Chapter Text
Sumo Wrestling, known for being an ancient art involving two wrestlers grappling each other in loincloths called Mawashi Belts. There are many legendary wrestlers who work hard in the goal of obtaining the rank of Yokozuna. No matter the battle, no matter the hardships, they will always keep on going through the path in order to achieve their ultimate goal. Because in sumo, it is the ultimate fight to the top.
…I don’t know anything. I wouldn’t exactly know anything.
I’ve never tried hard in my life… I mean, I’ve always watched sumo online when I first heard about it. Whenever I take an interest, I immediately lose interest in it. I’ve always been a loner, a shy, anxious little guy who doesn’t seem to know what I can do with my life. I’ve struggled to even imagine what I can even do. I always lose interest in many subjects. I mean, I get good grades but not because I enjoy it, but because I wanted to impress my Dad.
What can I even do? I mean, I don’t even know where I am.
What’s the point of any of this in the first place? Why do I even care? I mean, it’s not like I had any purpose in the first place. All I got was expectations, being told what to do, and I was tired that I had to run away and wanted to survive on my own.
Life is just unfair. Tch, what would it matter anyway? I tried to look for the bright side but I had to lose it all. Dammit.
People think they know everything about you but they don’t. They just think poorly that you can’t do anything and even when you try to prove them wrong, it just further proves them right. When you think you can achieve your dreams they just shove reality down your throat.
Nothing matters anyway in this void of darkness.
“ I see that you are finally awake. ” Huh? Hey, who said that? S-Show yourself!
Suddenly, the whole area started to brighten up with a strange figure appearing from the light. However, I can’t clearly see them. Their face was being obscured by the shining blinding light surrounding him. W-Who the heck is that?
“ Is that how you treat someone who steps in the Land of In-Between? ”
The Land in who what now?
“ ...It seems that you are confused in your situation. Well it matters not, I am here to talk to you about what you are gonna be going through. ”
What I’m gonna be going through? What are you, god?
“ Well…you aren’t far-off the mark. I am a god. A special one. And we’re here on a little talk before I decide what to do with you. ”
Wait what? No no no, this is just a dream. I’m pretty sure that I’m probably gonna wake up and realize that this is all just a dumb dream.
The figure started chuckling, almost taking it in like it was a joke…which isn’t, by the way!
“ Okay, very well. Believe what you want. ” The figure chuckled. “ Now then, let’s get down to business: I am here to speak to you about the life you are currently trending. After reviewing your case, you were quite the troublesome yet smart individual. Even for a teenager of your age, you were a force to be reckoned with. With the path that you’re currently going, you have no heart in your future with how uncertain and how your current life is taking you. ”
…And your point is?
“ In short: It seems like you are wasting potential. A human like you doesn’t need that be wasted. ”
…Me? Wasting potential? That’s pretty exaggerated, Mr. God. My life was boring anyway. Not like it had any point in it, anyway? I’m fine with how my life is going.
“ Oh ho ho, is that a fact? Especially how you seem to left your family just recently even when you’re busy attending high school? ”
It was just…some dumb fight. What’s your point? Okay, I’m gonna be waking up any minute now. I’m just…maybe if I pinch myself then I can wake up?
“ Now, now, don’t be like that kid. The point is, I think maybe we can work on a deal. Especially since you’re quite an interesting little human. ”
What? Me? There’s probably more interesting individuals out there than me.
“ Oh, really? Hmmm…No, but you certainly can satisfy my needs. To prove something to me. You grew up with good grades, but grew quite unfulfilling especially with how sneaky and cunning you can be. But I sense that you have quite a curious little aura around you that might be quite well off. And I hate people who throw it all away. ”
Your point being?
“ I think you’ll soon see that I mean business, kid. I believe that you’ll soon find the answers that you need. ”
…Weird dream ever. Not like I’m gonna remember any of this.
The figure started chuckling, which made me confused. Why is he laughing?
“ You really don’t get it. Do you still think you have any right to go back? ”
Uh, yes. Why should I even care about doing this? I mean, I really have no mind about going back to where I was. It’s not like I care about anything. That’s just how life is. Caring is not gonna get you anywhere.
“ You speak so coldly that it disappoints me to see such a young spirit with so much potential slowly withering like this. But perhaps you will see fit. You will find life to be proven thankful and cherish it. Someone like you needs it. ”
What? What are…?
