The streetlights flickered in the quiet night, casting long, rhythmic shadows.
Kuoh Town was calm, or so it seemed.
Click. Click. Pan.
In a small corner of the town, a fierce battle was raging. A colossal manticore, a beast of digital myth, was locked in a death match against a desperate group of warriors.
And watching it all through the glow of a high-end monitor was a brown-haired boy.
He glanced at the clock.
02:00 am
"... Five minutes left."
Hyoudou Issei, 18 years old.
He was currently deep in a guild raid in a popular MMORPG, facing down a newly released boss. The time limit was fast approaching, and the monster still had almost half its health. Most of his guildmates were already dead, staring at grey screens and waiting for revive timers that wouldn't reset in time. The boss wasn't giving anyone a second to breathe.
The only thing the dead could do was to provide... 'moral support' through text chat.
[Guild Chat]
Hyoudou Issei's game character, Yuusha36, was sprinting in circles, dodging claw swipes and tail lashes but refusing to attack.
Click. Pan.
Issei dragged his mouse, adjusting the camera angle, watching the boss's every move.
The ground turned red. AOE warning. The manticore unleashed a shockwave. The last two standing members vanished.
Time Left: 4:03
At the 4:00 mark, the mechanic shifted. Mini-manticores spawned, flooding the arena. Issei's character weaved through them effortlessly, camera locked on the boss. But the other member wasn't so lucky...
<
Click... Click... CLICK.
Time Left: 3:07
Issei exhaled sharply. His finger held down 'W'.
He ran straight at the boss.
He side-stepped a claw, rolled under a tail swipe, and in one fluid motion, pulled out his bow. He aimed straight up.
SHOOT.
The arrow vanished into the skybox.
Satellite Arrow. A high-risk, high-reward skill. You launch an arrow into the orbit and ten seconds later, it comes down like a nuke. But if the boss moves even an inch out of the impact zone; congratulations, you just wasted all your MP on literally zero damage.
Issei didn't wait. He swapped to his sub-weapon, a shortsword, and used 'Shadow Step' to blink behind the boss. He started a basic attack chain. The minions swarmed him. He ignored them, charging a sub weapon skill, rooting himself in place.
Suddenly, the boss leaped to the center of the arena. The AOE indicator flashed. The minions were chipping away Issei's health. He was stuck charging an attack while standing in the kill zone.
...
..
.
"... Boom."
BOOM!
It was as if a meteor had struck.
The Satellite Arrow slammed into the center of the arena. The boss's AOE was interrupted by the massive impact stun. The explosion vaporized the surrounding minions.
Seeing this-
Stretch.
Issei's lips curled into a wide, crooked smile. The blue light of the monitor reflected in his eyes, giving them an eerie glow.
Yuusha36 unleashed the fully charged sword skill onto the stunned boss. An impressive chunk of HP had vanished due to the combo.
ROAR.
The monster shook off the stun, locking onto Yuusha36.
SHOOT.
Issei swapped back to the bow. Another arrow into the sky.
The boss crouched. Charge attack.
Issei didn't dodge immediately. He moved slightly to the left, swapping to his sword to parry a minion. The boss charged. Missed. Turned. Charged again.
Issei dodged at the last frame. The boss turned for the third charge.
BOOM!
The second arrow landed. Issei had positioned himself so the boss's own movement patterns would bring it back to the center at the exact moment of impact.
He followed up with an instantaneous slash.
Yuusha36 distanced himself, switching to bow, pointed at the sky...
Time Left: 2:23
SHOOT.
....
RAID CLEAR
Ranks:
Attacker: Yuusha36
Tank: LastuAegis
Support...
....
...
..
.
The raid ended with seven seconds on the clock. Chat was exploding with praise.
"…"
Issei's fingers flew across the keys.
Blank.
Issei killed the power. The monitors went dark.
He pulled off his headphones and let them drop to the desk, basking in the sudden, heavy silence.
It was 2:07 AM.
Beep. Beep.
Issei's phone lit up on the desk.
He unlocked it. The notification badge read '99+'. The messages had been piling up all weekend.
