Evening slowly settled in.
The president was still working alone in the Student Council room. When he finally glanced at the clock, he saw that it was already 6:00 p.m.
"…That's enough for today," he murmured. "I'll finish the rest tomorrow."
He paused for a moment, then added quietly,
"The festival is coming soon. I need to complete everything before that."
Standing up from his chair, he gathered all the papers and books on his desk, stacking them neatly together. He placed them into his bag and zipped it closed.
After that, he walked to the door and opened it.
Stepping outside, he turned back, closed the door, and locked it from the outside. He slipped the key into his pocket and walked down the hallway alone.
He reached the ground floor and stepped outside.
As he looked ahead, he noticed Yume standing at the school gate. She was waiting for him, standing quietly with her arms folded, her gaze turned toward the road.
When he reached her, he gently placed his hand on her shoulder from behind.
"Why are you still here, Yume?" he asked.
Yume was startled. She turned around quickly, her eyes widening. When she saw him, her face turned red.
"I… I was just waiting for you," she said shyly.
"Is there a problem?" he asked. "It's already late. I told you not to wait for me. You should have gone with Sora."
"I don't want to go with him," Yume replied softly. "Why don't you understand?"
He sighed. "You never listen to me. Not since we were children."
He started walking. "Come on. We're getting late. Are you coming with me or not?"
Yume hesitated for a second, then nodded. "…Wait. I'm coming too."
She hurried after him, and the two of them walked together along the quiet side road.
Yume thought to herself:
Why can't I say it?
I love him so much…
She had practiced so many times in her mind. She had imagined the moment again and again. But every time she wanted to say it, the words wouldn't come out. Her voice wouldn't move. She couldn't even look into his eyes.
The president noticed her silence. He glanced at her and frowned slightly.
"…Your face is really red," he said. "What's wrong with you? Do you have a fever or something?"
Yume froze for a moment. "N–No," she replied quickly. "I don't have a fever. I was just… thinking about something else."
She turned her face away and continued walking beside him.
The road ahead opened into a four-way intersection. The path they were walking on went straight, while three other roads branched out ahead.
Suddenly
A ball rolled out from the side of a house and bounced into the middle of the road.
A small girl, around eight years old, ran after it without hesitation. There were no other people around.
Then
From the front road, a truck came speeding toward them.
It wasn't moving straight. It swerved dangerously, as if the brakes had failed or the driver had lost control. Thick smoke poured from the back of the truck.
Both of them noticed it at the same time.
"—!"
The president reacted instantly.
He sprinted forward.
Yume gasped and ran after him.
The truck was getting closer.
The little girl didn't notice anything. She was focused on picking up her ball in the middle of the road.
Just as the truck was about to reach her
The president jumped forward and pushed the girl out of the way.
But
The truck couldn't stop.
It slammed into him instead.
Then
everything turned white.
A strange sound echoed, like static from a television switching channels.
The president slowly opened his eyes.
His head hurt badly. He groaned and grabbed his head with both hands, trying to focus. His vision was blurry, his body heavy, but little by little, the world came into view.
At first, he saw something flickering.
A TV.
Someone was sitting on the floor in front of it.
As his vision cleared, he realized it was an old man, calmly watching the screen.
"…Where am I?" the president asked weakly.
"And who are you?"
"…Am I alive?"
The old man didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he said calmly, "Look around you."
The president turned his head.
There was nothing.
No walls.
No floor.
No sky.
Just endless white space, stretching in every direction.
"…What does this mean?" the president asked quietly.
The old man smiled.
"Yes. What you're thinking is correct."
The president's eyes widened. "Then… how can you hear my thoughts?"
"Because," the old man replied, "I am God."
The president froze.
"You died," God continued, "because of my mistake"
"I know," the president interrupted suddenly.
God paused.
The president let out a tired sigh. "I've read enough isekai novels. You're going to say I can't return to my original world, right? And to make up for your mistake, you'll send me to another world with elves, demons, magic, and swords."
God stared at him for a moment.
Then
"No," God said.
"You're wrong."
The president looked up sharply. "If I want," God continued, "I can send you back to your original world."
The president was shocked. "What…? How is that possible? I was hit by a truck. I should be dead."
God clapped his hands.
The TV turned on.
On the screen
The president saw himself lying on a hospital bed.
Machines surrounded him. Doctors rushed back and forth. His body was covered in tubes, his eyes closed.
"He's in critical condition!"
"Prepare for emergency surgery!"
The scene was chaotic.
"…That's me," the president whispered. "But if I'm not dead… then how am I here?"
God clapped his hands again.
The TV turned off.
"Come here," God said calmly. "Sit in front of me."
The old man patted the space before him.
"If you want answers," he said, "I'll explain everything."
The president walked forward and sat down in front of God.
God looked at him calmly.
"You were brought here because of my mistake."
"…Your mistake?" the president asked. "What do you mean?"
God nodded slowly.
"I watch over many worlds. Sometimes, problems occur things like distortions… or black holes."
The president listened silently.
"In your world, Earth," God continued, "a small black hole suddenly appeared. I tried to erase it using my power. I managed to destroy it, but the force released was stronger than expected."
God paused.
"That power struck a nearby truck. The impact caused it to lose control."
The president's eyes widened slightly.
"That accident…" God said quietly, "was the result."
"…That's why you brought me here?" the president asked. "But I still don't understand. I'm not dead. I saw myself in the hospital. If I had died, I'd understand why I'm here. But why bring me here now?"
God looked at him for a long moment.
"I cannot answer that question," God said. "If you wish, I can send you back immediately. And when you return, I will erase all memories of this place of me."
The president clenched his fists.
"…Wait," he said suddenly.
God raised an eyebrow.
"I don't want to go back to that world anymore," the president said. "I know it sounds stupid… but I have my reasons."
He lowered his gaze.
"I can't tell you those reasons right now."