Suddenly, I felt my whole world started to grow dark and my mind growing numb. W-What’s…?
“ The Land of In-Between. Do you understand what it means? ” The figure questioned. “ The Realms Between Life and Death. You are bordering in-between these two realms as a rare occurrence not because you have passed, but because I decided to bring you here since I have seen where the course of your life is going. So in short, you’ll be starting over. ”
W-What…? What’s…ugh…
“ Soon, you’ll understand the more as your life progresses and where your true journey begins…This conversation…it will be forgotten but your memories of your human life will remain as you move onto your new life. Your old name…it shall be discarded. Your new name will be… ”
His voice died out as I could feel darkness swallowing me and leaving me alone. I…I don’t understand…
My…head…am I…gonna be…?
“...eep….ing…”
Huh…? What’s going on…? What exactly is happening? Everything is so dark. Oh no, don’t tell me that it didn’t work…or maybe it was all a dream.
Wait no, I think…I think I can open my eyes…
I slowly felt my eyes opening, seeing a large shadow gazing down at me from the brightly lit room. Huh? Who the heck is that?
Wait…No way…! I-It can’t be, right? M-Maybe…I-I’m dreaming…? Because why am I seeing tusks on this guy’s teeth?
“Ahhh…He looks so cute…!” The person spoke, holding me up high.
Wait, how the hell is he holding me up this way?! And…wait, now that my eyesight is getting better…This man…isn’t a man!
He was covered in some dark brown furry skin, having tusks around his jaws with long black hair put together in a weird bun. He was wearing some red robe around himself and has a small brown beard around his features. He was pretty big, too!
This is…a pig? No, I think it was a Wild Boar. I remember doing a project researching them back in the 4th grade!
W-Wait, how is this boar holding me?! And how is he holding me while standing on two!?
“Yori…Let me see him…” A feminine voice spoken. Huh? Now who said that? The male boar turned around to see a white boar laying on a giant bed made out of wood and hay. She looked tired, but yet she had the kindest look on her face. Her hair was brown, put in a small bun by a beaded necklace.
Who is that? Another boar?
This one…I think this was a woman, and she raised her hands up and the male boar, or Yori, placed me in her arms. W-What’s going on? How can I even be held like that? It’s like I shrunk!
“Ahh…He’s so cute…Look at how bright his skin is…He’s perfect…” She cooed softly, nuzzling her snout against me. U-Ugh, so weird so weird so weird so weird! She’s treating me like a newborn baby?!
“Mama! Papa!” Huh? The mother boar held me in her arms and turned me around to see three more boars walking into the room. One was bigger than the other two, having light red skin and wore a strange white loincloth and light blue hair. The second was a light brown boar with green hair wearing the same white cloth. The third had curly orange hair that covered his eyes and dusty tanned brown rubbery skin with a small patch of fur around his chest, and wore the same one.
What the hell? Wait a minute, are those…Mawashi belts?
“Ah…Is that…?” The light brown boar kid widened his eyes. “He looks so…”
“...So cute…” The dusty brown boar blushed, swishing his tail around.
“Mother, Father…” The older looking red boar grew surprised, his mouth gaping at the sight of me.
Cute? I don’t even look cute. Wait a minute, none of this is making any sense. They’re almost treating me like…
“...Boys,” The father boar spoken softly. “Welcome to the fourth child into the Inoshishi Family. Shirou Inoshishi.”
The mother held me softly in her arms before I slowly glanced over to notice a small mirror hanging on the side of the wall and that’s when everything started to answer for itself.
Right there in the mother boar’s arms was a small little orange baby boar with red stripes all over his body and a small patch of red hair on top of his head. Small tusks were grown on his body.
No way…This is…This is crazy…
“Cool!” The second kid boar with green hair giggled excitedly. “We’re big brothers again!”
“Yay!” The third kid boar with orange hair hopped around. “Ooh! Ooh! Dada! Mama! Is he gonna be a rikishi?!”
“Only one way to find out as he grows up.” The father boar chuckled softly. “Easy now, the little guy just needs some sleep. Especially your mother.”
“Sorry Mother,” The first kid boar with blue hair apologized before slapping both of his younger brothers in the back of their heads. “Keep it down you two.”
