NOTE:
Just so you know, there's another version of Existence that I'm currently working on. It's called Rewrite. If you feel like reading a more original story, since this one is quite linear and dependent to the original plot, I strongly suggest you to read that instead of this. Anyway, thank you and I hope you enjoy my work! -UnseenMemory
BZZZZT! BZZZZZT! BZZZZZT!
Huh? What is that? Is that... my alarm? Argh. I'm so sleepy. Give me...five more minutes...
Yare yare daze. Wake up.
Ah, crap. That's Jotaro Kujo's line, and it only means one thing, I am so late for school.
I quickly opened my eyes, and slowly reached for my alarm clock as I lay flat on my single bed. Click! There we go. Wait, it's already 7:45am?! I quickly sat up, ran out of my room and went straight to the bathroom. I quickly took off my clothes and turned on the shower. "Shit!" I yelled as the hot water scorched my skin. Good grief indeed. I quickly evaded the torrent of hell's fire and adjusted the shower valve. Slowly, the water's temperature became warm. I let the warm water flow across my entire body. As I washed my body, the different scars throughout my body caught my attention. Hm, these scars that I have never fail to amuse me.
After a few minutes, I got out of the shower, took a towel from the rack and quickly dried myself up. I hurriedly went out after. I entered my messy bedroom and opened my black wardrobe. I quickly took out some boxer shorts, white long-sleeves, black straight cut jeans, and a pair of socks. I quickly dressed up while avoiding the mess inside my room. Before going out, I stared at the mirror to fix my hair and stared blankly at my tired face. My deep blue eyes reflect my weariness. My black, side-brushed hair is messy as always. The long scars on the bridge of my nose and on my left jaw stood out more than usual.
My name is NOHIRU, TOSHIRO.
Sixteen years old, male, average build with well-defined muscles, 5 feet and 7 inches tall. I've got 2 scars on my face and 9 on different parts of my body, which makes 11 scars from different types of wounds and injuries in total. Currently living alone, or should I say, currently hiding in unit 823 of Sakurami Condominium.
I may look like a normal rowdy male teenager, but I have lived a terrible life.
I lost my parents at the young age of 5. My uncle took me in for 9 years, and he trained me. He molded me into something he always wanted; a weapon. I became a living weapon that would always follow his instructions and would always be loyal to him. I've lived without feelings or remorse. My uncle would usually beat me up until I can no longer stand. There were nights that I couldn't even sleep at all thanks to the pain. I had bruises, wounds and cuts in every inch of my body. He insisted that it was necessary to improve my body's pain threshold.
Bullshit.
He just likes to torture people, be the top-dog and the superior one. His personality befits his field of expertise. He was my biological father's assassin. He was the one who always kept his hands dirty during a job.
As I walked toward school, I kept remembering the past. A year before, I finally snapped. I've had it with all the shit he made me go through. He could no longer offer me anything. I got everything I could get from him. During one sparring session, I gave in to my desires. In one fell swoop, I landed a strong right hook on his throat. The impact itself dislodged his throat and knocked him out. Within a few seconds, he died. As I slowly regained my senses, I saw my auntie holding his lifeless corpse, screaming and cursing me. I simply ran away and hid somewhere in the city.
He may be a brutal person, but he and my auntie were the only ones giving me company these past 10 years. I never had a friend, I never had the time. Contract after contract, person after person, I slowly lost interest in getting attached to anyone. I no longer cared for anything but myself. Besides, who would accept me? No one will accept a bloodthirsty person like me.
While hiding, I enrolled to Sakurami Highschool. My ex-informant helped me get in and erased all connections I had with my uncle. This is my only chance to get a normal life. So far, attending school helped me manage my sanity. Even though my school life was a chore and people shunned me for being too quiet, I found it pretty relaxing compared to my previous lifestyle. I can't blame the people for shunning me though; I don't really know how to interact with other people.
