Shirai Jouya is just another 19-year-old college student, fighting to stay awake in his summer class. Today's heat makes it even harder for him to concentrate as he constantly has to wipe off his sweat from his forehead.

The broken air conditioning had turned the classroom into an oven, and each word that came out from the professor's monotone lecture buzzed in his ears like static. Sweat dripped from his forehead, pooling on his notebook as the dim lights flickered.

Outside, the blazing sun was mocking him, casting sharp rays through the window.

Just kill me already! Jouya thought.

Professor's lecture was about mythological creatures and ancient art, but the topic took a weird shift after the professor showed the class a picture of an old symbol using the projector:

"Hey look, the symbol from the new isekai anime! What was its name again?" The student said to his friend, pointing at the board.

"HoHoHo! Excuse me, but did you say isekai?!" The professor's tone completely changed from monotonous to a melodic and playful one.

What the hell..?! Jouya focused at the professor, having a disgusted expression..

"Ah.. y-yes?" The student replied confused and creeped out over professor's change.

"You are indeed correct! This symbol does appear in ‘Tada no isekai monogatari', originating from the ancient symbol of ouroboros!"

"H-huh?! Yeah, that's it! I didn't expect our professor to know that!" The student changed from creeped out to excited.

"Hohoho! you see... I LOVE anime, especially isekai!" Professor said, extending his arms sideways.

"Isekai anime are so.. soo intriguing! They make every atom in my body vibrate from excitement!" The professor hugged himself, reaching in an extatic state, his whole body was trembling and shaking, his voice too!

"Damn, the heat must've fried the professor’s brain for good!" Jouya mumbled to himself, having a tired look on his face, eyes looking on the side while his mouth became a small circle pinned on the side of his face.

And while half of the class was grossed out due to the professor's whole act, the other half was thrilled, engaging in discussions and debates with him about the best isekai anime of all time and exchanging opinions on their anime taste.

Jouya started growing increasingly bored with the conversation that was going on at the moment. The combination of the scorching heat along with the boring dialogue echoing inside the classroom felt like torture to him.

First it was the heat now this..

He grumbled, but then a sudden breeze broke through the window, making Jouya’s brown bangs wave through the air gently.

Aaah... finally, some justice!

Jouya slowly closed his eyes, embracing the cool air brushing against him.His mind drifted to the thought of cold watermelon and icy air conditioning waiting for him back home.

Once the breeze weakened, he opened his eyes and took a look at the clock on the wall.

Only twenty minutes left, hang in there! Jouya tried to hype himself up.

His mind wandered once again, only this time to the plans he had for the evening: meeting up with his childhood friends Chihaya and Kouta in Shibuya around 6:00 PM.

After a whole year, I’m finally going to see them again. I feel like I haven’t seen them in ages!

Jouya thought, and soon a big smile was carved in his face at the thought of seeing them again.

A sudden noise snapped him out of his daydream. The professor had slammed his book on the desk, signaling the end of the lecture.

"Be sure to get home safely and watch out when crossing the road unless you want to get isekai'd, Hohoho!~" the professor said in a melodic and playful tone, winking at the class.

I need to get out of here fast!

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Jouya thought, quickly packing his bag and leaving the classroom as fast as he could.

As he stepped outside the college building, the intense heat along with the strong sunlight smacked him in the face like a truck.

“Man, this heat is really getting on my nerves today!” Jouya mumbled, irritated, shielding his eyes from the harsh sunlight.

After stopping by a convenience store for a cold drink, Jouya made his way back to his small, cluttered apartment.

He had moved out of his parents’ house shortly after starting university and now lived on his own in a small apartment on the fifth floor, with a clear view of Tokyo.

The inside, however, was a chaotic mess, filled with textbooks, manga, his vast collection of half-naked anime figurines and empty instant-noodle cups scattered across every surface. Jouya though, was completely unfazed, it was his safe place and nobody could tell him what to do and how to do it.

"Ahhh, I’m finally back to my cool, sweet cave where no stupid sun can enter" he said, kissing the wall and slowly closing the door behind him.

He kicked off his shoes and undressed himself in a flash, leaving his clothes on the floor.Jouya rushed to the fridge, grabbing some "melon-sticks", a creation of his own involving toothpicks stuck into triangular watermelon slices.

After a quick snack, he collapsed onto his futon feeling his stomach full and heavy.

He reached for the remote on the low table next to him, turning on the air conditioning and letting out a sigh of relief as the cool air hit him.

"Ohh, yes... feels like heaven!" he muttered in an ecstatic tone.

He browsed his phone, with the clock showing 2:35 PM, as he then set an alarm for 4:45 PM.

"Alright! That should be enough for a power nap before heading out!" He murmured, tossing the phone aside and lying down.

The moment his head hit the pillow, he was out like a baby. The dream came almost immediately. Jouya found himself floating in an endless black void, weightless and unable to move.It was eerily silent.

Where am I..?

Jouya scanned his surroundings for clues while trying to move.Suddenly, glowing red symbols began appearing around him, casting a dim light.

