The Lost Forest.
It sounds like a name someone gave to a place just because people sometimes go missing there. But you should be careful. Some forests really mess with compasses—or even your sense of direction.
Inside one of those forests, a single girl stands alone.
"...Who's there? Where am I?"
She still has enough humor left to joke, which means she's not panicking yet.
Her name is Akashi Asuka, an ordinary high school girl. She was on her way home from school when the world flipped, and suddenly she found herself lost in this forest.
"The plants look a lot like Japan's... Oh, royal fern. Maybe I'll find ostrich fern too."
Despite her situation, Asuka calmly studies the trees and searches for something edible. The plastic bag from the convenience store already holds Japanese parsley and bracken. Tougher than most high schoolers, that's for sure.
"To help the lost girl of another world, Sarutahiko has arrived!"
"Wha—?!"
A man in white robes suddenly appears before her.
"I come by order of Amaterasu-sama, to guide you."
He ignores Asuka's unladylike scream. Sarutahiko-sama is a gentleman.
"S-Sarutahiko-sama? Wait, if a god came to me, does that mean this really is another world?"
"Yes. Normally, we gods shouldn't interfere with other worlds. But Amaterasu-sama made a deal with this world's deity, and I was sent here to protect you until it's safe."
For the record, the gods of this world are similar to the Greek ones from Earth. Once, Zeus-sama made a lewd comment to Amaterasu-sama and got beaten by his wife. Somehow, it ended in a game of rock-paper-scissors—played strip style.
Japan's representative, Ame-no-Uzume-sama—famous for her dancing—won instantly. Her move was so fast, Ares-sama ended up completely naked. The goddesses (and a few gods) cheered. Uzume-sama technically won, but it didn't feel like a victory.
"Well then, stay calm. I'm a good guide. Think of it as sailing with me on the Ame-no-Torifune."
"Right, you guided the gods during the Tenson Kourin, right? And you married Ame-no-Uzume-sama afterward."
"Oh, you know our myths well for someone so young."
They first met when Uzume asked, "Who are you?!" while taking off her clothes, and Sarutahiko answered, "Not suspicious at all!"—also while taking off his clothes.
A charming beginning to their love story.
"If we leave this forest, there's a village nearby. Let's head there first."
"Got it. Oh—shiitake mushrooms! Real ones!"
"What? Incredible! Such fine mushrooms!"
Even while being guided, Asuka stops to collect mountain delicacies. Sarutahiko joins her soon after. You can't blame them—Japanese people have a strong love for good food. Just remember how Japan reacted when bluefin tuna imports were banned. That ban didn't last long.
After a few detours, they finally reach the village. But Asuka somehow falls in love with farming. Before long, she revolutionizes the village's crops and earns the villagers' devotion. They call her a messenger of Demeter-sama, goddess of fertility.
Once again, peace returns to another world.
...
"I've returned," said Sarutahiko.
"Welcome back," Amaterasu replied. "Good work."
"It was nothing. But... was it wise to leave the girl without taking her to her summoner?"
"Huh? Why would I do that?"
Amaterasu-sama doesn't concern herself with the problems of the other world. As long as her people are safe, that's enough for her.
"I mean, the one who summoned her in that forest is at fault. Still, with Demeter's full blessing on her, she'll be discovered soon enough."
"Elder sister... the goddess who blessed her was Athena."
"..."
Athena, goddess of wisdom, craft, and war, stands among the Olympians beside Demeter. Her accomplishments include killing a giant by throwing Sicily Island at it—roughly one and a half times the size of Shikoku. Gods really are on another level.
"...Sarutahiko, you brought back shiitake mushrooms, right? Can I have some?"
"Of course."
"Yay!"
Amaterasu-sama eagerly devours the mushrooms Sarutahiko collected. Both pretend their earlier conversation never happened.
And once again, the world remains peaceful.