“You! Hey!”

Fujimi blinked in surprise as the pink-haired girl called out to him. Her heterochromatic eyes were somehow familiar, yet he was certain they had never met.

“Hey you, with the sulky face!” she said, placing her hands on her hips. “Why the loooong look, huh? Lose your puppy or somethin’?”

Fujimi regarded her warily. Despite the friendly tone, her posture seemed…off. He noticed one hand lingering near her pocket.

“Um, no, I’m fine,” he muttered. “Just didn’t have any luck with the gacha machines.”

“Aww, what a shame!” the girl exclaimed with exaggerated sympathy. “Those things are soooo rigged anyway. But hey, maybe I can help turn that frown upside down!”

She sidled closer, giving Fujimi a playful nudge. He instinctively moved to block his wallet.

“Oh don’t be like that!” she pouted. “Tell ya what, let your new pal Yira hook you up.” She leaned in conspiratorially. “I just got the hot scoop on a new machine. Top secret exclusive stuff!”

Fujimi hesitated, suspicious of her overly-familiar manner. But his curiosity won out. “What kind of machine?”

Yira’s grin widened. “It’s called the Hyperion Helix.” She waved her hands mystically. “Legend says it came straight from the Gacha Gods. One spin there will sort your life out for sure!”

Despite himself, Fujimi felt a spark of hope. A divine gacha machine? Could this be the miracle he had been waiting for?

Yira must have noticed his sudden interest. “Sooo, you wanna give it a go or what?” Without waiting for a reply, she looped her arm in his and began leading him down the street.

As they walked, Fujimi’s analytical mind reasserted itself. Where was she taking him? How did she know about this machine? And why did she seem so eager to “help” a random stranger? He subtly tried to free himself from her grip.

Yira tightened her hold. “Almost there, just around this corner!” She increased their pace.

They turned into a deserted side street. Fujimi’s eyes narrowed - he knew this area had a reputation for muggings.

“The machine’s riiiiight down here in this alley,” Yira assured him. Too late, Fujimi spotted the waiting figures lurking in shadow.

“Well, well, what do we have here Yira?” leered one of the thugs, cracking his knuckles. “Looks like you brought us a little present.”

Fujimi hastily backed away, but Yira clung to his arm. “Easy pickings,” she smirked, her friendly facade vanishing. “Fork over the cash and you don’t get hurt, kid.”

Trapped, Fujimi froze. How could he have let this happen? Some analytical thinker he was! Hot shame washed over him at being so easily duped.

As the men closed in, Fujimi closed his eyes, willing himself somewhere - anywhere - else. But the expected blows never landed. Instead, a sudden wind whipped through the alley, smelling strangely of ozone.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Cautiously, Fujimi opened his eyes. Yira and the thugs were gone. In their place stood a robed figure, face obscured by a hood. Glowing sigils floated around their hands.

“W-who are you?” Fujimi stammered. “Where did they go?”

“I have sent them away for now,” the figure intoned. Their voice was resonant, yet androgynous. “As for myself, I am known as Rheon, a Guide.”

Fujimi struggled to understand. “A guide? For what?”

“For you, Fujimi Furi,” said Rheon. They extended a sigil-wreathed hand. “Your awakening begins now.”

Mind reeling, Fujimi took their hand reflexively. His vision swam with prismatic colors. When it cleared, he found himself somewhere new - a chamber whose walls were lined with flickering control panels.

Rheon stood before him, lowering their hood. Fujimi stifled a gasp. Rheon’s face shifted continuously - male, female, other permutations unfurling in a hypnotic cycle.

“What is this place? What’s happening?” Fujimi demanded. Panic tinged his voice.

“Be calm,” Rheon murmured. Their voice remained steady as their face continued morphing seamlessly. “All will be explained.”

They waved a hand and a display lit up, showing footage of Fujimi’s mundane life from his initial arrival in this strange world.

“I still don’t understand,” Fujimi protested. “This looks like surveillance of me!”

Rheon shook their head. “Not surveillance. Memories.”

“Memories? What are you talking about?”

Rheon’s kaleidoscopic eyes met Fujimi’s. “What is the last thing you remember before arriving here?”

Fujimi thought back. “I was…going to sleep I think. In my normal bedroom.”

Rheon nodded. “And when you awoke, your world had transformed?”

“Yes, into some freakish future.” Fujimi gestured helplessly. “Where am I really?”

“You are here,” replied Rheon gently. They changed the display to show Fujimi’s sleeping body in his normal room, monitored by medical devices.

Fujimi froze. “Wait, is that…me? What is this?!”

“Please listen carefully,” Rheon said. “You are currently in a digitally-induced coma. This world you have experienced is a virtual realm - a cognitive exercise.”

Fujimi stared in disbelief. “A virtual world? You’re saying none of this is real?”

Rheon shook their head. “It is real in concept. A training simulation, preparing you for what may come. You have a great destiny ahead, if you awaken to it.”

Fujimi’s mind raced, trying to process this. He thought back through all the bizarre occurrences since he had arrived. Could it really have all been just a simulation? It had felt so real…

As if reading his thoughts, Rheon changed the display again. Now it showed Fujimi’s brain activity - including the implant feeding his consciousness these virtual experiences.

Fujimi grasped his head. “This can’t be happening. It doesn’t make any logical sense!”

“You must move beyond logic alone,” Rheon said gently. “Your rational mind rejects what it cannot comprehend. But your heart knows truth.”

Still reeling, Fujimi leaned against a wall for support. This revelation had left his worldview shattered.

Rheon placed a steadying hand on his shoulder. “All will become clear in time. For now, return and reflect. When you are ready, I will find you again.”

Their form began glowing with sigils. As reality blurred around him, Fujimi cried out, “Wait, I still have so many questions!”

But Rheon simply smiled enigmatically. “Until next time…”

Fujimi’s eyes snapped open. He was sitting on the transit pod, other passengers oblivious as always. Had he just dozed off? But no - his racing heart confirmed it had been more than a mere dream.

Shaken, Fujimi stared out the window unseeing as the pod glided on. None of this made rational sense. Yet the gnawing intuition in his heart told him Rheon had spoken the truth.

Exiting the pod in a daze, Fujimi ambled home, his mind descending into a spiral of existential doubt. Inside, he picked at his dinner, ignoring his family’s concerned questions until they gave up, assuming teen sullenness.

Finally alone, Fujimi collapsed into bed, willing sleep to return him to comforting ignorance. But none came.

Staring up at the darkened ceiling, he realized rational resistance was futile. However impossible it seemed, he had to expand his beliefs about reality.

There were mysteries here beyond facts and logic. To awaken to his destiny, Fujimi first had to open his mind.

With newfound determination, he sat up. He may not understand this world, but one thing was certain: it was time to start living consciously within it.