The unknown has always been a fear of mankind. To not be able to know what is going on, humans tend to desire some sort solution just return the things back to it's usual form. Like during the request of Tobe Kakeru, almost everyone in his clique was indirectly trying their best to prevent him from confessing to the fujoshi Ebina Hina, including the latter, just to preserve their oh-so-precious dynamic, which in my perspective is nothing but a sham.
Although I said that change is just a form of running away, there will always be the inevitable and running from it by lying is something I hate. What I hate about change if it is something brought by a nobody, saying that I need to change myself to fit it. Ugh, just the thought makes want to vomit.
But in all honesty, I don't I will behave any different from them at first if I were to be presented with a change towards the unknown. Because as much as I hate to say it, it is how most humans work. In fact, only few are really brave enough to tackle the unknown. One example is facing death. Of course, what lies beyond death is the ultimate unknown.
However, there are unknowns will inevitably come to us sooner or later.
Why am I even talking about the unknown? Because I, Hikigaya Hachiman, am confused with everything going on right now.
For some reason, I woke up in the middle of the woods with only the clothes I'm currently wearing being my only possession. There are many questions running through my head right now. Questions such as "Did someone kidnapped me and thrown me to the woods?" or "Did my family just kicked me out of the household in the worst way possible?" or "Did I walked all the way here asleep?". Only the last one seems plausible.
But no, I have no time to entertain such things as I still need to go to school on time or else I'm going to face the wrath of the violent beautiful-yet-single teacher of mine. Seriously, if she has those superpowers from those shounen manga she always try to imitate, I would have already been a rotting corpse by now.
I pat the pocket area of my pants to try my luck of finding my smartphone there. Well, I could use a GPS right now because I literally have no idea where am I. But as expected, my phone wouldn't be there because I left it plugged to it's charger before going to sleep last night.
With my only hope being non-existent, my only option is to just walk and try to find way back home the old-fashioned way. Yes, I'm going to walk my way out here. It's not that missing a day at school would make me fail all my classes or something. Besides, I have a perfectly valid reason of being absent today which is me being lost in the middle of the woods for some reason, no matter how unbelievable that is.
However, as someone who just woke up, it is expected that I would be hungry as hell. With how limited my options are, I climbed the tree where I saw an edible-looking fruit out of all the trees here. By all means, I've never been a nature and survival type of person due to all my life living in the city, but I have no choice but improvise, adapt, overcome this situation I'm into right now.
I plucked the sole strange-looking glowing fruit of this tree. Without even bothering to peel it, I ate all of it like like a wild boar. Hey, you can't blame me! I've been walking nonstop this past few hours without anything inside my stomach, so unlucky be to the first edible fruit I'll encounter. Wait, is that fruit even edible? Well, it tastes rather nice, although I accidentally swallowed its marble-sized seed. Now that's concerning. Nah, I think it won't be an issue given how active my gastric juices are right now, pretty sure it will just be digested like the rest.
Now that I somehow filled my stomach with that fruit, I have to continue finding my way out of this forest(?) Okay, I'm pretty sure a woods this vast can already be considered as a forest.
Thats when I finally found a dirt road extending to who knows where. When I looked at the other end, there's an elevated land with a scary looking house. I'm serious, it really is scary to look at. I mean, why would a dead tree be protruding from a poorly built house located in the middle of nowhere. Maybe this kind of house is where Zaimokuza would want to live.
Without any options available, I decided to climb my way up there. After successfully climbing the hill where the scary-looking house stands, I saw a sign near the entrance with words "Natsu and Happy" being written on it in a English type of writing. Luckily, I'm proficient enough when it comes to language and literature that's why I'm able to read the sign. What the hell? Did I just stumbled on a hermit's house who's kinda fond of the English writing system?
Facing the house in front of me, I knocked the door hard enough so that anyone inside the house can hear me.
So... Considerring that this hermit in the middle of the forest might be some stranded foreigner who can't afford a citizenship, what language should I use to call them? Their writing format is in English so it's safe to say they also speak in English. Now I did say that I'm proficient with language and literature, but all of those are only when it's in written format. When speaking in English, I can speak it but my accent is terrible.
With the best English voice I could muster, I called to the person inside the house, if there's any that is. "Is anyone home!"
However, after repeated knocking and saying the same English phrase for who knows how many times, I gave up and concluded that no one is inside the house and left. I guess my only option now is to follow the other end of the dirt road, no matter how far it is.
To be honest, I already had some suspicions about this predicament of mine. With all the light novels I've read, waking up in an unknown place would already give me some ideas about what really happened. Despite my rational self denying the idea, I think it's time to trust into my chuuni self and admit that...
