-SPLAT-

Ouch, that really hurt, I nearly died…again.

I forced myself to stand up, struggling to find my footing, brushing myself off, and looking at my surroundings.

Moments earlier I had been falling so I knew I was in a forest. I tried to remember the descent, but I do not remember seeing any sort of city…actually wait, I think there was some sort of road to the northwest.

I tried taking a few steps forward, but there was a sharp pain in my side.

I wasn't going anywhere until I got some rest.

Finding a nearby tree, I sat down, my back supported by the tree. Tilting my head back I looked to the sky and closed my eyes, recalling the events of the past day.

-A few hours earlier-

It’s amazing, how you can go from a bustling metropolis to a serene forest. Well maybe it isn't that serene, there were quite a bit of people here, but it can’t be helped it is the day of New Year’s Eve after all. My name is Mason, and currently I’m finishing my visit at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo.

-Clink- -Clink-

The noise of the two 100 yen coins that I had tossed, hitting the surface offertory box before slipping into the cracks, brought me back to reality from my thoughts.

I went to ring the bell, the next part of the pray ritual.

I looked to the sky, it seemed about noon. The reason I was visiting now, rather than later in the night, is because in a few hours I would be boarding a plane that would take me back home to America.

After ringing the bell I proceeded to bow twice, now was the time to make a wish. I wonder how everyone was doing back home, I really do miss my family. It’s been about 5 months now since I last saw them.

I've been travelling and experiencing the eastern hemisphere for a while now, after a friend suggested I should explore the world a bit before settling down into college and finding a job. I was 19 and as he put, “It’s now or never.”

So I did, deciding to visit famous historical sites across China, South Korea, and Japan, seeing as I have always been a big history buff, as well as being a fan of eastern culture. My favorite stretch of history was, of course, the warring states period of both China and Japan.

It has been quite the amazing experience for me, and I’m glad my friend has suggested it. So, wishing for the safety and health of both my family and my friend, I clapped twice and bowed once more, finishing the ceremony.

As I was preparing to leave the shrine, I saw a priest selling Omamori, basically lucky charms. Remembering my older sister who was pregnant with her first child, I went to go buy one for a safe delivery. Now, having been in japan for two months now, I could understand the spoken language to an extent, however the writing was still, for the most part, unknown to me. This is how I mistakenly bought Kotsu Anzen (Road Safety) Omamori instead of an Anzan (Childbirth) Omamori. However, I did not know this at the time, nor that it would the luckiest mistake of my life.

Exiting the shrine, I proceeded to make my way to the hotel I was staying at to pack the rest of my stuff for the trip back home. Approaching an intersection I noticed a girl a few meters ahead of me who was two, maybe three, years younger me about to cross even though it wasn't safe anymore. As with much of the youth of today she had her head down staring at, what I assumed was, her phone. I shouted for her to stop, but it looked like she couldn't hear me, probably had earphones in.

That’s when I noticed it. A bus coming down the road, that wasn't slowing down. Through the clear windows on the bus I could see the driver looking back at his passengers not watching the road. I could also see movement in the back of the bus. Perhaps some sort of altercation was taken place on the bus, however at this point he would not be able to stop in time.

In an instant I knew what I had to do. I started sprinting towards the girl. Now I was never super athletic, even though I did play a lot of sports in school, ranging from baseball, wrestling, basketball, and football. Even though I played all these sports I wasn't insanely good in any of them, mediocre at best, despite my height at 6 foot 3 inches (1m92cm), and my lean frame, which would have led others to believe I was.

I reached the girl and shoved her, however looking to my left I was greeted with the image of the front of the bus. Looks like I had overestimated my speed. With my last thought as an apology to my friends and family, I prayed they wouldn't grieve for me for too long and that they would be happy and move on with their lives. Resigning myself to my fate I closed my eyes and waited……..but nothing happened.

Opening my eyes, I noticed time had stopped. The bus was mere inches in front of my face. Turning my head in the opposite direction I noticed a light. Turning, I walked towards it.

The light became brighter and began to take a shape. After a few moments, a goddess stood before me. I knew at first glance, her pale silky skin untouched by sin, her golden hair that gave off a light and warmth equal to the sun, deep blue eyes that held the knowledge of the universe, before was a true goddess. However she wore not a smile but instead upon seeing me her face was saddened.

After seeing I had noticed her she spoke, her voice more beautiful than any voice I have ever heard,

“Greetings Mason, my name is Leonora, goddess of love, light, and beauty.”

I just stared at her speechless, unsure how to answer, for a few moments, before she noticed me frozen.

“Sorry, I forgot mortal are so easily captivated by our natural form.”

Slowly her light and aura faded, leaving behind a still gorgeous looking woman, just that now there was no godly pressure pouring out from her.

