Ordinary Life
Her eyes a captivating gradient that transitioned from a deep and alluring shade of purple to the softest, delicate hue of pink. Within the depths of those enchanting eyes, a pair of six-pointed stars twinkle with an ethereal radiance, casting a spell upon all who dare to meet her gaze.
Her hair, flowing like a cascade of silk, is a mesmerizing fusion of celestial blue and purple tones. Each strand carries a subtle shimmer as if touched by the midnight sky and kissed by the gentle hues of dawn. It dances with a graceful elegance, a vibrant tapestry of colors that captures the essence of her unique allure.
This is the formula for an irresistible charm that effortlessly captures your attention, even amidst a bustling sea of countless background characters.
"Beautiful..."
It was impossible to avert my gaze from her.
Such were my initial impressions as I embarked on the journey of watching the anime's first episode.
I held high expectations, firmly believing that Ai Hoshino would carry the entire show on her shoulders. No other character could possibly compare.
But then, to my utter disbelief, she met a tragic demise. The Author's cruelty seemed boundless.
How could they mercilessly snuff out the light of such a remarkable character? It left me seething with anger, almost tempted to abandon the series in protest.
Why subject myself to this heart-wrenching tragedy when the very core of it had been extinguished?
However, despite my initial outrage, I convinced myself to continue. There was still one driving force that kept me engaged—the promise of Aqua's revenge.
It all began with a simple recommendation from a friend, and even before delving into the narrative, I was already captivated by Ai Hoshino's magnetic presence, as brilliantly showcased on the cover.
My insatiable curiosity knew no bounds. After watching the latest episode of the anime, I was consumed by an overwhelming desire to know how the story would unfold as I hungrily read the manga.
However, to my disappointment, the plot had not yet reached the point of revenge I had anticipated. Instead, there were mere hints of a plan, clouded in uncertainty and mistrust, particularly due to the cryptic remarks of that peculiar crow girl.
I questioned my own sanity as I delved into these thoughts, contemplating how far I would be willing to go to make that despicable scum suffer. Perhaps it was sheer madness that gripped my mind.
---
In the days after I caught up with the manga, my thoughts incessantly circled back to the enigmatic circumstances.
A constant pull drew me back as if there were unresolved threads begging to be explored. Yet, as these musings veered into the realm of the fantastical, I teetered on the edge of dismissing them as mere flights of fiction.
Reminding myself that it was only an anime, a creation of the Author's imagination...
But before I could complete that train of thought, my instincts compelled me to glance to my left. Despite my earphones shielding me from the sounds of the bustling street, my eyes were unobstructed.
"Wha—"
In an instant, a deafening roar filled the air as a massive truck barreled toward me with unrestrained velocity.
The world around me seemed to slow down, the passing moments stretching into eternity.
My eyes widened in disbelief, capturing every detail of the oncoming calamity with acute clarity.
The screeching tires, the blinding headlights, and the sheer force propelling it forward—all served as an ominous reminder of my imminent death.
Yet, despite the urgency screaming within my mind, my body remained paralyzed, disconnected from my will.
Panic surged through my veins, a primal instinct urging me to flee. But try as I might, my limbs felt heavy and unresponsive as if held captive by an invisible force.
Time seemed to distort further as the truck's speed intensified, the rushing wind carrying a tangible sense of menace. I braced myself for the impact, my heart pounding in my chest, a mixture of fear and resignation mingling within me.
Thoughts raced through my mind in a chaotic whirlwind—regret for being ensnared by the allure of an anime so much I didn't bother paying attention to anything else and the bittersweet recognition that this might be the end.
I'm sorry, Mom and Dad. It seemed that I was a disappointment after all. What genius was I? Even if I possessed some intelligence, this incident proved that I was far from extraordinary.
The World around me was engulfed in an impenetrable Shroud of Darkness, a veil that obscured my surroundings and left me disoriented as none of the pain I should've felt was registered by my body.
"Where...am I?"
As I stood there, a sense of unease settling in, I felt a surge of curiosity tinged with trepidation.
Before I could delve into my thoughts any further, a sudden blink transformed my surroundings entirely.
The once-dim abyss now gave way to a desolate street, littered with a congregation of sinister crows. Their beady eyes bore into me with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine as if they could see through my very soul.
Wait. this scene felt strangely familiar-
[...The way you died is so cliché. If I were you, I would wish never to wake up again.]
My mind spun in a dizzying vortex of disbelief as a figure I knew all too well materialized before my eyes, leaving me speechless.
"You are...Impossible..."
With her golden locks cascading around her face and vibrant eyes that betrayed a wisdom far beyond her apparent age, she stood before me—an embodiment of contradictions and impossibilities.
How could this be? The girl who interacted with Ruby and Aqua in the manga... here, standing before me?
My thoughts raced, desperately seeking a logical explanation. Was I caught in the depths of an intricate dream, where the boundaries of reality blurred and merged with fiction?
As I struggled to reconcile the familiar presence before me with the confines of reason, a whispered voice danced on the edge of my consciousness, a playful smirk gracing her lips.
[Impossible? Does this shock you?] she chimed, her voice dancing with mischievous delight.
It couldn't possibly be real.
However, as if sensing my inner turmoil, she swiftly dismissed my hesitations. Her words cut through the fog of uncertainty, jolting me back to reality.
[Enough with these futile thoughts, Ren Amamiya] she declared, her voice laced with conviction. [I am as real as you are. And I offer you a chance—a chance to change what you have witnessed in that fabricated show. But there is a condition, one that I know you will find enticing.]
A surge of emotions threatened to overwhelm me, each one vying for dominance within my core. But, strangely, they all fell silent.
This couldn't be a dream.
The impact of her words reverberated through me, dispelling any lingering doubts.
[Kill that man. Bring me his corpse. If you accept, I will grant you the opportunity to live in that world as your heart desires.]
I must be losing my mind, I thought to myself, as an inexplicable smile tugged at the corners of my lips...
The identity to whom 'that man' was referring clear to me from the start, and the prospect of it only heightened my excitement.
Why had I been chosen? The answer eluded me, but in the grand scheme of things, did it matter? If it meant rescuing her, then I had no qualms about resorting to direct and lethal measures against him.
Yet, before fully committing to this, I needed some answers.
I slowly breathed in and out to calm myself.
"...Before that. Care to explain?"
I craved a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies involved. The mere contemplation of it sent an exhilarating chill down my spine, fueling my anticipation.
There was an undeniable sense of madness in trusting the words of a girl I had only encountered within the pages of a manga. It defied logic, yet I found myself inexplicably compelled to embrace the unknown.
Fear, a primal instinct etched into the very core of human nature, should have consumed me. Panic should have overwhelmed my senses as it did when facing the truck. And yet, against all odds, a profound calmness washed over me, soothing the tremors of uncertainty...
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Author's Note:
Feel free to comment or review this work. I plan to take things a bit differently compared to how I am currently doing on Danmachi: Shrouded in the Abyss of Darkness.