1 The Day I Thought I Was About to Reincarnate in Another World

As the protagonist woke up, the sun was not even able to move its eyelids. It was so tyring to move around the earth whole day just to make the living things happy.

At least what it would feel if the world was flat as many people believe nowadays, he thought while brushing his teeth.

"What a peculiar world we live in now. People are too eager to believe those nonsense viral trends." He said to himself on the mirror.

It was a young man looking older than he actually is. Few wrinkles had already found their place here and there. His eyes on the other hand were vivid despite the fact that he had just woken up.

When he finally left home after picking up his brother's pizza boxes and half-eaten candy bars on the floor and hung his sister's laundry he had washed last night, he realized he did not even have time to get breakfast.

His shift at the bookstore was half an hour away, so was the bike ride to it.

The kids in college think it is so cool to work in bookshop. They only see comfy leather wing-chairs, proper lighting to read books in peace, the refreshing smell of hot ground coffee, free pastries and cool, educated people around the bookshelves.

Meanwhile, he experiences heavy book cargos, dust on books, unendurable smell of forbidden croissants, dust on shelves, the tables waiting to be cleaned, dust on tables, dust.

The only thing he probably felt peace and quiet was the time of the day when the door chime rang and SHE entered the store.

He never knew her name or which university she was attending. Never grew the courage to talk with her. But almost every day around the same hour he waited for her. With the corner of his eyes, he watched her walking around the bookshelves, hoping he was not turning into some kind of stalker.

One day, his shift was about to end. He was getting ready to go on his night-shift in the gas station when her sister texted him asking money. Apparently, she was in a pub in the neighbourhood even though she and her friends were underaged.

The most annoying thing was she didn't even think to stop by, rather asked him to bring the money she needs. The night-shift was starting in an hour and the station located near their house. So again, half an hour bike ride was waiting ahead and he did not have time for this bullshit.

Suddenly he heard the door chime.

A woman walked in looking like no different than any other college student. But, what a presence she had. Not the kind that makes boys drool on, but she looked like a goddess to him. Her curly bangs were like a golden wheat field. The fading sun's rays were making her cheeks to glow in a reddish autumn leaves. Her eyes… Eyes?

She was looking at him at close range. Her mouth was moving.

She was talking to Him.

"A-are you okay? She asked in confusion."Aw, you don't work here, do you? I assume that- Since I thought I saw you here before-" she believed she is realising something.

"Oh my god. I am so sorry. I always do that." She blushed, made her cheeks turn into crimson red. "Please forgive me".

Before she moved another way, he pulled himself together.

"S-sorry, my bad." The struggle to make an embarresed gulp silent was real.

"Of course, I do work here. Please, what are you looking for?" He finally asked.

"I see" she smiled "I was hoping for a book recommendation. Greek mythology, if possible mostly about gods. I recently got obsessed with it, somehow". Her smile was moving back and forth while she was talking which made it more irresistible to him.

"Th- the mythology section is over there. Let me help you."

"Great, thank you" she replied.

The mythology section was his favourite too. Each lunch break was always a new journey through the imaginary realms of the ancient people. He carried away easily when he realized he finally found someone to talk about it.

So it was too late before he decided its time to shut up.

"Sorry, I did talk you to death, didn't i" he blushed.

"Not at all" she smiled. "You were a big help." She was indifferent, lost in a book.

"So, you are saying I should avoid old works, cause their approach has been surpassed. And I also should dodge most of the new ones 'cause they are too cheesy"

"Oh, you were listening!" he surprised.

"Of course I was. I am the one who asked for your help, remember?" she smiled again. Oh god it was unbearable.

"What is your name?" Suddenly he asked without knowing.

"Its Céline. What is yours?" she replied while browsing another book he recommended.

"Endymion," he said and made her burst into laughter.

The chapter she was reading called "Meaning of Love and Affection: In Case of Moon Goddess Selene and Endymion".

"I-I mean Andreas" His face was looking for some hole to be burried in. "I am sorry I didn't mean-"

"Hahaha. No need to apologize. That was the most beautiful pick-up line I have ever heard. I was actually waiting for an offer to grab a beer or somethi-"

The word 'grabbing a beer' kicked him so hard, so in half a second his existance split in two. Anxiety shadowed the possibilty of a date and his responsibilities substitute that thought heroically.

"What, oh my. What time is it?" he realized its too late for his next job and panicked when his phone was ringing. It was 'Mia' written on the screen. He answered.

"Okay, okay I am coming. It was Sparrow's Pub right. I'm on my way." He hanged up the phone.

"I am late. I have to go. It was nice to meet with you. Have fun with that book, bye!"

He rushed out of the door without looking back, without realizing or caring what she might think about the whole situation. He was confused about how everything has evolved like this with her, stressed about being late on a job and helplessly trying to make his siblings happy at the same time.

Whatever the cause was, he was soon about to forget it all for a moment.

He was running across the street when he saw the lights of an old truck, getting closer towards him.

-

He woke up.

The surrounding around was hardly describable. So, his conscious quickly decided not to worry about it too much.

"Welcome young Andreas. Why don't you try to tell us about yourself." A strong demanding voice was heard.

There was a big circle table which he was standing in the middle and a few people were sitting around it, all looking towards Andreas now.

"Where am I?" he cried. " Am I dead?" asked while looking to his body wonderingly. "Or worse, am I reincarnated into another world?"

He didn't know why he said that. Lately reading far-eastern light novels had become an obsession. Probably his mind was looking for anything somehow concrete.

"No." A male-figure answered hardly keeping his laugh. "And, God No."

"Mr Andreas you are here as a candidate for the Scion System. I see here that you have applied a few weeks ago." A female figure behind Andreas stated.

"Let's begin from the top, okay? We have to catch up with our schedule."