Chapter 9: A Once in an Afterlife Opportunity

The fluorescent lights in the room dimmed and the presentation screen flickered to life. Abeona selected the necessary files on her tablet. A file marked ‘Project Isekai’.

The room was immediately filled with bombastic Japanese music. Clips Abeona had taken from the various Isekai anime Tezuka had provided her.

As she began, Abeona struck a dramatic pose, extending out her arm as if beckoning her audience. “Ladies, Gentlemen and Others, I am here to introduce you to my revolutionary idea. Don’t miss out on this once in an afterlife opportunity to offer what is the most requested new afterlife service in centuries. Over fifty thousand requests and counting.”

She continued, completely immersed in her role as presenter, throwing out one flamboyant gesture after another. “Imagine it, a human soul, struck down in the prime of their life.”,

The video screen behind her showed a series of clips of animated characters dying. Unnoticed by Abeona, her sister was watching though her fingers in shame. Yet she couldn’t help but notice an extraordinary number of these cartoons involved people getting run over by trucks.

“An existence cut tragically short,” Abeona dramatically held the back of her hand to her forehead. “But there is hope for these poor unfortunate souls, the ones who yearn for a life of adventure they never had.”

The screen behind her transitioned to a series of increasingly bizarre images. A large elaborately dressed skeleton on an imposing throne. A man with a green cloak and shield, accompanied by a human-raccoon hybrid on a cart pulled by a giant white bird. A modern vending machine in an otherwise historical town.

“By giving these souls, the option to reincarnate in another world, they can finally live the magical fantasy adventure they have yearned for, complete with amazing superpowers and unique abilities.” She chirped as the footage continued to play.

“So don’t delay, don’t let one more soul pass through the afterlife without the option to experience a thrilling reincarnation into another world!” Abeona threw a mixture of confetti and glitter into the air. As she did, one final clip behind her, showed a girl in red and black unleashing a gigantic explosion.

For the first time, Abeona paid attention to her audience’s reactions. One of Janus’s dual expressions, which was on the face observing Abeona, was unreadable. The other face sported an amused grin while looking at Adiona.

Abeona watched as her sister sat, silent and shaking. “Wow, she must have been really impressed by my presentation” Abeona thought proudly to herself.

“IS THIS SOME KIND OF JOKE?!” Adiona erupted in outrage, while picking bits of glitter out her hair.

Abeona tilted her head in confusion, “What do you mean?”

Regaining her composure, Adiona’s anger shifted from explosively hot, to a chilling cold fury. “What you just pitched is the most reckless, head in the clouds, ludicrous idea I’ve ever heard.”

“Thank you” Abeona gave a bow

“That wasn’t a compliment.” Adiona threw back, her contempt for her sister scheme was simmering. “Have you given even a moment's thought to the logistics of what you are proposing?”

“Since worlds like the ones shown in Isekai anime already exist, it should be simple to...” Abeona started.

Adiona interrupted, massaging her temple. “Simple?” She gave a hollow laugh. “Simple?! You’re talking about dropping people into a world they don’t belong in. Do you have ANY idea how that could impact those worlds?”

“I...” Abeona tried to argue, as a loud bang cut her off.

Her sister had slammed both her hands on the desk dividing them. “What’s more you want to grant them superpowers too? You know just to increase odds of a catastrophic outcome, are you insane?”

“I just... I just... want to give people what they want...” Abeona stammered as she tried to hold back her tears.

“Well, your little ‘Isekai Project’ will NEVER be greenlit,” Adiona promised.

“ADIONA! That is not your call to make.” The two voices of Janus once more spoke in sync. Until now he had stayed silently observing the two sister’s debate, but now, he seemed poised to cast his judgements.

“Yes sir, of course, please forgive my lapse in conduct Sir.” Adiona lowered her head in reverence of her boss.

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The face of Janus that faced Abeona spoke first “I am in two minds about this proposal”.

Abeona muttered to herself a touch too audibly. “No surprise, you’re always in two minds about everything...”

Adiona seemed to be trying to hide behind her hands once more, clearly horrified by her sister’s lack of tact. She felt Janus second face’s eyes bore into her as he stared in both directions.

The second face began speaking in its softer tone, “Adiona has raised some extremely valid concerns”.

The first face then took over the discussion. “Yet I admire the bold vision Abeona has put forth, her passion is clear”.

Janus’s two faces began conversing between themselves in words neither sister could recognise or understand. It didn’t match any known tongue. It was Janus’s own unique language; one he’d constructed specifically for discussions solely between his own faces.

Both goddesses waited, their divided hearts now beating in tandem, as each hoped Janus’s judgement would go their way.

After what felt like eternity to the pair of sisters, Janus’s first face resumed talking in regular understandable speech.

