"This is bad."

The words slipped from his lips as he blinked, wide-eyed, trying to absorb the scene before him. Natsuki Subaru had been on his way back home, weaving through the crowded streets of Tokyo, skyscrapers towering overhead like concrete giants beneath a blanket of neon lights. Yet now, those modern marvels were gone. No soaring glass towers, no asphalt buzzing with city life, no cold glow of streetlights against the evening sky. Here, the night was replaced by a blazing midday sun, and instead of familiar concrete, he found his sneakers crunching on rough, uneven cobblestone. Everything felt ancient, medieval even.

And he wasn't alone. People bustled around him, hurrying by in outfits that looked straight out of a fantasy novel—thick leather armor, flowing robes, tunics and trousers of roughspun fabric. They moved with purpose, carrying baskets, leading oxen, even walking alongside creatures that, to his disbelieving eyes, looked half-human, half-animal. His gaze jumped from a figure with feline ears and a fluffy tail, swishing lazily, to another with a snout like a wolf's, sniffing the air. Demi-humans, he realized, like the ones he'd read about in the light novels and mangas he devoured back home.

"This is bad," he whispered, pressing a hand to his chest, feeling his heartbeat thrumming wildly. He cast a furtive glance down the street, instinctively patting his back pocket, where his wallet should've been. Sure enough, he felt the familiar bulk of it. Relieved, he fished it out and flipped it open. Inside, the usual collection of yen coins and a couple of notes. Enough to keep him comfortable in Tokyo. But here?

"Looks like the currency here is… completely different after all." His voice sounded strange, lighter, almost musical—definitely not his usual tone. It was higher-pitched, softer, and when he glanced down at his hands, he noticed something even stranger: his fingers, normally tan and calloused, were now slim, almost delicate, and paler than he remembered. He turned his hand over, staring at it in disbelief.

"Have I… shrunk?" He muttered, flexing his hand in and out of a fist. His fingers looked as though they belonged to someone else—someone… smaller. Younger. His gaze drifted down his arm and to his body. His tracksuit, usually comfortable, felt snug in strange places and loose in others, pressing tightly around his chest, which, inexplicably, felt… heavier. He swallowed hard. "Did I… start at level one or something?"

The unfamiliar weight made him shift uncomfortably, crossing his arms over his chest. People passing by threw him strange looks, though he wasn't entirely sure if it was his odd attire—a modern-day tracksuit—or the bewildered expression stamped across his face. He glanced around, trying to shake off his unease, but he couldn't help noticing the variety of people's appearances. Hair colors he'd only seen in anime—platinum blond, snow-white, cobalt blue—and clothes straight out of a fantasy epic.

As he took in his surroundings, the sound of hooves and wheels creaking on wood caught his attention. He turned just in time to see a large, lizard-like creature pulling a wooden cart laden with barrels, a gruff-looking merchant perched on top, wrestling with the reins. The lizard's beady eyes glanced his way as it lumbered past, trailing the pungent scent of hay and something earthy.

Natsuki took a step back, eyes wide, unable to resist a smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth. "So, this is it, huh?" He snapped his fingers and pointed at the passersby, half-shouting to himself. "Looks like I've been summoned… to another world!"

At that moment, he heard a shrill scream. His head whipped around, and he spotted a small child lying in the street, directly in the path of the oncoming lizard cart, which was barreling toward him. The merchant was struggling to control the beast, but it was moving too fast, the child frozen in terror.

"This is it," he whispered to himself, a grin spreading across his face as he stepped forward, raising his hand dramatically. "My time to shine! Magic powers, activate!"

He thrust his palm outward, fully expecting a burst of light, a flash of fire—something spectacular. But… nothing happened. He stared at his hand, mouth hanging open.

"Hey, watch out!" came a shout. A knight, fully armored with a gleaming sword strapped to his hip, dashed past Natsuki, scooping up the child and rolling them both out of harm's way just as the lizard cart trundled by, narrowly missing them. The knight rose to his feet, raising his arm to the cheers of the gathered crowd.

Natsuki's shoulders slumped, and he let out a sigh, glancing away, embarrassed. "Guess I'm not ready to use magic yet."

He tried to brush off the moment, meandering down the busy street, taking in the sights. Rows of colorful stalls stretched as far as he could see, each one crowded with buyers and sellers haggling over produce, fresh bread, sparkling jewels, and weapons that glinted menacingly in the sun. It felt surreal, like he'd stepped right into a game he'd only ever dreamed of playing.

