"I'm... home..."
Oi! Who said that?! Wait! Someone was standing by the door all this time?! And it's the girl in the photo?! Did she hear me? Why the hell did I say that out loud?! She'll probably get the wrong idea, and if that's the case, well, I'm done! I should explain myself! But what if they don't understand me? Yeah, right! She was speaking in English!
It's too late... she probably thinks I'm some weird pervert, so I should apologize and clear the misunderstandi-
I glanced at her, and something feels off... She looks exactly like the woman in the photograph, but she appears to be beaten up, and something red is all over her body. If that red substance is what I think it is, then forget saying thank you! I'm going to return a fraction of the favor now!
My body raced on its own. The red substance is dripping on the floor. Should I dip my fingers in it? Of course! No way in hell I'd be able to tell
The viscosity, the smell, and the color... it is blood! This woman has lost so much blood! It's a miracle she's even standing! If things stay like this, she'll die!
"I'm okay, here, eat thi-..."
She collapsed! She looks so frail with a thin frame and an innocent face. This girl looks like the type of person who is too nice for her own good, and she went through all that trouble just to bring me food?!
What the hell is she thinking?! Why go that far for a man you never met before?! I have to nurse her back to health! If I don't return the favor now, there won't be any favors to return later, but all I can do now is stop the bleeding and carry her to bed... Carry a girl to bed?
Carry this cute, undefended girl to bed?! Fuck me! My lack of social experience in the previous world is backfiring! I have to overcome this hurdle or else she'll die, but when she wakes up, this woman will probably panic and get the wrong idea... But now is not the time to be thinking about that! So, screw it!
Even though my body is still in pain. I picked her up, and held her as gentle as I can.
"Argh!"
My body still hurts! I could just drag her to the bed, but I have to be delicate with her like I'm holding a newborn baby. Good thing she's light, and what is this sensation?!
This soft, tender, and pillow-like sensation... It's like I'm touching the clouds in heaven. My hands are reaching places beyond my imagination! This may be the last time I get to touch a woman!
That sounds so wrong...
Anyways... I should put her down gently. My paranoia paid off! I came to this place with a first-aid kit! I've overcome one hurdle, and now I have to face more. First, I need to find the wound...
This is strange... and scary too. The amount of blood on the floor and this girl's clothes are enough to fill an ocean, but I can't find a wound...
Removing her clothes and check for injuries not visible from plain sight would be the logical choice right now, but t-that's just... too much unholiness for me to handle! Maybe just the chest area, but certainly not the crotch!
|...|
I've been searching for three minutes, but to no avail! I guess it's not absurd to say she doesn't have a wound, but with that amount of blood?! The only sensible reason for that is... this isn't her blood?! That's petrifying! She looks like the type of person who is too nice for their sake! Just what the hell did this woman go through?!
Fuck it! If there isn't any wound, I'll just leave her alone in bed to recover! But first...
With all gentleness, I placed my hand on her forehead to check her temperature, and it seems normal to me...
|...|
An hour has passed since this woman showed up, and I hit sleep mode. I woke up a few times to check on her, but she's dead sleepy. I guess I should follow her lead.
"Ahhh! Sleep is the best!"
|...|
It seems like an hour passed again... That was good sleep! Even though I slept on the floor. And what is this relaxing sensation on my head? This delicate, pillow-like sensation on my head... If I could sleep in this position for the rest of my life, I'd be satisfied with it. This heavenly feeling is similar to when I held the girl. What caused this?
I opened my eyes and then... Eh...? The first thing I see is the face of the girl from earlier, and judging from this distance... A lap-pillow?! I'm lying on her thigh?!
"AHHH!"
Great! I scrambled away from her and let out my inner virgin scream... I won't be surprised if she's frightened.
Seriously! Men are going to get the wrong idea if she did that to anyone else. But that doesn't matter! I should apologize!
"I-I'm S-Sorry..."
Now she's in the corner covering herself in a blanket. I'm surprised it took her that long to be scared of me. Now that I've recollected myself, I can proficiently construe this predicament.
The first step is cleared. My mind is functioning like usual, and my emotions are controlled.
