“This might be sudden and may sound unreal but Shinzu Itsuki-san, unfortunately you have died”

It really was sudden!

It was just an ordinary morning.

I was just walking along the road when suddenly I heard a ear-piercing sound and saw some old lady crossing across the busy street not minding the car that was about to hit her.

She probably cannot hear those horning sounds. And to what you’d expect, a rushing SUV was coming to her at full speed and with a screeching sound. I’m guessing the driver is desperate to step the brake in order to stop his car from hitting the old lady. And I who saw that situation cannot just stay idle and ran at full speed.

[Screeeech.. *Crashing sounds*!]

After vaguely remembering something disturbing as I opened my eyes, I notice that the surrounding different.

Unlike my unkempt room, this place has an ambience of elegance or like this room emits radiance.

“h-huh? Where am i?”

“This is heaven”

“Uwaaa-”

I was startled a bit because that question wasn’t intended to someone but myself and I didn’t expect an answer either.

As I turn around to look at where the voice come from, a beautiful girl was there standing with a brimming smile beside a large intricately designed desk.

Maybe she noticed my blank expression, she started talking again.

“Your mind might still be fuzzy about the impact you’ve receive. Let me enlighten you of what happen just a minute ago.”

[*sound of pressing an electronic button*]

After this shining lady in front of me pressed something in mid-air, a hologram-like screen appeared in front of me.

What showed in the screen was me who desperately running towards an old lady.

Oh. I thought I was dreaming. She was the old lady and my neighbor, the owner that attends a sweets store diagonally in my house. The store is roughly 15 years in operation since even I was still a kid, that sweets shop was already in there. Baachan sometimes treat me with various dagashis. I even remembered back when I was still an elementary student coming back home crying. Baachan approach me with a bag full of dagashi then patted me on the head. “Yosh. Yosh. Be a good kid and don’t cry. Don’t make your mommy worry over you. Here, take this candies and don’t cry”. Receiving those candies and an assuring smile of baachan made me stopped crying. She was like my second grandmother after my grandmother passed away even before I was born.

Enough about reminiscing my past. Following the event now.

Probably back from buying groceries, baachan wanted to go back home and because of how old she was in addition to the street having no traffic light, maybe her vision or ears  gave up on her and became deft.

Having no company in an empty street and without people to warn her from crossing, she slowly walked across the road and when she reached midway, a car was rushing unto her. Probably the driver was expecting an empty road, he was running the car roughly 100kph.

And there I was running towards baachan to save her. On the screen I manage to push her gently barely able to evade from the car but I was a little unfortunate. A little may be a quite humble. The scene was unbearable for little kids or might even for a grown-up to watch. My lower half was under the wheels torn in half and the other half was in hood of the car! Even the driver fainted looking at my dead body which is beyond repair. I thought I was watching Final Destination but sadly it was me as a side character that eventually be killed in an unfortunate event. Looking at your own corpse will give you a surreal feeling that’s for sure. A truly horrible gore scene.

[*switch off sound*]

Ohh? The movie was over? The shining lady turned off the hologram-like TV.

“Now, Shinzu Itsuki-san do you remember now?”

“Very clear thank you”

I replied politely but dejectedly.

Nodding in agreement, she then pulls her chair and sits down.

“Your deed is worthy of praise. Saving someone not regarding the safety of oneself is a character only heroes possess.”

Does acting on impulse count as good deed?

“It is only a natural thing to do”

“Yes. It is natural but generally people don’t do that natural thing. The welfare of oneself is humans’ top priority after all.”

“It may be so but if it is not baachan and someone else, I may have just ignore it and wait for the inevitable to come.”

“No, you are wrong Shinzu Itsuki-san. You started running before you even realize it was your beloved baachan. It may be on impulse but that was an act of pure kindness”

“T-thank you. So, um who are you? A goddess? “

There’s no mistaking my presumption. She is a goddess given how the situation I was in.

 After a closer look, Hmm just as the books, painting etc describes or illustrate them. Goddesses really are super beautiful beings aren’t they? Too perfect that everybody will agree that the word “perfect” is solely made for them.

