Prologue

"Are you still having some of those vietnam flashbacks, Ryu?" Ryu was on the boat, about to leave for America to reunite with Ken after many years, waving goodbye to his grandfather and childhood friend on his small island in one of Japan's prefectures when the motorboat driver inquired with concern.

Ryu wasn't always paying attention, and his mind wandered at times, even when things or moments were critical. This had been going on for a number of years since "it" occurred.

The driver of this small motorboat knew a lot about Ryu and his problems, which were traumatizing and could not be ignored.

"Are you recalling the Hunger Games from that year?" The motorboat operator inquired once more.

"Yeah, even after all these years, I can't help myself..." Ryu sighed and shifted his gaze away from the small coast port on the island.

"That's understandable. What I still don't understand, if you don't mind my asking, is why you were left with such a lasting trauma." The driver said. "From what I recall, you and Ken slaughtered all the participants in a matter of hours. Was there anything else that happened, or were you simply traumatized by killing all those young people your age?"

"... I'm not sure myself," Ryu said, frowning slightly. "How long will it take us to get to Osaka?" he changed the subject.

He disliked discussing the Hunger Games with people from this world. They had unusual perspectives on it.

"The entire day. We'll have to make a nighttime stop on another island on the way. I hope you got some money because I only have enough for myself." The driver spoke up.

"Yeah, I do." Ryu shook his head when the man wasn't looking, as he had some of his attention on the sky.

This world was strange to him, and he had no idea why he had been reborn in it after all these years. The cheat he was getting now, for reasons he also ignored, didn't feel like explaining this crossover to him.

All Ryu cared about was the fact that there appeared to be a Katniss Everdeen somewhere in this world.

He knew because he could look at her through a skyscreen.

*****************************

That night at the hotel, somewhere on an island on the way to Osaka.

"Can you please explain my cheats to me again, system?" Ryu inquired, alone in his room, lying on his bed in a mosquito-infested room.

The system began to explain, to which Ryu only half listened…

It had been a few years since he was reborn in this world, which included elements and people from the Hunger Games, but also street fighter. He had survived having his name called that year in when his name called in the games with Ken's.

Ken was with him and their master Gouken in Japan at the time. Poor Gouken was no longer alive.

Only today, listening to the system, did Ryu realize that this world was a convergence of many more worlds than he had previously imagined.

Despite the fact that he was only talking about the cheats, he was providing enough important information about the world.

This world was insane and simple all at the same time, dominated by one thought: reality television.

Dating and Survival reality shows were especially popular, with the Hunger Games at the top of the list. Unlike most other TV shows, participation was mandatory, with participants from all over the world chosen to form teams based on location.

Ryu sweated that year because he didn't have to compete against his best friend…

He had escaped the worst-case scenario thanks to Ken's love of martial arts and his ability to travel to Japan and miss school for a few years.

There was more mystery in this world that the system was too stingy to divulge, and Ryu was too lazy to contemplate.

"Could you please repeat the information about the cheats to me?" Ryu asked his talkative but lazy system.

[Did you not listen?]

"No, that is why I am asking." Ryu responded.

[What a strange host.]

"Do you have other ones?" Ryu asked.

[...]

"As I suspected." Ryu burst out laughing. "Stop wasting both of our time and let us both go to sleep."

*****************************

The next day, Ryu woke up remembering his cheats as he ate some quick breakfast.

He was going to miss coconuts, or were there some in America?

His cheat was annoying, like his system.

It was Gacha, and it was pretty dumb and simple. Gacha lottery that only worked twice a year.

"..." Ryu finished his meal and mentally rolled the wheel, bracing himself for the worst.

He wanted to leave this island as soon as possible to get to America, but he didn't want to do so without trying his luck.

Soon the result came out from a capsule in his hands, it was a consumable looking like something from his childhood…

"A memory card?" Ryu furrowed his brow.

********************************************

<<<

The first volume of this book (Singles Inferno) moves very quickly. When Ryu and Ken get to Orlando, where they will live most of the time, things will slow down and get more detailed.