Good morning my dear readers, here I bring you the english translation of this story.

As always, High School DxD does not belong to all rights to Ichiei Ishibumi

Chapter 1: A Nightmare? No, It's Reality

Cold sweat ran down Hideki's forehead as his mind was trapped in a nightmare. In his dream, shadows stretched around him, as if darkness itself was trying to envelop him, immobilize him.

A bright glow broke through the darkness, and there he was: a man with bright blond hair and outlandish clothes in shades of pink and purple, almost as if he belonged to some kind of sinister carnival. The man's smile was sharp, stretching across his face like that of a playful predator. His very presence made the air thicker, difficult to breathe.—"You..." Hideki muttered, trying to move, but his feet felt heavy, as if they were nailed to the ground.

—"Oh, you wonder who I am, boy?" —the man's voice sounded mocking, almost musical, but with an underlying malice that chilled the blood—. "That doesn't matter, what matters is... where are you going!"

The man extended his hand and a portal of dark energy began to form behind Hideki. Before he could react, he felt the invisible force dragging him into the vortex. The air whistled in his ears as his body was violently pulled into the darkness.

—"Wait! Why...?" —Hideki tried to ask, but his voice was drowned out by the pressure that enveloped him. His body fell into the void, an abyss of shadows and lightning that swallowed him mercilessly.

Hideki woke up with a start. His breathing was irregular, and for a second, he wasn't sure where he was. The shadows in his room, the soft glow of the moon coming through the window... Everything felt different, unfamiliar. He wasn't in his world anymore, but in a place full of dangers he didn't know yet.

Then he remembered that it hadn't been a nightmare, but his current reality. He wasn't sure how much time had passed since he had come to this world, one where, unlike his own, humans didn't have quirks.

He remembered for a second the dream he had, the only clue as to how he had come to this place, the only thing different between the dream and what actually happened, was that the man never spoke to him, it was surely his mind trying to give him more clues that didn't exist.

He looked at his room with disdain. It was small, barely enough for a futon on the floor and a small circular table. Despite everything, he didn't have many other options. This was his life now.

He reluctantly stood up. Coming into this world with nothing but the clothes on his back had been a challenge. He had spent weeks of uncertainty, looking for a place to stay until, a little over a month ago, a small family consisting of the parents and their 7-year-old son, who owned a family restaurant, offered him a job in an act of kindness. In addition, they allowed him to sleep in this small room that was part of the restaurant.

Hideki sighed, staring at the ceiling tiredly. He knew he should be grateful, but his mind kept wondering how he had ended up in this place so different from everything he knew.

He looked at the time on his phone, which read 4:24 a.m., a little earlier than usual, as he usually got up at 5 a.m. He sighed, knowing that he would not be able to fall asleep anymore. He got up, picked up the keys to the place, and changed into more athletic clothes.

He went out into the fresh early morning air and began jogging, as part of his daily routine. The streets were deserted at this hour, something that Hideki was grateful for. As he ran, he looked curiously at the city he was in: Kuoh, located in Japan. The reason he was so curious about it was because, in his world, this city did not exist. Instead, the city of Musutafu, which in his world was a bustling metropolis full of heroes, did not seem to be present in this strange place.

Everything he knew felt like a distant memory, almost as if it belonged to another life.

He continued with his daily training routine. It wasn't as demanding as he used to be in his world before coming here. It was probably partly due to his emotional state, affected by the uncertainty of being in a completely unknown place. Also because this new world seemed calm compared to his own. There were no heroes or villains, nor the constant threats and battles he was used to. The streets were calm, and life seemed to follow a more normal pace, at least in appearance.

Hideki finished his morning tour, returning to the restaurant he now called home. The sun was beginning to peek over the horizon, bathing the city in shades of orange and gold. He entered the small kitchen of the place and began to prepare breakfast, something simple but nutritious. He not only cooked for himself, but also for the family that had taken him in. It was a way to thank them for everything they had done for him.

After breakfast, he took a quick shower and changed into his school uniform. The Kuoh Academy uniform consisting of a black jacket over a white long-sleeved shirt with black highlights and a black bow at the collar, matching black pants, and brown dress shoes.

