Prologue

(??? POV)

I slung my little duffle bag over my shoulder and tucked my mask under my arm as I walked out from under the outside reception area into the dimming lights of the early evening. Having completed my two hours at the fencing club, all that was on my mind was going home, chucking everything I had on me right now into some dusty corner in my room and flopping into my desk chair in front of my computer.

Maybe I should stop by at the convenience store for a little snack? Now that I think about it, mum did say to bring a bottle of milk home if I could. A bag of cheesepuffs and some soda wouldn't go amiss. Nor would it be unappreciated on animethon night.

Yeah, that's what I call a weekend night where I binge watch anime until this time tomorrow, so sue me!

Man, this week has been hectic! Monday morning, exams. Tuesday afternoon, coursework submissions. Wednesday afternoon, university applications. Thursday morning, spring clean before college, followed by the beginning of a new unit in my physics lesson. And today, Friday, two hours in a fencing competition. Not to mention everyday chores, shopping runs, part-time job and other things.

I don't think I've had a busier week in my life.

Well…there was that time I organized a pizza party for my birthday… and no one came…

Moving on!

There was something else, though I can't remember---

(HONK! HONK!)

In the middle of the crossing, I saw pair of headlights suddenly flash into view, bright as two suns. The guiding lights in my last moments as my life flashed before my eyes, and I closed my eyes, waiting for the inevitable and impending doom of a painful and messy death…

SIKE!

Using my panther like reflexes, I propelled myself backwards with the foot I had stuck out in front of me. In the nick of time too as the truck rushed past me, just skimming the rubber of the tip of trainers.

I stepped back on to the pavement, heart racing a little bit less than it had on Tuesday night the first time this happened.

Oh yeah, now I remember.

About six times within the span of four days, I've been nearly run over by a truck that just seemed to appear out of nowhere. I could almost swear it's the same truck every time. Dark blue truck yellow headlights, no sign of a driver at the wheel because of severely tinted frontshields. Wait, that's illegal…

Mmm, whatever. Better luck next time! I've got a little too much to live for to die in such a cliché way, like my animethon.

Entering the store, I immediately headed for the fridges for a bottle of semi-skimmed then headed a couple of isles over for the cheesepuffs. Coming to the fizzy drinks, I didn't find my favourite soda anywhere on the shelves.

Bummer.

Oh well, there's a fizzy orange right here so might as well grab that. Ooh, and I don't mind a packet of toffees either. Passing by the cheesepuffs again, I contemplated.

"Mhm, a little bit too gluttonous to take another one. Then again…you only live once!"

Was this the typical ironic statement that jinxed my whole existence? Could be, could not be. That bastard seems to do what he likes, whenever he likes. Coming back to this particular moment in time, I grabbed another big bag of cheesepuffs and made my way to the self-checkout.

As I was loading it all up on the scale, I contemplated what I would be watching tonight. It was early winter right now, and at this time of the year, pretty much no good anime was coming out. So, that meant tonight would have to be a nostalgic animethon. What should I re-watch?

It was going to be fantasy whatever I would end up watching. Took a bit off the mind losing yourself into dreams and fairy tales, letting go of reality momentarily. Probably fantasy, and something a little action packed as well.

I scanned my clubcard and gleefully watched as two units of currency was slashed right off the total. Might not seem much, but you have no idea what kind of an impact it would have in the long run. Stuffing my items into my bag, I exited back out into the open. The sun had pretty much gone down by now, although its light still caused red streaks in the sky.

I frowned upon seeing this. Evening really came too quickly in winter. And it just got quicker as time went on. Squaring my shoulders, I set off for home. My gaze focused on the ground, I ruminated once again upon the extremely important decision of what to watch tonight. Fantasy and action eh?

Would probably be nice to watch Seven deadly sins again. Although that is extremely long. Twenty-four episodes each season for four seasons, plus the two movies that had come out. And another spin off series was about to happen soon as well, if it hadn't already.

Nah, even if the spin off has started I'm not watching it now. Wait until it has all passed, and then watch it all in one go is my motto. Come on, everyone agrees here right?

Right?

Then again, I could re-watch Danmachi. Action packed, magic, ecchi and fantasy concepts. Though the protagonist pisses me off. Hero grandeur and all that crap. Maybe I'm being a little harsh on him but come on. Kids give up dreams of being heroes at like five or six in this world. In a world where death is supposed to be round every corner as it is much more unruly, you'd think kids would mature more quickly.

And it certainly didn't matter he was some cringey, sweaty, skinny, stuttering, mumbling groveling little prat.

Decisions, decisions.

I was suddenly startled as a blob of some grey black substance dropped on the pavement in front of me. Upon impact, some of it splattered over my jeans and shoes. Taking a moment to compose myself, I glanced up to see the perpetrator sitting on a lamppost staring down its beak at me with its beady eyes. It cooed at me, as if it were mocking me with the fact it managed to get me with its filthy muck as I realized that was what had hit the pavement.

'I really hate pigeons.' I thought grimly.

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I got home a few minutes later and called out.

"Mum!". I waited for a reply for a couple of seconds before no response came.

"Must still be at work." I murmured.

I dropped my shoes in the rack and made my way upstairs to the loft, which had been converted into my own bedroom for me. First things first, drop the snack bag by the desk, turn the computer on and put on my show.

Priorities man, priorities.

After I washed up properly and put on a dressing gown, I locked the door and walked back up the little mini flight of stairs that lead to my area. Sitting down at my desk, I put on my headphones and started my show. I'd settled upon Danmachi.

It must have happened around midnight or so.

I'd taken a fistful of cheesepuffs and stuffed down my gob. But to my horror, a piece broke off and went down the wrong tract. It was the most agonizing last moments I could imagine, the powdery texture of the puffs scraping along the sides of my throat and windpipe as I desperately gasped for air.

However, at what I assume was the last moment before my soul was supposed to leave my body, I blinked and suddenly found myself on a large balcony of sorts, overlooking a valley that could only exist in a fairytale.

I wasn't given much time to ruminate as a voice distracted me from behind.

"About damn time you got here!"

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