Do you believe in love?
Shiraki grew up in a single-parent family. His mother didn't die but abandoned two-year-old Shiraki and her husband for a wealthy man when Shiraki was very young.
She never contacted them again, and Shiraki had no memories or impressions of her.
His father told him about this when he became an adult, and Shiraki felt nothing upon learning it.
To him, that woman was a complete stranger. Who expects anything from a stranger?
Before his father's accidental death, he considered remarrying and was lucky to meet a seemingly virtuous woman.
After some time together, they smoothly progressed to discussing marriage.
However, after Shiraki's father paid the bride price, she vanished like she'd evaporated from the earth.
Only then did the honest, simple father realize she was a bride price scammer, after his money!
From then on, he gave up on finding a partner, burying himself in work to save for Shiraki's house down payment.
In recent years, events like "the first sword after landing, slay the beloved," the "Zhangjiajie bride," and "the warrior who runs for love" have emerged one after another.
The last one was reversed, with netizens being the real clowns, but only that incident was reversed.
Such things do exist!
Like at Chengdu College of Arts and Sciences, where a man stood on campus decrying his relationship—another "warrior who runs for love."
Or the case of a woman from outside Tokyo who, after getting pregnant, urged her husband to sell their house and buy a new one near a school under both names for their child's education, only to divorce and claim millions in property.
Of course, these might be isolated cases, not representing an entire gender.
So, back to the question: do you believe in love?
Shiraki does.
In life and death, we pledged to each other.
Holding your hand, growing old together.
He believes that in this cold world, there exists beautiful love, the kind that inspires longing.
He's seen wrinkled, hunched old ladies pushing their disabled husbands in wheelchairs under the setting sun.
But he doesn't believe true love will happen to him.
In this era, it's too rare, as scarce as morning stars.
Adults aren't entitled to dreams, so let dreams stay in the heart.
Love is sacred and grand.
Marriage is worldly and cold.
Shiraki has no interest in marriage that's like a business transaction, and due to his father's experiences, he even fears it.
Thus, from childhood to adulthood, he never actively pursued girls. Reason kept him from entertaining thoughts of romance.
He's liked girls before, but only superficially, driven by genetic impulses.
This made plain-looking, otaku Shiraki even less appealing to women.
He was content with that.
No one understands Shiraki better than himself, so he doesn't believe there's a soul in this world that could match his.
Honestly, he can't even imagine what he'd be like in love.
He can't picture falling for anyone. If, by some miracle, he did fall for a girl, she'd have to be another "himself"!
Unbelievably, this absurd notion became reality.
Morning, the sun rises in the east.
Sunlight spills into the room, golden rays dancing faintly in a corner, shielded by curtains, while dust motes rise and fall in the breeze.
Silky blue hair cascades over a flawless jade back, the delicate skin glowing with a faint pink blush.
Fragrant arms, exquisite collarbones, shapely legs pressed together—like a treasure sculpted by God. Even her cute, crystal-like toes are curled.
The blue-haired girl lies atop Shiraki, both gazing at each other serenely, like narcissus flowers in full bloom.
Hmm, I never thought a girl's… would feel like that…
A lingering blush on her fair cheeks, Reverie recalls last night's experience.
It's hard to imagine that as a guy, he'd make those sounds…
Yet, in certain matters, there's indeed a fundamental difference between men and women.
Unfortunately, under certain inhibitions, Shiraki can't elaborate.
Overall, it depends on one's body and mental state.
But if asked which side Shiraki and Reverie prefer?
They like both together~!
...
Reverie's slender fingers twirl a lock of silky hair, picking up the phone by the pillow to check the time.
Only 9 a.m., still early…
The girl blinks her lively eyes, pressing her hands on Shiraki's chest to sit up, slowly sliding downward.
Let's do it twice more!
Tasting the forbidden fruit with double the pleasure, Reverie and Shiraki are a bit addicted.
Thus, they don't get out of bed until nearly noon, and Shiraki viscerally feels his enhanced physique.
An indescribable sensation for carbon-based lifeforms, "Shiraki" controls both bodies to dress cooperatively.
Next, he ponders one of the three daily questions: what to eat for lunch?
The other two are, naturally, "What to eat for breakfast?" and "What to eat for dinner?"
Shiraki opens his phone to browse takeout, now able to ignore prices and focus on preferences, choosing upscale dishes he previously couldn't afford.
After selecting some appealing, previously unaffordable meals, he closes the food app and opens the pharmacy section.
He hopes human contraceptives work on Edel Raids…
And buys some small packets with "Let's be friends~!" printed on them.
Honestly, Shiraki never thought he'd need these.
Meanwhile, Reverie takes out a laptop, searching for Elemental Gelade on Qiandu, comparing it with her memories.
The manga and anime differ; the anime is adapted, and the manga's art is superior.
Three days pass in a flash.
Despite gaining extraordinary powers, he hasn't left the room in three days.
Days spent binge-watching, reading manga, scouring sites like Bilibili, Tieba, and forums for Elemental Gelade info, even considering a trip to Japan to discuss with the author, Mayumi Azuma.
During his hesitation, Shiraki realizes something.
Though he doesn't understand the information exchange between multiverses, Reverie's world is undoubtedly real.
Whatever the relationship between that world and the author's creation, the moment Reverie enters this world via the mysterious space, it likely severs.
But prior settings and "stories" still hold reference value.
After a day of diligent research, evenings are for Shiraki and Reverie to reward themselves.
They've gone through three large boxes of Durex in three days.
Having a super-beautiful girl's body—who could resist that temptation?
Shiraki certainly can't. He craves his own body; he's honest about it!
While Shiraki indulges in self-admiration, something unexpected yet logical unfolds.
In Tokyo, a group of elderly men with graying hair sit around a conference room.
