Keep Calm and Truck On

“I… I-”

It was a harder decision than Diesel thought it would be. His life as a Truck-kun had its merits. The many different experiences pushed the desire to become human time and time again onto the backburner. It showed just how much fun he had.

Adventuring as a Truck-kun was a dreamlike experience full of people and places that he would never see anywhere else. Only through this role could he experience a weirdness outside of his previous world. They blew his mind, gave him thrills and laughter, and showed him so much more than what he thought he knew before. If he stayed on as a Truck-kun, there was a guarantee that more was in store.

On the other hand, the simple pleasures of being human still left a hole in Diesel. Being able to eat and drink, laze around on a bed, and feel attraction to his anime waifus – they were never more missed until he couldn’t do them anymore.

Diesel sighed. If only he could be both, there was no question how he would choose. Kami-sama gave him a day off to ponder his decision, and he found himself at Mama Shanty’s Truck Stop.

He watched as other Truck-kuns came and went, measured their banter, and sipped a flight of gasoline in contemplation. He had yet to try all the flavors.

The others briefly passed by with a greeting, staying distant as they all knew what it was like to choose. They all had reasons for continuing, and none of them were the same as Diesel.

After he had his fill, Diesel rolled through a portal and took a drive, making sure to bring a blow-up driver. He enjoyed the quiet towns with faceless people strolling by day-to-day. He looked up at an office high rise, shivering at the time he was sailing fifty floors above. Parking himself upon a hill overlooking a bustling kingdom, he nodded at the peace that reigned ever since. A trip through a forest trail, he briefly stopped to gaze at a girl riding a phoenix up high. A grin of satisfaction graced him internally.

At the end of the day, Diesel rolled up Kami-sama, the answer on hand.

“I want to become human again. This has been like a dream with how much fun I had. So much has been achieved as a Truck-kun. If I stay here, I’ll definitely be happy. But I also realized, I’m only doing so to escape from who I am. Even in a brand new world with different responsibilities, I come up with excuses to stay still or let myself coast on auto-pilot. But really, I should be the one in control. And I just can’t do that if I hold onto regrets as a human.”

“I see… It’s unfortunate to lose a good team member, but if that is your desire, then my task is to fulfill it.”

Kami-sama looked sad, enough to forget about cracking a joke like normal. Diesel wouldn’t have felt so solemn if he did. But at least, he was glad to know that an impact was made on the deity.

“Well, then. Shall we start the sending off ceremony?”

“There’s a formal process to this?”

“Of course.” Kami-sama grinned. “It wouldn’t be proper to just drop you off into a new body and say good riddance.”

Diesel wondered what it would entail, but a snap of the fingers changed the surroundings around him. He suddenly found himself on train tracks, a parking boot fixed to his tire. The other Truck-kuns had gathered to offer their farewells.

“Good luck on your next life as a human!”

“Don’t forget that gasoline isn’t consumable anymore!”

“If you ever feel the need to off someone, give us a holler and we’ll drive by!”

Diesel was glad that his friends were there to say goodbye. They were going to be missed, despite how weird they were. But…

What’s with this setup? Why the tracks? Why can’t I move? Kami-sama, what the hell are you planning?!

Suddenly, a whistle sounded in the distance. It was distinct, unnerving even. Diesel looked over to see something box-like barreling down the tracks.

Wait. Tracks? Whistle? Don’t tell me…

All at once, a single question popped into Diesel’s head.

How do you isekai a Truck-kun?

Apparently, a Train-kun was needed. Kami-sama stuck his head out of the conductor’s car, waving at him. The train picked up speed as the tracks straightened up, leading to Diesel.

“Here we go! One ticket out of the Divine Realm and to your next destination!”

Diesel had the urge to scream, but it only came out as a car horn. The blaring lights of the train flooded his vision. The daunting mass made him feel small.

Ah, so that’s how people getting trucked felt all along-

v

Diesel sprang up from his bed. He felt groggy and disoriented. The nerves in his body were on edge like he had the strangest dream ever, but he couldn’t remember what about. The more that he tried to think about it, the thicker the fog became. Whatever it was, it didn’t want to be remembered.

He got up and shook it off, going about his day – brushing his teeth, putting on clothes, getting a drink of water. With each motion, he paused to think before doing it, like he had to make sure. And like that, a typical morning, uneventful and monotonous, unfolded.

Diesel surfed the internet, checking his email to look for any replies from his job interviews. Finding none, he idly wasted his morning mulling about social media, seeing what was new.

Around lunchtime, he searched to find that his favorite restaurant was open again. Excited, he grabbed his coat and keys, gliding to the car.