Stopping at one stall, he was greeted by a towering, muscled man in a green vest, his arms crossed as he smirked down at Natsuki. "Hey there, miss. Those are some peculiar clothes. You traveling?"

"Uh… miss?" He looked around, pointing to himself in disbelief. The vendor nodded. "Yeah, you. Who else?"

Natsuki gave an awkward laugh, brushing it off. "Right, uh… could I get one of those?" He pointed to a fruit that looked remarkably like an apple.

"Those are 'Appas,'" the vendor said with a nod, folding his arms and giving Natsuki a skeptical look.

"Oh… Appas. Got it," Natsuki mumbled. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a few yen coins and holding them up. The vendor squinted at the strange currency, frowning deeply.

"Huh? What kind of money is that?" He shook his head, waving a dismissive hand. "No good here. You're flat broke, aren't you?"

He felt a strong hand clap down on his shoulder. The vendor leaned in, scowling. "Listen here, miss. Don't waste my time if you've got no coin!"

Before Natsuki could protest, the vendor gave him a rough shove, sending him stumbling back into the bustling street. "Alright, alright, I get it!" He muttered, rubbing his sore shoulder as he tried to regain his composure. He wandered on, feeling the weight of his empty wallet heavier than ever.

"I'll just… gather some information, yeah. That's what I'll do," he mumbled to himself, wandering toward a small, wooden building on the corner. Inside, he was greeted by the sight of women—humans and demi-humans alike—who glanced up at him, curious. His face turned crimson as he realized he had stumbled into a women's restroom.

"Oh! I—I'm so sorry!" He stammered, backing up toward the door.

A woman with feline ears gave him a confused look, tilting her head. "Why're you apologizing? You're fine to use the restroon, miss."

"Miss? Again?" He muttered, glancing to the side and catching sight of his reflection in a mirror. His breath hitched. Staring back at him was a girl with long, white hair, soft black eyes, and a delicate, almost ethereal face. It took a few seconds for the realization to set in.

"No… way…" His mind reeled. He felt his heart hammering as the truth sank in. The girl in the reflection… that was him. He let out a startled, high-pitched scream, bolting out of the restroom, his footsteps echoing against the stone street as he ran.

"Nononono!" He gasped, clutching his chest as he stumbled to a stop, panting. He felt disoriented, his reflection still flashing in his mind. He leaned against the railing of a bridge, gulping down air, trying to steady his racing heart.

People continued to pass by, some staring at him with curiosity, others barely sparing him a glance. Finally, with one last deep breath, he straightened, brushing the hair from his face as he glared out at the city beyond the bridge.

And accidentally slipped from the bridge staright to the river.

"Gaaah...!"

Ō~Õ

Natsuki Subaru let out a deep, tired sigh, the sound echoing off the narrow alley's damp walls. He was slumped against the brickwork, sitting cross-legged on the cold, uneven ground, with his drenched black shirt clinging stubbornly to his now unfamiliar form. Beside him, laid out to dry, was his tracksuit, still soaked from his earlier tumble into the canal. His dark eyes shimmered with lingering tears, his mind spiraling with the weight of a surreal, soul-stirring realization.

When he'd first landed in this world, he'd felt the kind of thrill that you only read about in novels—an exhilarating sense of adventure, of finally escaping the mundane routine of his own life. But the price? The price for being here was... looking down at his body, he let out a defeated sigh, which almost turned into a laugh. He wasn't even sure his own parents would recognize him now.

"Would they... even accept me?" he murmured, wiping at his wet cheeks. For a fleeting second, he remembered his mom's warm, familiar hugs and his dad's proud, steady hand on his shoulder. But those memories were fading, slipping through his fingers like sand, and now he didn't know if he'd ever feel that same comfort again. Staring down, he watched as the damp fabric of his shirt pressed against his pale skin, outlining curves he was only beginning to comprehend. With a frustrated groan, he buried his face in his hands, his thoughts swirling.

"So... this is it, huh?" His voice was muffled behind his fingers, and he peeked through them, glancing down at his own delicate hands, his smooth, pale arms. Everything felt so wrong, like some cosmic prank he wasn't in on. "I... I've really turned into a girl…"

Slowly, he reached up, hesitating for a heartbeat before taking a strand of the soft, white hair that now framed his face, the delicate color shimmering faintly in the dim alley light. It was… breathtaking, and as much as he hated to admit it, the girl he'd turned into was a little too close to his ideal type.

"Is this how it's supposed to go?" he muttered, running his fingers through the long, silken hair. His fingers paused as frustration bubbled up in his chest. Suddenly, he flailed his arms, ranting to the empty alley as his voice pitched in distress.