I reached the school gates and I still have 5 minutes before the bell. As I reached the lockers, I noticed someone behind me. I snuck a quick glance before going upstairs and saw a girl surrounded by her friends, smiling and laughing. I'm pretty envious of her. Wait, I know her.
Before the end of my first year of school, we had a future career survey. Most of my classmates quickly answered and left the room. In the end, it was one of my classmates and I left inside the room. The survey really made me think, do I still have a future? Do I have the right to say that I deserve a future? I literally froze as I kept questioning myself in my head. It was no use, I couldn't even answer myself. "To hell with this," I said to myself. Without thinking, I started to write something on the paper, "I want to be happy." Well, that was random. It sounds so plain and stupid.
Can't think of anything to write down?
A voice startled me. As I looked back, my remaining classmate stood behind me. GASAI, YUNO. 14 years of age. She had her long pink hair in pigtails. She's intelligent, popular and beautiful. As she stood behind me, her hair swayed as we felt the wind's gentle breeze. Her pretty pink eyes stared into my dead deep blue eyes.
She moved closer towards me and glanced at my paper. "You want to be happy? That seems quite plain and common," she commented with a smile. "It's better than nothing," I replied as I looked away from her. "How about this, we'll try to be happy together," she suggested. I really thought it was a joke, like a sarcastic comment. I tried to act normal and played along. "That's pretty possible if you're my-"
She cuts me off. She then proceeds to write something on my paper.
I will be Nohiru-kun's little bride.
She'll be my bride? I wasn't even thinking of that earlier. I thought she'd be my friend or something. Nevertheless, she shouldn't joke around like that. She'll get my hopes up. Pft. Alright then, I'll be your husband once we're old enough," I replied as I gave her a fake smile. Wait. She's blushing? Was she really serious?! I turned my face away as I noticed the redness of my cheeks. I flushed, which is something very unlike me. "I look forward to our future then!" she replied with a smile.
And that was our last interaction together. After that, we never spoke to one another again. I knew it, she was just playing around with me. She wasn't serious at all. I tried talking to her countless times, but she would always avoid me. Man, I'm such a dumbass. It was too good to be true. Tch. How could a cold-blooded killer like me believe in those petty things.
You don't need her. You don't need anyone. No one can understand you.
The day passed like a blur. School, as usual, was a chore. I sat down on my bed and stared blankly at the wall. I guess it's time to go back to my "place", a place I created from the figments of my imagination, a place where I could be with my only "friends". I slowly closed my eyes.
Am I right, Deus?
The moment I opened my eyes, I was welcomed to a familiar place; The CASUALTY CATHEDRAL. The cathedral was eerie and had this violet fog clouding my vision. I was sitting on my usual metal throne near the middle. In the middle was my imaginary friend, DEUS EX MACHINA. He calls himself the god of time and space, which is pretty funny if you ask me. He's an imaginary being yet he holds himself that high. Still, he's the only being that listens to my rants.
Toshiro? Well, aren't you early?
That tiny voice behind me was MURUMURU, Deus' assistant of some sort. She has a body of a small, dark-skinned, child. She has long, silver, pig-tailed hair and she wore these weird looking bangles on her wrists. "I didn't have anything to do, so might as well crash the place earlier," I replied as I crossed my legs. "Oh, Toshiro, I didn't notice you. Wait for a bit, I'm just adjusting the casualty rate," Deus said as he tinkered with his contraption. "Take your time," I replied as I brought my phone out and randomly browsed my files.
"You still have that diary of some sort, right?" MuruMuru asked as she peeked behind me. "Yeah, it's a habit. I doubt I will ever stop doing it," I replied as I showed her an entry. My diary is full of entries about my previous contracts. I would jot down the various ways on how each contract could end. It's like preparation for the worst case scenario. I have to give credit to this unusual habit of mine. It did help me survive several close encounters with death.
