Hello guys! I'm back again with a new story with my favorite, Miyusawa couple!

This time, I challenged myself to write a whole new universe with fantasy setting using daiya no ace's characters.

Actually i don't really like to give much warning since it also like giving a spoiler to my own story, but I'll just tell you this.

There're many heartbreaking scenes, bittersweet ending, and I have to twist some of character's personality for the story's convenience.

For you who didn't want to read angst, then I recommend don't read this

But I promise there's many fluffs, heartwarming scenes, and few smuts (maybe), to balance the angst in the story.

Well then, everyone, please enjoy the story.


ACROSS THE BOUNDARY


Bold words: Memories

Italic words: thoughts


That night was just like any other night like always. The glimmering streetlights and the vibrant lights from the shops and cafes illuminated the dark wide street as usual. The crowds of people loitered around, packing the streets with lively noises.

Among those crowds, three young men with neat casual clothes and bags hanging on their shoulders loudly chattered as they walked down through the street. One of them laughed loudly and muttered incomprehensible words with a slight red face. He kept swaying with uneven steps, disturbing the other people around. Feeling the gazes of people on them, the shortest one between the three immediately reprimanded his loud friend, stopping him quickly before he did something more embarrassing than what he already did.

"Eijun-kun! You're too loud! Are you drunk?" The young man with soft pink hair said with a sharp tone.

The loud young man with a slight red face tilted his head slightly, grinning. "Eh? What are you saying, Harucchi? I'm not drunk. Hahahahaha!"

"You're obviously drunk, Sawamura." The tall, black haired one muttered softly. His gaze was sharp. A trace of annoyance could be seen on his face.

"I'm not drunk! I'm still standing just as fine right?!" He firmly denied, but his body was staggering slightly. He looked like he would just fall with a gust of wind grazing him a bit.

He clicked his tongue after seeing his friend swayed unsteadily. He glanced at the pink haired friend beside him. "Haruichi, we better take him home fast before he gives us more trouble."

"You're right. It'll be more trouble if he fain- Ah! Eijun-kun! Where are you going?" He yelled out in surprise as he caught the sight of his brown haired friend moved away from them in just a second, walking straight to the road ahead.

"That damn stupid-!" The tallest one then walked fast to stop his friend for walking unknowingly to the road that was full of cars passing by.

But, the crowds were giving him more trouble. He couldn't give any speed while he had to avoid the people on that street. And for worse, his brown haired friend looked so easily passing through the crowds even though he was still staggering, making their distance only to become further and further.

He gradually felt irritated, but strangely, his heart started to throb faster and faster. And the pain made his stomach felt queasy. "Damn! Sawamura…" He muttered in much annoyance.

"Eijun-kun, waitI" The other one shouted out loud. Having small figure made he caught up to his black haired friend fast, but that didn't enough for closing their distance to the staggering young man ahead.

But fortunately, his loud shout reached his brown haired friend. He stopped just right at the crosswalk and turned his body, waving his hands up on the air with wide grin on his face. That look on their friend instantly got the tallest one more annoyed than before. With a blatant anger on his stoic face, he stomped fast to reach his stupid friend, wanting to wipe out the stupid, irritating grin on his brown haired man's face.

"Don't you dare to ru—"

His steps stopped as he saw the tumbling figure of his friend. "Sawamura!"

A sharp shout in pain was heard right after his body grazed the hard ground. The brown haired man immediately brought himself up, but with his head felt like it was split into two, he couldn't muster his strength to instantly be on his feet. Only groans of pain that could only left from his mouth.

In the distance, both of his friends were stunned still in surprise. They're feeling so strangely shocked by the sight of his friend lying on the ground. Completely looked blank, their widened eyes only kept its gaze fixated on their friend, before screeching sounds of cars on the road ahead instantly brought them back from reverie.

One frightening thought, in an instant, played behind their minds. And without wasting any seconds, they quickly ran.

"Eijun-kun! Stand up quickly!"

The pink haired man shouted out as loud as he could, while the tallest one poured all of his strength to keep pushing through the crowds as fast as he could.

Hearing those panicked shouts, his brown eyes took a sight of his friends with frightened looks on their face.

Harucchi…Furuya…

The sight that captured on his eyes kept getting blurry each time the pain in his head pricked him sharply. He knew he had to stand up and moved from the cold hard ground beneath him, but strangely enough, his feet keep losing all of its strength. He felt like he was stuck on that hard ground, as if there's something bound him strong on that ground.

Fear slowly invaded his mind. He could fell his heart throbbing faster and louder in every each second. And just when he finally stood on his feet, a loud shrieking sound suddenly reverberated from his right side.

He turned his head in an instant. Two blinding lights instantly put his eyes out, taking away his sight involuntarily.

He closed his eyes immediately, but in a glimpse, he knew.

A big, large thing that resided behind the shadow of those lights inched closer and closer toward him unstoppably.

An intense horror engulfed him whole, paralyzing his entire body.

