Hi hi, Nanashikun here, Kuma!

I already posted a chapter of Two students today and I promised to post the first chapter of IWABWY, Kuma.

Here it is, Kuma...

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Yosai, Yosai where are you? The figure of Shizue is walking through a white space with no end nor sense of time.

Nothing mattered to Shizue as she wandered looking for her love. Nothing bothered her, not the fact that her legs recovered from the injury nor the fact that she died already. All she wanted to do was find Yosai.

Walking for indefinite time, she finally found a small figure far away. ‘Yosai?’ Shizue thought and she ran toward the figure. The figure was, as Shizue already guessed, Takayama Yosai. Yosai was still unconscious but Shizue was relieved to find that his chest was rising and falling in a regular beat.

Without thinking things through, Shizue lied down next to Yosai and put her frail and small arms around him.

After what appeared to be five minutes, which Shizue had no idea since there wasn't any concept of time here, Yosai woke up with a sleepy face.

Yosai muttered, “It must have been a dream… Huh?”, thinking that the event that occurred to them was a dream, Yosai was relived that Shizue had not died, but remorseful that he only had the courage to tell his true feelings to her in his dream. However, after rubbing his eyes for few minutes and opening his eyes, he felt a gentle pressure wrapping around his body. When he took a look, it was an arm of a girl. Pale white hand from the lack of sunlight gripped his shirt as he started to hear a soft breathing that wasn't his own.

After finding Yosai, Shizue fell asleep from the mental fatigue her anxiety caused her. Feeling relived after finding Yosai, she fell asleep. Even if the body is dead, the soul can still be strained enough to force the soul to fall asleep.

Gazing at Shizue’s sleeping face, he realized what happened back then wasn't a dream. He deduced to this conclusion due to two different evidence. First, the pain of the stab from the knife was excruciatingly painful. Even though he pretended to be okay in front of Shizue before their death, he knew the knife was real. Second, the place they were in was a white empty space holding nothing but the him and Shizue.

Even if he could deduce to that much, he still did not know if this was a waiting room for the judgement or some other fourth dimensional space. Yosai stared at Shizue and he started to blush furiously, remembering how he confessed to her thinking that was the only chance he got. Her sleeping face was extremely cute and Yosai didn't know what to do.

Deciding that the best thing he can do right at the moment was to wake Shizue up, otherwise, things might become dangerous. Shaking her shoulders gently, Yosai called her softly, “Shizue, it's time to get up.”

After several more gentle shakes, Shizue stirred and mumbled, “Just five more minutes.” With that she tried to go back to sleep. Upon realizing what she was doing while half asleep, Shizue quickly got up while fixing her messed up hair.

Seeing this cute little act of hers, Yosai started to chuckle lightly. “Shizue, you don't have to fix yourself up when your with me. You look cute no matter what.”

Shizue blushed silently while fixing her hair. Yes, Yosai is the type of man who would say those kinds of things without getting embarrassed. In other word, a totally dense protagonist in a manga.

‘I hope he doesn't say that to any other girls’, Shizue thought, but she really did not need to worry since he is not just dense but also faithful to the one he loves. Shizue knew that but she still could not help thinking that.

While Shizue and Yosai was staring at each other in a loving way creating a pink fussy atmosphere, three figures the couple hasn't noticed before came toward them. Yosai gently placed Shizue behind him and waited to see if they were friends or enemies.

“Please calm down, we are not here to harm you.”, a beautiful woman in her twenties with humongous breast around the size of H-cup and long wavy blond hair walk toward them without any hostility.

Looking at the woman in front of her, Shizue had a sense of defeat. She heard from other friends before she was a shut-in about how guys like bigger breasts. Compared to her A-cup breasts, the woman’s two excess amount of fat was something she could not compared to.

Shizue took a peak while worrying that Yosai might have fallen for the older woman only to find home staring at the woman with hostility, she never saw him angry before so it frightened her. Realizing that Shizue was looking, Yosai went back to his usual calm smile and told her, “don't worry, I won't allow anyone to hurt you anymore.”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The smile was reassuring, surely enough, and Shizue buried her face into Yosai’s shoulder out of shame for worrying about such thing. 

“Ahh~ such a lovey dovey couple. As the goddess of Love, Night, and Light, I approve fully. Now you two must be wondering where you are… Where are my manners, I am Teyja the goddess of Love, Light, and Night in the world of Xadoya. The two men besides me are Sasaki Kasurou and Matsumoto Shiori. These two men also died recently, around the same time you two died. As for Shizue-chan, do not worry about them since they are kind men who died saving lives.

Now the reason I called everyone of you here instead of sending you all to your world’s reincarnation system is because I require your help. I would like to send the four of you as heroes championing me to fight against the demon lord. After the crisis, you may live your life freely in the world.

I won't be sending you unprepared however since I shall be granting you one gift you desire the most. So please name the ability you wish for.”

Shizue was still confused, this sounded more like a light novel than a reality. (Author’s note: Well, it is a light novel, Kuma…)

“Why ask four teenagers to save your world? Why not bring someone who is more experienced in fighting?” Yosai inquired suspiciously. Even though the ‘goddess’ called the other two as men, they were boys around Yosai and Shizue’s age.

“The adult soul of Earth is too attached to their world so I can't summon them. They reject my summon unconsciously. As for the reason I chose you four is simple. Kasurou-kun and Shiori-kun died while saving people, and as for the two of you, since I am the goddess of Love and it would have pained me if I didn't choose such a devoted couple for their second chance of living together. As I mentioned, your world goes through reincarnation system and there is no such thing as heaven and hell. Of course, if you choose to not take my offer, I can send you back for a reincarnation in your world. However, you will loose all of your memories in Earth.

So which do you choose? To stay together with your love in the new world or reincarnate and loose the memory of your love?”

Shizue grasped Yosai’s shirt firmly while trembling. Seeing this, Yosai pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead.

“We will accept your offer. I am fine as long as I can stay by her side.” Yosai declared loud and clear in front of the trio.

The two boys applauded him for his choice and the goddess joked, “Now you may kiss the bride” and started to giggle like a little girl.

Regaining her composure after several seconds, the goddess proceeded to name the gift she was giving to the each of them.

“To Kasurou-kun, I grant the gift of infinite magic potential and the title Grand Mage. For Shiori-kun, I present a flaming sword and the title Flame Knight. For Yosai-kun, I hereby bless him with the power to heal his companion and the title Saint.” After a pause to look at the girl hiding behind Yosai, the goddess spoke again, “Lastly, I give my ultimate Night blessing to Shizue with the title Shadow Chaser. With this, you shall create history.”

“As the deity rule we imposed between Ycuna and I, this is as far as I can go to help you, my heroes. Beware of Ycuna, the Goddess of Evil and Death. She might not play by the rule as we agreed to.”

Than with a frown, Kasurou frowned, “um… Goddess-sama, please don't get me wrong, but… Weren't we supposed to choose our gifts. I'm not complaining or anything…”

With a brilliant smile, the goddess explained, “You are correct Kasurou-kun, actually I gave my gift according to your desires deep within, so everyone should have what they truly wanted.”

“W-what is the class Shadow Chaser?” Shizue asked not understanding what the goddess was referring to.

“It's a special class made according to your desire. Also your ability might be the key to winning this war. Please take care child and stay strong no matter what. Your power will become much more obvious after you enter the world.”

“Now then, it's time for our farewell my heroes. I wish you the best of luck. Believe in yourself and you will achieve any goal, no matter what the world throws at you.”

With that, Teyja sent the four companion to the new world… 

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Thanks for reading, Kuma~

See you all next time, Kuma!