“We... rather, I have decided, this ‘Project Isekai’ shall...” he paused Each face took a moment watching the respective sisters. Relishing the tension in their expressions in the moment before he cast his verdict.

“Shall be permitted” Janus’s second face finally confirmed”.

Adiona was practically catatonic with shock, slumping to the floor holding her head. “No... it’s impossible”.

“YES!” Abeona cried out in delight, breaking into a victory dance. Which was quickly halted when Janus raised his hand.

“Let us... I mean, let me finish” the first face insisted.

“It will be permitted for a trial period only... with additional restrictions,” Janus’s second face clarified.

Abeona’s dancing immediately ceased, “Trial period... restrictions?”

“Yes, don’t worry you will be assisted by one of the departments most reliable and trusted supervisors.” Janus’s softer voice reassured.

“Who?” Abeona shifted nervously as the face pointing towards her smiled. She had a sinking feeling that she already knew the answer.

“Project Isekai will be overseen by...” Janus’s two faces paused for dramatic effect once again.

“These dramatic pauses are getting old” muttered Abeona, once more, probably a little too loudly for her own good.

“Adiona!” The more booming voice of the first head eventually declared.

Adiona was just coming out of her dazed state, having missed everything that had proceeded the initial announcement. “Yes, what is it Sir?”

Both faces of Janus spoke in unison once more. “You, Adiona, will oversee the progress of Project Isekai.”

Now it was the two sister’s turn to speak in tandem “WHAT?!”

Janus continued to talk in stereo. “Adiona will be in charge of determining the scope and restrictions of the project and ensuring it operates safely. Abeona will be responsible for the project's execution within the decreed terms”.

“So.. I essentially get to decide how the project is run?”. Adiona asked, with a devious grimace.

“Yes, that is correct.” Janus’s first face confirmed.

“But be warned, open sabotage of the project, or your sister’s efforts will not be tolerated”. The second face cautioned.

“We... *ahem*” Janus cleared his throat and corrected himself. “I have spoken, Abeona, with your passion, and Adiona, with your caution. I expect this project to yield some interesting results. With that Janus stood up and began to leave the meeting room.

“Hey! HEY! Janus wait... don’t I get any say in this? Like at all?” Abeona tried to get the god’s attention, but it was too late. Janus was gone. Abeona hammered her fist on the door “Damn it”.

“Well dear sister” Adiona picked herself off the floor and straightened her suit, regaining her usual air of smug superiority. “Looks like you got your way”.

“Got my way” Abeona baulked. “If I got my way you wouldn’t be allowed within one hundred miles of my Isekai Project.

“Yet I’m in charge of it” laughed Adiona. “Believe me I dislike the situation as much as you do.

Abeona rolled her eyes, her voice oozing sarcasm. “Oh yeah, you’re clearly not enjoying this one bit.”

“Just making the best of a bad situation.” Adiona walked up to stand face to face with her sister. “Now let's talk restrictions, shall we?”

Waiting in silence, every muscle in Abeona’s body locked up in anticipation of what handicaps her sister would impose on her.

“Since this is a new venture, I suggest we keep the initial sample size small.” Abeona put her tablet pen to her lips. “I noticed a lot of the people being struck by trucks in the clips you presented.”

“Yes, I don’t know why, but it’s quite a common Isekai trope”. Abeona bit her lip hard, wondering where her sister was going with this.

“Then why don’t we make it so only those who are hit by large trucks get the option to be ‘Isekaied’ during the trial period?” Adiona suggested, a hint of patronising slyness in her voice. “That way those lucky souls will get the full, authentic experience you’re so desperate to give them”.

Abeona was aghast at the proposal. “You can’t be serious?”

Adiona squared up to her sister, “I’m absolutely serious.” She stared unblinkingly with a cool gaze. “What’s more, if you don’t get enough satisfied souls within the next year, I won’t hesitate to shut down your foolhardy scheme.”

Abeona began to well up. “You’re not playing fair! Do you know how few people are hit and killed by large trucks on earth”.

With a few taps on her tablet Adiona brought up some statistics “Around five to six thousand, although we’ll only count pedestrians, which account for around eleven percent of that number.”

Abeona was fighting to hold back the tears that were threatening to brim over. “Why only pedestrians?”

“Like I explained earlier dear sister, you want those poor souls to have the full authentic Isekai experience.” Adiona preened smgly. “Let's see, if you can get one thousand satisfied souls within the next year, Project Isekai can proceed beyond the trial period.”

“But ten percent of six thousand is only six hundred!” Abeona bawled. “Why are you being so unreasonable?”

Adiona was unaffected by her sister’s crying. “I’m giving you a long overdue dose of reality. So, are you gonna give up this ridiculous notion?” she challenged.

“No” declared Abeona firmly standing by her conviction.

Back in the present, the memory, which had been playing as a projection in Wheeler’s headlights, now began to grow hazy, before cutting out completely.