Ren Takeda was a boy who believed in worlds that did not exist.
At least… that is what everyone told him.
He was sixteen years old and lived in a quiet town where nothing exciting ever happened. Every morning he woke up, went to school, listened to teachers talk about subjects he barely cared about, and returned home the same way every day.
The same streets.
The same buildings.
The same boring routine.
But Ren's mind was never really in that world.
Instead, it was somewhere else.
In another world.
A world filled with magic, swords, heroes, and mysterious kingdoms. A world where ordinary people could become legends.
Ren loved those kinds of stories more than anything. After finishing his homework every night, he sat on his bed with his phone and watched anime about heroes who were suddenly transported to fantasy worlds.
In those stories, the main character always started as someone normal.
Someone like him.
And then one day…
Everything changed.
A glowing magic circle would appear. A mysterious god would call their name. Or a portal would open and pull them into another world.
Every time Ren watched those scenes, his heart would beat faster.
What if that happened to me?
The thought always stayed in his mind.
But when the episode ended, the screen went dark, and Ren was left staring at the ceiling of his small room.
The silence always reminded him of the truth.
That kind of thing never happened in real life.
Or so everyone said.
That night, the sky was clear and full of stars.
Ren stepped out onto the small balcony outside his room. A cool wind passed through the quiet street below. The town was already asleep.
He rested his arms on the railing and looked up at the endless sky.
"So many stars…" he murmured.
For a moment, he imagined those stars as different worlds.
Different adventures waiting somewhere far away.
Ren closed his eyes and smiled softly.
"I wish I could go to an isekai world," he whispered.
The words felt childish the moment he said them.
Still… he meant them.
More than anything.
He wanted to leave this quiet town and see something incredible. He wanted to explore strange lands, learn magic, fight monsters, and meet people from worlds he had only seen in stories.
Even if it was dangerous.
Even if it was impossible.
Ren slowly opened his eyes again.
And that was when he saw it.
A light.
High in the sky, something was shining.
At first, Ren thought it was just a falling star.
But it wasn't moving.
Instead, it slowly grew brighter… and brighter.
Ren's heart skipped a beat.
"…Wait."
The light began descending from the sky.
Straight toward him.
Ren stood frozen as the glowing sphere of light stopped only a few meters in front of his balcony.
It floated quietly in the air like a tiny sun.
Ren's hands trembled.
"Is this… real?"
Then a voice echoed from the light.
It was calm, gentle, and impossible to tell if it belonged to a man or a woman.
"Human… you have called for another world."
Ren's eyes widened.
His heart started racing so fast he could hear it in his ears.
"T-This is…!"
His dream.
This was exactly like the scenes from the stories he loved.
The voice spoke again.
"You wish to leave this world and enter another."
Ren stepped forward without thinking.
"Yes!" he said quickly. "I want to go! Please send me!"
For a moment, the light stayed silent.
Ren waited nervously.
This was it.
This was the moment his life would change forever.
But then the voice spoke again.
And the words it said shattered everything.
"…I am sorry."
Ren blinked.
"Sorry…?"
"You cannot go."
The words felt heavy.
Like a door closing.
Ren stared at the light in confusion.
"W-What do you mean? Why not?"
The voice answered calmly.
"The gate between worlds can only open for chosen souls."
Ren felt his chest tighten.
"And… I'm not chosen?" he asked quietly.
"…No."
The light flickered softly.
"You are not one of them."
Ren's hands slowly clenched.
"But… I want to go," he said.
"I know."
"Then send me anyway!"
"I cannot."
The glowing sphere slowly began to rise back into the sky.
Ren suddenly stepped forward and reached out.
"Wait!"
His voice echoed into the quiet night.
"Please! I'll do anything! I just want one chance!"
But the light kept moving farther away.
"The world you belong to is here," the voice said gently.
"Goodbye."
The light disappeared into the stars.
And the sky became dark again.
Silent.
Empty.
