There was nothing.
Then there was light. A bright, colourless light.
Yoru squinted to see through the glare. His body felt light, and he could barely breathe, if at all. He blinked slowly and often until the world around him started to make sense.
A room. Just white. No corners, no shadows. A never-ending bright void. He lay on something that felt like thick air.
"Where am I...?"
His voice was hoarse, like a ghost's.
Yoru sat up slowly, his hands shaking. He felt like he hadn't moved in a hundred years, but it took work. He didn't hurt on the outside, but something inside did.
He looked around. There was nothing there. No walls. No roof. Just white, a room that goes on forever.
Then he realised what was going on.
"I remember that I died."
The truck was the last thing he remembered. The sound of brakes screeching. He used a shinai to push the little kid away from the truck. The light was so bright that it was like this room, and then it went dark.
He let out a breath and shut his eyes. His memories came back in a flash: his ruined life, his parents, the hospital, Daichi's mother, the tears, the regret, and the peace. The choice.
"...I died because I was stupid again," he said. "I put in everything. Again. For a person I didn't even know.
Yoru's shoulders shook.
He said softly, "If I get a second life, I'm done helping people." I'm going to put myself first. I will live for myself. Have fun in life. "And Stop acting like a hero."
"That can be done," said a voice.
Yoru flinched. He didn't hear a voice; it was a soft, soothing sound that echoed in his head.
"Who?"
"Let's just say I'm a god."
Yoru was shocked and stood up. "A god?"
"Yes. One of many. And I have to say, Miyazaki Yoru, I've been watching you for a long time."
Yoru squinted. That meant he had seen everything he had done? "That's disgusting," Yoru said under his breath.
The voice laughed. "Maybe. But your story is amazing. You're nice. Very nice. And see where that got you."
"Don't act like you're on my side,"Yoru said in a cold voice." "You made that world, you let evil run free, and you didn't punish the bad. You let it all happen."
The room with the white walls went quiet.
"I didn't make your world. But I did watch. And I learnt. Morality in people is hard to understand. You act like you have to pay back kindness. But is it nice if you want something in return?"
"Don't get philosophical about this. I'm just venting," Yoru said angrily, annoyed by the god's logical answer.
"Of course," said the god. "But you're not wrong. That world was mean to you. Even when you did everything right."
The room was quiet again.
"So what now?" Yoru wanted to know what would happen to him.
The voice said, "You have two choices." "You can leave. Take a break. Let it all go. Or..".
Yoru raised an eyebrow. "There's always a 'or,' huh?"
"…Or you can start again. In a different world."
Yoru turned away. "No, thanks. I'm done with this life. "I died as a good person, and I think that's the best thing a person can do."
The god replied calmly, "I thought you would say that." "But what if I told you that I could bring peace to the people you left behind?"
Yoru's breath stopped.
"Your mum and dad. Their pain, their bills. I can pick it up. And Daichi's mum. "I can give her the stability she needs."
"Can you do that?"
"I am offering. But only if you take the second life."
Yoru made fists. He remembered his parents. Yes, they kicked him out, but they also made him lunch every day. He held his hand when he was scared. Brought him into the world and raised him.
He thought about Daichi's mother, who was always tired and had a lot on her plate. He remembered how grateful she was to him.
"Ahhh, damn it..."
The god said, "I won't ask again."
Yoru shut his eyes. "Okay. I'm in."
The voice of the god sounded happy. "I knew you'd pick it."
"Don't act like you know me. "I'm not even sure who I am," Yoru said, annoyed.
The god said, "Very well." "I'll give you a small advantage as a gift. You could say it's a blessing."
"Wait," Yoru said, stopping the god's words and going on. "What kind of world is it?"
"Ah. A world of swords and magic. Miracles, monsters, and kings. Just like the games you used to play at night."
Yoru blinked. A small smile crept into the corner of his mouth. "Not that I'm looking forward to going. I'm just interested, that's all." Yoru lied; of course he was excited by what the god described.
"Of course," the god said with a smirk in his voice. "And you won't be lost. You will have a plan. A guide. I don't think you'll like them, though."
"Hold on, what do you mean?"
"Good luck, brave hero."
"Wait—hero? Hey, wait a minute—"
"Save Elarion."
The light blew up.
He took a deep breath.
The world turned.
He coughed hard and fell forward. His hands hit a hard floor. He had short, ragged breaths.
He opened his eyes.
He was in a small, dirty bathroom. There was a strong smell of mould and metal. His head hurt and his vision was blurry, but it was slowly getting better.
He groaned as he sat up slowly. "Where...?"
Then he saw it.
He had a katana in his left hand.
There was a deep cut on his right palm that was bleeding. There was fresh blood on the tip of the katana.
He yelled in shock. The pain was sharp, but the wound closed up on its own just as quickly. The skin closed up in a matter of seconds. There was only a faint scar left.
He stared.
"Did I... wake up in the body of someone who tried to kill themselves?"
No sound. There was no sound in the bathroom, and Yoru was still trying to figure things out.
"Really, God? This is the body you gave me?"
He laughed in a bitter way.
Yoru stood up and looked at himself in the bathroom mirror. He looked back.
The face looking back was strange, but not completely. Like his own on Earth. With skin that is lighter and features that are sharper. A mole is on the left side of his lips and under his left eye. Dark hair that is messy, Looked young around 15 to 17.
"It wasn't bad," he said. "Too good-looking."
Then a sound to let you know. A blue screen that glowed appeared in front of him.
[Status] Name: Cane Eltis Fifteen years old
He blinked.
"...Cane?"
"Like a stick to walk with?"
Another bell.
[System Started] [Connecting to personality... done.]
Yoru said, "Hello?"
He heard a flat voice in his head. [Hey. I don't like working with people like you.]
"Excuse me?"
[You are a complete failure.]
"...What?"
[Check out your numbers. Then we'll talk.]
A new screen opened:
[Status - Common Limit]
Strength: F-
Endurance: F-
Agility: F-
Intelligence F-
Mana: F-
Mental: F-
Durability: F-
Charm: A
Yoru stared. "…Wow."
[See? Told you.]
"…I transmigrated into a guy who tried to kill himself… with garbage stats… and a name that means stick."
He sighed. "Yep. I'm screwed."