Ch 1. So, is this normal?

I would say there isn’t anything interesting about me, but I would be lying. At least this is the character I play. That kind of guy with delusions of grandeur, thinking that I could do anything I wanted.

In hindsight, I may have had some good stories to tell my kids, if I will ever have kids, that is. But nothing that would blow anyone’s mind.

That is, if it even mattered at this point. Now I am just a random guy lost in a huge forest after having my head blown by who knows what. 

Damn, is it hot here or what?

Don’t get the wrong idea though, my head is still well attached now. Guess that is what they call an Isekai? 

I must admit, that was the dream at one point.

The problem with dreams, though, is that they never come true the way you wanted them to. I would know. I was following my dreams, and there was nothing happy about it. 

But I have no time to think about that now. Not that it even matters anymore.

I am hungry. I am lucky I at least found some water. I have no idea how people even lived off of nature before. Where are those damn Isekai castles, wizards, and elven ladies?

Not that I didn’t try to see if I am some hero with unlimited power. The hand I stuck in the fire last night to check if it awakened something only woke me up to the harsh reality.

I don’t even think it was weird to try it, though. It would make sense to have some crazy fire powers since I died incinerated in some random explosion. At least I think I did. I know she was burning at that last moment when I saw her flying away. I wish I could forget that, though.

Even in situations like this, my mind still wonders, “What IF?” Something must be wrong with me.

But getting back to the important things, man, how hot can it even get? I will say it right now. I am an unlucky guy. But there are some things that should just not go this badly.

…

The forest ends into an open beach.

Sand, that’s what was missing for sure. It gets all over the place. Does anyone even like sand? Damn, I want to take a shower so bad.

Out of nowhere, I suddenly heard a voice.

"AHHHHHHHH"

?: "AAAAAAAAA"

Never in my life did I ever go through such a shock. AND screaming back at me for sure didn’t help. Good thing we both just took some distance, and he didn’t attack.

Looking at him, though, he looks just about as average as "average" gets. I could probably take him on if things really turned south.

Hell, put him in a suit, and you wouldn't be able to tell him apart from others in any major station in Tokyo during rush hour.

So there are people here, I mean, at least I am not all alone.

But now we have to get to that weird stage where he starts speaking in a language I won’t understand. I at least know that much will happen.

?: "Sorry for scaring you like that."

Huh? Japanese? Is this some kind of joke? Since when am I that lucky? Why do they speak Japanese in another world? Wait, maybe he also got here with me? What would be the chances of that? How lucky can I get?

I guess since we are speaking the same language, there is no need to worry that much. Though the dialect is a bit weird.

"Don’t worry about it. I am just happy to finally meet someone else. I thought I was all alone here."

? : "Alone? Oh, so you just got here, I see. Must have been tiring."

Just got here? What is this guy on? I mean, yeah, didn’t we all? It is clear he didn’t get here the same way I did. So is he just a local who thinks I am on a trip or something?

His clothes are interesting, though. A mix of modern clothes with traditional Japanese ones? Nice

"Yeah, I got here maybe 2 days ago? Haha…"

?: "So, what is your name?"

The time has come, I can now pick whatever name I want. New world, new me. Make it something cool, make it cool, cool…

"Mircea"

WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU? MIRCEA? REALLY? THIS IS WHERE YOU MESS UP??

?: "Nice to meet you, Mircea! Call me Hiro."

I guess it stuck. No going back now. Maybe I should just leave and go another way the first chance I get. I may die before I find somebody else, though.

Hiro: "Well...Mircea... Welcome to the future!"

"Huh?"