The familiar melodious voice suddenly caught everyone's attention.
In the reddish-purple sunrise, the island seemed gloomier than usual. The waves at the shore were like drums striking everyone's heartbeat.
~Thump-thump~
The four had grave looks but there was different emotion enhanced in each of their faces.
Akihiko had a look of fierceness.
Gouki had an upright bearing. His calm disposure showed how he was ready for the worst and would still do his best.
Hikari had a concerned look. Obviously, she didn't want anyone to die. The kind hearted lady, despite seeing all the gruesome death, still wanted to prevent it.
And Sho… he had determination. To protect the people original Sho wanted to protect. Unlike the three, he didn't belong to this world. He didn't feel a real sense of belongingness. Still, for his respect towards the original Sho, he would do his best to protect the person he cherished. How hard would it be to protect one very capable person? He felt that if given the chance, it might be Asahi who would protect him instead.
*You say that but then you jump the gun when you think everyone would die. A mockery inside his head surfaced.* He remembered how he really did try to save everyone on the train incident. He couldn't refute his inner voice.
*As if I wanted to see you.* Sho hissed in his mind after hearing Gabriel's musical voice.
The other three also didn't like how Gabriel was having a happy vibe when they knew it would be a nightmare later on when the Super Phenomena happened. And everyone knows that this devil disguised in angel appearance was related to everything. The thought of the death and massacre they experienced in the train was still fresh in their mind.
Hikari and Gouki wanted to prevent those deaths if they could.
Before any of them could react, they felt their body getting enveloped by a white light. The same light that enwrapped Gabriel before.
They instantly stood up and became alert, not knowing what could happen next. They refused to trust the weird angel even though angels were depicted as good. After what they went through they could only trust people who experienced the same thing as them. They could only trust each other.
It was true that only life and death experience would bring strangers closer together.
Sho tried to make the most sensible thing he could think of sensing the weird energy around them. He grabbed the arm of two who were closest to him. His only thought at doing so was to make sure they wouldn't be separated or be thrown at random places. As if causing a chain reaction, Hikari and Gouki grabbed Akihiko who was in between them.
Blinding light emerged, the four quickly closed their eyes afraid that they would go blind if they forced their eyes open while observing the background.
And in the next second when they opened their eyes, familiar noise welcomed them.
"Wow! Mama, look! Magic!"
"Film? Seems like there's shooting somewhere!"
"Where did they come from?"
"What's up with that light?"
Those and many more noises echoed in their ears but they paid them no mind. The view that they saw was familiar to the three whereas, Akihiko didn't know where they were but knew they were back to their world.
*Terra Station… not my destination, but one of the destinations of most people on the train.* Sho quickly summarized.
*We actually teleported?*
Thinking about it, it was reasonable. Didn't the train teleport somewhere? The only clue he got was that it was another world. An unfamiliar world even for him who took over Sho's body.
He quickly looked around and absorbed every detail he could get on the surroundings. The familiar glass building structures that were as high as the sky and the background noise of the train. Countless pedestrians coming and going, some looking at their direction stopping curiously, others just threw them a passing glance and moved forward. It was buzzling city.
The capital of Yamato. Terra.
He sighed in relief. Yes, they really were back. Somehow, he wanted to delude himself that everything that happened was just a dream. It was just his silly mind making up those weird experiences because of how surreal he got in this world.
He wanted to ignore his cold suit that hadn't even dried out. He just wished that it was a dream.
But as he looked around, he knew that none of those were a dream. He was slapped by a rude awakening as he watched the TV screen somewhere above the glass building.
As it turned out, the TV was showing the hottest news that was keeping everyone up for quite some time now.
"Missing train still got no lead! Is this a terrorist attack? Seven days had passed since the N700A X65 vanished in thin air. No clues have been found since the train vanished. According to the authorities, they are investigating the case closely. The Prime Minister has ordered a thorough search…"
He quickly looked at another screen that was showing different Channel of the same news.
"We're here together with General Hiroshima to clarify the assumptions of the missing train that had vanished in thin air seven days ago. General Hiroshima, is it true that it is a terrorist attack?"
"There was no lack of terrorists claiming it's their doing, but we don't have any conclusive evidence. This has never happened before and there's no terrorist that has done the same thing. We advise the citizens to avoid speculation and wait for us, authorities, to do our job. There's no need to panic, but it is always good to stay vigilant…"
"Seven days…" he couldn't believe it. They vanished for seven days when it felt like just some hours.
However, when he thought about it, they teleported to another world. Of course, the time difference would be there! Earth revolves differently compared to other planets. Although the original Sho just read in a passing, he remembered how there was a different rate of rotation per planet. If that was the case, then the place they were thrown into had faster time compared to Earth! The few hours they experienced were actually seven days in Earth time!
*No. This is not the time to be dazed. I need to call Asahi and warn him of what is about to happen!*
"Let's try to warn as many as we can. I know, people would think we are crazy if they hear what we have to say. But it's better to try. From Gabriel's tone earlier, the Super Phenomena would start any time soon. Even if people don't believe us, at least, when everything starts, they will remember what we told them. Who knows, maybe they will believe us when that time comes."
