Short Story: With My Smartphone

“Local High School Student Killed In Freak Lightning Strike.”

I came across an article with that title. That fifteen-year-old highschooler, Mochizuki Touya, was me.

By all rights, it should’ve been a horribly tragic accident, but the wording of the article just seemed pretty bland.

Old Man God told me that he brought my body up to the God Realm just as I was about to be cremated. The remains in the urn back home were a fake he switched out. Hearing that made me feel sorry for my parents.

I died. I traveled to the world beyond. Still, I was free to live in this world. Even if I was trapped here, I could still browse on my smartphone. I could watch my favorite shows every week, too. Plus, my smartphone appeared to have infinite credit.

It was a service from God, but apparently I was still using a standard data provider. God just had the money transferred regularly. I could use the phone to make calls, but my only available contact was God. That seemed fair, though. I was dead back home, so if I started calling, then my family would be upset.

I could read articles online, and watch any shows I wanted online… However, no calls or e-mails were permitted, and I couldn’t post on forums, either.

Still, it was quite the useful little tool. Information’s the strongest weapon, after all. He who controls the information controls the world.

Also, my Smartphone seemed to automatically update itself. Whenever the developers released a new model back home, my phone slowly morphed into it.

I guess you could say it evolves? I noticed it getting thinner recently, though. Wasn’t sure what was up with that.

Still, it was a gift from God, so I didn’t really need to ask any questions. After

all, it was thanks to him that I was doing so well in the new world.

“Something wrong, Touya?”

“I’m fine, it’s just a little early. Heading over to the guild?”

“Yup. Hope there’s some good quests.”

“If you finish early, wanna grab something to eat?”

“Alright! Let’s do that!”

I turned off my smartphone as I answered that question, thinking that I was going to do my best once more on this sunny day.

All the while, I felt the comforting feeling of the reliable friend in my breast pocket as I headed off to make my rounds.