On a rainy day, a young man with black hair, thin, was walking through the streets with an umbrella. He seemed to be returning home, looking very tired.
"Ugh! I hate my job, but it's necessary. Gotta work to fill my stomach."
He exclaimed in a tone of exhaustion and kept walking, until he heard someone calling him.
—Aaaaarrrrlllleeeennnn! Wait for me!
She shouted! A young woman with red hair, delicate and beautiful, a little wet from the rain.
—Oh, what luck! I'm glad I found you, or else I'd have to walk home in this rain.
She said to Himari with a smile.
—Ah, it's you, Himari. How's work going?
Arlen replied.
—Same as always, it's complicated.
Himari responded with a tone of disappointment, but Arlen immediately asked,
—So, Himari, how are you?
Himari answered, and they continued walking while talking.
*"This is Himari, my friend—actually, my only friend. We've known each other since we were five. Our parents were close friends, so we naturally became friends ourselves."*
The two stopped, waiting to cross the street. Himari looked at Arlen, a little embarrassed, and asked hesitantly:
—Well… I was thinking… maybe we could go out to eat sometime?
Arlen panicked internally.
*"Oh my God… a girl… a girl is asking me out! No, calm down, it's Himari. So it's just as friends… I guess I can't refuse."*
He took a deep breath to calm himself and replied to Himari:
—Okay, Himari, I accept. How about tomorrow since it's the weekend?
—Sure, sounds good. Alright, the light's green—let's go.
They began walking across the crosswalk, when suddenly a car, out of control with its drunk driver, came speeding toward them.
*"Wait, that car's coming straight at us! I can't dodge it, I have to do something… if I don't, Himari will get hit. Move, body, move! At least I have to save Himari. Go!"*
Before colliding with the car, Arlen used his strength to push Himari forward, preventing her from being hit.
*"Well, at least I saved her… that's good."*
"Crash!" The car hit Arlen, throwing him aside and slamming his head into the ground. He lay there, practically dead, while the rain poured down.
—Aaaaarrrrlllleeeennnn!
Himari screamed desperately, kneeling next to Arlen.
—Arlen, wake up! Arlen, please don't die! Someone help, please, Arlen!
Desperate, she cried over Arlen's lifeless body as the rain soaked her. The firefighters arrived, but it was already too late.
—Damn it, Arlen… you promised to go out with me.
She said in sadness and anguish, as the rain continued falling.
Meanwhile, in a place filled with bright light but nothing else:
*"Where am I… where's my body? Oh, right, I was thrown upward… but I'm… in heaven? What?"*
—You are in my celestial temple!
A firm voice spoke, commanding respect.
—Huh? Who's talking? God… or the devil?
Arlen asked, confused and scared at the same time.
—It's me!
A goddess of celestial appearance appeared before Arlen, with long hair and a beautiful figure. She looked at him and said:
—Well, well… so you are Arlen?
—Yes, ma'am… it's me, in the flesh—or rather, in spirit, I guess?
—Arlen, I'm feeling lazy, so here's the deal: you died, but your action to save your friend was noble. Therefore, you will reincarnate… and blah blah blah.
Arlen looked confused, but the goddess didn't give him time to ask questions.
—So, that's it. You're going to reincarnate now. Bye!
The goddess opened a portal and sucked Arlen into it. Desperate, he screamed:
—Wait, what kind of power is this?! What do I do?! A lazy goddess?!
After passing through the portal, Arlen appeared lying on the ground near a lake. He quickly stood up, looked at the sky, and shouted in anger:
—Hey, lazy goddess! This isn't how isekai works in the shows I watched! You didn't explain anything!
—Now I'm screwed… what do I do?