Kazuki Nakamura looked up from his computer screen, squinting at the fluorescent lights overhead. The hum of the office was monotonous, punctuated only by the clacking of keyboards and the distant murmur of coworkers discussing lunch plans. He sighed, his thoughts drifting as he silently counted down the minutes until he could escape the cubicle confines of his nine-to-five corporate life.

“Just a few more hours,” he muttered to himself, contemplating the instant ramen he had stashed away in his desk drawer. It wasn’t exactly Michelin star dining, but it was a comforting ritual of late-night gaming sessions.

Finally, as the clock struck five, Kazuki did a quick mental review of his day. Meetings had gone smoothly, his reports were submitted on time, and somehow, he had avoided most of his boss's complaints this week. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was manageable. With a stretch and a yawn, he rose from his seat, ready to head home.

But fate had other plans.

As Kazuki exited the office building, he felt a sudden chill run down his spine. “Must be the winter air,” he thought, wrapping his scarf tighter around his neck. He walked briskly to the train station, his breath visible in the cold evening air, pondering the quality of tonight’s ramen choice. Would it be an egg or a sprinkle of seaweed? Decisions, decisions.

The train arrived just as he stepped onto the platform. Kazuki boarded and settled into an empty seat. He pulled out his phone and began scrolling through social media, briefly entertained by memes and videos of cute cats. “If only my life had that kind of charm,” he mused, chuckling to himself.

The train journey was uneventful, the gentle swaying of the carriage lulling him into a relaxed state. As the train approached the next station, Kazuki’s eyelids grew heavy, and he found himself fading into a light doze.

Suddenly, the train lurched violently. Alarms blared, and an announcement crackled over the intercom. “Emergency brakes engaged! Please brace for impact!”

Kazuki’s eyes shot open in a panic. Before he could process what was happening, the lights flickered and the train derailed, sending passengers screaming and tumbling. He braced himself against the seat, heart racing.

And then, darkness.

---

Kazuki blinked, slowly regaining consciousness. He found himself lying on soft grass, the sky above him a brilliant blue. Confused, he bolted upright. “What the hell happened?” 

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

As he looked around, the world unfolded like a vivid painting. Towering trees with shimmering leaves swayed in a gentle breeze, and colorful flowers bloomed all around him. It felt impossibly serene. “I… am I dreaming?”

No, dreams didn’t feel this real—this tantalizingly strange. 

Kazuki rubbed his temples. “Okay, Kazuki, focus. You probably hit your head. Just need to find a way back home.” He stood up and took a deep breath, the fresh, fragrant air filling his lungs. It was both refreshing and disconcerting.

As he wandered through the forest, he stumbled upon creatures he had only seen in video games—tiny fairies flitted about, giggling as they chased each other, and a majestic stag with glistening antlers watched him curiously from a distance. 

“Okay, I am definitely not in Tokyo anymore,” he murmured, shaking his head in disbelief. “Maybe I should take a selfie. ‘Kazuki’s Grand Adventure: The Isekai Edition.’” 

Laughing to himself, Kazuki entertained the idea that he might have finally stepped into the world of his favorite anime—a dream come true! Except for one detail that gnawed at him. “What if this is some insane coma dream? Or worse, a ‘trapped-in-an-rpg’ nightmare?”

As he walked deeper into the forest, he began to notice the remnants of a campfire nearby, along with some crude furniture. Suddenly, a sharp voice interrupted his thoughts.

“Hey! Who are you? State your purpose!”

Kazuki spun around, eyes wide. There stood a girl with fiery red hair and piercing green eyes, dressed in a mix of leather and fabric that screamed both ruggedness and adventure. She held a bow at her side, arrow nocked and ready. 

“Whoa, okay! No need to shoot,” Kazuki raised his hands in surrender. “I’m just a guy who woke up in—uh, where exactly am I?”

“Cursed Forest,” she replied coolly, her gaze assessing him. “And you’re certainly not supposed to be here. What did you do to get lost in our territory?”

“Lost is a bit of an understatement, honestly. I just… woke up here after I think my train derailed,” Kazuki explained, feeling a strange mixture of fear and exhilaration. “But hey, at least you’re not a monster, right? I don’t exactly want to be someone’s dinner.”

The girl narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Tell me the truth, stranger. Are you some kind of spy?”

“Spy? No!” Kazuki threw his hands up, laughing nervously. “I mean, have you seen me? I work a boring office job! The most exciting thing I do is eat ramen and play video games.”

“Games?” she repeated, tilting her head, her interest piqued.

“Don’t you have them in this world? Anyway, I swear I’m harmless! My name’s Kazuki. I promise I’ll leave as soon as I figure out how.”

Without warning, he felt a strange sensation wash over him—a tingling warmth enveloped his being. And then it hit him. “Wait a minute! I think… my immortality is kicking in!” 

His laughter echoed through the clearing as he clapped his hands together in disbelief. “Well, that’s a neat twist! I mean, who would have thought, waking up in a fantasy realm, and hey, I can’t die?” 

The girl stared at him incredulously. “Immortal? Is that a joke?”

“Not exactly,” Kazuki said, grinning. “But I think I should see how this world advances. After all, I have all the time in the world!”

As the girl’s wary expression shifted to curious intrigue, Kazuki knew this was only the beginning of his strange, immortal adventure. And maybe, just maybe, finding companionship along the way wouldn’t be such a bad plot twist after all.

Little did he know, he was destined to meet more than just magical creatures along this journey.