Chapter 1 - Yukio Fujiwara
"Where am I?..."
A pink-haired boy, about sixteen or seventeen, woke up in a soft bed.
His slightly confused face showed a trace of lingering sleepiness as he stared blankly at the ceiling.
After a few moments of daze, he gradually came to his senses, and his bewildered gaze turned clear.
Finally, he confirmed one thing.
He had either transmigrated or been reborn.
His name was Yukio Fujiwara, and he came from Japan on Earth.
The body he now inhabited was also named Yukio Fujiwara.
Based on his memories, he was currently in Tokyo.
However, this Tokyo was different from the one he remembered.
This world had extraordinary powers.
Yes, just like in fantasy novels and animes, there were people here who could wield spells.
His clearest memory of such power was from his predecessor.
During summer vacation, his parents had called a shrine maiden to exorcise a shadowy figure lurking in their home.
The sight of it was unforgettable and deeply engraved in his mind.
"Parallel worlds?"
"Or was I just too poor before to ever encounter anything supernatural?"
Yukio frowned in thought.
Back in his world, occasional rumors about supernatural events circulated online.
Most were debunked as hoaxes, but now he wondered if some of them might have been real.
Even after starting work, he had often heard rumors about wealthy tycoons and officials praying to gods, or consulting so-called masters.
"Could it all have been real?"
He felt both shock and confusion.
Then, as if recalling something terrible, his expression darkened.
"Damn it! I should've deleted those videos!"
The thought of his computer's hard drive and browsing history made him grimace.
If someone found it, his reputation might be ruined forever.
Yukio silently prayed that his motherboard had somehow caught fire.
After sulking for a while, he rubbed his temples and cast those thoughts aside.
There was no use dwelling on it.
He needed to focus on adapting to this new reality.
Rising from bed, he headed to the bathroom to freshen up.
The cold water helped clear his muddled mind.
"At least I'm handsome," he muttered, staring at his reflection.
The youthful face looking back at him was frustratingly unfamiliar.
But then a realization hit him.
"Wait, do I still have to go to high school?"
The idea horrified him.
His new identity was that of a high school student.
"Getting up earlier? I just escaped the grind of adult life, and now I have to relive it?"
Fortunately, it was still summer vacation, giving him a bit of a buffer to adjust.
Ring!
W-what!?
The doorbell's sudden ring startled him.
Could it be someone who knew this body's predecessor.
After a moment to compose himself, he wiped his hands and went to answer the door.
On the other side stood a man and a girl.
The pair were strikingly attractive, even by Yukio's standards.
But their presence exuded an unpleasant air.
Especially the man, whose blonde hair and flashy suit screamed trouble.
The suit, paired with a white shirt left half-unbuttoned to reveal his chest, made him look like a gangster.
The girl beside him was just as eye-catching.
She had blonde hair styled in twin drills and wore a Gothic dress trimmed with lace.
"It's about time!" the man snapped impatiently.
"Who are you?" Yukio asked.
He searched his inherited memories but found no trace of these two.
The girl spoke more politely. "Excuse me, you must be Yukio Fujiwara?"
"Yes," he replied cautiously.
"How ordinary," she remarked, her dark blue eyes scanning him critically.
Yukio's brow twitched.
These two blonde-haired strangers didn't seem friendly.
"What did you expect?" the man sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.
"If you've got something to say, say it. Otherwise, leave," Yukio shot back.
He wasn't one to cater to others, especially uninvited guests with condescending attitudes.