As Elio began his daily routine—tidying his bed, stretching by the window, washing his face, and preparing breakfast—his thoughts refused to settle.
The group chat.
The invitations.
The responsibility.
He flipped a pancake with absentminded precision, staring at the rising steam from his coffee.
"Should I use all five invitations… or just one at a time?"
He took a slow bite of his breakfast, but even the sweetness of syrup couldn't quiet his mind. He had five tickets to invite random individuals across the multiverse. Five potential strangers. Five unknown variables.
Using all five at once might overwhelm him.
Using them one at a time might make things awkward.
He sighed.
His introverted nature was becoming painfully obvious in this situation—which was ironic, considering he worked as a nurse. At the hospital, he could speak confidently, move efficiently, and interact like a social butterfly.
But outside of work?
He was a quiet loner who preferred peace over people.
"I need to do something," he muttered.
After finishing breakfast, he washed the dishes and began cleaning his apartment. He might procrastinate sometimes, but he never ignored his responsibilities. Scrubbing the counters and sweeping the floor helped calm him. Repetition cleared his thoughts.
While wiping down the shelves, he remembered he needed to visit the supermarket. He had received his paycheck yesterday and needed to restock supplies for the coming month.
Then there was the balikbayan box.
Gifts for his family back in the Philippines.
Snacks. Clothes. Small comforts from overseas.
His list of responsibilities was growing longer by the minute.
"I'll think about the chat after groceries," he decided.
Once the apartment was spotless, he wrapped the extra pancakes he had made and placed them neatly on a plate. Instead of storing them away, he stepped outside and walked toward the neighboring apartment.
Some people might think it unnecessary.
But Elio couldn't ignore someone he knew needed quiet support.
"Knock, knock."
"Hello? Is anyone home?"
He waited. A moment later, footsteps shuffled behind the door.
"Coming!"
The door swung open to reveal a chubby teenager with tan skin, messy brown hair, and oversized glasses slightly slipping down his nose. He was still in pajamas, yawning widely, eyes heavy with sleep.
Noah Park. Eighteen years old. High school senior.
A stereotypical geek and proud otaku—but also a bright and kind-hearted kid.
"Good morning, Mr. Elio!" Noah greeted with a cheerful smile that didn't quite hide the faint dark circles under his eyes.
"Good morning, Noah. Sorry if I woke you. I made too many pancakes, so I thought I'd bring the extras. I didn't want them to go to waste."
Noah's face lit up. "Thank you so much! Grandma and Grandpa will love this. They said your cooking is amazing. Honestly, you should open a restaurant—we'd eat there every day!"
Elio chuckled softly. "I think I'll stick to nursing."
Despite Noah's easy smile, things hadn't always been this bright.
Two years ago, Noah had been a very different person.
Bullied during his freshman year. Crushed by the sudden loss of both parents in a car accident. The weight of grief and isolation had been too much for a young teenager to carry.
He had tried to end his life.
Fortunately, his grandparents found him in time and called for help. The ambulance arrived quickly. His condition stabilized at the hospital.
Elio had been assigned to his case.
He still remembered that first day vividly—the hollow look in Noah's eyes. The silence. The emotional numbness.
Elio didn't force conversation. He simply stayed. Asked gentle questions. Gave space when needed.
For days, Noah barely responded.
But slowly—very slowly—he began to open up.
He spoke about the bullying. The loneliness. The guilt of surviving when his parents hadn't. The fear of being left behind.
Elio listened.
Not as a nurse checking boxes on an assessment form.
But as a human being.
When Noah finally broke down, sobbing uncontrollably, Elio stayed by his side. He let him cry. Let him release everything that had been festering inside.
He stayed for hours until exhaustion took Noah into sleep.
From there, healing began.
Over time, they grew closer. Noah started talking about comics, anime, games—his passions. Elio listened, sometimes not fully understanding the references, but always appreciating the excitement in the boy's voice.
Elio became Noah's first real friend during high school.
When Noah was finally discharged, both of them felt the separation deeply.
But fate had a strange sense of humor.
When Elio moved into his current apartment months later, he discovered that Noah lived right next door.
The reunion had been unexpectedly joyful. Noah's grandparents were endlessly grateful. They welcomed Elio warmly, helping him adjust to life in America.
In many ways, the Park family had become his second home.
"Oh, by the way," Elio said, snapping back to the present. "I'm on vacation leave today. If you're free later, maybe we can play Minecraft after I get back from the supermarket."
Noah's eyes sparkled. "Really?!"
Then his excitement dimmed.
"Actually, I can't. I need to study for my Math and Chemistry exams, and I still have to finish my History project, so I don't really have much time. Sorry, Mr. Elio."
Elio nodded approvingly. "That's good. But don't forget to rest. Studying nonstop won't help if you burn out."
"I will, Mr. Elio! Goodbye!"
Noah retreated inside, already mentally switching into study mode.
As Elio walked down the apartment stairs and headed toward the nearby supermarket, his thoughts felt lighter.
Helping someone—even in small ways—always grounded him.
Maybe he didn't need to overthink everything.
Maybe decisions didn't have to be perfect.
He would figure out the invitation tickets after groceries.
