Chapter Text
Darkness mutually robbed them of their vision. A singular thought surged through all their mind.
What is the definition of a true friend?
“Yaaah, what am I doing here?!” A shrill voice shrieked. It belonged to a boy of short stature, with a little bandage on his nose.
“Sorry to bug you guys but...wait, who are you guys?”
A gentle yet oddly firm voice asked. A girl with long hair and a slender figure tried to get off the ground but…
“Yo! Why is everyone lying on the ground?!” A deep voice bellowed. It belonged to a specimen of a man. He was easily over six feet and his muscles seemed to budge out of his shirt.
“Huh? I was...Huh? What’s this? I can’t seem to recall anything…” A quiet, articulate voice uttered barely above a whisper. Its owner was an average, clean cut young man.
“You people think asking the air will help?” His voice was laced with a judgmental tone. He was slightly overweight. Despite his statement, his eyes gleamed with the same confusion as the others.
They collectively groaned and glanced around. From what they could see, it was just a park. Hardly anything out of the ordinary. Although, the girl’s mind was on the thing that was crushing her. The muscular man unknowingly sitting on her.
“Um, can you please move, you’re kinda on me.”
The muscular man finally looked down. His already high volume shot up.
“OH, I’M SORRY, HOPE YA CAN STILL BREATHE!”
The judgmental one scratched out his ears which rang from the muscular man’s shouting. The others turned their heads as the muscular man helped the girl up.
The remaining three followed suit, the judgmental one and the quiet one rose to their feet normally. The small boy, on the other hand, tried to jump to his feet unsuccessfully. He did it again...and again until eventually, he was upright.
Each one of them stared at the other. Trying to recognize their faces or to size each other up. The quiet one had a particular question on his mind, hoping it wouldn’t make him sound crazy.
“Did you guys hear a voice before you came too?”
They paused in a moment of repose. Their faces gave away their thoughts or so he thought.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
None of them knew what to make of this situation. If someone simply called them here then why would they just forget everything? Did they know each other? Too many questions flooded their minds.
The judgmental one noticed he had his phone on him. He pulled it out hoping it would have some answers for him. The others took note and followed suit.
“It appears we are in Shinjuku Central Park.” The quiet one announced.
“Hehehe...have you fine five noticed me yet?”
The girl gasped in surprise, the muscular man and the quiet one’s eyes widened in alarm. The judgemental one scanned the ground for a potential weapon. Yet it was the small boy who spotted the first strange thing to appear in this new world.
On his phone is a hexagram, from it a goat-like creature springs from it. He points at it and yells, alerting the group to its presence.
“AHHH! MY PHONE IS HAUNTED! A WEIRD MIDGET APPEARED!”
“Uhhh, dude you’re pretty small yourself...not as small as that thing I guess.” The muscular man remarked.
The judgmental man scratched his ears again, clearly not amused. “Great, another fool with no mute button.”
Before a bickering match could start, the goat thing spoke.
“No need to be alarmed! Do I look like the kinda cutie to hurt someone?”
“If you’re cute then I’m a nice guy.” The judgmental one answered.
“Well, least he’s honest about his attitude.” The quiet one murmured, not loud enough for anyone else to hear. He was distracted by the sight of the goat thing blubbering for no reasonable reason.
“Wahhh!!! M-Master! I’m the cutest lil’ thing around ya know!”
The girl strolled towards it, hesitant at first but she figured the lil’ goat couldn’t do much harm. When she got close enough, she patted its head.
“There, there...we’re not sure what’s going on. Do you think you can help?”
The lil’ creature spun around happily, absolutely ravishing the small amount of affectionate attention.
“Of course! It’s a lot of crazy stuff to take in but fear not! I’m a level three butler! And I’m your in-game familiar! I’m Lil’ Salomon!”
The small boy tilted his head
“Little salmon?”
The quiet boy had a comment he wished to say as well.
“In-game? We’re in a game?”
Four of the five swarmed poor Lil’ Salomon firing endless questions at him all at once. The muscular man knew there was no way for that goat thing to comprehend everything that was being thrown at him.
With his naturally loud, booming voice he spoke.
