Kazuya Hiyotoshi sat at his desk, the faint hum of a desk lamp the only sound in his otherwise quiet apartment. The late hour offered him some much-needed peace after a long day of classes, but instead of focusing on his studies, his mind wandered to places he wasn't sure he was ready to visit.
The textbook in front of him was open to a chapter he had already read several times, but tonight, the words on the page blurred together. A familiar ache pulsed in his chest, one that had only grown stronger since his grandfather passed away a few months ago. His grandfather had been everything to him—his father, his mentor, and his best friend. After losing his parents at such a young age, it was his grandfather who had raised him, shaping Kazuya into the man he was now.
Despite the trauma of those early years, Kazuya had grown up with love. His grandfather had always been there for him, providing a home full of warmth and wisdom. The old man's lessons had stayed with Kazuya long after his childhood, guiding him through the trials and tribulations of his teenage years and into adulthood. Even now, Kazuya could still hear his grandfather's voice echoing in his mind, steady and reassuring.
"Remember, Kazuya," his grandfather would say, his voice always calm and filled with understanding. "To be kind to every lifeform, no matter how small or different. In kindness, you'll find the family you deserve."
Kazuya's eyes closed as he leaned back in his chair, allowing himself to bask in the memory. He had heard those words so often throughout his life that they had become a part of his very being. But with his grandfather gone, it was harder to hold onto the sense of direction those teachings had provided. He missed the warmth of his grandfather's presence—the gentle encouragement, the quiet wisdom that had always guided him through life.
Kazuya sighed, pushing his chair back from the desk. The apartment, though tidy, felt sterile without his grandfather's comforting presence. It felt like something was missing. His grandfather had always filled the space with life, whether it was through his storytelling or his constant hum of approval. Now, that absence was suffocating.
His gaze drifted to a framed photograph on the shelf beside his desk. It was an old picture—one taken many years ago during a family outing when his parents were still alive. In the photo, his grandfather had his arm around Kazuya's small shoulders, both of them smiling brightly for the camera. The memory of that day came rushing back, and for a brief moment, Kazuya could almost hear the sound of his grandfather's voice telling him to always move forward, no matter the challenges life threw at him.
A dull ache settled in his chest, but Kazuya forced a smile, remembering the love his grandfather had always shown him. "I'll keep your words alive, Grandpa," he whispered quietly to himself, as though the words could somehow reach the man who was no longer there.
The moment lingered, but the stillness of the room was broken by a strange sensation—a tingling feeling that started in the base of Kazuya's spine. It was faint at first, like a trickle of cold water creeping up his back. His body froze, instinctively alert to the strange shift in the air around him.
"What's... happening?" Kazuya muttered to himself, confusion creeping into his voice. He stood up, his heart beating faster as the sensation grew stronger. It was as if the very fabric of reality was warping, shifting. His legs wobbled beneath him, and his hand shot out instinctively to grasp the edge of his desk, steadying himself.
The light from the lamp flickered, casting long, eerie shadows on the walls. A pressure built in the air, suffocating and oppressive, as though the weight of the world was pressing down on him. Kazuya's mind raced, trying to make sense of what was happening. Was it an illusion? A hallucination?
Before he could react further, the sensation reached a crescendo. The room seemed to distort, the furniture stretching and contracting as if caught in a powerful wind. His vision blurred, colors swirling in front of his eyes.
"Wait—what's going on?" Kazuya's voice trembled as panic rose in his chest. He felt as though the world around him was crumbling apart, as if he were being pulled into an unknown void. The very air seemed to ripple, the walls breathing in and out with the pulse of his own racing heartbeat.
His body felt weightless, as though gravity itself had abandoned him. Kazuya reached out, trying to grasp something—anything—to steady himself, but his hand passed through the air like it was nothing more than mist. In that moment, he felt a surge of fear—utterly lost, unable to control anything. Was this death? Had he somehow, impossibly, stumbled into some sort of nightmare?
Before he could process any more thoughts, the world tilted violently. The sensation was unbearable—everything around him seemed to collapse into a singularity of light and energy, and Kazuya's mind was flooded with pure, blinding brightness. There was no time, no space. Just an infinite, swirling expanse of sensation and chaos.
And then, just as suddenly, it stopped.
Kazuya gasped, his breath ragged, his eyes snapping open. His body felt like it had been yanked through a tunnel, but now there was only... calm.
He blinked against the strange, soft light surrounding him, trying to make sense of his surroundings. Where was he? The apartment, the books, his desk—they were all gone. In their place was an entirely new world. He stood in the middle of a vast, open field, the grass beneath his feet swaying gently in a breeze that felt cool but not cold. The sky above was not the dull grey of the city he had known, but a brilliant blue, dotted with two glowing suns that hovered in the distance, casting their light on the land below.
The air smelled different—fresh, alive, filled with a strange sweetness that Kazuya couldn't identify. He turned his head slowly, taking in the unfamiliar sights. Towering trees, their bark shimmering with an otherworldly glow, surrounded the field. In the distance, there were massive stone structures, glittering spires that rose from the mountainside, forming a city of some sort. This place... it was unlike anything he had ever seen before.
As Kazuya looked around, he noticed the faintest glow at the corner of his vision. His heart skipped a beat as a translucent screen materialized in front of him, floating just inches from his face. Numbers, symbols, and strange letters danced across the screen, forming into a grid of stats and abilities that he couldn't even begin to comprehend. His breath caught in his throat as he tried to focus on the words that flickered in front of him.
[Welcome to your new world. Here, you will find your strength.]
The screen blinked away, leaving Kazuya standing in stunned silence.