Shun POV:
“Um... Do you also read ‘Legacy’?”
I stared at Amelia in a daze as the sunset made her eyes glow. She wasn’t short, but she also wasn’t very tall either; I guess saying she was just above the average height for a female was accurate.
I noticed her cheeks becoming redder and redder as the seconds ticked by. It was only then that I realised I had a mouth.
“Y-Yeah! I-It’s super popular!”
Somehow I managed to get the words out and the reaction I got in return was totally worth it. I watched her eyes sparkle like glitter as she hurried over, plonking her bottom down beside me.
‘Oh damn...’
A sweet smell drifted into my enlarged nostrils while her shoulder was practically touching mine. I struggled to calm myself down, but it proved even more difficult than I expected, especially since I knew that today was going to be a good day.
“Um... Whenever I read a novel, I always get lost in the world of the story. I can’t hear anything or focus on anything else; it’s like I’m completely locked in—like I’m actually there, experiencing the world alongside the main character.”
Her cheeks rose and the light in her eyes flickered like a warm flame. I could see the passion and enjoyment she got from reading books; it was something that I could definitely relate to as a fellow book lover myself.
‘Thank you, John and Ethan, for the beating you gave me has presented me with this opportunity!’
“Even now... I can see that you’re hurt, but all I can do is talk about books that I read. Otherwise, I get really shy and can’t talk well... I’m sorry...”
I watched her bite her small lip while looking at me with those large, enchanting eyes. Her facial features, her personality, she was the embodiment of my dream girl, so much so that I didn’t even know what to say anymore.
“...You’re so beautiful.”
‘...I messed up.’
Her eyes widened, and she blushed thickened Amelia turned her face away from me, her eyebrows curving inwards as the deep shade of red faded. I noticed the corners of her lips pull downward, and my heart thumped.
“S-sorry, I know you hear that a lot, but s-seeing you up clo–”
“Um...! Do you... Perhaps want to walk home together?”
‘What? Did I end up choosing the right path by accident?’
Amelia’s gaze rested on the ground in front of her, trying her best to keep her composure by avoiding any sort of contact with me. I noticed her eyes tremble, only for her to spin her face in my direction.
“Yes!”
I held two thumbs up as I watched a bright smile wash over her face that instantly gave me a nosebleed. She was simply too stunning.
***
“T-thanks for the tissue...”
“N-no... You’re welcome...”
We walked down the street side by side while I wiped the blood away from my nose. The girl that people called goddess was literally centimetres away from me and I was walking home with her, but there was a problem.
‘Damn it! I lack the confidence of a main character, so I don’t know what to say!’
I had used it all up in the prior events, so now I was reverting back to regular Shun. The timing was horrible, but what could I do? I had to try something.
‘!’
“W-what do you think about the hiatus?...”
I scratched the back of my head before shooting her a glance out of the corner of my eyes. A solemn expression spread across her face. She clasped both of her hands together before parting her lips.
“...The author’s health is very important. If they have to stop writing for 5 years... Then it can only mean it’s something very serious. I wish them a speedy recovery.”
Her mannerisms, the way she spoke, heck, even the way she walked, were just... Captivating. Considering I’ve had a one-sided crush on her for the past 4 years, if I didn’t make use of this opportunity, I’d be damned.
“Yeah... So, what will you read in the meantime?”
‘Nice one, Shun!’
She placed a finger against her chin while tilting her head. It didn’t take long for her mouth to open again with a confident answer.
“I’ll reread all of the side stories for a tenth time.”
‘Such dedication!’
It was a somewhat reasonable answer, but after considering Amelia’s reading speed. She’d probably be done with the side stories within a month.
We walked down the next few streets in silence. I could have brought up much deeper topics regarding Legacy and other stories I’d seen her read, but truthfully, I just wanted to know more about her.
Any other time, I would be more than happy to partake in those conversations. However, who’s to say that this moment would happen again? Who’s to say that I’d be gifted with another chance?
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“Um... Do you... Remember me?... We went to the same primary school...”
My heart stopped. The constant smile on my face from being able to walk next to her vanished. Beads of sweat formed along my brow as my throat became dry. My legs barely managed to keep functioning while my mouth croaked open.
“I-Is that so?... R-really?...”
I felt my hands become clammy as I saw Amelia’s gaze shift to the unusually clean pavement we were walking on. Her eyebrows quivered, and an even quieter voice than usual drifted into my ears.
“... I was always reading back then too, but one time... You were pushed into me... And I saw...”
‘No... No! No!!’
This was the worst outcome possible. Not only had Amelia gone to the same primary school as me, but it seemed like she was even aware of that. I needed to stop this conversation before it went any further without hurting her feeling—
“Thief! Somebody stop him!!”
‘Huh?’
We were waiting at the intersection of a wide road when an old woman’s voice cried out behind us. By the time I could even figure out what exactly was going on, I saw the back of a grey hoodie flash past me; their hands outstretched as I watched Amelia’s body leave the pavement and enter the path of an incoming truck.
They dashed down the left side of the road while I watched Amelia move in slow motion. Time compressed to the point I was able to perceive not just seconds, but milliseconds, and I instinctively knew what this meant.
‘If I save Amelia here, I’d be transported to another world; it’s Isekai Rules 101.’
Today really is a good day. Without any hesitation, I dashed forward and pushed Amelia, who had tears in her eyes, out of the way.
“SHUN!!!”
I cracked a helpless smile as the truck smashed into my body at full force. My ribs broke, and the force of the blow launched me into the air, spinning me around like a lifeless mannequin.
I crashed into the ground and literally bounced back into the air before colliding with the earth again. My body rolled several times as an excruciating amount of pain assaulted my mind.
‘...This hurts way more than those light novels and games make you believe... IT HURTS!! DAMMIT!!!’
