Rintaro Kazakaru sat in his dimly lit room, surrounded by stacks of books and a clutter of empty food wrappers. Once, he loved going outside, but those days were long behind him. Now, his life revolved around novels, games, and the four walls of his apartment.

In the background, the television droned on about another missing person. It was a recurring event in Japan: every five years, five to ten people vanished without a trace. The authorities had no leads, no evidence, no answers. Online, conspiracy theories swirled—some claiming a man in a skull mask was behind it. But to Rintaro, they were just stories.

He sighed, glaring at the game over screen on his monitor.

"Damn it! I failed the game again. What's the point of playing if I can't win?" he muttered, slamming his mouse onto the desk. Standing up, he stumbled over a pile of books on the floor.

"Ugh, no food today either, huh?" he said, rubbing his head and glancing toward the empty kitchen. "Imagine if I were the protagonist in one of my novels. I'd have two cute girls making me dinner right now. But no, my parents couldn't care less, and my only friend..." His voice trailed off as he caught himself.

Rintaro opened the fridge, only to be greeted by emptiness. "Damn it, I really forgot to buy food, didn't I?" He slammed the fridge door shut. "It's not my fault. How can I blame myself when my own parents refuse to care about me?"

Grabbing his jacket from the chair, he walked toward the closet, filled with stacks of his favorite books. Titles like I Went to Another World as a Dog and other random isekai stories lined the shelves. As he rummaged through the closet to find his sweatpants, a book fell from the top and hit him on the head.

"Ow! What the—oh, it's you," Rintaro said, picking up the book. "My favorite book, featuring my favorite main character, S."

He hugged the book tightly. "S is the best protagonist of all time." Placing it back on the shelf, he pulled on his sweatpants and headed out.

"I remember when I was good at everything," Rintaro mumbled as he walked through the streets. "Good grades, lots of friends... but all that's in the past now. None of it matters anymore. The moment I get isekai'd, everything will change. I'll finally be the protagonist, the hero, the one with a purpose."

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Reaching a small convenience store, he browsed the shelves and grabbed some apples and bread. As he paid, he caught a glimpse of a news alert on the shopkeeper's phone.

"Another missing person, huh? I wonder why it keeps happening," Rintaro thought aloud. "If only I could investigate it myself..."

The shopkeeper handed him his change. "Thank you! Come again," he said, watching Rintaro leave.

Standing by the crosswalk, Rintaro stared at the passing cars. "Just wait," he said, clenching his fists. "The second I get isekai'd, it'll be the best day of my life. I'll be the protagonist—the main character!" He let out a loud, almost maniacal laugh, startling the shopkeeper, who peeked out the window.

"What's that kid doing?" the shopkeeper muttered.

But as Rintaro stood at the crosswalk, he felt a sudden presence behind him. Though he couldn't see it, we, the readers, could. A dark figure loomed behind him, smiling cruelly. Its eyes—or rather, the empty, glowing white voids where eyes should have been—gleamed like pure malice. It was a shadow made manifest, and its aura was suffocating.

Rintaro froze, his body stiff. It felt like death itself was breathing down his neck.

"Hey," he called out, his voice trembling. "Is someone there?"

Turning slightly, he saw nothing but the empty street. Shaking his head, he looked back toward the crosswalk.

And then— boom!

His world went dark.

Rintaro's head hit the ground, and as his consciousness faded, he caught a glimpse of his own body crumpling to the pavement. He wanted to scream, but no sound came out. His mind raced with questions, but they were silenced by an overwhelming void.

The shopkeeper screamed, staring at the horrific scene outside. "How did his head—what the hell just happened?"

Rintaro's vision faded completely, leaving him in absolute darkness. When he opened his eyes again, he was no longer in the familiar streets of Japan.

Instead, he stood in an otherworldly realm. It was a place of utter desolation, lit only by an eerie, pale light. The air felt heavy, oppressive, and filled with an unshakable sense of dread.

Before him stood two towering figures, each radiating an overwhelming presence. One was cloaked in shadows, its form shifting and intangible—the God of Death. The other was surrounded by a radiant glow, its face calm and composed—the God of Life.

"Welcome, Rintaro Kazakaru," the God of Death said, its voice like a thousand whispers and roars combined.

"You stand in the Realm of the Gods," the God of Life added, their tone soft yet commanding.

And so began Rintaro Kazakaru's journey to another world.