1 01. How it Begin

I. The Talentless Hero

What is the most annoying sound in the world? if Ayato gets that question, he will definitely answer the ring of alarm bell in the early morning.

Althought that boy never remember his dreams, But who doesn't get annoyed when they hear a ringing sound that will ruin their mood for the rest of the day. Still half asleep, Ayato reached the nightstand beside his bed to find the alarm clock that still ringing loudly and turned it off. Then, he curled up in a blanket and continue his sleep, just five more minutes, it's not a big deal.

But his plan failed when he heard a stepping sound from the front of his room, followed by the door slam and yelling sound which will surely wake up the whole house.

"BIG BRO AYA!! WAKE UUUUP!!!"

At that house, nobody has a voice as loud and high as that, except Makiko, the ten-years-old only daughter of Yukimura family.

The little girl climbed up her brother's bed and sitting on the top of it. "If Big Bro didn't wake up, he won't get breakfast at all!" she said with a cheerful note.

Ayato pokes his head out of the blanket. While patting his little sister's head, he mumbled, "Hey, no need to yell, okay? I'm awake. And now, how about Maki come down and help Big Bro Taka prepare breakfast?"

Makiko giggled, and then jumped down from the bed. "Nope! Maki has to make sure Big Bro Aya is really awake, then we can have breakfast together!"

Well, forget it. There's a new day to be passed. He can't lie in the bed all day. Ayato gets out of his bed and stepping outside the room. Makiko followed him, humming.

"Oh, finally wake up, huh? I was planning to throw a bucket of ice on your face if Maki's yells didn't work."

There was only one person in this world who would say that as a good morning greeting. Or, that's what Ayato thought.

The young man who was busy flipping the fried eggs on the pan was Takato, Yukimura's eldest son and Ayato's older brother who was only three years older than him.

Makiko ran towards her oldest siblings and hugged him. "Big Bro Taka, Maki wants two fried eggs!" she said, holding up two fingers.

Takato giggled. "Sure. Two fried eggs for Princess Maki. But, before that, could you help me to set the plates on the table?"

"Then, Aya." After Makiko busy with the plates, Takato turned to Ayato who just finished washed his face. "Today, I will be late for home, so I'll leave the dinner to you."

Ayato answered with a single 'okay' and go back to his room upstairs to changed clothes. He used to have breakfast together only with his two siblings. Their parents were a busy person who has been rarely at home. So, Takato, as the oldest child, who usually takes care of the housework. Then, when he is busy with college, his two younger siblings will replaced him

After breakfast, Ayato and his little sister went to school. They are always going together because their schools are in the same direction.

"Bye, bye, Big Bro Aya!" Makiko waving her hand from the front of the school gate. Ayato watched her until that girl is out of sight, then going to his school.

After get to his own class, Ayato threw himself into his chair beside the window. Just a few seconds, he was surprised by a waving hand right in front of his face.

"Hey, hey, Ayato, you know ...." The culprit is Seiji, Ayato's classmate. He sat in front of Ayato. "Rumor has it that Tachikawa-senpai just broke up!"

"Uh, so what ....?" Ayato replied. Obviously looks more interested in bunny-shaped clouds that seen from the corner of the windows.

The Tachikawa-senpai that Seiji was talking about was a third year student and the school's primadonna. She is smart, pretty, and very gorgeous. The fact that she just broke up means a good news for all the boys who's fall for her.

"What I mean is, You don't wanna try this chance to get closer to her or something?" Seiji grunted. "You know, yesterday, Tatsumi confessed to her and instantly got rejected."

"Can't you just shut your big mouth for a day?" Tatsumi is other Ayato's classmate. He came to them with a grumpy face. Seiji laugh at him.

"And ... why should i do it?" asked Ayato. Now the bunny-shaped clouds looks more like a cow.

"You must, you deserved to try it, Ayato," said Seiji, "your face is nice and not a few girls are attracted to you. Sadly, you are passive and so boring, made them lose interest. At least, tried to get a girlfriend to overvome that trait of you." Seiji ended his speech with a smug expression. Ayato was amazed that he could say it all in just one breath.

"That's impossible. Even Ayato has never fallen in love with a girl." Tatsumi said abruptly.

"Now, that's the problem!" Seiji shouted and pounded the table, made some of the classmates glanced at them. "You won't be passive if it to the person you like, aren't it? Say, what is your type?"

"Ayato likes machine stuff." Tatsumi responsed. "Maybe if someday he found a girl who's into mechanical stuff or something, he will instantly fall in love."

Seiji raised his eyebrows, waiting for an answer. Ayato responded with a deep sigh. "How can I know, I just didn't know what it's like to love someone."

That discussion ended with the bell signaling the start of the class. And then, Ayato was just a second year high schooler who is not yet interested in romantic things. Actually, he used to have a girlfriend at middle school, which only lasts for a week because the girl said that Ayato was so boring. The girl had never contacted Ayato again after that.

Class ended for today. After packing his things, Ayato joined Seiji and Tatsumi to go home together. Before it, he has to drop by a convenience store to buy groceries for dinner.

They separated at a crossroad. The convenience store was on the other side of the road. After saying goodbye to his friends, Ayato crossed the quiet roadway.

But, suddenly, Ayato felt a strange cold breeze while he's in the middle of the road.

"AYATO!!"

Ayato realized it from his friends warning, along with a loud honk. Either because the brakes failing or the driver was drunk, a truck was going really fast towards him.

Too bad. It was too late for Ayato to run. It seems like the "goodbye" that Ayato said for his friends earlier really means 'goodbye'.

***

When his consciousness recovers, the first things that comes to Ayato's mind was 'I am dead'.

He remember the honking sound of a losing control truck, with the hard impact he felt during that deadly crash. And now, Ayato who's can't felt anything anymore, believe that he was dead. There is no chance he can survive from that accident.

Then, his coordination system slowly began to recover. He can felt his arms and legs, still perfect. Then, Ayato realized that he was lying on some cold and hard place, maybe on some kind of stone floor.

"Welcome to Iberia Kingdom, O Heroes of the Four Directions!"