"Cut off all data channels, seal the exits—entry only, no exit. Confiscate all communication devices…"
An old man with general's insignia issues a series of commands.
Anyone who's had direct contact with Shiraki recently is invited to a waiting room.
His former boss, colleagues, landlord, the caregiver, the Dada driver who drove Shiraki and Reverie, the top Tokyo doctor who treated Shiraki, and people who casually approached them…
All wait anxiously for questioning.
In a separate room, Mai Kisaragi, looking conflicted, nervously asks the old man beside her, "Grandpa, what's going on?"
At a critical time in her father's career, Mai thought she'd been cautious, minimizing the car accident's impact.
When her grandfather called yesterday with unprecedented seriousness to ask about Shiraki, she was stunned.
"Mai, this is top secret. You know what that means," her grandfather says, his usually kind face now stern.
"Top secret? How is that possible!" Mai blurts out, losing composure.
Regaining her poise quickly, she falls silent, eyes unfocused, expression dazed.
What kind of person did I hit!?
In the brightly lit conference room, silence reigns.
Four videos play on the big screen, seemingly from surveillance and bystander footage.
The focus is a figure in the background, extracted and pieced together with high-tech means into a coherent scene.
The final footage shows a black-haired youth in a black shirt roaring as he soars through the sky at speeds far exceeding ordinary aircraft, flying freely!
A human, with no equipment, flying!
Watching that mythical, carefree silhouette and Tokyo's bizarre cloud phenomenon, even these long-time power brokers feel an uncontrollable stir.
After the video ends, the room remains dead silent.
After a long pause, someone breaks the quiet.
Various theories and strategies are proposed, evoking a sense of impending change.
A faint cough sounds, and discussions cease within seconds as all eyes turn to the figure in the main seat.
"Before we discuss further, let's understand his situation," the old man says calmly, though worry creases his brow.
Secretaries distribute sealed folders and leave. The elders quickly open them.
"This…"
"Hiss~"
Hesitant murmurs, sharp intakes of breath, and heavy sighs fill the room.
Undoubtedly, the top-secret files contain Shiraki's personal data.
From childhood to present, detailed to the minutest degree, with recent information being the most comprehensive.
Where he's been, what he eats daily—all meticulously recorded.
But the highlighted key points trouble them.
Abandoned by his mother as a child, raised in a single-parent family.
Severe bullying in middle school, forcing two transfers.
Unfair treatment in high school and university, like scholarship quotas, all listed in detail.
In high school, he helped an elderly person who fell, only to be extorted for thousands of yuan.
In university, his family fell victim to a bride price scam.
After graduation, he worked at three companies, living a 996 or even 007 lifestyle, and lost a labor dispute with his first employer.
These could be considered "ordinary."
The worst was his father, a migrant worker, denied wages by a construction company. When he and coworkers demanded payment, they were labeled "malicious wage claimants" and detained.
Naturally, the wages weren't recovered. Later, while working at another site, he was killed by falling rebar, dying despite rescue efforts.
Facing young Shiraki, the construction firm paid only the minimum compensation.
Below the data, a national-level psychology team analyzed Shiraki's personality. The young doctor who once counseled him still trembles.
Surrounded by industry giants who'd make deans deferential, they grilled her about the depressed youth, down to how many sips of water he took.
After reading Shiraki's psychological analysis and personality profile, the room falls into deathly silence, the elders exchanging glances.
"Fortunately, it's not the worst-case scenario," the head elder sighs.
"But for now, we can't approach Shiraki directly. Every action must be meticulously planned, gentle and steady."
"Wait, this Mai Kisaragi… is she from the Kisaragi family?" a white-clad elder asks joyfully, looking at the car accident details.
"Kisa...Kisaragi, you mean…?"
All eyes turn to the white-clad elder.
Kasaragi isn't senior enough for this meeting, but the head elder recalls his information after the explanation.
"That girl handled it well. It's the only good news today."
Worried about how to naturally contact Shiraki, the car accident victim's identity is perfect for "justifiable" compensation.
"Next, contact with Shiraki will center on her. We must not arouse any suspicion from the target!" the head elder says sternly, setting the course.
Then, his gloom turns to anger.
"Also, it's time to clean up certain things!"
Given what he's been through, it's no wonder Shiraki's personality profile is so "cold."
Late into the night, the conference room remains brightly lit.
For some, tonight will be sleepless.
---
"Mm…"
Reverie lets out a lark-like trill.
Shiraki stops, exhaling deeply, entering a state of serene detachment.
"We bought too few; it's not enough," Shiraki says, brushing Reverie's hair behind her ear.
The warm, soft body curls in his arms. Reverie finds a comfortable position, picks up her phone to order more, then relaxes, closing her beautiful eyes.
That's enough for today; we'll continue tomorrow~!
As night deepens, their breathing slows.
But at a certain moment, both bolt upright, eyes wide, exchanging delighted glances.
Newcomers have entered the mysterious space!
As the hub of the mysterious space, Shiraki can vaguely sense its interior.
He quickly lies back down, his consciousness expertly delving into his soul's depths, while Reverie stays outside to watch over.
Weightlessness and slight dizziness follow. Shiraki opens his eyes to see three pale figures nearby.
It's normal for souls entering the mysterious space for the first time not to manifest clothes with cognition.
Shiraki ran naked here for ten days before learning to "wear" clothes.
No matter who he transmigrates into, Shiraki won't have an exhibitionist streak—that's for sure.
Now, the only issue is, why do these three newcomers' figures look off?
They seem, probably, maybe, possibly all girls!?
What the heck, why?
---
(T/N: "996" means working 9 AM–9 PM six days a week. "007" means being on call 24/7, seven days a week. Both describe extreme work cultures with little to no rest.)