Chapter 1: A NEW PATH UNFOLDS
Takumi knew he didn't belong in this world—or rather, he knew he hadn't started here. He remembered fragments of another life: cold hospital rooms and a long battle with an illness he'd rather forget. That life had ended quietly, and, in the next heartbeat, he'd opened his eyes as an orphaned high school student in Tokyo. A Tokyo not quite like the one he knew but strangely similar—an anime-tinted realm that melded aspects of beloved series into one seamless, if somewhat chaotic, reality.
And with that second chance came something he would never have imagined: the Multiverse Chat Group System.
---
Takumi's morning routine had become oddly consistent. Even though he lived alone in a spacious apartment—one he inherited after his parents in this new life passed away—he still woke up to the same jarring alarm from his phone. The phone itself was sleek, modern, and displayed an icon on its screen in the shape of a swirling galaxy whenever a certain app was active.
He yawned, grabbed the device, and blinked at the numerous chat messages filling the screen.
Misaka Mikoto: *Morning, guys! Is the new mission schedule posted yet?*
Rimuru: *Not sure. I just hopped in to see if anything changed overnight. Seems quiet. Maybe too quiet…*
Rin Tohsaka: *Quiet is usually good—unless someone's cooking up trouble behind the scenes.*
Kazuma: *Quiet means I finally get some rest. Don't jinx it, Tohsaka.*
Ruri Gokou (Kuroneko): *Hmph. I was in the middle of finalizing my incantations for a greater summoning ritual. What petty mortal business do we have today?*
Takumi couldn't help but smirk. Their personalities practically jumped off the screen. Each was a legend in their own right across multiple worlds—electromasters, reincarnated slimes, skilled magi, and comedic adventurers. Meanwhile, he was just…Takumi, an otherwise ordinary orphan in a swirl of anime tropes.
Well, mostly ordinary. Because of the Chat Group System, a door to a place known as "HQ"—the Chat Group's own world—was never more than a thought away. And there, time passed a hundred times faster than in his daily life. Five minutes in Tokyo equaled a week at headquarters. It was an almost terrifying difference, but it made the Chat Group an ideal refuge. You could plan, train, and socialize for "weeks," then pop back into your regular life only to realize mere minutes had passed.
Grumbling to himself, Takumi dragged his half-asleep body to the bathroom, freshened up, and slid on his school uniform. He typed a quick message into the group as he wolfed down a convenience-store onigiri.
Takumi: *Morning, everyone. I'll hop over to HQ in a minute. Just gotta make sure I'm not late for class—again.*
---
Takumi closed his eyes and felt the faint hum of energy swirl around him. The chat group icon on his phone glowed. In less than a breath, he was transported to the Chat Group's personal dimension: a futuristic city sprawled across a world as massive as Earth itself. Towers of steel and glass reached for the skies, and airships zipped between them. Here, advanced holographic terminals dotted sidewalks, and roads glowed softly underfoot.
He had reappeared right where he normally did—a spacious lobby with sleek black flooring, shining overhead lights, and a massive logo floating in midair: Multiverse Chat Group HQ.
No matter how many times Takumi saw it, the cityscape beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows made him pause in awe. It was easily a century ahead of any technology in his anime world. Holographic escalators looped around the building, carrying various Chat Group members (who hailed from other corners of existence) up and down. He even spotted a few drones delivering coffee to staff at the other end of the hall.
Of course, only a handful of Chat Group members were truly active or relevant in Takumi's day-to-day. He strolled toward the central lounge, passing by an automated security checkpoint that beeped green in recognition.
"There you are, Takumi," a familiar voice called.
He turned to see Misaka Mikoto leaning against a pillar. Her short, chestnut hair was pinned back on one side, and small sparks of electricity crackled around her outstretched hand. She gave him a crooked grin. "Thought you were gonna stand us up."
Behind her, Kazuma was sprawled on a floating sofa, arms behind his head as if he owned the place. He yawned. "I'm starting to think we're too free these days. Don't we have a big mission or something? You can't just pop in looking half-asleep."
Sitting nearby was Rin Tohsaka, tapping at a holographic interface. She looked up with a customary sternness. "We do have assignments from the System, but nothing immediate. There's a rumor about strange energy readings in a neighboring dimension, but that's being looked into. If we're needed, we'll know."
Rimuru, in human form today—an androgynous figure with sky-blue hair—smiled and gave a small wave. "Morning, Takumi. Did you sleep well? You look like you barely got any rest."
And lastly, perched on a futuristic lounge chair, dressed in a gothic black outfit, was Ruri Gokou, also known as Kuroneko. She gave an elaborate, dramatic sigh. "To think a day would come where we'd be reduced to mere idling in these sterile halls, waiting for ephemeral tasks from a disembodied system. Truly, the gloom of the Demon Realm must pale before this tedium…"
Takumi half-grinned at her chuunibyou style monologue. He found it oddly endearing.
"Right, so I—" he began, only to feel his phone buzz in his pocket.
---
He pulled out the device and saw that, in real-world time, five minutes had passed since he jumped over. A single beep on screen reminded him he had to get to class soon. In the chat group dimension, those five minutes would let him stay for a whole week if he wanted.
