Takumi Hitaro

“Go, Kowala! We love you, Astra!” I shouted from the top of my lungs as I leaned over the metal barrier.

I, Takumi Hitaro, had spent the last of my savings on this live concert. The Cutesy Twins are my favorite artists. They just released their new single “Twin Magic.”

Their angelic voices had a charming melody, with Kowala’s high-pitch voice and Astra’s darker one. Their cute, colorful performances and catchy songs helped them become one of the most successful artists in all of Japan.

The concert looked stunning. The grand stage was decorated with scattered pink roses and a large dollhouse where the Cutesy Twins could perform. With flashing yellow and pink lights moving in a random pattern, the stadium erupted in loud cheers.

There were two vertically mounted screens on each side of the stage. Each screen was panned to each twin, with a pink Sakura petal filter. Just above the stage, another giant horizontal screen was positioned, allowing fans in the distance to enjoy the show.

“Woo! Hey Astra, over here!” I yelled again, excessively waving both hands, hoping to grab her attention. I got a sweet deal on the floor seat. I even waited in line early to get front row seats.

I love the twins, but if I had to choose between them, it would have to be Astra. Kowala is definitely cuter than her sister. But… I‘m not a fan of her bubbly personality.

Astra, on the other hand, is quieter and more mysterious. That’s my future wife. Her tiny pigtails and bangs make me want to jump over the barricade and confess my true feelings for her. I’m even wearing her merch to show my affection. And she also enjoys playing League of Legends, which was the cherry on top.

I didn’t work or go to school. I enjoyed playing video games and reading manga. I rarely left my house, except for special occasions like this. I was basically a shut-in otaku. I had some online friends, but not any real ones I could share this moment with. All of my time alone in my room had led up to this moment, so thank you, me!

I grew up as an only child, so I never understood what it was like to have siblings, let alone twins.

I wonder how the Cutesy Twins live as twins. If it weren’t for their opposite personalities, I don’t think I would be able to tell them apart. Life must suck for them.

When I did attend school, people often mistook me for a celebrity look-alike. I never saw the resemblance. My generic short, wavy black hair and slender build make me resemble many celebrities. I wonder if there’s someone in the world who looks exactly like me… a doppelgänger?

The Cutesy Twins had finished singing their song, “Two of Us”. “Alright, everyone!” Kowala chanted into the microphone. “Now it’s time to play our next song. You guys might already know it, so sing along with us.”

Kowala cheerfully nudged her sister. “Hey sis, let’s give them some Twin Magic.”

As she hinted at the song, the crowd erupted in an intense uproar. The barricade struggled to hold back everyone’s emotions, mine included.

“Are we ready?” Kowala kindly asked the crowd. The screaming from the crowd intensified. “Yessss!!” I screamed, almost losing my voice. I came prepared, studying every lyric of this song.

“I think that’s a yes, Kowala.” Astra softly suggested in a lower, quiet voice.

“Alright, let's go!”

As the drums and guitars began playing, a gust of drowsiness suddenly crept up on me. Why am I suddenly tired? I tried to stay awake, fighting the urge to close my eyes. “C’mon, c’mon! C’mon, you stupid body, wake up!”

My body overtook my spirit, having a mind of its own. As my eyes slowly shut, the surrounding sound rapidly faded away. Did I already fall asleep?

…

A split second later, a young feminine voice rose from the silence, “It worked! He’s gaining consciousness!” Her claim was welcomed with claps and gasps.

I quickly tried to open my eyes. Little did I know that everything had changed. It all felt like I blinked in slow motion.

When I awoke, I was no longer at the Cutesy Twins’ concert. I was surrounded by small lit candles elevated on some sort of platform.

“Oh, he’s starting to move.” A deeper, grown voice said in the distance.

“Why am I hearing these voices?” I carefully examined the area.

Weapons were scattered around the room, from hanging on walls to weapons in pieces on nearby tables. Then, I examined the ground. To my surprise, there was blood around my feet.

It’s spread out in mini, circular weird designs, with a larger circle outlining the mini ones, connected like a ritual. Lit small candles, and small human skulls decorated the circle. The air felt sinister.

As my vision cleared up, I realized I had entered some evil ritual. Before I began panicking, my eyes were met by a beautiful, long blonde-haired girl. Her presence felt graceful and innocent, like a pure-hearted soul.

“H-Hello…go-good morning. Is it morning? Maybe it’s the afternoon?” As she thought out loud to herself, her absurd tone didn’t match her presence. “Anyways…” She bowed her head as a sign of respect and she lightened her tone, formally saying, “…welcome back, Mr. Sakori… sir. We hope we didn’t interrupt your sleep. My name is Amada. It's a pleasure to meet you.”

