Another day, another gamble. Kaito stared at his phone, the familiar glow of the Gacha game illuminating his tired face. The pull was a 50-50 chance, yet somehow, the odds always seemed stacked against him.
It hadn't always been like this. Once upon a time, he was just a casual player, but a certain friend had dragged him into the rabbit hole of Gacha games, and now... there was no way out.
He had downloaded countless Gacha games since then, his screen filled with icons of fantasy worlds, flashy heroes, and rare characters. The stories kept him hooked tales of triumph, heartbreak, and redemption. He laughed, cried, and shouted at characters who felt far too real.
But right now, Kaito was pulling for him, the redeemed villain. A meta support character, perfect for the upcoming archetype. His hands trembled as he hovered over the '10-Pull' button.
The screen flashed with brilliant colors. A rainbow animation—a sign of a 5-star pull. His heart pounded as the digital bus rolled into view, doors hissing open to reveal his fate.
One by one, low-rarity characters appeared useless duplicates, unwanted memories. And then... the final glow.
A dragon girl.
"NOOOOOOOO!" Kaito's wail echoed through his small apartment. His last chance, his last pull and it was gone. The banner would end tonight, and he'd walk away empty-handed. No currency. No meta support. Just... a fully maxed-out dragon girl healer staring back at him with pixelated smugness.
"Why... why haven't I won a single 50-50 this year?!" he groaned, throwing his head back onto his pillow. "Whatever... it's not like it matters."
With a resigned sigh, Kaito turned off his phone and wrapped himself in his blanket. The rain outside pounded against his window, a steady rhythm lulling him into stillness. Tomorrow was Christmas. He'd visit his family in the morning.
Living alone since the start of high school had been an adjustment, but he was managing. Or at least, he thought he was.
His phone buzzed.
At this hour? No one ever called him this late.
Curiosity got the better of him. He glanced at the screen, but before he could process the caller ID, a sharp pull yanked at his hand.
"What the—!?"
The phone screen glowed, a swirling vortex forming in its center. His hand was being sucked into the device. Panic set in as he pulled back, but the force only grew stronger.
"No, no, no this isn't real! This has to be a dream!"
But it wasn't.
With one final pull, Kaito disappeared entirely, leaving nothing behind in his dimly lit apartment.
The world was on fire.
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Wisteria Vale coughed as smoke filled her lungs, her body trapped under heavy debris. Flames crackled all around her, and the metallic stench of blood filled the air.
She was supposed to be dead.
The bombing had wiped out 80% of Chronos, an organization tasked with preventing human extinction. She wasn't supposed to be here she was just an extra, a filler name on a list. Her friend had died shielding her from the explosion, but it hadn't been enough.
Why was it always like this?
Her head drooped, and a hysterical laugh bubbled up in her throat. "Ha... haha..."
But then, out of nowhere a loud thud.
A figure crashed onto the scorched ground nearby, groaning in pain.
"I'm never touching a phone ever agai—" Kaito's voice trailed off as he took in the devastation around him. His eyes landed on Wisteria, and recognition hit him like a lightning bolt.
She wasn't just anyone. She was Wisteria Vale the protagonist of Fate/Grand Odyssey, the first gacha game he had ever played.
"Oh crap," he muttered. "Are you ok?."
Despite her failing strength, Wisteria's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Are... are you seriously asking if I'm okay... while I'm like this?"
Kaito stumbled forward, nearly tripping over rubble as he rushed to her side. "Hold on I can help. Just… stay awake, alright? Stay with me!"
For a moment, Wisteria stared into his panicked eyes eyes that didn't belong in this world.
"Who… are you?"
As the flames roared around them and the ruins of Chronos smoldered, Kaito realized one thing. He's in another world entirely.
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Illustrations for the character
Wisteria Vale
Kaito Suzuki