Was that a penalty? Or a gift?
"Is this... a dream?"
"This new world. Is it... is it interesting?" Was that a penalty
Do you want a second chance?
[CLARIFICATION: This is a Contractual Offer. Origin: Inter-Dimensional Soul Registry. Reason: Prevent soul entropy due to narrative stagnation. Summary: Your current life trajectory has reached a Dead End. Please choose.] a dream
The can slipped from his fingers. Beer pooled on the tatami mat. He didn't move to clean it.
[WARNING: Choice is final. Time remaining: 00:02:47] [CLARIFICATION: This is a Contractual Offer
He thought of Yuki. She had liked the way he held an umbrella—slightly tilted toward her, even though he was shorter. He had not realized he did that until she mentioned it. After she left, he never used an umbrella again. Just got wet.
That's when the air in front of his refrigerator split open.
Kazuki had joined the trading company straight out of a mid-tier university. For thirteen years, he had done something . Reports. Excel sheets. Client entertainment. Late-night emails that received no replies until 10 AM the next day. He had never been promoted to manager. Never been praised. Never been scolded, either. He was a ghost who left a badge swipe every morning.
[ACKNOWLEDGED.]