Ren stood on the balcony without moving.
His hand was still stretched toward the sky.
After a long moment, he slowly lowered it.
"…So that's it."
His voice sounded hollow.
He let out a small, bitter laugh.
"Even another world doesn't want me."
Ren turned around and walked back into his room.
But just before he closed the balcony door…
Something strange happened.
Far above the clouds, a faint magic circle appeared in the sky.
It was enormous.
Lines of glowing symbols slowly rotated around its center.
Ren froze.
"…What is that?"
The circle looked ancient.
Powerful.
And completely different from the light that had just rejected him.
Ren's eyes narrowed.
If the world refused to send him…
Then maybe…
He didn't need permission.
Ren slowly clenched his fists.
"If I can't be chosen…"
His voice became firm.
"…then I'll force my way into another world."
Outside, the giant magic circle continued to glow in the sky.
As if it had been waiting for someone exactly like him.
Ren stood on the balcony, staring at the strange glowing circle in the sky.
It was huge.
Even though it was far above the clouds, he could clearly see its shape. Thin lines of light formed a perfect circle, and strange symbols slowly rotated around its center.
The light was soft but powerful.
It looked ancient.
Ren's heart began beating faster again.
"…A magic circle?" he whispered.
He had seen many magic circles in anime and fantasy games. But seeing one in the real sky felt completely different.
This one felt real.
Alive.
Ren stepped closer to the railing and squinted his eyes.
"Was that here before…?"
The answer was obvious.
No.
If something like that had appeared in the sky earlier, the entire town would have noticed.
But the street below was quiet.
The houses were dark.
No one else seemed to see it.
Ren slowly looked around.
"Am I… the only one who can see this?"
The thought made a chill run down his spine.
He looked back up at the circle.
The glowing symbols were slowly turning, like gears of a giant machine.
Ren suddenly remembered the words of the mysterious voice.
You are not chosen.
His chest tightened.
"So that's why…"
Maybe that light was something different.
Something that wasn't meant for the chosen heroes.
Something else entirely.
Ren leaned against the railing and stared at the sky for a long time.
A strange feeling slowly grew inside his heart.
Excitement.
Hope.
And determination.
If the world refused to send him…
Then maybe he could open the door himself.
Ren quietly laughed to himself.
"…This sounds crazy."
But for the first time in a long time, he didn't feel bored.
He felt alive.
A few minutes later, the magic circle slowly faded away.
The sky returned to normal as if nothing had happened.
Ren blinked.
"…It disappeared."
For a moment he wondered if he had imagined everything.
But the memory of that glowing circle was still clear in his mind.
Too clear to be a dream.
Ren went back into his room and sat at his desk.
His computer screen lit up the dark room.
"Alright…" he said quietly.
His fingers moved quickly across the keyboard.
If there was even the smallest chance that other worlds existed…
Then there had to be clues somewhere.
Books.
Old legends.
Strange stories.
Anything.
Ren began searching for information about portals, magic circles, and other worlds.
Hours passed.
Most of the things he found were just fantasy stories or internet jokes.
But just when he was about to give up…
He found something strange.
A small online forum.
It was old and almost forgotten.
The title of the page was simple.
"Gate Seekers."
Ren frowned.
"What kind of name is that?"
He clicked the page.
Inside the forum were dozens of strange posts.
People talking about mysterious lights in the sky.
Ancient symbols.
And something they called…
The World Gate.
Ren leaned closer to the screen.
One post caught his attention.
It was written many years ago.
"If you ever see the circle in the sky, it means the gate between worlds is weakening. But the gate does not open for everyone. Only those with strong will can reach it."
Ren's eyes widened.
"That's…"
Exactly what he had seen tonight.
His heart started pounding again.
He scrolled down and read the rest of the message.
"The chosen ones are summoned by the gods. But there are others who enter the gate by their own power. They are called… Gate Breakers."
Ren slowly repeated the words.
