We step onto the train, the cold metal under our feet grounding us as we move down the aisle to find our seats. The doors slide shut behind us with a soft hiss, and the familiar rumble of the train’s engine starts to vibrate through the floor. It feels almost normal—like any late-night train ride through the city—but we all know this is something different. This is our last step into the unknown.

We sit down, me by the window, Jiho next to me, with Isak and Abel across from us. The train jerks forward, and the scenery outside the window begins to blur as we pull away from the station. But it’s not the streets of the city or the distant glow of streetlights I see. No, what I’m seeing is beyond anything I could have imagined.

The train picks up speed, and suddenly the darkness outside the windows erupts into a brilliant explosion of colours. Swirls of neon blues, vivid greens, and soft purples dance in the sky, mixing together like some cosmic light show. Stars stretch and warp around us, like we’re shooting through the very fabric of space itself. Whole galaxies spin past, massive planets with rings of gold, and stars that burn brighter than the sun.

“Holy crap,” Isak breathes, his eyes wide as he presses his face against the window. “Are we… are we really seeing the multiverse right now?”

“I think so,” Jiho whispers, awe in his voice. “Look at that.”

Outside, the landscape shifts again. One moment, we’re flying past cities suspended in midair, futuristic skyscrapers stretching impossibly high. The next, we’re zooming past massive forests, trees taller than anything on Earth, their leaves glowing with an eerie bioluminescence.

“We’re actually doing it,” I murmur, the shock of what’s happening finally sinking in. My heart pounds, but not from fear—from something else. Something bigger. For the first time since we left, excitement starts to creep in.

“This is insane,” Abel says, leaning forward, his calm exterior cracking as his eyes light up. “Look at that. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

We watch in stunned silence as the universes rush past, each one more dazzling and bizarre than the last. One moment, we’re passing through a world that looks like it’s made entirely of crystal, the reflections casting rainbow light in every direction. The next, we’re soaring over a futuristic city, where massive ships hover above glowing streets, and neon signs flash in languages I can’t even begin to understand.

As we travel deeper, the train itself starts to change. The worn, metallic interior begins to shift, adapting to the new environment. The seats beneath us become sleeker, the walls transforming into smooth, glowing panels that pulse with a soft light. Holographic screens appear, displaying maps and information in languages that look like streams of code. The floors hum with energy, and everything feels more advanced, more futuristic. It's as if the train is evolving as we move forward, becoming part of this endless journey through the multiverse.

Isak’s practically bouncing in his seat now, his excitement contagious. “Guys, this is crazy. Look at how the train’s changing! It’s like something out of a sci-fi movie.”

“I know,” Jiho says, his voice full of wonder. “It’s like… like we’re moving through time itself.”

I glance around at my brothers, and for the first time since we stepped onto this journey, I see the same thing on all their faces—hope. It’s no longer just fear or nerves. It’s excitement. The unknown isn’t something to be afraid of anymore; it’s something to look forward to.

I smile, feeling my own excitement grow as we pass through a universe that looks like a vast, glowing ocean with massive, otherworldly creatures swimming through the stars. “We’re really doing this,” I say, and the words feel more real than they ever have.

“Yeah,” Abel replies, a grin spreading across his face. “We are.”

As we travel further into the multiverse, the possibilities feel endless, each new sight pulling us deeper into the adventure. And for the first time, I realise—I’m not scared. I’m ready.

We’re all ready.

I can’t tear my eyes away from the window. The train keeps moving forward, plunging us deeper into this dazzling, impossible journey. It’s surreal—like I’m stuck in some kind of dream. The colors, the shifting landscapes, the stars twisting and bending around us—it’s overwhelming in the best way possible.

Then, out of nowhere, Jiho nudges me. “Hey, uh, Haru?” he says, his voice uncertain.

I glance over, seeing him holding a small slip of paper. “What’s that?”

Jiho pulls it off my back with a frown, flipping it over in his hand. “I think… Akari stuck this on you before he jumped off. It was on your back the whole time.”

“What?” I blink, my mind racing as I reach for the note. My heart sinks immediately, my fingers trembling a little as I open it. The handwriting is sloppy, rushed. As I read the words, my blood boils. My heart slams in my chest, and a flash of anger courses through me like a tidal wave.

I can’t believe it. That weasel.

The others notice right away. Isak leans forward, his brow furrowing. “Yo, what’s wrong? You look like you’re about to punch someone.”

“Haru, what does it say?” Jiho asks, his face worried as he watches my reaction.

I clench the note in my fist, feeling the crinkle of the paper under my grip. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mutter, still processing the words.

Abel gives me a look, clearly concerned. “What’s going on, Haru? What did Akari say?”

I let out a slow, frustrated breath, my teeth grinding together. “He tricked us,” I finally say, my voice low but full of rage.

“Wait, what do you mean tricked?” Jiho asks, eyes wide with panic.

I stare at the crumpled note in my hand, my mind swirling with all the implications. This was never just a simple journey. Akari had played us. “He didn’t tell us everything. We’re not going to the place that was promised ”

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Isak leans back, his eyes darting between me and the others. “Dude, you’re really freaking me out here. What aren’t you telling us?”

I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of what I’m about to say. “We’ve been played, Akari wasn’t being straight with us.”

I see the worry spread across their faces, and I know I’m about to drop a bombshell on all of us.

I sit down heavily, the crumpled note still clenched in my hand. My pulse is racing, my mind trying to process the mess Akari’s dropped on us. I take a deep breath, opening the note and smoothing it out on my lap. “Alright,” I say, my voice tense, “you want to know what it says? Fine. I’ll read it.”

I clear my throat, slipping into the mocking tone I imagine Akari would use. The weasel probably wrote this with a smirk plastered across his face.

