After a twenty four hour shift, Leo had returned home as tired as ever. Working so much wasn't good for him but he had no choice if he'd want to keep up with the hospital bills. Office work at least paid well.
Trash littered his apartment, dishes piled high in sink as clothes laid laying across from anywhere but the closet. He shrugged, cleaning tomorrow was more convenient and sleeping was far more important.
Feeling a rumble in his pocket, Leo knew exactly what it was—9:00pm was their favorite time to call.
'December just started, and I just settled last month!'
He picked up the phone with an impatient look, "Hello? Kari, the month just began. At least remind me midway through." Leo questioned.
"Woooow. That's the way you pick up a call? Learns some manners Li. Besides that's not why I even called." Kari answered, a nurse who's helped Leo through his whole ordeal. A real bud in his time of need.
"Then why? Don't tell me… he has been moved down again, hasn't he."
"No…he—he's awake."
"WHAT!? WHOA, AHAHAH! I'M COMING RIGHT AWAY!" Leo thundered, hanging up right away and running to his car.
…
Having come to the hospital, Leo was already exhausted but couldn't give the least of a care. He then arrived at the front desk, with Kari waiting for him.
"There you are! Y'know you can't just hang up on people like that!"
"I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW, WHERE IS HE!?" Leo bellowed, grabbing a hold of Kari's shoulders.
"Gosh. Alright, alright. Follow me."
She then led him upstairs, to a room at the end of the hallway. Tired and nervous, he was unsure for little but excitement was there from being able to see him again—now actually looking back at him.
"He's in here, w-woke up a couple of hours ago. Now—we both know he's been in a coma for two years, so please try not to have any expectations ok?" said Kari with a hint of uncertainty, she was also nervous. "Could be insane for all I know, since I haven't given him a check-up yet."
"Please don't tease me like that." he huffed, now his nerves really getting to him.
"Sorry, I'm just on edge. Look—I," she began looking down, "I have to go check on some other patients… Just be careful, please."
Patting his back, she then walked away, but Leo was still focused on the door right in front of him. He took a deep breath, steeled his nerves and opened it.
Inside was his funny, yet deadbeat uncle, but Leo could never call him that. They were best of friends, he was always there for Leo. Now Leo only hopes he did the same. Since he was finally awake.
"Li? I-Is that you? Or…Am I—"
"UNCLE!" Leo lounged at his uncle, hugging tight. "I-I thought you'd never…You're awake!"
The man confused and dazed about his situation was Zack, Leo's uncle. He's Leo's greatest friend and family member. After finishing high school, he became a deadbeat due to his rough school life of constant bullying. Depressed and unwilling to do anything with his life, he locked himself away in his room and almost never came out… except when it came to Leo. They go out together, eat, play games, and have long talks. They were almost never like a nephew and uncle, but brothers.
One day however, after numerous convincing from family members, including his own sister, Zack was kicked out by his own parents. Wondering the streets, he was hit by a truck and went into a coma. Most of the family refused to help out, making bullshit excuses. But Leo never gave up on him, downright cutting off most of his own family trying to tell him otherwise. Pulling some strings right after finishing school, and lying about his age all the time, he finally found a well paying job to keep himself afloat while paying his uncle's bills. But now he was finally awake.
"H-Hey… you've been hugging me for a while now neph." Zack said groggily, his eyes full of sleep.
"Oh! My bad! I-I just—I'm so happy to see you!"
"Me too, but I'm so confused right now. Where am I? And for how long have I been here?"
"The hospital. For two years."
"Wait what!?" Zack bleated, raising a bit from where he was resting. But quickly laid back down after feeling a sharp pain his head, "b-but its been twenty… years there."
"Huh? Twenty years where? Your head?"
Zack remained silent for a second before answering, "Well crazy as I might sound but," he then looked straight into Leo's eyes, "I was reincarnated into another world."
"Uhhhhh, yep, you do sound crazy, but we are gaming freaks soooooo…Hey no shame in a coma isekai world unc!"
"D-Damn, fuck man it felt so real. I even talked in a whole new language…but now i can't remember it." Zack replied, his mouth now a small frown.
"O-Oh mister Zackery, good evening. If you do not mind, I have to run a small test on you, but after that, all we need to do is sign a few papers and you'll be good to go." Kari spoke from the doorway. Sensing it was time to go for a bit, Leo gave a smirk to his uncle, and Zack, taking a few seconds, shot one back.
…
Since all was in order with his uncle, and any and all paperwork done, Leo and Zack were heading back home. Although the drive was certain kind of awkward, both not sure what to say to each other.
"Soooooooooo, Ahem. How was dream isekai? Dark fantasy or light?" mused Leo, trying to lighten the mood.
"Eh, a bit of both. Kingdom builder type shit. Felt so real tho. Like… I knew every second that past by. Oh well I guess. I'll move on…"
"Any hot ladies in your dream?"
"Plenty."
"I did not need such a direct answer, unc."
"I'm not even that old neph, also I really need an answer to this. HOW THE FUCK ARE YOU DRIVING RIGHT NOW?! AND WHERE DID YOU GET A CAR?!"
"First of all, its been two years, I'm eighteen now. Second I stole this car off of mom. (Nah she just gave it to me)"
Zack looked in awe for little, the amount time passed never occurred to him. Although the mention of Leo's mom, his sister, made the tension rise.
"H-How is sis—I mean your mom?" Zack questioned, his voice angsty. Leo expression changed from one of glee to one of gloom.
"I mean, tch, I cut most of our family off a while ago."
"Why do that? They were assholes, sure, but they loved you or something."
"They were going to pull the plug man."
"Oh, damn…" Zack's hands were shaking while speaking, "I knew they weren't the biggest fan of me but—damn."
"I convinced them to let me pay for you, anyone who said otherwise I cut off."
Both sat in silence, the tension eating at them. Until Zack spoke up.
"Thank you man, I'm…not sure where I'd be right now if it weren't for you."
"It's all good, no biggie."
"It is big, I owe you my life, I promise to help in any way I can!"
"Heh…Sure, let's start by cleaning my apartment."
"That's all? Picking on my weakness huh?" Zack snickered a bit, shaking his head, "Sure thing, bum."