When Mr. Mori, the Animal Caretaker, Lands in an IF Timeline

Parallel worlds exist. Even a tiny choice, like whether you step out the door with your left foot or your right, can lead to a different parallel universe.

Mori Ogai was an utterly ordinary zookeeper.

Driven by his love of raising fluffy little animals, after graduating from Kyoto University's veterinary program, Mori Ogai resolutely joined Ueno Zoo, home to Japan's only panda.

Life at the zoo was wonderful. Armed with a bottle of milk formula he'd gotten from a Chinese zookeeper, nanny Mori Ogai coaxed the panda cub Xiao Xiang. After successfully scooping the black-and-white fluffball into his arms, he sighed contentedly and rested his chin on the panda's soft, round head.

But in the next instant, the sensation beneath his chin suddenly changed. The panda's slightly coarse fur had become incredibly soft.

Mori Ogai looked down and met a pair of dark, purplish eyes.

He stared in shock at the brown-haired little boy who had appeared in his arms from nowhere.

Mori Ogai: ...Where did my huge panda go?!!!

·

Mori Ogai gradually realized that he had transmigrated to a parallel world.

In this world, he seemed to be a doctor, but one who treated people.

While cramming medical knowledge through the night so he could keep his job and avoid killing anyone, Mori Ogai also made sure not to forget his side gig.

#There are no pandas in this world, so I might as well raise some kids instead#

He took in the black kitten he saw the moment he arrived. He brought home the orange fox cub he found while passing through the slums. He adopted the white tiger cub he happened upon at the orphanage.

As more and more sweet little ones filled his small clinic, Mori Ogai gradually found contentment in this strange, chaotic world.

But just as he finally resolved to leave his hometown's Xiao Xiang behind and put down roots in this parallel world, an accident happened.

He transmigrated back.

Mori Ogai gazed at the hungry panda cub in his arms, feeling a deep sense of loss.

Without him to care for them, would the little ones at the clinic grow up all right?

·

Mori Ogai treated his memories of the parallel world as an extraordinary adventure. He decided the best thing to do in the present was forget that chance encounter and devote himself to the inevitable day-to-day of reality.

After all, he was a nanny with a whole zoo of little animals to raise.

After years of hard work, Mori Ogai became the zoo director. Though he no longer had to care for the animals himself, he still often visited the enclosures to check on the sweet little ones he'd raised.

One day, while trying to rescue a baby golden snub-nosed monkey stranded in a tree during a typhoon, Mori Ogai slipped and fell from the treetop, dying on the spot.

After watching the highlights of his life, Mori Ogai closed his eyes, content.

But when he opened them again, he saw a pair of familiar dark, purplish eyes.

Those eyes were even more lifeless and exhausted than before, almost entirely devoid of vitality.

Mori Ogai looked at the black kitten, now much older and wearing a suit and red scarf. Frowning, he reached out to touch the boy's face. "Why have you gotten so thin..."

The little ones really couldn't manage without their zookeeper.

Mori Ogai felt a pang of concern. But the next moment, the grown cub suddenly gripped his hand tightly. The fury in his dark, purplish eyes burned away all the emptiness. "You actually came back?"

Mori Ogai was in danger.

Please note:

1. A story about a kind, chaotic Mori-sensei from a parallel world transmigrating into the IF route.

2. Parallel-world Mori-sensei has no abilities, but he does when he transmigrates into the IF route.

3. Main character is the uke. The pairing is most likely with either Dazai or Chuuya, so beware if that's not your thing.

4. A story of realizing your feelings and redemption.

5. The full story is already written. Please add it to your to-read list

Theme: Change the world with love!