Amada couldn’t hide her anxiety as she stumbled over her words. Her dazzling hazel eyes kept averted from me. Am I really that terrifying to look at?

“Where am I?” I curiously asked the young woman.

“Oh, umm, you're currently in the capital, Stalu… Mr. Sakori, sir.”

Stalu? What kind of name is that for a place? I don’t remember that place being on a world map.

There are three other people nervously watching from behind this blonde girl: a middle-aged, tall, bearded man with a young boy and girl. Judging from their drastic difference in size and age, they appear to be the father and his two children. They’re almost treating me like I’m some caged monster. I suppose this woman got the short end of the stick.

This blonde woman’s purple and white translucent robe covered most of your body, exposing her arms and hips. The cloth hanging off her waist and shoulders made her look like my guardian angel. And God treated her kindly regarding her curves.

She carefully spoke up again, “So, Mr. Satori, sir. How do you feel? Are you back to your strength?”

I began stretching out my tightened muscles on my neck. “Yeah, I feel fine. Also, I noticed you keep calling me Mr. Satori. Who the hell is that?”

Amada froze in shock. “Huh?!”

The father and his children glanced at each other in confusion.

“Father, is Mr. Satori okay? Are we sure this is the right person?” the boy calmly asked.

“Maybe he still has amnesia after being summoned.”

Amada reassured me, “Mr. Satori, I assure you that you are Mr. Satori. This ritual was used to summon you, the strongest hero of Doppolia, Mr. Satori.”

Wow, the strongest is a pretty awesome title for someone.

“Amada, was it? This Mr. Satori guy sounds pretty cool. But unfortunately, my name is Takumi, Takumi Hitaro.”

The family chattered in secret among themselves again. “Takumi? Who’s that?” the young girl asked.

“No idea. Sounds like a type of food.” The boy replied.

Their whispers were loud enough for me to hear. I added, “Also, I don’t know what Doppolia is? I’m from Japan.”

“Japan? Is that a type of clothing?” The father asked.

The bulky bearded man quietly asked Amada, “Hey Amada, are you sure we got the right guy?” His tank top and pants were colored by grease and dirt. The man slowly observed my appearance with a puzzled look. “…I don’t think Sir Satori died wearing these weird clothes.”

Compared to everything else’s clothes, mine looks the weirdest. With my black shirt that has 'Astra' printed in the center, I have never seen clothes like these. Is there a new clothing trend I’m not aware of?

The bearded man added on, “Even though he looks exactly like Mr. Satori, if this man claims to be this Takumi guy, then we've got the wrong person.”

Amada was speechless. Anxiety was written across her entire face.

“Hold on, Father. Let me check.” The soft-spoken young girl quickly hurried to a nearby table. “Umm, Amada! This is a spell for teleportation, not reincarnation!”

“What?!” The whole room yelled in shock.

Teleportation? This is starting to sound crazy. That doesn’t exist in the real world. This must be a dream. “Someone pinch me, this has to be a dream.”

“Oh I got you!” The little boy gladly took up my offer and grabbed a metal hammer. He charged up a powerful strike towards my left leg, one hard enough to shatter my bones.

“Ow, that was a figure of speech, you idiot!” The aching pain from the strike confirmed my greatest fear. “I really did teleport somewhere!”

Frustration built up inside of me. I was having the best time of my 16 years, and I was randomly get transported against my own will. Before throwing a tantrum, I calmed down my nerves and tried to be reasonable with the newly met people in the room.

“Hey, since I’m not this Satori guy, can you transport me back. I’m missing out on the Cutesy Twins’ new single hit song!”

The silence in the room was loud with guilt smearing on everyone’s face. No one could look me in the eye.

“About that…” Amada said, embarrassingly rubbing her neck and avoiding eye contact with me. She muttered under her breath, dropping the pure-hearted act. “… we kind of can’t undo the spell.”

“Huh?”

“The book only told us how to teleport one way.” Amada clarified, pointing to the nearby table. “Also, we would need an incarnation circle. We have no idea where this place called Japan is.

I averted my attention to Amada, with frustration building inside. Like a bottle exploding, my breaking point was reached. I ran to Amade in anger and gripped her white robe under her collar. “Are you kidding me! You brought me here by accident, and you can’t take me back!”

“I’m sorry!” Amada cried, pleaded for her life as I tightened my grip. “Guys, help! Mr. Satori is trying to kill me!”

The father and his children ran to Amada’s aid. As they tried to release my grip, my emotions were going crazy. I’m trapped in this new world with no way back home.

…