An Unfamiliar World


After bidding farewell to his online friends and closing the RPG game on his computer, Hiroto Nakajima rose from his chair and shouldered his bag on his way to Tokyo University. As he stepped out of his apartment, the bright sun caught his eye, and he sighed inwardly before setting off. Despite his determination to move forward with his studies, he couldn't help but notice the way people avoided him on the street, no doubt due to his past delinquent behavior.

Glancing at a few people who stared at him with disgust, Hiroto ignored them and made his way towards the campus. Upon entering the building, he was greeted by the secretary of the faculty where he was enrolled. 'I hope you can avoid any trouble, Hiroto. Your reputation here is already quite bad as it is.' she cautioned. Hiroto simply shrugged and proceeded towards the lecture room for his class.

Upon arriving, he found only five other students present. They all kept their distance, leaving him to sit alone in the front of the class as if he didn't exist. Despite the lack of engagement, the lecture dragged on for what felt like hours as Hiroto remained uninterested and disconnected.

As the lecture came to a close, Hiroto bid farewell to the group, but his efforts were met with silence. Overhearing some gossip about his past as a juvenile student, he couldn't help but feel the weight of his reputation pressing down on him once again.

As he left the lecture hall, Hiroto sighed and took his time walking home. It had been another dull day, and he had gone through his routine, barely noticing anything around him as he worked. Suddenly, his father's voice called out to him from downstairs.

"Hiroto!" his father shouted.

With a heavy sigh, Hiroto rose from his chair and descended the stairs to speak with him. "I'm busy right now, Dad," he replied, sounding bored.

His father grumbled and sank back into his chair. "I heard from one of your professors that you weren't paying attention in class again today," he said.

Hiroto couldn't deny the accusation. He spent most of his time in class disengaged and uninterested. "You need to start listening in class, or you'll never succeed in life," his father warned him.

Hiroto dismissed his father's warning with a careless wave of his hand. "Whatever, Dad," he said before leaving the apartment.

As he walked slowly to a nearby convenience store, Hiroto pulled out a cigarette and lit it up. "This is where it all began," he sighed to himself, reaching for another cigarette in his pocket. "It's my fault that my life turned out this way."

Memories flooded back to the time when he was just thirteen and accidentally shot the cashier while trying to stop a couple of robbers. Hiroto had been out buying drinks when he heard the commotion and rushed to help. In the chaos of the struggle, his gun went off, and the robbers fled the store. Hiroto was left shaking, realizing the harm he had caused and the consequences he would face.

Years had passed since that fateful day, but the memory still haunted him. He knew he couldn't change the past, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was to blame for his current situation. As he continued his walk to the store, he couldn't help but wonder if his life would have been different if he had made a different choice that day.

Despite his mother's attempts to console him, Hiroto couldn't shake the guilt he felt for the innocent man's death. He wondered if things would have turned out differently if he hadn't tried to help.

Lost in his thoughts, Hiroto barely registered the sound of screeching tires until it was too late. He turned to see a truck hurtling towards him, frozen in place as it barreled towards him.

The impact was sudden and brutal, and Hiroto had no time to react. As he lay on the ground, he thought about the life he had lived and the many regrets he had. Despite his doubts about an afterlife, he couldn't help but wonder what lay beyond.

As the truck ran over him, Hiroto's consciousness began to slip away. His last words echoed through his mind, half-jokingly spoken but carrying a weight of truth: "Maybe I'll be given another life in another world, like one of those games I play."

***

As he looked up at the towering buildings and listened to the bustling noises of the people around him, Hiroto found himself in an unfamiliar place. "Where am I?" he inquired, seeking an answer to his confusion. Suddenly, a seductive voice caught his attention from behind, and he turned around to find a strikingly beautiful woman adorned with horns and a sharp suit, wearing a devilish grin on her face. "Welcome to Hell," she proclaimed, introducing herself as the devil and claiming to be in charge of the place. As Hiroto struggled to make sense of his surroundings, the devil laughed heartily and referred to him as the new arrival.

The devil explained to Hiroto that in this version of hell, they no longer torture sinners but instead offer them a chance to live a happier life with a catch. The catch being that they must complete a series of tasks given to them by the devil herself.

Hiroto was skeptical but decided to listen to what the devil had to say. She explained that if he completed all the tasks given to him, he would be able to leave hell and go back to the world of the living. However, if he failed any of the tasks, he would be stuck in hell forever.

Hiroto asked the devil why he was chosen for this opportunity, to which she replied that he had committed a serious sin in his life but also had the potential to redeem himself. The devil then handed him a contract which he signed without hesitation.

And so, Hiroto's journey in this strange version of hell began. He was given his first task and sent off to complete it. He had no idea what he was getting himself into, but he was determined to complete the tasks and get out of hell.

As Hiroto walked along the streets of hell, he couldn't help but notice how lively and cheerful the atmosphere was. He saw people laughing, eating, and enjoying themselves in ways he had never seen before. It was nothing like the torture and punishment he had always imagined hell to be.

As he continued to walk, he noticed a sign that read "Job Fair for New Arrivals" and decided to check it out. The devil had mentioned that there was a catch to living in this version of hell, and Hiroto knew that he needed a job to survive.

When he arrived at the job fair, he was surprised to see that the available positions were quite different from what he had expected. There were openings for artists, musicians, chefs, and even game developers. Hiroto, who had always been interested in video games, couldn't believe his luck when he saw a job opening for a game developer.

He applied for the position and was invited for an interview. The interview went smoothly, and Hiroto was offered the job on the spot. The devil had told him that he had a chance at living a happier life in hell, and it seemed like things were already looking up for him.