In front of me sitting on a huge desk there sit the goddess, I forgot about her whole appearance because I was distracted but judging those shoulder and plump chest I assume that she has those dynamic body. Hmm leaving body measures aside, her literally shining aqua-blue hair that extends to her back, those cute bangs evenly cut, deep emerald eyes that can swallow a person’s consciousness if he stares at it for too long, thin nose bridge, rosy white cheeks that it’s not exaggeration to called it a rose garden and that pinkish lips that would likely ensnare those who will taste that forbidden fruit. An unblemished beauty, perfection.

No wonder god won’t send these perfect existences in the human world. It will cause chaos for sure. Even me who haven’t even held a girl’s hand except from my family nor holds interest in them was slightly captured for a moment. I’m not gay for sure, it’s just that I have those gravure model level beautiful sisters (a total opposite to a plain-looking like me) that walks completely naked after a bath and naturally watches television without minding me or how I would react and often hugs me. And umm didn’t I mention they are completely naked? That is how I am use to it that even a nude super actress won’t even faze me. To be able to shake me this way, Goddesses sure are terrifying in some way.

Thinking some useless things, she broke my thought after she said something unworldly.

“Correct. I am a goddess. My name is Frea, a goddess that governs life and death here on heaven.”

So my guess is correct.

“hmm. And?”

“You don’t seem convinced?”

“Eh? Ah no. I totally believe you.”

“Is that so? But your reaction though is rather unusual”

“Unusual? How so?”

“For a person who died in a horrible death, you are rather calm or relax somehow”

Does it seem that way?

“Watching my own death gave me a huge shock I guess, that my sense of reality hit me hard so I have no choice but to accept it.”

“You adaptability is commendable”

“Haha. Thank you”

I scratched my head in order to hide my shyness.

“You’re welcome”

Now for the pressing matter

“So um now that I’m dead, what will happen to me now? Am I going to heaven or hell? Is this the end for me?”

“Normally that would be the case but this time you will have a special privilege”

“Special privilege?”

I repeated her question like a parrot because that last part was intriguing.

“Yes. You will be reincarnated”

What a cliché. Seriously?

Although this situation is dreamy if I ended up like those characters in a novel who get reincarnated in another world.

I kind of know where this is going. I will be reincarnated to my own world or another world. But really, reincarnation is true huh? I wonder who taught us that word. She/he or they might have died and reincarnated so they learned about this knowledge? Plausible if i may say so but another world? I never really imagined it. To be in this kind of situation like those in the books.

“Umm, reincarnation is it. Can I ask something Goddess-sama?”

“It’s fine to call me Frea, Shinzu Itsuki-san”

First name basis huh? Well she may not have a surname in the first place. Going to that flow it’s natural to respond the same way.

“O-okay, Frea-sama”

“You can drop the sama. Makes me sound like an important person”

Aren’t you aware of what you are? I wanted to retort but meh.

“Frea-san, is fine?”

“You can also drop the –san too.”

“No no, I just met you and I can’t just call you in your name directly”

Rather, is it fine to have this kind to tone speaking to someone holy?

“So stubborn. Okay if that’s want you want then I will go with that”

“Th-thank you. Then you can call me Itsuki, Frea-san”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“Okay Itsuki-san, is there a problem?”

“No, problem may be a stretch. More like a request-like question?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“If my presumption is right, I kind of know where I will be reincarnated, but is there a chance that I can return to my own world?”

Suddenly, she looks apologetic.

It’s not possible huh? Lowering her head she said.

“Unfortunately, it is impossible. Once an existence has vanished from the world, it can never be return or replaced. You see, life or existence is not like a boomerang that comes back after you fling it out. Sadly that how it works. In the cases of unexpected or early deaths like yours, heavens develop a kind of compensation of the good souls who died at young age. We reincarnate them in a parallel or in another world with some perks.”

“I see. Hmm perks? What would it be?”

A power perhaps? A smile naturally forms in my lips.

“Yes. You see, other world don’t have the same environment or technologies as Japan or earth has. Even some world is still on a prehistoric age, some have some advances like Flintstones or even a world where magic exists. So, in order for the person to adapt to the world they will be sent in, we will give them for example: for a person to choose the world at prehistoric age, we will give them weapons that can protect them. For a person to choose a world that still on medieval age, we will grant them super strength. And for those who choose a world where magic exist, we will grant them magic of course.”

