Rebirth and Awakening (Private)

[Purestarfall]

There are many different forms of afterlife, each with their own particular rules and traits, that covers the entirety of the multiverse. One of the most notable, but yet also almost completely unknown to those that haven't been sent there, is the one that offers a somewhat unique, if not slightly insane, way to not only be reborn but to also grow to accept one's true self. In effect, to be given an entirely second chance at life. In this isolated dimension, those that are reborn are ranked into certain classes each with their own rules and limitations that they must follow. Which are as follows.

Bigs - They are the ones that have no extra rules placed onto them, other than to follow the expected obligations that society places upon them. They end up having the most freedom to do whatever they wish, although they can't do activities that are more expected of the lower classes.
Middles - A state inbetween Bigs and Littles, Middles have the most diverse expressions because of their inbetween status. Though generally, they have some big traits and some little traits to end up being classed as this. They can have responsibilities like Bigs, though not as many and are barred from some activities exclusive to Bigs. On the flip side, they can also partake in some of the activities more limited to those of the Little rank as well though some are forced onto them like having to wear diapers just like Littles do.
Littles - The lowest of the three ranks, those classed as Littles are expected little to no ability for self-autonomy. To even leave one of the Realization Centers that dot the world, Littles have to have a Middle or a Big adopt them. They are then dependent on that said Middle or Big doing stuff for them like changing them, bathing them, and putting them to bed at bedtime. Although in exchange, Littles have no societal expectations placed on them and can play all day long if they want. Littles wear diapers at all times, and are expected to use them like one...and it's rather common for one to lose their potty training after being stuck as a Little for long enough.

The stated goal of all of this is supposedly to help one know who they are better, since what rank they get is largely based on what kinds of personality traits they have, and to help them accept their place in the world compared to others in preparation for the day they leave for their second rebirth in another world. Though some have some doubts that the classification system is even necessary in order to do that, and ponder if it's instead they're handed out more to force others to learn to accept their given roles even if it clashes with their personality. Though the fact that a few have ended up being able to promote or demote their rank based on how they act throws cold water over this idea, the fact that no Middles have ever become Bigs via this way does make the situation rather odd. In any event, having a rank is needed if one is expected to live in this world as you need one even just to get food so everyone has one.

---

It was another day for Shiuchi Saihara on this weird world that the now-classified Little had awoken in. Quickly having been given the rank of Little, Shiuchi since then had been confined to the Realization Center just like the other Littles that had yet to find some Middle or Big to come adopt them. The Little's days were spent just like the other Littles here, with the caretaker staff here looking after them. Feeding them from highchairs, changing soiled diapers, giving them baths...they went all the way with caring for the Littles no matter how much the littles fussed over it.

At the moment though, Shiuchi didn't have to deal with any of that though. It was thankfully playtime, which meant that the Little could be on the playground that was attached to the Realization Center. While the fence surrounding the playground was a reminder that it wasn't freedom, Shiuchi could at least have a bit of time away from the more babyish aspects of the Little's new life while still being able to glance onto the wider world that laid beyond the center. It seemed that it was in the middle of what seemed like a city, with tall buildings around the center...if only Shiuchi could find someone to adopt the poor Little so that the Little could leave to finally explore. Not only this place, but also even Shiuchi themself.

[LittleBug]

If you were to ask Shuichi for his honest thought on this new live of his... Well, he wasn't the biggest fan. Was it the worst thing? Heavens no, it was certainly much better than having to navigate the cruelties that was the killing game he went through. On the other hand, being thrown into yet another unfamiliar world wasn't the most easy to adjust to, especially when it seemed it had a rather... Infantile twist to it.

A simple world, but a world with rules nonetheless. Those to come him must be ranked into one of three places; the lowest being the most free, yet unreliable and the highest being the more reliable, yet independent one with the middle being, well, the in between of the two. This was not out demeaning those, but to help them coming from their past lives to understand themselves better, a chance to be their truest selves.

