Foreword

A Japanese salary man, a German vagabond and a British gangster were thrust into a new and foreign world. Surrounded by unusually friendly locals and stalked by mysterious attackers in featureless white mask. They must find their bearing in this new yet familiar place. This part of the story follows Hiro Hanazawa the desk worker as he tries to make sense of his surrounding and find those like him in this foreign land.

* Writer's messages:

Many thanks to TD for his help in the story creation and JCode for the cover art.

I will try and update this regularly around three days interval. The first arc is already completed here.

This is still a draft so there should be some mistakes here and there. I hope it won't be enough to take you out of the experience.

As this is a constant work in progress, feedback is very much appreciated.

MOST IMPORTANTLY I hope you can enjoy this work. This is a personal project and I hope it can brighten someone day if just a little bit.

1.1

Once there were green fields

“I’m home”

Said Hiro as he opened the door to the tiny apartment. Inside, of course, was devoid of people. What did he even expect? That his little sister would wait for him this late. No, the girl had her priority and that was to get enough sleep for tomorrow. The young man accepted it, even though it was quite lonely.

More than he had expected actually.

What was going on? Hiro thought to himself. Has his mental fortitude degraded once again? Hope not. For him to be this down this easily. The years hadn’t been kind to him. Every single day, he had to slave away his life behind a desk, being the squeeze for everyone from top to bottom. He had endured it all, both physical and verbal abuse. Hiro was already used to it, being drained and grinded only to return to an empty home. And yet, this time, it was different, it hurted just a bit more.

Perhaps because today was a special day, a ‘happy’ day. The young man put the cake on the small table before sitting down, throwing his bag on the floor. Yes, today was her birthday, his sister that is, who else. He dreamt about celebrating it with her, to talk like sibling once again. This was a chance for them to reconnect again.

It wasn’t that they hate each other or something. Between all the work, the study, had driven the two apart somewhat. They had completely different schedule to one another, be it work or living. And so, the pair barely had any time to sit down with one another. Even if they did, the stress and the differences mean prevented them from actually converse.

While the two had accepted this life, as what every sensible human being would have done, it was still wholly depressing.

Hiro plunged his head onto the table, slowing slightly at the end. That would have hurt. He had hoped today would be different, that this could be the time for them to bond again. While the young man was under no delusion that one successful event would help to mend their relationship, every bit help. Besides, it was still quite an attractive fantasy.

Technically, it was already tomorrow, the day after the birthday.

‘I wonder if she would wait for me if I didn’t act like normal, if I didn’t try to make this celebration a secret’ Such thought filled the mind of Hiro.

‘No, I shouldn’t be like this, I shouldn’t wallow in my own misery. He told himself, try to get up but it is too late’ The young man was swallowed by a stream of negativities that had been kept at bay for so long.

He wanted to get rid of it all, his burden, his pain. He wanted to escape away from this ‘life’

“Happy birthday”

Hiro muttered as his mind drifted into silence.

___

{What is this feeling?} [What is this feeling?] The thought rang twice in his head. Hiro could feel something, rustling in between his fingers. Grass? He was sitting on grass. How long had it been since he last felt the thing?

Of course, grass wasn’t the only thing he had to think about at this very moment. From the feel of it, the young man could safely deduce that his back was against a tree. That was all he could get out of it, with his eyes closed anyway.

Perhaps an expert could tell you which kind of tree, how old was it, what condition it was in and many more just from a touch. But Hiro was a programmer, thus, lack that sort of knowledge. All he could say that this was a particularly pleasant tree to lean upon.

And then there… [Stop].

Hiro still wanted to go on, to continue describing how he feels, what was around him. He probably could, maybe another page just about grass. That’s the perk of education… probably. Yet there was a voice inside him, telling him to stop.

[Why are you wallowing in all of this mundane thinking? Open your eyes?]

