Chapter Text

A pure white void. An endless expanse that the mortal mind could not hope to grasp in its entirety. That is where our story begins.

Falling. I'm... falling... I'M FALLING?! The young man's stomach churned more and more as the force on his body increased as he fell. “UWHOOOOOOOOOOAAAA!-” he couldn't help but yell. He didn't know what was going on, first and foremost. Plus he was falling, most likely to his death.

All at once, the void took form below him. The form of a blue and white blur, but as mortals love to say, [beggars can't be choosers]. He was up in the clouds, though briefly it may have been.

Before long, the ground came into view–getting closer by the second. If he were someone below average, he would certainly have soiled himself by then. Indeed, perhaps even someone above average would have done the same. Curiously, despite being completely average by almost every metric, he did not. That is not to say, however, that he wasn't still letting out the highest pitch of a scream all the while. In that regard, he was above average.

Then, the most bewildering of sensations hit him, just a few feet before hitting the ground. All of the force exerted on him until then was simply gone, as if it were knocked away by some other force. It... tickled. Truly a welcome alternative to becoming a red stain on the- Stone? A road?

He flailed his arms and wobbled in the air until finally he somehow managed to land on his feet. The road was far smoother than any he had seen in his life. He was a commoner, after all. And dare I say it? A villager.

A dream. Must be a dream. He composed himself and nodded. Yes, this has to be a dream. He took a deep breath and really took in his surroundings for the first time. It was so foreign to him. There were sturdily-built homes neatly lined up against the road, and each home had ample space for a personal garden, though none of it was put to use except for the display of the smallest of foreign decorations. Each home had a strange horseless carriage parked nearby–each of a different color and shape. What a strange land. He smiled. He somehow felt at ease there. Until an unseen force tapped his shoulder three times.

“UWHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

He quickly turned around and assumed a defensive pose that the average person would come up with. His shoulders were scrunched up and his arms were braced in front of him. His knees were bent ever so slightly.

Before him, 5-odd yards away, was a somehow terrifying figure, though it appeared human. Well, unless you were to count the lavender-colored hair. [Who has lavender hair?] But it wasn't just the hair. Maybe it was the confident smirk on their face. Or the strange clothes they were draped in–a white shirt and shorts, unlike any he had ever seen before. On their wrist was also a device unlike he had ever seen before, though he was sure it must have been worth a fortune, as it appeared to be made of the purest gold. Truly a menacing figure. It was a fear he felt deeply on an instinctual level.

“I think that's enough,” a man called out from behind the young man, as he made his way to the seeming embodiment of chaos with his hands firmly planted in his pockets. He was wearing a red shirt, partially covered by a black leather jacket, and blue jeans. He had brown hair, which was riddled with soft curls that flowed with grace regardless of the lack of wind.

“Aww. You know I had to do it to 'im,” the gremlin answered.

Getting a good look at the man, the young man recognized him as Todd, the God of Order. There was a statue of him at the center of his village, Mura Village.

“...I'm dead,” the young man muttered to himself. He let out a sad laugh of disbelief as he looked down at his empty hands. It all made sense. The falling, the 'heavenly' place he suddenly found himself in, and then the God of Order, not least of all. Tears stung at his eyes. He didn't even know how he-

“You're deadn't!” the gremlin interrupted, making an X with their arms. They laughed cheerfully. They were having such fun.

Todd materialized a rolled up newspaper and lightly tapped his child on the head. “You are still alive, Hitohito-kun.”

“Eh?” Tadano responded. Whoosh. He was relieved, to say the least. More than that, he was flustered that the God of Order knew him by name. He couldn't help but blush a little.

“We brought you here...” Todd said as he gestured around, “to make you an offer.”

“An offer you can't refuse,” the gremlin teased, “... Unless ya really want to.” They winked.

“Now, now, Najimi,” Todd breathed, and tapped Najimi on the head with the newspaper several more times. He cleared his throat and continued, “You see, my child is finally coming of age, and needs to find purpose; needs to go out into the material world; really get a feel for things... Mingle.”

