Chapter Text
He hadn't known what he expected when he found himself in a whole other world. But he had been stoked! Who wouldn't be? For a shut in neet like him this was an absolute dream come true.
What adventures awaited him? What untold riches were in the making to be discovered? Would he find fame and glory and maybe a super cute fantasy girl to cater to his every whim? Hehehe. The possibilities were endless. He was the luckiest man a live!
Or at least so he thought. But he was getting ahead of him. Let's start from the beginning.
His name was Natsuki Subaru. A lover of manga, video games, and sleeping in all day. But don't let that fool you! He knew all the troupes for these types of fantasy worlds and he knew just how get around them.
You even got a cool neat power up in the beginning! Something tough that gave you a major handicap against all the bad guys you were bond to face. Usually, a cool magic sword with an awesome name or a gift by a tsundere Goddess who wanted you to defeat the Demon Lord for her. All textbook stuff really.
Naturally when he found himself walking out of that convenience store only to land in the middle of a crowded market full of demi-humans, he had thought this was the beginning of his origin of story.
He was half-right. While it was cool that he ended up in a fantasy world he was somewhat disappointed that he hadn't met a Goddess or acquired some neat skill.
Then came the realization that he was in an unknown land with nothing, but the clothes on his back, a bag full of junk food and a few useless yen. Worse was that he could neither read nor write the language, but by whatever luck communication hadn't been problem.
Suffice to say things weren't looking up, but he wasn't discouraged just yet! He'd just earn his keep, maybe through a guild or working in some inn until he saved enough to become an adventurer!
That dream was immediately pummeled (quite literally) when three generic fantasy thugs mugged him in an alley of all things in broad daylight. Despite his pleading, the men weren't in a negotiating mood and began to beat him into the dirt
He tried shielding himself to the best of his abilities, but the punches and kicks kept coming. He thought it was over.
But eventually something did happen. He wasn't quite sure how or why; he wasn't even sure if this was this an ability of some sort, he had gained by being transported here. But whatever it was it did the trick, freaking the men out enough for them to turn tail and run.
It was amazing! The sensation was one he would never forget. He felt mighty! He felt powerful! He felt –
"Oh, my goodness! Is that a…puppy?" A feminine voice gasped.
Huh?
He turned, expecting to see another foe only to find a silver haired girl running toward him.
She was beautiful. The prettiest girl he'd seen by far. Jeez, he probably didn't look the best after that mugging. He hoped he didn't look too bad. He wasn't normally body conscious, but seeing a pretty face almost made him feel small...
…Wait.
The closer the girl came the bigger she got.
…Wait
"Are you lost little guy?" She said, not unkindly towering over him by several feet with a look of worry.
What?
She crotched down, her face near inches from his as she watched him puzzlingly, his reflections showing off from her purple irises confirmed his greatest fear.
He had changed and not into some cool apex predator or beast but rather…
"Don't be scared." She said quickly as he drew back from her approach. "I'm not going to hurt you."
He was a dog and a pretty a small one by the look of it. He was practically a puppy.
He let out a subconscious whine at his predicament. The girl seemed to become concerned. Her intentions were clear as day.
Before had a chance to escape she had scooped him up off the ground with minimum effort, making him realize that he weighed next to nothing compared to her strength. That didn't mean he liked it. No that's crazy talk and he'd bite anyone who said otherwise.
"You're a rather stranger dog." The girl commented watching him fight and tug to be free with her smile only growing the longer he kept it up.
I will never give in you vile evil. I want to be free. To feel the wind between by fur. To frolic in the fields to chase a few cats around, to…wait where that come from? Those weren't his thoughts. What -
"He doesn't seem to have a collar?" The girl mumbled as she looked him up and down. "Maybe he's a stray?"
Now hold on I'm nobody's pet!
He moved his mouth to say as such, but what came out was far from what he had in mind.
"Arf!" He barked out much to his dismay.
The girl giggled. He felt mortified.
"Aww, aren't you just the cutest thing!" She cooed as she rubbed her hands all over his fur.
Hey now cut that out! You can't just…You shouldn't…I'm going to…" The resistant on his tongue died as soon as it began, as he gave into the girl's scratches and the greatest weapon the world had to offer - belly rubs.