"Would you be interested joining a game?" Deus asked as he focused his attention on me. "A game? What kind of game?" I curiously asked as I rested my chin on top of my fist. "You'll like it. It is an interesting game. I take that you'll be a participant, yes?" He asked once more. Hmph. I'll just go with his flow. "Alright, I'll tag along," I replied as I gave him a smile.
"You still don't have the initiative to decide on your own, Toshiro?" MuruMuru asked as she floated around me. "Not yet. I'm still getting used to my newly acquired freedom," I replied with a sigh. "Sooner or later, you have to make your own path, idiot," she stated as she messed my hair. "Yeah, yeah, soon," I replied as I gave her a push. "H-hey! Stop that!" She cried out as she floated away from me. "Hey, Deus, do I deserve to dream and hope for a brighter tomorrow?" I asked Deus. Deus ignored me and kept on tinkering with his contraptions. "That's a no, huh? Well, I'm already a dead-man," I stated with a chuckle and closed my eyes.
As I opened my eyes, I've already returned to my room. I'm back to this living hell of mine. I felt cold and tired. Hoping that I would return to my imaginary world, I rested my eyes once more. This time around, nothing appeared. The never ending darkness consumed me.
Are you contented with what you have?
You know damn well that I'm not, Deus. How can I be satisfied with this kind of life? I already gave up my future and my dignity for something I didn't want.
If given the chance, will you change your future?
What are you talking about? I don't have any future. "I just want to know when my suffering will end," I replied as I faked a smile.
Suddenly, my phone vibrated, seems like I received a message. I opened my eyes and got my phone. What? I got a message from Deus? Wait, isn't he imaginary? What the hell is this? I got curious and opened the message.
This will decide your death and the deaths of the people around you. This is, the DEATH DIARY. With this, you can finally embrace death, or stare into its eyes and consume it. The choice is yours, FIRST. Welcome to the SURIVIVAL GAME.
"Something that will show my own death, eh?" I said to myself as I closed my phone. This is some weird trick you have here, Deus. I'll play along for a while. Let's see if this will entertain me. I placed my phone on top of my nightstand and lay down. As I blankly stared at the ceiling, I slowly fell into a deep slumber.
April 22 6:32am [Alley near Sakurami Condominium]
-A dead body was found. A female in her early 20s was cornered and was slashed in her chest thrice. Suspect could have used a trench knife. No foul play could be observed.
Huh?
The sudden notification on my smart phone's screen caught my attention. Did I jot this down while I was asleep? What the hell is this? A prank? A scam? There's no way that the survival game is true. Deus was just joking around, right? It can't be. He's only a part of my imagination. Damn it, I'm losing it. Shake it off, Toshiro. I have to get ready for school. I sat up and went to the bathroom, washed my face and stared at the mirror. I have to keep my composure, can't lose my marbles now. I just started this normal life. I don't want to forfeit this opportunity.
After dressing up, I grabbed a slice of bread and hurriedly went out my unit. I locked the door and went straight to elevators. As I was walking near the condominium, I saw some policemen nearby an alleyway. Wait, that entry? My curiosity got the best of me and I decided to take a peek at the crime scene. To my surprise, it was the same thing written down in my diary. There was a corpse of a woman with huge slashes on her body. I looked at my watch; it was exactly 6:32am. Creepy. It can't be true. It has to be a coincidence.
As I continued walking towards school, I heard a static noise coming from my phone. Weird, I don't recall changing my ringtone. I also felt an uneasy feeling after hearing that noise. I quickly brought my phone out and checked the diary.
April 22 6:56am [Intersection near Sakurami Highschool]
Gasai, Yuno
-Caught in a car accident and was fatally injured. Broken back and multiple puncture entries in her lungs due to her broken ribs, killed on impact.