I’m right have I but what’s with that convenient setting? Sounds fair though. And who would choose a world that still on a prehistoric age? That person must be an avid fan of monster hunter game for sure.

And to think they will grant us some sort of power doesn’t sound so bad I guess? Well it is really a must-have considering the environment we or I will be going in to.

While thinking of something, I looked at her and noticed she is smiling. Stop that smile. You’re giving me a Goosebumps in a good way.

“Just to make sure, I can choose what world or what power I want, Is that right?”

“Yes of course. Have you decided on what type of world you’ll be reincarnated?”

Hmm I still haven’t.

“Do I have to choose now?”

“I’m not rushing you but if you don’t hurry with your decision, your soul will slowly fade and will be reincarnated randomly and be reincarnated randomly. You may even reincarnate as a dog, cat, a monster or much worse a bacteria”

Bacteria?! Please don’t say that with a smiling face!

“Please say that from the start! Really Frea-san. That gave me quite a push. Hmm let’s see…”

She said with a teasing smile. She even protruded her tongue. Seriously goddess-sama, stop those cute gestures really.

Ok let’s be calm about this perks thingy.

More importantly, let’s decide where to go. Hmm I really like watching Jurassic Park movie but living to that environment where death is kind of ugly, I’m gonna have to pass. For a gamer myself, I’m gonna have go to a world of magic, fantasy-like setting. An ideal world where every avid gamer is dying to go into. I might even trade earth to that kind of world. Not to mention you have the right to choose what power you want to have.

“Not everyone has a choice to have some kind of power”

Huh? It’s like she read my chain of thoughts. Impossible

“It’s not impossible.”

So she can read minds?! T-then...

“Yup. I am a Goddess after all”

Tee-hee :P. Don’t tee-hee me! I was wondering why she was smiling at me just a while ago. If she was reading my mind all along, then that embarrassment I felt… aaarrgggh! Reading minds is a foul you know? Really.

“Ufufu”

She giggled. Now I’m really embarrassed. Goddess can be playful, are they?

“You are the first one Itsuki-san”

“H-huh? First in what?”

Shit. I can’t even look her in the eye due to embarrassment. My stuttering is lame too.

“You are the first person to not have indecent thoughts after looking at me. All those before you wore an innocent face or even pokerfaced look did fantasize me in their thoughts. It really was disturbing even for me but even so I must maintain my smile. You are the first person whom I revealed one of my secrets. Somehow I can feel that you are trustworthy”

I thought complimenting her in the back of my mind is something indecent.

A dazzling smile surfaced in her perfect face. I can even vouch myself that smile is worth a trillion if it can be sold. If a painter would paint this scenery before me, the art will absolutely be put in the guineas as the work of the century and for the century to come or will be put in the annals of history. Though I doubt a painter would even lift his hand after watching that smile. I bet she/she will be in daze as long as that smile is still on her face.

“You’re praising me too much Itsuki-san. Ehehe”

Opps! I nearly forgot she can read minds. And why do you even feel embarrassed Goddess-sama? Judging by that beauty, I know for sure that you are showered with praises.

I bet she’s reading my mind again.

“No. that’s not the case here on heaven. We the goddesses are created equal be it on intellect, beauty or talent. Although each of us has our own attitude. I may have received praises before from the people who go through here but all of them have ulterior motives unlike you Itsuki-san. When you said those praises in your thoughts, I didn’t sense indecency only a pure words of admiration”

“Umm, Frea-san I would appreciate it if you would stop reading my mind. I’m barely hanging on to my embarrassment..”

I can only scratch my head to lessen my embarrassment.

“Oh sorry about that. It’s just that you are strange, that’s all.”

Panicking she apologized and showed a shy smile.

“Strange is it? I get that a lot from my friends. They say I’m not normal because I don’t have a crush or an interest to a girl. Some even doubt my sexuality. Does liking someone really is a measure to someone’s mentality?”

“I’m not sure but isn’t it natural to be attracted to someone? Love is essential for humans after all”

“I love my family though”

“That’s another form of love. What I mean is romantically”

Hmm romantically is it? I never thought about that thing before. I didn’t even consider myself to having one either. Well it’ll eventually come I guess. Or will it even come? I could only wonder. As I am now, I am just a fish in a current.