"No! Eijun-kun! Hurry up and stand!" A loud shout filled with fear resonated behind the roaring sound of machine.

The sight of that big four-wheeled truck brought a same horror to his two best friends.

Their eyes were painted by a true fear and horror. But more than those, they were conquered by one inexplicable thought.

A strange thought that they will lose their friend. Now and forever.

A moist, heavy sensation under their eyes gave them the last ounce of their hope-filled voice.

"EIJUN—!"

*TOOOOOONNNN*

The piercing sound from the truck's horn suddenly penetrated the quiet night sky, loudly.

That noise became a warning siren. And it brought the brown haired man into his sense.

In a mere distance between him and the truck, a strong wish to live emerged inside of him. A desire to live, a desire to continue his life made every fiber of his beings mustered all of his strength out.

Run away! Jump!

That thought kept playing on his mind.

You can do this! Jump! Sawamura Eijun!

"…I'm sorry…"

Huh?

"I'm sorry..."

A soft voice of woman suddenly vibrated within his mind.

What the—

"I'm sorry, Eijun…"

Everything went black. Slowly, his consciousness fell out, leaving away the frantic shouts coming across him. The sight of his friends was slowly engulfed by the darkness as he slowly sank into the dark void.

"Eijun-kun!"

"Sawamura!"

A loud crash then heard, filling up the silent air with horror and fright.


The World Beyond


"…I'm sorry…"

A voice? Who?

"I'm sorry..."

Who…are you?

"Eijun..."

"Ackh—!" A gasp came out from his mouth with his eyes opened wide in an instant. His heart throbbed painfully and the cold sweats had soaked his tanned skin, giving him slight shivers. His breath ragged unevenly as the uncontrollable panic still resided in every inch of his body.

Those brown orbs of his instantly moved around, scanning everything within its range. The swaying leaves, intertwined branches, and the big trunks of trees soaring high up to the vast blue sky, were the only things that were captured in his eyes. He stunned in surprised

T-Trees? He furrowed his brows confusedly. Wait! It looks strange…

The sky…

"…is blue…" Unknowingly, he let out his thought in mutter.

His mind went blank. He did his best to think, but the loud, painful throbs of his heart made his lose all of his concentration. Not to mention that, he even still couldn't stop his ragged breaths.

Damn! I've got to think! I've got to know what happe—

A blinding light suddenly appeared behind the thick leaves above him. He couldn't help but to close his eyes instinctively and turned his head slightly, away from that light. But then, a bristle sound as he moved his head slightly was heard so close from his right ear. Instantly, he opened his eyes, only to see a spikey grass right in front of his eyes.

"Wha—!" He quickly got himself up.

He blinked twice in utter surprise. The sight of the green turf brought him another gasp. He stared blankly. "Grasses?" He brushed his hand onto that spikey layer, feeling the prickling sensation on his skin. That pricking pain immediately justified the unreasonable situation around him.

He stunned still, unmoving from his spot even for the slightest. Nothing came up into his mind. He knew he's too clumsy and wasn't always good in matters that completely need his brain. But for this time, he could feel that it's out of his league. He could always try, of course, but his mind had already drowned into a complete chaos. And with the fast, painful throbs of his heart that kept disarranging his breath, he couldn't even relax himself to do some thinking.

"Dammit! I can't think straight. What is this place?" His eyes wandered around, looking everywhere in his sight. "How can I be here? How—"

A flash image suddenly came into his mind. It was the face of his friends.

"You're obviously drunk, Sawamura."

Furuya…

"Eijun-kun! Where are you going?"

Harucchi…

Right…I was with them…

And then…

"Eijun-kun! Stand up quickly!"

A flash image of two blinding lights suddenly gave him a gasp.

A truck!

That's right! I was about to get hit by that tru—

His sudden thought made him stunned in utter shock. The fear and horror forcefully went inside his mind again.

R-Right, I was about to get hit by that truck. He unconsciously enveloped himself with his own hands as the small shivers slowly crept out on his skin.

I was about to get hit. I was about to get hit—

His heart beat hard once again. But as he hugged himself, he realized one strange thing. He found out the fact that there wasn't any slightest pain on his body. He touched his body all over, but there wasn't anything, at all.

I… I'm saved! I didn't get hit by that truck!

I'm alive!

An extreme joy suddenly replaced the intense fear that resided inside of his mind before. He put both of his hands up instantly as he faced up with a wide joyful grin on his face.

"I'M ALIVEEEE!" His loud shout vibrated through the silent air, mixing together with the soft breeze and small squawking sound around him.

But, just right after his shout filled the air for a moment, the silence surrounded him once more. He gazed straight at the swaying leaves and the dazzling pecks of lights above him.

That inexplicable sight instantly brought him into the depth of despair.

Ah...right…

I still have this incomprehensible situation laid before my eyes….

He turned his head down and glanced around him with downcast eyes.

Just where exactly this is...

As his brown eyes danced around, capturing everything into its sight, a few bright yellow daffodil flowers then attracted him. His gaze stopped at the sight of those wild flowers. And in a second, he finally realized that there're lots of them, scattering around him.