You have to be shitting me. If this thing is real, I have to find her. I quickly glanced at my watch, 6:50am. I'm quite near our school, and there's only one intersection that is near the school's vicinity. That has to be the place! I can't dally around and think of anymore possible places! I placed my phone inside my shoulder bag and sprinted towards the intersection. 4 minutes later, I arrived at the intersection. There were some students who were waiting for their chance to cross at the pedestrian crossing. Gasai was nowhere to be seen. Damn it, I knew it, this thing was just a sick joke. There's no way that-
A pink haired girl just passed by me. I heard the revving of an engine from a car nearby. People were shouting, "Look out!" They screamed as the noise of the car grew closer. "Gasai-san!" I shouted. Without thinking, I quickly turned around and reeled her in towards me. As I caught the surprised girl around my arms, a speeding, black car quickly passed in front of us. Within seconds, the car disappeared from our sight. I fell down on the concrete pavement with Yuno on top of me. I opened my eyes. People were flocking towards us. "Woah! This kid has some quick reflexes! If he was a second late, that girl could've been caught in a nasty accident!" one of the by passers said. I take my words back, the diary is real, and this moment proves it.
N-Nohiru-san…
I turned my attention to Yuno. She was staring at me and was heavily blushing. I quickly turned red and pushed her aside. Some of the passers started to whisper to one another, "Seriously? In broad daylight? These kids have no shame," one of them whispered. Yuno sat still and blankly stared at me. Oh god. Is she that embarrassed? Fuck. I'm ruined. She might take it the other way around. I saved her, but for her, this might be an act of sexual harassment. "I'm sorry!" I shouted as I quickly stood up and sprinted towards school.
Another day passed like a blur. I kept on checking the diary. To my surprise, Yuno's entry disappeared. It seems like if I do something that could prevent a death, the entry would disappear. There are a lot of unknown names that kept on popping in the entries of my diary, which are probably the names of people around me who would die today. I shouldn't even bother save them. I can't save them all after all. I sat still on my sofa and stared blankly at the television. It was turned off and I was just staring at my own reflection. I slowly closed my eyes.
The next moment, I was back in the Casualty Cathedral. As usual, Deus is busy with his unworldly contraptions, "Deus! What the hell is the meaning of this?" I questioned Deus as I showed him my phone. "Ah, Toshiro, welcome," Deus welcomed me but kept focus on his task. "Don't give me that treatment. I deserve an answer!" I shouted at him. "Well, you desired to control death, so I have given you the power," he calmly replied. "What are you saying?! You're a figment of my mind! You're just imaginary! You can't-" Before I could finish my sentence, Deus aggressively approached me face-to-face, "If I am a God, imaginary or not, don't you think it's possible for me to create these things within your own thoughts?" He asked.
I felt his unearthly gaze pierce my very soul. He then backed off and went back to his task. I heard MuruMuru laughing at me from behind. "Take heed, Toshiro. You now share the same fate with your diary. If your diary is destroyed, so will your life. Take care of it, or you will cease to exist," he proclaimed as the Cathedral started to crumble down.
I woke up, it was already midnight. Damn, I got myself into another mess. Am I that prone to these kinds of things? Now my life rests on how I keep my diary/phone safe. How absurd, it's just plain stupid. I brought my phone out and checked the diary. This time around, it was filled with different names. Seems like the entries change every day. Sooner or later, my own name will pop out in here. Sarcastically speaking, the excitement is killing me.
A week passed and I tried my best to live normally. Gasai, Yuno's name kept on popping in the entries. I did my best to alter her fate. I would get her attention before she would go to a certain place. By simply doing that, I changed the ending of that scenario and her entries vanished. It feels weird though. It feels like someone is eagerly trying to kill her. Why would someone try to kill an innocent middle schooler like her? Well, the world is corrupted by evil and vermin. Sad to say, I'm one of those who I talk about. Even so, I can't answer myself. Why do I desperately save this girl? It feels like I'm acting on my own instinct to save her. I don't even want to save her. Tch. What the hell is wrong with me?