“Hey! We can’t just bombard him! Let’s try and ask a few questions that we all share.”
The other four shared a confused look. The small boy was the one to break the awkward silence.
“Like…?”
“Lil’ Salomon, what did you mean by in-game familiar?”
The group stepped back away from the creature to join their place next to the muscular man.
“Why masters, you were invited by the app so someone must have summoned you all! Impressive if you ask me!”
They collectively lost their marbles.
“SUMMONED?!”
“Yeah, Huh? Where’s the summoner? Off to pick flowers?”
The quiet one moved on to the next pressing matter.
“Summoning? As in the kind in fantasy stories?”
“Ding! Ding! You are quite smart, master!”
Lil’ Salomon rambled on about alternate worlds and all the other seasonal isekai anime mumbo jumbo. He also explained that an app allowed anyone to be a so-called summoner.
Sure the floating goat was a little eccentric but was talented at exposition. Though, one more giant question mark remained. The muscular man was the one to ask it.
“How can we be summoners if we were summoned here?”
Lil’ Salomon didn’t answer, his chipper demeanor disappeared. Something was wrong, the atmosphere completely changed without warning.
“Something is speeding towards us! Please protect me, my masters!”
“From what—“ the small boy was cut off when another stranger crashed into the judgmental one.
“Ah! Sorry! Are you ok?”
“I will be when you and that red thing behind you are gone.”
The rest of the group already took note of the gigantic red oni in pursuit of the boy that crashed into the judgmental one. His mumbling of the tastiness of human flesh made his motive painfully clear.
“Everyone hurry! Before we become that thing’s feast!” The red haired boy that crashed into this mess called out. He seemed to know where he was running and it’s not like they had a choice.
They underestimated the speed of the oni and despite their short lived efforts, it caught them mid-track.
“Oh, why did I have to run into a stray transient!”
The meaning of yet another unfamiliar term would have to be discovered later. The oni was coming at them and there didn’t appear to be any way out.
“You don’t have to eat all of us! Eat the big fat jerk!” The small boy suggested which of course fell on deaf ears.
The rage the judgmental one felt at that outweighed his fear of imminent death.
The muscular man ran out and put his hands out in a protective manner.
“Everyone! Get behind me!”
He knew he was a big guy. He also knows that this beast harbored more strength than what any human could hope to have. Still, no matter how short of a time, he knew these people’s faces. They were forever in his memories, and he sure as heck didn’t want those memories to be tainted by death.
“Master! Quick! Perform a summoning!”
“What do I gotta do?!”
The others heard that command too, they listened intently.
“Repeat after me…”
“Role of the…” the muscular man didn’t hear it right.
“Role of the Wanderer!” The girl yelled.
“And Rule of Rending!” The small boy continued.
“Role of the Wanderer, Rule of Rending!” The muscular man bellowed, feeling something surging through him. The others felt it course through their veins as well.
Lil’ Salomon announced the rest of the spell.
“Um…” The muscular man wasn’t good at this.
“Engrave mine name unto thee!” The quiet man hopped on.
“Come forth! Boundless tail!” The judgmental one finished.
“Engrave mine name unto thee and come forth! Boundless tail!” The five said in unison, as soon as they did, weapons manifested in their hands.
There in the muscular man’s hands, a broadsword had appeared.
The small boy’s eyes widened not in shock this time but awe. For he now held an epic katana.
The girl blinked, not sure what to make of the rapier she now had.
The quiet one examined his sword, a Chinese Jian. He had read about those once.
The judgmental one felt disappointed in his simplistic machete. He expected something different.
The dreaded club of the Oni came down but the muscular man blocked it with his broadsword. It still hurt but he wasn’t a bloody pulp at least. The Oni stumbled backwards.
“I...look...for you always! Since...you unseal me...from Kumano Shrine! Fight me!”
“Uhhh, dude I ain’t go no idea what you’re going on about but I’ll fight ya!” Not the most convincing war cry but at least the muscular man has confidence.
The red hair boy was the most surprised of them all. This was the strangest thing that could’ve happened today.
“Who are you guys? You’re all summoners? The Oni—” The devil roared as his name was spoken. Thus the real fight began.
