My name is Alex Marshall. I'm nineteen years old, and although I'm a university student, my life is… simple. Too simple. Classes in the morning, homework in the afternoon, and a part-time job at night at a café just a few streets away from my apartment. I wouldn't say I'm unhappy, but there are moments when everything feels overwhelmingly routine.
That night was no different. I was finishing my shift as usual. The café was quiet; only the low hum of the refrigerator and the occasional hiss of the automatic door broke the silence. As I arranged the last drinks, my thoughts drifted elsewhere.
I was thinking about the newest episode of my favorite anime.
And more than anything, I was thinking about her.
Kanade Himejima—the adventurous shrine maiden, the protagonist's best friend. A 2D girl with dark blue hair and a personality that had completely captured my heart.
I'll admit it.
I was in love with a fictional character. As ridiculous as that sounded.
When the clock hit ten sharp, I said goodbye to the manager, stepped outside, and breathed in the cool night air. I walked home at an easy pace, enjoying the silence. The streets were empty, and the sky was perfectly clear, filled with stars shining with unusual brilliance.
I looked up.
And then I saw it.
A shooting star streaked across the sky, leaving behind a dazzling trail that seemed to split the heavens in two. I froze, watching as it traced its path downward.
I'm not the type to make wishes. Never have been. But in that moment… something inside me gave in.
"I wish life were a little more exciting," I murmured, almost laughing.
It was a careless wish—thrown into the night more as a joke than a genuine desire.
But the star… changed.
It stopped.
It turned.
And it began to fall straight toward me.
"What the hell…?" I muttered, taking a step back.
The light grew brighter and brighter. I raised an arm to shield my eyes, struggling to keep my footing. The air itself seemed to vibrate, as if the world were trembling beneath me.
The final flash was blinding.
I shut my eyes.
And then… silence.
When I opened them again, what I saw made no sense.
A girl lay unconscious on the pavement before me.
She had long, dark blue hair, soft like silk. Her outfit was an extravagant blend of shrine maiden robes and adventurer's gear. Her pale skin bore faint scratches, as if she had truly fallen from the sky.
My heart skipped a beat.
Impossible.
Absolutely impossible.
And yet…
"…Kanade?" I whispered, my voice trembling.
I stepped closer, examining her carefully.
Every detail.
Every feature.
Every part of her attire.
It was Kanade Himejima.
The 2D girl I loved.
But she was there.
In my world.
Injured.
Real.
"This can't be happening…" I pressed a hand to my forehead. "Am I dreaming? Did I fall asleep at the café?"
But she was breathing.
And she was alone.
I couldn't leave her there.
Carefully, I lifted her onto my back. She was surprisingly light—almost unreal.
I hurried back to my apartment, unsure if I was making the biggest mistake of my life. My mind raced with unanswered questions. Who was she, really? Why had she fallen from the sky? What did this mean?
Once inside, I laid her down on the couch and stood there for a moment, trying to process everything. Her peaceful expression, her steady breathing—it all felt surreal.
I turned toward the kitchen.
Then I heard a soft groan.
I spun around.
Her eyes—deep, dark blue—slowly opened. They looked at me with confusion, fear… and curiosity.
"Where… am I…?" she whispered.
My body went rigid.
That voice.
The same voice from the anime.
In that instant, I understood my wish had come true.
Just not in the way I had imagined.
Alex Marshall's boring life was over.
And now… something completely unimaginable was about to begin.