"Isn't it better to be together? This way we would have better chances of survival." It was Hikari but then after saying that she discovered the problem in her sentences.
"It's not good. We have our own priority. It's good that we weren't tossed randomly and we didn't separate. At least, this way, we are sure that the four of us are still alive here and were able to successfully come back. But my priority is to get my family." Gouki firmly said.
"I get it. My priority is to get to my family too." Hikari said, once her resolve was made, she looked like she wanted to bolt as fast as she could but still waited for everyone to make up their mind.
Looking at shining brown eyes, even with her messy brown hair, Sho knows that if any of them asked for help, she would surely help them. This honestly didn't betray his impression of her. She was truly a heroic lady through and through.
"I'll go ahead and call my friend. I hope we meet again."
Sho said resolutely, not waiting for the rest of them to agree or disagree with him. He quickly ran and went to the closest payphone he remembered thanks to the original Sho's memories. Good thing in this world, payphones were still normal.
If there were no payphones, he would have a hard time contacting Asahi. He would need to get to the mall to just buy a phone. He didn't even have any more items in his pockets because most of his items were in his backpack that were sunken along the train. He was lucky to have some coins that didn't get washed by the sea.
He dialed Asahi's phone number. In the corner of his eyes, he saw Akihiko following Gouki while Hikari going the other direction disperse in the crowd. He sincerely hoped he would meet them again.
*Please, answer the call, Asahi. I know Sho said he didn't memorize your number, but you both know it's a lie. You're the only family Sho has, and he won't ever forget your number. Please, answer the call even if it's an unknown number…*
Sho tried to calm himself. Thinking about it closely, Asahi should answer the call because if the news were real, that they were gone for seven days, then he should be patiently waiting near his phone, hoping that news about finding Sho would appear or Sho would contact him. Just as he thought of the reason, the call instantly connected, as if someone was waiting for it to ring.
"H-hello?" The voice had a trace of hope and fear.
"Asahi."
"Li'l Sho! I knew you're alright----"
"I'm sorry, there's no time to explain everything," He immediately cut off. He somehow felt guilty. It felt like he was stealing Asahi's friend's life amidst the confusion. But still, he needed to warn Asahi. Aside from that, from Sho's memories, he really felt like he knew Asahi and would be close to this guy if born in the same world. Asahi is the guy anyone would look up to.
A real hero.
That was what Sho usually described Asahi.
And knowing Asahi, he knew that Sho's best friend was waiting for Sho's call ever since the train's disappearance. "There's something big that's going to happen. The entire world we know would be overthrown. We would be thrown into a game-like world. When that happens, say 'glitch', it would activate everything you need to know. Please, trust me on this one." he hurriedly explained as much as he could.
Asahi fell silent for some second, when he finally mumbled, his voice was full of trust, making Sho be glad that this man was original Sho's best friend. "Is the world ending?"
"I'm not sure. But only four of us survive from the train because of the same event that's going to happen," As he said it, he surveyed the surroundings, remembering a very crucial thing. "Asahi, when you see the area you're in turning glitchy, you're not hallucinating. It's the signal for everything, prepare yourself. Be alive."
"Thanks. You're awesome. Let's do our best to meet again. Also, let's save as many as we can."
He felt a lump in his throat, he forcefully swallowed. "Okay. I'll try my best. Don't die for other people. We need to meet first. We need to survive."
Asahi chuckled. "I'll try. You know me."
*Yes. You would save anyone you see. That's why you're the perfect hero.* "Stay alive." Sho said rigidly, as if ordering him.
"Okay. But promise me, if you can save anyone without sacrificing life, save them. Anyone deserves to live. Everyone deserves a second chance, too."
"You're an angel. Okay, promise." he confirmed.
As if signaling everything, he heard the line cut-off, as the glitchy environment surfaced. Backing off the payphone, he quietly surveyed everything. It was the same as when he was on the train. The environment was quietly flickering, one moment, it was a place full of buildings and life, the next, it was a flicker of trees… forest?
Here it is.
Sho felt the lump in his throat almost suffocating him.
"W-what's happening?"
"Did you see that?"
"Is this a program?"
"Tree! Did you see that tree?!"
"M-move! I'm out of here!"
As if a domino had taken effect, everyone scrambled to run away as far as they could.
However, where could they run? Where is the end of this weird flickering?
Bitter smile appeared on Sho's face as he heard the familiar voice warning him and everyone around him.
"What is this?"
"Some kind of event?"
"This feels weird? Why does it feel like the voice is coming from my head…?"
"What? You too?"
Murmur surfaced in the area. Those who were running also stopped. Who could blame them? If a sudden voice could be heard inside their head, anyone would pause. What's more, everyone around them was claiming the same.
Sho braced himself, making sure his center of balance was right, before shouting out loud.
"This is not an event! This is not a joke! If you want to survive, listen to me! When we entered the quest zone, say 'glitch' and everything would be clear! We need to work together to survive!"
*Asahi, because you made me promise, I can't back in my own words. I'll see you next time.*