Chapter 1 I Should Have Known Better
I stepped out of the airport.
...
— Ah...
...
— Even at night...
— This city never sleeps.
...
— 10:00 PM.
...
— Finally.
— I made it.
Japan.
...
— The sentence I repeated for years...
...
— I'm actually saying it while standing here.
...
— Alright.
— Excitement later.
— First...
— The hotel.
...
Ring...
...
— Mom.
...
— Hello.
...
— Yes.
— I arrived.
...
— No.
— I haven't gone anywhere yet.
...
— Yes.
— I'll go straight to the hotel.
...
— Okay.
— I'll message you when I arrive.
...
— I swear...
— If there was a skill called "Reading Your Child's Thoughts"...
— My mother would've mastered it years ago.
...
Taxi.
...
— Alright.
— The real test begins now.
...
— Years of studying Japanese.
— Years of watching anime.
...
— Either I succeed...
...
— Or I accidentally ask this driver to take me to Korea instead.
...
— Coco Hotel, please.
...
...
— Sure.
...
— Haaaa...
...
— I survived.
...
— My first Japanese sentence...
— And nothing went wrong.
---
The next morning.
...
— Huh?
...
— Ah.
...
— Japan.
...
8:19 AM.
...
— Back in Tunisia...
— Mom is probably still asleep.
...
— I'll message her later.
...
— Hmm...
...
— Not bad.
...
— I don't look like a lost tourist.
...
— Another achievement unlocked.
---
Tokyo.
...
— So this is daytime Tokyo.
...
— Alright.
— Time to fulfill my duty as a tourist.
...
Camera on.
...
— Hey everyone.
— Guess where I am.
...
— Japan.
...
— Yeah.
— I actually made it.
...
— I know.
— Some of you probably thought I was joking.
...
— But when I decide something...
— I do it.
...
...
— Well...
...
— That was a lie.
...
— There are plenty of things I decided to do...
...
— And they're currently lying broken beside my dreams.
...
— Ahahaha...
...
— Damn.
— I feel like something invisible just stabbed me.
...
— But this time...
— I succeeded.
...
— I'll show you everything.
...
— So prepare yourselves.
— Be jealous.
---
...
— Alright.
...
— Where should I start?
...
Step.
...
BEEEEEEP!!
...
— Huh?
...
...
— A truck?
...
— No.
...
— No, no, no.
...
— You're joking.
...
— Don't tell me...
...
— Don't tell me this is actually happening.
...
— A truck.
...
— Japan.
...
— Me.
...
...
— Stop...
— Stop!
...
— I haven't done anything yet!
...
— I haven't visited Akihabara!
...
— I haven't entered a single manga store!
...
— I haven't even bought one figure!!
...
Seriously...
Even an isekai has standards!
— Can you at least let me enjoy one day first?!
...
— Huh?!
...
— What?!
...
— Wait...
...
— Ah?!
...
— I'm alive?!
...
— Damn...
— I almost died.
...
— On my first day.
...
— The light was red.
...
— Huh?
...
— Who said that?
...
— The light?
...
— ...
...
— Ah.
...
— Right.
...
— I was too busy imagining my funeral.
...
— I forgot to look.
...
— Sorry.
— My mistake.
...
— You're not Japanese, are you?
...
— No.
...
— A tourist?
...
— Yeah.
...
— Where are you from?
...
— Tunisia.
...
— Tunisia?
...
— You know it?
...
— Yeah.
— My father lived there for several years.
...
— ...
...
— Seriously?
...
— Out of all places...
— The first person I meet in Japan knows Tunisia?
...
— That's not part of the script.
...
— Really?
...
— I have both nationalities.
...
— Heh...
...
— Then when you visit Tunisia...
...
— Consider it a debt.
...
— For saving me from Truck-chan.
...
— Truck... chan?
...
— Forget it.
...
— Don't try to understand.
...
— Heh... haha...
...
— You're really strange.
...
— Tch.
...
— I've heard that a lot.
...
— I should go.
...
— Right.
...
— Thanks.
...
— ...
...
— Ah.
...
— Your name.
...
— I forgot to ask.
...
— Great job, Khalil.
...
— Someone saved your life...
— And you forgot to ask his name.
...
— Whatever.
...
— I was busy.
...
— Trying not to die.
...
— Tokyo...
...
— I'm really here.
...
— Heh.
...
— I survived Truck-chan.
...
— Phase one...
...