He immediately stood up as he, once again, got surprised by his surroundings.

Flower...field?!

So this is a flower field...inside a forest?!

He blinked, twice. His mind once again overwhelmed by a dizzying bewilderment.

No No No! Wait!

That's not the point!

Why am I here?! Why did I end up lying on a flower field?

Why?!

He started racking his brain hard again. To do the thing that wasn't his strong point all of this time made his brain felt like it would explode anytime. But he needed to know, to understand why in the world he was standing there at that place.

A glimpse of his last memory came into his mind again. That horrified memory wherein he was faced by the imminent danger upon him. But the fact that he's alive just fine, made everything that happened seemed so strange and bizarre.

He pinched his cheek hard. "It hurts. So this mean I'm not dreaming. But then why…"

A thought suddenly crossed his mind.

It can't be…

Is this…the afterlife?

Cold sweats appeared on his face as he shuddered by his own thought.

A-afterlife means that I-I actually got hit by that truck and I...

I...I...DIED?!

That thought instantly made his heart almost stopped for a moment. The dizzying pain invaded his head again. His heart throbbed again faster and louder, to the point that he felt like he was choked out. Anything that he could think was that he didn't want to believe it. He absolutely didn't want to believe it.

His brain worked hard again, thinking any other reasons why he was there, at that unknown, bizarre place. But unfortunately, every reason seemed so terribly crazy and illogical. He didn't have any other choice than to accept the only logical reason.

Under the painful tightness on his chest that kept giving him tremendous agony, he could only murmur behind his breath. "Damn! I'm… I'm already…"

Dead…

The words that escaped from the deepest part of his mind sank him into the deepest hole of despair. Tears slowly appeared in his eyes. "Dammit…" His voice was trembling. "I didn't even become a pro player yet…"'

In an instant, he felt that all of his strength had left him. His feet went limp and weak. It couldn't even muster any strength to keep him standing straight. He fell weakly on that grassy ground as the tears kept trickling down continuously from his eyes. Only regret and despair that left inside of him, engulfing every fiber of his being.

His soft sobs, together with a gentle sound of leaves swaying by the soft breeze filled the quiet, tranquil forest with noises.


Deep inside the thick forest, a man cloaked in white robe walked briskly with quiet steps. He trailed on a narrow path that was created naturally alongside the small stream on his right. That forest, indeed, wasn't a place that completely alienated from human's reach. That narrow path, for an example, was one of the signs of human's effect on the nature life in that forest. Though, there's no longer a person live there anymore, the gentle soothing air inside that forest, strangely gave off a similar feeling of a house filled with the warmth inside.

A thin smile then painted that man's face as he looked up on the astounding view laid in front of him. Just like before. This place will never change huh?

He glanced on a small bouquet of yellow daffodils wrapped beautifully with a white ribbon in his right hand. I hope she'll be delighted.

The man grabbed the bouquet carefully as to not spoil even one petal of those graceful flowers. He continued to walk until he reached the end of that narrow path.

After a few minutes, his step halted in front of one big willow tree at the right side of a large waterfall pond. The sound of water falling gave a calming effect and it enhanced by the breathtaking view of the willow tree in its springtime and the green bushes around. The wind softly swayed the leaves of that big willow tree, creating small bristle sound.

The man's gaze then fell on a tombstone underneath that tree. The tombstone looked unsoiled. Its rectangle shape didn't have any cracks and it was spotless from any kind of weed or moss. The man smiled before he approached the tombstone and stooped down in front of it.

He put the small bouquet carefully before the tombstone and smiled gently as he gazed at the carved name on the tombstone.

"I'm home, Eiri."

A strong wind suddenly came over and pushed his cloak down, revealing that man's hidden face. His brown eyes were calm, though it was a sudden prank from the nature. The two strands of his hair that was hanging on his forehead swayed slightly as the winds blew them, while his slicked brown hair kept its shape unaltered even by the wind's graze.

The tall man then muttered again. "I've brought your favorite spring flower, the daffodils. I hope you like it." He stared at the name for a moment before he stood up.

"I'm very close to the truth of that night. And like I promised before, I won't let Miyuki stain his hand over this matter. You can rest in peace, Eiri."

A gentle smile was painted on that handsome face of him again. He closed his eyes for a moment of prayer before he left the place quietly. Without turning his back, he went on that narrow path again. The sight of the willow tree behind that man's back slowly faded away. He paced his steps faster than before, knowing that he had important thing to do.

But suddenly, a resonated shout followed by a gust of soft breeze suddenly came from the other side of the small stream.

"I'M ALIVEEEE!"

That loud shout vibrated inside the thick forest, shutting any other sounds. The man stopped his track in response of that sudden shout. He was perplexed by the sudden voice of a man in the forest which was supposedly devoid from any human living there.

The townsfolk? His thick eyebrows frowned at his own question. No, Miyuki had already banned anyone coming here. Even I had to ask his permission first before coming here.