"I'VE BEED ISEKAI'D!!!"
Damn, that scream is why I don't want to rely on my chuuni self. But yeah, that way of thinking just led me to a more correct answer to my question despite it being the less likely. So if I'm isekai'd, then I'm literally a world away from my precious Komachi...
drip*
drip*
drip*
Damn it, this is really no joke. Everyone I know is practically dead. Komachi, Mom, Dad, Kamakura, even Hiratsuka-sensei and my clubmates aren't present in my life anymore. I'm just hoping that my alternate self still exists in my original world because I know Komachi cares for me deep enough to be drowned in depression if I were to suddenly vanish or die.
For the first time in several years, my tears started flowing uncontrollably out of my eyes. For anyone who thought that isekai is a wonderful thing, well you're wrong! I can't believe I actually find isekai stories to be fun when it's not! I guess you would only know the true value of something after you lost it.
Trying not to sob patheticly, I wiped my tears with the sleeve of my tracksuit. Aah! This isn't the time for me to get depressed. I need to find a way back to my own world immediately!
I ran as fast as I could along the dirt road, hoping that this would take me to a civilization. Only there that I could ask for help about my situation. I hate to tell this but this will be the time that I really needed help from other people. Working by myself won't be an option anymore.
...
It's been already half an hour with me following the dirt road when I finally saw the light of a civilization. However, I'm all out of energy. To be fair, I've only ate a single fruit ever since I came here in this world I can't push myself any further.
That is when I finally lost the strength of my legs and fell to the ground. My arms currently aren't strong enough to push myself back up. Well, I guess I just have to rest for a bit and I will be ready to go. With that, I turned around to lay myself on my back while I put my hands behind my head as a makeshift pillow.
Damn it, why did I even ran the whole thing all at once without even resting? Wow, I really am troubled with the losing of everything I know. I mean, who wouldn't? But I can't keep being like this forever if I want to return to my own world. Monster of logic, please don't fail me now.
"Are you okay down there, young man? It seems to me that you had collapsed from exhaustion."
Hearing someone talking to me, I instantly opened my eyes and saw an old midget in a striped jester costume looking down on me. With my energy somehow replenished, I sat back up and faced him, though I managed to be taller than him even while sitting.
"That would be the case, sir." I replied.
The midget sat across me and continued asking. "So what are you doing in these woods that made you all exhausted? I can tell for sure that it wasn't just for fun."
Finally, someone can help me with my situation. Well, I'm not yet planning to tell this stranger about my issue of being from another world as he might just laugh at me. I mean, his costume says it all.
"I got lost and I don't know the way back."
"Hmm, I think there's much more to it than you let on. I mean, your eyes are still red and I don't think a boy your age would be crying from the problem you just said." Well, there goes my subtlety.
However, he's right. If this was just me getting lost or something, it's impossible for me to cry as there will always be a way home. But why did I even concluded that I'm really isekai'd? Maybe I'm just transported to somewhere in Japan or something. After all, this guy is still talking in Japanese.
Well, there's one way to find out.
"Uh sir, would you mind telling me what place is this?"
"Of course not. And to answer your question, this place is called Magnolia town."
Yes, I'm definitely not in Japan. As far as my knowledge about Japan and its culture, I've never once heard a western name of a place. Oh well, maybe my tears are justified after all. There's only one question remaining before I could finally conclude that I'm isekai'd.
"Uh... of which country?"
"Kingdom of Fiore." Well, that sealed it, I really did go to another world. "So, from your reaction, I assume you're not from this world. Am I right?"
Okay, so now that he found out, I'm surprised he's taking this all too well than expected. Though my expectation is a little on the childish side. I mean, I actually expected the old jester to be laughing at my face while doing a silly clown dance.
"Right on point, sir. In my world, a kingdom or any place called Fiore is non-existent. Though I'm surprised you're taking this very well."
The old man just laughed but in a more respectful manner that what I envisioned. "Oh please, I've already encountered at least two otherworlders with this old age of mine. Are you perhaps from a world named Edolas?"
"Edo-what? To answer your question, no. I came from a world named Earth."
"Oh, that's almost the same as ours. Here, we call our world Earthland."
I guess it's weird for him to hear a shorter version of their world's name. It was like when Yuigahama just called me Hikki out of nowhere. For me though, Earthland doesn't roll well with my tongue. But at least now I have someone who's a bit knowledgeable about other existing worlds.
Now what?