“Sorry…” The two whined.
“But you know, I wouldn’t be surprised.” The mother giggled. “Another sumo wrestler in the family. I know that you’ll do great in it, right little Shirou?”
She looks down at my little body, nuzzling her snout against my own which made me cringe. At least, on the inside.
I’ve…been reincarnated…into a boar? And into a sumo wrestling family…?!
6 Months Later...
This is just so pitifully weird…So far, I’ve been reduced to just crawling around on all four legs. Babies don’t normally be able to do that just yet, but I’ve been able to do so. It could be because I know about what babies do when I went babysitting that one time for my summer job.
So you’re probably wondering what the hell is going on, right? Trust me, as much as I’m just as baffled as you. Anyway, gathering as much info as I could while living life here as a wild baby boar in a family full of sumo wrestlers.
First, there’s my mother: Kimiko Inoshishi. I believe Inoshishi translates to ‘Boar’ in Japanese. So I guess I’m suddenly in a world in Japan where I supposed where anthros exist. I was able to listen to the rest of my family to try and understand my family.
I’ve been confined to a small crib where normally my mother would come by or my older brothers wanting to see me and get to make me laugh.
So moving on, Kimiko is my mother who is the white boar. She’s kind, sweet, and pretty relaxed in my presence. Like my mom. Then again, mothers are always sentimental and love to smother their children. She’s the one who comes by whenever I start whining. This boar body is my body, so anytime I try to move, I just get upset with my lack of moving around in my own body. All I can do is roll around and start whining.
She always comes forward and starts feeding me through mush food or has me drink milk from a bottle and…er, her motherly ways.
Next up is my father, Yorishige Inoshishi. He’s a high ranking sumo wrestler. Mom once brought me out while she held me in her arms, to watch him train with my brothers. He’s pretty…carefree and serious at the same time. Like two different people combined into one. He seems to always try to get along by making funny faces with him. I always get disturbed which results in me crying.
He’s pretty good at the ring, and I can tell that he’s been training his whole life through it. Though why would I be reborn into a sumo family? No, better not think about it. Either way, let’s move on.
The next are my brothers, Ichiro, Jiro, and Saburou. The three of them are distinctively different. My first older brother, 10-year-old Ichiro, is a kind soft-spoken older brother who looks out for us. He’s pretty good at handling Dad in the ring, or the Dohyo, as they call it.
Jiro is the 7 year old brother and second, and he seems pretty cocky and boastful. For a small boar, he must have a big ego.
And finally, Saburou, my 5 year old brother. He’s definitely the sneakiest one and he seems to smell worse than the others.
Despite this, all three of them seem to like me. They’re all giving me happy faces and love me as the baby brother I am.
Though, being stuck as a baby right now…It totally sucks! What am I even supposed to do other than crawl around? I’ve been stuck like this for six months since my birth–or, rebirth as I prefer.
Why was I reborn in a sumo wrestling family? What would be the point? To teach me something valuable? Oh universe, you flatter me to be reborn as a stinky little boar.
I could’ve been born as a dragon or a powerful mage, but all I get is being the fourth son of this Inoshishi Sumo Family.
At the very least, I can walk around on two, albeit wobbly in my steps but I prefer running on all four to help me get around more.
Currently, I was roaming around the house on all four. Wearing nothing but a little green loincloth as I ran across the hall. Kimiko was busy cooking lunch while Yorishige and the other boys were doing training in the backyard.
I was downstairs, exploring my surroundings more and more. I can be able to climb up the stairs easily without falling, just as long as I’m careful with each step. You know, being a boar anthro has some really strange qualities. Like I can smell better than I know.
Then again, I still don’t like that I’m a small fat smelly little boar.
I roam on all four, sniffing around before poking my head out the backdoor to spot something outside.
“SPIRIT!”
Jiro and Saburou collided against each other, both of them sweating from the heat outside. Oh, a sumo bout? I remembered seeing this before online many times alone in my room. I had to do it for a research project based on the cultures of Japan when I was young.
It seems like they speak fine English in my ears or maybe since I was born as a new being in this weird world of furries, I was able to understand their language bit by bit as I was growing up for the past 6 months.
I started crawling over by the small porch, getting a close look. Saburou headbutted Jiro in the chest, pushing him against the ring. Jiro gritted his teeth, slapping Saburou repeatedly over and over which stunned him.
