A boy sat in a tree as he ate a sandwich. He looked out across to the field where his peers were playing various games. Others sat on the outskirts of the field as they conversed amongst themselves.
[See? I told you that you'd like it up here, Tanaka.] A raspy whisper rang out.
"Yeah, Bell. It is pretty nice up here." Tanaka said as he started to hum to himself.
If someone had chanced upon Tanaka, they would probably think that he was strange or maybe even insane. He knew it was odd that he heard a voice in his head and was probably odder still that Tanaka thought, no, he knew that Bell was real. He'd known since Bell had first started speaking to him a few years earlier.
[Well, I know of another spot that I know you'd like. It's a shame I cannot show you this place.] Bell said in a disappointed tone.
"Then just describe it to me."
[Hmm? Alright then, but I must warn you, once you've heard of this place, you'll definitely be sad. Why you ask?]
Tanaka then furrowed his eyes in confusion. "But I didn't ask."
[You were going to!]
Tanaka chuckled. Bell knew him too well. He shook his head as he took another bite from his sandwich.
[Anyways, the reason that you'll be sad is because you won't be able to go there. It's such a miserable thing.] Bell proceeded to sigh heavily in mock sadness.
[Well then, where should I start? Hmm?] Bell paused for a moment as he thought. [Ah! Yes, I'll begin there. This place I am about to tell you about is very familiar, but also very different. Its name is Planum, the flat world.]
"Wait, flat? Like how people thought Earth was I the past?" Tanaka asked curiously.
[Mhmm, but more fantastical. Planum is a world of simplicity and wonder. A world that has many wondrous creatures and mysteries.] Bell spoke with a hint of reverence in his voice.
Tanaka tilted his head to the side. "Isn't this just a fairy tale? You know I'm not a kid, right?"
[It isn't just a fairy tale. I would know, I've been there!] Bell responded sharply. [And you are a kid.]
"Am not!" Tanaka said angrily. "I'm 13 years old."
[...]
"What?! It's true. I'm a preteen, not a kid."
[How pedantic.] Bell sighed. [You should-]
Tanaka waited patiently for Bell to finish his sentence, but the silence dragged on. "Bell?" There was still no response as he sat in the tree waiting for his friend to respond. "Bell? Where'd you go? Bell?!"
"What are you doing up there?"
Tanaka nearly fell out of the tree. He was startled by the sudden appearance of another person. He quickly readjusted his position and looked down at the foot of the tree, where he saw a man in a black cloak. Under the cloak, he wore black clothing. He also wore an intricate black mask over his face.
"Uh, well, I thought that...it would be fun." Tanaka tried to come up with an excuse for being up in the tree.
"Don't worry, young man, you can stay up there." The man spoke in a calm tone and had a relaxed posture.
Tanaka wondered who this man was. 'Why was he wearing those clothes?' He knew he couldn't be a student at the school, as he spoke with a certain sense of authority in his voice. 'Was he a teacher? But then why was he dressed like some kind of dark wizard straight out of a fantasy set?'
As Tanaka analysed the cloaked figure, the man continued to stroke his chin as if contemplating something. He then paused and spoke. "Young man, is your name Tanaka Moyo?"
Tanaka paused slightly before nodding. 'How did he know that?'
The man, seeing the look of confusion on Tanaka's face, decided to clarify, "Mrs. Smith told me of a student of hers who liked to spend his time on his own." The man then chuckled before continuing. "Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself, didn't I? Ahem! I am Sargon Grimshaw, although my students call me Mr. Grimshaw." He said while putting out his hand for a handshake.
Sargon then looked at his hand and laughed heartily. "Excuse me, it's a force of habit." He then put his hand into his cloak, as if he were reaching for something.
"Hey, Mr. Grimshaw, why are you wearing that?" Tanaka was still trying to figure out why he was wearing that outfit, not that he minded, since it did look really cool.
"Oh, this? Well, I'm the new drama teacher, and I wanted to start my first day off with a bang." Tanaka was even more confused now. 'Don't they usually announce whenever there's a new teacher at the school during morning assembly? I don't remember them announcing anything like that this morning."
Tanaka furrowed his brows as he thought deeply, but then he caught a glimpse of something sailing through the air, and he reflexively moved his arm, catching it. He turned it over to find what appeared to be a large green candy wrapped in plastic.
"That's a treat just for you, young man," Sargon said as he began to turn away. "Although the next time we meet, I hope you'll have some friends around. People your age should have plenty of people to rely on." Sargon then walked off in the direction of the school amphitheatre.
Tanaka then shrugged and proceeded to unwrap the sweet and eat it. As he placed it into his mouth, he responded to what Sargon had said to him: "I have a friend, you just can't see him."
As he felt the candy enter his mouth, a strange thing happened; it disappeared. Tanaka was surprised. He flicked his tongue around the insides of his mouth, but there was nothing there, further perplexing him. And just as he was getting frustrated, he noticed another conundrum; the sounds of the other students playing and chatting had vanished and as he looked around himself, he found that his surroundings were...unfamiliar.
"Where on EARTH am I?"