The old man stood up and offered a hand on me. I was about to question what help would a man just a bit taller than my knee could help me stand up by offering his hands, when he suddenly grow in the height of an average person. Still wondering what is going on, I took his hand and stood up.
"I guess it's up to me to teach you about this world. In case you didn't know, this world is dominated by magic. Mages usually join a guild and do missions for a living. And standing here before you is a master of a guild called Fairy Tail. I'm Makarov Dreyar. Pleased to meet you, young man."
"Likewise. I'm Hi-" Wait, Makarov sounds like a given name. They are really western people talking in Japanese. "I'm Hachiman Hikigaya."
"So Hachiman, would you like to join my guild?"
Oh wow, he sure reeks of riajuu spirit. However, I can tell that he's doing this out of good will. If not, then he wouldn't have batted an eye on me when I'm still lying down the ground. But the real question is why would he want me to join a guild of magic users?
"Uh Mr. Dreyar, Magic doesn't exist in our world."
"Eh, but from what I can sense, you have a pretty decent amount of ethernano in your body. Ah I get it! Don't worry, you can just work with Mira as a bartender for a decent pay while I lend you some grimoires to study in your free time."
I guess this is the end of my motto "to work is to lose" as I definitely need to have a living in this 'magical' world of Earthland. And being with this man who's probably the most knowledgeable about parallel worlds is already a great opportunity if I want to see Komachi again as soon as possible.
"Well, I'll be in your care Master Dreyar."
"Do fairies really have tails? Do they even exist... Like them, this place as an eternal mystery... A never ending adventure! Welcome to Fairy Tail, Hachiman!"
In my world's pop culture, they don't have one. Also, does he really have to give that speech to every guild recruit? But I guess I should just keep that thought to myself. I don't want to be rude now that I've just been accepted to a job I didn't look for yet what I needed. I still remember those stories of my parents about their job hunting and how terrible it is so I guess I should just be thankful for this opportunity.
But it's weird calling someone my master.
...
We've finally arrived at a small castle-like building in the middle of the town called Magnolia. So this what a guild house looks like. But for some reason, I hear a rather loud commotion inside the building.
I then turned my head towards the little man, whose magic is about resizing himself, who pressed his temples like what Yukinoshita always do when listening to Yuigahama's antics. Damm, I missed them more than I thought.
Angrily, he opened the door and instantly grew in size easily reaching thrice my height. Not to mention there's some sort of ominous aura emanating from him. I guess he really is a master for a reason.
"CAN YOU BRATS STOP ARGUING LIKE CHILDREN!" he yelled, causing all the people inside dwindle in fear. Well, instead of one who was instantly met with his enlarged boot.
I then hear a person call to the master in a very sweet voice. "Oh Master, I didn't know you were here."
My eyes met a Totsuka... Wait, this isn't right. This one here has a long hair, a voluptuous body, and is wearing a maroon maid gown. A female Totsuka in a maid outfit. Ah, stop it, brain! Next to her was a what looks like a generic blond bimbo who's visibly shaken from the sight of the monstrosity which is Master Dreyar.
"Oh, there's a new recruit I see." He then shrank back to his regular size which is smaller than a toddler. "Nice to meet you!" he smiled towards the blondie.
"So t-tiny! Are you sure this is the master?!" she asked the she-Totsuka.
"Yup, allow me to introduce to you the Fairy Yail guild master, Master Makarov."
I don't know but there's something odd about this she-Totsuka. Oh well, I guess I should stop calling her a Totsuka because a real Totsuka is the purest of all. Maybe because she's rather emitting a Shiromeguri-senpai vibes than a Totsuka one. Though that something odd about her might just been my imagination.
Master then jumped towards the railings of the second floor and stood on top of it. He spoke some things I don't understand but something related to a council. But what surprised me is when he lighted the paper in his hands and threw it downwards, a pink-haired man suddenly jumped and catched the fire with its mouth like crocodile being fed. But as what the master said, this world is full of magic so I shouldn't be that surprised when I see someone eating fire.
I stopped listening to him when he began spouting some riajuu things that made the whole guild cheer for some reason. When the cheer died out, the white-haired woman probably identified me as an outsider so she came closer to me.
"I saw you come here with the master so I assume you're also a new recruit like Lucy over there."
"Uh yeah."
"Okay, please sit wherever you want while I go get the guild stamp." she said with a sweet smile as she instantly ran to the door of what I assume the storage room, in a calm manner. Okay, Shiromeguri-senpai it is.
