If someone had told me that my death would be tied to a stray kitten and a forgotten statue, I would've laughed.
But that's exactly what happened.
It all started at an old abandoned shrine near the park. I found it one day after following a stray kitten, and stumbled upon this little shrine hidden among the weeds. It was a forgotten place, with a moss-covered statue of a girl with a calm smile. The first time I saw her, something made me stop.
"Who carved her, I wonder?" I murmured, wiping off the dust with my sleeve. "She has such a beautiful face. It's a shame they left her here like this."
The white kitten nearby meowed, as if agreeing. Since that day, visiting the shrine became part of my routine: I'd clean the statue, leave a few coins, and the kitten would purr at my feet. It was… really pleasant.
Until that day came.
The kitten got stuck in a twisted tree near the shrine. Its desperate cries made me act without thinking. I climbed up, rescued it… and then, the world spun.
"Seriously?!" That was the last thing I shouted before hitting the ground with a nasty crunch.
The last thing I saw was the kitten licking my cheek, as if trying to wake me up.
...
...
"Wake up, Ren!" a delicate voice echoed in the void.
I opened my eyes… I was in a warm, cozy emptiness, facing a girl who immediately caught my attention: silver hair, pink eyes, a white dress, and a kind of glowing halo behind her head.
"Are you... an angel?" I asked, still dazed.
"I'm so happy to finally see you in person!" she said, hugging me tightly. "Well, I'm not sure if 'in person' is the right word, but who cares," she added, snuggling closer.
"What? I don't understand. Please explain what's going on. The last thing I remember is… I had an accident."
"Ah, sorry!" she pulled away just a bit. "I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Purin. I'm one of the entities in charge of guiding good souls to their next life. You could say I'm a goddess… or something like that."
So yeah. I was dead.
"You had an accident," she continued, "and your life ended. But I was the one who brought you here! I worked so hard to be the one to receive you. I really, really wanted to see you!"
"Wait a second!" I raised my hand. "You're going too fast. What do you mean you wanted to see me?"
"You said I was pretty!!" she blurted out, pointing an accusing finger at me. "And you saved that kitten in trouble! You were so heroic!"
When did I say that…? Although… her face does seem familiar...
"Wait... that statue at the shrine... it was you!"
"Yes!" she nodded, glowing with happiness. "Every time you cleaned it, my heart beat faster. It must've been fate!"
Fate...
"Listen, Ren," she said, cheeks blushing as she stepped closer. "I'll give you a new life in a world full of magic, adventure, and..." —her tone suddenly shifted— "beautiful girls who will probably try to take you away from me."
A chill ran down my spine.
"Look, I appreciate all this but... couldn't I just go to heaven?"
"NO!" she screamed, grabbing my cheeks. "Listen. I'll give you divine blessings and some starter resources, but one small detail: no one can know that you have those blessings!"
Before I could argue, a portal of light opened behind me.
"Oh, and by the way," she whispered near my ear, "since I'm your goddess and future wife, I forbid you from getting too close to any girls in that world."
"Wai—what?! None of this makes any sense!"
"We're out of time!" Purin shouted, and shoved me into the portal of light.
...
I'm definitely in trouble.
...
I woke up in a forest, with a pouch of coins in my pocket. I also noticed my clothes had changed.
"So… another world, huh…" I muttered, rubbing my face.