“UUuu…stop it… Shion-nee” –Souta

In a certain waste land there gathered a group of out-of-place looking teenage boys. No matter where you look, there’s only the rocky ground and some dried up vegetation that spreads out thinly over the horizon. Yet in the middle of this wilderness is 4 well dressed, clean looking boys, making the whole scene an unseemly picture.

“Look at him, smiling idiotically” –Hideo

“Really, he’s so carefree even in this kind of situation” –Akira

“Even though he’s always complaining about how meddlesome Shinmei-senpai is, now he’s dreaming about her? Can I hit him? It’s ok if I hit him right?” –Hideo

“Um…l-let’s just wake him up” –Daiki

It seems that for some reason one of them is in deep sleep, which results in one other making a fed up face. Both of them were average looking boys you can find anywhere, though the one that’s making no effort to hide his displeasure is wearing glasses unlike the other three. Another boy seemed not to care and just looks at the scenery curiously, he had red hair and ear piercing, giving off a fierce image when compared to the black haired docile looking boys around him. The last one has a big body that stands out, but contrary to his size he has a gentle atmosphere.

They tried to shake the sleeping boy’s shoulder while shouting “wake up” but he brushed their hands away and mumbled like a spoiled child.

“So annoying every day, 5 more minutes Shion-nee~” –Souta

-piku-

The sound of glasses-boy’s vein popping on his head.

“Oh? Is that so? Every day isn’t it? I guess I’ll have to hit you after all?” –Hideo

However, before glasses boy was about to slap his friend awake, the red haired boy whispered something into the sleepyhead’s ears while wearing the usual bored expression on his face.

“Sonohara, if you don’t wake up I’m going to kiss you” –Akira

“UUUUAAaaaaaaaaa! I’m awake, I’m awake!” –Souta

[Souta POV]

With a jolt my body jumped up, there’re cold sweats on my back.

What happened? A nightmare? I dreamed that our classroom suddenly became black and white while Shion-nee was nagging me and then… and then… what happened next? I don’t remember but… I felt like I almost lost something important as a man. Uuu… there’s a chill down my spine.

“Rise and shine, sleeping beauty” –Akira

“Hahaha, if only you can see your own face right now” –Hideo

“Pfft…um..ahem…morning, Souta” –Daiki

What greeted me were familiar faces, my childhood friend Daiki and my two classmates. They’re laughing for some reason, how annoying. What is wrong with my face? I know I’m just average appearance wise but I’m not too ugly either. What the hell are they laughing at?

I wanted to ask, but something is telling me it’s better not to pry. For my own sake.

Still… what’s really bothering me is, just where is this?

A waste land? The red soil seems to expand far over the yonder without end. Did these guys pull a prank and carried the sleeping me out of school? But surely I don’t remember Tokyo having this kind of scenery. Am I still half-asleep?

“Everyone…just what is going on?”

Giving up on trying to speculate things on my own, I asked nervously.

“…..” –Akira

Akagi Akira closed his eyes without answering. His gesture seems to be in deep thought, implying that he might have a lot he wanted to say but at the same time can’t say anything. I’ve never talked to Akagi but right now he’s somewhat different from my image of him. He dyes his hair red, wears earrings, never talks to anyone and always has an unsociable look on his face. Appearance wise he’s the very picture of a delinquent but strangely he wasn’t loud or aggressive, or at least I haven’t seen him causing trouble yet. There were a lot of rumors around him though, like how he is connected to yakuza or he’s secretly a leader of a biker gang. Since his appearance is scary everyone avoided him, including me. I’m just not good with those types.

“U..Umm… I’m not sure what to say, we’re clueless ourselves” –Daiki

And so Daiki nervously answer back. This guy has been my friend since elementary school and our house were close. Our parents got along great too. I usually had to lend him a hand when he was bullied in elementary school because of his size. Even though he looks like a bear, he’s has a timid personality and likes to cook. Really, sometimes I think the girls in our grade can use some of his qualities. Even though he has “Date” for a surname this guy’s character doesn’t suit it at all.

“Haah? What are you talking about, isn’t this obvious.

It’s a different world.

Different world you hear me?” –Hideo

Himura Hideo said while fixing his glasses, looking important. He’s one of my friends in class, an otaku just like me. We had a lot of fun discussing anime and manga. I mostly watch fantasy, romance and comedy while he would watch anything. Thanks to his passion I was introduced to a lot of good series.

I know he always talk about fantasy with great vigor but no matter how much he likes it isn’t he being a little strange in the head? Or rather seeing him being so excited like that scares me a little…

“Hey, what’s with that kind of look? Eh? Wait, don’t try to avoid me! Listen to me! Hey! Souta?!” –Hideo

“Well…even if you tell me that”

I averted my eyes and send a glance to Daiki seeking his help.

