It’s Sunday evening now. I’m wandering the streets again, taking in the nightlife. I keep noticing little changes that mark this world as different from my own. Sure, the technology is a little more advanced, but that’s to be expected. The real difference is the people. People that were famous in my world just don’t exist here. They never did. Instead there are people with similar enough backgrounds, but they aren’t the same. Somehow this world being so similar to mine except for that confuses me more than if it were just flat out different. It’s so subtle and I have no idea how I’m supposed to feel about it.

I wander the streets for another hour, still lost in thought before taking the train back to Yuki’s house. I go to bed in a gloomy bed, but when I wake up the next morning I feel better. Until I realize it’s Monday. Now I have to go back to school with no more proficiency in Japanese than the ability to cuss people out and order a burger!

I get dressed, grab my lunch and head out for another day of boredom. At least I get to school on time. I walk through the gates with more than enough time to get to the classroom. I’m halfway to the main days when I hear a shriek behind me, which is quickly joined by more panicked voices. I look over my shoulder to see a man made completely out of fire standing at the gates. He’s looking straight at me. He only manages to take a single step forward before I make a break for the doors.

He quickly catches up to me and a line of fire lights up in front of the door. SHIT! I turn and dash around the school towards the sports grounds. There’s no way I can turn around with him breathing down my neck. I can see sparks in my peripheral vision as I pass the sports shed. Then I feel grab me by the neck, his touch searing my skin. He shoves me against the side of the shed. I try to struggle, but any attempt to shove him away from me just leaves my hands burnt while he doesn’t show any sign of being bothered. It isn’t long before my vision goes black.

I blink to see I’m back in the room from earlier. The blond dude is still in his gaudy chair, and there’s someone else in the room standing just in front of me. He isn’t one of the three from earlier. He’s a white guy in dark clothes with bright red hair. And I mean red, not ginger. His hair’s the color of a cherry.

It doesn’t seem like he notices me though, because he just keeps on talking. “...you really should stop this Titus. It’s getting ridiculous. How many more people have to suffer before you’re satisfied!?”

“And just how long are going to yell at me about this before you realize it won’t change anything? I have no reason to listen to your opinion, and you know nothing about me or my reasoning.” Just then the blond man… Titus glances at me. “Ah, hello madam. How was your experience?” I really do not care for that smug expression on his face. Bastard.

“Oh I was having a lovely time getting burned by a guy made out of FIRE! What the hell was that!? And what was that bullshit you spewed earlier, too. You didn’t mention a single word about any of this!” I shout.

Titus just looks at me blankly. “Well, the whole point was to not tell you anything. Also, I did you give a proper explanation earlier. You’re going to have a difficult time if you attempt to change your situation to something more palatable. This is a punishment, not a vacation.” He smiles slightly as he finishes his explanation.

By now two of the others have showed up, though they haven’t interjected. The red-head isn’t saying anything either. Then Titus looks over as the fairy man shows up, completing our group.

“Anyways,” he says. “It’s time for all of you to start life two.”

Then the world goes dark again.