"Gate… Breakers."
A small smile appeared on his face.
If that message was true…
Then there might be another way.
A way for people who were not chosen.
Ren leaned back in his chair and looked toward the window.
The night sky was still full of stars.
"Alright," he whispered.
"If the world won't choose me…"
His eyes filled with determination.
"Then I'll become a Gate Breaker."
Somewhere far above the earth…
Beyond the clouds…
The giant magic circle flickered faintly again.
As if it had heard his decision.
And deep inside that glowing gate…
Something ancient slowly awakened.
Ren did not sleep that night.
He sat at his desk, staring at his computer screen, reading the words again and again.
Gate Breakers.
World Gate.
Another world.
His mind was full of excitement.
"If I can really open that gate…" he whispered, gripping his chair tightly, "then I don't need to be chosen…"
Ren suddenly stood up.
"Alright. Time to try it!"
He had no idea how to open a gate.
But in anime, everything usually started with determination… so that should be enough.
Right?
Ren rushed outside to the backyard.
It was late night. The sky was dark and quiet.
Perfect for opening a portal to another world.
He stood in the middle of the yard and raised his hands dramatically.
"GATE OF ANOTHER WORLD… OPEN!"
Nothing happened.
A cricket chirped somewhere.
Ren blinked.
"…Maybe I need more power."
He took a deep breath.
"GATE!!! OPEN!!! I WANT ISEKAI!!!"
Still nothing.
A dog barked in the distance.
Ren frowned.
"Okay… maybe I need a pose."
He spread his legs, raised one hand to the sky, and pointed the other forward.
"Awaken… WORLD GATE!!!"
For a moment… the air became silent.
Ren's eyes widened.
"…It's working?!"
A faint light appeared above him.
A small magic circle slowly formed in the air.
Ren's heart jumped.
"Yes!! It's real!! I knew it!!"
The circle grew bigger.
The light became brighter.
Wind started blowing around him.
Ren laughed loudly.
"I'm going to another world!! Finally!!"
But then…
The magic circle suddenly stopped growing.
It flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Ren froze.
"…Eh?"
The circle made a weird sound.
Poff.
The entire magic circle disappeared like dust.
Silence.
The wind stopped.
Everything became normal again.
Ren stood completely still.
"…Huh?"
He blinked slowly.
"…It… it broke?"
He looked up.
Nothing.
No light.
No gate.
No magic circle.
Just the normal night sky.
Ren slowly lowered his hands.
"…No way."
He looked left.
Right.
Then up again.
"…HELLO?? GATE??"
Nothing answered.
A frog croaked somewhere like it was laughing at him.
Ren's face slowly turned blank.
"…It ran away."
He pointed at the sky.
"HEY!! YOU CAN'T JUST APPEAR AND DISAPPEAR LIKE THAT!!"
But the sky stayed silent.
Ren fell to his knees.
"No… no no no… I finally got a lead…"
He placed both hands on the ground dramatically.
"My isekai dream…!"
Suddenly—
A soft wind passed.
Ren felt dizzy.
"…Huh?"
The world around him blurred.
The stars twisted.
The ground disappeared.
"W-Wait—WHAT?!"
Ren's eyes shot open.
"AH!!"
He jumped up from his bed, breathing heavily.
His room was exactly the same.
The desk.
The computer.
The window.
Everything normal.
Morning light was coming through the curtains.
Birds were chirping outside.
Ren looked around wildly.
"…Huh?"
He touched his face.
"I… I'm back in my room?"
He blinked again.
"…Was that a dream?"
He slowly lay back down on his bed.
Staring at the ceiling.
"…I definitely opened a gate… I think…"
He paused.
"…Right?"
Silence.
Then he turned to his side.
"…Maybe I should stop watching anime before sleeping."
Outside the window, high above the clouds…
A faint symbol flickered in the sky for just a second.
Then vanished.
And somewhere far away…
Something whispered softly:
"…Interesting."