gasped. "For real?!"
Koari nearly exploded. "Sword training?! YES!"
Zoari, always the calm one, simply smiled. "This will be interesting."
Elia raised an eyebrow. "Ren… they're still children."
"No," Ren said, eyes firm. "This is the age my aura first awakened. It's the perfect time."
Doari felt his heart ignite.
Koari felt his imagination explode.
Zoari felt something stirring deep inside him — a quiet spark waiting to grow.
Their new life was truly beginning.
To be continued…