“Well sorry for being not a normal person”

“No no no. Y-you are normal. I-it’s just that you’re lacking something essential but it’s not that you cannot live without it. It will come eventually.”

“I’ve never seen a Goddess who easily gets embarrassed or stutters”

“M-mou Itsuki-san is being a meanie. I’m gonna get mad you know?”

Ahaha. How cute this Goddess.

Wait. Am I starting to get attracted to a girl? Or is it inevitable since she’s a Goddess? Goddesses really are terrifying. It gives me shivers but not in a bad way. But somehow I get this refreshing feeling. Maybe calming the environment or someone’s feeling is the Goddesses default function? Their presence makes somewhat relax; they take the uneasy feelings you have. They even make you feel that you didn’t die. Well as expected of a holy being. I really am in a paradise.

“Talking to you Frea-san made me forget death. That horrible state I was in a while ago did put a shock in me but now it’s completely gone now. As expected of a Goddess, right?”

“I’m glad that you feel that way”

Another smile that could put someone at ease. Really I could get use to this.

“Anyway, what you said earlier Aqua-san about not everyone has choice to have some power. What do you mean by that?”

“Yes. It’s as it says. Not everyone is granted power or reincarnation. One must have the requirement for the deed. As you know, heaven is place where good souls reside. Although bad ones go through here also but we immediately transfer them to hell department where they will be cleansed. But anyway, only people with a pure soul are granted rewards for their purity. Just imagine if all the dead reincarnated. It will be chaotic.”

“And so, you limit them with only a pure soul to have the privilege of reincarnation?”

“Naturally. And isn’t that the only sensible thing to do?”

“Hmm well that’s true or more like it should be”

“Umu. Do you still have a question?”

A pure soul, huh? Wait I’m a little unsure about something.

“Wait, those people who thought of indecency. Did they posses pure souls that they have granted an audience of you?”

“As I said earlier, even bad souls go through here. There’s only one way to heaven and one way to hell and it is here. I govern life and death so naturally; all souls will have to go through me. And also, good soul doesn’t mean it’s pure. Some good soul isn’t pure. Good souls possess goodness but they don’t possess a pure heart. You get me?”

In other words all souls go through here or her. And some good souls don’t possess a pure heart. Hmm I get the gist of it.

“What will happen to those who have good souls but don’t possess a pure heart? Will they stay here in heaven or what?”

“They will be given a choice, whether to stay here for good or be reincarnated but without the special privilege”

“Kinda harsh don’t you think? A good soul without a pure heart is still considered good right? So sending them to some world w/o sort of guidance is like sending them to the wild w/o a weapon”

Even though I voiced my doubts in a crude manner but she still replies without breaking her radiant smile.

“I know what you mean. You are right. Even so, in the first place, it is their choice if they wanted that condition but we encourage them to stay here in heaven. This is a place for good souls so even if they don’t have a pure heart, we want them here. They are like a diamond in a rough; we just have to polish them.”

“Hm maybe I should have listened to the whole story. Sorry about that”

I bowed apologetically yet she only shakes her hands gesturing it’s not a big deal.

“I understand you. It just shows your concern and it’s a good thing so it’s okay”

I bowed again and to dispel this awkward moment, I clapped my hands strongly then continued on the matters.

“I am getting reincarnated with a privilege so does that mean I have a pure heart?”

That’s news to me. I don’t consider myself pure let alone a good person but I have a pure soul? That is hard to believe.

“Obviously yes Itsuki-san”

“Hahaha! I don’t know if I even have the right to be reincarnated. Are you the one that decides whether a person has a pure soul?”

Is it alright to laugh in this serious mood? But I can’t help it. it is so unbelievable.

“Nope. It is not me. The one that decides on that is God himself. His decision is beyond our comprehension. God is an absolute being. If you are deemed worthy in his eyes, then you really are. And for me personally, I agree with God. well all the time but more so today”

Her serious mood until now was broken with her flashing again that blinding smile. Every time she does that, I feel like being hit with a shockwave from a big speaker. That is how the big the impact is. I’m certain this isn’t love. No. Nothing of the sort.

“Do I really possess that soul? It is really hard to chew. Let’s leave it for now”

Yes that would the best. Leave this doubt for now.

“anymore question Itsuki-san?”

“Hmm oh about the power thing to be given, can I choose now?”