'Break up with Rias-Sama, you bastard!'
'I know that you are a pervert too like those two little monkeys. You can't fool my eyes.'
'Don't assume you can just walk in here and do us all like that.'
'I know where you live.'
He scrolled, his eyes scanning past the insults, looking for one specific name.
It wasn't there.
Issei switched the phone to silent and flopped onto his bed.
"…Goodnight."
… …
…
.
"Streaks of red, and streaks of light…
Together they shall paint,
The stage for my flight."
Rumble.
A flash of jagged memory twisted his vision.
His own face, pale and splattered with fresh blood, eyes wide with shock.
SCREEEEAAAAAMM!
The sound tore through his mind. He flinched, throwing an arm over his face, running blindly—
His heart hammered against his ribs. People were staring. Horror. Something terrible had happened—
RINGGG! RINNGGGGG!
I woke up with a start, completely soaked in sweat.
RINGGGGG! RINNG— CLICK
He slapped the alarm off.
'…Weird dream.'
*****
07:45 AM
Time to leave. But first, the routine.
Slash. Zoom. Shoot.
On his monitor, Yuusha36 was tearing through mobs with peak efficiency. Issei checked the script he'd coded. It was running perfectly, mimicking his own playstyle to avoid bot detection. Farming 0.1% drop rate items was a waste of life; letting a bot do it was just efficiency.
Satisfied, he grabbed his school bag and walked out.
**********
Kuoh Town was awake. Engines hummed, voices spilled onto the streets, and the morning rush was in full swing. Hyoudou Issei was another face in the crowd.
He navigated the packed sidewalks towards the imposing gates of Kuoh Academy. Formerly an elite all-girls school, now co-ed, though the ratio still heavily favored the girls. To most guys, it was paradise. To Issei, it was...
"…"
He sensed it before he heard it.
He sidestepped to the left.
Two figures stumbled past him, their attempt to lock him in a headlock grasping only empty air.
"The hell?!" the guy with glasses, complained, adjusting his frame.
"Do you have eyes in the back of your head or something?!" His bald friend commented.
Motohama and Matsuda. The 'Perverted Duo.' His only "friends," mostly by default because no one else would talk to the guy labeled a 'dead fish' by the student body.
They fell into step beside him, immediately launching into a loud debate about a new AV idol. Issei ignored the disgusted glares they attracted, his eyes scanning the crowd.
Not surprisingly some of those glares were aimed at him.
The reason for the glares was waiting at the school entrance.
The crowd parted around her like the Red Sea. Crimson hair that flowed to her hips, blue eyes that shimmered like sunlit water, and a beauty that felt almost ethereal.
Rias Gremory. Third-year. School Idol.
And... the girlfriend of Hyoudou Issei.
The last part didn't make sense by any logic.
"Good Morning," Rias Gremory said with a gentle smile.
"…Good morning, Senpai," Issei replied, keeping his voice flat.
She chuckled softly. The sound seemed to silence the entire courtyard.
"Would you be available for lunch this afternoon?"
Gasps rippled through the onlookers. The space around them suddenly felt very small and very crowded.
"I am free."
Don't overthink. Play it cool.
"I wanted to discuss some things with you. Is that okay?"
The whispers exploded. 'It's true? They're actually talking?'
Issei nodded. He knew exactly what she wanted to discuss.
"Good. I'll send someone to get you."
She waved and walked away, leaving Issei standing in the epicenter of a hundred jealous stares.
*****
Surprisingly, the physical harassment I expected never came. The online rage was palpable, but in the hallways, it manifested only as icy glares. Well, I could handle glares.
The morning classes passed in a blur of half-sleep.
As the clock ticked toward lunch, my thoughts wandered to my supposed girlfriend.
******************
Three days ago, Afternoon at school
*****************
"So, Issei-kun," Motohama adjusted his glasses, a gleam of sadistic delight in his eyes. "Your punishment for losing the bet is… asking out Rias Gremory."
"Oh shit!" Matsuda curled his fist over his mouth, "You better do it online Issei, hahaha!"
