Subaru POV

I sat alone in my room, the darkness of the night enveloping me like a heavy blanket. The weight of my despair was crushing me, and I felt as though I was suffocating. I reached for my diary, knowing that the only solace I could find was in my own words.

As I opened the pages, my pen poised over the blank space, I began to write:

"Nightly, I roam the land of heartbreak,
With an insatiable desire that won't break,
Loneliness has been my ever-present Companion,
But not without you by my side.

I promised to wait, but the pain endures,
An ache that clings and relentlessly pours,
Only the tenderness of your loving arms,
Can relieve my soul from its desperate harms.

I yearned for your warm embrace,
To heal the scars that time can't erase,
But for now, all that's left is to yearn and pray,
Hope that someday you'll come back to stay."

I closed my diary, tears streaming down my face, knowing that these words were the only way I could express the depth of my love and pain. The darkness of the night remained, but for a moment, my heart felt a little lighter.

"Perhaps in another world," I mumbled to myself, sinking back into my seat and taking another swig of hard liquor, lost in thought once again.

*Seven years earlier. *

As I strolled towards the Mini Stop convenience store, my mind couldn't help but ponder a question that had been gnawing at me for a while - is this really all there is to life? Is it just about being a recluse, playing games, and munching on junk food? The mere thought made me recoil in disgust, and yet, I couldn't shake off the realization that I was the one to blame for my current predicament.

I had stopped attending high school, and as a result, my life had come to a standstill. Though my parents hadn't expressed any displeasure, I couldn't help but wonder if they were secretly seething with rage. If they were to evict me from the house, I couldn't even protest - the fault was all mine.

The self-loathing that had been festering within me intensified as I took stock of my situation,

I hate myself for being a Shut-In! I hate myself for being Lazy I hate myself for being Mediocre! Oh, The very thought of my mediocrity made my blood boil.

I HATE myself!

To make matters worse, I was on the cusp of turning 18, yet I had no girlfriend, no friends, and no prospects. It was a stark contrast to my father's life at the same age - he had been the most popular guy in his school. And here I was, stuck to being an "incel" playing video games and Visual novels. The comparison was soul-crushing.

As I approached the dingy and gloomy Mini stop, I couldn't help but question my choice of a convenience store. The food there was lackluster at best, especially when compared to the delectable beef curry that 7-Eleven offered.

With a sense of determination, I made a silent pledge to myself - "Enough is enough! From now on, no more Mini stops for me! It's time to upgrade to 7-Eleven." I swiftly changed course and headed towards the brighter and more welcoming ambiance of 7-Eleven. It was a small step, but it felt like a much-needed change in my otherwise mundane life.

As I walked back home, clutching two plastic bags - one filled with savory beef curry and the other laden with an assortment of cup noodles, chips, and milk soda, a sense of contentment washed over me. Choosing 7-Eleven over Mini Stop had been the right call, and I relished the flavors of my purchases.

I knew it might seem like a small victory, but to me, it was a triumph that brought a smile to my face.

Upon reaching home, I dutifully removed my shoes before entering the house. As I opened the door, I found my parents already seated in the dining area, eagerly awaiting my return.

"Subaru, you're just in time! Dinner's ready," my mother Naoko exclaimed.

My father, sitting at the table, motioned for me to join him. "Where have you been Subaru?" he asked, curious.

"I was out picking up some food for my gaming session later," I replied with a chuckle, scratching my head as I made my way toward the table. Before taking my seat, I made sure to stow my drinks and reheatable food in the refrigerator and stash the cup noodles in the pantry.

Finally, I settled into my chair, joining them for dinner.

"You're always thinking about games, aren't you?" my dad Kenichi chuckled, shaking his head in mock exasperation.

I couldn't help but grin sheepishly. "What can I say? I love gaming!"

My mother chimed in, "Well, as long as you're eating, that's all that matters."

We dug into Mom's delicious meal, savoring each bite. The aroma of her traditional dish wafted through the air, making my mouth water. We chatted about our day, and my parents asked me about my plans for the upcoming week.

My mother Naoko leaned in, her voice conspiratorial. "I heard from your aunt Himari that there's a new game coming out next week. She gave your cousin money to buy it, hehe."

I perked up, my eyes widening at the news. "You mean GTA V?" I asked.

I couldn't believe my cousin Kazuma would be getting the new game before me. I plan to get it eventually, but I'll wait for the retail price to drop.

To be truthful, I did consider asking my parents for money to buy the new game, but I didn't want to push my luck since I had already asked them to buy me a new PC. I felt a bit shy and hesitant about it.

"I'll just save up and buy it myself next time," I said with a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.

"Good job, son," my dad said with a smile and a thumbs up.

As the meal came to an end and our plates were emptied, my dad excused himself to go rest after a long day at work. My mom and I then proceeded to clear the table and wash the dishes, chatting about our plans for the weekend as we worked.