"Wasn't I summoned into a parallel world?! I'm supposed to be the hero here! Where's my protagonist status?!" He groaned, letting his shoulders slump. "C'mon, at least let me be a handsome guy or something, not... this!"

With an exasperated sigh, he sank back, staring up at the narrow strip of sky visible from the alley. "Damn it. I've run this scenario a thousand times in my head—if I ended up in the Sengoku Era, I'd take over Japan, steal it right out from under Nobunaga's nose." He couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips at the thought. He knew a thing or two about making gunpowder, enough to at least make a good impression on any warlord.

"But here?" He scoffed, casting a weary glance at the alley walls. "Magic is a whole different ball game. The stuff I know would look like a kid's fireworks show to them." The mere thought was enough to make his shoulders sag again.

""Still… maybe I could do something," he mumbled to himself. "If I can't use magic, maybe I could... contribute to science or something. But first…" He glanced down at the pile of belongings he'd managed to bring with him. In a world like this, he knew starting gear was everything.

Checking his pockets, he took a quick inventory. His phone.

Nokia was really behind in the mobile industry for the last couple of years. But after launching this phone that supported Solar Charging, 8K Super AMOLED display with 6000 nits peak brightness, 360 megapixels ultrawide Sony lens, Snapdragon 8-gen-6 chipset and 12K video recording capabilities, they overtook the market.

So yeah, he had a super-phone in a fanstay world. Yay.

His wallet, packed with yen but worthless here. A single corn potage-flavored snack, his old shoes, his damp tracksuit, and little else.

"Of all this stuff," he muttered, lifting the corn potage snack with a raised brow, "only the snack might be worth something other than the phone which I am sure will be pretty expensive…" He shook his head in exasperation, letting out yet another sigh of defeat. "Great. Summoned as the hero, and I'm a broke girl with a corn snack as my secret weapon."

He frowned, rolling the snack wrapper back and forth between his fingers as he brooded. "What kind of protagonist starts off like this? I mean, if I have to be a blank slate character, at least make me, I don't know, cool-looking? But nooo, here I am…"

As his mind wandered, he pulled at a lock of his new white hair, twisting it between his fingers. Despite himself, he couldn't deny the appeal of the color. And his voice, too, now clear and almost melodic. It sounded… pleasant, gentle in a way he wasn't used to. For a moment, he allowed himself to just listen to it, amazed.

"Man… if my old self could see me now, he'd flip." He chuckled, though it sounded more wistful than amused. "What would the Subaru of an hour ago say to this?"

Just then, his gaze caught on something glinting in the corner of his plastic bag, hidden behind his snack wrapper and other small items. Frowning, he reached in, pulling out what looked like a small, white book bound in worn leather, about A5 size. He didn't remember bringing any book along, especially not one that looked so… ancient.

He opened it cautiously, his eyes widening at the sight of lines written in clear, familiar Japanese:

"To Natsuki Subaru, thou will get robbed, and thou will save a maiden."

The archaic language threw him off, and he scratched his head in frustration. "Is this… a quest objective? A log or something? And why the heck does it have to sound so creepy?"

A shiver ran down his spine, and he quickly shoved the book back into the bag, pushing it deep into the bottom as though the action would somehow erase it from his mind. "Nope. Not dealing with that right now. Forget it. I'll figure it out later."

Sighing, he rubbed his temples, trying to process everything. "If I was summoned, there should be someone waiting for me… A cute girl, maybe? Someone to guide me through all this? Someone like Paimon?"

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed down the alley. He perked up, his heart thumping with renewed excitement. Maybe it was her—the one who'd summoned him, the person meant to explain everything! Maybe she was beautiful, mysterious, someone who'd sweep him off his feet and start him on this journey in true fantasy fashion.

But as the footsteps drew closer, his excitement drained as quickly as it had come. Three men appeared at the mouth of the alley, blocking the exit, their expressions anything but friendly.

The three men looked at her with an intensity that made her skin crawl. Subaru's eyes roamed over their expressions—each one twisted with malice. Filthy clothes, sneers carved into their faces like chiseled stone. They weren't subhuman; no, they were worse than that. Predators, every one of them.

The leader stepped forward, his sickly purple hair hanging in greasy strands around his face, a thick chain around his neck catching the dim light. He grinned, his eyes narrowing as he assessed her. To his right stood a hulking, bandana-wearing brute, his contemptuous gaze scouring Subaru from head to toe. And to the left, a scrawny man with a bowl cut sneered, his lips curling as if he could already taste her fear.

