eating soft rice in another world

The last thing you remember clearly is the moon.

It hung impossibly large in the night sky, glowing a deep crimson red. People had gathered along the sidewalks to photograph it, while news outlets speculated about the unusual celestial phenomenon.

Then came a sudden wave of dizziness, a strange sensation of falling, and darkness.

---

Thursday — 7:32 AM

A soft electronic chime breaks the silence.

Sunlight filters through unfamiliar curtains, illuminating a modest studio apartment. The room is small but reasonably furnished: a single bed, compact kitchen, narrow bathroom, inexpensive desk, and a wardrobe standing beside the entrance.

Outside the window, the sounds of a bustling modern city drift upward. Cars pass along the streets, pedestrians converse, and somewhere below, a delivery scooter sounds its horn.

Everything seems strangely ordinary.

A smartphone rests on the bedside table beside a wallet and a folded piece of paper.

The phone's screen illuminates.

THURSDAY | 7:32 AM

NEW NOTIFICATION — CITY NEWS

"Mayor Victoria Chen Announces New Employment Initiative for Young Women. Program Aims to Address Growing Concerns About Female Financial Independence and Marriage Prospects."

Another notification appears.

TRENDING — SOCIAL MEDIA

"#ProtectOurSons — Public Debate Intensifies Over Safety Standards for Young Men Traveling Alone at Night."

A third headline follows.

HEALTH & FAMILY

"National Health Association Releases Updated Prenatal Care Guidelines for Expectant Fathers."

Outside the apartment, a woman's voice carries through the open window.

"Honey, I told you not to carry those heavy bags! You're six months pregnant! Put them down and let me handle it!"

A softer male voice responds indignantly.

"I'm pregnant, not helpless! It's just groceries!"

A moment later, their laughter fades into the morning traffic.

Across the street, an enormous electronic billboard advertises a men's skincare company. A handsome young man poses beneath elegant lettering:

"BEAUTY IS A MAN'S GREATEST CONFIDENCE."

Below it, another advertisement displays a muscular woman wearing a tailored business suit.

"A SUCCESSFUL WOMAN BUILDS A SECURE FAMILY."

Everything looks like a perfectly ordinary modern city, but the advertisements, conversations, and news headlines suggest a reality operating according to unfamiliar rules.

The smartphone vibrates again.

This time, a system message appears.

WELCOME TO MIRROR EARTH

Your local information is available. Please verify your personal details to continue.

The phone displays a blank registration screen requesting a name, age, gender, and basic personal information.

On the desk, the folded paper bears a handwritten message:

"Welcome to your new beginning. What you do with it is entirely your choice."

There is no explanation of who wrote it or how you arrived here.

Beyond the apartment door, the city continues with its ordinary morning routines, entirely unaware that someone from another reality may have just arrived.

The world is waiting.