The purr of an engine and the faint odor of gasoline felt strangely comforting. When he rolled down the windows, that feeling went away. He shook his head. Thoughts of the food menu filled him with choices instead.

“Something feels off with me today. Well, nothing that a good kick of spice won’t solve.”

As he drove down the road, his heart froze as a truck suddenly veered right in front of him, running a red light. If he had let his mind wander for even a second, it would have likely hit him!

“Hey! What the hell is your issue?!” Diesel yelled futilely in annoyance.

He thought he saw white feathers resting against the driver’s side open window, but that must have been his mind playing tricks on him. The adrenaline and hunger soon returned him back on task.

Another ten minutes and he rolled into the parking lot of a Thai restaurant. Twenty minutes later, a steaming pile of red-hot noodles graced his vision. He took a bite and instantly teared up.

“That’s funny. It’s as rich and spicy as I remember it, but I’ve never cried before…”

Diesel ended up ordering a second plate, just to make sure. By the end, his stomach was as full as his wallet was empty. That was a regret that he would save for another time.

The burn of spice felt good as he stepped out of the restaurant, wondering what to do with the rest of his afternoon. He trotted back to his car, his future up in the air.

Life was finally getting back to normal. There were only so many excuses people could make to stay still from a pandemic. Diesel had been one of those, hiding and biding his time. His savings dwindled after his job was axed, but he found it hard to find something else in the current environment. Now, he had no other choice but to earn a wage for the bills.

What job would even need a washed-up, white-collar worker, his skills rendered obsolete by the change of times? He yawned as unpleasant memories of interviews flashed in his head, often with the result that he had to ‘apply’ himself more.

Just then, a brightly-colored flier caught his attention. It was jammed under the wiper blade of his car – rather old-fashioned for an age where ads were mostly digital. He pulled it free and dramatically read the contents aloud.

“Heh? What’s this? Love to travel to interesting places that you can only dream of? Experienced drivers wanted. On the job training available. An open mind is a plus. Many benefits offered! Hazard bonus pay! Sightseeing time off between jobs!”

Diesel stared blankly at the flier. Normally, he would have just laughed at it. The very things that it advertised seemed silly. It was obviously a trucker job. Whoever wrote the pitch had a fun time romanticizing it.

He was about to toss it aside when he remembered his empty wallet.

You know what? What do I have to lose?

His eyes went back to the flier. It suddenly looked more appealing by the second. He needed a job anyway. Pulling out his phone, he dialed the number at the bottom. After a few rings, a click sounded. The voice of an old man echoed on the other end.

“Otherworld Isekai Service… How can I help you?”

v

There is something to be said about a journey started by one’s own initiative. The mentality that one approaches it is completely different than if one is forced into it. Or rather, one comes up with more excuses to justify said choice.

Diesel gawked as he stared at the crossroads of a busy intersection full of trucks. But instead of the roar and beeps of busy traffic, a cluster of human-like banter blanketed the area.

“You’ve… gotten busy, Kami-sama…”

“Of course, there’s no reason to keep isekai-ing a strickly Japanese thing, now is there?”

The old man that was the deity manager of the otherworldly service that Diesel had briefly forgot about stroked his beard with a sly grin.

“If someone can convince Ka**kawa to get off their butts and sample foreign goods, then I think it’s time to expand.”

“Expand, you say? I hope it’s for a driving role this time. I’m not sure I can go back to guzzling gasoline after being reunited with my favorite food once again.”

Kami-sama turned to him with a twinkle in his eye, a devious one that brought chills down Diesel’s spine.

“I can do you one better,” Kami-sama said, handing him a device that had a conspicuous red button right in the middle.

Letting out a sigh, Diesel could take a hint. He tapped the button, which let out a cheerful string of beeps, too happy for whatever situation that he was expecting.

Immediately, a swirl of magic dusted around Diesel, lifting him up and spinning him until he could hardly tell what was left or right. When it finally stopped, he dropped with a heavy thud onto cushy wheels, the squeak of suspensions breaking his fall.

Realizing what had happened, fluid trickled from his windshield, setting off his wipers.

“Did you have to include a transformation scene?”

“Would you rather be permanently stuck as a Truck-kun? Now, you can have the best of both worlds.”

“I… I’ll just shut up now. Time to clock in and join the rush. What’s the itinerary this time?”

“New worlds to explore this time. Plenty of them. All new trouble caused by English natives. Perfect for a hybrid like you.”

Diesel saw that jab and swerved, dismissing Kami-sama as he blended into the flow of traffic, on his way to brand new sights.

END