PROLOGUE: Ayanokoji Kyotaka

Listen carefully, if you please. Have you ever pondered the notion of parallel worlds? Do you believe in their existence?

Well... it is true that no scientific evidence has yet emerged to conclusively support the existence of these parallel worlds or any similar reality for that matter. Although research is being conducted in this field, we remain submerged in an ocean of uncertainty. Nevertheless, there exists a theory that posits our universe as just a tiny fraction of a series of worlds, some resembling our own, others radically different. The underlying idea is that these universes coexist and interact, mutually influencing their existence through a mysterious force. Scientists even suggest that these parallel worlds exert an influence on our own reality, giving rise to seemingly elusive phenomena, such as the behavior of particles on the quantum scale. However, we can only regard this as a hypothesis in the realm of quantum mechanics.

To be honest, my response, once upon a time, would have been simple: "I don't care," where I would have simply dismissed this enigmatic subject. Without tangible evidence, I wouldn't have wasted my time pondering such a matter. But now, my current situation has raised profound questions within me. One could almost say that my presence here is, in itself, a form of evidence, but other explanations may exist. Perhaps I should not jump to hasty conclusions in the absence of concrete proof. Aaaah... it's frustrating, to be honest. All I was seeking was freedom, and now I find myself entangled in a most complex intrigue. Or maybe not. After all, if we are in another world, a parallel universe, then "this man" may not be able to find me here. One could consider that a glimmer of hope, couldn't they?

Who knows, perhaps my freedom will be won here, in this place. Everything remains to be determined, of course. One could say that I am now... trapped by destiny.

...

...

...

I had just woken up, my head still heavy, in what appeared to be a futon laid on the floor. My eyes were abruptly assaulted by intense light seemingly emanating from a scorching sun filtering through a window. When I finally discerned the unfamiliar ceiling above me, I let out a slight sigh, maintaining my usual impassive expression.

"This is annoying, really annoying... What's happening now?"

After calmly sitting up on the futon I had just awakened on, I took the time to carefully observe the room that surrounded me. It resembled a room frozen in time, a relic from perhaps the 1980s. Weathered wooden furniture, a small wooden table likely serving as a desk with a modest bedside lamp and a few scattered papers on top...

The dominant color was brown, with wood prevailing. The curtains and the window frames were the only elements offering contrast, being pristine white.

I let out a deeper sigh as I stood up and contemplated what I had just discovered.

"A typical room from 1980s Japan, isn't it? It's not so unpleasant... But what on earth am I doing here?"

I simply posed this last question in a monotone voice.

I approached the window from which the blinding light was coming, and I cast an indifferent glance at the horizon. Before me lay a charming little countryside village, everything seemed to belong to that bygone era of the 1980s. Greenery stretched as far as the eye could see, dotted with quaint country paths and houses that looked old but evidently well-maintained...

It was evident that something was deeply amiss... It was truly frustrating. Since I had joined ANHS in search of my freedom, I had encountered nothing but trouble and had been compelled to get involved in various affairs. And now, here was another annoyance to add to the list, arguably the strangest of them all. Because, in this situation, I didn't even know where to begin... I needed to think this through more.

Well, I remember falling asleep in my ANHS dorm room after that confrontation on the rooftop with Ryuen and our discussion. I was exhausted... I had worked hard to shape my perfect tool: "Kei Karuizawa." All of that seemed to have been in vain... But who knows, maybe I'll find her here one day. After all, if I had arrived here, as mysterious as it may be, there must be a way to go back... Or maybe even bring them here, who knows.

For now, I suppose it's necessary to understand where I am and why I'm here... I've already checked if this was a dream, by observing my hands and trying to hold my breath to perform what they call "reality checks." Unfortunately, it turned out it wasn't a dream...

I briefly considered the possibility of a "special exam" organized by ANHS. But as competent as they were, could they really orchestrate something so incredible? I even wondered if it was possible for them...

Well, I guess that's all I can know for now... I'll just explore the house, starting with this room... Well, my room now, at least for the time being... I sighed inwardly at it all.

...

It seemed that my room didn't hold much of interest, at least at first glance. However, a few particular elements piqued my curiosity. My wardrobe appeared to contain a collection of clothes that seemed to be mine, or at least, a perfect reproduction of my clothing. While I couldn't be categorically sure that they came from my own closet, this observation was undeniably intriguing.

Whatever the mystery surrounding my presence here, it appeared that the person or entity behind all of this knew me intimately, even disturbingly so. In this context, I didn't entirely rule out the possibility of supernatural intervention. This line of thought pushed me to consider new leads. Could "this man" have the means to orchestrate such a complex scenario? Was it an attempt to retrieve me, or perhaps a new test? I sighed once again, faced with this new layer of mystery. We could now add a new theory and a new suspect to the already long list of this mysterious "X."

