"...Ngh."
My breathing was labored.
"...Ah."
My voice wouldn't come out right.
"..."
Cold. Hard ground? I was wrapped in a rag of a cloth.
I realized it, hazily.
—I had been abandoned.
Fragmented memories hammered home that single, brutal reality.
"...Haha."
A dry laugh escaped my throat.
"...Are you serious?"
I had my memories. Memories of Minato Habata from my previous life. And I could speak—wasn't this supposed to start from being a baby?
"...I guess I'll just keep my old name."
This was one hell of an Otherworld Reincarnation.
Time passed. It wasn't as if anyone had rescued me. I had simply survived by a miracle. At the moment of my reincarnation, I was... twelve? I was still just a boy, an age where surviving alone should have been impossible.
Why was I alive? The answer was simple. I hadn't died because of my own tenacity and...
"...Because I was strong," I muttered.
Monsters were one thing, but between the Bandits and the constant starvation, any normal child would have perished. But—
"...I just sort of know how to do it."
How to move my body. The flow of power. Even methods of killing—I had a whole repertoire at my fingertips.
"I hate this..."
It felt wrong. But then again...
"Whatever. It's the only reason I'm still breathing."
I didn't think too deeply about it. I had no reason to.
Today, like every other day, I went to the Guild to collect my reward for a Magical Beast Subjugation. I was living hand-to-mouth, but it was better than my previous life. Above all, the feeling of being in an Otherworld Reincarnation kept my spirits up.
"Hey, you."
Someone called out to me. I hoped it wasn't another thug. Standing there was a single boy.
"..."
He had pristine equipment and a straightforward gaze.
"...Are you one of those 'Lord Hero' types?" I asked casually.
"I'm called that sometimes," he answered with a wry smile.
Wait, for real?
"...What's your name?"
"It's Minato." I rarely gave my name, but as an abandoned child, it was the only thing I truly owned. I didn't have any memories from the original owner of this body, and I had no intention of explaining that.
"Minato... Minato, huh."
"Yeah, what about it?"
Was it really something that required such careful confirmation? The Hero scratched his head, looking exasperated.
"Then that's what I'll call you."
"Fine. So, what do you want?"
"I heard you're strong."
Wait, did he come here to challenge me to a duel?
"Well, I haven't exactly lost to anyone around here." I saw no reason to hide it. After all, I was strong!
"Join me."
"...Huh?" That was incredibly abrupt.
"Why? Give me a reason."
"Because you're necessary. I need you."
His gaze was unwavering. It seemed he had his own reasons.
"I can't reach it on my own."
"Oh?"
I see.
"...I don't mind, but what are we even doing?"
I was bored anyway, and I'd always wanted to try the Hero Role.
"That was fast!?"
"Shouldn't you be grateful?"
"What!?"
"Are we going to save the world or defeat a Demon King?"
I'd be happy with either.
"Ah... well, yes, exactly that, but..."
I thought for a moment.
"I'm just bored out of my mind."
"..."
The Hero let out a small laugh.
"...I see. Well, thanks anyway."
He held out his hand.
"..."
Looking at it, for just a split second, something clicked deep in the back of my mind.
—Choose.
"..."
I had no logical reason. But...
"...Sure, why not."
I took his hand.
"Nice to meet you, Hero."
"Yeah. Nice to meet you, Minato."
And so—the journey of two people, the Hero and I, began.
Yes, I'm sure that's how it happened.
◇◆◇
"...He still isn't waking up," Yuka murmured.
Evening had already settled outside the window. Her eyes were fixed on the bed, where Luka lay in a quiet slumber. He hadn't opened his eyes once since morning.
"No," Elysia answered softly. "His pulse is stable, and his breathing is normal."
"...But," Yuka's gaze remained pinned to the bed. "He won't wake up."
"..."
Elysia didn't deny it. Luka was right there, his face unchanged, simply sleeping. And yet...
"..."
He felt so far away. She couldn't shake that sensation.
"Lady Elysia..." Yuka spoke up, her voice trembling slightly. "Will Lord Luka... stay like this forever?"
"Never."
Elysia's response was immediate—a sharp, powerful denial.
"..."
Yuka's eyes widened. "...You're right."
"Of course I am," Elysia said, her gaze unwavering. "There is no future where Luka-kun doesn't return."
"..."
Her conviction was absolute.
"...Forgive my rudeness, Lady Elysia, but do you... Lord Luka..."
"Yes, I love him."
Elysia answered without a hint of hesitation; she had discarded her doubts long ago. "He will come back."
"...I suppose you're right. He always does."
"And you, Yuka? How do you feel about Luka-kun?"
It was a question she already knew the answer to, asked only for confirmation.
"...I was his slave, and he allowed me to serve as his maid."
"I'm aware of that. And?"
Elysia's eyes were piercing, refusing to let Yuka dodge the truth.
"...Very well. Even if Lord Luka were to die like this, I would follow him into the afterlife without a second thought."
"I see."
Their feelings seemed to align, yet they were worlds apart. The love of the girl who had always been his equal and the love of the girl who was not—at some point, their devotions had become profoundly distorted.