"Aah! What's this?!" Jouya watched the symbols flickering around him as he started becoming nervous.

There were dozens of them, with stars on the inside and other triangular shapes, surrounded by a variation of unknown lines resembling letters.

Suddenly, the echo of a male voice calling his name in the distance could be heard as it came closer.

“Shirai Jouya…”He turned his head around, trying to locate the source of the voice.

"H-Hello...who’s there?" he called out in fear shaking and trying to move his body in an attempt to free himself.

"L-Let...me..go!" Jouya kept struggling to move but with no success.. he was completely locked in place, floating.

Jouya immediately stopped upon hearing the voice again.. This time louder, with words that didn't make any sense to him.

The words echoing didn't sound like any language here on earth. His heart raced and cold sweat ran through his body, he was paralyzed in fear.

He began panicking, focusing all of his willpower and strength into escaping from this situation.

I need to get.. out of here.. NOW!

Soon cracks of light began appearing all over the place followed by blinding bursts that beamed through the fissures.

The echoes of the strange language drowned by the light until they faded completely.

Everything had now turned to white. A feeling of clarity and bliss surged through Jouya, until he heard that voice yet again, this time closer, softer, as if someone whispered gently into his ear:

“Bit by bit you will find your true self again...”

Jouya jolted from his sleep, his heart racing. He was back in his apartment, drenched in sweat. He took a quick look around him but no one was there..

"What the hell was that..?!" he muttered, breathing heavily..

"I'm sure I've heard someone whisper in my ear just now.."He took a moment trying to process and explain what he'd just experienced.

He was completely spaced out, recalling the phrase he heard having a blank stare and his eyes wide open. Soon he noticed the alarm sound as his phone kept buzzing loudly on the floor this whole time.

Upon grabbing his phone, he noticed something that changed his flow of thoughts dramatically.

"WHAAAT?? 5:40PM?! Crap, crap crap!! I overslept!" Jouya yelled as he quickly jumped up. He rushed onto the sink, splashed water on his face, and changed into his red t-shirt along with black jeans in a flash.Grabbing his phone and wallet, he rushed out of the apartment, murmuring as he was wearing his shoes .

"You stupid metallic junk! You've failed to wake me up once again! I didn't even choose that sound to begin with! Next time you'll find yourself in the trash where you belong!"

Jouya had a habit of naming his belongings and interacting with them as if they had their own personalities, a quirk he'd had since childhood.

It was his way of making his life a little more entertaining and perhaps putting the blame for his irresponsibility on inanimate objects.

He was rushing to the metro station, which wasn't really far from his home when a flashy street ad caught his attention.It was yet another promo of a trending isekai anime. Jouya rolled his eyes in disgust.

Oh wow! Another isekai anime can you believe that?

Jouya carries a strong hate for isekai anime, as he finds the whole concept silly and repetitive overshadowing better anime that often go unnoticed.

First the professor, now this, is there any other isekai thing I'm gonna bump into today?

Upon reaching the platform rushing, he suddenly slips and finds himself floating over the gap for a brief moment, only for the train to find him as well a few seconds later, hitting him and putting an end to his life in a brutal way...

...Or at least that's what flashed through his mind while waiting for his ticket.

What the hell am I thinking?! I can't even have peace inside my own head now..?

Jouya thought trying to refocus on getting to the platform safely and in time.

Upon reaching the platform he found the train arriving just in time.

"Phew.." he sighed in relief while entering the train.

His imagination wasn't even close to what actually happened.

The train ride was unusually quiet despite being crowded. Jouya's mind was racing trying to come up with an excuse for his tardiness.

Aahh! I can't think of anything, Chihaya will kill me! ..I need to come up with something fast!

Jouya is known to be late in most of their meet ups and Chihaya is also known for teasing and scolding him for that.

While squeezing his brain trying to find an excuse, he recalled his dream and the words echoed again:

Bit by bit you will find your true self again..

Cold sweat ran through Jouya's skin as he stood still to the thought of his dream.

Come to think about it, I remember every bit of the dream, it was oddly vivid as if I wasn't dreaming at all...

Jouya appeared to be troubled trying to figure out the meaning of his dream but soon a loud beep interrupted his thoughts.

A woman's voice announced the next station being Shibuya, pulling him back to reality as the train was about to arrive.

Ugh.. Anyway! I don't have time for this, perhaps my mind got traumatized by today's heat and that crazy professor.

Jouya shook his head to come back to his senses and despite the lingering unease caused by his dream, he couldn’t help but feel a rush of excitement. The promise of a fun evening with his childhood friends has completely pushed the strange experience to the back of his mind.

As the train pulled into Shibuya Station, Jouya took a deep breath, bracing himself for Chihaya's scolding.

Alright here we go..

As he stepped out of the station, squinting at the bright evening sun, he scanned the bustling crowds of Shibuya for his friends.

Although he was filled with excitement , something felt strange, but he couldn’t quite figure out what it was.

Was it the heat? The dream? Or just the fact that he was late?

In the meantime, somewhere in the depths of the universe, a divine entity was about to make a very crucial mistake.

Perhaps his instincts might've been correct after all..