Waking up in an unfamiliar body, I look around the also unfamiliar room. I have an unsettling premonition.
[Activating The Multiverse Spectator System...]
"And there it is..."
Voicing my first words since waking up. After realizing what is happening to a certain degree, I search through my memory but come to a discovery I'm not sure how to feel about.
"My memories... they're not complete."
Yes, all I can seemingly remember is knowledge about language, my name, and... anime?
"I'm kind of screwed, huh..." Passing by my momentary worry, I realize my emotions are very dull. Shouldn't someone in this situation typically panic?
"Well, that's how people react in those novels, at least..." I smirk at how worthless my knowledge is.
"Hmm... I feel amusement, but not panic. Maybe my emotions aren't dull — they're just not in control. If that's the case, there's nothing wrong with being cool-headed."
Continuing to look through my memories for anything useful at all, it leads me to one conclusion. My memories are worthless, so I give up. Well, most are...
I focus on my one useful memory. "Kensou..." I smirk once again. "A fitting name... at least that's what my instincts tell me."
[Host, have you per chance forgotten about me?]
"Piss off."
"[...]"
Getting up from the bed, I move to the adjacent room, which I assume to be the bathroom. Opening the door, I am greeted with... well, the bathroom. "Lucky guess..."
I look into the mirror on the bathroom wall and am greeted with an unfamiliar face... my face... a very familiar face.
"Toji..." I smirk yet again. "Whoever is writing this has good taste."
[...Did I make his instincts too strong?]
I almost let out a laugh at the system's failure to hide its thought.
"Is it even an AI...?" I whisper in thought. "Well, not like it matters."
"Well, I'm ready. Talk to me," I say and start washing my face.
[You're quite rude, Host, but I suppose that's partly my fault.]
"Actually, I've lost interest in listening. Just answer my questions."
[...Very well.]
"Good. First question — since I'm in the body of Toji, does that mean I'm in the world of Jujutsu Kaisen?"
[That is incorrect. But I cannot say where you are until you figure it out yourself.]
Abandoning the thought of asking which anime world I am in, I pose my second question. "What's my task? You're a system, so I'm guessing I get stronger accomplishing tasks you assign me."
[Good question, Host. Your main task, as stated in the name of the [Multiverse Spectator System], is... to spectate the main events of the world you're currently in.]
"Simple enough. By the way, how old am I? I'm kind of interested."
[Host is currently 20, with today being your birthday.]
"And what day is that?"
[April 1st.]
"..." I feel like I can see the smirk on this system's imaginary — and very punchable — face.
[Host, you have a beginner pack available.]
"Whatever. Just give it to me."
[Very well, Host... hehe.]
That short laugh sets off my instincts, but it's too late by then. I topple onto the floor in extreme pain. Muscles tearing, regenerating on repeat. I lose my vision and hearing, as well as my sense of smell. A little afterward, I also lose my sense of touch, which brings me some relief as the pain lessens.
Getting up to a sitting position, soaked in sweat and blood, I stare at the bastard who did this to me.
"[...]"
"..."
[Host, please say something. You're wasting the valuable reader's time.]
"Why was losing my sense of touch and pain delayed?" If I was capable of it, my eyes would already have burned two holes into the system interface.
[...]
"Sigh..."
Some time afterward
After taking a shower and getting out of the apartment, I walk out into the streets of the city, and the first thing I see is a middle-aged man with antlers on his head.
"Certainly an anime world..."
And he's not the only one — a lady with scales on her cheeks, a boy with bubbles coming out of his ears. Abnormal traits, while still being relatively human in general appearance.
Continuing on my way, I pass an electronics store with TVs on display. I do a double take and come back to take a closer look.
"My Hero Academia..."
How do I know this? Well, right there on the screen is the one and only Number 1 Hero — All Might.
I once again look around me, taking in all the heteromorphic appearances.
"Quirks..."
A strange sense of relief washes over me. My mind starts forming not so much plans, but a checklist of events I know I'll need to witness.
I start walking around the city.
"System, what was part of the beginner pack?" I say in my normal voice, getting a few strange looks from nearby bystanders. Not that it bothers me.
[Well, as some have already guessed, I have given you Heavenly Restriction.]