— Complete.
...
— Now...
...
— Akihabara.
...
— Or Tako—
...
...
— ...
...
— I didn't say anything.
...
— Nobody heard that.
...
— Good.
...
— Calm down, Khalil.
...
— First day.
...
— Don't spend all your money immediately.
...
— ...
...
— Hm?
...
— My phone?
...
...
— Hey.
...
— Wait.
...
— No.
...
— No, no, no.
...
— Don't do this.
...
— Not now.
...
— Not on my first day.
...
— Come on.
...
— Turn on.
...
— ...
...
— Again.
...
— ...
...
— Third time.
...
— ...
...
— You're kidding.
...
— My phone died?
...
— On my first day in Japan?
...
— ...
...
— Wait.
...
— This feeling...
...
— No.
...
— Don't start.
...
— I know this scene.
...
— I really don't like where this is going.
Think logically.
...
— The screen is fine.
...
— No scratches.
...
— Then...
— Internal damage?
...
— Wait.
...
— Mom.
...
— What if she calls me now?
...
— She'll worry.
...
— And what am I supposed to say?
...
— "Hey Mom."
— "I arrived in Japan."
— "And two hours later..."
— "I destroyed my phone."
...
— Great.
...
— Amazing start.
...
— Excuse me!
...
— Sorry.
— Do you know where I can fix a phone?
...
...
— ...
...
— Okay.
...
— Maybe they didn't hear me.
...
— Excuse me, miss.
...
...
— ...
...
— Seriously?
...
— Am I invisible today?
...
— Sir.
...
...
— Nothing.
...
— Wow.
...
— I'm actually being ignored.
...
— Wait.
...
— I'm here, right?
...
— My hands are here.
...
— My feet are here.
...
— Then why does everyone act like I'm a ghost?
...
— My God...
...
— I used to laugh at those anime characters.
...
— "Nobody notices them?"
...
— "Impossible."
...
— "Someone would definitely see them."
...
— Heh...
...
— Turns out...
...
— It's real.
...
— It actually hurts.
...
— Even that advertisement has more presence than me.
...
— Hey.
...
— Don't get too confident.
...
— You might make friends before I do.
...
— ...
...
— Damn.
...
— Excuse me, sir?
...
— ...
...
— Huh?
...
— Me?
...
— Someone actually talked to me?
...
— ...
...
— Cat ears?
...
— ...
...
— Real?
...
— No.
...
— Probably not.
...
— But that's extremely convincing.
...
— After years of watching anime...
...
— My first cat-eared girl.
...
— I should say something cool.
...
— Something memorable.
...
— Something worthy of this moment.
...
...
— Aren't you hot wearing that?
...
...
— ...
...
— Seriously, Khalil?
...
— Out of everything you could say...
...
— That was your choice?
...
— Haha...
...
— It's just the café uniform.
...
— Would you like to come in?
...
— A café?
...
— A cute girl inviting me inside?
...
— Don't do it.
...
— Don't start imagining a romance plot.
...
— You arrived only a few hours ago.
...
...
— ...
...
— Wait.
...
— I'm hungry.
...
— And I have money.
...
...
— Of course I'll come in.
...
...
— ...
...
— Did I say that out loud?
...
— Ahem.
...
— I mean...
— I have money.
— And I have no idea where to spend it.
...
...
— Welcome to the café.
...
— ...
...
— That smile.
...
— Professional.
...
— But my brain understands the true meaning.
...
— "Welcome, valued customer."
...
— "Goodbye, wallet."
...
I sat down.
...
— Listen, Khalil.
...
— Your mission is simple.
...
I raised my phone.
— Fix this.
...
— Only this.
...
— Nothing else.
...
...
A few minutes later.
...
— Miss Cat...
...
— I'd like a black coffee.
...
— And a berry sandwich.
...
...
— ...
...
— Wait.
...
— What happened to the plan?
...
— Three minutes.
...
— Only three minutes.
...
— And I already forgot why I'm here.
...
— Coming right up, sir.
...
...
— Damn.
...
— No.
...
— Focus, Khalil.
...
I raised my phone.
...
— You are here to repair the phone.
...
— Not because of the cat ears.
...
...
— Definitely not because of the cat ears.
...
...
— ...
...
— Maybe one percent.
...
— Just one percent.
...
— Stop judging me.
...
— I don't believe myself either.
...
---
— Here you are, sir.
...
— Thank you.
...
...
— Phone first.
