Beckoned From The Brink Of Another World (Chapter 4)

Chapter 4: Publish by Rvie (Completed)


We finally reach the canteen, and like a dutiful NPC, I fished out the simple bento box my mother had lovingly prepared—egg rolls, rice, and a flicker of hope nestled among the chicken teriyaki. “Now’s the moment, Kaito. Take a seat next to someone. Forge a friendship. Just be ‘normal.’”

With those words echoing in my mind, I began to survey the room, my gaze wandering over the sea of unfamiliar faces and scattered desks. My heart raced as I spotted an empty chair next to a slouched guy who appeared to be lost in the music from his headphones. He shot me a quick glance, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that felt almost primal. In an instant, he subtly slid his bag over to claim the seat beside him, as if to say, “Not today, buddy. Keep moving.”

Well, that didn’t go as planned. Time for plan B. My eyes flicked around the room, landing on a trio of girls at the front, giggling and whispering to each other. But as one of them turned her head, her icy glare felt like a thousand daggers piercing my confidence. Yep, definitely not a welcoming atmosphere.

...Plan C, maybe?

Then, like a moth drawn to an unwelcoming flame, I caught sight of Elis at the far side of the room. She was sitting daintily at her table, enjoying her lunch with an air of regal grace that would make any princess envious. Every strand of her hair was perfectly in place, and her hair ribbon sparkled under the fluorescent lights as if it had been blessed by celestial beings.

Time froze. I halted mid-stride, transfixed by her composed demeanor. 

As if sensing my gaze, her eyes lifted to meet mine, and suddenly the air in the room felt colder, thicker. It was as if she ignited a sudden chill that spread through every corner of the class. Without uttering a single word, she arched an eyebrow—a perfectly sculpted, imperious brow that expressed volumes: Don’t. Even. Think about it.

In that moment, my nerve evaporated, and I turned on my heel, retreating faster than a medieval knight who had just been denied entry to the royal court. Great, there goes my shot.

Back at my desk, I picked at my lunch: a piece of octopus sausage that suddenly tasted like defeat. I chewed in silence, the chaos of my earlier attempts replaying in my mind while sunlight streamed through the classroom windows. A tiny dust mote danced in the golden light, floating and drifting aimlessly, just like I felt in this room filled with strangers.

I may have felt completely out of place right then, but perhaps it didn’t have to last forever. A flicker of hope lurked within the pit of my stomach. Even if today had unraveled into a series of mishaps, tomorrow was still out there, waiting for me.

And I was Kaito Aizome, the unintentional transfer student of class 1-C, ready or not.

If fate wanted to turn my existence into a comedy, why not embrace it? After all, the real punchline would come from being the main character of my own absurd story. Who knows what tomorrow might bring?.

Defeated, I shuffled back into my seat in Class 1-C just as the teacher began a monologue about math that resembled an ancient language to my untrained eyes. From the corner of my vision, I spotted Elis again. She seemed to be lost in thought, her gaze fixed on something outside the window, unfazed by the chaos around her.

“Elis!” the teacher barked, snapping her back to reality.

For a moment, there was silence—a beat that felt like an eternity.
“Nothing,” he sighed, clearly exasperated.

Then, with a jolt, she blinked, looked ahead, and stood up. “Me?” she replied, straight-faced, as if caught completely off guard.

“Who else?! Explain problem seven!” he exclaimed, thrusting a series of convoluted equations onto the board. Without hesitation, like a seasoned magician, Elis answered with a confidence that left us in awe—three swift seconds and perfection.

“Correct,” the teacher grunted, his tone flat. “Sit.”

Then, as if the universe itself had conspired against me, his piercing gaze fell upon me.

My soul left my body for a second time.

“KAITO AIZOME! Problem eight! NOW!”

Panic surged through me. My mind turned blank as if someone had flipped a switch. Not a single word had registered since the opening salutation of “Good afternoon.” Had I become the embodiment of the class slacker? My heart raced, and I felt beads of sweat pooling under my arms.

And then—

A faint whisper brushed past my ear like a fleeting ghost.
“Integrate both sides using…” 

Before I could even process the miraculous occurrence, I found myself blurting out the answer—every word tumbling out like it had been waiting to escape.

The teacher’s jaw dropped, eyes widening in that sweet spot between shock and disbelief. “...Correct?"

Even he sounded taken aback, as if questioning whether the answer could have possibly come from me.

I sank back into my seat, still tinged with disbelief.

As the class droned on, I glanced at Elis and mouthed a silent “Thanks,” only to find she didn’t even spare me a glance in return. Not even a slight acknowledgment of our shared moment.

And just like that, the bell rang, slicing through the awkward silence like a hot knife through butter. I gathered my things and stepped into the bustling hallway, where she was already waiting—Elis, a solitary figure moving with such purpose.

