"Anime?" William repeated, clearly confused. His eyebrows pulled together as he tried to understand the strange word. He watched Ethan closely, noticing every small change in his face.
Ethan was acting differently, speaking strangely, and reacting in ways William had never seen before. Still, William did not interrupt him. Ethan was the person he loved the most, and if something was wrong, he wanted to understand it completely.
Anime… Ethan thought to himself. Looks like they do not know about anime here at all. His eyes slowly moved around the room again. The walls were decorated with flowers and old designs. There were no wires, no screens, no lights like the modern world. No television. No electricity. Everyone wears ancient clothes. He let out a slow breath. But somehow… this place feels calm. Pretty. I even like this old vibe.
"Tell me," William said softly, his voice full of care. "I am here to listen, my love."
Ethan's body froze.
This man… Ethan's eyes widened. How can a man call another man 'my love' so naturally? His heart started beating faster. Oh gosh… no. Please no. This cannot be real.
"What happened to you again?" William asked, worried. "Why are you screaming?"
Ethan suddenly blurted out, "Are you gay?" His voice sounded sharp, almost panicked. Then he quickly added, "Do not say yes."
William blinked once. Then again. "Gay?" he asked slowly. "What is gay?"
Ethan swallowed hard. "Gay means… a man loving another man."
William repeated the words carefully, as if tasting them. "A man loves another man."
"Yes," Ethan said, watching his face closely.
William looked genuinely confused. "Then whom else would they love?"
Ethan stared at him, his mind going blank for a second. "I mean… are there no females here?" He looked around the room again, as if a woman might suddenly appear. "I have not seen a single woman since I came here."
"Female?" William asked, tilting his head. "What is that?"
Ethan felt his breath stop.
No females…? His chest tightened. His thoughts became messy. This is not just a different place. This is a completely different world. He rubbed his forehead, trying to stay calm and not panic.
William noticed his reaction and leaned closer. "Are you feeling unwell again?"
Ethan looked at him and took a deep breath. "One last question," he said quietly. "Do you… love me?"
William did not hesitate even for a second.
A bright smile spread across his face, pure and honest. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Ethan tightly, pulling him into a warm embrace. "Yes," he said without any doubt. "I love you a lot, my love. From infinite times. I love you."
Ethan's body stiffened in his arms.
"Yuck," he muttered weakly, more shocked than anything else. His mind started connecting everything he had seen since waking up. So I really came to a world where only gay people exist? His thoughts rushed faster. That is why King Aldrick and King Lucien are so close. That is why they act like parents together without hesitation.
Slowly, the truth settled inside him.
This world had no women.
This world had no concept of male and female love.
This world accepted love between men as the most normal thing.
Ethan pulled back slightly and looked at William again. William's eyes were full of warmth, concern, and love, complete, excited, emotions.
This world is different from the Earth Ethan thought. But it is also beautiful in its own way. There was no hiding here. No fear. No judgment. Love existed freely, without rules forcing it into shapes.
Ethan's heart was still racing, but his fear slowly mixed with curiosity. I died… and came here, he thought. Into a man's body. Into a magical world. Into a place where love has no boundaries.
He looked around the room once more, breathing slowly.
A world where the whole world is gay, he realized.
And that single truth changed everything for him.
He smiled