The crowd suddenly fell still.
The chaotic screams slowly dissolved into trembling whispers as every pair of eyes fixed forward—on the black-cloaked figures advancing across the field. Their footsteps were heavy and steady, perfectly measured, as if the panic suffocating the grassland meant nothing to them.
"H-Hey… what the hell is that!?"
A student's voice cracked in fear.
Kai, Duke, and Mike immediately abandoned their argument with the others and pushed toward the center of the crowd. On the opposite side, Hajime, Chad, and Daniel had already formed a line, their gazes locked onto the cloaked group.
Hajime swallowed. Sweat slid down his temple.
Hajime: "You guys… feel it too, right?"
Chad crossed his arms, muscles tensing instinctively like someone used to physical confrontation.
Chad: "Yeah. No way they're friendly."
Daniel adjusted his glasses slightly, eyes sharp.
Daniel: "This doesn't look good."
Behind them, the crowd began to unravel again. Several girls panicked and hid behind the boys, clutching their shirts with shaking hands.
"Please… don't kill us…"
"I don't want to die!"
Some boys shouted back in raw, selfish desperation:
"The hell with that! I want to live too!"
Hajime gritted his teeth and stepped forward. Chad and Daniel followed closely. At the same moment, Kai arrived from the other side. For a brief second, Kai and Hajime's eyes met.
Both froze.
Kai's thoughts. Hajime's thoughts.
That guy…
Before anyone could speak, the cloaked figures stopped directly in front of them—close enough that an invisible pressure seemed to weigh down the air itself.
Hajime inhaled slowly, forcing calm into his voice.
Hajime: "Who are you? What do you want from us?"
One figure stepped forward. A slender hand rose and slowly pulled back the hood.
The entire crowd held its breath.
A woman stood before them. Her hair was a vivid green, like fresh leaves after rain. Her skin was luminous, and her pale green eyes were deep—like sunlight filtering through a forest canopy. Her face looked gentle.
But her smile was… unreadable.
When she spoke, her voice was soft—yet it carried unnaturally far, reaching every ear.
"Greetings… travelers from another world."
She inclined her head slightly.
"I am Sopharie, emissary of Solarpunk."
Hajime frowned.
Hajime: "Solar… what?"
Sopharie smiled faintly.
Sopharie: "There is no need to fear. I mean you no harm. I brought you here for an important purpose."
A ripple of shock spread instantly through the crowd.
"She did this!?"
"She dragged us here!?"
Daniel stepped forward half a pace, voice calm but firm.
Daniel: "Why? And why us?"
Sopharie's gaze swept across the sea of young faces—fearful, angry, desperate.
Sopharie: "There is nothing to hide. You were summoned here for a glorious purpose ."
She paused deliberately before continuing.
"To save this world."
The crowd exploded.
"Save the world!?"
"You've got to be kidding!"
Hajime clenched his fists.
Hajime: "Don't lie to us."
Sopharie tilted her head slightly, almost amused.
Sopharie: "Lie?"
Hajime: "If this world truly needs saving, why summon a group of high school students from another world?"
Daniel added coldly:
Daniel: "You're entrusting the fate of your entire world to children who know nothing about it? That's absurd."
"Yeah!"
"Why us!?"
Sopharie raised her hand gently for silence.
Sopharie: "Please, calm yourselves. We have accounted for that."
Her smile softened.
Sopharie: "You were chosen because you are special."
"Special?"
"In what way?"
Hajime stared directly at her.
Hajime: "What makes us special?"
Sopharie stepped closer, her gaze lingering on him.
Sopharie: "You are young. Your hearts still carry hope. They remain uncorrupted."
She leaned in slightly, her voice lowering into something almost persuasive.
"We need people like that… to guide this world."
Then her eyes shifted subtly—locking onto Hajime again.
Sopharie: "Besides… weren't you tired of your old life?"
Hajime's eyes widened.
Familiar images flashed through his mind—endless repetition, hollow applause, admiration without meaning.
Bored…
Yeah… I was sick of it…
Sopharie continued, her voice like a warm spring breeze:
Sopharie: "Here, you can wield magic. Learn the sword. Become heroes."
The crowd wavered.
"Heroes…"
"I… I want to try magic…"
Whispers grew. Fear began to mix with temptation.
And then—
"DON'T YOU ALL MESS WITH ME!"
The furious shout tore through the air.
Every head snapped toward the sound.
Kai had stepped forward, Duke and Mike standing firmly behind him. His eyes were bloodshot, his jaw clenched so tight it trembled. His whole body shook with rage.
Kai: "Send us back. NOW."
Sopharie paused for just a fraction of a second before smiling again.
Sopharie: "But wasn't that life the one that made you so—"
"I SAID NOW!"
Kai roared, his voice cracking with fury but edged with something lethal.
The air froze.
On one side—promises of power, glory, and a new beginning.
On the other—desperation, anger, and the desperate longing to go home.