“And that's where you come in, Tadano-kun!” Najimi grinned, then threw up the peace sign with both hands.

He wants me to... babysit?

“Hitohito-kun...” Todd said as he slowly closed the distance between them, “Out of all of the millions of people on Taazokaan, my child has chosen you as guide.” He placed his hand on Tadano's shoulder.

“E-eh...” He's making it hard to say no.

Todd removed his hand from Tadano's shoulder and slowly backed away with both of his hands in the air. “It's okay. That reaction is to be expected. As I said previously: this is an offer. I will bestow upon you two blessings in exchange for your service.

“But... But why me?” Tadano asked. He was still reluctant... Very reluctant... Though now his interest was at least piqued. “...If I may ask.”

“Najimi?” Todd asked, as he motioned to them with his arms.

“Because you're just some guy,” Najimi said flatly... Though with a smile.

Ouch.

“I don't want some uppity noble trying to use me for political clout,” Najimi reasoned, “And on the other end I don't want someone who would be a total drag either.” They put on a pair of reading glasses and materialized a book entitled 'Tadano Hitohito'. “It says here in your file that you used to be an adventurer, but you quit not long after because a-”

“UWHOOOA! Stop! Stop!” Tadano screamed and flailed his arms. He clutched his chest. He felt as though he were having a heart attack. The Gods would know of such dark histories.

Najimi laughed innocently, as the book vanished. “Hey, come on, Tadano-kun. It will be fun.”

Tadano sighed, and hung his head in defeat. Why even fight it? “You want us to adventure together, I take it? I'm not that strong, you know?”

“I know,” Najimi confirmed, “You're about average, I'd say. But you know what they say, right? [Jack of all trades, master of one.]”

“Master of none,” Tadano corrected.

“Huh?” Najimi asked, “Did you already forget your blessings?”

He did.

“...I did” Tadano cleared his throat, “S-so what are these blessings?”

“Tell him what he's won!” Najimi cheered, as game show music began to play.

Todd chuckled and shook his head. The game show music faded as he raised his arm and closed his fist.

Todd made his way to Tadano once more, his fist now emitting a soft glow. He released the power contained in his hand into the light grey flower so daintily hanging in Tadano's hair. “Your first blessing. Divine Perception.” It gained a faint white glow.

Oh, that actually sounds really useful.

It will be. Really useful.

“And now for the second,” Todd continued as he put his now-open palm over Tadano's heart, “I give you infinite, personal storage.”

“We done?” Najimi asked, with a dead smile spread across their face.

Bored already, huh? Tadano stared.

Todd chuckled. “Yeah. We're done.”

“Sweet. I'll meet you at the Itan Adventurer's Guild when you wake up, Tadano-kun.”

“When I what?” Tadano asked as he opened his eyes.

He was back in he and his sister's room. In his bed.

“Talking in your sleep again, Onii-chan?” Hitomi asked, looking down from her bunk.

It was definitely more than a dream. Tadano could feel it. He could see it. In a way he would never be able to put into words. Divine Perception. This is what he was talking about. What's more, he felt... refreshed. Like he had never felt before. He had always had this 'tiredness' in him, but now, it was... gone.

“Y-yeah,” Tadano answered as he sat up.

“Better hurry,” Hitomi teased.

“W-wha?”

“Huh?” Hitomi asked, not having actually said anything, “Onii-chan, did you hit your head? You're being weird.”

My imagination? “No,” Tadano said flatly, “Just thinking I should have another go at adventuring.” He stood up and stretched. He felt alive and ready to face the world.

“Oh, finally over the Kawai-san thing?” Hitomi smirked from behind the edge of her bunk.

“O-oi... Anyway, I'd better get ready.”

“Good luck, nerd. Don't die out there,” Hitomi teased and laid back down to go back to sleep.

“Yeah, yeah. I won't.”