The brightness of the monitor is the only light in my dark room. The game in front of me, i have played it countless times, yet it is the only thing that still occupies my mind.

In the next moment, a large "Game Over" appears on the screen.

I sigh. "Lost again"

I lean back, letting my head fall back. The ceiling is nothing but darkness. Just like my life. 28 years old, and nothing accomplished. No friends, no prospects. Only this virtual world where, for a brief moment, I can feel like someone.

My phone vibrates. A message. An old school friend.

"Hey Kiyo, wanna hang out again sometime?" I look at the name. It has been years since we last spoke. What should I reply? "No, I'd rather stay here alone and waste my life."?

I swipe the message away.

Outside, rain pounds against the window. The clock shows 9:26 PM. I have been gaming all day. Again.

"I need some fresh air."

I grab my coat and steps outside. Cold rain hits my face. I pull the hood deep over my head, walking with my head down through the empty streets. No destination. No plan. Just walking.

Then, a scream.

I stop. A dark alley. Shadows move. A woman. Three men.

"None of my business" I think. And yet, my legs move.

"Hey!" The men turnaround. One grins. A bulky guy with a shaved head.

"What do you want, kid?"

I swallow. My hands are shaking. But now, there is no turning back.

"Leave her alone."

The guy laughs. "And if not?"

I clench my fists. "Then... Then..." The punch hits me before I can finish my sentence. Pain explodes in my face. I stagger. The second blow slams into my ribs. "Go die, idiot!"

A hard shove to the chest. My body is thrown back. The world spins.

I fall. My feet leave the ground.

Headlights. A loud honk.

A truck is speeding toward me.

"Shit." One last thought. Then, darkness.

When I regain consciousness, I immediately know something is wrong. The darkness around me is different from before. It is not cold or empty, instead, it has an unusual depth, as if it gently envelops me.

I blink. My body feels light, almost weightless.
"What? Where am I?" I murmur, but my voice echoes into the emptiness.

Suddenly, a clear, soothing voice speaks. "You stand at the threshold between life and death. But this is not your end."

Before me appears a being radiating in soft, golden light. A woman, or rather, a goddess. Her long, flowing robes shimmer like the night sky, and her eyes sparkle like stars.

"I am Elara," she introduces herself. "The goddess of another world."

I blink in confusion. I am no longer on the rain-soaked street. Not in the gray city I know so well.

"What happened? Am I dead?" I ask hesitantly.
Elara gently shakes her head. "Not yet. Your body lies in a coma. But I can offer you a second chance."

I slowly sit up. Unlike what I have expected, I don't feel weak or injured.
"A second chance? I'm not in the mood for jokes right now."

"My world is on the brink." Elara explains with a serious expression. "And I need someone like you."

I furrow my brow. "Someone like me? What does that mean? What is a looser like me supposed to do?"

"You've proven that you have courage. That you stand up for what's right, even when you're afraid." A smile plays on her lips. "That's why I'm offering you this."

I look at her skeptically. "And what if I refuse?"

Elara tilts her head slightly. "Then your life ends here and now. But if you accept, you will be reborn in my world. With a new purpose."

My heart races. A new world? A new life? I am reminiscing back to my old life, the loneliness and the insignificance. And yet, is it really that simple?

"And what exactly do I have to do?" I finally asks.

"Four fallen angels have descended into my world." Elara says with a grim look. "They've broken the seal that once kept the demons at bay. Now they rage with new power, bringing destruction to the land. If you restore peace, I will give you the chance to return to your old world."

I swallow, my head spinning from her words. Fallen angels? Demons? Seals? I only understood half of it, but peace, return to my old world? That part I get. "Uh... okay, sure. I'll help."

"So it shall be. I will influence your birth as much as I can to increase your chances of success."

Suddenly, everything begins to glow. The light becomes so intense that I can see nothing anymore. Then, silence. A darkness surrounds me. But this time, it is different. It isn't cold, it isn't empty. It is warm and safe.

A dull sound reaches my ears. A rhythmic, steady beating.
Then I hear a voice. Gentle, full of love.

"Hello, Sota. I am your mother."

Slowly, my eyes open. The first thing I see is the face of a woman. She has gentle eyes and a bright smile. Beside her stands a broad-shouldered man, gazing at me with a proud look.

And then my gaze falls upon the boy. He was no older than a toddler, maybe three or four years old. He has silver, wild hair and large eyes. The child steps closer, leaning forward slightly, and looks at me curiously.

Then he smiles. "He's so small!"

Tentatively, he reaches out a hand, as if to touch me, but then pulls it back.
The mother laughs softly. "Shiro, this is your little brother Sota."

A new life has begun.