Now, it was time to examine what piqued my interest the most in the room. I had intentionally left this part for last, as I knew it would require my full attention. On the desk, I had spotted a few strange papers neatly arranged. More specifically, there were two of them, but the term "strange" seemed appropriate given their content. Furthermore, while observing the room as a whole, I noticed an item that didn't belong here, at least at first glance. It was a phone, specifically the one used at ANHS, complete with its points and all. This discovery particularly intrigued me, and I was tempted to add ANHS to the list of potential suspects behind "X"-kun.

I approached the desk, having dressed in the ANHS uniform I had also found in the wardrobe. I decided to first inspect the phone thoroughly. After picking it up, I scrutinized it meticulously, performing a few checks. It turned out to be identical to the ones we used at ANHS. I powered it on and saw my profile on the screen: "Ayanokoji Kyotaka," accompanied by my point balance... And here, something didn't add up. My balance displayed the exact same number of points as on my first day at ANHS, April 1st, which was 100,000 points. Another puzzle had just been added to the already long list of unanswered questions. At this point, I seemed almost out of sighs.

I decided to further explore the phone, checking for the presence of my old contacts, including Horikita Suzune, Kei Karuizawa, Kushida Kikyou, Honami Ichinose, and others. However, I noticed that I had no network connection, and sending messages was impossible. My typical sarcastic comment surfaced: "Well, that would have been too easy, wouldn't it?"

After more thorough inspections, I also noted that the date displayed on the phone didn't match the one from the previous evening when I fell asleep. It read "June 10, 1983."

"Looks like another problem to add to the list," I remarked sarcastically, a habit I hadn't lost yet.

After one last exasperated sigh, I closed the phone and slipped it into the pocket of my pants. It was time to tackle the most intriguing part of the room, one of the two letters carefully placed on the desk. With an impassive expression, I began to read it... Mentally, of course.

"Hello, hello, Kyotaka-kun! ~~

How are you? So, surprised? Well, you might have noticed, but you're not where you were before. Makes sense, right? Yes, yes, you are indeed in another world!! Well, to be precise, it would be more accurate to say that you're in another "fragment," but you're not quite aware of it yet, so be patient, and all in good time!!

You're probably wondering how you got here, why you're here, and, oh my God, did she really say "another world"? Hihihihi!! Well, yes, that's the case!! Well, I can answer the first question, and I'll just tell you that I brought you here!! Who am I? Oh, sorry, actually, I think given your situation, you've probably already thought about my identity... But in fact, sorry to disappoint you, but you simply don't know me ~~ !! So, nice to meet you, Kyotaka-kun, I'm Rubiscarl, but you can call me Rubis Onee-chan if you want!! I'm giving you this information because, as a certain man who has just been kidnapped by me would say, who knows, maybe we'll meet someday!!

As for the other questions... Mmmmh... I won't give you any hints ~~ !! It's up to you to discover why you're here, what your purpose will be, and most importantly... What mystery will confront you and how to solve it? I have high hopes that I'm placing in you!! I hope you won't disappoint me and that you'll entertain me a bit because, you know, I get bored a lot, so I need some entertainment!!

With that, I wish you good luck, have fun ~~!"

"What was that all about?" I sighed once again after folding the letter and placing it back on the desk, immersed in the absurdity of this message. Yet, it was no less intriguing.

"So, I'm in another world, huh?" Even though this letter proposed such a hypothesis, it would be foolish to take it at face value without verifying it myself. After all, if this mysterious person is behind my situation, it wouldn't be surprising if they hoped I would blindly trust them.

I found myself facing a dilemma in a world that promised to be as enigmatic as it was boring. "A puzzle, then? So there's really a purpose to all of this, and something to solve? It seems like I'll have to figure it all out for myself..."

After these deeper reflections on the mysterious letter, I decided to move on to the second piece of paper. Just as before, I picked it up in my right hand and began to mentally read its contents.

"Rubis-hello again, Kyotaka-kun ~~!

It's me again, your dear Rubis Onee-chan whom you love so much. So, did you miss me ~? Anyway, all that to say that, as you've probably already noticed, I left your phone from where you come from, just to give you a little help !! I mean, you're undoubtedly going to stay here for quite a while, how do you plan to survive without money, clever one? Anyway, all that to say that you can exchange these points for yen whenever you want !! And no, no, clever one !! You can't buy everything, of course !! When you want to buy something, just scan your phone on the terminal in your house's living room and request the amount of money you want to withdraw !! Oh, and of course, try not to show this object too much outside, obviously !! I also left you your contact list, so you can reminisce about good memories and cry whenever you want... You obviously can't send them messages, as you've probably already noticed, but you're in 1983 and in a small countryside village... So no connection, sorry, cutie ~~ !!

Well, for the little introduction... You find yourself in the wonderful village of Hinamizawa, in June 1983, the 53rd year of the Showa era... Where everything begins and ends, where horror and love mix!! Hihihih!! Exciting, isn't it? Well, other people will introduce you to this village, so no need to do it yourself !!