As usual, school ended quickly without me noticing. I was too busy thinking on how to keep my diary safe. I kept on feeling this strange aura inside the room, like someone's reading my mind. I noticed that Yuno kept looking at me though. Did she notice that I actually saved her for the past days? It just feels like she knows something. I shrugged off my feeling of uneasiness and went out of the room. As I neared the stairs, I remembered that I forgot my notes on my desk, so I went back to the classroom. As I passed by Yuno's desk, something caught my attention, a small clay figure. If I could remember correctly, Yuno was sculpting something during our math test. What a weird girl. Wait a second, that figure, that's... MuruMuru! The feeling of uneasiness and paranoia intoxicated my mind. How...?! How was she able to make a figure of MuruMuru?! I thought Deus and MuruMuru were just figments of my own imagination?! How?! Does this mean... she's a part of this survival game?! What the hell is happening?! Wha-
BZZZT!
A static came from my diary. That could only mean one thing. I slowly brought my phone out. I'm hesitant. I have hunch feeling of what I'll see in my diary.
April 22 18:25 [Inside an unfinished building]
Nohiru, Toshiro
-Was chased into an unfinished building in the city, eventually got cornered by the recent serial killer. Fought bravely but a deep slash destroyed his chances of winning. Died due to heavy blood loss.
DEAD END
I knew it, my own name popped out. So, I'll die like a cornered rat? Tsk, how fitting for me. It feels like they finally caught up with me. I could fight, but the question is, will that alter my fate? Even so, I feel like this killer is connected to that corpse that I saw a week ago. Tsh, no time to think about those trivial details. I have to-
"I knew it. I knew you were a diary owner, Nohiru-kun."
I slowly looked back. There, I saw Gasai, Yuno, entering the room through the back door. She was staring at me with a smile on her face. Is she, the killer? Will she be the one to kill me? The girl who I kept on saving for the past days, will be the one to kill me today? How ironic. The wheel of fate loves fucking around with me. Without thinking, I bolted out the room. My sweat trickled down as I kept on running away. I quickly found myself running through some alleyways in the city. I think I managed to lose her, "Don't run!" a voice shouted in front of me. What?! It was Yuno! How did she arrive into that spot faster than me?! Damn it! I can't escape! Something inside me is stopping me from fighting! Where did this cowardliness come from?! Damn it! Don't come any closer! Stay away from me!" I shouted as I bolted towards a different direction.
I reached a construction site, hurriedly went inside the elevator and pressed the 14th floor button. I leaned back on the elevator wall as I tried to catch my breath. As the elevator doors were closing, a hand stopped it. As the doors open, there stood, Gasai, Yuno, in front of me with her phone in her hand. She slowly entered the elevator, her eyes were fixated on me, "Did you notice, Toshii?" she asked as she showed me her phone. Wait, is this possible?! She's like me. She's a diary owner?! How could this be happening?! My body is literally shaking. If I fight now, I would sacrifice this normal life that I yearned so hard for, but I can't let her kill me like this! The doors closed and the elevator started to move upwards. I can't escape! I frantically reached out for my cutter inside my bag. "You won't do it," Yuno stated as she remained calm and kept her eyes fixated on mine. Don't tell me she could read my mind?! Damn it! As I finally grabbed on to my cutter, Yuno threw herself to me, her hands grabbed on to my polo's collar and before I could react, I felt something moist landing on my lips.
She kissed me.
My whole body froze. "You won't stab me," she stated as she pulled her lips away from mine and stared into my deep blue eyes. "W-why? Why can't I do it?" I murmured as the shock of her actions was affecting my body. "You won't stab me. That's what the future says," she replied. "Future? How...? How do you know my future?" I frantically asked once again. She warmly smiled at me. "Well, for starters, you got it all wrong, Toshii," she said as she coldly looked at the glass wall of the elevator. "There he is," she said as her eyes stared at a male figure on a lower level of the structure.