Thanks to the kindness of the family that had taken him in, Hideki had managed to enroll in the academy, as they helped him with all the necessary paperwork. It hadn't been easy, especially since he didn't have any kind of registration in this world. He didn't exist in the government systems nor did he have any documents proving his identity. However, the couple had moved heaven and earth to help him, and he didn't want to be a burden on them.

For that reason, Hideki had studied hard to earn a scholarship to the prestigious academy. He knew he couldn't continue to depend on them, and the scholarship gave him the opportunity to support himself and return the favor. Fortunately, he hadn't had any problems with this, after all Hideki had always been a very disciplined boy both in his training and in his studies.

After a long and tiring day at the academy, Hideki returned to the teppanyaki restaurant. The door made a soft clink as it opened, and he was greeted by the warm aroma of freshly prepared food and the muffled laughter coming from the kitchen, where the sound of the griddle and the sizzling of ingredients mixed in a cozy atmosphere.

—"Hideki!" — exclaimed Kaori, the owner of the restaurant, with a smile that seemed like a beacon in the darkness. Her enthusiasm was a brief light in the tunnel of his day. — "You're just in time, customers are already asking for you."—

Hideki returned a tired, forced smile, which barely concealed the accumulated tiredness and sadness. — "Sorry for the delay, Kaori-san. I'll go change and then take care of the kitchen."

Takeshi, Kaori's husband, patted him on the shoulder as he passed. —"Don't worry, kid. We know the academy isn't easy, but you always do a great job here."

—"Wait, Hideki-niichan!" a childish voice called out from the hallway. Little Hiro, Kaori and Takeshi's son, ran out to him with an excited expression, which contrasted sharply with Hideki's mood.

Hideki's smile widened to a more genuine one, bending down to greet the boy. "Hey, Hiro! How was your day?"

"Great!" the boy exclaimed, waving a drawing proudly. "I made this for you at school."

Hideki took the drawing, which showed a version of himself wearing a superhero cape. His smile became a little more genuine, though deep down, sadness was still present. "Wow, that's amazing. Thanks, Hiro. I'm going to put it in my room."

Kaori approached, laughing with a warmth that seemed insufficient to soothe Hideki's sadness. "Hiro kept talking about you all day. I think he's made you his personal hero. He even says you're like his older brother!"

Hideki smiled, touched, but also with a hint of melancholy. "Really, Hiro? I'm glad you think so."

The boy nodded enthusiastically. —"Yes! You're like an older brother to me, Hideki-niichan!"

Hideki smiled, feeling a mix of gratitude and pain. —"Well, I'll try to live up to that title."

The family's efforts to make him feel good were comforting, but the feeling of isolation still lingered in his chest. After changing into his chef's uniform and leaving the drawing in his room, he headed to the kitchen, where he began preparing the evening's orders on the teppanyaki griddle, the distinctive sound of cooking in full view of the customers creating a vibrant atmosphere.

As he quickly and precisely chopped vegetables, Hideki couldn't help but reflect on the life he had left behind and how his cooking skills, acquired out of necessity, now became a means of coping with his existence in this new world. He thought of his grandfather, Onoki, and how he used to stress to him the importance of being self-sufficient. The sadness of not being able to share his achievements with him was overwhelming.

"You're a great chef, Hideki," Kaori said, approaching the teppanyaki griddle. "Customers always praise your dishes. I don't know what we would do without you."

Hideki smiled again, but the fatigue in his eyes was evident. "Thank you, Kaori-san. I actually like cooking. I learned to help my grandfather… I guess I owe my gramps a lot for that."

Kaori watched him for a moment, as if she could sense the sadness behind his smile, but decided not to push him. "Well, you do have a natural talent. We're very grateful to have you here, Hideki."

Hideki nodded silently, continuing his work with a renewed energy that only masked the underlying pain. Though he had at least found a place where he could belong, the emptiness in his heart was still present, a constant reminder of what he had lost and the dreams he still longed to achieve.

The End. I hope you enjoyed it.

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