in this vast universe, there are things so strange that human imagination cannot even grasp them. we live our lives thinking we're in control but destiny has a cruel way of proving us wrong. sometimes, the things we never imagined.... become our only reality.
The morning air was thick with the scent of monsoon. Purple cherry blossom leaves drifted through the air, dancing in the wind before settling on the damp pavement. In the midst of this serenity, a boy was sprinting, his breath coming in sharp, frustrated gasps.
"Hi, my name is Yoru. And today... I'm late again."
Yoru gritted his teeth, his eyes cold and focused on the distance.
"My luck is absolute trash. My dream is to become the wealthiest man in this world, but if I keep being this reckless, I won't even become a beggar, let alone a billionaire. Why does this only happen to me? If I'm late for college today, the first impression is ruined. If the impression is ruined, then my dream... no, no, no! OMG!"
He burst into the classroom, lungs burning. "Sorry sir... my name is Yoru. I'm... sorry I'm late."
The professor gave him a sharp, cold look. "Go to your seat, you fool!"
Yoru sat down in silence, his expression returning to its usual stoic mask. The professor turned to the blackboard and asked the class, "Have any of you ever heard of a 'Parallel World'? Can anyone explain what it actually is?"
Yoru raised his hand instantly.
"Sir, I'll explain. A Parallel World is a simple concept. To put it in simple terms—if I read a book in this world, then in a parallel world, perhaps I didn't. It's simple: whatever we think becomes our reality there."
The professor nodded. "Very good. Sit down. That's all for today. Everyone, be on time tomorrow."
As soon as the class ended, Yoru's friends crowded around him. "Whoa, Yoru! How do you know so much about parallel worlds? Are you actually interested in this stuff?"
Yoru slung his bag over his shoulder, his gaze indifferent. "No. Why would I be? It's a useless thing. It's just the same—whatever we think, happens. There's nothing amazing about it. According to scientists, such things don't even exist."
"But man," his friend insisted, "don't you think there could be a world out there that's more amazing than our imagination? I saw Avengers yesterday, and that world was incredible!"
Yoru let out a cold, sharp laugh. "That only looks good in movies. Reality isn't that 'amazing.' It's just a waste of time."
The school bell rang for a half-day. On the way home, his friend spoke up again. "Yaar, I saw another movie yesterday about Vampires! Surely there must be a world in this universe that is beyond our imagination?"
"You idiot," Yoru snapped. "There's no such thing. It's all nonsense. In this world, only one kind of magic actually works: MONEY. If you have that, you have the ultimate power."
Yoru paused, watching a stray cat stalking a rat.
"My life is just like this," he thought. "In this scenario, we are the cat and money is the rat. The only difference is... a cat might give up. I never will."
"In this world, love and friendship are just illusions. A distraction. The man who abandons these things and thinks only of himself is the only one who becomes truly powerful. Everything in this world should happen according to my plan."
Suddenly, his friend ran up to him, looking panicked. "Yoru! Please, help me! This is my presentation for the Principal. I have to go somewhere urgent. Please, just drop it off at the office on the 20th floor!"
Yoru hesitated, but then he thought: "If I help him now, his wealthy father might help my business later. It's an investment."
"Fine," Yoru said. "I'll do it."
Back at the college, the elevator was broken. Yoru had to take the stairs. By the time he reached the 19th floor, his heart was hammering against his ribs. Suddenly, a strange kid appeared and started tugging at the file.
"Yoru! Is that a presentation? Show me! What is this?"
In the struggle, Yoru's foot slipped on the polished floor.
Time slowed down. As he plummeted from the 19th floor, one final thought echoed in his mind:
"Was my life really this short? I said it myself... in this world, you should only think about yourself. I thought about his presentation for a moment, and now, I'm going to die. I never imagined my life would end like this."
CRASH.
Darkness swallowed him.
...
Slowly, Yoru's eyes flickered open. A strange light surrounded him.
"Where am I? This isn't my school... it's not a hospital. Wait... why am I so small? I was fifteen... what is this? Oh no... where am I?"
He looked into a mirror. He was no longer the Yoru he knew. He was a child in a world where logic no longer existed.
THE END - CHAPTER 1