The small boy eagerly started swinging at the Oni while its focus was still honed on the muscular man. The katana has its first taste of blood when it struck one of the Oni’s thick arms.
It grunted, it hurt but it wasn’t enough to stop the giant. The small boy’s cocky expression shifted to an ‘oh crap’ one as the Oni turned to him. It charged him, colliding with his body, sending the boy flying.
The girl, horrified and concerned, rushed over to his side. She shook the boy, he responded thankfully but he was definitely shell shocked. The ground shook again as the Oni came back at the boy and her. If that thing struck the nearly unconscious boy once more, it would likely result in his death.
With someone else’s life resting on her shoulders. She readied her blade. As the Oni was upon them, she gracefully lunged, sticking her point into the Oni’s leg. Had someone taught her fencing? She thought to her herself.
The Oni landed on the ground with a grand thud. The judgmental one strolled over and analyzed the beast.
He sighed, “Let’s get this over with.”
His hand barely fit around the Oni’s ankle but nonetheless, he was still able to hack away. The Oni screamed in pain as he dismantled its heel, ensuring that it would not stand again. Or so he thought, it prepared to rise. The quiet one rushed to cripple the Oni’s other leg. It wailed and wailed until it collapsed from the pain.
“I am sorry, it was a matter of life and death.” He bowed to the Oni. He didn’t believe that any creature on this earth deserved pain.
The Oni groaned, from its back, odd red pixels started floating up into the air. Like ash from a raging fire.
“What’s happening to it?” The quiet one turned to Lil’ Salomon for an answer.
“Well, it’s used all of its power. Its connection to this world is becoming unstable. Since it doesn’t seem to have a summoner, it will probably vanish soon.”
The girl plopped down next to its head. How bizarre it was for this beast to look so defenseless when moments she was terrified of it.
“I...wanted...to serve...master...even...at cost...of sanity…now...I die alone.” The monster barely choked out.
The muscular man stood over the Oni, like the girl he pitied it. Then, a light bulb went off in his head.
“Hey man, why don’t you serve us now?”
The Oni looked up, “Very well...I let you...be new masters. Any of you...may summon…whenever...thank you, masters.”
As soon as the Oni finished, it disintegrated into red pixels. Somehow, all five still felt its presence around them.
Lil’ Salomon’s snout-jaw hung open. “How’d you guys make a pact with it so easily?! Wait, how do you share familiars?!”
The muscular man shrugged, “Well Salomon, how do we all have the same butler?”
The girl rose back to her feet. “Is it usually difficult to form pacts?”
“Master...errr, that master!” Salomon pointed to the quiet one. “I’m just a lucky lil’ guy!” He turned his attention to the girl.
“As for your question, Lady Master, yes! Usually, one’s connection with their original world has to be weakened. Even then it’s rarely fully severed.”
The small boy started hopping up and down.
“So that means we’re like, super strong right?”
“It means, our existence seems to be an exception to the rules of this world.” The judgmental chimed in.
“Well, I think we should learn more about this place before we jump to conclusions.” The quiet one suggested.
“You five are strong! Familiars only respect and follow the strong.”
The small boy started swinging his blade around, still impressed by its majesty. The muscular man gripped the hilt of his mighty broadsword.
“So, Lil’ Man, what’s up with these swords?”
“No idea!” Salomon exclaimed causing both the muscular man and the judgmental one’s brows to furrow. When the goat thing floated close enough to the judgmental one, he started pinching his cheeks.
“What do you mean, no idea? Some butler you are.”
“Mwragh!!!”
The girl predictably ran over and grabbed the judgemental one’s wrist.
“If he doesn’t know then he doesn’t know!”
She continued to pull his wrist away from Lil’ Salomon. Through his tears, the little demon spoke.
“Well, they might be things called Sacred Artifacts. Vessels of Divine Beings!...not that I’ve ever seen one.”
The quiet man put his hand on his chin. He still couldn’t comprehend what on earth was going on. At least he had more pieces to work with now. So many weird words, Role of the Wanderer, Rule of Rendering. How did it all fit together into this jumbled puzzle?
“Well, uh, bye bye masters! Call me if you need anything!” He spoke quickly and vanished quicker.