He was putty in her hands.
"Well, isn't this is an interesting sight." He heard someone speak. The voice closely resembling that of a child. "You better be careful or you might catch something."
"Puck!" The girl cried stopping her perfect strokes much to Subaru's disappointment. "This isn't what it looks like it!"
"Uh huh." A floating talking cat presumably named Puck gave a teasing grin. "Because you sure seemed to be enjoying playing with that pup."
"I wasn't!" The girl denied frantically much to the cat's enjoyment.
"Oh really? Because you sure looked like you were or otherwise, you'd be chasing that thief that stole your insignia rather than fooling around"
The girl went stiff, realization dawning on her face as she clasped her head in distress. It was quite adorable.
"I can't believe forgot! I completely lost track of her! What am I going to do! " The girl was having a major freak out and Subaru decided maybe now was the time to turn tail and run. Puck had other plans in mind.
"Well, it's not completely your fault. That fur ball distracted you." Puck smirked, causing the girl to blink as if just remembering that particular fact. "Your right!"
She turned, stopping Subaru mid-step from his escape. Damn cat!
The girl brushed him off his feet again, paying no heed to his yelps.
"Who do you think he belongs too?" She said eyeing him up and down. "It doesn't look like a stray"
Puck shrugged. "Maybe he's abandoned. Lots of stuff like that happens often in the big cities.
The girl seemed astounded by that obvious revelation. "That's awful." She said angrily. "We should help him."
"Uh, Lia insignia." Puck sighed as if stating the obvious.
The girl, Lia looked conflicted. On one hand she did want to find her stolen possession. On the other hand she couldn't very well leave something so small and vulnerable to fend for itself. She bit her lip before coming to a conclusion. "We can take him with us."
Subaru blinked. Puck gave her a dry look. Lia looked almost comically proud of the idea.
"Lia…"
"No. No. This is a good plan." She waved off the cat's obvious distress. "Besides, he could prove be useful."
"How so?"
"Well, aren't dogs good at picking up scents?"
The cat had its doubts, but Lia seemed keen on the idea so he relented. "How exactly do you plan of tracking her down? You only got a quick peek of that thief before she ran off."
Lia looked smug. "Well fortunately for us I managed to snag a piece of clothing off that evildoer before she escaped."
She sounded so sure of herself that Subaru couldn't help but comically sweat drop. He wasn't the only one as Puck was of a similar mindset.
Putting her plan into action Lia set the boy turned dog down and pulled out a torn red cloth for him to smell.
"Come on boy. I knew you can do it. Catch the whiff. Come on."
Subaru was for obvious was not impressed and wouldn't degrade himself.
"Seems like your plans a bust Lia." Puck commented. A glare from the girl shut him up.
She huffed. "Nonsense he just needs the right motivation. Luckily I foresaw this as well."
Puck snorted as Subaru debated if she should start biting. It's not like he was imposed to the idea of helping the girl out. He was always up for lending a person a hand. But considering his situation he was a bit freaked out at the moment.
"Behold the weapon that all beasts bow too." Lia proclaimed bringing out a shiny red ball.
Subaru scoffed. That would never work.
"That would never work." Puck deadpanned. .
Lia shooed off his words and waved the ball to his nose.
Ha! No way lady. No matter how cute you look you won't get me to…to…to
Subaru's mind went blank. An unknown sensation began to overwhelm. It was unexplainable, but one thing was evident. He had to get that ball.
He hopped up and down trying to get the shiny red orb between his molars.
Ball. Pretty ball. Must have! Must have!
"See I told you it would work." Lia smiled brilliantly. Puck looked almost disappointed.
Subaru didn't care all that mattered was that chewable ball.
"Alright, alright you can have it." Lia said.
Subaru perked up and prepared to lunge.
"But only if you give me a hand on this. Sound fair?"
The pup sagged. Of course it wouldn't be that easy. At the girls award winning smirk he knew he had been doped.
So, this was the start to his epic tale. He was Subaru Natsuki, self-proclaimed neet, manga enthusiast, and now a puppy on a leash. Hopefully this day wouldn't get any worse.