The school bell rang across Tokyo, and the gates burst open as students rushed out like a flood escaping homework. Among them walked six friends, dragging their feet through another boring day.
Kuro stretched and groaned.
"Every day feels the same. Wake up, class, survive math, repeat."
Hikari nodded.
"My brain is still spinning from that lecture."
Geotor kicked a pebble.
"Stop complaining. Let's play football. At least that won't kill us."
Hono brightened.
"That sounds good. Who brought the ball?"
Venimus raised his hands.
"Not me. I forgot."
Kaito smirked and pulled out a football.
"I've got you covered. Let's go before my motivation runs away."
Behind their school was a small hill, the kind you could climb during lunch break. Grass, trees, a little shade. It looked exactly like the hill Nobita always ran to in Doraemon. That was where they often played.
They reached the ground at the base of the hill and played for an hour. They laughed, shouted at fouls, teased Geotor for missing easy shots, and argued like usual.
By 2 PM, Kaito dropped to the ground.
"My legs are gone. I'm retiring at age 17."
Hono sat beside him.
"Let's go home before one of us becomes a spirit."
They picked up their bags and started walking. But halfway, Kuro suddenly stopped.
"Guys… look at the hill."
A strange flash of light came from behind the trees at the top. It wasn't sunlight. It flickered like something alive.
Hikari squinted.
"What is that? It doesn't look normal."
Kuro's eyes lit up.
"Finally something interesting. Let's go."
Venimus stepped back.
"No no no. This is how people die in movies. I want to go home."
Geotor slapped his shoulder.
"You won't die first. Maybe third."
Hono looked uneasy.
"I don't think this is safe…"
Kuro shrugged.
"Come on. It's just our school hill. Not Mount Everest."
Hikari sighed.
"Alright. Let's check before someone else discovers it."
They climbed the small hill. At the top, hidden behind a cluster of trees, they found something unbelievable.
A portal.
A swirling circle of light floating above the ground, glowing like another world was trying to peek through.
Kaito whispered,
"No way… is this real?"
Hono took a cautious step.
"It looks like it came from a sci-fi movie."
Venimus trembled.
"Okay I'm leaving. This is bad. This is VERY bad."
Before they could decide, the portal roared.
Wind blasted around them. Leaves flew. Dust exploded upward.
Kuro shouted,
"Run!"
But the pull was too strong.
One by one, they were sucked into the portal.
Everything went black.
Kuro woke up coughing. Hot wind whipped sand into his face. A desert stretched around him, endless and golden.
"Guys! Wake up! We're… definitely not on the school hill anymore."
Hikari sat up.
"This isn't Japan. Not even close."
Venimus panicked.
"We're going to die. I'm too young."
Kuro looked around.
"Where's Geotor? He was right next to me."
A muffled voice came from behind a dune.
"HELPPP! I'm stuck!"
They ran over and found Geotor buried in sand up to his shoulders.
Kaito laughed so hard he fell to his knees.
"You look like a rejected cactus."
Geotor glared.
"Just pull me out!"
After freeing him, they gathered in a circle.
Hono frowned.
"The portal disappeared. We don't know where we are."
Kuro pulled out his phone.
"No signal. No WiFi. Not even SOS mode."
Everyone checked their phones.
Hikari frowned.
"This is weird. Even deserts on Earth have weak signals sometimes."
Venimus stared at his phone… then broke into loud tears.
"My internet! My anime! My memes! Why am I alive if nothing is loading?!"
Kaito rolled his eyes.
"Stop crying, you walking WiFi router."
Kuro sighed.
"We have bigger problems."
Hikari pointed to the horizon.
"Wait. Look there."
A city shimmered far away. Towers, walls, and buildings blurred in the heat.
Geotor whispered,
"Is that real? Or just a mirage?"
Kuro shook his head.
"If we're all seeing the same thing, it's real."
They started walking.
An hour passed.
Then two.
The city still felt just as far.
Geotor groaned,
"How can it still be so far? My soul is leaving my body."
Kuro wiped sweat from his forehead.
"Because it's probably 100 to 200 kilometers away."
Geotor froze.
"You're joking… right?"
"Nope."
Everyone screamed.
They had only one biscuit left, which Venimus broke into six tiny pieces. Their water bottles were empty.
Still, they walked.
Hikari stopped suddenly.
"Guys… the sun looks strange."
Kaito frowned.
"What now?"
Hikari pointed.
"It's 7 PM. But the sun is shining like it's 2 in the afternoon."
Everyone grew silent.
"What kind of place is this?" Hono whispered.
Suddenly, a figure approached from far away.
A girl riding a horse.
Kuro squinted.
"Finally. A person."
She stopped in front of them, eyes sharp and suspicious.
"Who are you? Where are you from?"
Geotor stepped forward.
"We're from Japan. We need help."
The girl frowned.
"What is Japan? I've never heard of such a kingdom. Don't lie to me or I'll report you to the headquarters."
Hikari snapped,
"You don't know Japan? It's famous!"
The girl unrolled a map.
"If it's so famous, show me."
They searched the map.
Japan wasn't there.
Earth wasn't there.
Nothing looked familiar.
Kuro whispered,
"Is this map a prank?"
Kaito muttered,
"I think she's crazy."
The girl glared.
"Mind your words. If you don't know the world map, show me your magic. Then I'll know if you're dangerous."
Everyone stared.
"Magic?" Kuro repeated.
"We don't have magic."
The girl crossed her arms.
"Impossible. Everyone in this world has magic."
"If everyone has magic," Kuro said, "then show us yours."
She smirked.
"With pleasure."
She lifted her hand.
A flame appeared in her palm.
Real, burning fire.
Everyone stepped back in shock.
Kaito shouted,
"What is happening?!"
Hikari suddenly screamed,
"I knew it! I knew it!"
Kuro turned to him.
"What did you know?"
Hikari pointed at the fire.
"We're in a different world!"
Venimus started crying again.
"Why me…"
And so, their real adventure began.
Chapter End...