In the bustling streets of Tokyo, a man in casual clothes weaves his way through the throngs of people. His jeans and t-shirt blend in with the lively crowd, yet his eyes dart around, taking in the neon lights, tall buildings, and the sea of faces passing by. As he walks, he hears the constant hum of conversations, the distant sound of traffic, and the occasional street performer playing music.
His stomach growls as he spots a nearby vending machine glowing with colorful lights. He quickly moves over to it, pushing through the bustling crowd to get closer. As he reaches the machine, he takes a moment to breathe, appreciating the brief respite from the sea of people. The vending machine hums softly, its selection of drinks and snacks illuminated. He scans the options, his hunger growing more insistent as he decides what to choose.
He reaches inside his pocket, grabbing his wallet and taking out some yen. Seeing that he doesn't have enough for snacks, he sighs and decides to buy a drink to slow down his hunger for now. He slides some yen into the vending machine, watching as the coins clink and clatter into place. From his expression, he seems tired and frustrated, his eyes weary and brows furrowed as he waits for the machine to dispense his drink.
He clicks the number of the drink he wants and watches as it begins to fall, but it stops midway, hanging precariously on the edge. He looks at it with an unreadable expression, his eyes narrowing slightly as he assesses the situation. Suddenly, that expression turns to anger, frustration evident in the tight set of his jaw and the furrow of his brows.
"Oh, come on!" he exclaims, enraged by the vending machine's malfunction. He starts banging on the side of the machine, hoping that the drink will dislodge and fall down. But to his surprise, the vending machine starts to tremble, then slowly tilts forward. His eyes widen in disbelief as the machine begins to lean further, the sound of creaking metal filling the air. And then, suddenly, with a loud clatter, the entire vending machine begins to topple over, its contents spilling out as it falls towards him.
Time seems to slow down around him, the chaotic scene unfolding in a surreal haze. His thoughts race, each one a fleeting blur: 'Is it about to fall on me? Could this really happen? No, that's impossible. It'll just give me an injury,' he reassures himself, trying to make sense of the unexpected turn of events.
There was a loud thud, and suddenly everything went black...
The can of soda rolled on the ground, the one he had been desperately trying to retrieve from the machine. As he lay on the ground, blood pouring from his head, he cursed his misfortune as the edge of the vending machine landed hard on his skull.
Some passersby rushed over upon witnessing the incident. He struggled to open his eyes, but everything was blurry. 'Am I going to die...?' he thought, his mind racing with disbelief. 'What a lame death... death from a vending machine... how stupid...' With a sigh in his mind, he closed his eyes, accepting his fate.
His life had never been particularly interesting. In school, he had struggled to make friends, always feeling like an outsider. As an only child with a father in jail and a mother battling alcoholism, he found solace in one thing: archery. It was the one hobby that brought him joy, and he had eagerly joined the archery club at school.
He was at this time only 17.
'I died young, huh?' Was the last thought that crossed his mind, or so he believed.
His eyelids no longer felt heavy, and he sensed that he could open his eyes.
He slowly opened his eyes, finding himself staring at a clear blue sky. Sensing that he could move, he cautiously began to do so.
"What the..." he said as he stood up. He placed his hand on his head on felt... nothing. The blood had disappeared.
He looked around and saw a vast expanse of blue sea in every direction. As he took in his surroundings, a foul smell, like rotting flesh, assaulted his senses. Startled, he glanced down and discovered multiple bodies lying nearby.
"AHH!" He screamed out loudly, startled by the gruesome sight. Quickly covering his nose to block out the foul odor, he took a deep breath and tried to calm down, his mind racing as he assessed the dire situation, he found himself in.
Before he knew it, he heard a voice in his head.
[Archery System Activating... Checking for any Errors... Archery System Installed.]
[Welcome Host!]