The next step is to check on this girl. Judging at the way she hides and by the movements of her feet, it's evident that this girl is scared, but this girl is not as frightened as I imagined. Her body shakes as if she's seen a ghost. I don't blame her for being disturbed, but her eyes... look eager and excited?
Why the hell is she excited?! That's mad! And who the hell gets thrilled in this situation?! There has to be a reason for this, but I have to calm her down for now. It'd be best if I switch to that persona.
I only use it if necessary, but... Enough about myself. I should switch to it and calm her down!
I whispered underneath my breathe, "Three...two, and one."
This is odd... I can't switch to it. Perhaps my mind and heart cannot shoulder more depressing thoughts.
Of course, it can't! I'm still recovering from my parent's deaths! Although being transferred to a new world improved my condition, it'd be best to stop shouldering regret. Now all I have to do is comfort her, but in my current state, I don't know how.
I don't know how to approach her. I don't know what to say. I can easily read people's thoughts and emotions like a book, but I don't know what to do with it. It's like reading a sci-fi novel with onerous words and ideas beyond my comprehension. I can read it accurately, but I don't understand.
If I'm going to approach this girl as myself, what can I say to comfort her? How do I approach her? And more importantly, how do I be myself? How do you be yourself? Whenever people try to surprise someone, there's always one person saying, "act normally," but how do you act normally? Is it this difficult to be who you're supposed to be?
"I-I'm fine... A-Are you alright?"
She talked! Her body isn't shaking anymore. All that's left is her eager and excited eyes. How ironic... I'm supposed to be the calm and collected type.
And more importantly... that child-like voice. It's so damn soothing. No wonder this girl calmed me down! I don't know why but it feels nostalgic.
I've recollected myself, so now I need to ease the situation!
"Uhh... yeah, I'm fine, and y-you?"
I don't know why I'm hesitant... no, that's not it. I'm anxious. This is the first time I've talked to someone outside my parents without using that persona, and that someone is a female. No... it's something more prominent than that. This is my first contact with the inhabitants of this world, so I have to be anxious, and who wouldn't be but, something is missi-
"Riaru!"
Riaru? Is that some word native to this world? If that's the case, I don't know what to respond, but I have to or els-
"Riaru... is my name."
Her name? How do I respond to that? Do I tell her mine? Is that even a question? Of course, I have to! So with every ounce of confidence...
"M-Miles... is mi-... mine."
Even though it took all my confidence! A damn voice crack had to get in the way! Every single cell in my body screams anxiety! At this rate, I won't even last a conversation! Somebody please cast a hero summoning spell on me! I don't want to be here!
"Miles?"
"Y-Yes?"
Damn! That voice still gives me goosebumps! It tickles every hair on my body, and who knew someone else saying my name could be the cutest thing I've experienced!
"T-That's a nice n-name."
Stuttering? Looking at her right now, she's like confusion incarnated, and there's a variety of emotions I can tell from her body movements.
She wags her feet like a dog eagerly wagging its tail, but her arms tremble as if they've been in freezing water, and her face is constantly switching between fear, excitement, relief, and discomfort; all of these dissonant emotions clashing within.
She somehow reminds me of me when I first got here... not like I've been here for long, though. Perhaps we'll get along fine. Looking at her suffering gave me all the confidence to continue the conversation, and no, I don't savor watching people suffer. Or maybe I do? Who knows?
"Y-Yours too,"
She shrieked little and, she sounded like a child!
With a smile that bewitches even the coldest of men, she said, "T-Thanks!"
"..."
Fucking adorable! The first thing this world sent to greet me is a smile I must protect at all cost! I already love this world! If I were to choose between seeing the curvature of this planet and seeing her smile again, I'd probably choose the latter of the two.
Alright! That's enough simping, Miles! Time to investigate her!
"Ria...ru?"
"Y-Yes?"
She's still nervous. If I start asking questions now, I'll probably never get any answers.
I have a lot to query, like how did she find me? Where am I? And more importantly, Why was she in such a bad state? It'll probably take some time, but for now, I should gain a fraction of her trust...
"Miles?"
The tone of her voice, the way she paused after speaking, and her worried face tell me she remembered something substantial, something in my name?
"Wait here!"