"So it is Heavenly Restriction... the strength boost is insane, as well as the boost to my senses..."
Just closing my eyes, it feels like what I imagine Observation Haki to be — silhouettes of people walking around as I move between them with my eyes closed.
"I can work with this." Grinning widely, I continue moving with no destination in mind. This time, instead of earning a few looks, people heading in my direction form a path for me, seemingly because of Toji's — or, well, my — more than thuggish appearance.
[Host, that wasn't the only reward from the beginner pack.]
I raise an eyebrow at this. "Heavenly Restriction wasn't the only thing...?"
[Correct. To make it more convenient for the Host, I have given you the ability to remain undetected to things like scanners or cameras working primarily with AI. But the Host can still be seen by people through cameras or otherwise.]
"Well, that is certainly convenient... makes getting into UA easier since the automated security features won't activate."
I ponder and change some of my plans based on this new information.
"Last question — where am I in the plot?"
[...]
"Tch. And I was about to praise you..."
I start focusing on the plot of MHA. "April..."
My instincts once again tell me something is going to happen this month.
I stop a middle-aged businessman walking by me.
"Excuse me, what city are we currently in?"
Presumably freaked out by my appearance, as well as my question, he shakily answers while staying on guard.
"...Y-You are in Musutafu, s-sir."
"Hmm... thanks."
He stares at my departing back for a while before leaving in a different direction.
"So I'm where it all happens, huh... So far, it's all very convenient, so I'm probably not crazy in thinking the sludge villain will attack Bakugo this month. Since this system seems to like convenience, it's effectively placing me at the very start of the canon."
[...]
"System, this is the [Spectating System], correct? Does that mean I can't interfere at all with the plot?"
A very important question for me.
[Correct, Host. You cannot engage anyone at all.]
I frown immediately and leak a little of my oppressive aura, further pushing bystanders away from me.
"Explain yourself," I demand sinisterly. This time, bystanders are straight terrified, and some start waving over what I presume to be a hero in a flashy spandex suit. A few braver — or should I say stupider — ones even take out their phones to record.
[Calm down, Host. You are causing a disturbance.]
"When you explain yourself, I will. Because what's the point of you giving me all this strength just to not be able to use it?"
[Very well, give me a second to ex—]
I can't finish reading before I feel a tap on my shoulder. Turning my head, I see the spandex-wearing hero looking at me while staying on guard.
I glare at him — and the hand on my shoulder.
"You better take that off... you don't want to lose it." I warn. It seems emotions like panic can't affect me much, but anger doesn't work the same in this body.
With the rationality I still have, I ponder why what the system said upset me so much — but I can't think of anything, with having no memories and all. So I put it on the back burner.
Seemingly convinced I'm up to something nefarious, the hero puts up his guard and starts activating his quirk, which seems like something related to rock manipulation.
"Sir, please cease your hostile intentions and follow me willingly to the pol—"
Cutting him off is the system interface.
[Detecting hostile intentions against the Host. Permitting limited use of force.]
Like a switch has been flipped, I put on a maniacal smile, forcing the hero to launch his rocks at me while jumping back to put some distance between us.
Like that would work against me.
"Citizens, please get a—"
I cut him off.
"Noisy..."
Appearing right in front of him, I deliver a swift punch to his jaw — enough to knock him out cold. The nearby bystanders freeze in shock, some gasping, others backing away in fear.
[Hostile intentions against Host have ceased. Restricting use of force.]
Coming back to my cool-headed self, I quickly leave the area by jumping on a nearby building.
[Host, please be aware: while certain situations do allow your interference — such as what happened not long ago — affecting the plot too much will lead to punishments.]
"So that's how it works..."
I can only interfere when there's a direct threat to me, and I can't veer the plot too much. But that second point is a little too vague.
[As you might be thinking, Host, the second point will be evaluated case by case.]
After calming down, I think about the system and my journey going forward.
"Yeah, I can work with this..."
Just like that, two weeks pass — nothing major happening.
And the fated day arrives.
Explosions off in the distance. My instincts screaming at me that I need to be there.
Grinning at the thought of my first spectating session, I sprint and leap off the tops of buildings toward the sound of explosions.