I was rejected. Rejected a thousand times.
I had nothing—no family, no friends, not even a pet to confide in. All I ever wanted was a girlfriend, someone to call my own, to share the loneliness that consumed me. But every time I asked someone out, I was met with the same cold, unyielding rejection. A thousand times.
I often asked myself, What is wrong with me? The question haunted me, echoing through the corridors of my mind. The weight of failure crushed me, and I couldn't bear it any longer.
So, I decided to end it all.
The rope dangled from my ceiling fan, swaying gently like a pendulum counting down the moments to my escape. The room, my small apartment with its paper-thin walls, seemed to mock me. The peeling paint on the walls, the cracked tiles on the floor, and the faint scent of mildew all felt like a rejection of my very existence.
I stood there, the stool beneath my feet trembling as though it, too, wanted to abandon me. The rope felt rough against my hands, its fibers digging into my skin as I fashioned the noose.
Taking a deep breath, I slipped the loop over my head and tightened it around my neck. The world seemed quieter, heavier, as though it was already mourning—or perhaps celebrating—my departure.
I hadn't paid rent in three months. The landlord would probably find my body, I thought, and at least ensure I had a proper burial. I'd left the door unlocked for him. A small mercy, perhaps.
"Goodbye, life," I whispered, anger and despair lacing my voice. "You've given me nothing but rejection."
With that, I kicked the stool away.
The rope tightened around my neck, stealing my breath. Darkness closed in, a strange, calming void that swallowed me whole.
When I opened my eyes, I wasn't in my apartment anymore.
Everything was white. A vast, infinite expanse of blinding whiteness surrounded me. I blinked, trying to make sense of it all.
Then, a voice broke the silence.
"Kage Ito-kun."
The voice was soft and melodic, like the sweetest of lullabies. I turned my head toward the sound and froze.
Standing before me was a woman, no—a vision. She had long, flowing white hair that shimmered like moonlight, and her eyes, scarlet, seemed to glow with an ethereal light. She was tall, maybe 5'9", with a figure that could make statues weep. Her ample curves, barely concealed by her elegant yet revealing gown, left me speechless. Her serene face radiated a calming warmth, and her smile—oh, that radiant smile—was enough to make me forget every sorrow I'd ever known.
"Nice to meet you, Kage-kun," she said, waving cheerfully. "I'm Sakurabana Tamayori, the Goddess of Soulmates."
I stumbled to my feet, eyes wide. "What? Goddess of Soulmates?"
She nodded, her smile unwavering. "That's right!"
I remembered then. I had hanged myself. The rope, the choking darkness… and now I was here.
"So… I died," I said, my voice trembling. A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I clutched my face. "I've had enough, and now it's all over."
Sakurabana's expression softened, her eyes filled with an almost maternal sadness. She stepped closer, wrapping her arms around me and pulling me into a hug. My face pressed against her chest, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt… calm.
"It's all right now," she said, her voice like a soothing melody. "Everything will be fine from here on out."
When she finally released me, we stood in silence for a moment, the weight of her words sinking in.
"You might be wondering why you're here instead of moving on to your afterlife," she said, breaking the quiet.
"Isn't it because I… died?" I asked, confusion evident in my tone.
"Well, yes… and no," she replied, a playful grin tugging at her lips.
"What do you mean?"
"You're not here to be judged," she explained, leaning in slightly, as though sharing a secret. "You're here because you're getting a second chance at life. And this time…" She paused dramatically, pointing at me. "You'll get a thousand girlfriends, Kage Ito-kun!"
"…What?" I stared at her, dumbfounded. "Don't joke about that. I've had enough already. And besides, didn't I already… die?"
"Who told you that you're dead?" she asked, tapping her chin thoughtfully.
"I hanged myself!" I shouted, desperation creeping into my voice.
"Relax," she said, waving a dismissive hand. "You'll understand everything once you wake up. But first…" She handed me a piece of paper.
It was a form.
The top read: Assigning Soulmates for Kage Ito.
Beneath it was my photo and a line that caught my eye. Number of Soulmates Assigned: 1000.
"What… What is this?" I stammered, my hands trembling.
"Well," she began, leaning closer, "there was a little mix-up when your soul was being assigned. Somehow, you ended up with a thousand soulmates."
"A thousand?" My voice cracked as I clutched my head. "Then why was I rejected all those times?"
"None of them were your soulmates," she said matter-of-factly, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"That's it? That's why I was rejected a thousand times?" I groaned.
"Well… yeah," she said, shrugging. "But let me ask you this: When did you first propose to someone?"
I hesitated, my face turning red. "It… It was the day after I was born," I admitted. "I was in the nursery, lying next to this cute girl. I asked her out, and she started crying."
The goddess blinked, then burst out laughing. "That's… That's a new one!"
"Whatever," I muttered, glaring at her. "If you're lying about all this, Let me kill you."
Her laughter stopped abruptly, and she took a nervous step back. "Let's… not go that far."
"How will I even know who my soulmates are?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"When soulmates meet, you'll both feel a spark—like electricity coursing through your bodies," she explained. "The girl will fall in love instantly, but for guys, it's more of a gradual realization."
I repeated, as I asked, "How do people with multiple soulmates manage?".
"That the thing. Most people don't have more that one or maybe none. It's a blessing to have even have a soulmate." She explained with a weird smile.
I sighed. "And if I don't choose all of them?"
Her expression darkened, her voice dropping to a whisper. "They'll face terrible fates until they die."
"What have you done to my life?" I shouted, panic rising in my chest.
"Sorry, no time to explain further!" she said quickly, leaning in to kiss me on the lips. My eyes widened in shock, but before I could protest, darkness overtook me once again.
I woke to the sound of beeping.
Opening my eyes, I saw the sterile white ceiling of a hospital room. An oxygen mask covered my face, and the faint scent of antiseptic lingered in the air.
"He's awake!" a voice called, and moments later, the same person, a nurse entered the room with a doctor following close behind.
As the nurse moved closer to check on me, our eyes met.
In that instant, I felt it—a jolt of electricity that coursed through my entire being.
Her face turned crimson, and I could tell she felt it, too.
Was she… one of them?
END OF CHAPTER : 1 : WHAT? I'LL GET A 1000 GIRLFRIENDS!