Akari Sato was the definition of "average"—average grades, average looks, average popularity.
But beneath that "ordinary high school girl" label hid her greatest secret:
She was an Otaku Supreme.
Romance anime? She devoured them.
Otome games? She dominated every route.
Grind-heavy RPGs? Her stamina could shame professional gamers.
"Finally! Today's the day!" Akari whispered to herself as the bell rang. "Love Quest Online just released its new event! Time to grind affection points with my husbando!"
Her classmates, chatting about TikTok and exams, had no idea that beneath her polite smile hid a girl whose life revolved around digital love stories.
She walked out of the school gate, excitement bubbling inside her chest like soda. "Hehehe~ I'll finally unlock the secret CG scene!"
But fate, as usual, had terrible timing.
VROOOOOM!
"Eh?"
A blinding light.
A horn.
Then—impact.
Her body flew through the air before everything went black.
Voices screamed. Phones clicked. The world blurred into silence.
'Ah… so this is how it ends, huh,' Akari thought weakly.
'Man, I didn't even finish the event story…'
She chuckled in her mind, the sound echoing in the void.
'I wish… if I get reincarnated or something… I want to stay me. And maybe… have some unique powers too. Like those main characters who get overpowered skills!'
Her vision faded.
A few moments (or eternities) later…
"...Huh?"
When Akari opened her eyes again, she wasn't surrounded by blood or chaos—but by the smell of tea and the sight of an old man sipping from a porcelain cup.
"Oh, you're awake," said the man calmly, as if they were having a casual meeting. "Welcome, young soul."
Akari blinked. "Uh… who are you, Ojii-san? Did I… die?"
The old man smiled, stroking his beard. "Indeed. I am God."
"Ah, makes sense." Akari nodded seriously.
The old man froze mid-sip. "...You believe that easily?"
"Well, I got hit by a truck at full speed," she said casually. "There's like, a 99.9% chance I'm dead. And if someone shows up in a weird place drinking tea, claiming to be God, I'd say that's a pretty high accuracy rate."
The old man stared for a moment—then laughed heartily. "HAHA! What an interesting mortal! Most scream, cry, or doubt me. You simply calculate probabilities!"
"I play a lot of RPGs," Akari shrugged. "Logic-based survival."
The "God" wiped a tear of laughter. "Well then, allow me to explain. Your death was… an error."
"...Error?"
"Yes. The God of Death misclicked."
Akari blinked twice. "So… my death was a… system glitch?"
"Essentially."
She stared at the table, speechless. "Wow. Even the afterlife has bugs."
The old man coughed. "Ahem! I, however, am the God of Reincarnation. And since this wasn't supposed to happen, I shall grant you another life."
Akari's eyes sparkled. "Reincarnation?! Like, a fantasy world type? With magic and swords and handsome princes?!"
"Yes," he replied with a smile. "A medieval world where magic flows like air and swords sing of destiny."
"YES! FINALLY! MY TIME HAS COME!" Akari stood up dramatically, fists in the air. "Let me in! I'm ready to be OP!"
The God chuckled. "Would you prefer to start as a baby, or continue in your current form?"
"Obviously as I am! Re-learning how to walk and talk? Hard pass."
"As you wish," the God said, raising a hand. "And as compensation for your… unfortunate accident, I shall also grant you one special ability."
Akari clasped her hands like she'd just pulled an SSR card. "A cheat skill?!"
"Indeed. But remember," the God said, his tone softening. "Power can corrupt. If you use it for evil, your soul will vanish from all realms."
"Got it! Power, but no world domination. Promise!"
The God smiled kindly. "Then let us seal that promise."
A bright light enveloped the room. Akari felt warmth bloom in her chest—a divine mark glowing faintly on her hand.
"Woah… this feels like a cutscene," she muttered.
"Your journey begins now, Akari Sato," the God's voice echoed as the world turned to light. "May your soul find purpose in the world beyond."
"Thank you, God! I'll make sure to use my powers for—"
ZOOOOM!
Her words were cut short as her body was sucked into a shining portal.
"—for probably something cool and dramatic!" she yelled as she disappeared.
The God sighed, chuckling to himself. "She'll either save the world… or cause me paperwork again."
To be continued...