“R..right…It’s a bit unbelievable” –Daiki

“You’re still saying that? No matter how you look at it we’ve been transported to another world, Akagi say something to, we’ve talked this over this haven’t we” –Hideo

Everyone turn their heads to Akagi’s direction. Did they have a discussion when I was sleeping?

“……” –Akio

Akagi ignored our stares while keeping his eyes closed, but then started to talk shortly after.

“I don’t know if it’s a different world or not, but this is surely not Japan, the season and atmosphere is too different” –Akio

“Y, yea, that! There’s no way this is Tokyo, or even anywhere in Japan. We were just in our class a moment ago, then bam! And here we are in an unknown land. No matter how you think about it this is a world travelling incident!” –Hideo

“No way…”

I muttered in disbelief.

Is it really possible we’re in another world?

Though this situation is unexplainable by common sense… there’s no way something like world travelling can happen…right?

If theoretically we were summoned like in a story, then where is the summoner? There’s no one around here but us… even worse, this is just a wasteland. It was not by summoning then? If so then how did we…

Suddenly I remembered something right before I blacked out.

“The class was… black and white?”

“Yes! That! You finally noticed?” –Hideo

Hideo joyfully answered.

“I don’t know what was the cause, but space were breaking apart right? I’m not sure what was the theory behinds it, but that phenomenon might be the reason why we’re here. Was it the work of a god? Hito*mi? Or maybe this is a game world like Sword***Online” –Hideo

What is it I wonder, when Hideo says it it’s strangely convincing. Maybe it’s because of his positivity, or maybe it was how he seems to be full of conviction. If this is a fantasy world just like he said then there’s no one more reliable than him and his knowledge.

I send an inquiring glance over to Akagi but he became silent again and didn’t seem to be willing to talk.

“Wait, if what happened in our classroom was the cause, what about everybody else?!”

“When I opened my eyes there were only the four of us in this place” –Daiki

“Yea, I don’t know why but there’s no one else here. Either they’re in a different location, or they did not fall into this world” –Hideo

An uneasy feeling fills my chest. No way, are you telling me Shion-nee might now be alone somewhere in this world? What if something happens to her!? Just the thought of Shion-nee being in danger makes my stomach churns.

“Souta…don’t worry, I’m sure if it’s senpai she’ll be able to deal with it somehow” –Daiki

“Well, it’s THAT Shion-senpai we’re talking about” –Hideo

As expected of Daiki, he saw straight through me right away.

Was I making a horrible face? I feel bad making them worried about me.

Shaking my head, I try to regain my composure.

If nothing happened to Shion-nee, then that’d be for the best. If she is indeed in this world, I’ll definitely find her and comes to her rescue later.

I have to be strong now, for Shion-nee’s sake too. 

“Did you find out anything else while I was sleeping?”

“No…well, I tried various way to look at my status and menu to see if there was one but nothing came up” –Hideo

“Shouldn’t we have gained some kind of power if this is a different world?”

“OOooh, now we’re talking, you finally get it don’t you Souta” –Hideo

“I don’t feel anything different though” –Daiki

“Maybe we’re overlooking something or there’s a special method required” –Hideo

“Special method?”

“Well, you know, maybe a spell, or a magic item-“ –Hideo

Just when the theories started to heat up, our discussion was cut short by the expressionless voice of Akagi.

“Something is coming” –Akira

From the direction where Akagi is looking at, three small figures are approaching us. They look as short as primary school kids but as our distance shortens I realized they were anything but human.

“This is a lie isn’t it…”

“Those are goblins!” –Hideo

It’s just like Hideo said, the things approaching us are short, stout green skinned creatures that can’t be said to be anything else but goblins. However, those monsters are much different from the goblins I normally see in manga and games. Whether it be the saggy, muddy green skin or the hideous face with yellow saliva dripping down their uneven teeth. Their appearances can only be described as repulsive. If children saw this I’m sure they would cry. I was unable to hide my grimace.

http%3a%2f%2fimg01.deviantart.net%2f1df5%2fi%2f2016%2f...a0x4ve.jpg [http://img01.deviantart.net/1df5/i/2016/121/2/4/insectumchronica13_by_amano_m-da0x4ve.jpg]

“I can’t believe it…this is a real different world” –Daiki

“Souta, don’t make that face, this is a chance” –Hideo

Daiki’s eyes widen in disbelief while looking at the goblins. Then Hideo talks to me with confidence in his voice.

“Chance?”

