Working To The Bone

At one table, a woman around twenty years old worked, having just finished a long, exhausting, and utterly draining task. Beside her was a pile of completed papers, and in front of her lay the last, very last piece of paper. She sifted through it, signed a few administrative items, and was finally done.

"Hnnn."

The woman stretched thoroughly after a whole day of work. Dark circles were under her eyes, and she looked like she could fall asleep any second.

"Finally done. I can't wait for my bed. That sweet, wonderful bed."

She began to tidy up her things and prepare to leave this hellish job. At least she was paid well for it.

"Ah, Akemo-san, wait a moment."

The woman, named Akemo, looked back and saw her supervisor. The man looked quite robust, wearing a white shirt and tie. Akemo didn't want to do anything more; it was almost midnight, and her body was already cramping.

"Sorry, Akemo, but I need you to do this as well."

With what her supervisor said, Akemo looked as if she had seen a ghost. Another wave of paperwork sat on her desk. Paperwork, her worst enemy.

"Yes, sir."

After Akemo responded positively, her supervisor nodded appreciatively and began to leave.

*Sighhh*

Once her supervisor was out of sight, Akemo sighed, her shoulders slumping; she couldn't take it anymore. She just wanted it to be over and to go home. She sat at her desk and reached for a piece of paper. Suddenly, she heard a rustling, and as if time slowed down, she looked at the stack of papers falling towards her.

Akemo was buried in papers, lost within them, and all she saw was darkness.

...

In the darkness, Akemo was confused. She no longer felt tired. She slowly opened her eyes and saw books. Books?

"Huh? Where am I? Why are there so many books here?"

Akemo looked around and saw nothing but books. She was in a massive library stretching as far as her eyes could see. She began to look around frantically.

'Someone kidnapped me? What is happening? Why a library of all things? I hope they don't plan to do something weird to me.'

As she started to think about the horrors that might befall her.

"Fufufu, welcome Akemo Yuki, to my library. I hope an interesting book chooses you."

Akemo suddenly heard a child's voice. She looked around but saw no one.

"Fufufu, look up."

Akemo looked up and saw a boy levitating several meters above her.

"Wh-what are you doing there? Be careful, you might fall! Don't worry, I'll catch you."

Akemo was startled and blurted out the words without thinking.

"Fufufu, don't worry, Akemo Yuki, I am Codex. And I'm not a child, let's say I'm something like a god."

The boy, still levitating, spoke with a smile on his face.

"Hey, nice joke. But can you tell me your name? Where are your parents? And what are you even doing in a library?"

The boy who called himself Codex kept smiling.

"Can't you see I'm levitating? And how do I even know your name?"

This made Akemo pause. She just realized the boy was indeed levitating. She started to look for wires or something.

"Am I on some TV show or in some reality show? Or something like that."

Codex lost his smile. He was starting to get annoyed by how this woman still didn't believe him.

*Sigh*

Codex sighed and snapped his fingers. A bubble appeared in front of Akemo.

It startled her, making her jump back a bit. Images started to appear on the bubble. It showed a woman, her, standing at her desk when suddenly all the papers fell on her, and one paper choked her, causing her to suffocate.

This was strange for Akemo. She looked at the boy who had just done something she couldn't explain.

"Um, sorry, but what did you say about being some kind of god?"

The boy started to smile again.

"Hihihi, well, something like that. I am the owner of this library. Once again, welcome, Akemo Yuki. I must congratulate you on your reincarnation."

Akemo looked down.

"So, I died."

"Yes, but don't worry, because I will reincarnate you into a new world. And before you ask, no, I can't return you to your old world."

Akemo looked a bit sad. Though she had no parents, her cat Kage was waiting for her at home.

"And can I take Kage, my cat, with me? I wouldn't want him to be sad because of me."

Codex simply nodded.

"Yes, that's possible. I'll reincarnate him with you. So, he'll be with you in your next life."

When Codex answered, Akemo bowed.

"Thank you."

Codex just smiled; the soul in front of him was quite kind. He had seen purer souls, but this one had a simple kindness.

Akeno started scratching her neck.

"So, what now?"

Codex smiled.

"Shishishi, I'm glad you asked. As you can see, you are in a library where everything, absolutely everything, is recorded. And here, the books also have emotions, traits, moods, and many other things."

Akemo started blinking her eyes because he didn't answer her question.

"Don't worry, I'm getting to it. So, here, there are books containing fictional worlds. And one book will choose you. The book that chooses you will be the world you go to. So, please stand here."

Codex pointed to a red cross on the ground, and Akemo stood on the red cross. After a moment of standing in silence, she heard something. Something was flying towards her.

A book arrived in front of her face, and on it was written, "My Hero Academia."

Codex looked at the book that had chosen her.

"Hmm MHA, it looks like it likes you a lot."

The book started to nuzzle against her.

"And what now?"

Akemo couldn't do anything but ask.

"Now we choose who you will become, using a little roulette."

Suddenly, a roulette appeared beside her with names on it. Names of both male and female characters.

"Do we really have to do this? Can't I just be reincarnated as myself?"

Codex started wagging his finger.

"Tch tch tch, don't be like that, Akemo Yuki. It's just for fun."

Before Akemo could protest, Codex spun the roulette.

Akemo could do nothing but watch the roulette, wondering if it would be her doom or salvation.

The roulette spun and spun.

...

(Ten minutes later)

The roulette started to slow down, losing speed. The pointer stopped at Velgrynd from Tensura. Akemo began to celebrate.

"Yes, yes, yes, jackpot."

Akemo started celebrating prematurely, but the pointer moved back one space.

Akeno looked at the roulette.

"Nooo, I could have been Velgrynd."

Akemo fell to her knees. She looked at the roulette and saw the name.

"Velvet Crowe, Tales of Berseria."

Akemo stared at the name for a moment.

"Ummm, who?"

Codex, witnessing this little escapade, began to laugh.

"Hahahahaha."

Akemo felt crushed. This stupid game had given her hope and then destroyed it.

Codex looked at Akemo.

"Well, Akemo Yuki, I can show you who that is."

A bubble appeared in front of Akemo, showing a woman.

A tall woman with long, black hair and golden eyes in tattered clothing.

(I don't feel like copying the text from the fandom, so I'll just put the picture here)

(Look at the cover and you will know)

Akemo looked at the bubble.

"She looks pretty nice, but I still don't know who she is."

Codex just smiled at her.

"Fufufu, you'll have to find out for yourself. Another soul is waiting for me, so..."

Codex nudged Akemo, who went through a strange gate that began to close.

"Wait, I want to know more."

As the gate closed, Codex leaned in and waved.

"Bye-bye."

Akemo looked at the gate.

"Was that a fucking Bleach reference?"

Suddenly, Akemo was engulfed by darkness.

(End of chapter)