"Ah! I can't spend too long here, or I'm definitely going to be late," Takumi said, itching his cheek.
Kazuma rolled his eyes. "That's the problem with you high-school kids. Why bother with class when you can have an entire week of training here?"
Mikoto shrugged. "He does still have a life to maintain over there. Maybe you don't realize how complicated it is juggling a normal identity."
"Rin's the same, right?" Rimuru asked politely. "Doesn't she also attend school in her own dimension?"
Rin frowned, crossing her arms. "Yes, but the time difference in my world doesn't hamper me as much as Takumi's does. Our worlds are synced differently. And I have spells to help me manage my schedule."
In the midst of the banter, Ruri gave a small sigh and stood from her seat, black skirt trailing behind her. "I suppose even the greatest dark sorceress must occasionally witness mundane obligations. If you're going back, I'll come with you for a moment. I need to procure certain…items from your dimension's markets."
"Sure," Takumi replied, not entirely certain what 'items' she meant. "But I only have about fifteen real-world minutes before homeroom starts. That's like—what—over a day here?"
Mikoto checked a hovering clock. "Exactly. You can do quite a bit in a day if you want to train or gather supplies."
Takumi nodded, a plan forming in his mind. "Alright then. Maybe I'll stay for a few hours here—like half a day—then head back. That should be about ten minutes in real time. Let's do some quick training in the simulation chamber, see if I can get the hang of my new ability."
He still wasn't entirely used to the concept of powers. The System had awakened a skill in him—something about energy manipulation that he hadn't fully deciphered yet. He only knew that it was potent but tricky. If he didn't manage it properly, he risked draining himself into near collapse.
---
Down a corridor and past a set of sliding steel doors was the Chat Group's simulation chamber. The walls were sleek, tinted black with faint lines of neon blue running through them. Inside, illusions of entire landscapes could be conjured—forests, deserts, labyrinths, cityscapes—for training or testing new abilities.
"This place sure is convenient," Takumi murmured, stepping onto a circular platform at the center. "No matter how many times I see it, the technology here still amazes me."
Kazuma scratched the back of his head. "Yep, it's great. But if you blow something up by accident, it's not coming out of my pay."
Mikoto smirked, crossing her arms. "I'll monitor from the control panel. Let's see what you can do, Takumi."
Takumi took a deep breath, letting the swirling energy gather in his core. A faint teal glow engulfed his hands. He tried to condense it, forming a small sphere of shimmering force. For a moment, it felt stable—until a flicker of instability rippled through him. The sphere collapsed and fizzled into sparks.
"Ugh, still can't hold it for long," he muttered in frustration.
"Try channeling it slower," Rimuru suggested calmly. "I can sense how your magical flow gets bottlenecked near your heart region. Visualize it spreading evenly through your arms."
Takumi's second attempt lasted longer. The sphere glowed bright enough to illuminate the entire chamber in teal light. Misaka Mikoto whistled in appreciation from the control panel. Even Kazuma sat up straighter, looking mildly impressed.
"Not bad," Kazuma said. "You're not a total novice anymore."
Sweat beaded on Takumi's forehead, but he managed a grin. "Thanks, guys. I still feel like I've barely scratched the surface, though."
He let the sphere dissolve gently. For now, that was enough. He wasn't aiming to become some unstoppable hero. The Chat Group was a haven and an opportunity, but it didn't change the fact he also had a life to lead in Tokyo—a normal high-school existence that, oddly enough, he found comforting.
---
### Brief Respite
After a few more practice rounds (and a few accidental blasts scorching the simulation room walls, much to Kazuma's amusement), Takumi declared himself done for the day. Rimuru and Rin stuck around to try a new joint-spell experiment—something about blending slime-based regeneration and magecraft.
Meanwhile, Mikoto excused herself to check the city's power grid, while Kazuma wandered off in search of something labeled the "Recreational Wing." Ruri was already waiting by the HQ's main teleporter.
"You're quite earnest, Taku," Ruri said as they walked toward the swirling teleporter pad that would lead them back to Takumi's dimension. She called him "Taku" whenever she was in a half-teasing mood. "Hurrying off to class like some typical slice-of-life protagonist."
"Well, that's what I am, right? The slice-of-life kid who got isekai'd in reverse," Takumi joked.
She blinked. "Indeed. How dreadfully ordinary." Then she smirked, stepping onto the teleporter. "Yet perhaps your humdrum routines will birth epic legends one day."
Takumi wasn't sure if Ruri was mocking him or encouraging him, but he appreciated the conversation anyway. The teleporter activated with a whoosh of swirling lights, and in a flash, their surroundings faded.
---
Takumi opened his eyes to see that he was still standing in his bedroom, phone in hand. It vibrated softly, displaying the time: 7:47 AM. Only five minutes had passed since he'd left.
Ruri materialized behind him, glancing around. "Huh. So this is your place, Taku." She walked across the room, picking up a figurine of a minor anime character from one of the many shelves. "Your taste in décor is suspiciously vanilla."
