Chapter 1 - A thread of Hope

Abbreviated Inserts

(Y/N) - Your name

(E/C) - Eye color

(B/F) - Best friend

(S/T) - Type of shoe you're/(Y/N) is wearing (EX: Boots, vans, etc)

(F/C) - Favorite color

(H/T) - Hair type, EX Coiled, wavy, straight etc

(H/C) - Hair color

(S/C) - Skin color/Type

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The walk from school was tiring, to say the least. It wasn't originally supposed to be a walk, you were supposed to take the bus, but (B/F) wanted to get some snacks at the gas station. The bus decided to up and leave, so now here you are. Your (E/C) eyes glance over towards your friend, who looks oh-so distressed at the current situation. She was currently chewing on the chips she bought from the store, with YOUR money, looking like she was in heaven. In conclusion, she was not concerned at all.

"Oh, Irene." You sigh and shake your head. You would be more annoyed at her if you didn't feel like an anime protagonist walking down the sidewalk in an OST. (B/F) looks over at you, cocking her eyebrow up. "Uh, what?"

"What?" You look back at her confused.

"You just said 'Irene'." She points her finger at you, a hint of mockery in her tone. "Isn't that what we used to say in like 5th grade, in replace of God?"

You take a moment before the feeling of wanting to disappear overtakes you. She's right. Back when you were both in your Aphmau phase, you used to use that instead of God because it was "Cool" or something. You thought you got over saying it, like how you used to say "Like" all the time.

(B/F)'s hint of mockery has now turned into a full grin, her laughter echoes across the stilled street. "I completely forgot about that! That was such a cringe time for us, huh?" She places her hand on her shoulder, completely forgetting about the chips she was so in love with a moment ago. You wish she went back to eating them at this point.

"It was an accident," You start, you feel your (Dark/Light/Tan) cheeks heat up.

"I was feeling nostalgic, okay." You glare down at the short girl, who in turn sticks out her tongue.

"Right, right. I totally believe you."

"I swear, I didn't mean to say it. Why would I purposely want to say an old Aphmau quote in 202-" Your sentence was cut off by the sound of a small object hitting your shoe. Looking down at your (S/T), you spot a small keychain of a staff, made fully of silver and a red jewel in the middle. You instinctively pick it up, glossing over it.

"What is that?" (B/F) asks, peaking over you to see.

"It looks like a keychain." You hold it by the chain to show her.

"It looks pretty!" She goes to grab it, but you snatch it away last minute, smirking.

(B/F) Whines about the action, as you continue to walk back to your house. You banter back before getting distracted by a speck of raven hair, in the corner of your eye. You squint to get a look, but it disappears before you can see it better. Weird.

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You didn't expect to be met with a (F/C) wall when you woke up. Nor, do you imagine seeing a bunch of posters of fandoms you enjoyed a couple of years ago. You sit up, and run your hand through your (H/T) (H/C), as your (E/C) eyes analyze your new surroundings. "What the shit..?"

Your thought process is interrupted by a shriek in the next room, your fight or flight jumps in, causing your body to stand up to get ready to run. You fly out of the room to meet eyes with pink ones. Take a small moment to look over the person, girl you believe you realize something.

"(B/F)!?"

"(Y/N)..?"

The two of you are downstairs in this house you woke up in. You are looking at yourself in the mirror off to the side. Your (H/T) (H/C) is a bit shorter, along with your entire body, It's like you lost an inch or two. Your face is a bit chubbier, and your body is less defined, almost like you are younger. You pull at your (S/C) cheeks, the stretch widens your mouth causing it to hurt. This isn't a dream, is it?

"Hey (Y/N), look at this." You turn towards the girl who beckons you over. You look down at the wrinkled paper in the girl's hands, It looks like a letter. "I think it's a letter," (B/F) repeats, flipping the paper over.

"Really?" You say sarcastically, (B/F) lightly scowls at you. "Sorry.."

[Transcript: "My dearest (Y/N),"]

"Wow, rude, what about me." (B/F) pouts.

"I'm sure you brought up later on the page." You awkwardly try to comfort her. She smiles at the attempt.

"Also dearest, is this some sort of confession?" She squints at the letter, while you shrug.

"It could also just be a formal way of speaking. Can you get back to the letter now?"

"Fine, Fine." She waves dismissively.

[Transcript: "My dearest (/N), I hope this letter finds you well. I have a quest for you. I am aware that you know of Aphmau and her story. I am entrusting you with stopping the original ending and making anew. You are back to the ages of 15 & 16 respectively. I have given you a house and some money to start. I wish you well.

- Irene"]

"What.."

"The fuck?"

(B/F) Places the letter down on the dining room table, and sits on the chair. You place your hand on the table to keep yourself upright.

"Imagine getting sent to another world because of god's favoritism."

"Is now really a time to be saying this?" (B/F) looks up at you, her teeth biting through her lip. "We're in some apparently not made up, self-insert fanfiction by some 30-year-old woman that we were fans of when we were 12."

You sway your head to the side, your hair following behind. "I mean, at least it's not a typical Tuesday?" You push yourself off of the table. "I mean, we know the entire plot, we know the characters, we can practically do this in our sleep yeah?" You try to spark some optimism, despite that not really being your thing, low morale won't exactly help in this situation.

"I just turned 18! I don't want to go back to being a hormonal mess!"

"Oh suck it up. It's not like your brain turned 16 too."

"I don't want to go back to high school!"

"You are already IN high school!"

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The school is very similar to what you remember a few years back. Except it's not blocky and the colors are less saturated. Phoenix Drop High is shown in bold letters on the front. You and (B/F) walk amongst the group of students, taking in the view of the school. "This was my dream a few years ago, and lowkey still is." You express, looking at the other students.

(B/F) adjusts her skirt, while speaking. "I agree, and why are these skirts so uncomfortable." She complains, brushing off the light blue skirt. You look down at your uniform. You grabbed the (Masculine/Feminine), and you think it suits you pretty well. You shrug off the comment, noticing a certain raven-haired girl walking up the stairs. You tap on (B/F)'s shoulder. You watch as Aphmau takes her selfie, with Aaron following behind by bumping into her. You unintentionally snicker at the meeting.

"As someone who loves the enemies-to-lovers troupe, I still don't understand why Aaron bumped into her on that…this day."

"He was having a bad day probably," You shrug. "Either way, we have no reason to rush, we need to think of a plan to change the future of this world."

(B/F) smirks up at you, "You're starting to sound like a real protagonist, (Y/N)." You push the back of her head down and groan. "Shut up."

"Oww!"

"You two should start to head up the stairs, yeah?"

The sudden voice causes the two of you to jump. The boy standing a few feet behind you chuckles to himself, closing the distance. "Apologies, I didn't mean to startle you. I just thought that you should start to get ready to head to class." He motions towards the door. It was starting to open for the school day.

"Right. Of course." You nod at him and start to pull (B/F) away, the boy waves as you do so. (B/F) looks over at you, "Do you-?"

"No," You shake your head.

"He's not in Mystreet."

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