The rich aroma of Japanese curry filled the modest apartment, the warm scent of caramelized onions blending with the mild spice of thick, golden-brown sauce. Soft potatoes, tender meat, and bright orange slices of carrots peeked through the surface, perfectly complementing the rice beside it.

  Sachi sat at the dining table, her hands resting lightly on her p as she watched Kotori pce two steaming ptes in front of them.

  Kotori sat across from her, fshing a bright smile. "Here you go! This curry is the best- hope you like it!"

  Sachi blinked, suddenly struck by how normal this moment felt- too normal. Just moments ago, she had been questioning everything, clinging to the hope that this world was just a dream. Now here she was, sitting at a table, eating home-cooked curry as if she'd live here in this world all along.

  She picked up her spoon, hesitating for a moment before taking a bite. The rich, slightly sweet curry spread warmth through her mouth, comforting in a way she hadn't expected.

  "This is really good..." she murmured, the warmth spreading to her chest. It had been so long since she st shared a meal with someone.

  Kotori giggled. "I'm gd! I was worried you wouldn't have much of an appetite." She took a bite of her own curry, savoring the taste.

  Sachi forced a weak smile, doing her best to act normal, even as unease lingered in the back of her mind.

  "Ah! Sacchan, I was wondering- would you like to eat with us more often? I noticed there's not much food in your fridge." Kotori's voice was light, but there was clear concern in her eyes.

  "I-I wouldn't want to be a bother..." Sachi mumbled between bites, feeling a bit guilty.

  Kotori shook her head with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry! My mom wouldn't mind. Plus, I can help you with your summer homework!"

  Sachi froze mid-bite, her spoon hovering over her face. "...Homework? School?" Her brow furrowed slightly in confusion.

  Kotori blinked, concern creeping into her voice. "Y-yeah... You go to Hoshikawa Academy, about 15 to 20 minutes from here. Sacchan... Are you sure you're alright?"

  Sachi lowered her gaze, nervously biting the tip of her spoon. "Y-yeah..." she mumbled weakly.

  An awkward silence settled between them. Kotori studied Sachi's troubled expression, her concern deepening. Then she let out a sigh. "Don't worry about it, Saccha... You're probably just tired." She offered a reassuring smile, trying to lighten the mood.

  Sachi clenched her spoon, guilt gnawing at her. "S-sorry..." she murmured, head hanging low.

  Without warning, Kotori stood and stepped closer, wrapping her in a warm embrace.

  "Shhh, it's alright." Kotori whispered softly. "I won't pry... but Sacchan, if you ever need help, we're here for you."

  A lump formed in Sachi's throat as she felt the warmth of the embrace. Tears welled at the corners of her eyes, blurring her vision. Deep down, she felt conflicted. 'Why am I so emotional? Is this really okay?"

  After a while, Kotori gently pulled away, ruffling Sachi's hair with a comforting pat. "Come on, let's finish lunch first kay'."

  ??????????????

  At the entrance hall, Kotori carefully put on her shoes before turning to face Sachi. She noticed the nervous fidgeting- the way Sachi twirled a strand of her hair, hesitant.

  "It's okay, Sachhan! You don't have to decide now, but... just think about it, kay'?"

  Without warning, Kotori pulled Sachi into a gentle hug. She felt Sachi stiffen in surprise but didn't comment on it. Instead, she simply smiled. "Well... I'll see you tomorrow, Sacchan!" With a bright wave, then reached towards the door handle.

  "Y-yeah... B-bye... and... thank you..." Sachi mumbled, hesitantly raising a hand in return.

  Kotori's hand froze at the door knob for just a second- almost subtly. Her eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise passing through before quickly masking it. With a small nod to herself, she turned the knob and stepped out of the apartment.

  Click.

  Silence filled the apartment. The warmth from moments ago faded, leaving Sachi alone with nothing but her thoughts.

  Sachi stared bnkly at the closed door, her thoughts spiralling. 'Why did I act like that? Am I really this emotional? Is this even real?'

  Shaking her head, she trudged toward the sofa and colpsed onto it. The ceiling above blurred slightly as she gazed at it, lost in thought. 'I wasn't like this when I was a man... Why do I feel so fragile?'

