Chapter 182: What if... (1/2)

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.