Then who? The man slowly felt suspicious at the mysterious owner of that loud voice before. In an instant, he turned his steps toward the voice's source. Quietly yet swiftly, he ran through the thick forest fast. And in both of his hands, small blades were gripped tightly behind his white cloak.

He ran through the trees fast with his quiet steps, leaving only bristle sounds of bushes. And then, soft sobs were heard just behind few trees in front of him. He stopped his track instantly and turned to slowly approach the voice in more careful steps.

A small green turf with daffodil flowers surrounded by the tall, big trees was seen. In the middle of it, a young man with his drooping shoulders was sitting and crying quietly.

The man positioned himself behind the closer tree around of the mysterious young man. He stared at the young man's figure. What's with his strange clothes? Is he not people from here?

He readied himself as he pulled up one of his hand that was holding the sharp blade,

How can an outsider enter this forest? There's a strong barrier around this forest. It should be impossible, but this man…

He kept his gaze on the young man, watching his every move with gaze full of suspicion. The man wanted to just come out and questioned the mysterious person in front of him, but knowing it could be dangerous to move without knowing his opponent first, he stayed still and waited for the right time.

A few minutes then left but the young man didn't move from his spot at all, though gradually his stifled sobs quieted down. The face that was hidden by his bangs slowly exposed as the young man looked up, revealing his teary red eyes and snotty nose.

The young man muttered by himself. "This is so not like me." A sigh came out from his mouth. "I can't just keep moping out like this. Dead or not, I can't just stay still here."

A resigned smile appeared on his face. But before he could move, a bristle sound gave him a startle. A tall man cloaked in white robe suddenly appeared from behind the tree. His eyes instantly went wide.

"C-C-Ch-Chris-senpai?" He instantly stood up while gasping loud in surprised.

The tall man approached him slowly. His face gradually lightened up by the bright daylight, showing the shocked look on his face.

"Yo-you're…" The man's soft voice trailed off.

Ei...ri…? He thought inwardly. No! He's a man. But...that face...

Chris stared the gaped young man in front of him with shocked eyes. The usual calm, stoic look on his face instantly disappeared. Who is this man?'

His brown eyes looked the man from the head to toe. Human? He narrowed his eyes sharply. Or a cursed beast, hiding in form of a human.

The look on his face went rigid. He gripped the blades on his hands tightly. "Who are you? Why are you in this place?"

"H-Huh?" The young man startled by the sudden question. "Chris-senpai too, wh-why are you here? Do-don't tell me yo-you're d-d-dead too?"

The young man stuttered his every word. He's overwhelmed by the sudden appearance of the person he knew so well, and not to mention the one that he respected the most as one baseball player. Just right after he accepted the unbelievable thought of his own death as the only logical reason he was at that bizarre place, he suddenly stunned by the person standing in front of him. He felt an instant rejection to the unbelievable thought he had before.

No way! I can't believe this! Why is Chris-senpai here?! He can't be—!

He got speechless as he stared right at the sharp gaze in front of him. "Chris-senpai…"

The said man in front of him looked impatient and narrowed his gaze fiercely. "Answer my question. Who are you?"

The sharp, threatening tone gave the young man a fright. He flinched unwittingly.

"Wha-What are you saying, Chris-senpai?! It's me! Sawamura Eijun!" He shouted bewilderedly. "You don't remember me?"

"Sawamura...Eijun?" Chris furrowed his brows. He went silent as he drowned in his thought.

He has the same family name. But it doesn't mean they're from the same family. I still have to ask more.

"How can you be here?" Chris asked again.

Sawamura looked at Chris with bewildered face. He didn't know what kind of words he should be saying while those intimidating eyes that filled with suspicion glaring at him.

"I don't know." Sawamura gave up, looking straight at those glaring eyes. "I don't know why I'm here and I don't know why this is happened! Not a thing!"

He couldn't help shouting out loud. He felt so confused and surprised by the whole things that kept happening since before. The frustration just kept growing bigger inside him. Sawamura could almost let tears coming out from his swollen eyes.

Seeing the confused face of the young man, Chris let out a soft sigh as he loosened his grip on the blades. His sharp gaze softened a bit. "Then, can I look at your right hand? There's something I want to confirm."

Sawamura still looked baffled by the entire situation but he showed his right hand without saying anything. Chris immediately approached him and took Sawamura's hand. He folded the sleeves that covered the hand fast and took a glimpse of a small black dragon-shaped mark on the wrist.

This mark! It can't be! His widened eyes turned to look at Sawamura's face in an instant.

Looking back at those widened eyes in surprise, Sawamura could only furrow his brows confusedly. Anxiety gradually grew inside him. "W-What is it? What happened, Chris-senpai?"

Chris was silent for a while before he finally opened his mouth. "You…know me, right?"

"Wha— How can I not know you?! You're my mentor!" Sawamura yelled out helplessly. "Since before, what are you talking about, Chris-senpai?"