Her tone sounds like a child restlessly waiting to open their Christmas present. She jumped off the bed and raced towards the closet from earlier...
|...|
Now she's desperately trying to reach the top of the cabinet and humorously fails every time...
|...|
It's been a few minutes, and I won't even bother trying to help! She looks like a tiny dog reaching for its snack. From this distance, her height might be 5'6 or 5'7. This moment is too adorable to end.
"Miles..."
She pointed at the top of the closet. Now she sounds like that one friend desperate to pass the exam and asks you for answers. Does she want me to help her? It appears now will be the end of her adorable struggle, but I want it to go for a few more seconds, so...
"Use that."
I pointed at the chair... hopefully, that won't piss her off!
Well, this is interesting? She didn't complain and went straight to the chair. She is either too nice or too stupid!
|...|
Finally! She got it! She barely managed to reach the object she was grasping for, and that object is a book? It doesn't look familiar to me, and more importantly, how is that related to my name?
"*Thunk. Ouch!"
I hear a thunk! Riaru?! I took my eyes off her few a few moments and, this is what happens?
"Miles... i-it hurts."
Is this the answer to my question earlier? Is she too kind or too stupid? She's an idiot! So my life is indebted to this woman... I can see it now! An agonizing road to repay my debt!
It appears she fell after getting the book. The height she fell from isn't that high, but it may give her some injuries, and she was in such a grave state earlier!
I raced towards her, and snagged her left hand...
"Are you a-alright?"
"M-My hand."
She sprained her left wrist!
My paranoia paid off again! I brought bandages for sprains and such!
"You're an idiot, and you should've asked me to do it..."
"But I did..."
"Oh."
Oh! I did. Now I'm the dumbass, and what was that earlier? My body moved without thinking when I saw her wrist, and those words just now subconsciously left my mouth. I should apologize...
"S-Sorry."
With that same smile from earlier, she said, "Hihi! Here miles... it's fine!"
Oh my God! Too fucking cute! That smile and giggle!
"Look here..."
She handed me the book... What does she want me to do with it? It's just a regular child's storybook.
"Miles, read the title,"
"The man in the room in the sky,"
"Some may say that life is complex and has a myriad of troubles, but it can be as simple as being devoted to one person." -Author's shower thoughts.
The man in the room in the sky? Why does she want me to read it? And how is a child's storybook connected to me? Looking back, I did fall from my pare-... my apartment room, and I was able to see the curvature of the earth. My room may be the room in the sky in this storybook, and I may be the man in that room... Fear is throwing daggers at my heart again! It may be a coincidence but, the accuracy is too spot-on. "Miles... are you the man in that book?" I... don't know how to answer that. This coincidence is too disturbing. Yet again, That bastard fate is playing tricks. "I-I can't say I am..." "If I read this book, maybe you can," That's right! The content might prove the title is just a coincidence. "Can I start?" "S-Sure..." I'm anxious yet again, and I don't know why. If I am the man in that story, so what? It's like trying to weigh air. But I'm still afraid... "Miles... y-your hand,"
I asked the question, but her face and the way she sighed... it looks like I'll be hearing silence. Since it came to this, I should change the topic. I trust that she has a good reason not to answer. It's probably personal. I haven't gained her complete trust yet, so I'll take it slow. "It looks like you're still uncomfortable about it, sorry... you don't need to answer that, instead answer this." "Answer what?" I should've asked this earlier, but it's not too late. "Why'd you bring me here?" "W-Well... this was mo-... this is my favorite place to read my favorite book." That's the second time she stopped midway. I want to know, and I want her to trust me completely, so I'll have to do this. It's a bit cheesy, but If I want to protect her... With all my might and emotion, I stood and yelled, "Alright! Riaru. I've decided," "Decided what? This a bit sudden? Did something happen?" "You're an idiot." "That'
That smug look on her face and the way she spoke. This girl is picking a fight. "You're finally awake!" "Finally? How long was I asleep?" "One hour!" "An hour?!" We've been falling for an hour?! It was only for a short time, but what good life I had in this world. "So... what do you want to discuss?" "Why are you so calm about this?! "Trust me." This girl is too confident and too carefree! She's a gung-ho idiot, but if she's that confident, I have no choice but to trust her, "So, Riaru, about earlier... I think we should search for a city or a town." "Then let's go to my hometown." Riaru's hometown? It must be a nice place if she grew up there, and it must be quiet and peaceful too. That's not a bad idea, and it would be convenient to live somewhere she's familiar with. I know nothing about this world, so I have no choice but to agree. "Then it's decided, but how do you get there?