The man wore a big, black hat on top of his head, a black trench coat, military-grade boots and a gasmask on his face. "Is he, the serial killer in the news?" I asked Yuno. "Correct. He's the third DIARY OWNER. He's the THIRD," she replied keeping her stare on the man. Third. I remember Deus calling me First in his message. Does that mean I'm the first diary owner? "By seeing your future, I knew he was the one would kill you here," she stated. "Huh?" I murmured. With that, Yuno flipped her blue phone open and showed me her diary entries.
April 28 18:10
Toshii runs down a street in the 2nd district. The 3rd is running after him. I have to save him!
April 28 18:20
Toshii is cornered at the 14th floor of an unfinished building. He is wounded badly, but is still fighting Third. Hold on, Toshii!
April 28 18:30
Toshii is…
Those entries are all about me. "This is my Future Diary, the TOSHIRO DIARY. I can read your future every 10 minutes. It is a future diary of love," she explained as she gave me a smug. Every ten minutes?! Are you saying that for the past week, she's been keeping tabs on me every ten minutes? She's one hell of a stalker! "Your future belongs to me, Toshii," she stated as the elevator doors opened. Before I could even move, she then presses the 17th floor button. "Wait! Why did yo-" "I'm pretty sure you heard me. If you go down on the 14th floor, you'll die," she stated. Damn it. I can't escape from this. It feels like I'm shackled to her!
As we reached the 17th floor, Yuno quickly pulled me towards the stairs. "Why are we going to the rooftop?! Isn't that a death trap?!" I frantically asked her. "We can't escape him. Remember, he has a diary of his own. So no matter what we do, he'll eventually catch up with us," she replied as she opened the door of the rooftop. As I quickly closed the door and looked for something to block it, Yuno gave out a huge sigh and stretched her arms. How could she be that relaxed during a scenario like this?! "Hey. Help me out, will you? Look for anything we could use to block the door," I asked her as I grabbed on to my cutter. "Doesn't this remind you of anything, Toshii?" She asked. "What are you-"
Doesn't this remind you of the thrill of putting your life on the line?
As I heard those words, something inside me ignited. Something I tried to bury started to crawl back up from its grave. The utter excitement and adrenaline that I got from gambling my life started intoxicating my mind. Looks like no matter how hard I try to run, my past will always catch up with me. Tch. Yare yare daze. Looks like I have no choice. There goes my normal life.
"Gasai-san. You know my number? If you do, please call it and put it on video call. After connecting, place your phone under that block of wood," I said as I waited for her call my phone. "Alright," she said as she quickly dialed my number. As her call connected, she placed her phone under the blocks. "Now, hide behind the blocks. By the time he reaches this place, wait for my command. We'll take him by surprise." I calmly stated as I approached the scaffolding on the side of the rooftop.
Yuno followed my command. She hid behind the blocks while I hid behind the wooden partitions of the scaffolding. I heard the door swing open. I could clearly hear the heavy footsteps of our enemy. I could clearly see his location with Yuno's phone. As he brings out his diary to check the entry, I tapped on the wooden partition, which was Yuno's signal. Yuno quickly dashed out and surprised Third. Within an instant, I popped out and threw my cutter towards him.
The cutter pierced through his phone. I was aiming for his neck, but that will do. At least I could take away his diary. "What the hell?!" He shouted in disbelief as he lost the ability to check his diary. Suddenly, the space around him became distorted. His arms started to twist and disappear into a void. He screamed in pain and agony as his body slowly twisted and disappeared. In an instant, our assailant vanished into thin air. It's like his EXISTENCE got erased from this world. Is this the consequences of losing your diary in this game? What the hell is happening?
"Was that it? That was a bore," Yuno said as she gave out a yawn. This girl just helped me kill somebody, and she isn't even fazed about it? Don't tell me that wasn't her first time to kill someone. My body froze as I kept my stare on her. Will she attack me? Is she an ally, or my foe? I'm hesitating. I could strike now, but again, there's something inside of me stopping me. "Hm? It's still quite early. Hey, Toshii. Want to grab something for dinner?" She asked me as cheerfully grabbed on to my trembling hands.
