Spring Air – Neo-Tokyo Evening
The spring air in Neo-Tokyo that evening felt so light, like the world itself was chilling after a long day. The sky was painted a soft orange, and the wind gently brushed through Satoru Yukimura's hair — a final-year biotech student walking casually along the path toward the station.
A small backpack hung on his shoulders, headphones resting around his neck. His phone screen lit up every now and then — group chats full of assignment talk. He ignored them all.
"Finally, weekend…" he muttered, eyes fixed on the city glowing under the sunset.
"If only life was as easy as skipping a lecture video."
He stopped in front of a cold drink shop. From the opposite direction, a guy with slightly long hair and a gray hoodie waved excitedly.
"Oi, Satoru! Finally found you, man!"
Satoru turned and gave a faint smile.
"Otama, you always pop outta nowhere. Your class done already?"
"Hehe, my lecturer bailed. So yeah, I'm free today." Otama lifted two bottles of cold tea and offered one. "Got one for you. Here."
"Thanks. You really know how to stop me from spending money."
They both sat on a bench near the station, watching the orange sky slowly fade into deep blue. The evening felt peaceful — like the world had zero bad intentions.
"Satoru," Otama said after sipping his tea. "You ever feel like your life's just… a straight road with no turns?"
Satoru glanced at him.
"Here we go again with your deep talks, huh?"
"I'm serious, dude," Otama laughed softly. "Everyone seems to have a direction. Me? I'm just walking. What about you? How's life treating you lately?"
Satoru shrugged.
"Monotonous. Class, assignments, eat, sleep, repeat. But I don't mind. I just wanna live peacefully — no drama."
Otama stared for a moment before suddenly saying,
"I got a girlfriend, Toru."
Satoru turned slowly.
"Huh? Where'd you even find one? You barely go outside."
Otama scratched his head. "Hehehe… online."
Satoru stayed quiet for a second, not sure whether to laugh or pity him.
"Online girlfriend? Don't tell me it's from that game…"
"Yup!" Otama's eyes lit up. "Her name's Hana. We've been talking for three months now. Every night. And you know what? I think I'm seriously in love."
Satoru looked up at the sky. There was a slight sting in his chest — not jealousy, but the quiet ache of realizing how lonely he really was.
"Hana, huh… just hope you're not getting catfished by an AI chatbot," he said dryly, half-joking.
Otama laughed out loud. "Haha, classic you! But no, you're wrong, Toru. We're meeting tonight. She's in the city too!"
Satoru blinked.
"Meeting… in real life?"
"Yeah! At a café near the station. You should come. You know, just in case I get kidnapped."
"Hmm…" Satoru hesitated for a moment. There was something oddly heavy in his chest — a mix of curiosity and loneliness.
"…Fine. I'll come. I wanna see what kind of girl could make this game nerd fall in love."
📍 Café Lumina – 18:45
Warm hanging lights gave the café a cozy glow. The smell of coffee mixed with quiet chatter filled the air.
Otama sat nervously by the window while Satoru checked his watch.
"You sure she's coming?" Satoru asked.
"Yeah, she said she's on the way."
A moment later, the café door opened. A girl with short brown hair walked in — white jacket, soft smile. Otama immediately jumped up, face bright red.
"Hana!" he called out.
The girl looked around, then smiled back.
"Otama?"
Satoru watched from across the table, sipping his coffee as the two talked awkwardly but happily.
"They look good together," he murmured quietly.
"Meanwhile me… still waiting for something I can't even name."
After a few minutes, he stood up and patted Otama's shoulder.
"I'm heading out. Enjoy your night."
"Oh, yeah! Be safe, Toru! I'll text you later!"
Satoru gave a faint smile and walked out into the cool night.
🚉 Central City Station – 19:30
The night train arrived with a soft rumble. The wind from the platform brushed against his jacket. He sat near the window, watching the city lights reflect off the glass.
He leaned back, his favorite song — "To Reach The Morning" — playing softly through his headphones.
"Funny," he whispered. "Other people fight for love. I'm just fighting to feel alive."
The train started moving. City lights stretched into long streaks of color.
Then, suddenly — red light.
A blaring horn.
Satoru's eyes widened — a train on the opposite track, speeding out of control.
Everything happened too fast.
Screams. Metal crashing. Glass shattering.
And his body — thrown into the air.
🌊 Transition Scene — The In-Between World
He didn't feel pain.
Only cold.
His body drifted — like floating underwater, yet unable to swim.
Voices from the real world faded, replaced by strange echoes.
"Am I… dead?"
He tried to move his hands, but all he saw was green mist surrounding him.
He sank deeper — into something like water, but heavier… as if swallowed by a sea of spirits.
"Dark… but warm…"
"I can't breathe… but I don't need to…"
His body's outline slowly disappeared.
From the darkness, a soft green light began to swirl.
A voice — gentle but echoing inside his mind:
"Satoru Yukimura… the reincarnation system does not recognize you…"
"However… we accept what remains of your soul."
The green liquid spun into a huge vortex. He tried to scream, but no sound came out.
The world around him shifted. His body dissolved into green mist.
"Is this… reincarnation?"
"Or am I just… what's left of me?"
The mist swallowed everything.
The last thing he saw — his own reflection.
Not human eyes anymore, but a trembling black sphere glowing faintly in the green haze.