I may have asked that but nothing particular comes to mind. Hmm what to choose?

“Yes you can. Have you already decided?”

Stop that flashing smile already!

“Honestly I haven’t decided nor have something in my mind right now. Do I have default skill or something?”

If I have to make any reference from anime and get those skills, wouldn’t the world be destroyed if I were to use that? like that kamehame from ****ball? Those destructive powers, that planet-destroying power. Truly a bad choice to make. I want it to be less destructive but overpowered somehow. I don’t want to shed blood or get stab, which would be very very painful.

“Then how about this? The heaven will choose for you. It will choose what perks would fit you depending on your personality or personal preference. Since the selection depends on you indirectly, the perks is chosen at random at your preference. Are you okay with that?”

“Although I am fine with it, but what if the power is fundamentally weak?”

“Nope~ the heaven won’t choose something to your disadvantage. Don’t you have any faith?”

Uwaa.. she’s pouting. Frea-san’s power raised another level.

“A-ahah. So-sorry. I have I have”

I said wryly

“Umu. So, Itsuki-san are you okay with it? Would you choose it yourself or we will choose for you?”

Hmm?

“Frea-san, are you in a hurry?”

“No. I’m not rushing you or anything but kindly look at your feet”

Upon hearing what she said, I slowly looked at my feet and whaaaaatt?! My feet are slowly fading. There are lights glowing and turning upwards. W-what is happening? I’m vanishing!?

“F-f-frea-san? Wha-what is happening to me?”

“mou.. Itsuki-san is quite forgetful, huh? Did you forget what I said earlier? Idle souls will slowly fade and be reincarnated randomly?”

She’s slightly mad. I-i forgot! Those questionings and idle chatters derailed us from the pressing matters.

I don’t have time to choose for myself not to mention I don’t even have something in mind. For now let’s hurry and let them choose instead. I’m starting to lose time. My upper leg is disappearing too!

“The-then  I will have to take up on your offer”

“Aren’t you the one who’s in a hurry?”

Shutting one eye with a protruding tongue, she’s teasing me. Even though your cuteness level has risen to up to the maximum, please spare me just this once. I’m disappearing you know?

“ I’m really panicking right now I have you know?”

“Ahaha sorry sorry, seeing you panicking is really amusing.”

What are you? an M? really now.

Still suppressing her sides trying not to laugh she said,

“Eherm~ Okay, step up to that circle”

She pointed below my feet right in front of me. I notice the circle with something written on the side with unknown language and hurriedly step on it and waited for another instruction.

“and then?”

“wait for me there.”

She got off her chair and walk towards me.

On a closer look she is quite tall. I’m standing 185cm and she must be roughly 170+? Quite tall for a girl, taller than an average girl you see in Japan.

“But before we proceed, there is something that I want you to do for me, is that okay with you?”

“..Sure, what is it?”

“I have a mission for you”

“Mission? Is it something dangerous?”

“For now it is, but later that would a walk in the park I assure you.”

“What does that mean?”

“You will know after you will arrive there.”

“I am a person who watches the last episode first to know if it has a good ending. If it’s for a goddess. I’ll do anything.”

“Really? Then I’ll leave it to you Itsuki-san. I have hopes on you”

She put her hand on her chest showing a relieved expression and flashes me a sweet smile.

After that I noticed,

She’s carrying some sort wand in her back ornamented with golden accessories and a flowery pattern designs.

Her dress is a little revealing but I have no time to comment on that. Right now, I’m running out of time.

“Ok just stand over there. I’m starting now.”

As she said that, she closed her eyes then she flipped her wand in a circle maneuver, stuck it to the ground and her other hand touched the gem decorated above it.

She then started god knows what language it is. Latin? Heaven language? I have no idea.

Minutes later, the circle something below my feet started glowing.

“Chanting complete. Now, Shinzu Itsuki, Itsuki-san. The new journey will begin. I will pray for your safety all the time. Good luck to your new world”

The smile that can give you assurance, maybe that could save me from now on.

Along with my wave of goodbye, an excitement suddenly burns within me.

I feel excited even though I just died. But thinking about this, it feels like a game.

I want to play it!

My gamer sense is into it.

My consciousness slowly fades along with the face of a Goddess together with the circle of light that emitted below my feet…