1 Death

Beep Beep.

The horns of cars sounded in the street as a man wearing a suit crossed the road. He took a deep breath of the fresh air with a smile as he swayed his head, enjoying the breeze.

I graduated from university, entered a major contracting firm, worked my way up the ladder, and started making decent money. I'm a perfectly content 37-year-old man who lives alone. If anything is missing in my life right now, it's a girlfriend.

In fact, I haven't had a girlfriend in all my 37 years... not that it bothers me. Being a willful bachelor isn't that bad; I am just unpopular.

"Senpai! Over here, Senpai!" With a cheerful smile, the Young man waves at me with a beauty by his side.

Tamura is a junior at the same company I work at, and the beauty by his side is the renowned receptionist.

"Tamura," I waved and approached. "Sorry, I'm a bit late," I said.

"So, what did you want to discuss?"

I stuffed my hand back into my pocket and asked with a smile.

"Hello! I'm Sawatari Miho. I see you around a lot, but this is our first time speaking." Miho greeted me with a small bow.

I looked at her, took my hands from my pocket, and greeted her with a smile. "Oh... Hi. I am Mikami Satoru. I know who you are, of course. You're famous." I said and winked.

"What?! Famous?!" She asked, surprised. Her hands raised in the air and clenched close to her chest.

"Yeah, I mean, all those rumors..."

"Wh-What rumors?!"

"What rumors? Well, there is one about having an affair with Chief X or going on dates with multiple men-stuff like that."

I teased a little, even though I knew my jokes were terrible and without any delicacy or tact. I'm often told to zip it, but I never do, and an example of why that is, is standing in front of me in the form of Sawatari-san's almost crying.

"Relax, Miho. He's just teasing you." He tapped her shoulder, explaining with a laugh. "You also go easy on her, Senpai." He told me with a frustrated face that held a laugh.

Damn it. Aren't you dandy, Tamura? I thought as I saw him mediate the situation between the pouting Sawatari -san and me.

"Sorry about that," I told them with a smile.

What is this, anyway? Is he looking for marriage advice? Isn't this one of the reasons I started questioning my unpopularity.

"No need to stand around. Let's walk while we eat."

He turned around with Sawatari-san and started walking. I followed with my hands back in my pocket again while I listened to him. "You like yakiniku, don't you, Senpai? I booked a great place for us."

Jeez. He arranged one of my favorites for dinner? That's obviously planned. Yet, I can't find myself getting mad at my kohai. He is, after all, a popular 28 youngster and a graduate from my university. Kid sure knows how to treat his Senpai.

"It's just up ahead," Sawatari-san turned and told me. She seemed to have already forgiven me.

Well, I guess I should offer them my congratulations. Suddenly, we heard the sound of people screaming upfront-and running in our way was a sprinting man with a knife. "Move it! I'll kill you!" The attacker screamed.

Tamura and Sawatari-san froze at the scene, their faces filled with confusion, despair, and hopelessness.

"Tamuraaaaa!" I screamed, pushing him away but without enough time to dodge myself.

"Tch damn hindrance!" The assailant crazily shouted as he drove the knife into my torso.

"Akk," my face distorted as I saw him escaping and turned to make sure Tamura and Sawatari-san are safe.

I fell on the ground face plant while Tamura ran toward me. "S-Senpai!!" He shouted as he looked at me, not knowing what to do.

Wh-What is this? It's too hot... I don't want.... this... I thought as warm blood leaked from me while I sweated bullets.

[Confirmed.]

[Heat resistance acquisition successful.]

How the hell could I get stabbed and die?!!

[Confirmed.]

[Stab resistance acquisition successful.]

[Continuing.]

[Physical attack resistance acquisition successful.]

"We need an ambulance! Quick!" Tamura said near Satoru.

[Confirmed.]

[Pain nullification acquisition successful.]

My lungs hurt... I can't breathe...

[Creating a body that doesn't require blood, oxygen, or sleep.]

[Successful.]

Would you... Shut up already, Tamura?! I flipped on my back and lay on the ground, my body filled with blood and breathing raggedly. I thought as I eyed him and Sawatari-san with my right eye.

"Senpai, hang in there!" He told me, tears at the corner of both his and Sawatari-san's eyes.

So cold...

[Cold resistance acquisition successful.]

[Acquisition of Heat Resistance and Cold Resistance results in the acquisition of a new skill, Thermal Fluctuation Resistance.]

Am I... gonna die?

"T-Tamura..." I reached my hand out, barely stuttering, and Tamura held it carefully, listening to what seems to be my last words. "Take the hard drive out of my computer at home... put it in the bath... and make sure it's completely wiped."

[Deletion of Data via electric current has failed due to insufficient information. Error, error. As an alternate measure, Electric Current Resistance was acquired. Attached is Paralysis Resistance. Acquisition successful.]

If only I can take one last look at my copies files... The pain is getting worse...

[Unique Skill: Copy acquisition successful.]

"Senpai..."

"Please..."

Sniff. "All I really wanted to do... was show off Sawatari-san to you..." He admitted and started crying.

"Jeez... cough." I already knew that. "Don't worry about it."

"Mikami-san..." Sawatari-san called to me with tears streaming from her eyes.

"Be sure to make her happy. And make sure to take care of my computer," I told him as he held my hand and cried.

I never thought I'd die a virgin as my eyes turned heavy and closed. If I'm reborn, I'll be a lot more aggressive. I'll screw every girl I like...

[Unique Skill: Predator acquisition successful.]

If a guy who's still a virgin at 30 is a magician, then given how close I was to 40 I would have been a sage. I could've even made it to the great sage level.

[Extra Skill: Sage acquisition successful.]

[Continuing, Sage will transform into the Unique Skill Great Sage.]

[Successful.]

Oh, Shut up already... Just let me... have some... quiet time... I thought as my head dropped to the side, life finally leaving me.

"SENPAI!!!!" Tamura screamed with all his might.