When that moment comes, the 1,000 chosen by God will be transported to another world.

The timing will be midnight on January 1st, Greenwich Mean Time.

In Japan, due to the time difference, departure will occur at 9 a.m.

That day happened to be rainy, and morning news programs noted it was unusual for New Year's Day to have rain.

I left home with an umbrella, to say my final goodbye to Nanami.

As I stepped out the front door, I noticed a TV crew, just arriving, positioned a short distance away, their cameras pointed toward me, so I gave a slight bow.

My house, though small, faces a busy alleyway, so when the TV crew blocks the road with several people, traffic congestion inevitably occurs.

When Nanami was chosen, there had been quite a bit of trouble, so they’ve decided to stay on a slightly distant sidewalk. Well, they’ll probably stop chasing Nanami after today.

As for the other world, the gods ultimately didn’t reveal more information than necessary.

All we know is that it’s a world similar to Earth, a fantasy realm of swords and magic. Each transferee starts with bonus points assigned individually, which they can use to enhance themselves or trade for items, allowing them to begin under relatively favorable conditions—nothing more than that.

There wasn’t much advice I could give Nanami.

Even if she could slightly strengthen her body, I couldn’t picture Nanami fighting monsters. So, what other choice did she have besides living safely in a town?

Then, it's better to spend points on items or money rather than artificially boosting oneself. But if you're weak and still have money or good items, you might get robbed and killed... So, is strength really necessary after all? I kept going in circles without finding an answer.

My younger sister back home said that since high-point requirements for upgrades are unlikely to be obtained later, we should choose those options instead, but we weren't originally sturdy characters to begin with.

So in the end, we just have to see what abilities we can choose and decide accordingly. It's safest to distribute points evenly.

That was the conclusion we reached.

　

"…Did I fall behind a bit? Still, Nanami's house is unusually quiet."

It's only eight in the morning, but maybe they're still asleep, even though we're supposed to leave today.

The transferees were originally scheduled to make their move in front of a large audience at a venue in Tokyo, but Nanami declined. She refused even television broadcasts, saying she wanted to spend her final moments with her family.

Well, the media might show up right at the last minute, but for now, no one is here. Perhaps they're surprisingly willing to respect the transferee's final wish.

Or maybe it's simply because they're afraid of divine punishment and won't dare to do anything reckless.

"Good morning! It's Hikaru!"

Since the front door was open, I just walked in, but something feels off.

The lights are on, yet there's no sound.

I've known Nanami's family since we were kids, so it's hard to imagine her daughter still asleep on the day she's leaving.

I stepped inside, my chest tightening with unease, and removed my shoes.

The door leading to the dining area was closed, the lights on, yet only silence hung heavy in the air.

"Good morning! … Something's off."

She must have already transferred.

A bad feeling welled up inside me, and I headed toward Nanami's room.

Her room was on the second floor.

In the quiet house, only the sound of rain, my heartbeat, and the trembling of my teeth seemed to echo.

"Nanami…? Are you there?"

No reply came after I knocked.

Gathering my resolve, I opened the door to her room.

And there she was.

Leaning against the bed, Nanami lay with her eyes closed.

His abdomen... no, the entire upper body was covered in dark red blood, pooling into a vast sea that stained the carpet.

"N-Nanami...?"

Rushing down to her side as if collapsing.

"Nanami! Hey! Wake up! Nanami...!"

Shaking her shoulders, her head swayed limply back and forth.

Like a lifeless doll, utterly devoid of strength.

I felt the blood drain from my entire body in an instant.

—Dead?

—Nanami was killed...?

I couldn't comprehend it.

The one who'd been terrified of going to another world.

The childhood friend who'd been bawling and begging someone else to take her place.

Just yesterday, she was perfectly fine.

She'd never even had a serious injury before.

Nanami had died on the very day of the transfer.

I couldn't even tell how stunned I was.

It might have been a single instant, or perhaps a good hour.

I couldn't even think to check on Nanami's uncle and aunt. My whole body trembled, and I couldn't breathe.

It felt as if my brain, my heart, and every part of my body were refusing to accept this reality.

"T-That said, we need to call an ambulance—"

I had just barely regained a little composure and was reaching for my phone when, from behind me, a voice rang out and something hot struck my body.

"…Gah!? W-What… is this?"

The world before my eyes turns blood-red. A searing heat spreads from my back, as if blood were rushing backward. My consciousness flickers in time with my heartbeat.

My back burns intensely.

It feels as though a scorching rod has been thrust into me.

"Well, now, don't get too hot and scare me, will ya? You're that guy—Kurose, right? You two were together, huh? Killed your girlfriend, sorry 'bout that."

Turning around, I see a man about my age standing there.

I've seen him before. A guy from the same school.

We've never been in the same class. I don't even know his name.

He seemed like one of those loud, outgoing types on the fringes of the popular crowd.

Even though he's from another class, he occasionally shows up in ours, and I vaguely remember his face.

The guy who was loudly lamenting, exaggerating his despair over not being chosen as a reincarnate to another world.

Why is this guy... why is he targeting Nanami...?

Why does he know my name...?

"Well, I'm just going to erase you from this world. Blackse, consider yourself unlucky and accept it. Isn't it better to die together with your beloved Nanami?"

The man laughed lightly, his face pale but his eyes gleaming fiercely—utterly not sane.

"W-why... how...?"

I forced my voice out with all my strength.

Why did you kill Nanami?

"Wha~? You didn't know? If you kill the selected person, the right transfers to the killer. I really wanted to go to another world, you see. Well, I did do something bad to Nanami-chan, but she was scared of going to the other world, wasn't she? Honestly, even if she went there, she'd have died soon anyway. So it's better that I make a name for myself there—everyone will be happier that way."

"……You idiot……!"

Killing the selected person transfers the right.

That was just an urban legend floating around online back then, nothing more.

Although many selected people have been killed, there's never been a case where the right passed to the killer.

It just means another random draw happens.

This idiot actually believed that urban legend and brutally murdered Nanami.

"Who's the idiot? Don't act all high and mighty, you creepy loser."

I was kicked and collapsed, overlapping with Nanami.

I couldn't even resist. My consciousness was already growing hazy.

The heat on my back had vanished, and now I felt nothing but exhaustion and cold.

Instinctively, I understood death was drawing near.

"Well then, about an hour left. Since it'd be a hassle if someone else showed up, I'll just lock the front door."

The man left the room as if he no longer cared about me or Nanami.

"……ggh… fuh… at least… d-don't… leave…"

I tried desperately to call the police.

But I had dropped my smartphone and lacked even the strength to pick it up.

"Nan… a… mi…"

In a blur of tears and a clouded mind,

What Nanami holds close to her chest is reflected in her eyes.

"Nanami... idiot..."

It was a pastel-colored pocket album.

Small enough to fit in a hand, chosen perhaps for its portability, it was clearly prepared as a keepsake for another world.

Nanami had said she’d rather bring this album—memories of this world—than any kind of body armor.

Because she’d miss home.

To her, this world, where she had people she cared about, was far more precious than some other world where she knew no one.

Her trembling fingers reach out and touch it.

—In the end, did Nanami, the girl afraid of homesickness, really carry her album filled with memories all the way to heaven?

But I’ll be going to the same place soon too.

Though we couldn't go to the other world together, we've been inseparable since birth.

Please, God,

let us remain childhood friends even in that world over there—