Chapter 1:The Night it All Began

Another long day, that was the first thought that popped  into my mind as I turned my PC off. I leaned back in my cheap office chair and heard a loud crack, either my back just snapped or the chair's back did...I didn't know nor did I care honestly. I just wanted to get up, run home and sleep at this point. That last document took me what felt like hours to finish and judging from my stiff muscles it did indeed take that long. The office clock said 8:30, which meant I had just enough time to catch the train before the service ended. 

"Getting ready to leave senpai?" I heard a familiar female voice greet me from behind.

"Yeah, leaving in a minute after my legs work again. You haven't left Suzu?" I turned back to see my cute office cohort standing above me. She wasn't drop dead gorgeous as insulting as that may sound but she was indeed cute. Her hair was dark black, flowing past her shoulders and her glasses made her look very professional. She was indeed super cute and had a nice figure/personality to match.

"Nah, I needed to make a billion copies for the boss and I just now finished. Think I'll grab some dinner and rent a cheap internet café room for the night." Suzu sighed. I know for her, her house wasn't nearby and if she didn't leave at a good time she wouldn't get home till 1 am at the very least. I was lucky enough it took me around 40 minutes by train to get to my small apartment. Part of me wanted to offer her my place to crash but I knew that could lead to a rather prompt HR meeting in the morning, plus Suzu and me were just coworkers who barely met outside of this office. This wasn't like an anime, this was real life and being silly could lead me into some hot water.

"Earth to Mizuki!" I nearly fell out of my seat. I got lost in thought for far too long clearly.

"Sorry Suzu, I'm exhausted, didn't mean to ignore you. I'll be heading out now before I pass out in my chair." I laughed. Suzu smiled back and bowed.

"Get home safe." 

"You be safe too" I said as I finally got up and headed for the elevator. Suzu waved behind me and little did I realize this would be my last time seeing her smile.

Usually, I'd head straight for the train but tonight I decided to do something out of the ordinary...I walked to a street I was unfamiliar with. Despite my complaining only a few minutes ago about how tired  I was, I felt compelled to just keep walking to this street. I didn't even know where I was going either...it was like I was in a trance to just keep walking. Each step brought me further away from the train and more into an area of Shibuya I was unfamiliar with. Like a nightmare, I couldn't control my movement or scream for help. It was like my feet were programmed to keep moving forward towards an unknown direction and I won't lie it frightened me a bit.

Finally, after what felt like an hour of walking I stopped and regained control of my legs. I felt a small trickle of sweat fall from my brow. Maybe it was cause I was out of shape or maybe it was from the fact I was wearing a full business suit in the middle of summer but that wasn't my main concern. My thoughts were now on why and where. Why was I here and where was this place? I wasn't an expert of Shibuya, I had only lived here for now several years as I grew up more near the outskirts of the city and honestly was someone who just went to school and went home. Still, I wasn't unaware of many areas of Shibuya and this almost seemed...detached. The street was all but gone and instead I was a tight alley with no recognizable features. There was a dim light from the distance from what I guessed could be a streetlight but the windows were all blackened out and there were no doors or entrances in sight. I legit felt claustrophobic in this alley but I stayed calm nevertheless. I was never one to panic in any given situation. That was probably one of the few traits I was proud of, I had some bravery.

"Hello?" I called out meekly. My voice barely reached out. Part of me wanted to scream louder but I wasn't aware if this place had people sleeping or not. In hindsight it sounds silly to worry about sleeping people in a rather alien-like area but I was still worried nonetheless. 

"HELLO?" I spoke a bit louder, not a scream but a yell that should still get the attention of someone nearby. Nothing though. I decided to finally start moving back to where I had come from but then I noticed something that did make me panic a bit. Behind me was the same looking alley as the one in front. I don't mean it looked similar but it was legit the same alley. I even noticed the same windows and same strange distant light. 

"Where the hell am I?" I said out loud. I pulled my phone out and like a typical horror movie it was full on battery but had no service. I sighed...what was I supposed to do? Walk forever or just assume that maybe if I walked towards the distant light I'd get to an exit. With no real choice, I walked forward...

Remember when I said I was brave...well my bravery was beginning to run into the single digits. Despite walking for sometime two things revealed themselves to me. No matter how long I walked I was going no where and the time hadn't changed at all. It was 9:30 PM and despite knowing I had walked for a good while, it was still 9:30 PM. This has to be a nightmare...I must have fallen asleep in my office chair and the AC died and left me sweating. I quickly pinched myself but the pain of my nails biting into my skin revealed this was no dream or nightmare. I was awake and I was in a very odd situation.

I sat down on the cold floor and began thinking. I could keep walking but my feet were beginning to hurt and I was drenched in sweat. What do I do? I was contemplating every possible plan but they were all leading to the same end result, nothing. I finally stood up and screamed.

"IS ANYONE THERE!? HELLO!!!" I screamed as loud as I could and finally something happened. One of the windows lit up! Maybe someone had heard my scream and woke up. I'd apologize to them later but I could ask for directions back to the train! However, the one light was mimicked by another light turning on and then another. I looked around all the darkened windows were now lit and they seemed to be getting brighter and brighter. Then it happened. The distant light that was dimly lit began to gradually get brighter as well but it almost seemed like it was moving towards me. 

"What is happening!?" I screamed as the bright light suddenly engulfed me and before I knew it, the world was all light. 

I don't know how long the light lasted but it was as if the world had become literal light. I tried to look at my hands and feet but all I saw was light. I even wondered if I still had hands or legs. Did I die? That thought occurred to me almost immediately and it would explain the bizarre alley and my almost programmed movement to it. Maybe I was going towards heaven or hell and this light was me entering into the great beyond. Maybe I was hit by a bus or stabbed by some passerby. Maybe I was truly dead...

Suddenly as if the light was turned off my sight returned and what laid before me was even more wild than the alley. I wasn't looking at a city landscape anymore but now something straight out of a manga...before me wasn't Shibuya but a strange new land. I was on a cliff looking at a new fantastical setting! 

"I've been reincarnated!?" I said out loud thinking that maybe this was like something from an isekai anime! I had been transported from my world to another! 

"You humans and your weird beliefs. No you haven't been reincarnated." A voice suddenly maybe jump back. 

"Who said that?" I looked around but no one was around me. It was dark out in this world too but I could still see if someone was nearby.

"Stop looking around silly boy. I'm in your head and you can't see me unless I want you too" the voice said.

"In my head?"

"Yes...now stop asking questions and be prepared to hear why I summoned you here and why you are the chosen hero."