Ren Amano leaned back against the worn-out couch, stretching his arms above his head as he let out a satisfied sigh.
"Yes! I finally finished binge-watching Eminence in Shadow, Darling in the FRANXX, the Fate series, Gundam, and Knights and Magic. That was nice." He grinned to himself, feeling a sense of accomplishment wash over him. "I've officially completed my break-time anime bucket list, and I still have two weeks left! Truly, I have outdone myself, Ren Amano."
His grin widened at the thought. His luck had truly been remarkable. His parents had conveniently left for their anniversary vacation, leaving him alone in the apartment for the perfect, uninterrupted binge session. No nagging, no sudden chores—just him, his shows, and absolute freedom.
He yawned, running a hand through his messy black hair as he stood up. The dim light in his apartment barely illuminated the scattered empty snack wrappers and energy drink cans littering the floor. His room looked like a war zone of neglect, but he paid it no mind. Hunger gnawed at his stomach, reminding him that he hadn't eaten in a while.
Dragging himself into the kitchen, Ren opened the fridge, only to be met with an uninspiring sight: a few expired jugs of milk and nothing else.
"Tch." He clicked his tongue in frustration. "Of course, I forgot to buy groceries. Just great."
His stomach growled in protest, urging him to do something about his predicament.
"Guess I have no choice but to go outside and restock... ugh, but do I really have to?"
A deep sigh escaped him as he resigned himself to his fate. With heavy steps, he trudged back to his room, picking up some relatively clean clothes and throwing them on. After making himself at least somewhat presentable, he slipped on his shoes and stepped out of his apartment. The moment he did, he squinted against the harsh sunlight assaulting his unadjusted eyes.
"Damn, it's bright." He shielded his face with his hand. "Maybe I should go outside more often... nah."
He plugged in his headphones, letting the familiar rhythm of his favorite songs drown out the world as he made his way to the nearest convenience store. As he walked, he absentmindedly bobbed his head to the music, his thoughts drifting between anime theories, possible next shows to binge, and whether he should pick up some instant ramen or actual ingredients to cook something decent.
When he reached the crosswalk, he saw that the pedestrian light had turned green. Without a second thought, he started jogging across the street, eager to finish his errand quickly and return home to continue his anime spree. But something felt... off.
A distant yet rapidly approaching noise barely registered in his ears—honking, people yelling—before he turned his head slightly, only to see the incoming disaster too late.
A truck. Speeding. Unstoppable.
Time seemed to slow as realization dawned on him.
"Shit—"
Pain exploded through his body as the truck's impact sent him flying. Agony lanced through every fiber of his being. He felt his bones shatter, his organs rupture, his body torn apart by the sheer force of the collision. Crimson splattered onto the pavement as he crashed onto the ground like a broken ragdoll.
His vision blurred, the world fading in and out like a flickering light. The pain was unbearable, yet somehow, his mind still clung to consciousness, albeit barely.
"Sorry... Mom... Dad... please forgive me..." he mumbled, voice weak, breath shallow.
Yet, even as he spoke, something gnawed at his mind—an eerie emptiness. Mom and Dad? Who were they? He knew what those words meant, knew he should have memories of them, but... his mind was blank. It was as if the concept of their existence was there, but not the people themselves. A paradox, a contradiction.
"What... is happening to me?"
His thoughts spiraled as pain surged anew, his consciousness slipping further. And yet, even in his last moments, an unexpected sense of gratitude filled him.
"Thank you, Earth, for letting me live here... and thank you, too, to the ones who protect humanity's myths, dreams, and stories. Thank you to the sun and moon also for enabling us to live and prosper on Earth also."
His vision darkened, his body growing cold.
"This is it. The end."
And yet, as the void closed in, something shifted.
A sound—ethereal, resonant—echoed through the depths of his fading consciousness. A voice? No, not quite. Something more... primal. Something vast and incomprehensible.
Then, the words came.
[The entity 'Earth Will,' XXXXX, is moved by your dedication and sincerity. She is surprised and flustered by your heartfelt words. In response, she has decided to bless you and imprint on your essence.]
[The entity 'Sun Will,' XXXXX, is touched by your acknowledgment and sincerity. She blesses you to the best of her power and imprints on your essence.]
[The entity 'Moon Will,' XXXXX, has taken a great interest in you. She finds your words fascinating and feels your sincerity. She blesses you and imprints on your essence.]
Ren barely registered the words. The meaning was distant, vague, something he couldn't fully grasp in his near-death haze.
Yet, deep within the fading remnants of his consciousness, something ignited. A spark. A thread of possibility. A shift in fate.
Then, there was nothing.
This would mark the end of Ren Amano's life.
But it was also the beginning.
A single moment, an insignificant accident in the grand scheme of existence, yet from it, an ember was lit—one that would grow into a blazing fire. His story, now entangled with forces beyond mortal comprehension, was far from over.
For in the vast expanse of the cosmos, where myths intertwine with reality and fate is woven by unseen hands, the first steps of something far greater had just begun.
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