Now all the participants are here, we shall now officially start the survival game!
I stood in one of the pedestals in Deus' realm, which surrounded the god of time and space, who was in the middle. My clothes changed into something similar to what I used to wear back when I was working for my father, which was a black hoodie, black cargo pants, and black military-grade boots. As far as I can see, there are 11 pedestals, and in each pedestal stood a silhouetted figure. Their faces are well silhouetted so I can't really say who I am going up against.
"As you all may know, this is a survival game! It will be down to the last person standing! Your lives rest on your diaries! Track one another and destroy your opponent's diary! The last person standing will receive my title, the title of GOD!" Deus exclaimed with some weird hand gestures. "How does this FUTURE DIARY work?" The man on the 10th pedestal asked Deus. "It is quite simple. Each of you has a different diary. Corresponding to your diary's ability, you could see your future in different ways. Now, if you do something that will alter the entries in your diaries, you are basically changing your fate," Deus explained.
That's odd. If I heard Deus correctly, our diaries should be about ourselves, but for me and Yuno, it's about the people and around me, and about me, respectively. Should I ask Deus? By asking him right now, I would bluntly proclaim Yuno and my diary's abilities to our opponents. Wouldn't that give them an advantage on us? I shrugged my doubt and remained silent.
"Today, we have witnessed a miracle! FIRST, you should have died earlier, but you managed to pull out an ace from your sleeve and cheated death once more! Due to that, you're my favorite in winning this survival game!" Deus proudly exclaimed as the attention of other players shifted to me. I felt their gaze piercing right through me. Well, it wasn't only my effort that took out Third. If Yuno didn't come along, I'm pretty sure I would have died back there. I looked on the pedestal next to me, where Yuno stood. Even though she's well silhouetted, I felt her smile as she looked at me. What an odd girl.
"This discussion is adjourned! Go and fight!" Deus ordered. One by one, the players vanished, but before they vanished, each of them had a statement for me.
"Oh? So First will be our biggest adversary in the game? That sounds exciting!" The odd-looking man on the 12th pedestal gleefully stated.
"You cannot stop me, First," the stern-looking man on the 11th pedestal proudly proclaimed.
"It is an honor, First," the classy-looking man on the 10th pedestal said as he bowed.
"Don't you dare die before I kill you, punk," the aggressive-looking woman on the 9th pedestal stated.
"Goodluck, First!" The short woman on the 8th pedestal stated.
"Hm? Looks like I have to beat your ass," the tall man with a weird hairstyle on the 7th pedestal said as he taunted me.
"You look quite unfazed. I find you quite interesting," the young woman on the 6th pedestal gracefully stated.
"We'll play soon, big bro!" The young kid on the 5th pedestal cheerfully stated.
"Don't worry. I'll protect you," the sharp looking man on the 4th pedestal calmly proclaimed.
As all of them vanished, I reappeared inside the Casualty Chamber. I found myself kneeling down in despair as I got caught up in another death game. Back then, I was doing it for my father, and now, I'll kill once again just to live another day. Isn't that ironic? I'm doing my best to live out my new normal life and this survival game just destroyed that opportunity. I clenched my fist in anger and slammed it hard on the floor. "Damn it! Why me...?!" I angrily shouted as I kept hammering the floor with my fist. After a while, I stopped, and blankly stared at the floor with my dead eyes.
Don't worry, Toshii.
Wait. That voice. That belongs to Yuno! I slowly turned around to see Yuno staring at me with an intoxicated look in her eyes. She placed her hands on her face and gave out a soft excited moan. Even though there's purple fog clouding my vision, I could clearly see her blushing as she kept her eyes fixated on me. "Yuno will protect you," she stated as she gave out another soft excited moan. I am at lost for words. Clearly, this girl is turned on by the fact she'll "protect" me? What the hell. What kind of scenario did I place myself in?
Alright, Toshii?