“OW!” Saburou winced, which left Jiro to grab the sides of his belt and lifted him up.
“Enjoy the fall!” Jiro grinned cockily before throwing Saburou hard onto the dirt.
“Ugh!” Saburou yelped, groaning before kicking his feet onto the ground. “No fair! I didn’t win!”
“Serves you right!” Jiro laughed, swishing his tail around excitedly. “Never underestimate the older brother!”
“Ahem.” Huh? I glanced over to spot Ichiro walking behind Jiro with an annoyed look. “Second oldest, you know that, Jiro.”
“Hey! Don’t ruin the moment!” Jiro whined, glaring at him.
“Especially the fact that you couldn’t even beat me?” Ichiro raised a brow, poking his forehead.
“T-Tch! S-Shut up!” Jiro whined.
“Heheheh…” Saburou snickered, getting back up. “I like where this is going…”
“You two are getting a kick out of it!” Jiro gritted his teeth.
Those three act like any brothers I’ve seen on shows. I’ve never actually seen this up close. I mean, I’ve been an older brother for a brother but we were never that close. Courtesy of my stupidity.
…I really don’t need to think about it. I mean, this is my new life right? This is just…I just wonder if anyone realizes that I’m gone? Am I gonna be missed? I bet they don’t care…
“Ahhh, what do we have here?” Suddenly, I was lifted up in the air which made me yelp and start moving my body around, causing me to start whining. “I see…a baby boar wanting Daddy time!”
I turned around to be introduced to my new dad’s face, grinning brightly at me. Yorishige Inoshishi.
He was grinning brightly at me before kissing me on the forehead. “How is my little piggy doing?”
I pouted at him, tears threatened to come down before I heard the other boys’ voices.
“Huh? Shirou?” Jiro spoke up. “Ooh! Where did he even come from!?”
The rest of the others came rushing over to my side, sounding pretty joyful at the sight of me. Are they really excited to be in my presence? I mean, I used to do that for my little brother before he started to grow annoying in my presence.
“I just found him right around here.” Dad replied, holding me in his arms. “Seems like he was watching you boys train while I headed to the outhouse.”
“Oh? Is that right?” Jiro smirked. “I bet he wants to see his first sumo bout up close.”
“Ooh! Ooh!” Saburou raised his hand up excitedly, his small tail poking out. “Why not we show him a little bit of sumo by fighting him?”
“No.” Ichiro glared at him. “He’s too little.”
“Then how about this?” Jiro snorted, pounding his fist. “Ichiro, why don’t we do a bout to show our baby bro how’s it done?”
“...Heh, okay. Just don’t go whining when you lose.” Ichiro snorted.
“Oh ho ho! We’ll see about that!” Jiro declared, stomping his foot onto the ground as the two older brothers walked into the dohyo together.
“Heheheh…” Saburou clapped his hands before poking my tummy–H-Heh! T-That almost tickles! “You’ll love it! Sumo is really the best sport! Daddy told me!”
I don’t blame him. Sumo is something that I’ve taken interest in, but I never had the body to do it. But can I?
“Okay then, settle in you two.” Dad chuckled. “Now get in the ring!”
Ichiro and Jiro nodded before they both entered the dohyo together, both cladded in their white mawashi belts.
As they were about to begin, I heard a small grumble which made me glance over at Saburou who poked his tummy.
“Ugh…Tummy hurts…” Saburou whined. “...Can I get something to eat Daddy?”
“I’m…pretty sure your mom is done making some lunch. Go check it out.” Dad grinned.
“No problem!” Saburou cheered, grinning through his two large tusks before he quickly dashed off back into the house. Lunch, huh? Knowing Mom, she must’ve cooked us food except she makes mushy food for me. It sucks, doesn’t it?
“Now then, boys,” Dad turned over to Ichiro and Jiro and gave them nods. “Let’s begin, shall we?”
Ichiro and Jiro nodded before the two stood on different sides: Jiro on the left and Ichiro on the right. They stood in front of small white lines on each side. Jiro had a cocky smile on his face before he lifted one foot high into the air and slammed his foot down, which made dust slowly float around the air.
Ichiro let out a snort before he lifted his right leg, slapping his thigh in the process, and slammed down hard which caused a small shake.
