The sound of a plane engine shouldn't scare anyone.
But today…
it did.
1 — A Normal Day… Until It Wasn't
The sky was bright. The wind was gentle.
Airi held onto Haruto's sleeve while walking home from school, swinging her bag back and forth.
"Onii-chan, look look! A cloud shaped like a bunny!"
Haruto glanced up.
"…Airi, that looks nothing like a bunny."
"It is! See? That's the ear, and that's the—"
"That's literally just a round blob."
"Hmph!"
She puffed her cheeks, eyes trembling like she was about to cry.
Haruto sighed.
"Fine, it's a bunny. Happy?"
Instant smile.
"Hehehe~ Onii-chan finally sees the truth."
He watched her skip ahead, pigtails bouncing.
Airi was annoyingly clingy… but he wouldn't trade her for anything.
Then—
RRRRRROOOAAARRRR—!
A deafening thunder ripped the sky.
Airi froze.
"Onii-chan… what was that…?"
Haruto lifted his eyes—
A plane.
Low.
Too low.
"…No way."
Smoke trailed behind the right wing.
Flames erupted. The metal screeched like it was screaming.
Airi gasped.
"O-Onii-chan… it looks like it's falling—"
"Run."
Haruto grabbed her wrist and pulled.
The plane dipped—tilting, spinning—
—falling directly toward the city.
"Onii-chan! It's coming here!"
Haruto's voice trembled, but he forced calmness.
"Airi. Look only at me. Just hold my hand."
Her small hand trembled inside his.
"Haruto… I'm scared…"
"I know. I'm here."
2 — Impact
BOOOOOOM—!!
A massive explosion swallowed the street.
A flaming piece of the plane ripped through a building, tearing it open.
Concrete cracked.
Glass rained down like glittering knives.
Haruto shoved Airi behind a bus stop pillar—
but a huge chunk of the collapsing building broke loose overhead.
"AIRI GET DOWN!"
He tackled her to the ground, wrapping her in his arms.
The world shook.
The air filled with smoke and dust and fire.
"Onii-chan—?!"
"Shh. It's okay. I've got you."
He was above her—
shielding her completely.
A steel beam snapped.
A massive slab of concrete fell.
Haruto saw it.
He didn't think.
He just moved.
CRAAASH!!
The weight crushed down onto his back.
Something cracked inside him.
"Agh—!"
Blood splattered onto Airi's cheek.
"…Onii… chan?"
His arms trembled… but didn't loosen.
"I told you… I'll protect you."
His breath hitched.
"Airi… s-sorry…"
Her heart dropped.
"Onii-chan? Why are you apologizing…?"
"I… couldn't save—"
His sentence never finished.
His arms went limp.
"…Onii… chan?"
Her fingers touched his hand.
Cold.
The kind of cold that doesn't leave.
Her throat closed, tears falling uncontrollably.
"No… no no no no— Onii-chan, wake up! You can't die— you promised me… you won't leave me…"
Silence.
She hugged him tighter.
"If you're leaving me…"
Her voice cracked.
"…I'm coming too."
More debris collapsed.
Darkness swallowed everything.
3 — The Void
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
Water echoed in a space that had no ground, no sky, no air.
Airi floated in emptiness.
…am I dead?
She heard a voice.
"Airi… wake up."
Onii… chan?
"Airi, wake up, dummy."
Dummy? Onii-chan never calls me—
Her eyes snapped open.
"O-Onii—!"
She launched herself at him.
"ONII CHANN!!"
Haruto stumbled as a crying twelve-year-old missile clung to his chest.
"Ueee… I thought… I thought I wouldn't see you again…"
"There, there."
He patted her head gently. "Don't cry like this, Airi. It's not good."
She sniffed and wiped her tears on his shirt.
He frowned.
"…Don't use my shirt as a tissue."
"But… it's closer."
Haruto sighed in defeat.
"Where… are we?" Airi whispered, her voice barely holding together.
A gentle warm voice answered from behind them.
"You are in my home."
They turned.
A woman approached them, walking as if her feet touched invisible ground. The moment she stepped forward, the darkness around them dissolved like mist. Light bloomed outward. The void shifted into a breathtaking room filled with floating lights and soft golden curtains that moved without wind. The floor became smooth white marble that reflected like still water, yet it felt warm beneath their feet.
Airi blinked rapidly, overwhelmed.
The woman smiled kindly.
"Sorry to interrupt your sweet little reunion."
Airi squeaked and immediately hid behind Haruto, gripping the back of his shirt. He instinctively moved in front of her, shielding her.
"Who are you?" Haruto asked, voice steady despite the confusion.
"Do not fear me."The woman placed a hand on her chest."I am the Goddess Aether."
Airi gasped.
"G-Goddess?"
Haruto swallowed.
"So… we really died."
Aether nodded gently.
"You both died. But your love was strong. Stronger than fear. Stronger than fate."
She raised her hand, and a soft glow formed in her palm.
"I will not separate you."
Airi's voice trembled.
"You… won't?"
"I shall reincarnate you into another world."
Airi's entire face lit up.
"Another world?"
Haruto blinked slowly.
"Like… magic? Monsters? Swords? Guilds?"
Aether tilted her head with genuine curiosity.
"Yes. All of that. Do mortals enjoy such things?"
Haruto cleared his throat."Well… it is kind of our thing."
Airi grabbed Haruto's sleeve, practically sparkling.
"Onii chan! We are going to live in another world!"
Aether clapped happily.
"And I will also grant you both powers."
She pointed at Airi.
"Airi. You may command any monster you meet. Your body will be blessed with fast instinct and sharp senses."
Airi gasped.
"Like a tamer and a hero combined!"
Then Aether looked at Haruto.
"And you, child. You shall wield both magic and the sword. A dual role that does not exist in that world."
Haruto bowed slightly.
"Thank you. But… I want to ask for one thing."
Aether nodded.
"A favor. Speak."
Haruto took a slow breath.
"Send us somewhere without humans. I… do not want to live near them again."
Aether studied him for a moment.Then she smiled, gentle and knowing.
"I shall send you both to the Great Forest. A land where no human sets foot."
The room filled with light.A magic circle appeared beneath their feet, glowing brighter with every second.
Airi panicked.
"Onii chan!"
Haruto grabbed her hand.
"Airi. I am right here. Hold on to my hand."
The light swallowed them.
And their new world began.