"What a shame..."
Aoyama Hayashi smacked his lips, a look of profound disappointment on his face. His first manuscript payment wasn't due until next month, which meant he was still effectively penniless and facing several weeks of starvation.
The small amount of cash the original owner of this body had possessed had already been drained by the rental deposit and basic drawing supplies.
He had already been hungry for over ten days. If the landlord's daughter hadn't kindly given him five bread rolls ten days ago, he probably would have starved to death by now.
Wait...
Wouldn't starving to death have been better?
If he had just let himself starve, he might have been sent right back to his original world.
A wave of regret washed over him. If he'd known, he never would have accepted those rolls.
He had jogged all the way to the office earlier, so he decided to take a slow walk back to his apartment to save energy.
Just then, a sharp cry erupted from the distance.
"A puppy fell into the river!"
"Poor thing!"
"Does anyone know how to swim? Someone save it!"
"Don't be stupid! Jump into that current for a dog? What if you drown?"
...
A crowd had quickly gathered at the riverbank, watching the struggling animal.
Aoyama froze, and then his eyes lit up with a strange brilliance. He threw his hands up and shouted, "I'll do it! Leave it to me!"
He shoved his way through the crowd, startling the onlookers who scrambled to let him pass.
Without a moment's hesitation, Aoyama vaulted over the railing and dove headfirst into the freezing, turbulent river.
The crowd stood in stunned silence. No one expected someone to be brave--or crazy--enough to dive into a rushing current for a stray puppy.
What's more, he hadn't even bothered to take off his clothes or shoes before throwing himself in.
A few girls nearby watched with bated breath, impressed by the selfless hero.
But then...
"He didn't even see where the dog was before he jumped. Is he going to be okay?"
"I... I hope so."
"No!" a calm voice rang out from the front of the group. "He's in danger. The current is too strong. We have to help him."
"But... Akane, how?" the other girls asked, their voices trembling.
"Find a long branch or a pole! Get closer to the edge and be ready to pull him in!" the girl ordered. Her name was Tachibana Akane.
Beneath the surface, Aoyama struggled to keep his eyes open against the icy, murky water. He scanned the area and finally spotted the tiny puppy thrashing desperately a short distance away.
The water was too muddy to see clearly, and the sting in his eyes was agonizing.
He could only make out a yellow, thrashing shape about twenty meters ahead, fighting the current on his right.
Sucking in a ragged breath, Aoyama surfaced to get his bearings. The yellow blur resolved into the shape of a drowning puppy.
It was tiny, with bright orange-yellow fur, likely barely three or four months old. No wonder it couldn't swim against the current.
Aoyama's eyes sparkled with excitement as he swam forward with all his strength.
Reaching the puppy, he reached out and grabbed it. The terrified animal, startled by the sudden contact, snapped its jaws at him.
A wave of joy washed over Aoyama. 'Wait... the fatality rate for rabies is nearly a hundred percent, isn't it? If this dog bites me, my wish might finally come true!'
Contrary to his hopes, however, the little dog seemed to sense he meant no harm. Instead of sinking its teeth into his flesh, it merely clamped its jaw softly onto his forearm, seeking an anchor.
Feeling the warm, painless contact, Aoyama felt a pang of disappointment.
'Well, whatever. Saving this little life is the priority for now.'
After he got the dog to safety, he could just let himself drown right here. He'd save an innocent life and achieve his goal of returning home at the same time.
'Perfect!'
'Today is turning out to be a great day after all!'
Cradling the shivering puppy against his chest, Aoyama swam toward the bank. His plan was simple: throw the dog onto the shore and then let himself sink to the bottom.
Unknown to him, the group of girls had already gathered at the water's edge.
They were a group of beautiful young women, likely in their early twenties.
'Ah, the beauty of youth,' Aoyama thought with a mental sigh.
This was perfect. He could hand the dog to them and finish his mission.
"Hurry! Grab the branch!" Tachibana Akane shouted, thrusting a sturdy tree branch toward him from her precarious position on the bank.
Aoyama paused for a second.
"It's fine, don't worry about me. Take the puppy first." Ignoring the branch, he used one hand to hoist the shivering dog out of the water and held it toward the waiting girl.
Akane hesitated for a fraction of a second before reaching out and taking the wet, shivering creature from his hand.
Seeing the dog was safe, Aoyama let out a satisfied smile. Without another word, he stopped swimming and allowed himself to sink into the freezing, murky depths.
"Oh no!" the other girls screamed. "He's out of strength! Save him!"
Akane panicked, reaching out as far as she could with the branch. "Quick! Grab it! We'll pull you up!"
But Aoyama ignored her, sinking beneath the surface.
The group erupted into a frenzy of terror.
Even the rescued puppy seemed to understand what was happening, barking frantically at the spot where its savior had disappeared.
"Please! Grab the branch!"
Akane, desperate to reach him, watched him drift further away. She handed the puppy to a friend and leaned out over the water, straining to hook the branch onto Aoyama's clothes.
But in that moment, her foot slipped on the slick mud.
"Ah!"
With a sharp cry and a loud splash, she tumbled into the river.
"Akane! Akane fell in too!" her friends shrieked.
"Help! Someone help us!"
But the onlookers on the bank were too afraid to move. Jumping into a rushing river to save two people was suicide, even for a strong swimmer.
The seconds ticked by, and the sound of the rushing water felt like a death knell.
But then...
"Huff!"
Thud.
The sound of heavy, ragged breathing, followed by the sound of someone landing on the grass.
The girls spun around to see that the "drowning" Aoyama had already dragged Akane safely onto the bank.
Tachibana Akane coughed up water, staring up at the exhausted young man in front of her with a look of utter confusion.
'This person... wasn't he just sinking a moment ago?'
Aoyama set her down unceremoniously. "That was close. Too close. Are you okay? Yeah, looks like you're fine. Thank goodness."
He'd seen her fall in while trying to save him. If she'd drowned because of him, it would have been a disaster. He wanted to die, but he didn't want to take anyone else with him.
Besides, she was stunningly beautiful--just as striking as that editor lady. It would have been a tragedy for someone like her to die like this.
So, he had abandoned his plan to drown and swam over to save her instead.
"I'm fine... thank you..."
Despite her confusion, Akane offered her sincere thanks.
"Akane!"
Her friends rushed over, some in tears. The one holding the puppy knelt down beside her.
"I'm alright... don't worry, everyone," Akane said, trying to calm her companions.
(End of Chapter)
[Translated and Rewritten by Shika_Kagura]