Is This The World I Know?

<Edited>

Chapter 1

It's been two years since I graduated from the college I went to for five years. Even though I graduated a year later than others, I still managed to get a stable job, just like my friends.

I became an ordinary office worker just like the others -maybe a little lower than others.

I can never save more than a tenth of my salary each month. Keeping it until the next payment day often becomes a challenge for me.

I was never an extravagant person. Actually, I was always stingy, with only one exception: food money.

'if I even save food money, what did I work hard for?' is one of my life mottos. But of course, the food money is also still within the acceptable range of at least eating healthy and nutritious food, not 5-star hotels food that is unreasonably priced. So that's how I lived for the past two years.

Besides that, I also have other hobbies: Anime, Manga, Novels, and games. Everything people would associate with an 'Otaku,' all my free time is dedicated to them. But believe me, I'm not a fanatical creep who buys action figures and peaks under their skirt, I swear.

All I did was enjoy the works distributed for free on the internet. Unless it's a game I really fell in love with, I won't spend a single penny. As I said before, I'm stingy.

After reading this far, I'm sure you would conclude that I am sad, broke single, right? Well, congratulations, you're spot on!

I am the last child in five with one older sister and one older brother. Maybe that's the reason why I'm still a spoiled brat, but only if compared to my siblings.

I often hear stories from my friends whose families got a lot of problems. Compared to that, I'd say I grew up in a very loving environment.

The three of us siblings have a very close relationship. But I will not exploit this relationship by asking them for money. Even I still have a speck of pride as their younger siblings. But, of course, in an emergency such as getting sick, I won't hesitate to borrow money from them, as they will to me because that's just how our relationship is.

As for my parents, they are easily the most amazing people I know. They raised us three to always help each other in need.

There was a time when my dad went bankrupt, and our family fell into poverty. The five of us even had to share a single pack of noodles for a meal. But my parents still worked hard step by step to restore our family finances to the point where we are now above average. They also never complain that I never once brought home a girlfriend, let alone daughter-in-law, until now, unlike my brother.

Now my older siblings are successful with their respective jobs overseas. They are all so amazing that I can tell of their accomplishments with pride.

(I miss them all very much)

***

Every year, the company I work at holds a holiday event for all its employees. Of course, I, who only spend free time with my hobby, have no reason to refuse a free vacation.

This is the second year I have participated in this event. Everything is the same as last year: playing jokes and having fun with co-workers was fun. The only difference is how I became one of the seniors this time. The new girl who entered this company was a fresh graduate from college, just like how I was last year.

Her appearance is not bad, but many other seniors are prettier and sexier than her. 155cm is a little short for my taste. She is slim without excess fat, but it was the same on the parts that needed more fat, which lessens her attractiveness as a female. Her nature is a little shy, maybe because she just graduated from college afraid of socializing with her seniors.

Just like how I was mentored by my senior last year, she also got a senior to mentor and guide her, and that senior was me….

The details are not essential, but it seems I did a good job guiding her as a senior. At least, that is what I thought when I saw her happily joking with the other female seniors from my seat at the back of the bus. So this year's event ended well.. or so I thought.

On the way home, something unexpected happened.

Our bus got into an accident.

***

"Ugh… "

My whole body was screaming the moment I regained consciousness. I didn't know how long did I pass out. It took a few seconds for me to get used to the pain.

The smell of smoke spreads everywhere. Besides that, I can feel some heat from one direction. After a while, I got more used to the pain and managed to lift my body.

It looked like I was lying down on the grass. I bounced off the bus and fell on the bushes, to be more precise.

"arghhh…." "uarggghhh…" "hu..rt…." "he..lp..." "uuu…"

I started to hear the voices of my co-worker, who also got bounced off the bus after I regained focus. Maybe it's a fortune amidst misfortune that we thrown off the bus fell on the bushes. If we all didn't fall on the bushes…. I don't even want to imagine it. Other than me, several of my co-workers are also used to their pain starting to stand up.

The bus that we rented overturned and burned a little distance from us. That is the source of the heat that I felt. Staring at it for a moment, I could see those who were not lucky were burned with the bus. I can't even explain how I feel right now. Should I be Sad that all this disaster happened or happy that I was fortunately thrown off the bus? However, Moments later, I realized something even worse. The bus' gasoline tank was damaged due to the accident, and the gasoline was leaking out. At this rate, the bus will explode.

I tried to get away from the bus immediately, but then I remembered the other co-workers around.

"a..rgh…."

I tried to warn them, but my voice didn't come out. I think I got hurt when I bounced off the bus, or maybe I froze because of my fear, or it might be both. As time goes on, gasoline keeps leaking out.

I didn't have time to think about others when I hardly stayed conscious of myself, so I decided to save myself, and for the last time, I saw my colleagues around. Only to find an unconscious woman who was closest to the bus. In contrast to colleagues I only knew or ever talked to once, the woman was the junior I guided during this event.

"uarrghhhh…"

I tried to call out to her, but only indistinct sounds escaped my throat. It seems I injured my throat badly.

I don't know if it's my conscience working or because of a speck of pride left in me, my body moves on its own, lifting my heavy legs step by step closer to the woman.

What am I doing? I don't understand anymore, I have tried to pull the woman away from the bus, but reality doesn't always go as you want.

What can I do with a body like this even I can't walk firmly, let alone drag another person. I only managed to pull her less than a meter when she suddenly spoke,

"se…ni..or…."

The woman regained consciousness. I can't explain the situation to her with my injured throat. She also seems to struggle just to open her eyes and slightly move her lips somehow. But I still didn't want to give up. Until...

*bzztttt…

My time is up… I immediately shielded her with my body from the bus.

*BOOMMMM!

The last thing I remember is being thrown again by the impact and the woman covered tightly in my arms.

****

I thought I would wake up in the ICU with all kinds of equipment stuck into my body and several people with masks looking at me from above.

For a moment, I lifted my heavy eyelids. Even though my vision was blurry, I could still describe the person in front of my eyes. A beautiful woman whose face was pale like someone exhausted after overworking even though the woman still looked at me gently and happily.

"your name is... Lex... Lex Mikaela"