“That’s right, are you still half asleep? Goblins are low ranked monsters that even beginner could beat. If we kill these then we’ll surely level up. Then we might find out if we got a special power or not” –Hideo

“Wait, can we really beat them?” –Daiki

“We out number them here, what are you worrying about?” –Hideo

“How do you suppose to kill them then? With your fist?” –Akira

Akagi finally opened his mouth but this time he’s putting Hideo down. Hideo was going to talk back but then he stopped. Due to Akagi’s remark we all realized something. In games even though goblins were low ranked monsters meant for beginners, we all had some kind of weapons or skills. We were playing by a system’s rules and mechanics. But how would one go about killing something in the real world? We have no weapons, not even a knife. Or rather, even if I had one, could I kill a living creature as big as that? I couldn’t even kill a mouse back home. No, forget about killing, I don’t even want to get close to those hideous things.

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When we were still lost at what to do, the goblins started to make some noise among each other then they sprinted toward us.

Fast!

Even though their legs are short… why are they so fast!?

The distance between us is over 100 meters but they closed it in matter of seconds. Daiki is scared stiff, while Akagi takes a stance. Hideo seemed to panic, he picked up a stone and threw it at them with all his strength.

“Wa-wait! Don’t come here!” –Hideo

But the goblin he was aiming at easily dodged the stone and in no time, it has already reached Hideo.

“Damn it! Take this!” –Hideo

Hideo’s face is filled with fear as he hastily tries to kick the approaching goblin, but once again the goblin nimbly dodges to his side and latches on his left arm with a powerful jump.

The goblin then opens his mouth wide, showing it’s disgusting yellow teeth.

Everything happened in an instant, we were confused and unable to react.

Before we knew it, Hideo was screaming in agony while blood spurting out profusely from his arm that was bitten off by the goblin.

“GUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!” –Hideo

His painful shout resounded in my ears, as if shattering away the illusions I just had.

We were fools.

Even though there was nothing to back us up, we believed that everything will be fine. We believed that we would prevail, like the heroes in bed time stories.

This world is not a game.

Only now do I realize the painful reality of it.

I wonder if it was because it still didn’t feel real when suddenly we found ourselves in another world. It was unbelievable, as if we were walking inside a dream.

It finally sunk into me, that the monsters in front of us aren’t cell shaded drawings, nor are they just coded numbers in a program. They are flesh and blood living creatures. They are ferocious animals with jaws powerful enough to crush a man’s bone with ease.

I could feel the blood draining out of my face watching the goblin shreds Hideo’s arm inside its mouth, fresh blood seeps out through the teeth and paints its lips red. As it grits its teeth on the tattered arm while letting out a gleeful sneer, there’s an increasing sense of madness in its two dirty grey-colored eyes. Looking at their blood thirsty figures, I’m feeling as if we’re being surrounded by a pack of mad dogs, hungry for slaughter.

No way. No way. No way.

There’s no way we can win.

We’re just high school students without even so much as a stick in our hands. How are we even supposed to defend against these things that are as nimble as rabbits and can crush bones easily? As soon as we get close to them we’ll be ripped to shreds.

My throat is dry and even just breathing feels painful.

Is this the feeling when you’re about to die?

Watching Hideo groveling and screaming on the ground I can’t help but imagine that’s what going to happen to me as well.

I’ve already lost the feeling in my legs.

Like this, I can’t even run even if I wanted to. My legs wouldn’t move no matter how much I beg in my mind.

Then, as if throwing a float to a drown man, I was pulled back from the depth of my despair by a resolute voice resounded from my back.

“You two, snap out of it” –Akira

Turning back, I see Akagi grimacing behind me, but there was no sign of giving up in his eyes. On my right is Daiki, I didn’t notice because I was too absorbed in my fear but he too has a deadly pale face and even though his tears are running he’s not making a sound.

Akagi continues to speak without waiting for us to answer.

“Look at them carefully, they’re focusing on Himura instead of trying to attack us” –Akio

“Eh?”

Letting out a stupid sound, I looked at the group of goblins.

He’s right, the goblins are… surrounding Hideo, but they’re not coming over here. With how fast they attacked us normally by now we’d be rolling on the ground already. Yet they’re only baring their teeth our way and monitoring us and Hideo. What are they doing?

“It seems that they are satisfied with a single prey, I suggest we run before they change their mind” –Akira

Akagi blurted out something heartless as if it were a matter of course, his gaze unwavering.

Abandoning Hideo? There’s no way I can do that. He was a bit annoying and persistent when it comes to his hobbies but he was a good guy. Even if there’s nothing I can do telling me to leave my friend to death while running away is just…

“There’s no way I ca-“

“If you don’t want to do it then I’m not forcing you to. It’s already hopeless to save him already. I’ve already said my piece so you make your own decision. Well then, I’m going” –Akira

Cutting me off before I finish my sentence, Akagi wastes no time and started running.

Wait. Wait.

Wait I tell you!

Don’t leave me here!

Are you just going to run like that? What about us?

Shit! We have to run after all!?

But what about Hideo.

I can’t jus-

“Let’s run! Souta!” –Daiki

Daiki grabbed my arms and pulled me along. His face was tearful but there were determination in his eyes. Gritting his teeth he dragged me by hand as we chase after Akagi.