Subaru forced herself to keep a cocky grin plastered on her face, even as her heart thumped a hollow rhythm in her chest. These were bandits, plain and simple, and she knew their type—they'd hurt her without a second thought. But she had power on her side. She had the promise of a protagonist's might.

"Don't tell me that book was right…" she muttered under her breath, the uncertainty gnawing at her confidence. But there had to be something—some hidden strength—waiting to emerge.

The shorter man sneered. "What're you muttering about, girlie?"

The grinning thug stepped closer, his hand reaching out, grabbing her damp shirt and jerking her up to his eye level. His breath washed over her, sour and heavy, making her wince.

"If you don't wanna get hurt, missy, hand over everything you got," he growled, his fingers digging into her clothes.

Subaru's face twitched with a mixture of nerves and defiance. "This… this is just some unavoidable story event, right?" she whispered to herself, closing her eyes as his fingers tightened on her.

But then—a voice. High and defiant, cutting through the heavy tension in the air. "Move it! You're in my way!" The thugs, startled, turned to see a small, blonde girl standing at the edge of the alley, her crimson eyes blazing with determination.

Subaru's heart soared, hope rekindled. Here she was, the cute girl, the summoner who'd set her on her path! "Finally!" Subaru called out to her, grinning. "Hey, are you the one who summoned me?"

The girl stopped, giving her a confused look. "Summoned? I have no idea what you're talking about." She put her hands on her hips, offering a cheerful, almost careless smile. "Live strong!"

"What?!" Subaru stammered, the hope collapsing around her as the girl leaped up to a nearby wall and, with surprising agility, bounded away, leaving her alone.

The thugs turned their glares back to Subaru. "That little stunt just made things worse for you," the hulking brute rumbled, cracking his knuckles.

Subaru's mind raced. 'Stay calm,' she reminded herself. 'This is a parallel world. I've got to have some supernatural ability, right?' She could feel the adrenaline flooding her veins, the confidence rising. Her fists clenched as she prepared to unleash whatever hidden power she was certain was buried within her.

"This'll be easy," she declared, diving forward, swinging a punch at the largest thug.

Her fist connected with his shoulder—and then pain jolted through her arm, radiating up to her elbow. She recoiled, cradling her hand as tears of shock stung her eyes. She looked up, horrified, only to find the giant staring at her in mild irritation.

"That actually hurt a little, bitch," he muttered, cracking his knuckles as if to punctuate her mistake.

Subaru stumbled back, her legs weak beneath her. 'Why am I so… so weak?' she thought, her confidence crumbling. Panic set in as the thug in front of her brandished a knife, his tongue darting out to wet his lips as he leered down at her.

Realizing the severity of her situation, Subaru dropped to her knees, desperation in her voice as she prostrated herself. "I'm sorry! I was wrong! Please forgive me!"

Her forehead pressed to the cold pavement, her entire body trembling as she grovelled. The men loomed above her, one of them grinding his shoe into her head, pressing her face harder into the ground.

"Play games with us, will you?!" snarled the shorter one. His boot crashed down on her skull, stars bursting behind her eyes as she let out a strangled cry. Their blows came harder and faster, bruising her, blood seeping from her head as the pavement bit into her skin.

Every attempt to get up was crushed beneath their heels. She tried to crawl, her fingertips brushing against the ground, but their laughter filled the air as they stomped on her hands, the bones feeling as though they might shatter under their weight.

Her vision blurred, the edges of the world darkening as despair settled like a weight around her. 'Am I going to die?' The thought echoed in her mind, cold and final. Her body was too frail, every ounce of strength drained, her spirit crushed. 'This… can't be how it ends.'

The knife gleamed as the leader of the group leaned down, his eyes glinting with sadistic pleasure. "Before we're through, we'll have a little fun with you. Gotta break you in for the next client, after all."

A single tear slid down Subaru's cheek. It wasn't just the fear or the pain. It was the realization of how meaningless, how pathetically short her new life might be.

Then, cutting through the haze, a voice rang out from beyond the alley, clear and firm.

"That's enough, villains."

For a moment, the violence stopped, and the air grew still.

Ō~Õ

At that moment, time seemed to hold its breath, a stillness that only happens once in a lifetime. At the alley's entrance, a lone girl stood as if descending from another world. She was breathtaking, and all Subaru could do was stare.

