I Got Isekai'd to Another Planet

The soft chime echoed from the glowing piggies.

"FOUR HOURS REMAINING UNTIL THE DEADLINE. CURRENT TIME: 13:00."

They'd reached the halfway marker, 21 kilometers down, 21 to go.

The forest had shifted in color slightly, as if reacting to the sun that never moved. Shadows deepened, and the wind carried the faint, artificial scent of ozone and metal. Still, the illusion of peace remained.

Miguel slowed, scanning the group.

Tobi's shoulders were drooped, his steps heavier. Maeve had stopped talking. Hideo was breathing harder, hand on his side. Even Alyssa was pale, wiping sweat from her brow.

They were tough, but they were fading.

"We should take a break," Miguel said, still carrying June on his back. "We're making good time. No point pushing till someone collapses."

They stepped just off the path into a thicket of trees. A wide, shady patch opened up under a false oak, its leaves humming gently like cooling fans.

Everyone collapsed into the grass like puppets with cut strings.

Miguel crouched and gently let June down against the tree trunk.

"Thanks," she said quietly, still not meeting his eyes.

"No problem."

They each began pulling out their supplies.

Plastic seal cracked as they opened travel meals, protein bars and mashed rice in vacuum packs. Bottled water hissed as the seals broke. The chocolate melted quickly in their fingers but disappeared even quicker in their mouths.

Hideo, ever dignified, ate slowly, chewing each bite like it mattered. Tobi and Maeve sat close, bumping shoulders and trading snipes between gulps of water. Alyssa sprawled on her back, arms over her head, just breathing.

Then Maeve smirked.

"And here I thought you'd be glued to your girlfriend the whole time," she said, tossing a wink at Miguel.

June froze.

Her fingers locked around the chocolate halfway to her mouth.

For a moment, the forest seemed quieter.

The words shouldn't have hit so hard.

But they did.

Her mind reached back before she could stop it.

Back to primary school.

When they teased her about sitting next to a boy in class, how they all laughed and said, "Ew, no way, he'd never like her." He agreed.

High school, when some classmates joked she'd end up with that quiet kid no one talked to, only for him to tell his friends, "I'd rather date the ugliest girl in school."

College, when someone asked her out as a joke, then told his friends, "She's too weird, not fun. You know… not normal."

Each memory stung like acid beneath her skin.

People joked about her being someone's girlfriend all the time.

But they always made sure she knew she never would be.

Never good enough.

Never that girl.

But Miguel's response was nothing like theirs.

He didn't scoff.

He didn't deny it.

He didn't mock her.

He smiled.

Soft.

Genuine.

Like the idea… made him a little happy.

He looked down at Maeve, water bottle in hand, and said, "I wish."

The words were simple.

Almost a whisper.

But they thundered in June's chest.

She blinked.

Her heart did something weird.

Then, without realizing it, she smiled.

Just a small curve of her lips, but real.

Warm.

And it didn't hurt.

Not like before.

Not this time.

She took a slow bite of her chocolate.

The others didn't notice.

But Miguel did.

He caught that smile.

And he smiled too.

Just for a second.

No words passed between them after that.

But something unspoken sat between them, soft and steady.

Like the promise of something neither dared name.

Not yet.

The break continued in peace, laughter returning gradually as the others recovered.

But June didn't join in.

She didn't need to.

Because for once, in that moment…

She didn't feel like the outsider.

She felt like maybe, just maybe, she was seen.

The break didn't last forever.

At 13:20, Miguel stood and offered his hand to June. She took it, her body sore but her expression lighter than it had been in days.

The rest of the team groaned as they stood, except Miguel, who looked like he could run the marathon all over again without blinking.

They resumed walking, the trail winding deeper into the artificial forest. The sun above never moved. A sky designed to keep them disoriented. Controlled. Caged.

Miguel carried June again, giving the others space ahead.

June shifted slightly on his back, feeling less awkward about it now.

They were closer. She could feel it. Not just in distance but in something more.

"You really don't get tired?" she asked.

Miguel grinned. "Not if I've got a reason to keep moving."

She rolled her eyes, but her voice was playful. "Smooth."

"I try."

A moment passed before June asked, "What's your favorite food?"

He blinked. "Random."

"Yeah, well… I wanna know."

Miguel chuckled. "Alright, alright. Pizza. Extra cheese, spicy beef, pineapple, don't judge."

She smirked. "Pineapple? That's almost criminal."

He glanced back. "And yours?"

"Spicy chicken burger. Crispy, extra hot. Like, burn-your-mouth hot."

Miguel laughed. "Okay, I see you. A pain-seeker."

"Maybe I just like feeling something."

He glanced at her again, this time, the joke didn't land. There was weight behind her words. He didn't push it. Just kept walking.

Then June asked, "Will you teach me?"

He frowned. "Teach you what?"

"To fight. To actually fight. Next time, I don't want to be helpless. I want to stand on my own."

