1 Satoshi Ki

I'm Satoshi Ki, a simple man. I love games, I love my work as a botanist, and I am single. Not that it's bad, but yeah, you've probably read enough novels to know how my life works. Well, if you don't, I go to work in the morning till afternoon and play till I sleep — that's about it. Although I can say that I kinda enjoy this simple life, I… I can't help but admit that I get envious of those who can live their life to the fullest.

But yeah, it's another morning in my monotonous life. I take a shower while my instant noodles are cooking, wait, does putting instant noodles in hot water count as cooking? It probably does.

After eating my cooked instant noodles, I walk outside and walk to my laboratory building, or I could take a bus. I'll take the bus for today.

It's 5:39 am. I'm late to work, standing on a bus line and it's so, so hot. My legs hurt. Why did I bring such a big backpack? Oh right, I'm, going to present my research by today.

And I've been here forever. Won't the line move? And what's taking the buses so long? I could have just walked. But I'm now in the middle of the line, and it'd be a waste if I left. I should ask to go forward.

Should I ask? What if they get angry? Ok, I'll ask.

One

Two

Three, breathe

Ahh, never mind, the lady might get angry, BUT I'M LATE!

Okay, I'll ask,

Inhale

Exhale

"Miss, could I go ahead of you?"

"Why?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I have to hurry, I'm late to work"

"Okay, sure."

"Really?" What? That easily?

"Hm?"

"Nothing, thanks."

Well, that was a short, nerve-wracking exchange. Good thing the lady's nice.

Ughh, there's still 4 people ahead of the line. I won't make it to work. Where's my phone — oh, wait it's in my bag.

Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle, and 7 more shuffles later...

There, found it! I should call my boss.

"Um hello, ma'am?"

"Yes, Satoshi?"

"I might be late today, I got stuck in the bus line..."

"Why didn't you just walk? You live like, 30minutes away"

"Well I've been in the bus line for quite some time, it would be a waste to leave."

"Makes sense, alright, see you!"

"Okay, thanks." Wow, everyone's nice today.

My boss is not always nice. She once cut my salary because she thought I was the one who spilled soil all over the lobby.

Well, she presented me my own lab as a recognition for being a Nobel Prize winner for botany. And with that, I can research at my own pace.

Or maybe she's just nice because I'm a world-class botanist, and she receives quite a lot of credit for my work... I don't know, I'm just happy I have my own lab.

Nice, I'm on the bus now and to make it better, I'm sitting in the middle of the bus, beside the window, no one's sitting beside me, and I have the air-conditioner all to myself — a fine day. But before getting on the bus, I talked to like 3 more people after the lady, and it was the worst. I hope it doesn't happen again.

And unlike outside, it's freezing inside. Like two different worlds.

Huh, is that an apple? Oh, it's a yellow apple!

Why would there be an apple in the bus? Someone probably forgot it. Hmm, inspecting it closely, it's probably a Golden Delicious — a sweet, almost honey-tasting apple. Considering I only had instant noodles for breakfast, I'll take it, don't mind if I do.

It was a neat bus ride, not that bumpy except the humps. Well, that's kinda expected, isn't it? I mean, I live in a rural area in the middle of Florida. 5 minutes later, I'm at work. Well, the line took longer than my bus ride. I really should have walked.

In front of the lab, I looked at the big laboratory building I work at, then stopped in front of a metal door before I was greeted by the guard, John. One of the 2000 Johns that work in the facility.

"Yo, Satowshi!" He said while opening his hand for my ID

Oh look, another person who can't pronounce Satoshi

"Hi, here's my ID"

The ID scanner blinked green.

"Right, good to go."

"Okay, thanks"

Entering the facility, I was greeted by the smell of plants — oh, what a pleasant morning! I went to the cafeteria and took a cup of coffee and some biscuits.

I took the elevator and got off on the 4th floor. I walked in the long hallways with glass walls, so you can see the peaceful hills outside the lab. I walked down the hallways to my boss's office. I knocked once — no response — then I waited a bit then knocked for the second time.

Realizing that she is not inside, I decided to just drop the research papers and wait for her to call for me. I entered her office which, as usual, is filled with her fragrant rose perfume and lined with pristine marble tiles. It is a very, VERY neatly arranged room that reeks of minimalism. Then, I walked to her table, took out the research results on a new plant I've been working on, and placed it on her desk with a note on top with my name written in big letters. And then, I left the room.

"Dr.Satoshi!" Someone shouted across the hallway as I was entering the elevator on my way back to my lab.

Hearing the shout, I looked back and noticed the apprentice scientist, Jonathan, running with his fit and muscly body at full speed towards me.

"Can you hold the elevator please?" He shouted again knowing that I noticed him.

I waited at the elevator for him then entered as he also got in front of the elevator.

"How's your day, sir?" He asked while panting.

"Fine."

"I see."

Noticing the dead atmosphere, I quickly searched my mind for distraction because this is getting hard to bear. I crossed my arms and leaned on the wall. Because I can't think of a distraction.

The elevator opened on the floor my laboratory is located, and I power-walked as fast as I can to get as far as possible from Jonathan who also got off on the same floor.

I got in front of my lab, scanned my ID, and after scanning, the door opened, and in front of me is another door which is the entrance to my lab. Before entering, I sanitized myself, wore my PPE, and dropped my backpack on the shelves.

Then, I remembered the apple I picked up from the bus and took it out of my backpack. After taking it, I washed it then took a bite as I entered my lab, greeted by the very strong scent of plants and soil. I proceeded with my daily routine.

After many hours of conducting my research on a new plant I created, I went out of the lab and noticed it's almost nighttime, so I removed my PPE suit, picked up my bag, and went straight to the cafeteria where I picked up 3 instant noodles before going home.

At home, I quickly took a nice warm bath then went to my room, played on my computer till I was sleepy then, I went to bed.

And when I woke up, I was looking at a guy with an extraordinarily long beard. He wore a light blue robe which floats behind him. He looked me straight in the eyes and said:

"You're dead."