"What were you expecting? A demonic altar?" he shot back with a grin.
She set the figurine down, ignoring the light jab. "Well, I'm going to pop outside for a moment. There's a specialized bookstore downtown I must investigate. They carry obscure volumes… I'll find it myself—don't mind me." With that, she slipped out the front door and into the early morning bustle of the city.
Takumi ran a hand through his hair. "She sure doesn't waste time," he mumbled, grabbing his school bag. He locked up and headed out, making sure Ruri had a spare key if she needed to return. Normally, he'd be freaked about leaving someone in his home unattended, but Ruri was a friend—or as much of a friend as her chuunibyou persona allowed.
The apartment building's elevator ride was brief. He stepped out onto a busy street: neon signs, large anime posters promoting the latest "Saekano" spinoff series, and a billboard featuring some new local idol group. Students in various school uniforms hurried along the sidewalk, chattering about typical teenage topics.
He spotted a familiar figure with chestnut-brown pigtails—Eriri Spencer Sawamura, one of his classmates and an up-and-coming artist for doujinshi. She was a central figure in the "Saekano" storyline. She shot him a half-curious glance before looking away. They weren't that close, just acquaintances.
His phone buzzed again, and he swore under his breath. The time read 7:55. Homeroom started at 8:00. "Gotta run," he muttered.
---
Takumi arrived in the classroom mere seconds before the bell rang. His seat was near the window, as though the "protagonist seat" had been pre-selected for him in this world. The teacher droned on about new semester guidelines while Takumi stared out the window at the sun's early rays.
It was almost jarring, having come from a place where, mere minutes ago, he'd conjured glowing energy spheres in a futuristic training hall. Now, he was quietly listening to announcements about cultural festivals and upcoming tests.
But that was his life now—an odd blend of the mundane and the extraordinary, each providing relief from the other. If the Chat Group got hectic, he had the predictable routine of school to ground him. If real life got too dull or stressful, the Chat Group was a gateway to infinite possibilities.
He shook off a daydream and refocused on the teacher. People around him took notes diligently. He wondered how many of his classmates had secrets of their own. This was, after all, a mix of the "Saekano" and "Oreimo" worlds. Hidden otakus, aspiring light novel authors, and part-time doujin artists were everywhere.
Maybe that was the charm of this dimension: everyone had quirks or dreams beneath their normal exteriors, each living out a slice-of-life story. Takumi's just happened to involve dimensional travel, superpowered chat group friends, and a swirling teal energy that exploded in his hands if he wasn't careful.
---
By the time classes ended, Takumi felt the weight of the day. He hurriedly stuffed books into his bag. It wasn't uncommon for him to skip the after-school club activities so he could jump back into Chat Group HQ for further training or group missions. But today, he paused. The sun was already setting. The sky glowed pink and orange, streaked with clouds.
A new beep on his phone caught his attention:
Rin Tohsaka: *Takumi, any plans to rejoin us for training tonight?*
Kazuma: *Could do a small mission, or we can just hang out. HQ is kinda quiet at the moment.*
Misaka Mikoto: *I gotta calibrate the new generator at HQ's power station. Tag along if you want.*
Rimuru: *I'm making dinner. If you join us, you can sample my brand-new recipe for slime-based mock desserts!*
Ruri Gokou: *I've acquired some interesting tomes. We must convene to discuss matters of the arcane… if you're not too busy with mundane schooling, that is.*
Takumi grinned, heart warming at their messages. Even though he was still new to this second life and the Chat Group, he felt oddly at home with them—like he belonged in that odd circle of extraordinary individuals.
Takumi (typing): *Sure, I'll be there soon. Just need to pick up a few groceries so I don't come back to an empty fridge tomorrow morning. Save me some of that dessert, Rimuru!*
He pocketed his phone, stepping out of the school gate. A pair of upperclassmen walked by, excitedly discussing an upcoming event. He recognized one as the famed otaku Kirino's older brother, though they'd never really spoken. The air was thick with an everyday familiarity. Students parted ways, some heading to clubs, others to part-time jobs or simply out with friends.
Takumi breathed in the evening air, letting the sense of normalcy linger. Soon, he'd head to the Chat Group dimension for more training, more banter, more of the strange, remarkable life he'd stumbled into.
And as the golden sun dipped below the skyline, he felt a subtle thrill: This is only the beginning. He had an entire chat group world—and beyond—waiting for him.
At the corner grocery store, he grabbed some milk, eggs, and a few snacks. His mind flickered back to Ruri's hush-hush tomes and the odd energy readings Rin had mentioned. Perhaps tonight they'd discover a clue pointing to something bigger. Maybe he'd improve his control over that teal energy.
Whatever awaited him there—be it comedic antics with Kazuma or a sudden crisis in a distant dimension—he'd face it with cautious optimism. After all, he'd been given a second chance at life. He wasn't about to let it go to waste.
Bracing himself, groceries in hand, Takumi readied for his next jump to HQ.
And so, with a brief shimmer of light and the faint hum of the system in his ears, he disappeared into the unknown once more—leaving behind a Tokyo sidewalk that had no clue how special their unassuming neighbor truly was.