A deal based on wonder and regret

I try to move my body, but I can’t. I can barely muster the energy to open my eyelids.

It feels like I’m in cold water. It’s dark, I can’t see anything, and I can’t stop sinking.

“So, are you really going to just accept this? Just like that?”

This woman voice is talking to me, and even though I never heard this voice before it feels extremely familiar.

“Hey! I’m talking to you! It’s rude to ignore someone when they are talking to you, you know?”

I got run over by a motorbike and now I’m in who knows where, can’t I just be left alone.

“Hellooooooo?! I’m talking here! I know you can hear me…”

(WILL YOU SHUT UP FOR A SECOND!! I CAN BARELY HEAR MY OWN THOUGHTS!)

“There we go.” She says in a mocking tone.

“Are you ready to listen to me? I have a deal for you.”

(What do you mean “deal”? I’m dead, what is there to talk about?)

“I’m getting there! Just let me speak!”

God this is annoying. Just get to the point so I can rest.

“I would appreciate if you didn’t call your savior annoying”

(Yeah yea… Wait. I’m not speaking right now. How do you know what I’m thinking? Where are you? I can’t see anything)

“Let’s just say that even if you can’t see me, I’m still very close. Close enough that you can speak to me with just a thought, but far enough that even if you scream at the top of your lungs your voice wouldn’t reach me.”

(Wait. I died so… Are you…)

“You didn’t die. I mean your body did, so technically you are dead but not for much longer so…”

The more she speaks the more confused I’m getting. And also, how deep is this place? It is like there’s no bottom I just keep sinking.

“I told you I’m getting there geez” She fixes her voice, like she’s trying to start from the beginning.

“Hasegawa Akihiko. Despite what you think about yourself you are a truly kind soul. Not everyone would sacrifice their life for another like you did. That’s truly noble.”

(I don’t feel noble… Besides, what about my family? If what you’re saying is true they just lost a son. I know I wasn’t the best, but still. Losing family like that is going to be horrible.)

“Then do you regret saving that child?”

(What?)

“Do you regret saving that unknown child? Sacrificing your life for his in the process.

(If I hadn’t interfered, would he have died?)

“Absolutely.”

(Then no.)

“I like the conviction on your answer. May I ask why?”

(It’s just… He was so much younger than me. I know he wasn’t a whole lot younger, but still. There was so much life ahead of him. And if he had something he truly wanted to do with his life then I really don’t regret what I did. Better someone like him to keep living than someone lost like me.)

“Even so, I believe you deserve a second chance. Someone like you is exactly what I was looking for.”

(All right, let’s hear it. What’s the deal?)

“Right now, there’s another world I’m watching over. And it needs someone like you. The people there are lost and running out of hope.”

(Wait, another world?! Like an Isekai, another world?!! Just like a manga or an anime?)

“I mean, pretty much, I think. I’ve seen a bit of the stories that exist in your world, I guess the concept could apply.”

(Hold on, that’s awesome!!!) I can’t contain my excitement. For a moment I completely forgot about what happened to me.

I had no idea what I wanted to do back on earth. But on an isekai? What gamer otaku wouldn’t get excited about that?

Warrior, mages, killing monstes, adventure!

(Do I get some sort of special power there? Maybe I’m going to have a cheat skill? What’s the power system like? You think I have more aptitude for a sword of magic?)

“Whoa, hold on! I said it is like some stories from your world but don’t go thinking it is like those games or whatever you have back on your world. Besides, what even is a “Cheat Skill”? I’m already giving you a new body. That was pretty tough to do, ya know?”

(Wait, new body? I’m not going there with my old one?)

“I can’t teleport material bodies. What I’m moving is your soul, to another time and space.”

(Okay, fine. So, once I’m there what would I have to do to help these people?)

“Find out what my counterpart has done to that land and stop him. For I fear something terribly wicked is happening.”

(What do you mean by counterpart, and who are you anyways?)

“I’m sorry, but this is all I can tell you. I’m interfering enough as it is, so unless you discover more by yourself, I can’t continue to help you.”

(A vague deal like this sounds really sketchy… What would you even give me in return?)

“You said with conviction that you don’t regret saving that child, correct?”

(Right.)

“But there is something you regret, don’t you?”

(I don’t think so…)

There’s nothing to regret, I saved a life and…

No. She’s right.

I couldn’t say goodbye to them. Or rather, I didn’t say it properly today. I shouldn’t have taken so long to get out of bed. I shouldn’t have stormed out like that.

“Help me stop whatever my counterpart is scheming, and I’ll help you give a proper farewell to your family. What you get in return is pretty good, right? Does it still sound sketchy?”

(I mean, it’s still does)

“Oh, for crying out…”

(Relax, I’m just saying how I see it.)

“Hasegawa Akihiko, I beg of you.”

There is a sudden shift in the conversation. The easy-going conversation we were having turned into a serious business talk.

“I need someone like you in that world. Once you get there you will understand.”

(Okay, I get it. Just got to take care of your counterpart, right? Sounds like a win-win scenario to me. I get to live in another world and say goodbye to my family after I finish my end of the deal.)

“I give you my sincerest gratitude. The deal has been made. With this, I bid you goodbye for now. Look for the ones with the amulet that wards off nightmares. We will talk again once you have joined their ranks.”

My body suddenly stopped. A warm, gentle feeling envelopes me.

“Now wake up. For it is no time to sleep.”

I was sinking the entire time, but now my body starts to ascend. Like a ball under a pool, I start shooting upwards extremely fast and in the darkness a light starts to appear and grow larger.

Another world.

This is really happening, right?

Getting a chance like this gives me a feeling of excitement I had completely forgotten I could feel. My new life begins now.

But I’m not forgetting. Even if I had no idea what to do with my life, I owe too much to my family to just leave them in bad terms like this.

I’m completing this request, saying my goodbyes and then enjoying this new life to the fullest!

As my body keeps going up, I’m launched into what feels like air. I hear a big splash, and a shining light blinds me.

Time to wake up in another world!