With a job secured, Hiroto knew that he needed a place to stay. He had heard from his co-workers that there were many affordable apartments available in the city. He walked to a nearby real estate office and asked for assistance.

The agent presented several apartments to Hiroto that were within his budget. Eventually, Hiroto settled on a comfortable studio apartment with a scenic view of the city skyline, which he found surprisingly affordable, leaving him feeling fortunate.

Upon settling into his new abode, Hiroto soon realized that every aspect of the living arrangements had been thoughtfully designed to promote the happiness of its inhabitants.

Hiroto was impressed by the attention to detail that had been paid to making his living space comfortable and started to feel grateful for his new life in hell, despite not having expected it. As he gazed out of the window at the vibrant city below, he realized that he had been given a second chance at life and that he must seize the opportunity to live his life to the fullest.

While relaxing in his newfound abode in hell, Hiroto was greeted by a charming and cheerful young woman.

Lulu introduced herself with bright pink hair styled in pigtails, big round eyes, and an infectious smile. She wore a retro pink sundress with a white apron, adding to her charming demeanor. "Welcome to your new home!" Lulu exclaimed, radiating excitement. "I hope you enjoy living in Hell. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask me."

Hiroto was taken aback by Lulu's amiable demeanor, as he had never encountered someone so cheerful and welcoming. "Thank you, Lulu," he responded with a small smile. "I'm sure I will enjoy living here."

Lulu then proceeded to provide Hiroto with a brief tour of the apartment, showcasing the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. "Your apartment is fully furnished," she explained, "and all utilities are included, so you won't have to worry about additional bills."

Hiroto was pleasantly surprised by the spaciousness of the apartment, which was beautifully decorated with modern appliances and a comfortable bed. He couldn't believe his luck to be living in such a luxurious abode in Hell.

"Is there anything else you need, Hiroto?" Lulu inquired with her still enthusiastic demeanor.

"No, I think I'm good for now," he responded, still slightly overwhelmed by Lulu's kindness.

"Great! Well, if you need anything at all, just let me know," she said with a wave as she exited the apartment.

As Hiroto settled into his new abode, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. For the first time in a while, he had a chance to start anew and make something of himself. He was determined to work hard at his job and take advantage of this second chance in Hell.

As the day progressed, Hiroto grew increasingly fatigued. Before he knew it, night had fallen, and he was astonished by the novelty of his new surroundings. Despite his exhaustion, he was still captivated by the experience. As tiredness overtook him, he felt his eyelids grow heavy, and he soon found himself drifting off to sleep.

Suddenly, Hiroto sensed someone embracing him from behind, only to realize that it was Lulu, who was sound asleep beside him, seemingly unconcerned and indifferent to their close proximity.

Hiroto was initially startled, but soon came to the realization that Lulu must have dozed off while checking on him. With care, he removed her arm from around him and attempted to rise without waking her. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he observed the faint outlines of his furniture and the window overlooking the city. He wondered how he had fallen asleep so quickly in this unfamiliar place but ultimately surrendered himself to slumber again, comforted by Lulu's presence.

The following morning, Hiroto was taken aback to find himself face-to-face with Lulu's cleavage. She greeted him cheerfully, but he attempted to avoid eye contact and moved away from her, unsettled by her sudden proximity.

"What are you doing?" he asked, still feeling flustered.

Lulu appeared puzzled. "What's wrong?" she asked. "You did read the contract, didn't you? We're sharing the bed since we're living together."

Hiroto was taken aback, realizing that he must have overlooked that particular detail. "I wasn't aware of that," he admitted, feeling embarrassed.

Lulu giggled. "Don't worry about it," she said. "It's all in the contract. Besides, we've shared a bed before, remember?"

Hiroto blushed, recalling that he had been so exhausted the previous night that he had forgotten he was sleeping beside her. He decided to accept the situation and make the best of it.

The Devil emerged from the bathroom, wearing only a towel, and greeted Hiroto playfully. "Good morning, Hiroto! Are you ready to start your new life?" Her laughter filled the room, leaving Hiroto flustered and wondering how she had entered without his noticing. "By the way," she added, "I don't think I introduced myself. My name is Lilith."

Lulu appeared confused by Lilith's presence and asked, "Onee-san, why are you here?"

Lilith explained to Hiroto that he was residing in her younger sister's apartment, and as the Devil, she had the ability to appear anywhere in Hell to handle any issues that might arise.

Feeling uncomfortable in the presence of two attractive women, Hiroto quickly exited the room. However, Lilith halted him and suggested he join them for breakfast, which Lulu had prepared. With a mischievous smile, Lilith added, "You wouldn't want to disappoint my dear sister, would you?"

Feeling embarrassed, Hiroto replied, "Of course not," and headed to the kitchen. Both Lilith and Lulu joined him, and they all enjoyed breakfast together. As they ate, Hiroto realized that he had never experienced a meal like this before. In his previous life, he always ate alone in his room, and his parents were constantly worried about him.

Over breakfast, Lilith and Lulu took the opportunity to explain to Hiroto how the world of Hell operates. They informed him that this version of Hell was designed for souls who had committed sins and did not qualify for Heaven.

Lilith elaborated that the system in this world of Hell was based on a meritocracy, whereby good deeds earn points that could be used to exchange for various benefits such as a better living space or access to better food. Conversely, bad deeds result in the loss of points, making it more challenging for souls to earn those benefits.

Hiroto was fascinated by this system and understood that this was what Lilith meant when she said he had a chance to lead a happier life in Hell. He was eager to begin earning points and working towards a better life for himself.

After finishing their breakfast, Lilith and Lulu gave Hiroto a tour of the surrounding area, showcasing the various places where he could work and earn points. Hiroto was grateful for their kindness and enthusiasm and looked forward to starting his new life in Hell.

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