My internal screams enhanced the pain that continued to reach newer realms of what I thought was humanely possible to feel. I bit my lip so hard that I punctured the skin, ripping away at the fleshy folds and causing blood to gush down my chin; joining up with the other open wounds.
“SHUN!! N-no...! NO! I’m sorry... I’m so sorry...!”
Through my hazy vision half covered in darkness, I could barely make out Amelia’s appearance. She kneeled down beside me, sobbing as I felt the corners of my cheeks rise.
“...I’m glad you’re safe.... Don’t worry... I’m going to... a... Better place...”
I coughed up a mouthful of blood, and finally, the darkness welcomed me home. My life in this world wasn’t bad, but in the next one, I’d make the most out of it using all the knowledge I had acquired. Trust me, it was going to be much different.
***
My eyes flashed open and the scenery that I had anticipated to see next was... Put plainly, a direct kick to the balls.
‘...’
I looked at my leg, covered in white plaster, fully extended and hanging in a sling. My gaze shifted to the brace on my neck, preventing my head from moving the way I wanted it to, and then the dozens of bandages wrapped around my body. Oh right, both my arms were broken too.
“...This really is a better place! I’m glad you held on... Thankfully, there was a hospital on the opposite side of the road...”
‘What?’
I gazed at Amelia sitting beside me with worried eyes as she examined the state of my body, but personally, my mind was in such a state of denial that I didn’t even take the time to appreciate her. I wanted to facepalm myself so hard till I realised that both my hands were broken too!
‘Author, did you forget what genre you’re writing?! It’s an Isekai! And that was supposed to be my moment!!’
I turned my attention towards the ceiling and gritted my teeth. Who else could I blame for this unfair moment in my life?
'Damn it, man!!'
I wanted to curse, but not only had I never swore in my life. I was also afraid my mum would walk through those doors and give me another beating for using bad language.
‘ARRRRGHHHH!! I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS!!’
My eyes zoomed in on the soft touch of Amelia’s hand resting against the cast. She looked into my eyes while a faint blush tinted her cheeks.
“...T-Thank you for saving me... I hope you... Heal up quickly... So we can talk more...”
She turned her head away as the shade of red reached the tips of her ears, causing a slight sign of steam to rise up from them.
‘Author, I would like to apologise. I must have read the tags incorrectly. Please forgive this foolish one’s naïve view of the world.’
Tears of joy streamed down my face while I stared at the ceiling. It was time to come back to reality. I wasn’t a character, and this wasn’t some isekai like all the books I had read, but you know what, that was fine too. This was better than that.
“...Are you hungry?... I’ll cut up some fruit for you...”
“I-I’d like that.”
We locked eyes for a few seconds before she looked away. I watched Amelia tie her hair up into a bun, revealing the nape of her neck as her luscious eyelashes fluttered.
The knife moved nimbly in her hands, slicing the apples into an array of different shapes on the plate. She focused on the task at hand; the look in her eyes was far less intense than when she was reading, but yet enough to know that what she was doing had her full attention.
The new hairstyle made her give off a more mature look, increasing her sex appeal by a multiplier I couldn’t quantify. The only word that came to mind was: wow.
“...I’ll feed you too.”
‘Eh?’
She washed her hands by the sink and scooted the chair right by the waist. Amelia stood up, took a slice of the apple and pressed it into my mouth that opened without me telling it to.
‘It’s so good? It really is true that food tastes better when the one you love serves it to you!’
“U-um... Shun... You’re staring...”
My eyes widened as I felt the blood rush to my cheeks. I had been staring at Amelia so much that I found myself lost in her beauty, forgetting to look away; it definitely came across as creepy.
“S-sorry...”
“...I like... it..”
‘Oh dear Lord... Thank you for sparing me from that truck!’
The sunset shone through the window, illuminating her hazel eyes that met mine. She blushed while shifting her gaze back down to the hospital bed. Truthfully, I wanted to hug her so bad, but I guess it’s easy to be confident when you’re in the condition I’m in.
The next 10 minutes passed by in silence as Amelia fed me. My thoughts were as blank as a piece of paper. I was simply too happy to think about anything during that moment—I didn’t want it to end.
“S-Shun... I... Um... I have to go home now... But tomorrow, I will come and see you in the morning and... Afternoon... Whenever you need me...”
Her voice grew quieter towards the end, making it difficult for me to hear her. I didn’t want her to leave, but it really was getting late, and my parents would be arriving here soon enough, anyway.
“T-Thank you, Amelia.”
My lips spread into a wide smile, and she spun around in response. She dashed towards the door before glancing back at me; her face as red as a tomato.
“早期回復を, 祈っています.”
I stared at her with wide eyes when I recalled her reading Japanese language books a couple of years ago, but I didn’t think she’d sound so much like a native. It was common knowledge that I was half Japanese, so sometimes my classmates would ask me to say the typical Japanese phrases that most are familiar with. However, this was the first time someone, other than my family, had spoken Japanese to me with such sincerity.
“D-did... I... Say it wrong?...”
“No. You sound amazing. Thank you, Amelia... Seriously, thank you...”
She covered her face with her hands and nodded quickly before dashing out of the room. I stared at the shut door for a few minutes, mulling over my time with her. If I could spend time with her every day, if I could be in a relationship with her, then that would truly be a dream come true.
“Let’s heal up quickly.”
I shifted my gaze towards the window, only to see a large truck floating in the air. I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself; I knew I hit my head hard, but I didn’t expect to start seeing things.
I closed my eyes and opened them once I was sure that my mind was fine. The truck crashed through the window, slamming into me at max speed as I smashed into the wall at the opposite end of the room.
‘...Damn it.’
My consciousness faded, and I fell back into the darkness.