[Have you played it?]
[Damn it! I lost again! I can't get past that challenge!]
[Dude, that part's already solved! You need to—]
[The story this time is so touching! I can't believe that—]
[I love this character! The design, the stats—everything!]
[Man, I love this game. Everything is so well-made.]
[The graphics and the lore!]
[Not even exaggerating.]
[Totally.]
[I know, right??]
[[[ This is the best game so far! ]]]
"Good morning sir Toshiaki"
My name is Toshiaki Honda. I'm the game developer behind the most popular RPGs in the store.
Back in school, I was just an otaku. No one expected me to become this successful—not even me. But now, I build my own company for the games I'm making.
But fame and money doesn't matter to me. All I ever wanted was to bring my fantasy to life. That's right! I'm an otaku and a proud one too! That's why I took up a computer degree in the first place.
I made dozens of small offline games to practice, but it was all for one purpose. One person, really. Her name was Celine.
A character I created back in junior high. I imagined so many adventures and backstories for her. I even draw comics about her for fun. But for me she wasn't just a character, she was my creation—I poured my dreams, my ideals, and my love into her.
Everything I made is a whole world just for her. Her struggles, her joys, her hardships and rewards—I felt like I was there, watching it all unfold.
Every bit of hard work I put in, all the sleepless nights, the learning, the effort—it was all for Celine. And the world I built for her.
That world became Heaven's Will. My most popular and ongoing online RPG game.
"It really takes me back... Years ago, it was just you and me. But now the whole world loves you, Celine."
I smiled, gently brushing my fingers across the monitor. Watching her journey, watching her grow, watching others fall in love with her. I couldn't help but feel proud.
But maybe... Maybe I felt a little left behind, too.
Fatigue hit me hard. I hadn't slept properly for days. My eyes slowly closed, and suddenly—
*VRMMM!*
Huh? What?
I jolted awake—but everything was gone.
My computer. My office. My coworkers. All gone.
I was sitting in a white void. No height, no depth, no walls or sky. Just blank nothingness.
Where am I?
I couldn't move. Couldn't feel. Couldn't hear anything. I couldn't even feel my own heartbeat or breath.
At first, I thought it was a dream. Then, panic crept in.
What is happening? Am I dead? Is this forever? What do I do?
The longer I sat in that blank world, the more my thoughts spiraled. No control. No input. Just a stillness so absolute, it felt like I didn't exist.
Suddenly, I felt a presence behind me, it gently touch my shoulder and behind my ear it whispered something.
What? I didn't-
Before I couldn't understand what it said, everything went black.
When I opened my eyes, there was an unfamiliar ceiling above me.
The memories of that terrifying emptiness rushed back, and I started bawling.
I cried because, for a moment, I thought I had been erased.
But then I heard a voice.
"Oh my! What's the matter, dear?"
Two big, warm hands reached toward me.
I didn't understand the words she said, but I understood the feeling. She held me to her chest, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt safe.
That warmth... it is my mother.
And being carried in her arms, I let go of the fear.
I drifted into sleep, comforted by something I didn't even know I needed.
When I woke up again, I had gathered my thoughts. I tried waking myself up, but nothing changed. I couldn't deny it anymore.
I had been reincarnated!
It's so exciting! I couldn't stop giggling. I was so happy I wanted to stand up and scream—but all I could do was squirm like the newborn I was.
I heard a startled voice and then a running footstep. Someone must have seen me giggling to myself and ran away.
Well that was embarrassing.
I still couldn't see clearly and I had plenty of time.
I ran all different thoughts that came into my mind.
Was I a noble? A peasant? What kind of world was this?
Was it like the comics I read? Or a novel? Maybe an anime?
Whatever it was, I only had one wish:
Please, let this be the world I created for Celine.
"She... lenh..."
I yawned and drifted off again. Being a baby is seriously tiring.