“Wait up, Elis!” I called, hurrying to catch her.

But she didn’t slow down.

It felt as though she maintained a deliberate distance from me, as if I were some sort of social contagion. 

“Hey, about class… thanks for that—” 

Suddenly, a low, powerful roar of an engine cut through the air.

VROOOM!

A sleek black car pulled up beside us, and without a second thought, a sharply dressed man emerged, opening the back door with an air of formality normally reserved for red carpet affairs. Without pause or acknowledgment, Elis climbed into the car as if she were stepping into another world. No wave, no glance back—just silence. And then, like a magic trick, the door closed behind her, sealing off that chapter of my life.

The car drove away, and I stood there, frozen in disbelief, engulfed by a heavy feeling of despondency.

Gloom mode activated.

With a heart still heavy, I trudged toward the bus stop, my mind racing and my thoughts tangled in a forest of confusion. As I looked up at the vast, open sky, I couldn’t shake the sense of pity I felt for myself. Across the street, a child laughed and played with his dog, joy radiating from them both.

Then it happened. With an abrupt SNAP, the leash broke free. The dog darted across the road with wild abandon, and without a moment of hesitation or fear, the boy chased after it, right into the street where danger lurked. That was when I heard it—the unmistakable sound of doom.

A speeding truck, a terrible harbinger of disaster, raced towards them, too fast, too close for comfort.

Time froze.

Suddenly, everything shifted into hyper-speed.

My body reacted before I even had time to process what was happening, my instincts kicking in like a well-oiled machine. I lunged forward—think of me as a human shield activated on pure adrenaline.

With a forceful shove, I propelled the boy away just in time, sending him clear of harm's way. The dog skittered to safety, darting around the chaos that ensued.

KER-SMASH-BANG-CRUNCH!

Suddenly, everything transformed into a cacophony of white noise. The sounds of screeching tires, metal on metal, and a chorus of panicked screams meshed into a horrifying symphony. I hit the pavement hard, rolling and colliding against the base of a crooked stop sign.

But, wonderfully, the truck never struck me.

Instead, an incredible pressure gripped my chest, as if the weight of the world had suddenly descended upon me.

My heart… it felt as if it had seized, drawing all the energy from my body. My vision began to dim, and the vibrant world around me started to fade into obscurity.

In my final moments of consciousness, I mused about my fate: I died saving a kid... not a bad way to go. Mom… Dad… I guess this is it…
Darkness enveloped me.

And then, in an utterly surreal experience, a feeling of floatiness took hold. I looked down, bewildered. There I was—my self, lying on the ground. Totally unharmed, not bleeding, but… was I dead?

Had I seriously just succumbed to a HEART ATTACK?!

EHHHHHH?! IS THIS HEAVEN?! 

It looked just like an anime cutscene!

Around me, everything glowed in a brilliant, blinding white light, and then, out of that luminescence, emerged a figure. A being of grandeur, what could only be described as a God. "Kaito Aizome," As the celestial being began to speak, their voice resonated with an otherworldly quality that sent an exhilarating wave of chills cascading down my spine. A booming yet gentle presence filled the air as the God addressed me, revealing a truth that was as shocking as it was surreal. "You died," they announced with a weighty pause, as though savoring the impact of their words. "Tragic accident… well, sort of."

A light chuckle escaped their lips, a sound that vibrated with an almost musical tone, brightening the heaviness of the moment. “The vehicle missed you by mere inches,” they continued, leaning into the narrative with an impish grin. “But you? You managed to scare yourself completely to death. Your heart simply couldn't take the fright.”

Seriously?! I couldn’t fathom how absurdly ridiculous my demise sounded. The God erupted into a fit of laughter, their amusement infectious. “Honestly, your reaction was… memorable.”
“Memorable?” I echoed, my voice dripping with disbelief and a hint of indignation.

“Picture this scene: there you lay next to a wrecked stop sign, a total casualty of circumstance. The kid? Completely unscathed. The dog? Just fine and dandy. Meanwhile, his mother is off in a panic, screaming and pointing wildly at your lifeless form, shouting, ‘IS HE CONTAGIOUS?!’”

I blinked, trying to digest the image. 

“Contagious?!”

“Then the paramedics show up,” the God continued, relishing the story. “One of them takes one look at you—no blood, no visible injuries—and just loses his lunch. You can just imagine the chaos.”

With a sigh that resonated with seasoned weariness, a veteran paramedic radioed back to dispatch, “Yeah, dispatch, Code Blue. Male, late teens. Cause of death seems to be… heart attack. Also, we could really use a replacement stop sign over here.”

I groaned in exasperation. 