“Hey guys, first off—sorry about what I’m going to say next. Really. But you didn’t think you could actually survive in some kind of mediaeval fantasy world, did you?”

I glance up at my brothers, their faces a mix of confusion and growing irritation. I continue.

“Look, mediaeval fantasy worlds? Too tough, too uncomfortable, and honestly, way too violent. The real world isn’t an anime or a video game, but I get it—you wanted fantasy, adventure, maybe a chance to be heroes while living in luxury. So, I did you a favor and took you somewhere better.”

Isak groans, running his hands through his hair. “I knew this guy was sketchy.”

I roll my eyes and keep going, the anger simmering just under the surface now.

“Is it exactly the place you asked for? Nah. But trust me, it’s better. I mean, come on, Haru—you really thought a medieval world had hot water and great plumbing systems? That should’ve tipped you off. Made me laugh inside, but hey, it’s fine. You’ll thank me when you see it.”

I practically spit out the next words.

“The money I gave you? Still more than enough to keep you comfortable. So, just be patient. Trust me—you’re going to love it.”

I crumple the note back up in my fist, feeling the fury boil inside me. “That’s it. That’s the whole message. This whole time, we’ve been played.”

Abel leans back in his seat, exhaling sharply. “So we’re not going to some epic mediaeval world?”

“Nope,” I say, shaking my head. “Akari decided to change the plan without telling us. Who knows where we’re headed now?”

Jiho crosses his arms, scowling. “Unbelievable. And we trusted him.”

Isak groans again, throwing his hands up. “I knew that the mediaeval world with hot water thing sounded too good to be true!”

Before we can dwell too much on it, the train’s automated voice interrupts, announcing, “Next stop: arriving at destination in five minutes.”

We all sit there, annoyed and unsure, as the train speeds forward, taking us somewhere we didn’t expect—and possibly somewhere we’re not ready for.

We’re all sitting there, stewing in annoyance at Akari’s stupid note, when the train jolts forward, speeding into another universe. I lean against the window, expecting more bizarre landscapes, but instead, I’m hit with a view that makes my stomach churn with both excitement and frustration.

Right outside is exactly the kind of place we thought we were heading to in the first place. Rolling hills dotted with medieval castles, knights on horseback, massive dragons soaring through the skies. Villages with thatched rooftops, bustling markets, and banners flying proudly over stone walls. It’s like something ripped straight from every fantasy book, anime, and game we’ve ever loved.

“Are you kidding me?” Isak groans, slumping in his seat. “That’s literally the place we wanted!”

I press my forehead against the glass, watching as a glowing sword-wielding hero leads a group of adventurers through a dense forest, the trees towering over them like sentinels. It’s exactly what I’d imagined when Akari first pitched the idea—fantasy, adventure, danger, and glory. The life we thought we were about to dive into.

Jiho, his face twisted in disbelief, shakes his head. “That could’ve been us, man. Castles, dragons, magic… I would’ve been okay with the lack of plumbing.”

“I can’t believe it,” Abel mutters. “This is what we were supposed to get, right?”

We all sit there, staring in awe and annoyance as the perfect mediaeval world passes by, knowing we’ve been cheated out of it. The castles, the creatures, even the heroic battles unfolding just outside—it’s all right there, so close but out of reach. My heart aches a bit, but mostly, I’m just pissed off.

“Of course we pass through here,” I mutter. “Akari probably thought this would be hilarious.”

The train speeds through the fantasy landscape, moving on to whatever comes next. Before we know it, we’re at Earth 8007. The train slows to a stop, and the overhead voice calmly announces, “Arriving at destination. You may exit the train when ready.”

I glance around. Unlike the previous stops, this one feels oddly… closed off. The windows around us don’t reveal anything—just a thick fog, like whatever’s outside is hidden from view. It’s unsettling.

“We can’t even see where we are,” Abel says, frowning. “What’s the deal with this place?”

We all look at each other, and I can see the mixture of anticipation and hesitation on their faces. Jiho’s tapping his foot nervously, Isak is practically bouncing in his seat, and Abel just looks calm as usual, though I know he’s thinking the same thing as me.

“Well, we can’t just sit here forever,” I say, standing up. “Let’s make a guess.”

“Alright,” Isak says, rubbing his hands together. “I’m betting it’s gonna be something weird. Like a world made of candy, where we have to avoid being eaten by giant gummy bears or something. I mean, Akari’s got that kind of messed-up humor.”

Jiho raises an eyebrow, shaking his head. “Nah, I’m thinking it’s gonna be some dystopian nightmare. Maybe a post-apocalyptic world where we have to fight for survival, running from mutant creatures. He wouldn’t have made it that easy for us.”

Abel crosses his arms, deep in thought. “I’m thinking it’s gonna be a mix of high-tech and old-school. Like, ancient civilizations but with futuristic technology. Giant ruins with holograms or something. Could be a crazy mix of past and future.”

They all turn to me, waiting for my take.

I sigh, shrugging. “Honestly? I have no idea. We can’t trust anything Akari said, so who knows? Maybe it’s just a completely normal world with a twist we don’t see coming. I just hope it’s not too dangerous.”

We all share a look, knowing that whatever we’re stepping into, it’s out of our hands now. It’s time.

“Alright, guys. Let’s do this,” I say, holding out my hand in the middle of the group.

One by one, they pile their hands on top of mine. There’s a moment of quiet anticipation as we glance at each other, and then I say it: “Three, two, one…”

“Brotherhood!” we shout together, lifting our hands in the air, the moment solidifying us as more than just four guys on a train. We’re in this together.

With that, I take a deep breath, and together, we step forward. I reach for the door, feeling a mix of excitement, nerves, and determination. Whatever’s out there, we’ll face it together.

The doors slide open.