For now, he just needed milk, vegetables, and a clearer mind.
And somewhere deep inside, the Administrator system waited patiently.
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(Noon)
After returning from the supermarket, Elio pushed open the door to his apartment with a tired sigh. Both hands were filled with grocery bags, his arms straining slightly from the weight. He had bought enough supplies to last the entire month—rice, canned goods, vegetables, cleaning materials, toiletries.
His kitchen would be fully stocked.
His body, however, felt otherwise.
"Ha… gosh. I should probably buy a scooter next time I go shopping," he muttered, dropping the bags near the counter before collapsing onto the couch.
The walk back from the supermarket hadn't been long—but carrying everything by hand made it feel twice the distance.
As a nurse, physical strength was necessary. He frequently assisted patients in moving, supported their weight, and even changed bed linens while they were still lying down. It wasn't easy work.
He did go to the gym.
Occasionally.
Very occasionally.
And it was absolutely not because he preferred watching TV and playing games during his free time.
Definitely not.
He let out a breath and sat upright.
"Alright… let's do this."
Decision made.
He took out his phone and opened the app that had mysteriously appeared earlier that day:
[Multiverse Chat Group.]
He had tried deleting it.
It didn't work.
He restarted his phone.
Still there.
He even checked his gaming phone.
The app was there too.
At that point, he gave up and accepted his fate.
The screen flickered softly.
[Welcome! To the Multiverse Chat Group, Admin Reluctant_Recluse.]
"…Reluctant_Recluse? Really?" Elio groaned. "I know I'm introverted, but come on…"
He pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Can I at least change my username?"
[No. You cannot change your username. It was predetermined by the Group Chat.]
"Figures."
He sighed in defeat.
"Use two Random Invitation Letters."
A brief glow pulsed across the screen.
[You have used two Random Invitation Letters.]
[Two random individuals from different worlds have been selected.]
[Congratulations! Two individuals have joined the Multiverse Chat Group.]
[Welcome! Member Fairy_Titania.]
[Welcome! Member Unlucky_Alcoholic.]
The chat immediately came alive.
[Unlucky_Alcoholic]: What the hell…? I knew I shouldn't have mixed that last bottle. Some glowing screen just popped up in front of me. When I touched it, I suddenly understood what it does…Okay. Either I'm hallucinating, or this is bad.
[Fairy_Titania]: This is not an illusion. I sensed no magical interference beforehand. Yet when I made contact with this object, knowledge was directly transmitted into my mind. Explain yourself.
Elio swallowed.
No pressure.
[Reluctant_Recluse]: Please remain calm. I assure you, this is neither a trap nor an attack. I will clarify everything.
[Unlucky_Alcoholic]: Yeah? Funny way of showing it, kid. You the one behind this?
Elio inhaled slowly.
Calm voice. Neutral tone. De-escalate first.
[Reluctant_Recluse]: I understand your suspicion. So I'll introduce myself first. My name is Eliandro Cruz—Elio for short. I'm twenty-five years old. I serve as the Administrator of this chat group.I currently reside in Minnesota and work as a hospital nurse.
A brief silence.
Then—
[Unlucky_Alcoholic]: Name's Qrow Branwen. Huntsman. I deal with Grimm. If this is some kind of trick, I'll warn you now—I've dealt with worse.
[Fairy_Titania]: I am Erza Scarlet. S-Class Mage of the Fairy Tail Guild, located in the Kingdom of Fiore. If this is hostile magic, I will respond accordingly.
Elio nearly dropped his phone.
Stay calm. Don't do anything unnecessary, just stay calm.
[Unlucky_Alcoholic]: Minnesota? Fiore? Never heard of either. And trust me, I've been around Remnant.
[Fairy_Titania]: Remnant is unfamiliar to me as well. Neither Minnesota nor this "Remnant" exists within Earth Land's recorded territories.
[Unlucky_Alcoholic]: Alright… so either we're all crazy, or this thing's bigger than I thought.
Elio straightened.
Time to take control of the room.
[Reluctant_Recluse]: You are both correct in your observations. The reason your locations do not align is because you are not on the same world. You are communicating across separate universes.
Pause.
A longer one this time.
[Unlucky_Alcoholic]: Hehe, okay. That's new. You're telling me this is some kind of cross-world scroll?
[Fairy_Titania]: Interdimensional communication…If that is your claim, you will provide a thorough explanation. Vague answers will not suffice.
Elio exhaled.
[Reluctant_Recluse]: Have either of you encountered the concept known as the Multiverse Theory?
[Unlucky_Alcoholic]: Can't say I have. But I've seen enough weird stuff in my life not to dismiss it outright.
[Fairy_Titania]: I am unfamiliar with the term. However, if this concerns parallel existences, I require clarification.
Elio leaned back against the couch.
"Hoo boy… this is going to take longer than I expected."
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(TO BE CONTINUED)
Name: Eliandro "Elio" Cruz
Ability: Quick Learner
Multiverse Chat Group
Administrator: Eliandro "Elio" Cruz (Username: Reluctant_Recluse)
Members:
Erza Scarlet (Username: Fairy_Titania)
Qrow Branwen (Username: Unlucky_Alcoholic)