I never should have bet on football.
I walked up to her in the courtyard, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs.
"…Please go out with me."
Grandpa in heaven, I just confessed to a girl. Are you proud?
The silence was deafening. I could feel the eyes of her fans burning holes in my back.
'Did he just…?'
'Eww…'
'Dead fish eyes even when he's confessing…'
"…Sure."
The word dropped like a bomb.
Rias Gremory smiled, sweet and terrifying. The Perverted Duo's jaws hit the floor. Her fans looked like they'd just witnessed a murder.
But no one was more shocked than me.
*********
PRESENT
*********
We hadn't spoken since, till this morning. The entire student body seemed to have a different idea though. Apparently, rumors of a weekend date had already spread. How can they even say stuff like that about a guy who pulled two all-nighters playing video games?
"KYAAAAAA!"
The scream cut through my thoughts. The hallway erupted.
There was only one cause for that sound: Yuuto Kiba.
The Prince of Kuoh. The guy living the life I couldn't even dream of. He was in my year but existed in a different stratosphere.
He was the natural enemy of Motohama and Matsuda, the black hole that sucked up all female attention in a ten-mile radius.
And he was walking straight towards my table.
'Ah…'
My escort had arrived.
*********
I followed him down the corridor. Did she think I'd get lost on the way to the cafeteria?
I knew about her club, the Occult Research Club (ORC). High-profile, invite-only, filled with the school's elite. Even the handsome Prince who was leading me, was also part of that club.
I often hear from the duo how likely it would've been that they would've landed a girlfriend if they were in that club. I assumed it was because of their misguided belief that they could bag any of the popular girls in that club, but apparently no… They believed that if they joined the club, the ORC female fans would go out with them, just to make sure that they wouldn't approach the ORC members.
… It was such an unusually brilliant plan, that I was speechless… but were they really ok with such a relationship…?
I wanted no part of it. I wasn't into the occult, and moreover their beauty levels were over 9000. I would stick out like a sore thumb.
Though, one has to wonder. What do those high profile people think about me? I mean, I am dating their club president Rias Gremory, like what are the odds that this guy is gonna lead me to somewhere else and try to stab—
"Hyoudou-Kun, can we talk somewhere in private for a minute?"
… Okay, I am dead.
************
[Behind the Gym]
************
We went behind the gym, and he made sure no one was around. All clear.
"Are you aware of the real reason Buchou accepted your proposal?"
Because she loves me?!
Yeah, right. You have to be a next-level delulu to believe that Rias Gremory would fall in love with you if the first words you ever spoke to her were 'Please go out with me' and you are a 'dead fish' to boot. I happen to be a bit of a realistic guy.
"Is it because of Hiro Satoru?"
Kiba nodded.
Hiro Satoru. The shadow over our perfect academy. The youngest son of Hiro Shōkai, a massive conglomerate. A boxing prodigy. An S-grade bully.
Kuoh Academy wasn't normal, and neither were its bullies. Hiro acted like a feudal lord, collecting "protection money" while being the biggest threat on campus.
And he was obsessed with Rias Gremory.
His influence rivaled the Student Council. Most guys were too terrified to even look at Rias. That's why everyone used LINE to confess now. If you pay the right money to the right person in this school, you can get her Line ID. It was safer.
I'd just been stupid enough to do it in person.
"So, what's my role?" I asked. "I assume it involves my brother."
Kiba nodded again, impressed.
Hyoudou Izo.
My younger brother. The popular, strong, and handsome member of the Student Council. The guy who had beaten Hiro's entire crew single-handedly last year. The only one Hiro wouldn't touch.
Rias was playing the power card. Dating Izo's brother to ward off Hiro. Smart. However, risky.
If Hiro realized Izo didn't give a damn about me, the shield would shatter.
"Buchou believes Hiro will back off if he thinks you two are together," Kiba explained. "So… please go out with her until graduation. She thinks you are the perfect candidate due to your… reputation."
… The dead fish.
Were these rude people implying that I would have never got a girlfriend in my remaining two highschool years either way? Well… they weren't wrong though.
