Dead Man's Tales: HSOTD

I have been isekai'ed. That was a sentence—or more accurately, a thought—I never imagined would cross my mind. Yet, here I was, sitting on a hospital bed, lazily flipping through channels on an old television set that confirmed it was indeed the year 2000. I was in Japan, and in a body that was not my own. 

So, not the typical fantasy isekai filled with magic and dragons, but more like a time travel reincarnation scenario. 

I snorted at the thought, my brain so saturated with pop culture references that I was actually using them to rationalize this absolutely insane experience. 

I hit the 'close' button on the remote and slowly lay back down. The quietness of the hospital room enveloped me, offering a brief respite from the whirlwind of my thoughts.

The reality of my situation was hard to grasp. 

Fear, confusion, and a surreal sense of curiosity mixed together in a cocktail of emotions that was difficult to swallow. 

Was this all even real? 

How was this even possible?

Did I get isekai'ed into a parallel world?

The theories raced through my mind, each more bizarre than the last. 

Yet, the tangible feeling of the hospital sheets, the beep of the heart monitor, and the IV drip that was in my arm an hour ago were undeniably real.

I felt lost, like a ship adrift at sea with no compass. 

The life I had known—though far from perfect—was something I understood. 

This? 

This was uncharted territory, a narrative plucked from the kind of stories I used to escape into. And now, ironically, I found myself wanting nothing more than to escape from this narrative.

As the weight of my new reality settled on my chest, I couldn't help but feel a profound sense of isolation. 

I turned my face into the pillow, allowing myself a moment of weakness. The silence of the room was a stark contrast to the loud chaos of my thoughts. I was stranded in time, torn from my world into one that felt like a half-remembered dream. 

How do you navigate a life you don't remember living? 

I died in my previous world, right… 

"Guess I was so bad at life, the universe hit the reset button," I joked to myself, a wry smile flickering across my lips. But then, a heavier thought weighed down on me. 

How did mom react… to my death?

For now, all I could do was breathe, take in the quiet, and let the reality of my situation wash over me. It was a mix of disbelief and a haunting sense of displacement. I was caught between worlds, neither fully belonging here nor able to return to where I'd come from.

"You okay, Kenzo?" 

A female voice cut through my thoughts, and I opened my eyes, surprised to find Rika standing there. 

I hadn't even heard her enter.

My nerves spiked, not because I was generally scared of talking to women—okay, maybe that was part of it—but because, in my defense, Rika was undeniably attractive. Any guy in my shoes would feel a bit nervous. The monologue eased the tension in my shoulders a little, but it didn't answer the swirl of questions in my mind about what the doctors might have discovered.

Did they figure out I was lying about my amnesia? No, why would they suspect a kid of lying, even if medically there was… Wait, what did my brain even look like, considering the previous soul died and I replaced it? My mind raced with these thoughts.

Goddamnit, so many questions, so little answers.

"I-I am going to be okay… R-right?" 

"Of course," Rika replied with a reassuring smile. "The doctors here are some of the best, and they'll make sure that you are going to be A-okay." Her friendly tone was meant to comfort, but it sparked another thought in me. 

So, they did find something.

I thought as I looked down, when suddenly I felt Rika's hand on my shoulder, "Let's go outside. Some fresh air would clear us up."

She was perceptive.

Rika moved towards me with an easy grace, her hands reaching out to assist me into the wheelchair. I was surprised by the strength in her slender frame.

"How old am I?" I wondered aloud, half to myself, as she secured me in the chair.

"11 turning 12," Rika replied as she began to push the wheelchair out of the room. Her voice was matter-of-fact, but there was a softness in it that made the information feel less stark.

"Where are my … parents?" 

Rika pursed her juicy lips—a deep, thoughtful gesture that prepared me for the weight of her words. 

"Your father was a hero and your mother was the kindest woman I have ever met."

"Why aren't they… here?" 

Rika paused, her hands stilling on the wheelchair. It was clear she was unsure how much to say. 

"I can handle it," I pushed for more details as I wanted to know if some kind of conicindetal accident happened with the boy that caused this isekai.

"Well, they gave their lives trying to protect the most precious thing to them—you."

"Hmm," was all I could manage in response. I doubted she would delve into the excruciating details with what she thought was a traumatized child.

Feeling her intense gaze on me, I looked up. "What?"

"Did that trigger some kind of memory for you?" Rika's inquiry was gentle, probing.

I shook my head, the action a bit too quick. "Why?"

"Well, the doctor said that you had dissociative amnesia and that memories might come back if some kind of trigger happens."

Memories are just electrical signals, I thought, so how could I remember who I am but not the life of Kenzo? A headache began to form as none of this made any sense to me.

Just then, the sound of a can shaking snapped me back to the present. Rika was holding out a Pepsi, her gesture a gentle interruption to my spiraling thoughts. 

"Don't try to stress too much about things outside of your control."

She was right. As I took the can from her, the cold aluminum felt reassuring against my skin, grounding me. It was a simple reminder that not everything was as complicated as it seemed in my head.

Holding the can, a realization began to crystallize within me. 

I didn't need to chase after answers that might mean nothing in the end. Instead, I needed to focus on the future—my future. Memories of all the regrets, missed opportunities, and things I could have done differently in my past life flashed through my mind. 

But unlike everyone else, I had been given a second chance at life, a rare opportunity to become the best version of myself. 

A second chance to look in the mirror and finally feel proud of who I saw staring back.

For now on, I decided, I'll live as Kenzo Nakayama. 

As I popped open the can, the fizzy sound seemed to signify the beginning of this new chapter. 

I took a sip of the Pepsi, the cool liquid fizzing pleasantly as it hit my tongue. The familiar taste, a blend of sweetness and bite, was surprisingly comforting.

Suddenly, a loud thud echoed through the hall, snapping me back to reality. 

I turned just in time to see Rika standing over a man sprawled on the floor. 

Everyone in the hall was staring at us. 

Rika stood calmly, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face as she addressed the onlookers. 

"Excuse me, but someone get the guards, this man was harassing me," she announced clearly, her voice steady but firm. As the crowd murmured in understanding, she turned to me and smiled. "Don't worry, I am okay."

I was still processing the scene before me, my eyes shifting from Rika's calm demeanor to the unconscious man on the floor. The entire episode had unfolded in seconds, yet it felt like a critical moment, one that shifted something inside me. Rika's capability, her confidence in handling the situation—it all resonated with me in a way that words couldn't fully capture.

"Teach me how to do that," I blurted out before I could think better of it. 

One step to be better.