W-Whoa, what the?
“See that, kiddo?” Dad chuckled, rockin me back and forth. “Sumo Wrestlers are really bulky and strong as they get older. I know that for a fact. One day, you’ll be able to do it. I even hear an Elephant could even make mountains shake when doing Shiko.”
S-Seriously? That’s crazy! Am I gonna be able to do that?
Ichiro and Jiro bend down, glaring down at one another. For a brief moment, I saw something burning around them. A strange blue glow around Ichiro’s body and a green glow emanating from Jiro’s.
What kind of level of anime is this!?
“...SPIRIT!” They both cried out, charging head first and crashed into each other by the heads! Ooh, that’s gonna leave a mark! I almost felt it right here!
The two stumbled back, but Ichiro shook his head and slapped Jiro across the face, sending him back. Jiro gritted his teeth before he tackled Ichiro hard in the gut, pushing him and grabbed the back of his belt.
“Nice try big bro! But this time, I’m gonna win!” Jiro hissed, gritting his teeth and attempted to pick him up and throw him over to the ground.
However, Ichiro quickly recovered and slammed his foot back down into the ground. For a moment, I saw his muscles tensing up from his legs to keep his footing down. He narrowed his eyes before using his right arm to shove Jiro’s face away from him.
“YAAAH!” Jiro yelped, stumbling back. “Hey!”
“Sorry, but if I lose to you, then how am I gonna be the respectable big brother that never loses to his little brothers?” Ichiro jokes, raising a brow before bending down. “Now, it’s my turn! RAAAAAAH!”
He quickly charged and started to deliver palm strikes across his face, forcing Jiro back. Jiro winced at each strike his brother made before grabbing his hands and started to push him back. The two struggled against each other, struggling to push each other off.
Whoa…These two are just young and yet they’re duking it out like their lives depend on it.
“You must be impressed, eh Li’l Shirou?” Yorishige chuckled, gently poking my tummy. Pfft, h-hey, stop it! Yorishige looked down at me with a fond smile. “You may be too little to understand, but sumo can be quite an intense sport.”
Intense, huh? Yeah, I would imagine so from what I was back in my old world. What can I say? I’m sort of an anime nerd.
“Sumo can be a fun way to build up strength. To give others a goal to reach for the top. It can even help you make new memories of going around and challenging others to prove yourself as the strongest. It takes hard work and commitment to get where you are.” Yorishige added softly, gently brushing my head which made me coo softly. “I hope that you do grow up to be a sumo wrestler. No matter where you go, I know that you’ll overcome any obstacle and I’ll support you.”
To support me? Funny, nobody ever did. At least, not to my knowledge. He’s being nice to me because I’m still just an infant. But even so, I feel his words feel genuinely nice compared to one person I knew back then.
Yorishige…No, Dad. I…I trust your word.
Besides, looking back at Ichiro and Jiro’s fight right now, they aren’t giving up. Those bright colors surrounding their body are intensifying more brightly. The two kept pushing one another until Ichiro swept his little brother’s foot which made him yelp.
“Now…Pork Chop Smash!” Ichiro roared, using his left arm to grab his belt and his other to grab his feet to throw him off to the ground, slamming him down onto the floor!
“OW! OWIE OW OW!” Jiro groaned, wincing. “Jeez…”
“Mm…” Ichiro couldn’t help but give out a small smirk. “Looks like I win…again.”
“Don’t rub it in. The sun was…blinding me!” Jiro argued, blushing madly as he slammed his fists into the ground. Ichiro chuckled before extending his own arm out to him. Jiro looks up at him, and accepted it for a few seconds. “...Hmph, but this isn’t over! By the next tournament downtown, I’ll be ready!”
“I can’t wait to see it unfold.” Ichiro smirked.
“Hmph…” Jiro nodded before the two fist-bumped each other.
“Excellent work boys.” Dad complimented, rising out of the ground with me in tow. “You two and Saburou are doing wonderful in your training.”
“Dad, how come we still need to do this?” Jiro asked. “I mean, Ichiro’s good at sumo so why should he?”
“Because it’s important.” Ichiro pointed out sternly, his arms crossed. “It doesn’t hurt to give me extra training in case a stronger opponent comes by. That’s what is needed. You should take note of that and don’t even think about sleeping through your training session, Jiro.”