"…Alright," I said, "But why are you the one saying these things to me?"
Wasn't I supposed to discuss these things with Senpai?
"It would be difficult to discuss this openly. Regarding your reward… Buchou said she would grant you anything you ask for."
He looked up, his prince mask slipping to reveal a steely glint.
"We, as her club members… we humbly request that you do not demand anything... inappropriate."
My eyes narrowed.
He thought because I hung out with the Perverted Duo, I was going to ask Rias Gremory for something depraved.
It was rude, and hella presumptuous.
Well, at least it shows how much loyal Mr. Usually-Nice-Guy is to her. He was willing to insult a guy he doesn't even really know, to protect her.
"…I will keep that in mind," I said, my voice cool.
He bowed again. "I apologize for the offense."
Hah… whatever.
"Let's just go to lunch."
******
Clink… Clink…
Pause.
Food, food everywhere. But not a shred of appetite to eat it.
Why?
Murmur… murmur…
Because everyone in the cafeteria was glaring daggers at me while throwing betrayed puppy-dog eyes at the beautiful senpai seated opposite me, who was eating with godly elegance. Catching my gaze, she gave me another sweet smile. In response, I offered her my signature, half-attempted grimace that passes for a smile.
I can't smile. Or rather, I don't know how to do it without looking like a serial killer. Something must have gone fundamentally wrong when they were programming social data into my brain. My cheek muscles just don't respond to the warm fluffiness of life.
Initially, Rias Gremory said all this food was for me, which terrified me. She wanted to talk while I ate in this cafeteria where everyone was actively radiating killing intent. I requested that she eat with me so that at least the food wouldn't be cursed by these well-wishers around us.
"Did Yuuto explain everything to you?"
Kiba's last name is Yuuto. It is so weird to hear a girl call him by his last name because it is always 'Kiba-Kyun this' and, 'Kiba-Kyun that'.
"Yeah."
I guess it really was difficult to discuss these things here. I never expected it to be this crowded. I could see a guy in the corner savagely tearing into a piece of bread as if it were my neck, glaring at me the whole time. There was also a group of girls sitting dangerously close. Not close enough to overhear, but you never know.
"So what do you want in return?"
She lowered her voice to al whisper.
Looking at this objectively, there is a small-to-medium possibility that I will be pummeled to death by 30-40 third-year students. And the reward is compensation for taking this risk. To be fair, I was already risking that the moment I asked her out. There was a chance Hiro would have come for me then, too. The difference is, if she'd said no, he might have let me off because I'm Izo's older brother. But in this scenario? Using the brother card feels a bit weak. There is a 20%, maybe 30% chance that Hiro will say 'screw it' and attack me out of pure rage, because otherwise, it would confirm the rumors that he's afraid of Izo. In fact, I'm surprised he hasn't come for me yet. So perhaps this might be a safe bet…
"I will ask for compensation if Hiro Satoru does something."
"No, that won't do. You acting as my boyfriend is a shield against not only Hiro Satoru but others too."
True… the person in front of me is one step away from being a national celebrity. It's not like Hiro is the only one asking her out. Damn, being popular sounds exhausting.
"Something I want…"
She nodded, waiting patiently.
Should I ask for money? I heard she's from a wealthy family, and cash would help a lot when I move out. But it's not like I can't earn it myself. Hmm, I'll keep money as Plan B.
What else… something I really want…
…
A girl's sweet laughter echoed in the back of my mind.
Grip.
My fingers tightened around my chopsticks.
"… Amusement park? Accompany me to the amusement park…?"
…. ….. …. CRAP, I SAID IT OUT LOUD!
She looked just as shocked as I am! Grandpa in heaven, what is happening to your boy?! I ask someone out on a bet, get a 'yes', and now I'm asking her on a date?! Am I burning through the rest of my life's luck right here?!
She chuckled.
"Oh my. That was rude of me. Pardon me, it was just unexpected."
The murmurs around us intensified.
'Look at that… Rias-oneesama is laughing…'
'That dead fish… actually knows how to talk to girls?!'