...
...
— ...
...
— Food.
...
...
— Fine.
...
— The phone can wait.
...
— My stomach cannot.
...
---
...
— Aaaah...
...
— The inventor of food deserves a statue.
...
...
— ...
...
— Wait.
...
— What time is it?
...
...
— 11:00?!
...
— WHAT?!
...
— The phone!
...
— I came here for the phone!
...
...
— How?!
...
— How did I spend half an hour eating?!
...
...
— Amazing, Khalil.
...
— If forgetting your objective was a competition...
...
— I'd be world champion.
...
---
— Would you like anything else, sir?
...
— Yes.
— Another meal, please.
...
...
...
— ...
...
— No.
...
— Stop.
...
— Khalil.
...
— Is your stomach controlling your body now?
...
...
— The phone is dying.
...
— And you're ordering more food.
...
...
— This cannot continue.
...
— Miss, can I ask you—
...
— Sorry, sir.
— Café policy doesn't allow us to give personal information to strangers.
...
...
— ...
...
— Ouch.
...
— That was immediate.
...
— I didn't even finish my sentence.
...
...
— I swear...
...
— I wasn't asking for your number.
...
...
— ...
...
— Okay.
— Maybe I thought about it.
...
— For one second.
...
— But that wasn't the question!
...
— Then what were you going to ask?
...
I raised my phone.
...
— This guy.
...
— He died on the first day of my trip to Japan.
...
...
— Ah...
...
— I'm sorry.
...
— If you walk toward Shibuya Crossing...
— You'll find a large phone repair shop.
...
— Thank you.
...
...
— Maid cafés...
...
— They don't repair phones.
...
— They destroy a man's concentration first.
---
— Sir...
...
— Oh God...
— Not now.
— I've taken enough damage today.
...
— Wait...
...
— Don't tell me...
...
— Is this what I think it is?
...
— No, Khalil.
— Don't write an entire manga inside your head.
...
— Your bill.
...
— ...
...
— Ah...
...
— Even my dreams get slapped by bills.
---
— Alright.
...
— It's over.
...
— From now on...
— I will never deal with cafés again.
...
— Tokyo isn't dangerous.
...
— The thing that kills you here...
...
— Is the bill.
---
— Hey, stranger!
...
— No.
...
— I won't turn around.
...
— I won't let you destroy what's left of me.
...
— ...
...
— Fine.
— I'll turn around.
---
— You forgot this.
...
— Keep it.
...
— If you run into any problems after fixing your phone...
— You can call.
...
— ...
...
— Call?
...
— Who?
...
— Wait...
...
— This...
...
— This is a phone number?
...
— ...
...
— Hold on.
— Is this really a phone number?
...
— No.
...
— Impossible.
...
— Did I just receive something good in this world?
...
— That doesn't make sense.
---
— ...
...
— Alright.
...
— Looks like I received free psychological damage...
...
— And a reward.
---
— Okay, Tokyo.
...
— I take back what I said.
...
— The phone comes first.
...
— Then...
...
— I'll call her.
...
— No.
...
— Wait.
...
— A complaint.
...
— A formal complaint.
...
— Because she called me a stranger.
...
— Yes.
...
— That's the reason.
---
— Let's go!
...
— Formal complaint!
...
— Liar.
...
— Shut up!
---
— Huh...
...
— I feel like my level is increasing quickly.
...
— I love this place.
---
— Alright.
...
— First, I'll fix you.
...
— Then I'll call her.
...
— ...
...
— I mean my mom.
...
— Obviously my mom.
---
— ...
...
— No.
...
— Shibuya.
...
— I made it.
...
— I'm actually here.
---
— ...
...
— This isn't a video.
...
— Not a YouTube clip.
...
— Not a screen I stared at in the middle of the night.
...
— I'm actually here.
---
— Wait.
...
— This moment deserves respect.
...
— Here...
...
— Sukuna and Mahoraga fought.
...
— Ah...
...
— What a ridiculous battle.
...
— But...
...
— It's true that the animation wasn't always like season one.
...
— And the drawings were a little inconsistent sometimes.
...
— The studio was working under insane pressure.
...
— But still...
...
— That fight was absolutely insane.
...
— Heh...
— That translation...
...
— "The Evil Kitchen."
...
— The Evil Kitchen?!
...
— Welcome to Sukuna's cooking show.
— Today's special menu...
...
— Ramen.
...
— With fresh Mahoraga meat.