  Her fingers curled slightly against the fabric of the sofa. Even though her body felt lighter, the unfamiliar weight on her chest made every movement feel strange.

  'This isn't normal. Even if this is a dream, it shouldn't feel this real...'

  A hollow chuckle escaped her lips.

  'If this isn't a dream, then my parents must have already found my body...'

  Her chest tightened at the thought, her breathing became shallow. 'I've given them another problem...' The guilt dug into her like a vice, tightening at each passing second.

  Her heartbeat quickened. The buzzing in her head grew louder, her vision blurred from the sting of forming tears.

  Then-

  [Beep.]

  A sharp mechanical chime cut through the haze, snapping her out of her downward spiral.

  "H-huh?" Sachi jolted upright, hastily wiping at her eyes, her gaze darted around the room. "Was that... my phone?"

  She instinctively reached for her pocket but came up empty.

  "R-right... I left my phone in the bedroom..." she mumbled. Despite her attempt to calm down, unease crept up her spine.

  She swallowed. "N-no way... it's a system, isn't it?" she whispered, forcing out a shaky ugh. "Ha... Ha... My situation ticks all the boxes for one..."

  [Beep... Initializing.]

  This time, the voice was clearer. Mechanical, cold, and artificial.

  Sachi flinched, scrambling up from the sofa. Her hands clenched the fabric of her clothes, her pulse quickening.

  "H-hello? S-system?" she stammered.

  Before she could process what was happening, a faint glow flickered before her. Then, as if to confirm her suspicions, a small translucent window materialized in the air.

  [Welcome, User! I am GNS-01, here to assist you.]

  Sachi's breath hitched. Her body stiffened as she stared at the floating text, eyes wide in disbelief.

  Her voice came out barely above a whisper "..C-can you tell me why I'm here?"

  The window flickered in response.

  [Processing.]

  A brief pause. Then-

  [You have died in your previous life due to brain aneurysm rupture, caused by high stress levels and sleep deprivation.]

  The world around her seemed to slow. Her breath caught in her throat.

  [Your soul lingered for a brief moment before being pulled into the body of a girl named Makino Sachi, following her overdose on sleeping pills.]

  Silence.

  Sachi stared at the glowing text, her body frozen.

  Her world spun. The edges of her vision blurred as ringing filled her ears, her heartbeat pounding in her chest. Her knees buckled, and she colpsed onto the sofa, hands trembling.

  Uncontrolled tears welled up and spilled down her cheeks. The truth was undeniable now- this was real. She wasn't dreaming. She couldn't go back.

  "Hic... W-why me? Why...?" her voice barely came out, choked with emotion.

  [Your wish was simply granted.]

  The system's response was blunt.

  "H-huh...? Hic.. B-but... H-how...?" she stammered, struggling to make sense of it all.

  [A deity you and your friends prayed to before exams answered it. It took pity on you- its first follower- and granted your wish. I was assigned to assist with your transition into this new life.]

  Sachi's breath hitched. A sharp, bitter ugh escaped her lips.

  "The god we jokingly prayed to...?" her voice cracked as she forced out the words. "T-that was something stupid we did for fun... H-how could it actually grant my wish..?"

  [Faith creates gods, no matter how absurd. What is worshipped will always answer... eventually.]

  The weight of her words sank into her chest like a stone.

  "S-so will it c-control my life?" She whispered, almost afraid of the answer.

  [No. It granted your wish out of gratitude. It will not interfere with your new life.]

  Sachi let out a shaky breath. Her fingers curled into the fabric of the sofa as she processed everything.

  A fictional god. A new life. A past she could never return to.

  She let out a hollow chuckle, her voice barely above a whisper. "W-what kind of ridiculous life is this...? Ha.. Ha.."

  Exhaustion finally caught up with her. The emotional whirlwind drained what little energy she had left. Her vision blurred, and before she knew it, sleep pulled her under. Yet, even as she drifted into sleep, a lingering unease remained- because no matter how much she tried to deny it, tomorrow would still come.

  ??????????????