NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1 - Prize for being a Grandmaster
You can call me Hiroshi, but most know me as the quirky headmaster of Hiroshi Academy. Yep, we had a branding issue, but who cares? My Academy was THE place to be for our athletic prowess (though our Academy was top-notch) and because of our signature Hiroshi touch.
You had a problem? Sensei Hiroshi was on the case.
Was I struggling with push-ups? I’d drop down and show you how it’s done. Relationship woes? Forget dating apps; I was the unofficial school cupid. And if anyone, mafia included, even thought about messing with my students? Let’s say I had a particular set of skills.
It was a big deal. Life was a blast.
Until, well, I hit 90. Then things got… weird.
One minute, I was blowing out my 90 candles (a fire hazard, by the way), and the next, I was in a room so empty it made a blank canvas look overdone. Purgatory? Waiting room for the afterlife’s next top destination? Maybe I’d get a halo and some wings?
Well, if there’s a celestial orientation, they better have cookies.
I shuffled forward, but the unyielding whiteness surrounding me seemed like a treadmill, making me question whether I was progressing. Was this some cosmic joke? An eternal waiting room?
A young man, roughly in his twenties, appeared out of the emptiness. His youthful appearance was quite a contrast to the infinite nothingness around.
“Hey, youngster, what’s your name?”
I greeted with the warm and playful tone of a grandfather spotting a familiar face.
He met my gaze, confidence radiating from him.
“Ise Hiroshi, meet Adam. Believe it or not, I’m the god of this multiverse.”
I sized him up, the humor evident in my eyes.
“You seem more like one of my former students than a cosmic overlord.”
His grin grew broader.
“Doubtful? Allow me to jog your memory.”
With just those words, the vast white around us reshaped and morphed, and I found myself standing in the center of a place that once meant everything to me—my Academy. Specifically, the room where knowledge was imparted, discipline instilled, and confidence built. The wooden floors, the aroma of freshly polished wood mixed with a hint of old sweat, and the faint chalk marks from lessons long past.
A deep sigh escaped my lips.
“Oh, how I’ve missed this place.”
“You know, Ise, you’ve done well. Exceptionally well, in fact. I’ve personally come to offer you a gift.”
As Adam strolled around the classroom, his eyes glinting with mischief.
“I’ve lived a full life, seen my students grow, and watched them become pillars of their communities. What more could I possibly want?”
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
“How about a chance to live another one? Ever heard of ‘Isekai’?”
Adam smirked.
“Of course. My students were always engrossed in those tales. Another world, huh? Seems like a teenage fantasy.”
A chuckle escaped my lips.
“Well, it’s about to be an ‘elderly’ fantasy. And guess what? You’re not just going to any isekai. We’ve converted all your good deeds into strength. You’re bound to be a force reckoned with in that world.”
With more strength, I could help even more people.
I pondered for a moment.”
Adam sighed exasperatedly, “You and your ever-present desire to assist! You have to start thinking about yourself! But you know what? I’ll give you an edge. A special gift, unique just for you.”
“Well, if I were to ask for something truly dear to me, it would be a dojo. A place of learning, discipline, and growth.”
“A dojo?! Of all things! But a deal’s a deal. You’ll get the best dojo, fully equipped for any martial arts enthusiast. Remember, though, this new world is your playground. Try to have some fun, okay?”
“Thank you, Adam.”
I nodded, a sincere smile playing on my lips.
“You know, a little more ambition wouldn’t hurt. Most would ask for riches or power, and here you are, still thinking of others.”
“How about this for a compromise? I’ll only assist those whose stories resonate with me.”
“Well, at least you’re being a tad selective. I’ll take it.”