As we washed the dishes, my mom brought up a topic that made me a bit uncomfortable. "Have you considered going back to high school, Subaru?" she asked. "It's not too late, and your dad and I will be here to support you every step of the way." She paused for a moment before continuing

"Someday, we will all just be memories to you, but before that happens, we want to do everything we can to prepare you for the future. However, the hard work has to come from you." Her words were spoken with a gentle tone, filled with love and concern.

"I know, Mom... I just need to regain my momentum," I murmured, tears welling up in my eyes. I did, however, do my best to conceal it. "Don't worry, Mom, I'll think about it," I said to her.

With a gentle smile, my mom hugged me tightly, and I hugged her back. It was a warm and comforting embrace that made me feel loved and supported. As we pulled away, she wiped away a tear from my cheek and gave me a reassuring smile.

"Remember, we love you no matter what. And we'll always be here for you," she said, her voice full of sincerity.

I smiled back at her, feeling grateful for the love and understanding of my parents. "Thanks, Mom. I love you," I said before turning my attention back to the dishes.

I entered my room and placed my bag of gaming food on my desk. I was ready for my nightly gaming session. I sat down on my chair and opened my LINE app to message my cousin Kazuma. He's also a hikikomori like me, so we always chat online.

"Hey Kazuma, what's up? I Heard from Mom you're getting the new game tomorrow morning, huh?" I typed.

Kazuma replied almost immediately, "Yeah man, I'm gonna be the first one in the 'hood to have it! Can't wait to play it all day long."

I chuckled replying, "Jeez, don't overdo it. You're gonna turn into a potato if you play that long!"

"Hey, I have a life outside of gaming, you know. I do go out to buy snacks at the convenience store." Kazuma retorted,

I smirked, "Speaking of snacks, I got a bunch of goodies from 7-eleven earlier. Ready for a night of gaming and munching!"

"Nice! Send me a pic of what you got." Kazuma replied.

I snapped a quick picture of my snack haul and sent it over. "Here you go, feast your eyes on this!"

My cousin's reply was immediate. "Dude, you got beef curry and milk soda? You're living the life! Can't wait to try them out myself."

I laughed, "Sorry cousin, you'll have to make do with cup noodles for now. The beef curry is all mine!"

Kazuma replied with a sigh emoji, "Fine, fine. But just wait until I get the new game tomorrow. You won't know what hit you."

"Haha, I'll just wait for the retail price to drop," I replied.

"You always do that, Suba. Well, let me know if you change your mind." Kazuma replied sending a laughing emoji this time.

We continued chatting and joking around until it was time for me to start my gaming session. Even though I couldn't get the new game yet, I was still excited to play my other games and enjoy the food I bought from 7-Eleven.

We spent hours gaming, enjoying some wins and some losses, until it was already 2 in the morning.

"Good game, Subaru. Let's play again tomorrow. GTG, I still need to wake up early to be the first in line, hehehehe," my cousin Kazuma messaged me.

"Sure thing, man. Talk to you tomorrow! See you," I replied, shutting down my PC.

"What a life," I muttered to myself, rubbing my tired eyes. I then headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth before getting ready for bed. As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't help but wonder, "Is this how my life will always be?" I said out loud before finally dozing off.

I was sound asleep when I heard a strange noise downstairs. It sounded like someone was crying.

"What the heck is that?" I muttered to myself as I slowly got up from my bed and tip-toed to the stairs.

As I reached the living room, I saw my mom sitting on the couch, crying on the phone. My heart sank as I approached her.

"What's going on, Mom?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.

"It's your aunt Himari," she said, her voice breaking. "Your cousin Kazuma... he's... he's dead."

I felt a lump in my throat and my stomach churned. I couldn't believe what I had just heard. Kazuma and I were just playing games last night! It felt unreal.

"What happened?" I asked, my voice shaking.

"He had a heart attack on the way back from GameStop," my mom said, wiping her tears with a tissue. "He was so excited to get the new game, but he never made it back."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I processed the news.

"I can't believe it," I said, feeling a wave of sadness and shock wash over me.

My mom and I hugged each other tightly, tears streaming down our faces.

"I can't believe this is happening. We were just playing a game last night," I said, my voice barely audible.

"I know, it's just... so sudden," my mom replied, her voice trembling.

We sat there for what felt like hours, crying and holding each other. The reality of Kazuma's sudden death slowly sank in. I couldn't imagine what Aunt Himari was going through right now.

After a while, Dad arrived from work and came to the living room where we were all sitting.
"Honey, I'm so sorry," he said to Mom as he hugged her.

"sister was crying so hard, she's absolutely devastated," Mom replied, tears still streaming down her face.

We all sat there in silence, grieving my cousin's sudden death. I couldn't help but think about all the things he had planned and all the dreams and potential he had. All of it was gone in an instant.