“Wait Daiki! Hideo is still! He’s-“

Daiki ignored my petition and urged me to run faster. It seemed that he would not change his mind no matter what. He has always been a guy with a lot of strength, even though his personality is like that, if it’s just physical power then he wouldn’t lose to anyone. I could not break through his grip at all.

No, that was a lie.

I didn’t even try to break free.

In fact, I felt relieved when he would not accept any idea that’s against running away.

I was just so scared.

I didn’t want to die.

Even though I keep trying to act like a good person, in truth all I wanted was to get away from that place as soon as possible.

I didn’t even look back once.

I ran with all my might while trying to mentally block out Hideo’s painful screams from behind.

I don’t want to imagine what is happening to him right now.

I don’t even want to think about it.

I just ran.

________________________________________________________________________________________

The goblins didn’t chase after us but we did not stop. We ran until our legs couldn’t move any more. After a while, we laid our back on the cold and hard ground, breathing heavily.

“Huff…huff….I guess, we got away” –Akira

“Huff…Y…yea…Haa..haa…Thank you, Akagi-kun” –Daiki

“Haa…Haa”

I’ve never ran as desperate as that in my entire life. I’m a member of the soccer team so I’m fairy fit physically but after that kind of running as expected anyone would collapse in exhaustion. My throat is burning and my chest hurt. I can hear my heart beats so loudly it seemed to leap out at any moment.

Before we knew it the sky started turning dark and the sun was nowhere to be seen. On Akagi’s suggestion we decided to sleep while taking shifts. Today has been a tiring day both physically and mentally, it’s best if we rest while we can.

As for me, I’m not sure if I could sleep on top of this uncomfortable ground. I haven’t eaten anything since morning so my stomach is being noisy and not letting me fall asleep. Above all… It’s what happened with Hideo…

I can’t believe it… did I just… abandoned my friend? His pained face and voice are still fresh on my mind. I don’t think this will ever stop to go back and haunt me.

Why? Why must we go through this, I never asked for this. What different world? What power? This is just a nightmare. For the whole time I did not say anything to the other two because I was afraid that Hideo’s topic would come up.

How are we going to live from now on? We have no food or shelter. There might be other monsters lurking around too. We might not be able to get away like today.

I weep as I lament my own powerlessness.

Then I hear footsteps and then someone sit next to me.

It was Daiki.

But He only sits nearby without saying anything.

Unable to bear the awkward silence, I tried to break out a sentence.

“Aren’t you going to sleep? it’s my shift now”

“I can’t sleep…

can you?” –Daiki

“No…”

And then once again we became silent.

I wonder if it’s his way of worrying about me. He has always been like that, always was concerned about other people.

To be honest, knowing that someone is taking my side, I can’t be thankful enough.

After a while, he said.

“It’s not your fault you know” –Daiki

As expected, I was seen through.

I have never been able to hide anything from him.

“Was it that obvious?”

“It’s because Souta’s emotions show on your face” –Daiki

“Haha…..

…..ha… is that so?”

I couldn’t say anything other than a dry laugh.

“That is so” –Daiki

Unaffected by my sour mood, Daiki kept going at his own pace.

“….

….hey Daiki… do you think Hideo resents us?”

“Even if he was able to run away with us, with that kind of wound he’d die soon. We have no first aid tools here. There was nothing we can do” –Daiki

“But still…”

.

.

.

“……..

..Souta, dead people can’t hold grudges” –Daiki

“Eh?”

I was surprised at a line that didn’t seem to fit Daiki’s character. I turned to look at his face nervously trying to figure out what was going on. But he replied back with a gentle smile that seemed to be troubled.

“Are you thinking that it doesn’t suit me?

….but that is what I think, Souta.

I don’t really believe in the after world, or something beyond.

Maybe there is, but even then it doesn’t matter.

Dead people are dead, and the living has to go on living” –Daiki

Said Daiki while gazing absentmindedly into the night sky. Come to think of it, Daiki lost his parents at a young age, him and his siblings was taken in by their uncle after that. Daiki seemed to want to work right away after high school to support his younger brothers. He never showed any sign of depression but he must’ve gone through a lot. Even though I never thought deeply about it…

…To think that I call myself his childhood friend, how embarrassing.

“I won’t tell you to not mind it.

After all Souta is Souta, you have never been able to leave a troubled person alone.

But don’t let yourself held back by things that couldn’t be helped.

What we can do right now is continue on living.

…That’s why, Souta, we must survive this and return home” –Daiki

Stop…I’m not that…

I’m not the kind of nice person you think I am.

But I wasn’t able to say it to Daiki. I would break down in tears if I were to talk right now.

While thanking him in my mind.

I silently nodded to his words.

*Note: Date Masamune, a famous general in the sengoku period. Daiki has the same surname.