Now, Shuichi would be all for this... If not for his luck landing him in the little rank, meaning he had to essentially be a baby for someone else to care for. Really? Surely the middle rank would be better fit given his drive to help others around him, must he really not be able to do much? To jumble things up even further, there was another change that surprised Shuichi upon waking up... A more physical one, at all.

The detective was no stranger to questioning his gender. Ever since he was young, he found himself more comfortable with femininity, feeling the desire to dress and look pretty grow more and more as he did. With his life, though, it was difficult to find the time and confidence to take that step forward, and the killing game was the final nail in the coffin to just bottle it up and forget about it as a whole... Well, with all of that behind Shuichi, it seemed there was no need to keep ignoring it anymore.

Not that he could, really. It's not exactly easy to ignore the fact that your body has changed from something more male to now female, with his bluish-black hair closer down to his shoulders and, well, a more pronounced chest.

Thankfully, it seemed most of those around Shuichi were quite understanding of these changes, even some of them going through the same thing one way or another... He just wished that he had at least one person he used to know to help him through this, if not someone personally to come in and adopt him. Don't get him wrong, the Realization Center was nice, but it would also be nice if he could get out and see more... Well, at least the feeling of being in a closed/open space wasn't the most unfamiliar to him.

At the very least he could get to actually be outside for a while. With the line he stood in dispersing, playtime official began at the playground as Shuichi wandered off to a more distance corner of the fence. Sitting on one of the swings, he idly swayed back and forth, more focused on watching the city movement around the center instead of the other littles. Bustling, but oddly peaceful, enough to help him think about... Everything, without the creeping thoughts of both his babyish and transition pushing into his head.

[Purestarfall]

For the most part, the other Littles were more caught up in their playing with other playsets over the swings at the moment, leaving Shuichi to himself to think over things. However fate had different plans in store for him than to let him be able to peacefully think...though it wasn't an interruption that came with no opportunity with it.

As he was sitting on a swing, out of the corner of his eye he spotted something weird form just outside the fence that was keeping him locked in from the larger world. It was a mass of a darkish color, suspended a bit into the air over the sidewalk just outside the Realization Center. Since he was the only one in that area of the playground at the moment, Shuichi would be the only one to notice the strange magical-seeming mass.

However before he could take any sort of real action about it, a figure then suddenly emerged from the mass and landed on the sidewalk in front of it. As the portal disappeared, the Little spotted as the mysterious figure was what seemed like an adult human woman. She had a simplistic beauty to her, what with her having long pink hair that flowed down to her butt, with two accessories that were in the shape of D-pads like one might find on a gaming controller attached to both sides on the front side of her hair, and also had a fairly sizeable chest though her outfit largely concealed her breasts. Of her outfit, Shuichi found that it was just a black and purple-colored parka that was zipped closed that the woman wore like a dress, with seemingly no signs that she wore anything underneath it like shorts. Completing the outfit was the black choker she wore around her neck and the black boots, which notability had no laces to them, that she wore over her feet. And as a final note, Shuichi would note the black and purple-colored gun holster, complete with the handgun that currently rested inside it, that the woman wore on her left thigh.

The moment after she appeared, The woman would hold her hand, in a v-shape using two of her fingers on it, over her head as she mentioned to herself quite cheerfully and carefree "And I've arrived in a new dimension~! I hope this one will be fun! Or at the very least, I won't have to be roped into having to save the world. I would really like a break from that for a bit and get some rest and relaxation!" Afterwards though, as she gathered the setting in front of her, she noticed Shuichi on the other side of the fence that was in front of her. She didn't know what was going on, but she knew that it was always worth it to get more information on a new dimension from one of the locals.

Walking up to the fence, she focused her purple-colored eyes onto Shuichi with a pleasant smile on her face. "Hiya there! I'm Neptune, but if that's too hard for you to say then you can just call me Nep! What's your name?" The cheerful woman let out to him as she sought to casually build a report with Shuichi...or at least as casually as someone who just came out from a portal can be. However as she scanned over Shuichi, she noticed the outfit that the Little was wearing...a white onesie with his diaper worn underneath it and a pair of socks and shoes with velcro strips instead of laces. The sight of it was enough to make Neptune unable to contain herself from letting out a laugh, though clearly a good-natured one, over it. "What's with the outfit? You look so much like a baby! ...is it a costume or something?" She then asked him with an curious tone as she simply wanted to know more, though with that a thought would likely cross Shuichi's mind given the way she sounded so clueless during the last part of what she said...this woman really didn't know how things worked here and that he might have to inform on the rules this world followed.

