Was the other world really so great? I wondered. Was there nothing I left undone in this one? Was today really such a horrible day?
Haru said “g’morning” to me on the bus.
Since I knew Haru in the other world, and I knew this would end today, I just tried it without any expectations, but even if I hadn’t known anything, the result probably would have been the same.
She’s a girl I rode the bus with every morning who had no issues having a single-word conversation with me. I don’t know what she was thinking inside, but a classmate will do that much, at least.
So I was glad I tried it. Even if it was yesterday’s bus—well, a bus from a year ago.
“Thanks, Sekiguchi! It’s great to be able to count on you.”
See?
She’s a girl who can be friendly even to a gross otaku. It’s not fair. I could have started from there—if I had just completed the events like normal.
And even without knowing the Haru Koyama from the other world, there was probably a route where we could have at least become acquaintances.
That thought made me scared.
I had the feeling there were actually a lot of things I’d left undone. I felt like even the things I had failed at, I could do over. It started to feel like a waste to die.
No, that’s not right. I have someone waiting for me in the other world. I’m not this guy anymore. So I had to—
“Oh right, we have to go shopping.”
—get going already.
{T minus 00:05 to the truck accident}
From the moment we left school, we split naturally into two groups. Sekiguchi and I walked behind the others. Hamazawa, who was frustrated at not fitting into either group, I had talked to once about cards or something.
I remembered I was really patronizing that time. I wonder how she would react if I tried saying something to her now.
I pondered the possibilities indecisively—even though it was already far too late.
In five more minutes, everything was going to end. Haru Koyama would fall from the top caste at school and land in another world as a sex worker. And I, who was at the bottom, would be a famous adventurer before I hit my level cap.
After that, it’s just a world where you have to work you way up on your own. The miracle ends with a single cheat.
Am I really going? What am I, a chip to barter with? But could I really choose to live here—in a world without Haru?
{T minus 00:02 to the truck accident}
I see. I’m stuck. It doesn’t matter if I abandon her or go with. Just because I change worlds doesn’t mean I change.
In other words, I could have just changed right here. Even today was so easy.
If not Haru, maybe there was another girl I could have gotten along with. Even the old me might have been able to find a girl he wanted to protect.
“Hey, after we shop, wanna go hang out somewhere?”
Baseball Mob asked the girls.
Sekiguchi looked up, and so did Hamazawa. Our eyes met.
I looked straight at Haru.
{T minus 00:01 to the truck accident}
“Oh, it’s my boyfriend!” When Haru checked her phone in response to the LINE chime, she looked happy.
The conversation was cut off. Haru stopped to talk on the phone and let the rest of the front row go ahead.
I had heard this higher-pitched voice of hers at the brothel, too. I was the only one who knew that this girl who had a habit of playing with her long hair would cut it all off in another world.
That she could be really blunt and annoying, that she actually had a lot of heart, that she was quick to anger, and that she was a freak in the sheets were also things I would learn in the other world.
Before I knew those things, I think I had a crush on Haru Koyama. It was entirely based on looks—because she’s super pretty.
So I was happy you took my virginity. I am truly grateful for that—thank you.
But you’re not who I really like anymore. And I doubt you ever really liked me.
Yeah, we shouldn’t have had sex. If we had taken our time, we might have become friends, and I might even still have had a crush on you.
But it’s too late for that now.
I would probably run to save you any number of times. I want to go to the other world; I want her to think I’m cool; and if I can fuck her, I wanna do that, too.
The sky that had been cloudy since the morning opened up a crack to pour sunshine down on her.
She really was the pinnacle of our class. A flower growing too high up for any otaku to pick.
You really were the cutest.
I took the phone out of her hand and ended the call.
{T minus 00:00:30 to the truck accident}
“...What the—?” Haru frowned. Like, Who the hell are you?
I know you don’t know me. So I’ll tell you who I am right now.
“I’m the man who’s going to save you.”
She looked even more confused. But it wasn’t a lie. I go first. The truck hits me a fraction of a second before her.
That means that I was in the other world just a moment before she was. I protected her.
“And not just you. I’m saving Mama, Kiyori, and Kizuha, too. That’s why I’m going to the other world. Not to start over, but to start.”
“Uh, I have no idea what you’re talking about. What’s up with you? You’re kinda scaring me.”
“What’s scary is what happens next. But you don’t have to worry. Destiny won’t change. We’re going to die.”
“Umm, you’re really freakin’ me out here!”
From a distance, I heard a sound like something ripping, the squeal of skidding tires.
{Truck accident initiates}
“Uh, what’s that truck doing?”
The group up ahead noticed the runaway truck.
We had about five seconds left.
And I had the feeling I would never be back here again.
{T minus 00:00:05 to being transported to another world}
“Koyama!”
Sekiguchi shouted.
But he wouldn’t make it in time. Neither would Baseball Mob. No matter how many times we do this, the outcome will be the same.
So I turned my back to Haru and stepped into the road.
{T minus 00:00:04 → 00:00:03 to being transported to another world}
I’m beating my record. How much faster can I get to the other world than Haru? Although I also felt like I could stop the truck with one hand.
Haru still didn’t realize what was going on. Sekiguchi and Baseball Mob were falling. Hamazawa was screaming. The other girls were frozen.
Maybe I had tachypsychia—time seemed to flow in slow-motion around me.
{T minus 00:00:03 → 00:00:01 to being transported to another world}
Farewell, World.
I hated you. But I’m going to do things right in the next one, so please root for me. I won’t forget what you taught me. I can’t really find the perfect words, and I’m out of time anyhow, but basically I just feel like, “Thanks for everything.”
Haru turned around. It cracked me up that the look was still, Who’s this guy, again?
You get to know me after this. I don’t know the real you, either.
If the two of us have anything in common, it’s that we discovered our true selves in the other world. In this world, I was too awkward, and you were too good at everything.
Everyone listen up. I’m going to tell you who I am. This is my first and last greeting. After that, hurry up and forget about me.
I yelled so loud I thought my throat would burst.
“I am Endless Crimson Raaaaaaaaaaaaain!”