Now that I was able to recover, I replied “Hello Leonora, my name, as you already know, is Mason. May I ask why you are here?”

“I came here to give you my apologies, as I failed to preform my duties, and to show how sincerely sorry I am, I also have an offer for you in death.”

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I looked at skeptically “What do you mean death, I’m perfectly fine, and didn’t you stop time so I could move?”

Leonora shook her head sadly “I’m afraid I can’t affect this world to that extent. Look behind you.”

Turning around I noticed his body was still in front of the bus I saw, my thick, medium length, and messy black hair, my hazel eyes closed, and a resigned look on my face that showed I had come to terms with my death was frozen in time but before I could say anything Leonora continued.

“I was able to stop time in a sense, but only on a spiritual level, I have withdrawn your spirit from your body before the accident.”

I turned back to her “Why would you do that?”

“If you had died while your spirit was still inside of your body your soul would have passed to the gods of your underworld beyond my reach. By taking it out I came here to give you a choice.”

“What choice would that be?”

“I came to give you the option to exist in my world, instead of passing in yours.”

“Why would you do that for me?”

Leonora sighed “There are two reasons, one is because I can tell you live a fairly selfless life, I heard your prayer at the shrine, you wished for the well-being of others and nothing for yourself, put your life on the line for a girl you didn't even know, and even just now in death your thoughts weren't turned to your regrets but towards those close to you, hoping they would be able to find peace with your passing. The other reason is a bit more…..” She paused

“What?” I asked

“Well, we gods exist in separate plane of the universe, and we can exist in multiple worlds, having multiple forms, for example the world I offer to let you live in is a world where I am one of the major gods, that’s why I introduced myself to you as Leonora, for that is what I am called in that world. Here I am a minor god of……” She let out a small sigh, before continuing in a quieter voice “….road safety.”

The voice sounded quite sad. “I’m so sorry, even though you bought one of my charms you died in a traffic accident. I failed my duty.”

Not understand at first I was confused, but then I remembered after she said mentioned a charm.

I must have bought the wrong Omamori, and she is taking some responsibility for my death. Then I laughed a bit on the inside. What an ironic way to die. Anyways I better correct her mistake.

I opened my mouth and began to speak “Leonora it’s not your fault at all, I ….”

“No stop you don’t have to console me, I made a mistake and I’ll make up to you for it.”

With determination showing in her eyes, I figured it best not to go against her wishes, and she asked once again

“Shall I return your soul to your body, where your soul shall be judged to determine your fate in the afterlife, or will you choose to be reborn in my world? I have to warn you however, my world is more dangerous, filled with magic and monsters. Unlike this world the kingdoms of mortals are not stable, and war is a common occurrence in some countries. However as this accident is my fault, I will grant you three boons in this new world to help you survive and live how you want.”

I thought carefully about this. I've read light novels about these kinds of situations before, but never have I imagined it would happen to me. So I decided to ask some questions.

“I have some questions first. Question one, do I get to keep my memories? And second, do I have to be reborn a child?

There are reasons I asked these questions. If I get to keep my memories, I do not want to be born as a child. I know people have in the novels I read, but I personally felt being conscious for two to three years of my life, while not being able to do anything would be hellish.

“Yes you may be able to keep your memories, however it will count as one of my gifts to you. I highly recommend you be reborn as a child, as it will give you connections in your new world, however if you wish, I can create a new body for your soul to inhabit, allowing you to enter the world however you wish.”

Satisfied with her answers, I spoke the words that would change my life forever.

“Alright, then I choose to go to your world, as long as I can skip being reborn, and I can keep my memories.”

How could I not, her world seems something out of my fantasies.

And with that thought Leonora raised her hands and everything started to disappear until all that remained was the goddess and me in an infinite white space.

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The paramedics had received a call detailing a traffic accident, one Injured, one dead. When they arrived the situation checked out. A foreign man had sacrificed himself to push a teenage girl out of the way of an oncoming bus. The girl was severely shaken, her ankle sprained from the push. The body of the man was broken in multiple places and had sent flying 15 feet before landing, blood splattered across the intersection. In his pockets they found his wallet and an Omamori. Noticing the nature of the charm, the paramedics could only shake their heads. They thought what an unlucky guy.

AN: Hey guys, Chapter One is over. This is my first attempt at writing a story, and I'm hoping to learn as I go, so if any of you notice a problem please let me know. I have a rough idea where this story is gonna go, but if you have a suggestion let me know. Next chapter our hero will find himself in, well, basically character creation. He will discover the world he is being sent to will have certain jrpg qualities (Yes, a status window) and he may even meet one of the heroines, arguably the main heroine. Also he will choose his new name.