“Running away huh?” The judgmental spit out.
“I guess we drained him!” The small boy said with his usual cheerfulness.
The quiet one noticed that time seemed to be moving faster now. It made sense that a demon-like creature would have the ability to manipulate time. Actually, if he hadn’t then they’d probably been dead by now. Under his breath, he quietly thanked the demon.
The red haired boy was dazzled and he wanted to make it known.
“That. Was. Awesome! What was that?! How’d you guys all get swords?”
“Oh, how we wish we knew.” The judgmental one responded.
“Thanks for saving my butt! Oh and I’m Ryota! Ryota Yakushimaru, I’m a student at Shinjuku Academy. What are your names?”
Their demeanor changed, the white elephant had returned. They became considerably quieter. Hoping they could somehow disappear so they wouldn't have to provide an answer.
The muscular man started murmuring something. Slowly it became clearer and clearer...the alphabet?
“E...F...G...G!!! My name starts with G! GENGOROH!” The revelation came with maxed out volume but they, excluding the judgemental one, were happy for him. Soon they followed suit and used the trick.
“L...M! AHHH! Mentaiko!” The small boy shouted, not quite as loud as Gengoroh but still, everyone knew his name now.
With her fingers, she went through the letters, until she landed on K. “Yes...that’s right, they call me...Kabi.” A nice simple name she thought to herself.
The quiet one felt a particular residence with the fifteenth letter of the alphabet, O. “Okadaya, I like the way it sounds.”
A name popped up in the judgemental one’s head when he happened upon S. “Seizou...Something about it doesn't fit...is it mine?” He asked the air, with no response.
The oblivious Ryota was naturally confused about why everyone was celebrating their names. He was only sure of one thing.
“Hey, I’m starving, you guys wanna grab a bite? It’s on me!”
The five rapidly became aware of their empty stomachs. Each mental imagining their ideal meal.
“Let’s go somewhere that's got spicy wings!” Gengoroh proclaimed, to which Mentaiko contested.
“Ehhh? No way! I don't like spicy food! Let's go grab some burgers instead! Everyone likes burgers!”
Before Gengoroh could say anything, Seizou had to make his opinion known.
“No you guys I'm on a die—What I mean to say is vegan is superior.” Seizou’s eyes darted around in an effort to see the others' reactions. They all stared at him blankly, he didn't seem the vegan type is all they thought.
Okadaya was trying to think of a universally appealing suggestion. “...Italian? That could accommodate all of us in some way right?”
His good intentions somehow spiraled out of control into a three-way argument between Gengoroh, Mentaiko, and Seizou.
Having made the situation even worse, Okadaya scooted his way next to Kabi.
“So what do you want to get?” Okadaya asked Kabi who was twirling a lock of her hair.
“Well, I—”
“STUDIES SHOW THAT VEGAN SEX IS 10X MORE PLEASURABLE THAN MEAT SEX.”
“I...you know what, anything is fine.” Was the only answer she could pop out after hearing something like THAT.
The shell shock moment was interrupted as Ryota spoke up at long last.
“You guys know that the cafeteria at the school I go to has all that right?”
All five shot daggers at Ryota, well Kabi shot a dull butter knife at him.
“Dude! Why didn't you say so earlier?!” Gengoroh demanded to know.
“Why subject us to that vegan rant whatever thing?!” Mentaiko added.
Ryota scratched the back of his head. Not expecting that kind of reaction.
“It was kinda interesting watching you guys, you're all so...unique.”
Okadaya laughed quite loudly which surprised the group.
“We are quite the crowd, aren't we? Least this bizarre adventure won't be boring.”
Gengoroh threw his arms around four out of five of the bunch, Seizou happily excluded.
“Yeah! Despite everything that’s happened, I think we’re gonna be great friends.”
“Great speech Twilight Sparkle.” Seizou scoffed out though it raised a question in Kabi’s mind.
“...Why are you familiar with My Little Pony characters?”
Seizou’s face puffed up as blood rushed into his cheeks. Like a weird anime episode, Ryota’s view carried on into the inexplicably starry sky as the banter continued.
Thus began this journey of friends and fantasy. Of laughter and tragedy. Of love and realization.