Have you ever felt like you made a mistake?

Unlike whitelies to get away from trouble or lazing around until the deadline; I meant the kind of mistake where a life or death situation is at stake. I made that kind of mistake today, I didn’t even realize we were surrounded.

The situation was very clear to my eyes…’certain death’ was coming. My friends and I are going to die but we weren’t ready for that yet, we were only high school students...the very thought of death quakes my very core. Should I just lie here and wait to be killed? No, not me. I’m different even if my hands are shaking, even if I can barely stand I refuse!!

And yet...we died, we were shot on the spot, the horrified look on the faces of my friends as bullets went through their flesh dancing in crimson red. It was horrible, and I knew there was no hope for me.

‘If god exists, please grant me another chance. If there is an afterlife...please…’ Hopeful thoughts went through my mind as I awaited my certain demise. I closed my eyes with serene peacefulness as the bullet went straight through my head, making my brain a gooey mess in the process.

I was covered in darkness, I couldn’t see anything, feel anything, nor can I hear, or smell anything...I just felt nothing. It was just me alone in this abyss. How long has it passed since then, seconds, minutes, hours, maybe days? I didn’t know anything but one thing was certain ‘I’m dead’.

“Just how long will you keep on sleeping?” A beautiful and oddly sweet voice said to me.

I opened my eyes. I was surprised at first...I mean shouldn’t I be dead? But I quickly regained my poise and looked around me. It was white, literally everything is white...I’m not kidding you, white stretched up to the horizon was there even a wall there to begin with?

“Are you awake?” I heard the voice again. When I looked at the direction of the mysterious voice I saw a tall woman with curly golden locks of hair and skin white as snow. If there was a word that can describe her it was ‘beautiful’...wait are you a goddess?! Hmm...maybe she is? Anyway, my friends were also with me sitting on the ground they’re all already awake. Wait, were they waiting for me to wake up? That’s embarrassing!!

Well...anyway after that scandal about me...the goddess started talking again. “I’m afraid to explain that you all have died a gruesome death. I believe I don’t have to remind you of that?” She asked us, of course we all nod.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Then the goddess stroked her hair, thinking to herself before she exclaimed. “To put it in simpler terms, because of your untimely deaths I have decided to reincarnate you. Alright? Right,” She asks, answering her own question...at least she’s more useful than a certain water goddess…

“So!” She clapped her hands together. “Getting a second chance isn’t free you know? Nope, No, and No!” Actually I take it back...she’s beginning to sound like a certain blue thing. “As reincarnations who hold otherworldly knowledge I task you to sow the seeds of freedom. Please note that if conflicts don’t cease and end up getting worse; the world will end up in anarchy, with humans killing each other for pleasure, money, fame, and power,” She says in a more serious tone than usual, although...I still don’t wanna listen to the goddess.

I know the situation is serious, but when someone is talking that kind of way I can’t help but to not take her seriously. Anyway, I’ll start calling her ‘yellow thing’ from now on, is that okay? Okay.

 “I will give you new names in symbol of your new life and journey…” The yellow thing then grins at us, laughing like ‘fufufufu’. Seriously if I can jump kick her  right now I would…a certain master taught me that whatever the social standing I should be ready to drop kick them. Wait...I’m not coming off as rude right? I’m not an otaku right? Wait...am I, wait no I’m not!

Okay? Okay? Okay.

“Your selfishness has gotten innocent lives killed, and for that you will be named, ‘Shiina’ from now on,” The yellow thing points at me with a stupid grin on her face. I promise you, those bulging veins on my forehead are your imagination. It’s not because I’m so pissed with the power of a thousand laundry cleaners right now, okay? It’s definitely not.

Now...hear this, I don’t know why I’m happy about this. Maybe I’ve gone crazy? I don’t know but I’m somehow excited to become a girl. Probably the yellow thing’s doing. I’m not sure though...but you’re betting that I’m angry!! And it's not because I let my guard down right? It’s not because I’m sad right? And it's not because I’m crazy either!

Okay? Okay? Okay.

I laugh in silence. My face contorted into such a sulky emotion of despair, that I’m not even kidding!! That a dark smoke-like aura is giving away from me...or maybe it's just my imagination…”But...why a girls name?” I asked in a happy yet melancholy voice.

“Genderswap,” The yellow thing answered. “Hmmm...maybe for disguise?” Now, now, I’m pretty sure that my eyes aren’t flaming with rage right? I mean it's just my imagination, the proof is that my friends obviously don’t notice it right? I mean look at their faces, sure they look a bit scared but that’s probably normal right? Not because I look like a dragon right?

Okay? Okay? Okay.

So...I have a big red bump on top of my head now. It's also kind of hurting a bit, but I ignore the pain and continue listening to the goddess. I don't wanna come off as rude you know? I mean, who would be stupid enough to think badly of a god right in front of them? Definitely not me though.

Anyway lapsed in thought, the very beautiful goddess. Please don’t hit me. Finally finished naming my two friends. They were named “Asao” and “Yui”.

My vision was filled with white again, but obviously the bright kind of white. I’m kind of scared...or maybe not? Anyway, as my consciousness starts to fade I can see the goddess waving us off with a warm smile on her face. Oh and Yui was very pumped up saying something like, “Time to get the party started!!” or something along those lines.