"Gyaaaaaahhh!!"
I bolted down the forest path, lungs burning, legs pumping as fast as they could carry me. Behind me, a pack of male orcs gave chase, their voices echoing through the trees in a disturbing chorus.
"Hey, hey, pretty boy~!" one of them called out, his deep voice unnervingly playful.
"Don't run away! We just want to talk!"
"Like hell you do! Someone! Anyone! HELP!"
I leapt over roots and bushes, gasping for air, but their heavy footsteps pounded closer with each passing second.
"Why me?! Why now?!" I groaned between breaths. "This was supposed to be a fresh start! New world, magic powers, hero status!"
Instead, what did I get? Orcs. Aggressive, territorial orcs who apparently didn't understand the concept of personal boundaries.
"Damn it, damn it, damn it! I hate this stupid isekai!!"
One of them called out in a voice that made my skin crawl.
"You can't run forever, human~"
My stomach turned. "What the hell?!"
Panic jolted me forward even faster. No way was I sticking around to find out what they wanted.
The forest blurred around me as I sprinted for my life.
"Don't worry, onii-chan~ we'll catch you eventually~!" another one taunted.
"Might as well give up now, boy!"
My whole body shuddered at the threat in his tone.
"Like hell I will! Damn it! I hate this isekai!"
My voice cracked as I pushed harder, desperate to escape.
And if you're wondering how I ended up in this nightmare… fine. I'll tell you. Just don't laugh, alright?
(Back in Japan, before the chaos)
"Oi, Hazekaya! You coming or what?" one of my coworkers yelled across the office.
I groaned, hunched over my laptop. "Wait a sec! Just need to save this report!" My fingers flew across the keyboard, desperate to finish. Freedom was so close, but deadlines were merciless.
"If you're late, we're leaving without you," another coworker called, already halfway out the door.
I muttered under my breath. "Damn popular guys…"
Seriously. With their perfect hair and easy smiles, these guys could charm anyone—colleagues, clients, even the boss. Meanwhile, I was just the plain, average guy stuck in their shadows.
"Oi! Don't leave me behind!" I shouted, slinging my bag over my shoulder and hurrying after them.
"Hahaha, slowpoke!" they laughed, deliberately walking just fast enough to make me jog.
"Slow? Hell no! You guys just have stupid long legs!"
By the time we reached the cafeteria, one of them suddenly said,
"Hey, let's ditch this place. Let's eat somewhere nicer."
"Oi!" I protested immediately.
"If we wander off and the boss notices I'm gone, I'll be her next target! You guys can flirt your way out of trouble,but not me!"
"Oh, Hazekaya," one of them smirked, clapping my back. "Don't be jealous just because the boss likes us."
"Jealous?! As if! Who the hell wants to be the boss's toy? I'm fine being ignored, thanks!"
"Then let's hit the family restaurant," one of them suggested.
"Yeah, good call," another agreed.
I frowned, feeling a knot of unease in my stomach.
"Oi, this isn't too far from the office, right?"
"Relax, Hazekaya," one of the ikemen waved me off with a grin. "You worry too much."
"Come on… just this once."
I glanced back at my desk, hesitating, then sighed.
"Fineeee," I muttered, scratching my head.
"That's the spirit! Alright, let's go!"
The group cheered and moved ahead, their excitement almost contagious. I shook my head but followed, half curious about this family restaurant they wouldn't stop hyping.
On the way there, my coworkers did what they did best. show off.
"Feewiit! Hey, lady over there!" one of them said, flashing his trademark grin.
Another one, smoother than silk, blew a kiss at two girls nearby. They actually giggled and waved back.
Feeling a spark of misplaced confidence, I tried too. I flashed what I thought was a friendly smile at the same girls.
…
They didn't even glance at me. Not a twitch. It was like I was invisible.
I sighed, shoulders slumping. Once again, the curse of being "that guy" struck.
One of them clapped my back, laughing. "Cheer up, Hazekaya! Not everyone can be as smooth as us."
"Smooth, my ass," I muttered, dragging my feet but keeping up.
We finally reached the family restaurant. The place had a cozy, cheerful vibe, bright lights, warm chatter, the clatter of dishes. Honestly, it looked nice.
But the moment we sat down, the atmosphere shifted.
A pretty waitress approached, her uniform crisp and professional. She smiled warmly at our table.
