Chapter 1: Breakdown

Chapter 1: Breakdown

"Thank you for coming," Ryan said as the two clients before them finished their food. Standing before Ryan was Natsuiro Matsuri and Shade, who were discussing something that the fast food worker didn't know or care about.

"No problem," Matsuri said with an uncharacteristically respectful and professional tone, "Shade and I needed to discuss this very important matter, so we just decided to stop by here."

"Sorry for getting you involved, by the way," Shade said as he rubbed the back of his head.

"It's no problem," Ryan replied politely. He didn't understand what was going on. Shade wasn't usually one to apologize, and all he did was converse about something while Ryan was in the vicinity. Ryan decided to shrug it off.

"He's probably planning something," Edhas grumbled in Ryan's head, "Keep an eye out."

I'll be sure to do that, Ryan replied.

"Anyways, I'll see you around," Shade waved as he and Matsuri walked out of the establishment.

"Well, that was weird," Ryan shook his head. As he said that, the door to the back room opened and Kiara walked out.

"Matsuri usually isn't that serious," Kiara voiced Ryan's thoughts, "Actually, I haven't seen her like that since the war on heaven."

"Uh huh," Ryan felt the tick appear on his forehead. The war on heaven was something that multiple people promised to explain to him, but no one went through with that promise. Edhas promised Ryan that they would explore the events during their "business trip", but they got sidetracked and that didn't happen.

"Anyways, I'll be clocking out," Ryan shook his head. He wasn't in the mood to think about things that happened in the past. For now, he had more important things to think about. Like date night.

"Tell me how things go with Suisei in the morning~," Kiara smiled seductively as she offered Ryan a playful wink.

"Yeah, yeah," Ryan grumbled as he put the time on the paper and walked out.

So, how do you think I should surprise her? Ryan asked. He knew Edhas wasn't the best person to ask for dating advice, but a second opinion was better than none.

"Beats me. She's your girlfriend after all," Edhas said with a rather crass tone.

Jeez, just because you're jealous doesn't mean you have to be rude about it, Ryan snickered to himself as he teased his alternate personality.

"I'm not jealous!: Edhas countered swiftly, "Roboco's just a… work in progress…"

Yeah, yeah, I believe you, Ryan said. He was going to continue if the blaring horn of a truck didn't snap him from his thoughts. He turned just in time to see Matsuri barrel into him with a truck.

Ryan didn't even have time to think before his world went black.

-

"Wake up!" Ryan jolted awake as Edhas shouted in his head. He opened his eyes and sat up, examining the room. He had no idea where he was, but he wasn't alone. He noticed three women and a young boy standing in the gray, stone room that they were all in. As Ryan stood up, he realized the complex magical circle on the floor.

Edhas, do you know what this is? Ryan thought.

"Looks like some sort of complex summoning circle. I don't know why someone would make a circle this complex unless they were summoning a god or something. Then again, I guess it summoned us, so I guess they got their money's worth," Edhas replied.

Ryan was then snapped from his stupor when he felt a hand hit his cheek.

"I'm sorry for slapping you, but you weren't replying to anything," The cat girl that slapped him did look a little guilty, but only a little.

"I guess I deserved that. My bad," Ryan, rubbing his cheek, noticed that the girl slapped him hard enough for him to feel a sting, despite the layer of protective magic he had on him, "Anyways, does anyone know what's going on?"

"Well, the goddess told me that we were being sent to this world to save it from the demon lord," The cat girl noted, "Classic isekai plot if you asked me."

"Hn," The boy, who looked to be in his teens, nodded and said nothing else.

"I want to be able to do my best to help this world!" The snowy white kitsune had a determined look on her face, "The goddess seemed really nice, but she looked really sad when she talked about the state of this world. I want to try my best to make everyone smile."

"If this is another world, I bet there's a lot of gold," The blonde said. Ryan could swear that she was drooling at the thought.

"Anyways, what are all your names?" The cat girl then asked as she brushed her long, black hair behind her shoulder, "My name is Kamiisa Brooker."

"Inaba Yukimi!" The kitsune gave the small group an energetic wave, "It's a pleasure to meet all of you!"

"Arias Kalani," The blonde put a hand on her hip as a smirk grew upon her lips.

"Nokosa Reta," The boy said. He still had yet to look anyone in the eyes.

"What about you?" Yukimi turned to look at Ryan with inviting eyes, "What's your name?"

"Oh, I'm Ryan Shade. Sorry for earlier," Ryan put a hand in his pocket to show that he wasn't afraid of the situation. He hoped his calm demeanor would influence the others to act in kind.

Unfortunately, that isn't what he got. Reta instantly shot Ryan a glare that would have given Rushia run for her money. Arias visibly flinched before taking a couple steps back. Kamiisa muttered something under her breath that Ryan couldn't pick up. Yukimi instantly brightened and bounded over to Ryan and shook his hand vigorously.

"I'm a huge fan! We all owe you our lives!" Yukimi beamed at Ryan. Despite Ryan's fame as a war hero and positive reputation, he still didn't know how to deal with admirers and fans.

"Er… don't mention it," Ryan struggled to come up with words, "I was just doing what's right."