'He is dangerous…'
'No... Rias-sama…'
Shut up…
"Of course, I will go with you. In fact, going on a date with Hyoudou-Kun to the local amusement park or shopping in the department store was something I had in mind anyway, to establish that we were a couple. Since you asked for it as a reward, I will make it worth it. Do you have a passport?"
… I was left speechless. Where did she plan on taking me…? … The rich really do live in a different world.
I quickly denied it.
"No, no, if we are already doing that then I will take that as my reward. The local amusement park is fine."
Not gonna lie, that was an A-grade simp line.
Rias Gremory made a troubled expression.
"That's… not fair as a reward. Let me offer you something more fitting."
I refused again.
"I don't have a passport. Besides I am completely fine with the dates being my reward itself."
That was an S-grade simp line, period.
"That's sweet of you, but I can arrange a passport for you if that's the issue," she insisted.
Damn… she is being so pushy. To be honest, I'm sure it would be fun wherever she plans to take me, but there would definitely be crowds… I dislike crowds.
"… Actually I always wanted to go to the local amusement park in Kuoh together with someone, because there was an important promise associated with it."
"Oh?" Senpai asked, curious.
"I spend a good part of my early childhood in this town. I am pretty familiar with that park…"
I put on a sad expression.
"Before the renovation, the park was slowly dying. Me and my friends often went there together. Screaming, shouting, getting scared on the rides… that park…"
I paused and took a deep breath.
"That park… where our memories and emotions lie… one day, we wanted to revive it again. We promised we would visit it when we grow older, with our newly made friends. Perhaps even with our girlfriends, as a tribute to those wonderful memories… Looking back, perhaps we already knew… that we would all go on our separate ways as we grow older."
I paused again and said, solemnly, "But fulfilling that old promise is more than enough for me, Senpai."
"... Oh, okay… I understand..."
Rias Gremory-senpai closed her eyes, clearly moved, trying to empathize with my feelings.
… Grandpa in heaven, I lied to my girlfriend (?) on our first conversation.
To be honest, that park deserved to die. The food was total trash, until recently. I am glad that they finally used their two brain cells to figure out why they were hardly retaining any customers. I still can't seem to enjoy the rides itself, but that might be just a 'me-thing' because I always go there alone…
However, I definitely prefer my local amusement park over leaving the country.
'Did he just make her cry…?'
'That's it. I'm gonna go kill him.'
'Knock it off, you know who his brother is, right?'
'Look at that smug idiot borrowing muscles… UGGGGHHH his existence irks me so much…'
… These people won't follow us to the local amusement park…will they? Maybe it was a better idea to go to another city. Seriously, get a life.
During the rest of the conversation, we addressed other details: how often we should be seen together, walking to school, the usual convincing acts. We agreed to end the relationship when Rias goes to Kuoh Academy's college division. If Hiro follows her there, she said she'd approach me with a second deal until her college graduation, since I was planning on going to the same college anyway. And this time, she insisted she would decide the proper reward herself.
But she stressed that a college deal is completely optional if I was looking for actual romance there. So… no high school romance for me, huh? Well… I don't think that was ever on the list anyway. This fake relationship might be the closest I ever get.
Finally, we addressed a core issue. How should we address each other?
"Since we are pretending to be dating, you can call me Rias."
What a normal thing to say…
"Rias… san."
"Simply Rias would be fine."
"Rias… san. I will drop the honorific sometime later."
She chuckled. "Alright, but can I call you Issei?"
That was quick… What is this warmth rising in my chest…? Wait… No, no, noooooo!
Curl.
I immediately covered my mouth to stop it from attempting a smile. She looked at me, puzzled.
"Yeah… fine."
"Alright, Issei." She said it cheerfully.
Flinch.
YOU NEO-GRADE SIMP!!!! DIE!!
As the clock approached the end of lunchtime, Rias-san quickened her eating speed… elegantly.
*******
Finally, the chaotic school day came to an end.