"Welcome, gentlemen~ What can I get for you today?"
She directed most of her attention toward my coworkers, her voice sweet and attentive.
"Oh, thank you," one of them replied, flashing his perfect smile.
The waitress's cheeks turned slightly pink as she took their orders with enthusiasm. "Of course~ Take your time. If you need anything else, just let me know, okay?"
Then… it was my turn.
Her smile vanished faster than my chances of being treated like a normal human. She stared at me with a look that screamed annoyed.
"And for you, sir?"
I blinked, caught off guard by the shift in tone. "Uh… I'll just have the breakfast combo."
"Yeah, yeah, I got it," she cut me off, scribbling on her notepad without much interest. No warmth, no sweetness, just pure get this over with energy.
"What the hell…?" I muttered, glancing at my friends. Of course, they were too busy enjoying their special treatment to notice.
When the food came, the waitress returned with a bright smile, carefully placing dishes in front of my coworkers.
"Here you go, gentlemen. Enjoy your meal!" she said cheerfully, making sure everything looked perfect.
"Wow, this looks amazing!" one of them grinned. The others nodded eagerly, already digging in.
Then came my turn.
She dropped my plate in front of me like she was tossing out trash. I stared at it. The eggs looked overcooked, the toast was a bit soggy, and the sausage… well, it had seen better days.
"Ugh… is this really what I ordered?" I whispered, poking it with my fork.
I raised my hand hesitantly. "Umm… excuse me, but I think there might be..."
The waitress turned back with an expression that clearly said she didn't want to deal with complaints. "Is there a problem?"
I swallowed hard. "Oh… umm… never mind."
She nodded curtly and walked away, leaving me with my disappointing meal.
My coworkers glanced at my plate and chuckled.
"Hazekaya, did you make her mad or something?" one teased, cutting into his perfectly cooked steak.
"I didn't do anything!!" I shot back, but that only made them laugh more.
As I poked at the disaster on my plate, I sighed.
"Why the hell am I even friends with these popular idiots?"
It wasn't like we had much in common. They were the golden boys, blessed with good looks, natural charm, and a way of making life look effortless. And me? I was just the unlucky guy stuck in their shadow.
Then it clicked. Yeah… I remember how this all started.
Back in college, I wasn't exactly "popular." More like the guy people avoided because of my face. Not that I was ugly, but my sharp eyes and permanent scowl made me look intimidating. People would see me coming and give me a wide berth.
That day, though, I saw one of those perfect guys cornered by some delinquents in an alley.
"Hey, pretty boy," one of them sneered. "Hand over your wallet, and maybe we won't mess up that face."
The guy looked terrified, frozen like a deer in headlights. For some reason, I couldn't just walk away. Maybe it was a sense of justice. Or maybe I just wanted an excuse to hit something, especially bullies.
Before I knew it, I stepped forward. "Oi. You got a problem?" I growled, cracking my knuckles.
The delinquents went pale the second they saw me. With my face, they probably thought I was some gang boss.
"N-No problem, man!" one stammered. They bolted, leaving the guy trembling against the wall.
He looked up at me with wide eyes, torn between fear and gratitude.
"Th-Thanks, man. You really saved me."
And just like that, I was stuck with them. Saving that one guy somehow landed me in their group. I still don't know if I regret it or not… but moments like this, staring at my overcooked eggs and questionable sausage, definitely make me question my life choices.
After that incident, they started talking to me, inviting me to hang out, even buying me food now and then. At first, I thought, Hey, maybe this isn't so bad. Free food, good company… could be worse.
But then reality hit. Hard.
We hung out more often, but one thing became painfully clear: whenever women were around, guess who ended up with zero attention? Yeah. Me.
My coworkers didn't just attract women, they were like magnets. I watched as girl after girl responded to their charming smiles and smooth conversation. Meanwhile, I sat in the background, practically invisible.
Sometimes I wondered just how popular they really were. Judging by the stories they'd occasionally share, it was impressive.
And now? Things had only gotten more complicated.
Even our boss, our strict, no-nonsense boss had fallen for them. And not just one of them. Nope. All of them.
From what I overheard, She'd invite them to company events at her place, always making sure they were included in important projects.
My coworkers were basically living the dream.
Meanwhile, me? Still single, still overlooked, still wondering what series of decisions had landed me here.
(End of Chapter)