Silvery hair, cascading like a moonlit waterfall, glimmered down to her hips, its soft waves as hypnotic as her piercing amethyst eyes—eyes alive with intelligence, a stark contrast to Subaru's own weary and terrified gaze. Her face was gentle, yet there was an aura of nobility about her, as if she belonged in the highest fantasy tales. Her white clothing was understated but somehow made her beauty shine even more. A faint hawk emblem on her sleeve spoke of power, a quiet but undeniable authority.

"Who the hell are you?" the purple-haired thug spat, but his voice cracked under her gaze.

"Release her. And if you value your lives, return what you've taken," she commanded, her tone soft yet resolute, each word as clear and sharp as crystal. Subaru's heart stilled, her pain momentarily forgotten. The men shifted nervously, the girl's presence cutting through their bravado like a cold wind.

"What we stole?" the large thug stammered, his confidence faltering.

"Yes. Now, before I lose patience." Her words were icily composed, yet her final command held a steely edge of frustration.

The big thug pointed down at Subaru, still lying helplessly under their boots. "You didn't come for her, did you?"

The girl's gaze flickered to Subaru briefly, impassive. "No. I have no connection to her." A touch of irritation crossed her face.

The men seized on her hesitation. "Then leave! Some kid just ran off with your stuff! She went that way!"

Subaru's heart sank as the girl glanced in the direction the little thief had run. She glanced at Subaru, and helplessly, Subaru nodded, crushed to signal the truth. After a heartbeat, the girl turned and started walking away.

But then, as she reached the steps, she paused. "I can't, however, overlook this." She spun back, raising her palm toward the thugs.

Suddenly, three sharp cracks echoed as ice—fist-sized, impossibly formed in her hand—shot at the men, dropping them to the ground with bruised, disoriented faces. They lay there, dazed and defeated. Subaru stared, her lips parted in disbelief. 'Magic?' The word slipped from her lips, but in this world, it had a tangible power.

The thugs staggered to their feet, faces contorted in rage and pain. Chin brandished his knife with trembling hands. "Magic or not, you're dead!" he bellowed.

"Two against one is hardly fair." The girl's tone was almost amused.

"Then make it two against two." A high, androgynous voice chimed in. A small, cat-like creature materialized at the girl's side, winking as it stood on her shoulder, its gray fur and dangling earring lending it an oddly endearing air.

The thugs paled. "A spirit user…" whispered the giant, fear creeping into his voice.

"Correct," she replied coolly. "Leave now, and this will be forgotten." Her words were a promise but left no room for defiance. The creature looked at Subaru and for a moment, his eyes widened— Subaru felt an immense pressure on her like a frost-monster wanted to kill her. Then, the cat looked back at the men.

A look of pure malice twisted Chin's face, but he dropped his knife and slunk away, the other thug following, dragging their unconscious companion. Only Subaru remained, staring at the strange cat and the girl who had saved her.

"Thank you," she managed, the words small and uncertain.

"Don't move." The girl's tone held no warmth. Her gaze bore into Subaru, full of suspicion. Subaru's gratitude shrank as she realized this beautiful, ethereal girl did not see her as an ally—perhaps not even as an innocent.

"Do you know anthing?"

But Subaru couldn't tear her gaze away, filled with embarrassment and a desperate hope. She lowered her eyes, cheeks flushed, already feeling the rejection.

"See? Guilt," the girl muttered, advancing on Subaru.

"You sure?" the cat murmured, casting Subaru a curious look. "She doesn't seem the usual suspect… She's got this oddly innocent look."

"Quiet, Puck." The girl leaned forward, peering into Subaru's eyes. "Tell me who took my insignia."

Subaru shook her head weakly. "I don't know. Really, I don't."

The girl scrutinized her, her expression softening as she found no lie in Subaru's face. Her frustration melted into exasperation.

"Then… did I come all the way around here for nothing?" she muttered, sighing. Subaru managed a tired chuckle, her body too weak to support her weight as she slumped back to the ground.

"You… should go after her… I'll be fine." Subaru's voice broke as her exhaustion overwhelmed her, her vision blurring.

The girl hesitated, turning slightly as if to leave, before the cat chimed in, its eyes flashing with concern. "She needs help, Lia."

"Fine!" The girl's face flushed, irritated and embarrassed. "I'll save her if it'll shut you up."

The last thing Subaru saw was her beautiful savior leaning over, her face framed by silvery hair and filled with reluctant concern. And then, darkness closed in, her only thoughts of the girl who had saved her—a fleeting, otherworldly presence in a world she barely understood.

Ō~Õ

Author Note:

I rewrote this whole thing. Almost three chapters mashed up together. Hope you liked it.

I plan on updating more than ten stories of mine this weekend. Stay tuned for more!

Till next time!