"Mentor? I never have a disciple in my life. Are you sure you're not mistaking me with someone else?"

"Wha—?! Do you forget the time you taught me many things as my mentor in my first year in high school?!" Sawamura slowly felt more and more confused.

Chris looked thoughtfully at Sawamura's face. He's mistaking with someone else. Or…it could be that the person he means has the same face with me?

After a long thought, he asked again. "Sawamura Eijun, where do you think this place is?"

"Huh?" Sawamura rolled his eyes in frustration. "Like I said before, I don't know! Chris-senpai, you're strange!"

Ignoring Sawamura's panicked shout, Chris continued. "You asked me before if I'm dead or not, right? Why?" His eyes narrowed sharply, looking impatient. "Why are you asking me that?"

The unending questions made Sawamura getting more frustrated. But as he looked at Chris, Sawamura felt that it won't stop him if he didn't reply. He let out a deep sigh. "I thought this is the afterlife. But now, I don't know. I'm not sure of that anymore."

"Why do you think that this is the afterlife?"

"Why, you say…" Sawamura averted his gaze, looking unsure for the reply. "Because I was hit by a truck…"

"Truck?"

"Yeah, a truck." Sawamura breathed deep before he continued. "I was walking with my friend, well, loitering around Shibuya in the night. I got too drunk and I fell on the road. It was then when I got hit by the truck, I think. "

Chris narrowed his eyes as if he caught something on Sawamura's words. He turned away his gaze, looking lost in his own thoughts. So he assumed that he was dead and this is the afterlife. And from what he said, if it's true, then he isn't just an outsider but people from different world-

"Chris-senpai! Can you hear me? Chris-senpai!"

But how can he have that mark? And that face of him, it's too similar. Is he really—

"Chris-senpai!" Sawamura shouted out as loud as he could.

Hearing the loud voice calling his name, Chris turned his eyes to Sawamura with his usual calm face. "You're too loud. Refrain to speak so loud like that. This isn't just a normal forest." He uttered softly.

"R-really? I'm sorry, Chris-senpai!" He bowed down instantly in reply, while unwittingly let out a loud voice, again.

"I said, you're too loud." Chris let out a weary sigh. He put the small blades on his hands to the small bag at the back of his waist secretly. "And about what you said that this is the afterlife, you're wrong."

"Eh? Then you know where this place is?" Sawamura looked at Chris expectantly.

"Seiran." Chris replied with a soft voice. "We're in the small mountain behind the port city, Seiran."

"Seiran?!" Sawamura blinked in surprise. "I never heard such a name before. Is this outside japan?"

"No, and for your information, I think this isn't your world, Sawamura Eijun."

"Wha—" Sawamura pulled up his brows, looking completely disbelief with what Chris just had said. "You're not joking?"

"No, I'm not a man full with jokes." He replied curtly.

Twice, and then thrice, Sawamura blinked his eyes in surprise. His mind went blank again. In just few minutes, not even hours, in that bizarre place, Sawamura really felt that he wanted to just go home and sleep. Every time he was surprised by the illogical things that kept happening since before, he wanted to just grab a baseball and threw it as far as he could. But unfortunately, he couldn't. Not because there's no baseball over there, but because he's already inside the illogical world filled with illogical things.

Seiran… So this place is named Seiran huh?

All of a sudden, Sawamura crouched down, holding his head as if it would just explode or fly away with the sudden, shocking truth. His eyes looked twirling in confusion, repeatedly.

Where in the world is that?!

And what's with that fancy name?!

Fantasy?! Is it a name of a fantasy-like city in the fantasy-like world?!

What's with that fantasy-like setup?!

Only stifled groans escaped his mouth, even though he was shouting out so loud inside of his mind.

Chris simply watched with calm face, in silent. He's a bit hilarious…

He cleared his throat, feeling slightly embarrassed by his own thought. But he had to admit that the flustered sight of the brown haired man in front of him gave a familiar feeling to him. Too similar…As if he was her…

He glanced down at the yellow daffodils around them. What could this mean…

Chris stared at those yellow flowers for a while before he decided to end the misery of the flustered young man in front of him. "Sawamura Eijun, rather than wasting time here, let's go to the city. I'm sure you'll come around if you see it with your eyes."

Sawamura looked at Chris with a hesitant gaze. He's still not sure if he's ready to see what's really happened to him. But to keep disturbed by the uncertainty all the time was something he couldn't bear. He breathed deep before he finally nodded as he firmly gazed at Chris who was waiting for his reply.

Seeing the determined gaze, Chris then took off his white cloak and handed it over. "Wear this. Your clothes are a bit unusual here. You can be suspected as an illegal immigrant before you can come inside the city."

Sawamura took the cloak, looking puzzled. "Unusual? There's no one here wearing shirt and jeans like this?"

But after he took a sight of what Chris wore behind that cloak, he was bewildered by the fact that he might be the one that's weird here. The attire Chris wore got him stunned in utter surprised. He never thought he would saw a man wearing a black tight sleeveless turtleneck with black hakama tied with gray obi around his waist. That sight immediately brought a familiar feeling to him.

