Yuki was standing at her bedroom door, her hand shaking so hard it almost slipped off the handle. The air felt thick, like she was about to take a major test, and her old habit of staying inside was tempting her back. She gulped, her brain running wild. What if I go outside and it's all extra? What if it's just a giant prank? What if I end up stuck in an endless anime loop? Her fingers tightened on the doorknob. "C'mon, Yuki," she muttered, trying to hype herself up. "You've fought off goblins, dealt with shady peeps, and even downed dirt sandwiches. You can handle going outside, right?"
She yanked the door open, half-expecting a boss battle. Sunlight blasted in, making her squint, and the thought of having to talk to people made her wanna ghost. "Gaaaah!" she shouted, dramatically slumping against the doorframe like a lost meme. "Why is stepping outside such a hassle? Is this real life or just a laggy game?" Her stomach growled louder than any Discord notification. She crept to the kitchen like she was on a secret mission. She hadn't eaten since… ever, and memories from that wild other world hit her like a plot twist. Forty days battling in dungeons, fighting goblins, and barely any food—one messed-up takoyaki stand was the final straw.
In the kitchen, her eyes locked on the fridge, shining like it was straight out of a meme. "Damn, it's iconic," she whispered. Dropping to her knees, she bowed to the fridge like it was a sacred temple. "Oh, mighty fridge," she said, hands clasped, "bless me with some grub. I had it rough in that other world where you didn't even exist. I got played by hunger, cursed dungeons, and that takoyaki-stealing punk. Save me from starving, oh blessed machine!"
Her stomach was screaming for food as she slowly opened the fridge. Cool air hit her, and inside she found leftovers, some juice, and half a cake. "Is this heaven? Like a cheat code for infinite snacks?" she wondered, almost tearing up. She grabbed some curry rice, but then a wild thought hit her. Did I almost die of hunger in that other world? Am I basically a ghost now? Yuki slammed the fridge shut, no longer feeling hungry. She started pacing the kitchen, clearly agitated. "It's that old dude's fault!" she fumed. "If he hadn't punched me and kicked off that whole mess, I'd be chillin' with takoyaki instead of having this major existential meltdown!" She marched around, shaking her fist at the ceiling. "Curse you, takoyaki thief! Hope you get stuck cleaning goblin toilets forever!"
Her stomach growled again. "Focus, Yuki," she whispered. "Food first, then maybe some payback. Priorities." The familiar taste of curry helped her chill a bit. "Maybe this isn't so bad," she admitted, licking her spoon. "I'm back, I got food, and no more goblins or shady vibes. But…" she paused, thinking about Alepou and Gabriel. Did I really leave them behind? Is there any way to go back? Shaking her head, she pushed those thoughts aside. "Not now. It's the first day of high school, after all." Catching a glimpse of her messy hair and worn-out PJs in the microwave's reflection, she added, "After a shower and a full bottle of deodorant, I'm out."
And so, Yuki started getting back to her "normal" life—or what she thought was normal. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that the other world was calling her, like a missed call from another dimension. It was seriously giving sequel vibes.