As per her instruction, I went to the corner table that for some reason is empty. As I sat there, I saw a few judging gazes of a few members, including my fellow recruit who then went towards her pink-haired boyfriend(?). Wow, different worlds, same treatment. Well, it's not like I'm any different. I'm also roaming my eyes around the guild members, trying to memorize each of their stand-out traits. By doing this, I'll know which members I should be wary from.
My eyes landed on a woman who heavily reminds me of someone I know very well. I'm talking about the woman who's chugging directly from the barrel of beer. Aside from the bikini top, I think this is what Hiratsuka-sensei would become in a fantasy world such as this.
Then I saw a guy with an orange hair and a bluish glasses, who is surrounded by three women. Filthy riajuu. Although for some reason, he smells way too different from the others. Did I really smell him from this far?
But I have no time to entertain such things as my only reason for being here is to make a living while gathering information about going back to my world. It's just that it's very unfortunate that I happened to be invited to work for the highest-ranking guild of this whole kingdom. That means this place is more trouble than its worth.
At last, the white-haired Shiromeguri-senpai returned with the stamp. "Sorry for making you wait. Here, where do want your guild insignia and what color?"
From the looks of it, it seems a bit painful to apply. Maybe I should place it somewhere that doesn't affect my movement much but invisible when I'm wearing clothes. Wait, maybe I still need to show them somehow whenever I'm in a mission or something so I think that needs to be considered.
"Uh miss, just for reference, where did you put your insignia." Wow, a very personal question. Way to go, Hachiman.
"Please, just call me Mira. And to answer your question, it's on my left thigh."
Okay, so it doesn't have to be shown all the time, although her choice seems to be a bit too private. So I guess I should settle with my left arm as I'm not comfortable enough to strip and put the insignia on my back, although that would be nice.
"Hmm, under my left arm and in green, please." As for why green, it's a color that doesn't stand out and it's comfortable to look at.
I then rolled my sleeve back to my elbow and positioned it better so that she can stamp it there more comfortably. Surprisingly, it isn't as painful as I thought, though it still stings a bit.
"There, all done! I'll go now to Lucy for her stamp. And yeah, welcome to Fairy Tail!" she said with a wink as she moved towards the blondie.
Well, I'm back again by my lonesome after the nice girl left. Oh yeah, I forgot that I need to meet with Master Dreyar at his office at the back room to receive the grimoires, as well as his instructions for my work here. It's also a great escape from these noisy people.
I entered the master's office without anyone noticing due to my 'magic' called "stealth hikki". Hah, even in the world of real magic, my 108 skills still work like normal.
The room is as what you would expect from a boss of a certain organization. There are shelves full of books, some trophies and plaques from being the best guild in Fiore. His desk is full of different documents like a corporate slave. That isn't very likely from a boss. What surprised me is when I saw Master Dreyar holding a magazine with a scantly-clad woman posing in a seductive manner. I see, you're a man of culture as well. Yeah it's true, gotta have to appreciate the classics. It's what separates perverts from us connoisseurs.
"Oh, you've already arrived, my boy. Have a seat." Per his instruction, I sat at the chair in front of his desk. "It seems that you've already met your work partner earlier Mira. After this, go tell her that I sent you to help her with her duties."
So this is it, the Hikigaya Hachiman is finally becoming a member of the workforce. Luckily I'm not those people facing computers with a spreadsheet program running whole day long like my parents. Hiratsuka-sensei would've been proud of me right now, especially that I'm working as someone who can serve her some booze. Too bat she's not here to see me.
After Master Dreyar got the grimoires for common magic spells, he handed them to me. "These are the books, lad. There should be something there that might catch your interest. Also, because you're an employee here, you may use one of the spare rooms near the infirmary, although your monthly salary will be reduced slightly."
That is actually more than a great deal, probably the best I'll ever get in my entire life. I mean, my job is the one who will provinde me a boarding. Not to mention that the boss is very accommodating. If only the circumstances are different, I would be slapping all of these to Yukinoshita's face who always keep on saying that no one wants to hire me on a job. Yep, that would be a perfect comeback after all those verbal abuses.
"Thank you, master."
"No problem It's the only thing I could help you from your situation. You may now leave the office." he said while grinning back to his cultured magazine.
...
The food in this guild is actually pretty great, albeit a whole lot different from the usual Japanese meal. But, I'm already used to eating at Saize so it doesn't make that much difference to me.
Although if you ask me what's with this world, it's that this wooden spoon I'm using somehow tastes better than the food itself...
...
A/N: Hello. I don't know why but I just wanted to know what sort of interactions would 8man make to the casts of Fairy Tail. The sad part is that the only two existing crossovers looks like they've been abandoned already.