Heroic Reincarnation

The bell rings. signalling the end of lessons as multiple students come out in groups while chatting away. A boy walks past the different groups of people causing them to stop their conversations either to exchange pleasantries with him or to wave at him.

The boy eventually leaves the school premises and starts walking down the road till he stops in front of a crosswalk. He brings out his phone to see its past two as he sighs in relief.

Theres enough time, he says to himself.

Arato is a tall, handsome 17-year-old boy with black hair, brown eyes and a fit physique. This, along with his good grades, great personality and tendency to help those in need makes him the most popular guy in his school. Arato was impatient because of a limited comic he wanted to buy. He had a hobby of reading novels and comics and was a frequent customer of the bookstore.

As Arato was waiting for the green light, he saw a girl waving at him from across the street.

I haven seen her before. He thought to himself as he waved back. The girl seemed to be from his school. That was probably why she was waving at him.

The light turned green as she was waving; she then proceeded to cross the road as a truck approached at a high speed. Its not slowing down. Arato thought to himself. Hey! Look out!

he shouted as she looks at the truck and freezes in fear.

As the truck is about to hit her, Arato immediately pushes her away as the truck hits him and sends him flying. He then lands on the floor as the girl and people nearby rush to him. Aratos vision fades slowly as the last thing he sees is the crying face of the girl he saved.

Arato wakes up lying in a white, vast space with no end in sight. He sits up in confusion as he looks around.

Where am I?, he says out loud to no one in particular.

The afterlife., a soft voice responds from behind him.

Arato; startled looks back to see an extremely beautiful lady with flawless, fair skin, golden hair and eyes wearing a long, flowing white robe with golden ornaments and a floating jewelled halo shaped like the sun on her head. She had a golden radiance around her that made Arato feel at peace and the same time, fear.

Who are you?, he asked.

My name is Iris, and you
e on the plane between life and death., she replied.

Huh?, Arato responds in confusion. Wasn I.., before he completes his sentence, he remembers everything that happened up to his death as the situation dawns on him.

So, Im dead?, he asks as she nods in response. I see…, Arato chuckles to himself because the thought of death seemed unreal yet, oddly comforting to him.

So is the girl safe?

Yes, she is thanks to you.

Arato sighs in relief. At least shes safe. Arato looks at her with curiosity, So, whats next?

Iris smiles kindly as she responds, You
e a good person, Arato Kirigaya. So Ill give you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; Ill give you life, but in another world.

Arato is visibly shocked by her statement. He never thought something like that would happen to him, especially if its something that happens in the books he often reads.

I accept., he answers immediately.

Iris chuckles lightly at his hasty answer as she replies, Don be hasty Arato, theres a condition to my proposal.

Arato wondered what the condition could be. What condition?

Iris replies, My condition is that you save my world.

Arato