Oh!! And I almost forgot, I've enrolled you in the little school in Hinamizawa, you'll have to go there in the early afternoon today, good luck with your first day at school !! The village is small, so I'm sure you'll find your way there on time. Good luck again, Kyotaka-kun ~~ !!"

... Truly... This person is as enigmatic as they are extravagant, surpassing even all the individuals I've encountered at ANHS. However, at this point, it's pointless to dwell on it.

So, "Hinamizawa," huh? This name doesn't ring a bell at all... It must be in a very isolated location. Apparently, I can withdraw money from a terminal in the living room, but she mentioned that I couldn't "buy everything." At this point, nothing should surprise me anymore. I suppose I can use the money the same way as in the real world.

"And... did I read that correctly? She mentioned a school?" A sigh escaped me at the thought... This person has everything planned out, don't they? I'm somewhat hesitant about the idea that they can make decisions on my behalf.

However, I also realize the freedom they've granted me. They mentioned no restrictions or obligations. They even hinted that I could stay here for a very long time. This might be the freedom I've always dreamt of, in reality. Maybe it's not so bad. I'm far from "that man," far from everything... I'm going to a perfectly normal school in a peaceful village, isolated from the rest of the world... With only the cicadas' song as company from outside.

"Maybe it's not so bad after all..."

My goal has never changed: freedom. And perhaps I'm finally ready to achieve it. Who knows, maybe the people at this school will be friendly, and I could live the peaceful and free life I've always desired.

Of course, there's this "puzzle" to solve, but no time constraints have been imposed. And come to think of it, starting with 100,000 yen from the get-go is not insignificant. It's like a rebirth, a chance to start over...

So, I should seize this opportunity and make the most of it, even if just a little. I'm far from that fierce competition to reach Class A, far from all of that.

"It's time to take control of my life and enjoy my freedom while I can..." I murmured to myself, hands in my pockets, gazing at the wooden ceiling above me, after placing the second piece of paper back on my desk.

Then, I took my phone out of my right pocket to check the time... It was only 9:30 in the morning. It seems I still have some time before the start of my "new life."

I finally put my phone away and began to explore the house thoroughly, observing every detail... Making the most of this freedom that had been given to me.

...

After a more thorough exploration, it was now 10 in the morning, and I found myself sitting apathetically on the couch in my new home's living room. The couch was surprisingly comfortable, and in the distance, the persistent chirping of cicadas continued to lull me as I reflected on everything I had noticed during my brief tour of this new residence. It was quite well-equipped, actually.

The first floor housed my bedroom, a toilet, a bathroom, and a second bedroom. Descending the stairs led directly to the living room. There was an old-fashioned television, typical of the 1980s, which was hardly surprising. A few decorations adorned the space, and a small coffee table stood next to the couch, where I had found the famous terminal. Additionally, a large dining table surrounded by wooden chairs occupied a portion of the room. Speaking of that terminal, it was remarkably easy to use. I took the time to test it to make sure it worked. Simply scanning your phone on it would bring up an interface on the phone's screen to indicate the withdrawal amount... So I chose to withdraw 5,000 yen for now, which should be sufficient.

Beyond the living room, on the ground floor, there was a small, fully-equipped kitchen. The cabinets and refrigerator were stocked with provisions. I suppose "Rubis Onee-chan" had prepared everything for me in advance... I had no reason to complain. It spared me the need to quickly find a store and immediately spend my resources on life's necessities. Just past the entrance, there was also a shoe rack.

After inspecting every nook of the house, I simply slumped onto the couch, lost in thoughts about this new life... Listening peacefully to the melodious chirping of cicadas... The place was surprisingly quiet and comfortable, I had to admit.

"... So, this is how my new life begins, isn't it? It's a way to gain more freedom than I've ever had... All thanks to this mysterious person who transported me to 'another world,' or something like that... It seems that all of this is quite real, after all..."

I sighed again and closed my eyes for a moment, leaning back against the couch, placing my arms behind my head and crossing my legs, while soaking in the cicadas' song and further contemplating.

"Yes, it's really not so bad, this village seems so peaceful and quiet... And I even have the freedom to do as I please."

I wonder... If all of this is possible... Could this new life change me? Could I finally feel human warmth, emotions...? Even though I had lost hope in these things, maybe I can consider them as a new goal to pursue, in addition to solving this 'puzzle.'

In essence, one could say that my rebirth can finally begin. It's time to make a fresh start here, and forget at least for a while about my previous life... To enjoy this new life, this freedom. This village, the cicadas' song, and even this school, where I might meet friendly people to form friendships with... Perhaps less extravagant than those at ANHS?

... In any case, all of this seems to be the work of destiny... As mysterious and strange as this person is, I could thank them for allowing me to change my destiny in this way... One could even say that I've been... "Taking by Fate"