And then right after, another one might have popped up in his mind as well...maybe Neptune could adopt him so that he could finally leave the center?

[LittleBug]

Shuichi sighed, turning his gaze to look down at his feet before closing his eyes... Only to snap them back open as he heard something off to the side. Turning to take a look, he was amazed to see it was some sort of portal, and even more so seeing a woman emerge from it. Interesting... She looked human, at least on the surface, but clearly had some sort of magical twist to her. Is she was here right now, he could imagine how jealous Himiko would be.

Seeing the other approach the fence, Shuichi decided to also get closer. She didn't seem to mean any harm with her more cheerful, upbeat demeanor, though it did make him curious as to how, or why, she ended up here.

"Ah, hello, Neptune... I'm Shuichi, Shuichi Saihara. It's a pleasure to meet you." Shuichi greeted, returning a soft smile. Witnessing the other woman laugh at his attire though, he faltered back some, a blush creeping over his fair cheeks. Right, even for just a split second, he completely forgot about what he was wearing, and what it meant for him.

"U-umm... More like a uniform, really. At least for those who are like me." He chuckled weakly, tugging a bit at his onesie. " Littles are esnetially meant to be babies, meaning they have to be cared for and dressed like ones. If they don't have a designated carer, they reside here in a sort of daycare until then." He explained.

I take it you must be from elsewhere, huh? Well, I would suggest you make yourself familiar by checking into the facility, because those who aren't ranked aren't really allowed to do much..."

[Purestarfall]

The purplish pink-haired woman gave Shuichi a bit of a smile as he was telling her his name, responding back to him "Well it's nice to meet you Shuichi!" Neptune was a bit confused though, as Shuichi was more of a guy name when the person in front of her looked very much like a girl. But she realized it might be a bit rude to ask Shuichi about that so for now she kept it to herself.

As Shuichi then told her about the uniform he was wearing, Neptune grew a bit more concerned about the rules of this place. "...Crostie, I don't think we're in Gamindustri anymore..." She then let out, before then taking on an upbeat tone as she let out to seemingly no one in particular "Hey, I've always wanted to make a reference to that famous line! Give me a break here! It's just a little 4th wall breaking!"

However afterwards she focused back onto a likely very confused Shuichi and told him as she smiled "You don't have to worry about it if it went over your head. Anyway...I'm not sure I get it but..." Neptune however then stopped talking for a moment before her smile then turned into a more concerned, maybe even slightly panicked, expression. "Wait...I won't be able to do much here? That's...not cool." She then told Shuichi before then, once he explained to her what precisely that meant for her, grew into a panic. "You mean...I can't get food if I'm not ranked here? Not even pudding!? That's bad! That's ultra bad! I don't want to be hungry! I've got to do something! Oh, I know! I'll just have to get ranked and that'll fix that issue!"

Her concern quickly returned back to her upbeat self as she then told Shuichi "Then that's what I've got to do now. Go into this center and no doubt get the highest rank they have here. It'll be a piece of cake for me, I'm sure! Seriously though, thanks for the help Shuichi! I'd be in some real trouble if I didn't get the down low from you. If you ever need me to help with something, just let me know. A Nep always repays her debts!"

With that offer though, Shuichi would see opportunity. If Neptune got ranked as either a Middle or a Big, then she could adopt him and he would finally get a chance to leave the center at long last. It was a bit of a gamble, as Neptune could end up a little like he was and this would all be moot, but there was no downside for him to ask Neptune here and now to adopt him once she got the rank of either Middle or Big so that she could remember it once she could be allowed to free him from this infantile prision.