Hakama…just like a samurai…

But still, the turtleneck and the black long fingerless glove that covered his hand up until the upper arm looked like an unusual pairing with hakama he wore.

So everyone here is wearing cosplay like that? It looks cool, though…

Sawamura felt a bit of jealousy from his mentor dashing look and unwittingly glanced at the striped shirt he wore. He let out a resigned sigh. He already didn't know what's real and fantasy anymore. But he decided to see it through. If it really like what the man he trusted said, then he had to accept it, no matter how illogical it was.

He wore the white cloak and turned his gaze at Chris. "Is this fine?"

Chris nodded once before he suddenly approached Sawamura and pulled up the hood that was hanging behind the back of Sawamura's head. Sawamura flinched in surprise as Chris approached him. He strangely felt nervous by the sudden gentle act of the man that looked so intimidating before but thinking that his respected upperclassmen was in nature, a gentlemen, he kept his mouth shut tight.

Unaware with Sawamura's tensed figure, Chris uttered softly after he tucked Sawamura's head into the hood. "Make sure you keep your face hidden. We don't want an unwanted problem, understood?"

Sawamura nodded vigorously, still feeling slightly nervous. Chris simply let out a hum before he turned his back and walked ahead. Seeing the taller man slowly walked away from him, Sawamura immediately followed behind. Along the way, he could only glance around in silence while following Chris's steps behind.


The time felt like it passed so fast at the time Sawamura and Chris finally reached the gate of the enclosed port city, Seiran. The white brick walls looked like it soared up high, reaching the vast blue sky. Sawamura could only gape in wonder at that dream-like place. It felt like he was inside a fantasy world in game. The doubt that resided in his heart had now long gone.

With the vast land outside the city walls where the fields full of colorful spring flowers and green lawns beyond perfectly portrayed an unworldly, fantasy-like sight. Sawamura couldn't any longer deny that this place wasn't a different world.

At least, I know this isn't Japan…

Every time he stared at that unworldly sight around him, a feeling of doubt and wonder would fill his heart, to the point he couldn't think anything at all. It was too hard for him to believe it, but all of his senses couldn't ever betray him. The smell of grasses, the chirping sound of crickets, the gentle heat of the afternoon sun, and the soft fresh breeze of mid-spring air were undoubtedly and genuinely real.

I really got into another world huh? Just like in games, manga and anime. Sawamura sighed loud, wearily. "So I've got save princess or kill a dragon so I can come home? Or maybe, fight the last boss?"

He sighed again. I already have my own adventure in baseball world, now I have to start new adventure?!

"You've got to be kidding me…" a soft murmur left out from his mouth.

Feeling as if so tired with all of surprises, he really wanted to lash out the piled up stress inside by sleeping or pitching, but knowing that Chris had already warned him about his strange appearance, he could only shut his mouth tight. He didn't want to give his respected senpai more trouble than he already was.

He glanced at Chris who was talking at a guard before the gate. Will I be all right? Chris-senpai had talking for a few minutes already. He slowly felt anxious. What if there's some kind of trouble?!

He shifted his gaze to the fierce-looking guard. The guard's rough-looking face and his big muscled body gave Sawamura an impression of a man in thirties. But more than his age, Sawamura was more curious with the guard's attire and the black dog beside him. The unfamiliar sight of a man in a navy blue sleeveless kosode and white hakama with large blue fire pattern on its upper sides and the black band of clothes wrapped around his lower legs, making the white hakama looked like a baggy pants, just like a character costume in fantasy sengoku game that he knew so well.

To look that good in cosplay… Sawamura stared blankly at the guard. I'm so jealous!

But then his eyes took a glance at the brown dog beside the guard. Hm? From what it looks, it looks just like a Doberman, but why it has such a long fangs?

Sawamura stared the dog attentively. But as if knowing his gaze, the dog abruptly turned its face to Sawamura. He jolted in utter surprise.

Uwaa! I was noticed! Sawamura instantly turned his head away. Cold sweats appeared on his face. Uh oh, it's not good! What if it suddenly barked at me?! The guard will be certainly suspicious at me!

But suddenly, Chris called his name loud. "Sawamura, it's done." Chris signaled him to come and followed his trail again. "Let's go."

Sawamura simply nodded and ran approaching Chris. They walked side by side, entering the city.

Past after the black steel gate, another unworldly sight was captured in his eyes. The sight of the European medieval age houses together with Japanese traditional shops lining up esthetically decorated and separated the hard concrete path into a beautiful three way path. That sight was undoubtedly felt like he was really inside RPG game. It was so unworldly and wondrous.

Sawamura stunned still at the sight in front of him. His brain had completely stopped thinking and exploded in the same time. He gasped idiotically, inviting the gazes around him. Realizing the unwanted attention from onlookers, Chris immediately tapped Sawamura's shoulder strongly.