...
— Kchhh...
...
— Seriously...
— Who approved that name?!
...
— And don't even get me started on Megumi.
...
— This guy spends the entire season fighting rabbits.
...
— Then suddenly...
— A new enemy appears.
...
— Boom!
— "Mahoraga, I choose you!"
...
— Come on...
— Not every problem needs the end of the world.
...
— Sometimes I feel like logic disappears whenever Megumi appears.
---
...
— Hmm?
...
— A store?
...
— Red-Eyed Rabbits Store.
...
...
— No.
...
— Absolutely not.
...
— That name does not inspire confidence.
---
— Welcome, sir!
...
— Oh...
— I was just...
...
— We have amazing offers today.
...
— Exclusive products as well.
...
— How can we assist you?
...
— ...
...
— A trap.
...
— This is obviously a trap.
...
— I only need one thing.
...
— Fix this.
...
— That's it.
...
— Nothing else.
---
— Hmm...
...
— Interesting.
...
— ...
...
— I don't like that "interesting."
...
— Can you repair it?
...
— Of course.
...
— Nothing is impossible for the Red-Eyed Rabbits.
...
— ...
...
— Do you all memorize that sentence before starting work?
...
— We'll make it better than before.
...
— No.
— I only want it repaired.
...
— Stronger specifications.
...
— No.
...
— Newer programs.
...
— Seriously...
...
— Extra protection.
...
— Listen...
...
— And a special discount just for you.
...
...
— ...
...
— Damn it.
...
— I understand now.
...
— This is a boss fight.
...
— Fine.
...
— You win.
---
A few minutes later...
...
— Haaaaah...
...
— Red-Eyed Rabbits...
...
— Do you know the rabbits from Re:Zero?
...
— They look cute.
...
— But the truth is...
...
— Monsters.
...
— First...
— They smile.
...
— Then...
— They speak politely.
...
— And then...
...
— You walk out carrying things you never planned to buy.
...
— Seriously...
...
— A horror experience.
...
— But...
...
— I survived.
...
— They didn't take all my money.
...
...
— Wait.
...
— What's this?
...
— ...
...
— You bastards.
...
— No.
...
— No, no, no.
...
— They didn't take all my money.
...
— They took half my soul.
...
— This receipt...
...
— I never want to see you again.
---
...
— Japan...
...
— I'm really here.
...
— Wait.
...
— Cherry blossoms?
...
— No way.
...
— This is the kind of scene that needs a picture.
...
— ...
...
— My phone.
...
— Right.
...
— The phone is still dead.
...
— And the repair receipt is still here.
...
— Amazing.
...
— Even beautiful moments have enemies.
...
— Fine.
...
— I'll take the picture later.
...
— Today is still young.
...
— Manga stores.
...
— Akihabara.
...
— The blue slime movie.
...
— Everything is waiting for me.
...
— Ah!
...
— The movie!
...
— Wait for me!
...
— I'm coming!
...
— AAAAAAAAAH!!
...
...
— No.
...
— No, no, no.
...
— That sound...
...
— I know that sound.
...
— Something terrible is happening.
...
— Run!!
...
...
— He has a knife!!
...
— ...
...
— Why?
...
— Why is it always me?!
...
— Seriously?!
...
— First day in Japan.
...
— Truck.
...
— Broken phone.
...
— Expensive repair.
...
— And now a crazy guy with a knife?
...
— Is this a vacation or a survival game?!
...
— Think, Khalil.
...
— Think!
...
— Isekai rules.
...
— Usually the protagonist dies.
...
— Then he gets another chance.
...
— But...
...
— This is reality.
...
— No system.
...
— No magic.
...
— No second life.
...
— If I die here...
...
— That's it.
...
— Finished.
...
— Wait...
...
— Are you serious?!
...
— This is the worst isekai ever!!
...
— Run!!
...
— Move!
...
— Move, legs!
...
— This is not the time to become useless!
...
— Come on!!
...
— AAAAAAH!!
...
— I refuse to die!!
...
— I haven't bought any manga yet!!
...
— I haven't even visited Akihabara!!
...
— I haven't even started my Japanese adventure!!
---
...
— Haaa...
...
— Haaa...
...
— I'm alive.
...
— I'm actually alive.
...
— Let's review.
...
— Truck.
...
— Crazy knife guy.
...
— And somehow...
...
— I'm still breathing.
...
— Heh...
...
— What a vacation.