"Smooth," Edhas said in Ryan's head, "It's a wonder that you wooed someone like Suisei. You can't even talk to girls."

That's enough out of you, Ryan grumbled in response before turning his attention back to the others.

"Damn, I didn't expect to meet a powerhouse like you in my entire life," Arias said with sweat beading down her face, "We're cool right? Like, you're not going to kill me, right?"

"Why would I do that?" Ryan asked with genuine confusion.

"Er… nevermind," Arias looked away.

"I generally dislike the arrogance of celebrities, but I appreciate what you have done for our community," Kamiisa took a quick glance at Ryan before looking away.

"Okay…" Ryan said awkwardly before looking at Reta. Reta looked like he had a few choice words for Ryan but decided not to say anything.

"Great heroes!" The solitary door flew open to reveal what seemed to be a priestess, "My name is Nokutoka Momiji and I am the royal priestess of the kingdom of Alastaria! I beg of you to-."

Momiji then stopped in her tracks. There was an awkward silence as she looked at the group of five people before she spoke up with a significantly softer voice, "W-why are there five of you?"

"Is that not supposed to happen?" Ryan asked.

"N-no… there should only be four people," Momiji looked like she was about to faint.

"Well, isn't this a good thing?" Arias perked up, "If there's one more person, that means that we have a higher chance of surviving!"

"I-I don't know… this wasn't in the prophecy," Ryan honestly felt bad for Momiji. He also didn't think it was a big deal that there was an extra person, but it obviously was for her.

"I… I must consult the goddess," Momiji, starting to recollect herself, took a deep breath, "Yes! I will do that! I apologize for the inconvenience, but I will be right back!"

Momoji bowed deeply to the group before closing the door.

"Well," Ryan, trying to break the tension, decided to speak up, "That was awkward."

-

After running into a vase and at least a dozen guards, Momiji finally made it to the worship room. She opened the door to reveal a statue of the goddess, Kohiko. Momiji fell to her knees and clasped her hands in prayer.

"Kohiko-sama, my goddess, I seek an audience. Please lend me your guidance," Momiji prayed. She breathed a sigh of relief as a warm energy started to envelop her.

"Greetings, my child," Momiji opened her eyes to gaze up at a woman with pink hair and deep, magenta eyes, "What is it that you seek?"

"Kohiko-sama!" Momiji smiled as she looked up at the goddess, "I need your guidance! Something happened with the summoning."

"Oh no, is everything okay?" Kohiko looked genuinely worried for the people she brought to the other world.

"No, everyone is fine, but there are five people," Momiji explained.

"I see," Kohiko rubbed her chin as she looked down in a contemplative manner, "I only summoned four people. I wonder how another person joined as well."

"Ah, sorry! That one was mine!" Another voice cut into the conversation. The two whirled around to see a small girl with brown hair running over to the two.

"M-Matsuri-sama!" Kohiko instantly kowtowed to the small girl.

Matsuri?! Momiji thought as her eyes bulged. Matsuri was the goddess of light and fertility. She granted the world light and living creatures the means to reproduce. She is one of the most important gods of the pantheon, but she barely ever interacted with the world. If one of the summoned heroes was summoned by Matsuri, they must be a big deal.

"I summoned Kamiisa Brooker, Nokosa Reta, Inabi Yukimi, and Arias Kalani," Kohiko informed the other goddess, "Who did you summon?"

"A kid named Ryan Shade," Matsuri said.

"Ryan Shade?" Kohiko, obviously intrigued, put a finger to her chin.

"He's done a lot for my world," Matsuri crossed her arms with a smug expression on her face, "When it comes to people from my world, there isn't anyone better."

"Oh," Kohiko looked genuinely amazed at Matsuri's claims.

Matsuri then turned to Momiji, who flinched in response, "You should leave Ryan to his own devices. Show him the ropes of this world and then let him decide to do what he wants. With Ryan here, the demon lord will fall."

"As you wish, Matsuri-sama," Momiji bowed her head in respect.

"You should go back to your duties, my child," Kohiko turned to Momiji, "Matsuri and I need to discuss something in private."

"As you wish, my goddess," Momiji said. As she separated her hands, she faded away, back to the mortal realm.

-

As soon as Momiji vanished, Kohiko whirled towards Matsuri with tears in her eyes.

"Matsuri-sama!" Kohiko tackled Matsuri into a hug, "Thank you so much for summoning someone! I thought I was screwed!"

"It's no problem! Jeez, get off!" Matsuri barely managed to push the grovelling goddess off of her.

"I… I just don't know how the demon lord became so strong," Kohiko sat down on the ground with crocodile tears pouring down her cheeks, "We should have been able to handle him ourselves. I'm so sorry."

"It's okay," Matsuri gave Kohiko a soft smile, "Helping out kouhais in need is a senpai's job, after all."

"Thank you so much, Matsuri!" Kohiko brightened up at the lolicon, "With your champion, we will stop the demon king in no time!"

"Champion?" Matsuri laughed, as if the notion was absurd. She then stared off into the distance with a confident expression on her face.

"At this point, I can't even hold a candle to him."