It was a bright, sunny morning when Akira slowly opened his eyes. He lazily turned his head toward the clock.
"Damn… 07:38?! I'm gonna be late!"
He shot out of bed.
Within minutes, he had rushed through a quick bath, threw on his uniform, grabbed his backpack, and sprinted out of the house. His feet pounded against the pavement as he ran toward the train station, barely catching it in time.
By the time he reached the school gate, he was completely out of breath.
Waiting there was his best—and only—friend.
"Wow, Akira. Late as usual," Hayato said with a smirk.
"S-sorry… stayed up late watching Monster Slayers…" Akira replied, panting heavily.
Hayato raised an eyebrow. "Did you even study?"
"Yeah… a little," Akira defended weakly.
"Let's hurry."
"Right!"
The two rushed to class and, luckily, weren't too late. They slipped into their seats and settled into the lesson.
Akira and Hayato sat close together.
Akira was a closet otaku—he loved anime and manga but kept it hidden. He didn't talk to many people. Most found him awkward or a bit too energetic. Still, beneath that, he was cheerful, hyperactive, and endlessly optimistic. His grades were average, but he was naturally athletic.
Hayato was similar in some ways—also a closet otaku—but far more composed. Reserved in public, but completely open around Akira. Unlike him, though…
Hayato had a girlfriend.
After class, the two walked out together.
"Hey," Akira said, scratching the back of his head, "can we hang out today? Maybe game or watch something at my place? It's been like… two weeks. I'm starting to feel unneeded."
Hayato hesitated.
"Sorry… I'm meeting Ayase this afternoon. Maybe tomorrow? I promise. Or we can chat tonight if you're free."
Akira forced a smile. "Must be nice… having a girlfriend."
"Yeah," Hayato replied casually. "It really is nice."
"I was being sarcastic," Akira said flatly. "We barely hang out anymore because of her."
"…Sorry. I mean, this was bound to happen eventually. Maybe you should get yourself a girlfriend too."
Akira laughed dryly. "As if I haven't tried. Who would even spare me a glance? I'm just not that kind of guy."
"Don't sell yourself short," Hayato said. "You're plenty attractive."
"You only say that because you know me," Akira replied. "And we're best friends. Anyway… no point arguing over something so small."
"…Still. I meant what I said."
Before Hayato could say more—
"Hayato! Hi!"
A girl approached them with a bright smile.
"…Damn, she's cute. You lucky bastard…" Akira muttered under his breath.
"Ayase, glad you're here. Shall we go?" Hayato said.
"Sure!" she replied cheerfully.
"Talk later, bruh," Akira said, already turning away.
As he walked off, his shoulders slumped.
"Man… I even saved up money for us," he muttered. "Hayato, you suck…"
He stared at the ground as he walked.
"I want a girlfriend too… but no one's interested in me anyway."
He sighed.
"Might as well grab something to eat and head home."
Back home, Akira changed into comfortable clothes and spent the evening watching anime.
Time passed.
By the time the clock hit 8 PM, he got up, took a bath, and checked his phone.
A headline caught his attention:
"Warning: Avoid going out at night. Serial killer on the loose. 8 confirmed dead this week."
"…This is more serious than I thought," he muttered. "I should be careful…"
Buzz.
A message popped up.
Hayato: What's up? You doing fine?
Akira sighed, then typed back.
Akira: As if I am. But hey, I finished Monster Slayers.
The two continued chatting.
Hayato: Sorry about today. Hope you're not mad.
Akira: What am I, a girl? Why would I get pissed over something like that?
Hayato: Fair point. Hey, I'm near your house. Wanted to pass by since it's on the way.
Akira: Damn. You enjoyed yourself, didn't you?
Hayato: You bet. It was fun.
Akira: …Sure it was.
Akira quickly got dressed and stepped outside.
"Hey."
"Hey," Hayato replied. "Can I come in?"
"Yeah, but not for long. You saw the news, right?"
"…Yeah."
"Why don't you just stay over?" Akira suggested.
"As fun as that sounds… I didn't tell my parents. You know I don't live alone like you."
"…Then I'll walk you a bit."
"No, it's fine. You might be in danger too."
"And you expect me to let you go alone while I sit inside watching anime?" Akira scoffed. "No way. At least let me even the odds—50/50."
Hayato sighed. "…Sometimes I forget that side of him."Hayato sighed
"…Fine. If you insist."
"I'll grab my bat," Akira said, rushing inside.
"…That's exactly why I'd rather you stayed home," Hayato muttered.
Akira came back out, holding the bat.
"Wow. That's rich coming from someone who's been ditching me all week—and still doesn't want my company."
"…I'm sorry. It's just—forget it. Let's go."
"Sure," Akira said. "When I get a girlfriend, I'll neglect you too."
"I knew you were pissed."
"Drop it," Akira said. "So what have you been watching lately?"
"…That shoujo anime you recommended. Have Me Married by Accident."
Akira's eyes lit up. "No way. How far are you?"
And just like that, things felt normal again.
They laughed. Talked. Argued about characters.
Like they used to.
Eventually, they reached the point where they had to part ways.
"Alright… I'll head back," Akira said.
"Really? Just when things were getting interesting?"
"Yeah. See you tomor—whenever."
"'Whenever'?" Hayato frowned.
"Even if we meet tomorrow, you'll probably have plans with Ayase," Akira replied.
Hayato froze.
"…I had no idea…"
This is what I've been doing to him…
He barely talks to anyone… I'm the only person he opened up to… and I've been pushing him away…
He might even start hating me…
I need to fix this.
"Akira," he called out, turning toward him. "Tomorrow, I promise—I'll make it up to you."
But—
Akira was on the ground.
Bleeding.
"…What…?"
Hayato's heart stopped.
He rushed forward. "Buddy—what happened?!"
"…Run…" Akira whispered weakly.
And then—
SHHK!
A blade pierced Hayato's chest.
He collapsed beside Akira.
Their eyes met.
Fear. Pain. Shock.
"…Hayato… are we… gonna die…?" Akira whispered. "I'm scared…"
"…We… should try… to hang on…" Hayato said faintly.
Akira gave a weak, trembling smile.
"…Hey… you think… we'll get isekai'd after this…?"
"Don't… talk like that…"
"…If we do… let's… make a code… so we recognize each other…"
"…Fine… do whatever you want…"
"…The code is—"
His voice stopped.
His eyes went still.
"…Akira?"
"…Hey… I'm still listening…"
Silence.
"…Akira…?"
Realization hit.
"…No… no, no, no—!"
"Akira… please… don't go…"
"I didn't fix anything… I didn't make it up to you…"
"I promise… I won't neglect you again…"
"…Akira…"
His voice faded.
Darkness took him too.
Akira Sakura and Hayato Kamisaki…
…both perished that night.
Slowly…
Hayato opened his eyes.
"…He's opening his eyes. Isn't he adorable?" a woman's voice said gently.
"Yes," a man replied warmly. "And he has your black eyes, dear."
"…Where am I…?" Hayato thought, confused.
"Who are these people…?"
Elsewhere—
"…She's beautiful," a woman whispered.
"Our little angel…" a man said softly. "What should we name her?"
"…Wait… what…?" Akira thought.
"Who are these people…?"
"…And who is this… gorgeous lady…?"
Both minds raced.
Both hearts pounded.
And then—
From two different places…
At the same time—
"Am..i…REINCARNATED?!"