There I was, left to grapple with the reality of my not-so-glorious end. No dramatic explosions, no heroic last stands—just sheer, unadulterated, comedic fear.

“But hey,” the God said with an encouraging lilt, “you’re being given a second chance.”

“Wait… like, another world? With adventure? Magic? A HAREM?!” My mind raced with the possibilities, the thrill of a fresh start sparking something within me.

The being roared with laughter again, clearly entertained by my naive enthusiasm. “Maybe. Given your ‘game’ experience as a professional NEET, it might be a challenge for you. But looking at your track record? Heh… good luck.”

“WAIT! I HAVE MORE QUESTIO—”

And then it happened. 

EHHHHHHHHHH?! 

The air exploded around me as wind whipped past my ears. I was falling. Falling through the abyss of this new existence. 

I SPAWNED IN THE SKY?! My second chance at life was going to last a whole five seconds?! Panic struck, and I curled into a ball, bracing for impact.

WHACK! THUD!

I slammed into branches, then landed crumpled on the ground. A sharp pain erupted through my side and leg, and all I could do was lie there, gasping and broken. Just when I thought the universe couldn’t be more cruel, I sensed movement nearby.

A girl with a flower-patterned dress peeked out from behind a tree, a basket clutched in her hands. “Whoa! Are you okay?! Can you stand?!”

“N-No... I can’t move...” I stammered, my breath hitching as pain shot through me.

She rushed to my side, her face a mix of concern and determination. Crouching beside me, her hands hovered above my injured leg, glowing softly like the dawn breaking through the night. The moment the pain dissipated, it was as if a heavy cloud had lifted from my shoulders. Was that healing magic? Healing magic? The thought raced through my mind like wildfire. "Wow! That’s absolutely incredible, Yui! You just—" 

But before I could finish my sentence, I noticed her expression change. She flinched slightly, her smile tightening ever so subtly, barely noticeable yet profoundly telling. "Oh! It's... nothing really! Just a simple remedy that I learned along the way!" Her words came out hurried, almost dismissive, as she swiftly diverted her attention to smoothing out the wrinkles in her dress. 

It was as if she were trying to escape not just my gaze but the recognition of the extraordinary thing she had just done. I watched her, intrigued and a bit puzzled, wondering why she seemed so reluctant to accept the praise. This wasn’t just any home remedy; she had performed something remarkable, something that could heal pain in an instant. Yet, here she was, downplaying her abilities as if they were nothing more than a trick she picked up over tea. There was a story behind her modesty, I was sure of it, and my curiosity was piqued. Why would someone gifted with such talents shy away from the spotlight? A part of me wanted to press her for more, to unravel the layers of mystery surrounding her magical skills, but I hesitated, sensing that probing might push her further into her shell.

She had silver hair that shimmered like moonlight and deep blue eyes that sparkled with empathy. Perhaps this wouldn’t be so bad after all. Everything ached, but underneath that, I felt an unexpected warmth enveloping me. My eyes began to drift closed as I succumbed to the comfort of the moment.

As the haze of disorientation began to lift, I started to feel something—a sensation slowly creeping back into my body. It wasn't the familiar jarring chill of cold asphalt beneath me; no, it was something entirely different, something far more inviting. Warmth enveloped me, wrapping around me like a cozy blanket on a chilly evening. It was soft, almost as if I were sinking into the embrace of a giant marshmallow, the kind you’d find roasting over a fire on a campsite. 

Wait a second... marshmallows don’t actually breathe, I thought to myself, the absurdity of that idea causing my thoughts to spiral a bit. My eyes shot open wide, and what greeted me was utterly surreal. A pillow. Yes, a pillow! My brain struggled to connect the dots. I wasn't sprawled out on some unforgiving, hard surface—I was nestled in a plush oasis of comfort. 

Holy—! Before I could fully process this delightful revelation, I bolted upright in a sudden burst of excitement, propelled by the rush of adrenaline that surged through me. In my eagerness, I miscalculated the space around me and ended up jarring my forehead right into Yui, who was somehow right next to me. The sudden impact sent spins of confusion raining down, and in that moment, I couldn’t help but think: well, that’s one way to wake someone up!

WHACK!

“Owww! I’M SO SORRY!” I yelped, my voice a mix of panic and regret.
She winced but then burst into laughter, the sound brightening the forest around us. “It’s okay! Are you alright? Did you hurt yourself again?” Her playful concern was disarming, and before I knew it, she leaned in and cast her healing magic on me once more. 
The sensation of silver hair brushing against my shoulder was oddly comforting, and as I inspected my body, I realized there was no pain—no breaks. My relief poured out in a sigh.

“Phew,” she smiled luminously. “I’m really glad you’re okay.”