The clock glows 6:52 pm on the microwave. The front door swings closed with a heavy thunk as Ren drops his backpack to the floor. He lets out a long, contented sigh — a mixture of fatigue and pure relief.
Ren (stretching his arms high above his head, back cracking softly)
"Finally… that's a wrap for today."
He tilts his head side to side, rolls his shoulders, then runs a hand through his dampening hair.
Ren (with a mischievous smirk)
"Time to wash up… and escape into Eminence in Shadow."
He crosses toward the restroom, turning on the shower and letting steam slowly fill the room — a small moment of peace before his night truly begins.
After he's finished washing up, Ren changes into his PJs, reheats the leftovers, then heads to his bedroom. He switches off the light and climbs into bed, snuggling under the covers. Ren turns on his TV — a large flat-screen (okay, maybe not that huge — just 50 inches) — then switches on the air-conditioning and settles in to watch Eminence in Shadow. Today marks the release of the last episode of Season 2, and now he'll have to wait a year or two for Season 3.
---
He's gone… just like that. Cid… back to his world… I can't believe it. This cliffhanger… I'm honestly a mess. I wish I could time travel just to see what happens next. What's going to happen to him? To Beta? To everyone he left behind?
I feel so empty… but I'm not ready to let go yet. I need answers… I want to know more! Hmm, maybe I should read the manga to ease the wait — but nah… it's not the same. The movement, the expression, the passion — the anime brings them to life in a way that the manga just can't.
Instead… I think I'm going to start over from Season 1. Experience it all again… until hopefully the new season drops in a year or two. Cid… I'm not going anywhere. I'll be waiting for you.
---
Yeah, watching it again was the right choice. I feel so fulfilled, yet a little bit tired. His body starts shaking due to the cold — the AC is now too chilly. "I think it's time to switch it off." Beep.
"Now it's time to rewatch it again until I fall asleep… hmm, so nice."
Then everything goes dark as Ren falls into a deep sleep. Suddenly, he feels a chill rush through his body. He curls up, but it's too much. Ren reluctantly opens his eyes and finds himself looking up at the night sky. He lets out a yawn and tries to stretch, but something feels… weird.
He reaches for the remote to turn off the AC, then realizes his surroundings. Ren blinks in disbelief. "What am I doing outside… and why can't I move?"
He raises his hand to push himself up — and then sees that it's tiny, the size of a child's. Ren's mind races as he struggles to make sense of what's happening.
Ren blinks, his view slowly clearing. The chilly breeze ruffles his tiny limbs. His back feels… hard. Textured. Woven?
He reluctantly tilts his head up and realizes he's sitting in a basket — a large, woven basket — barely big enough for him. His pulse starts to accelerate.
Ren (inner monologue, exasperated):
"Wait… d-don't tell me… this is one of those isekai anime scenarios, right? C'mon… I just fell asleep in my own bed…"
He struggles to move, tilting forward just enough to peer over the basket's rim. All he sees are enormous trees — their trunks thick and majestic — and a vast, wild forest extending in every direction. The branches form a thick canopy above, letting in only rays of dappled sunlight.
Ren (with growing nervousness):
"I hope I'm not in a forest with… you know… monsters or something…"
He glances back down at his tiny hands.
"That's… not a good sign."
He lets out a shaky sigh.
"Aw man… this setting… it's just like Am I Actually the Strongest?. …Don't tell me I'm going down that route…"
Ren tightens his grip on the woven basket's rim, knuckles turning white — or as white as a pair of tiny, baby-like knuckles can be.
He reluctantly tilts forward a bit more, straining his small neck to get a view of his surroundings. The forest stretches endlessly in all directions — majestic pines, oaks, and wild underbrush.
He lets out a nervous laugh — a mix of disbelief and pure disbelief. "Okay… Okay… this is fine… I'm fine… I just… fell asleep and… I'm… somewhere else. Obviously… Obviously isekai. Obviously…"
He focuses inward — a rush of questions and worries overtaking him. "Who… am I now? Did I become a baby? Do I retain my memories? Do I have magic, a cheat ability, something that might keep me alive in a world filled with danger… or… or…"
Ren realizes something much more alarming: he's completely vulnerable. "Aw man… I'm a literal baby in a forest… This is a death sentence…"
He wiggles weakly in the basket, trying to move. His limbs barely respond — tiny, fragile, weak — adding to his growing panic.
He finds his voice — a small, weak babble — and then lets it trail off. His mind races:
"Okay… first step… stay alive. Second… figure out where I am… or if I'm even me. Cid… I wish I had your power right now."
He falls silent, wondering what fate — or the isekai gods — have in store for him.