Within the darkness where my consciousness floated, a familiar scene suddenly appeared in front of me. As if a soul possessing a new body, my consciousness merged with my old self. My old self from a few months ago.
Right. Looks like this Transcendent Mind Trial would have me walk through my memories, and the first one on the list was this.
Am I supposed to be this aware of what's happening or is this the effect of Adaptability? Either way, it looks like I will be just a spectator.
"I still don't know. Everything still felt unreal to me. Maybe this uneasiness will be gone if I really stepped into one of those Otherworlds."
The same dialogue. This was the time when I was first exposed to the Otherworlds and being the support for the thirty heroes. It was at this moment where I asked for compensation for being their support. If I recall correctly, the Principal would offer his daughter's hand.
"You're right. That's the right attitude. Even I was skeptical when I first discovered the Pocket Dimension. So for your compensation for becoming a support for the thirty heroes... How about engaging you to my daughter?"
"F-father!"
Ah. This is Yuko from before, she was also surprised at what the Principal offered. She never thought that her father would make her as compensation for me. Or she already knew, she has her Foresight after all.
Looking at that embarrassed expression. I had this urge to kiss her at this moment. If only I could move this body. But no, I could only watch my old self and relieve this scene once again. This walk through my memory also let me feel what my old self was feeling during all this. I was too confused at the turn of events here.
She was a stranger alright. But there's really that attraction towards her. At this moment, our destinies had already converged but we both forgot that it happened. Her memory was altered while my memory of her was ripped off me. I guess our converged destiny also played a part in my answer.
"Shush, Yuko-chan. Should I reveal it to him?"
"N-no."
She clearly still remembered me at this moment in time and she probably wanted me to remember by myself. However, I wouldn't be able to remember it. Until now I couldn't recall what happened to us. In this life and our previous one.
"So do you accept?"
"Y-yes."
And in the end, she accepted her father's suggestion without asking me first. After this, he would then reveal that engagement with Yuko would be the only compensation he could give.
"Wait. I haven't accepted your suggestion, Principal!"
"Sorry Kuramoto-kun, this is the only compensation I can give you. It's fine if you refuse. But I can't change it to anything else."
"Is that so? Then I reject. I do believe the talk about this Otherworld and Heroes but Sugawara-san deserves better than just becoming a compensation for me. You're a lovely lady and you don't need to tie yourself to me for this."
Eh? Wait? My answer changed. I rejected the offer. This was the logical choice. One that should have probably happened instead of me accepting it due to my curiosity. Also, why do I sound so fearless in this? Adaptability?
Ah. I guess I was also influenced by my own feelings back then. I made an excuse to accept for the meantime when I already wanted to see myself with her.
Haa…
After saying those words, my old self stood up and walked out of the room. Yuko called out to me but I never looked back. As to what she was feeling in this alternate scenario, I don't know. And this me in this scenario was firm in his decision to leave.
Of course, he thought that the Principal would bind him again but like he said to me before. He let this version of me walk out the door unharmed.
The scenery changed and I was in another high school. The local high school in my hometown where I should've gone to if I was not accepted to the Hope Summit High School.
Around me were familiar faces who I went to during my middle school. And like them, I went about my high school life normally, away from the Otherworlds and Heroes, albeit a bit changed due to the awakening of my Adaptability.
Though I went on about it normally, this version of me still thought about Yuko. That embarrassed face of hers when she accepted her father's suggestion also her voice that called out to me when I went out of the room.
Months immediately passed and the world already experienced some changes.
And then one day, I received a draft letter. After arriving at the school, I found out that not only me was drafted but a lot of us in high school also received the same letter, be it girls or boys.
The scene changed again and we were already being briefed about where we would be sent.
Antarctica.
Right. To that frozen continent.
As my consciousness silently watched this alternate reality, the version of me continued on his life.
When we arrived in Antarctica, I found out that a portal to an Otherworld was existing there.
From there we were sent to that world for our Special Training.
Instead of World Energy, my first Source Energy I got adapted to was called the Combat Energy. I don't know if it is a real Source Energy but the place I got into was the Training Camp for the Earth Defense Army.
For 6 months, I spent it all training in that Otherworld. In the end, I managed to reach the 3rd realm but my Adaptability stayed at Level 1. Being a 3rd realm, I was promoted to Captain which gave me the authority to lead my own squad.
On the day of our supposed return after 6 months of training, we were informed about the change on Earth. It was already a chaotic world where the Dark World successfully encroached their claws in.
And the night after that, I was called to the Camp Commander's office.
"Kuramoto Daisuke? Is that you?"
"Sir, yes sir!"
Because it's a military camp, I was taught military discipline. Well, it's just common courtesy when in camp. When we were out of it, it would be every group for themselves or worse, every man for himself.
This Otherworld we were training in was harsher than the World of Barbarian. In here the denizens were the prey of huge Beasts and Insects. And of course, we also became like that once we stepped our foot in this world. Most of those who came from the same high school either died or stayed at a lower realm. There were some like me who managed to reach the 3rd realm and became promoted as a Captain.
"You won't be leading your own Squad on Earth, instead you'll be sent here."
After saying that, he put down a bundle of documents on top of his table.
Even from afar, I could already see the visage of the Hope Summit High School. Like the Principal told me before, I would still be sent back to the school in one way or another. In this alternate reality, I spent almost a year before I was sent back in there.
After that scene. The scenery changed again to me stepping my foot back inside the Hope Summit High School. Like an extremely familiar place, I made my way to the Principal's Office and arrived in front of it without any hassle.
Before knocking, this version of me was feeling excited about meeting Yuko once again. He rejected that offer but after that day, he never stopped thinking of her. Even during his 6 months in that Otherworld.
Since the feeling of this version of me was also transmitted to my consciousness I also started to feel excited about meeting that girl once again.
"Come in, Kuramoto-kun."
The voice of the Principal rang out from inside and after opening the door, I found him sitting on in front of his desk, just like the last time.
However, there's no Yuko in sight.
"It has been almost a year and you're back in this office."
"You specifically called for me. Is it still the same offer as before?"
When this version of me said that, I noticed that the Principal's expression turned solemn. He then turned around as if he didn't want me to see the expression he's currently making.
"I'm afraid I cannot put out the same offer as before, Kuramoto-kun."
From his words, I started to get nervous. Not only the version of me in this alternate reality but also my consciousness that was watching everything unfold.
I got the nagging feeling that something terrible happened which led to that kind of expression to appear from that cunning Principal.
"What do you mean?"
"Yuko-chan. She died 3 months ago in her Otherworld."
When those words registered into my consciousness, I felt like my whole world crumbled.
Yuko died.
In this alternate reality, she died before I was sent back to take up the Support post.
If it was unbearable for me even if I knew it wasn't real. It was worse to this version of me. I could clearly feel the regret he was feeling. Everything was transferred to me. It was eating away to his very soul. Yuko died because of that one choice he didn't take.
Upon hearing that he just slumped down to the floor of the Principal's Office, wallowing in deep regret. It was clearly explained to him by Yuko that they were doomed to die without the existence of the Support. And as if foretelling of her own doom, she really met her doom in her Otherworld.
He thought he would be able to see her once more but that was already impossible.
This scene isn't real. I'm aware of that. But how did it happen like this? This is different from what the Principal told me. One different choice changed everything.
Ah. This is probably why it was called the Transcendent Mind Trial. It's trying to break me from inside...
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