Two years. It felt surreal that so much time had already passed since she first stepped into this high school alongside Shizuku, Ryutarou, Hajime, and the others. At first, it had all felt so strange—almost as if she were reliving a distant dream, one colored with nostalgia and fragments of another lifetime. The monotonous flow of daily classes, idle chatter, and teenage drama seemed trivial compared to the echoes of deeper experiences resonating within her soul.
Yet somehow, those mundane days had become precious. Bonds that began cautiously had strengthened over time, transforming once-awkward classmates into treasured friends.
Shizuku had quickly become someone Selena genuinely trusted—a calming voice of reason amid the restless energy of their classmates. Their after-school sparring sessions honed Selena's reflexes and sharpened her focus. Shizuku's precise, disciplined style steadily guided her progress, helping Selena find rhythm and confidence in her growing abilities. Each training session became a source of stability, grounding her whenever anxiety threatened to overwhelm her.
Training alongside Ryutarou was an entirely different, yet equally valuable experience. His enthusiasm and raw strength constantly pushed her to her physical limits, but beneath his boisterous exterior lay genuine kindness and patience. Ryutarou never hesitated to repeat moves until she understood them fully. All the while, Endou would stand by to cheer her on even when she was getting her ass beat, his support lifting her spirits in ways words couldn't describe. With Ryutarou, Selena learned the meaning of perseverance—that true strength wasn't always about rapid breakthroughs but rather consistent effort over time. His encouragement taught her to appreciate steady, incremental progress, building confidence in her abilities step by step.
Through these regular training sessions, her skills grew steadily. Selena knew she wasn't a prodigy, but she took quiet pride in her continuous improvement. Each sparring match and hard-won victory reminded her that growth was a patient, ongoing journey rather than a race.
And then there was Hajime. What began as a misunderstood friendship—often whispered about and questioned—had become deeply meaningful. Lunchtimes spent quietly exchanging gentle banter or simply sharing comfortable silence with him on the rooftop had become her sanctuary, a haven in an increasingly complex world. The judgmental whispers of the past now seemed trivial, mere bumps along a road that ultimately drew them closer.
Meeting Hajime's family had warmed something deep within her. His parents treated her with effortless warmth, something she hadn't realized she missed until feeling it again. Now, it made perfect sense—why Hajime's deepest wish was simply to return home to them. That earnest yearning resonated deeply within Selena, stirring a quiet ache she hadn't felt in what seemed like a lifetime. She recalled her old friends from her past life, the loveable idiots that kept calling her to hang out.
Yet despite these moments of warmth and connection, darker thoughts lingered at the edges of her mind. The looming inevitability of violence and conflict frightened her deeply. Even with her steady training and hard-won progress, the idea of taking a life was chillingly foreign. She had never crossed that line—not in this life, nor in her previous one—and the thought haunted her. Could she truly protect Shizuku, Ryutarou, Hajime, and the others when it mattered most? Would circumstances force her down a path she'd rather avoid?
Lunchtime.
Hajime had passed out at his desk immediately after wolfing down his lunch, the dark circles under his eyes betraying two consecutive sleepless nights. Beside him, Selena quietly sketched in her notebook, lost in her own thoughts until the approach of Kouki and his friends broke her reverie.
As usual, she could feel the curious eyes of their classmates, unable to fathom why someone like her would choose Hajime over the so-called "popular" group. But Selena had already gone through this once before, and she no longer cared what these "kids" thought of her.
"Hey, Selena," Kouki greeted warmly, flashing his signature charismatic smile—the very one that had half the class swooning daily. "How are you doing?"
Selena barely glanced his way, her expression unimpressed. "I'm fine. Just keeping an eye on my bud here since he's exhausted again. Now, could you guys give us some space?"
"Why do you always push us away?" Kaori chimed in, puffing out her cheeks into a pout so exaggerated it was almost comical. "We just wanted to see how you two are doing since you always isolate yourselves from everyone else!"
Man, I kind of want to poke those cheeks just to see what happens, Selena mused, her lips quirking slightly in amusement. She turned to Shizuku, silently pleading for assistance, but Shizuku merely shook her head, her expression clearly saying, You're on your own.
The commotion stirred Hajime awake. Rubbing his eyes groggily, he blinked at the gathered group and sighed. "Hey guys… What's up?"
"We were wondering if you'd like to join us for lunch today since you didn't head to the rooftop with Selena," Kaori offered, her voice tinged with a subtle edge.
Hajime held up an empty protein bar wrapper. "Already ate."
As he glanced at the group before him, Hajime idly thought, Man, these four look exactly like the classic heroes from a fantasy story: Kouki, the shining hero; Kaori, the gentle healer; Ryutarou, the steadfast defender; and Shizuku, the agile warrior.
Before Hajime could say anything else, a sudden and blinding blue light filled the classroom.
Selena's eyes widened in panic as realization dawned. It's happening.
Without hesitation, she instinctively grasped Hajime's hand, gripping it tightly just as a brilliant white light swallowed them whole.
The White Void.
When Selena reopened her eyes, she found herself standing in a seemingly infinite expanse of white emptiness.
But she wasn't alone.
"Kirito?" she murmured incredulously, her heart skipping a beat in confusion and surprise.
The man clad in black robes smirked knowingly. "It's time."
"Wait, am I dead again?" Selena blurted out, frantically checking herself before exhaling in relief upon realizing she was still intact.
Kirito chuckled lightly before turning serious. "Listen carefully—we don't have much time. Your soul possesses immense strength, and such power draws unwanted attention. People will come for you." His golden eyes glowed faintly as he continued, "I've temporarily masked your presence, but it won't hold forever."
Selena stared blankly at him. "So… does this mean I finally get to use the powers you put into my soul?"
Kirito burst into laughter, his amusement genuine. "You're amusing, Selena. Your body isn't ready for chakra yet. You'll first need to evolve within the abyss. If I had granted you chakra immediately, that fake deity would have sensed you instantly."
Selena groaned. "Of course."
Kirito offered a reassuring grin as his form began fading. "Of course, you are fated to go down there."
Before she could respond, the void shattered around her in a cascade of blinding white.
Summoning Chamber.
When Selena opened her eyes again, she stood in an immense marble chamber illuminated by glowing, intricate magic circles etched into the floor and walls. Around her, her classmates were scattered, disoriented and murmuring in confusion.
Four priests stood quietly nearby, their faces solemn and unreadable. At the forefront, their homeroom teacher, Aiko, positioned herself protectively between her students and these mysterious figures, her expression tight with maternal concern.
Selena felt her chest constrict, an unsettling sensation crawling up her spine—the distinct impression that someone, or something, had been observing them. But as swiftly as it appeared, the sensation vanished without a trace.
Releasing a quiet sigh, Selena turned toward Hajime, suddenly realizing she was still holding his hand.
Hajime pulled his hand away rapidly, his face flushing a deep shade of red as he stammered, "S-Selena, why did you—?"
Before he could finish, Selena caught Kaori glaring sharply at her from the corner of her eye, jealousy flashing clearly across the girl's features. Beside Kaori, Shizuku let out a quiet sigh, clearly exasperated by her friend's reaction.
A deep, authoritative voice cut through the silence.
"I am Pope Ishtar Langbard," one of the priests declared, his tone resonant and commanding. "We will now lead you to another chamber where we shall explain your current circumstances."
Taking a slow, steadying breath, Selena braced herself.
And so… it begins.