Flinched at the sudden tap, Sawamura finally came back from his shock. He glanced at Chris with a flabbergasted look on his face. "C-Chris-senpai, t-this is…" He uttered softly.

Chris nodded in reply. "This is Seiran. An enclosed city ruled by Yuuki clan." He cleared his throat before he asked. "So, have you finally believed that this isn't the afterlife but another world than yours?"

Sawamura looked blank and speechless. He didn't know what he had to say knowing he was dumped into this bright unfamiliar world where nothing but abnormality surrounded him. A snort of incredulity suddenly was heard.

"Looks like I can't deny it anymore, Chris-senpai." He glanced at the man that was staring at him since before. "I really am in another world, am I?"

A resigned smile now painted on Sawamura's face. He'd finally given up and accepted it wholly that somehow he got into another world.

But then, another question popped out in his mind. How can I go back to my world?

Anxiety started to emerge inside of him again. Now that he had released by the inexplicable situation he got, he had to face another problem soon right after. Sawamura's face twisted in fear and uneasiness unknowingly.

Seeing that, Chris patted Sawamura's head lightly. That sudden touch made Sawamura gazed up with surprised look on his face. A thin smile formed at Chris's face. "Keep your chin up, Sawamura Eijun."

Hearing the unexpected kind words from Chris, a soothing feeling of comfort instantly washed away the fear inside of him, bringing a smile on his face. "Thank you, Chris-senpai." The words came out smoothly from his mouth.

Chris replied with a nod. "You have yet to see everything in this world. There'll be many unfamiliar things that you'll see from now on. So you have to be strong, Sawamura Eijun."

Sawamura turned his gaze down slightly. He looked thoughtfully for a second before he breathed out deeply and looked up with a wide smile on his face.

"You're right, Chris-senpai! I can't just mope around like this. There'll be something I can do to fix this situation right?!"

Chris showed a gentle smile in reply. But soon after, his face turned into a stern one again as he turned his back on Sawamura and walked ahead. Deep in his mind, Chris was actually feeling conflicted by the appearance of the brown haired man behind him. He didn't know how far he should hide the mysterious young man from every gaze in the city. Or even the odds of hiding him rather than freely letting him move around by himself.

Sawamura Eijun, without a doubt, is a human. If he's a cursed beast, the barrier on the entrance gate would have detected it. But now that I knew he's a human, I don't even know what to do with him. Chris glanced on the young man behind him.

He unknowingly kept his gaze on Sawamura for a long time. Fortunately, Sawamura didn't aware at all as he kept looking around at every shop they passed as they took the middle path from the gate which directing them toward the town square.

Chris narrowed his eyes sharply. He's already looking so suspicious with a face like that. And the mark on his wrist bothered me. No one should've possessed that cursed mark.

After pondering for a while, Chris opened his mouth. "Sawamura Eijun, how can you have that black mark on your wrist?"

"Huh?" Catching on the sudden question, Sawamura looked at Chris with an oblivious look on his face. Sawamura took out his right hand from behind the cloak and showed his wrist. "This mark?"

Chris nodded slightly. Sawamura then looked at the mark with a slight bewildered face. "It was there as far as I know. Mom said that it's my birthmark."

He glanced up at Chris. "It looks…strange?"

Chris didn't said anything for a second, looking so serious, as he stared at the black mark.

Why is he suddenly silent? Sawamura furrowed his brows, feeling slightly confused. "Chris-senpai?"

Hearing his name called, Chris turned his eyes to Sawamura and replied. "It's better if you don't show it to anyone and cover it with something."

"Eh? It looks that strange?!" Sawamura instantly covered the mark with his palm. "I thought it looks cool! You know, with people wearing cosplay, I thought having strange mark would make me look a bit familiar with people around here."

"It does, but your case is different." Chris replied with soft voice.

"So people here have this mark too?"

A hum was heard as the reply to Sawamura's answer. Pleased and satisfied with the answer. Sawamura glanced down at his mark again. "Cool, I'll just have to change myself with some kind of cool sengoku cosplay and I'll be just like the other! Right, Chris-senpai?!"

Chris let out a soft sigh. "We need something to cover it. I'll take a look for a while and you can just wait me at the town square, right at the end of this street." He pointed straight at the street ahead.

Sawamura nodded in reply. But just as Chris was about to leave, a high-pitched growl abruptly was heard. Hearing the strange sound, Chris stopped his track and looked at Sawamura with a surprised face. Sawamura could only look away while a blush painted on his face.

Chris let out a soft sigh. "Wait me at the fountain there. I'll buy some food for you too."

Sawamura's face brightened up in an instant. "Really?" then he bowed politely. "Thank you so much, Chris-senpai!"

A thin, gentle smile appeared again on Chris's face. He simply shook his head s bit at Sawamura's excessive respond before he strode toward the some shops on their right side. Sawamura looked at Chris's back with eyes full of gratitude and wide grin on his face. After he lost the sight of Chris inside the crowds, he walked to the town square ahead.

