He who chooses death, and he who rejects it—both walk the same path.
It has been years since I last saw the light, basked in the world's warmth, or felt anything beyond this lingering chill that seeps into my bones. I no longer remember when or where I am. I know nothing of myself, and I exist where nothing else does.
The ground trembles now and then. In any perfect world, this place would be its failure—a void where darkness reigns over day and night alike.
He did not know if he was alive or dead; his state bore no breath of life, yet his conscious mind refused death. His limbs lay numb and unresponsive, no struggle enough to awaken him from this nightmare.
He counted time, because that was all he could do. And through time, he discovered how much had passed.
If he did nothing, eternity might claim him whole, doing nothing but await his death that always seems out of his grasp.
But why? What had he done to deserve this?
Regardless, there must be something that might help him out of here. He looked for it. Unless someone else's help, his chances were grim.
"H…hel…p…"
His voice was crackling, almost mechanical, unlike the last time he remembered it. Other than that, he could barely muster the strength to say that again.
'Why?' he thought. 'Why? Why? Why? Why? WHY!? Why is this happening to me?'
The agony he felt was indescribable and nameless. Unbearable above all else.
'Help me,' he thought. 'Someone! Anyone!! Plea—'
His thoughts ceased functioning just then. Watching the dark fog engulfing him slowly, he lost consciousness.
***
In a world saturated with games and entertainment, Kira Otosaka–a normal high school student, unlike his fellow peers and people, hated chasing amusements and wasting time.
He had someone, for all the trouble he's worth, that he could call a friend. His name is Kazuto. The blond haired popular guy who did not see Kira as a boring studious guy like the rest of his class.
For reasons he could hardly remember, Akira was a good friend in his eyes. And a disturbance he did not want in his life.
"Man, can you believe it? She dumped me again… uh…"
And currently, Akira had to deal with yet another one of Kazuto's mopping sessions. 'Just when I think it won't be the case today…'
This has become the routine now. Every time Kazuto has problems with his girl, he comes to Akira to vent his frustrations.
"How many times does it make this month?"
"Three—no, I guess it's four now."
Through his nonsensical comments and uncharacteristically good face, Kazuto attracts girls like bees to sugar. But because he's too dumb to lie and read the room, he often finds himself incapable of holding a relationship.
Akira doesn't care either way, but the guy bothers him less when he has someone else so he has to listen.
'If I'm forced to eat a frog either way, I might as well eat it sooner than later.' he thought.
"Hey, listen to this…"
To Akira, this would classify as any normal day he could imagine all year. However, on this certain day, he would face something unimaginable–even in his wildest dreams–unfold in front of his eyes.
Listening to Kazuto's chatter, he faced towards the window–his hands on his chin.
"Hey, you listening–"
[Listen to me *** Rohannes of another world.]
'Huh …? What?'
A loud voice echoes in the classroom. Almost lifeless and uncanny, this voice is felt by everyone inside the class, widening their senses, fear and terror spreading among all, silence follows–As if someone had commanded them to do so–Everyone stands up immediately.
[I know you *** are hiding amongst these lowly peasants but your exile ends here, right now.]
'What language is that?' Akira was the most confused of them all. 'What is happening?'
[*** because ***. The time has come.]
Before anyone understood anything, a blinding light illuminated the whole class enveloping them all in a curse they can never escape.
For Akira, this was the moment his fate was sealed. But also a new beginning to his story.
Questions were many and mysterious unknown. A new page in history, with the strange case of mass transmigration, began to unfold.
When the light faded and Akira opened his eyes again, he was alone. And, he was in a different world he had known.