Kazuma and I used to talk a lot about our plans and aspirations. We dreamed of what we wanted to do and how we could make it happen. Now, all of that seemed so pointless. It was hard to accept that he was gone forever.

After a while, we talked more about what happened and what we could do to help Aunt Himari. We decided to visit her the next day and offer our support. We stayed up late into the night, talking about Kazuma and sharing our memories of him.

As we went to bed and the weight of loss bearing down on me, I trudged back to my room and snatched my dad's vodka bottle from the kitchen. It was time to numb the pain, just this once. Once safely back in my room, I carefully poured a small amount of the clear liquid into a cup and placed it on my desk in front of my computer. I took a deep breath and raised the cup in a silent toast.

"Here's to Satou Kazuma," I whispered, feeling a single tear slide down my cheek.

"The Great Hikkimori creep Bastard." I downed the entire shot in one gulp, feeling the potent burn of the vodka as it seared my throat.

"Shit!" I gasped, coughing as the alcohol hit me harder than I expected. "That's strong!"

The next few days, we held Kazuma's wake, and many of our gaming friends and family members were there. We all shared stories and memories about him, some funny and some serious. But as we spoke, I couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt for the botched eulogies we made.

"Hey, remember when Kazuma was always the first one to die in every game we played?" I said, trying to lighten the mood.

Everyone laughed, and one of our gaming friends chimed in, "Yeah, but he was also a bit of a creep. There was this one time he was stalking a bunch of quintuplet sisters!?"

"What do you mean, he? WE!" said another of our gaming buddies.

I felt my face flush with embarrassment as I heard those words. It wasn't something to be joked about during a wake, but I couldn't help but laugh awkwardly.

As the wake concluded, we said our final goodbyes to Kazuma, and his remains were cremated. It was hard to accept that he was gone, but I knew that we had to move on.

As we drove back home from Kazuma's wake, my dad broke the silence by saying, "Subaru, I know this is a tough time for you, but I want you to remember that life is short, and we should make the most of it."

I sat quietly for a moment, reflecting on what he had just said. He was right. Kazuma was only 17, and his life was cut short. I couldn't help but think about how I had been wasting my own life by living as a hikikomori, Shut-in my room and playing video games all day.

"Subaru," my dad said again, "you're a smart kid with a lot of potential. Don't waste it as Kazuma did."

My mom chimed in, "Your dad's right, honey. You have so much ahead of you. Finish high school, go to college, and make something of yourself. We believe in you."

I felt a lump in my throat as I realized how much my parents cared about me. I had been so caught up in my world that I had forgotten how much they had sacrificed for me.

"I will, Dad," I said firmly. "I'll finish high school and make something of myself. I won't waste my life as Kazuma did."

My dad smiled, "That's the spirit, Subs! We're all here for you."

As we pulled into the driveway, I knew that my life was about to change. I was going to turn my life around and make something of myself. It wouldn't be easy, but I was determined to do it. Whatever it takes!

*Meanwhile*

The mini-stop convenience store was bustling with activity as customers bustled in and out, eager to stock up on their essentials. The store employees diligently stocked the shelves, ensuring that the products were organized and easily accessible.

But there was something lurking in the shadows, not visible to the naked eye, an enigmatic figure with silver hair and amethyst eyes. It was a Half-elf, and it was waiting for someone specific.

The elf's gaze was fixed on the door, scanning each person who walked in with anticipation.

"Come here, come here, Subaru! hihihihi" she whispered with excitement, trying to contain her laughter. She made sure to stay hidden in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.

The days went by and the Half-elf continued to wait in the shadows of the mini-stop convenience store. Each night, she would eagerly await the arrival of the person named Subaru, hoping that he would finally make an appearance.

As time passed, the elf grew more impatient and restless. She began to pace back and forth in the shadows, her silver hair swaying with each movement. "Where is he? Why hasn't he come yet?" she muttered to herself, frustration seeping into her voice.

More weeks had passed, and still, there was no sign of Subaru. The elf couldn't understand why he hadn't shown up yet. Was he avoiding her? Did he know that she was waiting for him?

Despite her growing impatience, the elf refused to give up. She was determined to meet Subaru, no matter how long it took. So she continued to wait in the shadows, her amethyst eyes scanning the faces of every person who entered and left the store.

Then weeks turned into months, but the Half-elf with silver hair and amethyst eyes still waited patiently in the shadows of the mini-stop store. She was determined to wait for her beloved Subaru, no matter how long it took.

Every night, she would come to the store and hide in the shadows, waiting for a glimpse of Subaru. She watched as the staff closed the store and the lights were turned off, but still, there was no sign of him.

However, despite her disappointment, she remained hopeful and continued to wait, muttering to herself. "I don't care if it took a hundred years! I will wait for my beloved. Hehehehehehe."

(TO BE CONTINUED)

Thankyou: Mobster24 for the Fic Idea