Ren Takeda was a boy who believed in worlds that did not exist.
At least… that's what everyone told him.
He was sixteen and lived in a quiet town where nothing exciting ever happened.
Every day was the same — school, home, sleep, repeat.
The same streets.
The same people.
The same boring life.
But Ren's mind was always somewhere else.
In another world.
A world with magic, swords, heroes, and adventures.
Every night, after finishing homework, he watched anime about ordinary boys who were suddenly transported to fantasy worlds.
Every time, his heart beat faster.
What if that happened to me?
But when the episode ended, reality returned.
His small room.
The quiet night.
Nothing magical.
That night, Ren stepped onto his balcony. The sky was full of stars.
"So many stars…" he whispered.
He imagined each star as another world. Another adventure.
"I wish I could go to an isekai world," he said softly.
He felt embarrassed… but he meant it.
Then suddenly—
A light appeared in the sky.
It grew brighter and slowly descended toward him.
Ren froze.
The glowing sphere stopped in front of his balcony.
"Human… you have called for another world," a gentle voice echoed.
Ren's heart raced.
"Yes!" he said quickly. "Please send me!"
The light stayed silent for a moment.
Then it replied, "…I am sorry."
Ren blinked. "Sorry?"
"You cannot go."
The words hit him hard.
"Why?"
"The gate opens only for chosen souls."
"And… I'm not chosen?"
"…No."
The light slowly rose back into the sky.
"Wait!" Ren shouted. "Please! Just one chance!"
But the light disappeared.
The sky became dark again.
Ren lowered his hand slowly.
"…Even another world doesn't want me."
He turned to go inside.
But then—
A giant magic circle appeared high above the clouds.
Ren froze.
"If I can't be chosen…" he whispered, clenching his fists,
"…then I'll force my way into another world."
The magic circle slowly rotated in the sky. No one else seemed to notice it.
"Am I the only one who can see this?" Ren muttered.
Excitement filled his chest.
A few minutes later, the circle faded away.
Ren rushed inside and started searching on his computer.
Hours passed.
Then he found an old forum called Gate Seekers.
One post said:
"If you see the circle in the sky, the gate between worlds is weakening. Only those with strong will can reach it. They are called… Gate Breakers."
Ren smiled.
"Then I'll become a Gate Breaker."
He ran outside to the backyard.
He raised his hands dramatically.
"GATE OF ANOTHER WORLD… OPEN!"
Nothing happened.
He tried again.
"GATE!!! OPEN!!!"
Still nothing.
He changed his pose.
"Awaken… WORLD GATE!!!"
Suddenly… a faint light appeared.
A small magic circle formed above him.
Ren's eyes widened. "It's working!"
The circle grew brighter. Wind started blowing.
"I'm going to another world!!"
But then—
The circle flickered.
Poff.
It disappeared.
Silence.
Ren stared at the sky.
"…It ran away."
He fell to his knees dramatically.
"My isekai dream…!"
Suddenly, the world blurred.
"W-Wait—WHAT?!"
Ren woke up in his bed.
Morning light filled the room.
He looked around. Everything was normal.
"…Was that a dream?"
He lay back down, confused.
"Maybe I should stop watching anime before sleeping…"
Outside the window, high above the clouds…
a faint symbol flickered for just a second.
Then vanished.
Somewhere far away, a soft whisper echoed:
"…Interesting."