{T minus 00:00:05 to being transported to another world}
“Koyama!”
It’s weird to think, Been a while since I’ve been in this dream, but I hadn’t been force-fed any blood in a bit.
The nostalgic scenery of my old world... I sort of wanted to show Haru. But this is a secret I can’t tell her. And I have to get through the gamble of suspended animation. I mean, I had no choice in the matter, but still.
I dodged Baseball Mob when he came from behind. How many times have I done this now? Gimme a break.
{T minus 00:00:04 to being transported to another world}
And after this, Sekiguchi and Baseball Mob collide. That far is fine. What I wanted to know was the outcome of the what-if after this.
If I didn’t save Haru, which one of us would the truck send to the other world?
Even if it’s just a dream, I want to be sure. I want to know that I was the one summoned to another world, that becoming a hero in another world isn’t just a fantasy.
The cola bottle rolled across the asphalt. Is this really a dream? Even the smells are so realistic.
I got scared. Because if this was reality, I knew it would let me down.
{T minus 00:00:03 to being transported to another world}
With its wheels still audibly slipping, the truck headed right for us without slowing down at all.
Behind me, someone screamed. But I didn’t run. Not until the truck decided which of us it was aiming for.
Even in the dream, I remembered that other world. I knew it was the worst, so I definitely wanted to be confident and go to the next. Because I was the chosen one.
But then—shit!
I took off running. Desperately, because I got a late start.
Haru was the chosen one.
With its skidding tires, the tilting truck was headed straight for her.
It was trying to take Haru Koyama, the number one kid in our class, the Miss JK rep, the girl with the studly boyfriend; she was even popular with kids from other schools.
It was trying to take her to the other world she hated so much—and all by herself.
{T minus 00:00:02 to being transported to another world}
“God dammiiiiiiit!”
I didn’t want to know. I shouldn’t have tested it. I wasn’t the chosen one. It was just an accident.
Even though God gave me cheat skills. Even though he said I could be a candidate for hero. He didn’t give Haru anything! Or was it because I’m weak? Did he take pity on me?
This is all wrong. The other world should have picked me. It should have left Haru in the old one. That world is awful for women. What do you think she’ll have to do when she gets there to survive? Turtle-bondage.
Don’t go. You can’t. Stop.
Take me. Take me to the other world, too. I’m begging you...
{T minus 00:00:01 to being transported to another world}
Who’s this guy, again?
The world turned gray, and I tasted iron.
That flavor was a miserable relief.