Miguel's lips curved up. "Alright. You got it. After this race, first lesson."

"Promise?"

He looked over his shoulder again, caught her gaze.

"Promise."

The path finally opened up to a wide field, ringed by glowing finish markers and automated monitors. Other teams were already arriving, some crawling, some stumbling, some dragging the unconscious.

They crossed the final line at 16:57.

Three minutes to spare.

A soft chime sounded as Strykon reappeared in a flare of red light.

He stood tall, arms crossed, voice booming.

"CONGRATULATIONS. GAME COMPLETE. 30 PARTICIPANTS HAVE BEEN ERASED."

The giant god pointed toward the distant scoreboard in the sky.

REMAINING SURVIVORS: 999,872.

They also all received 250 Tokens added to their piggies.

Miguel gently set June down on her feet as the forest around them dissolved, pixel by pixel, into white light.

And then...

Back to the prison.

Same metal halls.

Same sterile air.

Same walls.

The group slowly dispersed, each one looking half-dead from exhaustion.

June turned to the others. "Good race," she said quietly.

Tobi gave her a nod. Hideo bowed his head slightly. Maeve gave a casual wave.

"I'm gonna hit the Medica," June said to Miguel. " Need Tissue Mend."

Miguel nodded. "I'll catch up."

She gave him a small smile before walking off.

The others walked away aswell in different directions except Alyssa.

She stayed beside Miguel, biting her lip.

"Hey," she said. "Can we talk? Just… real quick?"

He hesitated.

Then nodded.

They sat down at a table near the cafeteria wall. Miguel rested his arms on the metal surface.

Alyssa looked nervous but then she reached across and placed her hand on his.

"Miguel… I like you. You're kind, strong, funny. You looked out for me without expecting anything. That means something here. It's rare. So…" she hesitated, "would you maybe want to be… my boyfriend?"

Miguel's breath caught. He blushed, red creeping up his neck.

Then...

Movement.

He looked up.

June stood in the distance, holding a Medica tissue kit in her hand.

Expression blank.

Emotionless.

She stared at the table.

At the hands.

At him.

Then turned and walked away.

"June, wait!" Miguel called.

But she didn't stop.

Didn't look back.

She walked the halls in silence.

The tissue kit felt heavier than it should.

What was I thinking? she thought.

A guy like him would never like me. Not for real.

She entered her cell and sat on her bed, unwrapping the ointment, dabbing it on her side without a flinch. Her thoughts didn't even let her feel the sting.

All my dumb fantasies.

The two of us laughing. Training together. Sleeping beside each other.

Stupid.

So stupid.

Someone like me… will always be alone.

Meanwhile at the table...

He pulled his hand away gently.

Alyssa blinked. Her smile faltered.

"No," he said quietly.

"What?" she asked, genuinely shocked. "You're rejecting me?"

He looked her straight in the eyes.

"You're beautiful. I won't lie. I've never seen anyone like you before."

Alyssa tilted her head, trying to smile again.

"But I'm in love with someone else."

The smile disappeared.

Miguel continued, voice low and sure.

"She's not the world's idea of beautiful. But to me? She is. Completely. Her eyes tell stories. Her brain… it's like an engine that never stops running. She's survived so much, and she's still here. And when I see her, it's like… I know why I'm here too."

Alyssa looked away, biting her lip.

"I understand," she said stiffly.

Miguel stood. "I hope you find someone who sees you the way you want to be seen."

Then he turned and ran.

Meanwhile in June's Cell...

She was bandaging her side when the doorframe darkened.

She looked up, Miguel stood there, panting.

"Oh," she said, voice flat. "You don't have to explain. We're not dating or anything."

Miguel stepped inside.

"No. But I want to tell you."

June blinked.

He sat beside her on the bed.

"What you saw… it wasn't what you think," he said. "Alyssa asked me out."

She didn't respond.

"I said no."

June turned toward him slowly, brows furrowed.

"Why?"

He took a breath.

Then took her hand.

"Because I'm in love with someone else."

June's lips parted slightly.

"What?"

"You," he said, holding her gaze. "It's you."

Her face turned red in an instant. "You're… you're just saying that because..."

"I'm not," he cut her off gently. "You're everything to me already. And I want more. If you'll have me."

June stared.

Then, voice cracking, she whispered, "Okay."

His smile widened.

"Is that a yes?"

She nodded, cheeks burning.

"Yes."

Miguel leaned in.

She met him halfway.

Their lips touched, soft, hesitant, but real.

A kiss that said I see you. I choose you.

They pulled back, eyes locked.

June looked down, then smiled again.

Real. Warm.

Later, the automated prison voice rang out...

"LIGHTS OUT. LOCKDOWN IN EFFECT. GOOD NIGHT."

June lay on her bunk, staring at the ceiling, hand resting over her heart.

A smile lingered.

In the cell beside hers, Miguel lay on his back, grinning like an idiot.

And for the first time since waking up on this cruel alien world…

They both fell asleep with hope in their hearts.