When Kiyoshiro regained consciousness, he immediately knew something was wrong. The darkness around him was different from before. It was not cold or empty, instead, it had an unusual depth, as if it gently enveloped him.
He blinked. His body felt light, almost weightless.
"Where... am I?" he murmured, but his voice echoed into the emptiness.
Suddenly, a clear, soothing voice spoke. "You stand at the threshold between life and death. But this is not your end."
Before him appeared a being radiating in soft, golden light. A woman, or rather, a goddess. Her long, flowing robes shimmered like the night sky, and her eyes sparkled like stars.
"I am Elara," she introduced herself. "The goddess of another world."
Kiyoshiro blinked in confusion. He was no longer on the rain-soaked street. Not in the gray city he knew so well.
"Am I... dead?" he asked hesitantly.
Elara gently shook her head. "Not yet. Your body lies in a coma, trapped between the worlds. But I can offer you a second chance."
Kiyoshiro slowly sat up. Unlike what he had expected, he did not feel weak or injured.
"A second chance? How is that possible?"
"My world is on the brink," Elara explained with a serious expression. "And I need someone like you."
He furrowed his brow. "Someone like me? What does that mean?"
"You've proven that you have courage. That you stand up for what's right, even when you're afraid." A soft smile played on her lips. "That's why I'm offering you this."
Kiyoshiro looked at her skeptically. "And what if I refuse?"
Elara tilted her head slightly. "Then your life ends here and now. But if you accept, you will be reborn in my world. With a new purpose."
His heart raced. A new world? A new life?He thought back to his old life, the loneliness, the insignificance. And yet... was it really that simple?
"And what exactly do I have to do?" he finally asked.
"Four fallen angels have descended into my world," Elara said with a grim look. "They've broken the seal that once kept the demons at bay. Now they rage with new power, bringing destruction to the land. If you restore peace, I will give you the chance to return to your old world."
Kiyoshiro swallowed. It sounded... completely absurd. And yet, what did he have to lose?He clenched his fists. "I accept."
"So it shall be. I will influence your birth as much as I can to increase your chances of success."
Suddenly, everything began to glow. The light became so intense that Kiyoshiro could see nothing anymore. Then, silence. A darkness, deep and endless, surrounded him. But this time, it was different. It wasn't cold, it wasn't empty. It was warm. Safe.
A dull sound reached his ears. A rhythmic, steady beating.
Then he heard a voice. Gentle, full of love.
"Hello, Sota. I am your mother."
Slowly, his eyes opened. The first thing he saw was the face of a woman. She had gentle, tired eyes and a warm smile. Beside her stood a broad-shouldered man, gazing at him with a proud look.
And then his gaze fell upon the boy. He was no older than a toddler, maybe three or four years old. He had dark, wild hair and large eyes. The child stepped closer, leaned forward slightly, and looked at him curiously.
Then he smiled. "He's so small..."
Tentatively, he reached out a hand, as if to touch him, but then pulled it back.
The mother laughed softly. "Shiro, this is your little brother Sota."
A new life has begun.