"Woah." "Miles, It's neat... don't you think?" This girl is mocking me. And this is Midway?! It's like Abu Dhabi all over again! If the word busy was a city, it'd be this! No matter where I look, something is always happening, and in a place this big! That's no joke! If you look at the sky, you'll see giant birds flying as if they were planes. And the city's silhouette from afar is like a hundred mountains towering, and within those mountains, you'll see lights, a lot of them. It's like witnessing a million fireflies sitting apart from each other in an organized manner. If you look at ground level, you'll see an uncountable amount of people. It's like observing a well-established colony of ants with a population of over a million doing their daily duties. This is the polar opposite of what I was expecting! "Ria... Is this really your hometown?" "Do you really trust me?" I guess I let my expectations get ahead of me. I d
Miles... we're here.""Where? There's no other place to eat except this fancy-looking, pocket-emptying restaurant.""Miles, we're here!"Eh?! We're eating here?! No way! She must've gotten the wrong place! That place looks like the type of cafe only available for high-ranking government officials or filthy-rich old men.If she, out of all people, can eat there, then there's something wrong with this world!"Are you sure that's the right place?""I told you to tru-""Fine! Okay! Let's eat."That's if we can eat! The way she's gripping my hands is like she's dying to pull me. And that eager face... I can't say no to that! I'll just go with the flow.It'd be best to switch personalities, so I can handle any more predicaments. I know I said I can't switch to it anymore because my self-confidence is drained, but my time with Ria brought it all back.It's been nothing but tragedy since they died, and meeting her is the
I'm... losing consciousness... and what's... that voice? ... melancholy.. tomorrow?It's dark... I can't move... What happened? ...Did I die? No! Please... I haven't... granted their wishes yet! And Ria... I have to... go back. Don't die, Miles! You bastard! You're the scum of... society! Don't die... asshole! I don't want to... die... I don't... want to die. I don't want to die!"It's okay... I'll let you see."It's the voice... before I... passed out... and... the door... she's the... voice."I'll let you see... I'll let you see... I'll let you see."Shut up! I don't want to die!"I'll let you see... I'll let you see... because... it's my fault."Her... fault? I'm losing... consciou-..."It's okay... this is... you'll see... because... it's my fault..."I'm... back..."Miles... you'll help me, right?! You're alive, right?! Liar!"I'm standing next to Ria... and she's crying... over a dead body?! We'
A gunshot! The gunman is here! But I'm prepared! The location of my death is outside the restaurant. I'll take not a single step beyond that door!"Miles..."Her fingers are trembling as if they were freezing. I see a chilling cloak of fear blanketing her body. I'm usually too embarrassed to ask, but..."Ria, give me your hand."Even if my hand feels like a swamp, it should be enough to warm her."W-What do we do?"We could just relax here, savor our food, and relish your attractive stupidity, but-"Somebody call the police!"The random man said it... We could take the back exit behind the toilet and enter a dark alley, but that could be the gunman's escape route. Remaining as an inanimate object in this palace should be anything but the worst possible outcome, so that should be our cho-"Somebody call an ambulance for the old man!"Old man?! Surely he's jesting, right?! The old geezer is a... neat human being, I'
If the word "fucked up" was a place, it'd be what I'm currently witnessing. I may have just found my answer to a preceding question. Is this world nothing different from the previous one? It's like comparing ice to a block of frozen water. I'd say this place is a cheap knock-off of my former world."*15 minutes earlier."|...|"Judging from what happened earlier, you lot are no ordinary customers."A compliment? Trying to sweeten the pot, aren't you? Unfortunately for you, I don't bite those words, unlike this adorable idiot I'm with."I'm humbled by your compliment, but back to the offer... so what do you want?"Pretty sharp, aren't we? You suddenly switch to a cocky tone... I was right about you.""Please cut the crap, milady... you're offering us a mountain that we may not be able to climb. Surely, you have a tall order!"The next card she'll probably play is something like, "seems like you don't want to, then I'll look for