Side Story 1: My Name is Nagata Tatsuya

Side Story 1: My Name is Nagata Tatsuya

My name was Nagata Tatsuya, or Tatsuya Nagata if you were from the western countries.

I was a Japanese high school student at Shirako High who became 18 years old this year. In other words, I was in my senior years and boy was it annoying. Studying all day just to enter higher education to then get a job. Honestly, it sounded so tiresome.

And, honestly, I could probably slack off a bit. My parents were well-off with stable and well-paying jobs. The problem lay with my parents pushing me to do my best, otherwise they would cut my allowance to buy the things I need to destress games and manga. I was a proud otaku.

In a way, you could describe my life as pretty good, and, if I wasnt complaining so much, I would probably agree. I had a mundane and average life. I didnt go hungry. I could study as much as I wanted without needing to get a part-time job, and I could destress pretty easily if I dont become a complete couch potato.

The problem was it was feeling repetitive to me.

Waking up in the same nice house, a small breakfast with the family while my dad gorged it all down like a competitive eater to make it to work in time, until I had to go, where my mom would give me a freshly brewed coffee before she had to go to work. I would ride the same train, at the same time, towards my school nearly everybody outside of Sunday.

And just as I said, I was riding the train towards the school right now, sipping my morning coffee made from home. This has been going on for years now.

Dont get me wrong. I didnt hate school but it was nothing special. It was a school for either students with rich parents or those smart enough to get into it. I belonged to the former group. As such, I was getting a good enough education.

Still I preferred spending my time in the wonderful world of fiction and video games. It made my heart skip everything when I was done with any school related work, and I could just engross myself in whatever fictional world I was currently hooked on.

Just imagine it; I didnt have to live as boring old Tatsuya Nagata. When I could have some personal R&R, I could experience the point of view of other people, join and watch their adventure or I could just make myself a character and jump into a world and do it myself.

It was escapism, but who cared? I was doing my duty as a responsible person during the day, and was allowed to do whatever later on. Anything was better to skip sleep because the final and college exams were all coming up next semester.

Urgh, being in the last year of high school sucks Ow!

Morning, Tatsuya! You better watch out where you are walking.

Oh, its you Kyouya.

Kyouya Ishiyama.

My childhood and also my best friend. We have been gaming brothers ever since we started spending all our allowance at the arcades, essentially when we were finally allowed to go there alone. Nowadays, we mostly stuck to playing video games together, as his family moved to another neighborhood.

Over time, he developed an interest for the athletic club, so the time we spent together has decreased during high school. Well, it was not like it mattered much. We still met each other at school and our weekends were spent on killing time together.

I was walking pretty fine just now. No accidents like always.

I gave him a quick nod that said good morning and fixed myself up. Kyouya smacked my back, to wake me up from my daydreaming, which could hurt as he had a pretty good build.

"You say that but what if you daydream and get hit by a car? Those reincarnation light novels are pretty in nowadays, after all."

"Oh please. I waved my hand in denial, finding his idea absurd. I might be addicted to video games, light novels, and mangas but even I know that those stories are fantasy. If I get run over by some car, Ill be dead-dead. Shazu river, take me.

I clapped my hands, acting like I was praying as a joke. I loved fictional and fantasy worlds, but I was not stupid enough to believe those things could exist. It was worthless wish-making.

Kyouya sighed, shaking his head as we started walking together. Fantasy or not, a car running you over when youre not paying attention could become reality.

Sounds like something that can spice up my life.

Mr. Glasses massaged his temple and continued looking exasperated, as he seems to suggest to go ask another teacher if she doesnt arrive in time. Miss Rep. just looked at us with one brow raised, asking us if what we said was true. Kyouya made a wry smile and shook his head, while I just shrugged. Having confirmed our answers for herself, she let out a sigh and returned to the discussion on hand.

It was nothing I needed to worry about.

"Well, hopefully, what's keeping her away isn't something too bad."

Itll be fine.

Its understandable that my best friend was nervous, with how we are slowly closing in to our final exams. Every chance wasted to study was a big problem.

What would the chance be, if she were to be transported to another world?

Oof, hopefully that happens after we are done with the finals, otherwise I!

Suddenly, my words were cut short because a light appeared on the ground. It grew fast and basked the whole classroom in it.

Huh? What the!

Ouch, who turned the lights on?

Wait, where did this light come from?

Yes, glorious! It worked!

That was the first thing I heard after my senses came back. It was still a bit hard to see because of the fog, but I could hear, feel, smell and taste. Besides hearing that voice, I also picked up the sounds of grunts and moans of people close to me. Some were also panicking but none really shouted.

Your excellency. The ritual has worked. Our summoning ritual was a success!

When the fog dispersed, the sight of a bunch of men in white and gold robes appeared. I wasnt a religious person but the clothing the priests were wearing seemed to resemble the ones western priests wore. It was unlike the ones at our local shinto temple

In the middle of all these men stood an old geezer wearing gaudy and over-decorated clothes, clearing shouting "I am the leader." He held up his gold staff in the air, letting the gemstones on it glisten from the lights of the chandeliers.

Welcome to our world, otherworldly visitors. We have summoned you to our humble world as heroes. The destined ones to defeat the encroaching evil of the demonkins.

Upon hearing this, my whole class just went silent. Not only were we shocked at our new surroundings, but we kept our mouths shut as we saw men and women in armor standing behind the rows of priests. Swords were on their hips, and the whole atmosphere screamed at us to be quiet.

How ironic. I had complained about how my life was so boring up until now, but the moment everything changed, I only felt lost. Thoughts crowded my mind on the words we just heard, but there was something even more important I had to figure out first.

I scratched my head in anxiety when I couldnt find it. The one thing keeping me awake is to attend school and to study. My beloved thermos with the brown liquid inside of it.

Where?

Where is that thing? Huh, where is it?! Where is my thermos? Mymy thermos! I havent finished drinking it yet! My coffee, where is it! Why wasnt it transported with me?!

I HAVENT FINISHED DRINKING MY COFFEE!

I had not realized at this moment how much of a nightmare this addiction would become.