I made my way to the main gate, weaving through the crowd of students. I could feel the heat of a dozen glares on my back. Give it a rest, people…
For some reason, I felt the need to visit my favorite spot today.
********
Vehicles zoomed by beneath the footbridge. This spot had always been my sanctuary. Watching the rush of traffic was one of my few cherished pastimes. Their constant, unceasing passage mirrored my own life. Days passing, moments slipping away, everything moving forward while I stayed exactly where I was.
Going to school every weekday, playing video games at night, occasionally studying, getting lost in social media, working out to keep my body in shape, sleeping, waking up, and repeat. Playing games throughout the weekends. I lived a peaceful, ordinary student life. Which is why a day like today felt… unreal.
My head drifted into random thoughts.
People say the best way to make your time on Earth meaningful is to do what you enjoy. And to understand what you enjoy, you need reflection. Reflection leads to discovery. Following your discovery leads to fulfillment. That process is supposed to help you understand who you are.
At the center of that process lies one's talents and passions.
Talent points aren't distributed among humans fairly.
There is a category among talents called 'God-given talent'. A talent so unfair to be given to a single person. Something that shapes their entire life because it is simply too powerful, too natural, and extremely rare. You can see it in some famous athletes, prodigies, artists, fighters. Their entire existence seems wired around that one overwhelming ability.
Passion is different. Passion is something you grow into. Something you choose because it excites you or comforts you or gives your life meaning. Passion can become talent with enough effort. Talent can turn into passion if you embrace it. But the two are not the same.
The trouble starts when what you love, or what you are talented at, is something society refuses to accept. When the thing that defines you is something you are forced to bury. When you must pretend to be someone else so everyone around you can feel comfortable.
If talent defines a person, then being made to abandon it feels is nothing but a certain kind of death.
Maybe that is why I make whimsical decisions. Like getting into a relationship with someone like Rias Gremory, knowing the trouble it can get me into. Because, I too must have lost sight of myself.
I too, had one of those talents. A God-given one. I discovered it early. And then I was forced to leave it behind due to a defining circumstance.
... What is the point of thinking about it now?
Still, a small part of me wonders what would have happened if I never let it go.
It reminds me of that poem from our English class, "The Road Not Taken".
I scratched my head and sighed.
I sound like an old man. What is an eighteen-year-old even doing thinking like this?
I shifted my thoughts about the bot playing my game at home. I should have around 10 Million coins by now. Or maybe around 12—
"Um… Excuse me!"
A high-pitched voice pulled me out of my thoughts. A beautiful girl was standing nearby, looking nervous. A girl with silky black hair and a slender figure. I was sure I had never seen her before.
"…Yes?"
"You are Hyoudou Issei-kun, right?!" she asked quickly.
How does she know my name…?
"Yes…?"
Why is she blushing so hard? We've never met—
"I am Amano Yuuma, a second-year at Sakuraba High. I have always seen you pass by here and wondered... are you by any chance single?!"
She blurted it all out, staring intensely at her feet.
Wait… this can't be going in that direction… This isn't possible in any multiverse… The timing… just when I and Rias-san entered a dealwith Rias… Wait. Rias.
AH. I see now. Jesus, I can't believe Motohama and Matsuda's theory was right… This girl is obviously asking me out to keep me away from Rias. They set up a girl from another school?! Because a girl from Kuoh would be too suspicious… Who called it?! Who is it?! Was it Hiro?! Hiro Satoru?! Goddamn… how dare they play with my heart?!
"No, I am in a relationship."
She looked surprised and then… heartbroken. (Hold up, this can't be the real deal, right?)
She looked down again, unsure of what to do.
"…I wished that you would go out with me… but…" She looked genuinely crushed.
Drip. Drip.
Wait, wait, you can't be serious?! She is actually crying?! Was this real?! High school romance was actually possible?! Just outside Kuoh Academy?!
"Excuse me," she said, wiping her tears, "I didn't expect you to be taken."
Guess what? Me neither…
What is going on Grandpa?! First Rias Gremory, now this girl?! Are you sending me good luck from heaven?! Surely you could have waited until the deal was over?!