The voice in his head said. It certainly made him think. Had his depression reached that level? {Sorry, Voice In My Head-chan, I don’t have enough money to get you out so we just have to live together. Oh, I will take the top bunk and please don’t play music at night}

… No answer. Did he hallucinate hallucinating a voice in his head?

Still, ‘open your eyes’, those words stuck. Guess that Hiro was too afraid to do so. After all, he knew that this was just an illusion, a dream. But all the work had gotten to him, the young man couldn’t remember the last time he thought of something this pleasant. And so, he wanted to feel them all, to ‘wallow’ in it while it still last. He was afraid that opening his eyes mean that all of this would go away.

But he did it anyway and the scenery in front of him was nothing but breath-taking.

It was simply a green field, parched by the sun, blessed by the wind. A green field like all other. But to a tired soul like himself, it was a sight for sore eyes. He could describe them some more but try to hold back. Once he started pages full of grass would be real.

The young man decided to enjoy this instead. For a moment, Hiro could forget it all. The dingy empty apartment, the irresponsible senpais, the soul-sucking work, all the long hours, probably having a voice in his head. Yes, all of it, his worries, gone in an instant. Of course, they soon came back in drove, but he tried to push them asides.

Hiro: {This dream, let me enjoy it…} Voice: [Fine…]

If only there was someone here with me. The young man thought. He wanted to think of his sister but another image came to his mind instead. It was of that bartender in that dingy but cosy bar.

Hiro: {If only she is here with me…} Voice: [Who is that…]

Hiro wondered again where that voice was coming from. It seemed to be his own. The young man looked around only to find his wish partially fulfilled. It wasn’t the person he had in mine but a woman nevertheless, half-concealed behind the quite majestic tree.

White, soft and smooth skin, that was the first thing he saw. Hiro’s eyes were attracted by the woman exposed arm, slender but firm. Can’t blame him really, her indigo coloured komon was not much to look at. The bun on her head was also most simple, even the pin was plain.

Despite her modest look and seniority as implied by her garb, the young man still found himself unable to look away. Perhaps it was the stance or maybe something subtler, the woman had a serene and silent beauty to her. Hiro couldn’t seem to pinpoint why.

It was simple, however, the dreamlike nature of the situation certainly coated everything in a light most positive.

Or perhaps it was just the halo on her head. Yes, there was a glowing halo suspended on that person head, like a benevolent angel.

Hiro’s trance was interrupted, however, by the sound of clanging metal. Out of nowhere the sudden sound made his heart skipped a few beats.

From the other side of the tree, two men emerge, facing one another.

The sound probably came from the one facing away from Hiro. He wore a tunic of sort, dyed in red. Bearing a round shield and an axe, there was something savage about his gear. And yet, his stance suggested otherwise, deliberate and disciplined. Most curious, however, was what on top of his helmet, another halo. Certainly not the kind of angel one would expect.

‘Does everyone here have such a thing?’ Wondered Hiro and his question was soon answered as he casted his eyes upon the other man. On top of his enclosed helmet is nothing of sort.

That man equipment was definitely of western origin. A knight in shining armour one might say. Although he wasn’t really shining and the plate only covered the limb. His body protected by chainmail with cloth draped over. This person only had a long sword, although there was a rondel dagger strapped to his side.

“Hinter dir” The knight yelled at Hiro.

The man in red turned around to reveal his face, or lack thereof. Despite already having a helmet, covering half his head, the man had a mask. A white, featureless mask. Designed to fit exactly at one’s face and nothing else. No hole to breath nor to see. It was garish, seeing such a pristine item on such a gruff person.

That would go much better on someone else, like the woman behind him for example…

Hiro turned around in dread and his fear proved correct. Her face was also covered by the thing as she gazed at him, somehow. Her right arm, which was obstructed by the tree, was now seen brandishing a polearm, a naginata.

‘What is going on?’ Hiro’s mind fumbled.

Just a few moment ago, this was such an idyllic situation. A dream came true, an escape from an oppressive life. There he was, being one with the scenery, with nature. For a moment there, the young man felted a strange sensation, happiness. But of course, such a thing was not allowed. Like a carrot, dangling in front him before being yanked away cruelly.