In a mere few minutes, he finally reached the town square and went completely surprised by another wondrous yet unworldly sight laid in front of him.

"Uwah! Just like in game!" He said it in loud voice, unknowingly. His eyes wandered around the round-shaped plaza where many unique, bizarre stores in its surroundings. The large white fountain in the middle of the plaza sprung up the water exquisitely, perfecting the view in good harmony.

The medieval age buildings together with the traditional Japanese buildings don't look strange at all! It strangely matches! Sawamura stunned still in amazement at the breathtaking sight in front of him. It's too amazing! I wish I brought my smartphone!

Sawamura then slowly walked toward the fountain while his eyes kept dancing around. But just as he reached the fountain, someone bumped him from his left side. He could felt small hands hugging him, halting his movement. Sawamura glanced down to see the small thing that now grabbed the cloak tight.

A child? Sawamura widened his eyes in surprise as he saw the small figure of a brown haired boy, clutching on him. The child was wearing a light blue kosode and haori with flower pattern and white hakama. His formal attire gave him a vibe of children from wealthy family.

He looked like a five years old kid. But those clothes… Sawamura gulped nervously. I have to be careful…

"Mommy!" The child suddenly shouted cheerfully with a wide cute smile on his face.

"Eh? Mommy?" Sawamura flinched in surprise, hearing at what that child called him. He immediately crouched down so that he could let the child see his face and uttered gently to that brown-eyed child.

"Look, kid. I'm a man, not a woman. You can't really see me with this cloak covering me, but you see my face?" Sawamura pulled down the hood slightly. "I'm not a woman, okay?"

"Not…mommy?" The child suddenly looked downcast. His trembling lips slowly turned into a pout as his brown eyes glistened with tears.

Sawamura instantly went panic. Ack! I've made him cry! What should I do?!

Unwittingly, he caressed the child's plump reddened cheeks with both of his hands, trying to calm the child before he cried out. "L-Look, don't cry, okay? I'm not your mother but we can find her together! We can look for her together! How's that?"

Sawamura grinned as wide as he could. The child looked a bit calmer but the dejected look on his face still remained. Sawamura gradually more panicked than before. He didn't want to make the child crying, not only because he felt guilty but also because he didn't people to turn their attention to him.

I can't make a ruckus! Chris-senpai had warned me!

Sawamura looked straight at that child. He wiped the tears that slowly falling down on that child's face. "Um…little kid. You're searching you're mother right? How's about your father? Is he here with you?"

Sawamura smiled gently. And as if he was bewitched by Sawamura's gentle smile, the child instantly looked a bit cheerful. "Daddy? He's her—"

"EIICHI!" A loud voice suddenly was heard from ahead.

The child instantly turned his back and waved at a man that was seen wearing the same attire with the same color as him. "Dad! I'm here!"

His father? Sawamura stared at the vague look of the man's face that was running approaching them. He narrowed his eyes, trying to make clear the man's face on his eyes.

He looks like someone I know… Sawamura furrowed his brows at the man's face as he got closer to them. He's just like…

*Ba-thump*

The child then went running to the man just when the man was right in front of them. And the man immediately hugged the child and held him up on his hands gently.

"Why did you suddenly go off by yourself? You make everyone so worried about you!" The man said angrily.

*Ba-thump*

The child flinched in surprise and then looked so dejected. He looked downcast with a face full of regret. "I'm sorry, dad."

The man let out a weary sigh. He caressed the child's cheek gently. "It's good that you're fine. Remember to said sorry to Furuya and Kominato-kun, understood?"

*Ba-thump*

The child nodded vigorously. The man then smiled gently and stroked the child's hair lovingly. After that, he finally turned his gaze to the cloaked person beside his child before.

He looks a bit suspicious. The man's gaze turned into a sharp one. But he quickly wore a smile on his face, trying to look less offensive. "Thank you for taking care of my child. Are you new here?"

*Ba-thump*

"Miyuki…senpai…"

That soft murmur from the cloaked man was barely caught by the man. He asked again. "Eh? I'm sorry but I can't hear you. Can you say it again?"

*Ba-thump*

Sawamura shivered at the sight of those familiar brown eyes in front of him. An unbelievable shock overwhelmed him wholly. His heart throbbed faster and faster, painfully.

"Why…" He murmured between his short breaths. Why…are…you…"

"Hey, are you alright?" The man said in worry.

Sawamura struggled to stay awake as he slowly got out of breath. "Why…are…you…her—"

In a sudden, his mind blackened out and his body lost all of its strength. The hood that was covered his face before had come off as slowly he fell on the ground.

"Hey, you—" the man quickly offered his hand to catch the falling person in front of him. But the glimpse of Sawamura's face made the man with light brown hair gasped in utter shock. He was stunned still as his widened eyes took a glance at the lying man in front of him.

"Ei…ri…?"


Thank you for reading and liking this story. I'm hoping to made the characters not too OOC in this alternate universe, so your comments, thought and critics will be very helpful and encouraging.

See you at the next chapter :)