...
— But...
...
— I won't be afraid anymore.
...
— From now on—
...
BOOOOOOM!!
...
— AAAAAH!!
...
— WHAT WAS THAT?!
...
— ...
...
— A pillar?
...
— A whole pillar?!
...
— ...
...
— No.
...
— No.
...
— Don't tell me.
...
— Don't tell me that thing fell where I was standing.
...
— ...
...
— Oh my God.
...
— OH MY GOD!!
...
— I was standing there!!
...
— My head!
...
— Still attached.
...
— My arms!
...
— Still working.
...
— My legs!
...
— Still there.
...
— ...
...
— Thank you, universe.
...
...
— Wait.
...
— WAIT!!
...
— I ALMOST DIED AGAIN?!
...
— WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS DAY?!
...
— WHO WROTE THIS SCENARIO?!
...
— I WANT TO TALK TO THE AUTHOR!!
...
...
— Are you alright, young man?
...
— ...
...
— Alright?!
...
— You call this alright?!
...
— That thing almost turned me into a pancake!!
...
— But we warned you.
...
— ...
...
— Huh?
— When?!
...
— After it fell?!
...
...
— ...
...
— Kch...
...
— I swear...
— That timing was legendary.
...
— It's like someone saying:
— "Please wear a seatbelt."
...
— After the accident.
...
— No...
— I don't want to understand this country anymore.
...
— I've seen enough.
---
— Haaaaah...
...
— Finally...
— Peace.
...
— No trucks.
...
— No crazy people.
...
— No disasters.
...
— Just one normal day.
...
— Is that really too much to ask?!
---
SSSSSSSHHHH!!
...
— ...
...
— No.
...
— Don't tell me...
...
— A car?!
...
— NOOOOO!!
...
— What did I ever do to you people?!
...
— I just wanted a vacation!!
...
— Just one vacation!!
...
— I haven't watched the movie yet!!
...
— I haven't visited anywhere!!
...
— I haven't even bought a single manga!!
...
— My mom is going to kill me before Tokyo does!!
---
— Haaa...
— Haaa...
...
— I can't feel my legs.
...
— My lungs are gone.
...
— And my dignity...
...
— I think it died a long time ago.
...
— I won't...
...
— I won't fall into an isekai...
...
— It's over.
...
— Right?
---
Ton... Ton... Ton...
...
— ...
...
— No.
...
— Impossible.
...
— Barriers?
...
— Sirens?
...
— Tracks?
...
— A train?!
...
— I swear...
— Everything here is trying to kill me.
...
— Move.
...
— Come on!!
...
— Why can't I move?!
...
— What?!
...
— My foot?!
...
— Don't tell me...
...
— It's stuck?!
...
— I don't have time for this!!
...
— Move!!
...
— Move, you useless leg!!
...
— The train is getting closer!!
...
— No...
...
— No, no, no...
...
— Not like this.
...
— Not after all of that.
...
— I haven't even started my life yet!!
...
— I won't...
...
— Die...
...
— Like this!!
...
— Get out!!
...
— GET OUT!!
---
— HAAAAAH!!
...
— I did it!!
...
— I did it!!
...
— I'm alive!!
...
— I'm actually alive!!
---
— Ha!
...
— Did you see that?!
...
— I'm not that easy to kill!!
...
— Finally...
...
— Finally, I won.
...
— It's over.
...
— Right?
...
...
— ...
...
— Wait.
...
— Why do I feel like something is wrong?
...
— No.
...
— Don't do this.
...
— Please don't do this.
...
— A truck?!
...
— Again?!
...
— ...
...
— And that crazy guy too?!
...
— Kill... kill... hahaha!!
...
...
— I understand.
...
— I understand everything.
...
— You.
...
— You were waiting for this moment.
...
— The truck?
...
— It came to finish the job.
...
— The train?
...
— It was the backup plan.
...
...
— Amazing.
...
— A whole team dedicated to killing me.
...
— Beautiful.
---
— Fine.
...
— I surrender.
...
— Congratulations.
...
— You win.
...
...
— ...
...
— Wait.
...
— What is that sound?
...
...
— No.
...
— Don't tell me...
...
— An airplane?!
...
...
— And it's falling?!
...
...
— ...
...
— HAHAHAHAHA!!
...
— This isekai...
...
— You win.
...
...
— I should have...
...
— Called my mom.
...
BOOOOOOOM!!
...
...
— ...
...