“Hey! It was one time! Plus, Rikishi gets plenty of sleep to build up their bodies!” Jiro whined, stomping his feet.
“Hey hey, easy now.” Dad chuckled. “You boys are gonna do great. You each have your own styles of fighting, your own ways of how to train, and that’s okay. Just know that sumo wrestling is in our blood. You gotta believe in yourselves and have faith in yourselves that you can reach for the top!”
Believe in yourself? Have faith in yourself? Those are some cliche words there, but sometimes even the cliche words can be proven useful. That match…It really made me feel almost…inspired, you could say.
All my life, I never really focused on anything that I could actually do. But for some reason, seeing them fight like this. It really made me feel…pumped.
“Oh hiya,” My Dad turned my body around when he shifted around to see Saburou walking back with a bowl of stew. “Aww, did I miss the bout?”
“...And where have you been?” Ichiro narrowed his eyes, arms crossed.
“Ugh…My tummy was rumbling…” Saburou stated bluntly, slurping his soup with a spoon. “When my tummy’s rumbling, I gotta eat!”
“And you chose to eat stew? What about us?!” Jiro argued.
“Meh,” Saburou snorted.
Saburou is a feisty eater and enjoys eating, even the biggest meals Mom can make.
Saburou took another sip of his stew and hummed brightly.
“Well then, if you enjoy slacking off and eating all day, then you wouldn’t mind going up against me?” Ichiro smirked slightly, which made him nearly choked on his meal.
“E-Eh? Well–”
“That’s a great idea, Ichiro!” Dad laughed. “Jiro already went so why not you as well, Sabu! Show them what you got for when you compete in your tournament!”
“...Ugh…If I must…” Saburou sighed before setting down his bowl on the porch. “...If it means taking you down, then I’m in!”
Those would be his last words. Just saying.
Dad sat back down on the porch before Jiro sat down next to him. Ichiro and Saburou both started stretching their legs. Jiro glances at the bowl before slowly reaching it and started to sip on it, making him look content. Is it that good?
“Ahhh…” Jiro sighed in relief. “So good…Mom makes the best spicy Chankonabe stew…”
“Be careful. You know how your brother can be when it comes to food.” Dad joked.
“Pfft, I’m not scared. I can literally take him down.” Jiro rolled his eyes before turning to me. “In fact, here, little Shi! You can have a taste of it! I mean, you can eat soup too! It’s even starting to cool off…”
“Well he can now eat soup…so just a little sip.” Dad chuckled before gently rubbing the tuft on my head. He then held me up close as Jiro started to pick up a piece of soup. “Here ya go.”
“Hehehe…Better hurry and eat it up before Sabu knows…” Jiro snickered, lifting the spoon up towards my snout.
Chankonabe stew? Isn’t that Sumo Stew? Hmmm…Well I never really eaten solid food and I should be around that age…Well it can’t hurt me.
I slowly opened my mouth and took a bite of it, slurping it up and down the gullet.
…Huh, that’s…really so good! Hahaha! Who knew that it tasted so well–
Suddenly, I heard a loud rumble across my stomach which made me groan.
“O-Oh, Little Shi?” Jiro widened his eyes. “What’s wrong?”
M-Mm…W-What the? My tummy feels like it could explode…W-What the heck?
“Uh oh…” Dad widened his eyes before he put me on his shoulder and patted my back. “I-It’s okay, just relax…Let it out.”
My cheeks puffed out before I let out a loud burp across the air which made Jiro stick his tongue out in disgust.
Ichiro and Saburo look back before they could start their bout and grew surprised to hear that coming out of me.
“Whoa, what was that?!” Saburou gasped. “That was the biggest burp I’ve ever heard…COOL!”
Ugh…Not…cool at all…
Oh well…Now that I know that I can’t handle spicy food in this new body…but why does my stomach still hurt even after burping? Dad already patted me on the back…But what else…?
BLARP!
“Wait, what’s that smell?” Dad muttered before sniffing in the air before cringing. “...Ooh…eheheh…I think that’s enough for today for you out here, Li’l Shiro. I think you need a little change in your loincloth…”
…Oh darn…Ugh…Why…?
I guess…this is the start of my new life here…My new life here…as a Sumo Wrestling Boar…
To Be Continued...