He sure felt like a sad rabbit right now, so so sad.

Voice: [Does it matter? Just run!]

It cleared Hiro’s mind, allowing him to see steel flashing. The young man dived away to avoid the deadly slash. Then he broke into a sprint, it had been a while since he last had one.

‘What is going on?’ His mind still, obviously, filled with questions.

Voice: [I should be asking you that]

Hiro: {Oh, Voice In My Head-chan, you are still here!}

Voice: [That’s too long of a name! And no, I am Hiro]

Hiro: {I thought I am Hiro, or is the existential crisis finally setting in?}

Voice: [I hope not. From what I have gathered, you are me in the future]

Hiro: {I feel like saying you are me from the past would be more precise, this is still my body… Actually, that thought doesn’t make any sense, just scrapped that one}

Voice: [Why are you having such a thought at this moment!]

Hiro: {Anyway, if you are me from the past, how old are you?}

Voice: [16]

Hiro: {Grade 10 or 11?}

Voice: [10]

Hiro: {Ah, the good old day… I was such a brat then, but it was so much fun. I could still remember all the laughter, all the joy. School certainly was a magical time. Too bad the me then, you, couldn’t appreciate it…}

Voice: [… Are you seriously reminiscing now!]

Hiro: {For you to focus on the current situation and not being called a brat, maybe I wasn’t such a brat after all}

Voice: [Why are you dissing your old self now, we are being chased]

Hiro: {She is a woman, in a komon, how could…}

Hiro turned around to find the woman right behind him.

Hiro: {How is she still keeping up!}

Voice: [Maybe because you have ruined my body. I am a wreck now!]

Hiro: {Firstly, it is my body. And secondly, ‘we are a wreck now’, stressed on the ‘we’}

Before Voice In The Head-chan could retort, Hiro felt a sharp pain in his back. Him turning around slowed the young man down just for a moment just by a bit. But it was enough for the woman to catch up and slash at him. He tried to run but stumble and fell onto his back. In no time at all, the woman’s knee was already on his chest. The lower part of her dress more flexible than he had thought. Pressing the pole part of the polearm against Hiro’s throat, the woman managed to lock one of his arm and choking him out at the same time.

The efficiency was something to be admired… But there was no time for that as the young man could find his consciousness fading away. He tried to kick but couldn’t hit anything. Struggling was useless, as she was stronger than him.

Voice: [Has we become this weak!] Lamented Voice In The Head-chan.

Hiro: {I would like to think that she is inhumanly strong}

Voice: [Is that true?]

Hiro: {Dunno, I just like to think so to protect what merger pride I have left}

Voice: [Why do I grow up to be such a useless adult]

Hiro: {Hey, I am a useful member to society… or that how I like to think}

Voice: [How could still be like this, we are dying here. I don’t want to die!]

Voice In The Head-chan was right, Hiro was dying. He couldn’t breathe, the last of his strength going away. Using his free right arm, he grabbed the woman face and tried to push her away. Useless, obviously, but the young man wasn’t in a condition to think of a more elaborate plan.

Voice: [I still haven’t confessed my feeling to Class Rep yet!]

Hiro: {She is already going out with her childhood friend by your time}

Voice: [Wait, what]

Hiro: {She is just too shy to talk about him. Osananajimi, can’t beat them}

Voice: [You are lying!]

Hiro: {For what. Still, in manga, those kind never gets the protag, makes you think heh}

Voice: [Couldn’t you have let my possible final thought a positive one!]

Hiro: {Welco…me to… th…e wor…ld of… adu…lt}

Voice: [Y…ou idi…ot]

Hiro consciousness finally gave out. He was soon surrounded by darkness, his life flashed before his eyes. Dominated his recent two years behind the desk. Even in his final moment, the young man still couldn’t escape. Then the bartender, then finally at third place, his ‘dearest’ sister.

Then silence.