After a brief pause, she wiped her eyes.
"But can we at least talk for a few minutes?" she asked, her voice trembling. "I want to… talk it out with you. Now that I know you are taken. Can you please spare a few minutes and help me? Please?"
She bowed deeply.
...That's some character. I guess I can help her with that.
"Sure. Do you want to talk here or...?"
"The park would be fine," she said in a small voice.
******
We arrived at the park. I had just endured the most awkward, silent walk of my entire life. She kept sniffing along the way, and everyone looked at me like I was a criminal.
This park was a bit outside the town. Usually, there were a few kids playing here. But today, it was eerily quiet. The water bubbled from a fountain nearby. I spotted a vending machine and decided to buy drinks to cheer her up.
"Amano-san, which drink would you like?"
I asked Amano Yuuma who was standing near the fountain, behind me.
Silence.
Bubble… bubble…
The water continued to bubble peacefully in our silence.
"…"
Is she that upset?
I was about to turn when—
?!?!!
I felt my whole body scream at me to jump.
LEAP!
WHOOOSSHHH!
Something tore past me at terrifying speed.
BOOMMM! EXPLODE!
…
Cough… cough…
Smoke poured out of the destroyed vending machine. A high-pitched ringing filled my ears.
"That was unexpected. Do you train? No… perhaps it was just luck."
I turned my head in the direction of the fountain, towards the voice.
Black feathers were falling from the sky.
*Ba-dump*
Something that shouldn't exist was standing before my eyes. The young girl with the high-pitched voice had disappeared. In her place, a woman with folded black wings, wearing a revealing outfit, was looking at me with cold interest.
For a second, the word 'cosplay' crossed my mind, but the destroyed, smoking vending machine was proof that this situation was just… wrong.
********
Far away in my room, the bot was still playing the game according to the script, hacking and slashing at the endless swarm of monsters.
A life similar to a bot. That is what awaited me, someone who had gave up on his talent. I had been playing this game called 'Life' on autopilot, following someone else's script and doing whatever the world expected from me, because I no longer had a script of my own.
But even the most stable-looking scripts such as mine has to face unexpected 'events', one of them being this strange relationship with Rias Gremory. In the game called Life, events like that appear, shake things up for a while, and then fade away. Events come and go. That is how an average life usually moves.
One day, my deal with Rias Gremory would end, and that event would disappear with it. I accepted that. It felt like just another part of the script. All you can do is observe, wait for the moment to pass, and continue on.
But…
Even the most ordinary person eventually reaches a moment where he has to break out of his casual mode. A moment where he needs to put in effort, correct his path, and take control of where he is going. And most people manage it to bring it back to stability.
But rarely… very rarely…
The game running on Issei's PC suddenly froze, and a message abruptly popped up on the screen.
[You have been disconnected from the server due to suspicious activity.]
An event happens…
*******
FLASH!
Light coalesced and morphed into a spear in Amano's hand.
I shakily got up and ran as fast as I could.
She… that creature isn't human!!
An event that changes everything…
BA-DUMP. BA-DUMP.
"Phawh…."
I exhaled deeply upon seeing the empty streets that were usually packed with people.
BA-DUMP. BA-DUMP.
BA-DUMP. BA-DUMP.
What is going on?! Is this a hyper-realistic dream?! I counted my fingers just to make sure.
1...
2…
3…
4...
5...
Reality came crashing down like an anchor on my chest, dragging my heart into despair.
… An event that pushes your life onto a completely different trajectory.
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CHAPTER 1- Autopilot [OFF]
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END
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Happy New Year, dear readers. Updates will be slow in the beginning because I am still messing with the drawing board, but I believe I have delivered a decent Chapter 1. I have big plans for this year. I am sure everyone does. All the best and I would really appreciate feedback. I am curious to know if someone who hasn't watched the anime or read the original work can understand what is going on here. Like, am I leaving things to the prior knowledge of the source material, like before? My current impression is no. But don't hesitate to correct me otherwise. Well then, see you in the next chapter.
EDIT: I made some edits on it on 30th Nov, 2025.