1 Prologue: Death and Reborn

Hello! The name's Ishizuka Mahiro, 16 years old. I'm your average highschool guy with a decent life. My way of life has been normal ever since I was born... I have a couple of friends, I have a loving and caring family, and I have bunch of anime and manga to enjoy everyday. I'm quite contented with my life. But you know... It would have been better if I had a girlfriend. Boys of my age have always wanted a girlfriend... but girls these days are so picky, They choose those who have good looks and shove away guys like me. It's soooo frustrating... especially when your bestfriend always boasts her girlfriend to you.

[Mahiro!!]

That loud annoying voice I've always hated especially when boasting... It was Yuuji Izami, my annoying bestfriend.

[Well, well if it isn't my favorite bestfriend]

[Feeling lively as always huh...]

[Hehe... this is the feeling when you already got yourself a girlfriend]

[Well of course you understand, because you don't have one... haha!]

[What did you say?!]

Man... it's so early in the morning, and he's already annoying me.

Ughhh... he's just so annoying. But even though he's like that I always restrain myself from hitting him, just because he's my bestfriend.

[Now, now don't be like that Mahiro... I'm just teasing you]

[Okay I know, I know... but could you stop it, it's so annoying]

[Haha... okay, I understand. But you know, the look in your face when you're annoyed... is sooo funny, it's like.... bwahaha!!]

[I can't even describe it, haha!]

Damn!!... this annoying brat sure runs his mouth without breaks. I'll make sure to take my revenge if I get myself a girlfriend. I'll make sure he won't be able to run his mouth again... But sadly it's impossible for me.

I have no choice... I'm only an average guy with no high standards at all. I know that, but it still frustrates me...

So I just ignored him and just walked normally until I reached the school.

As usual our class is so lively that I could not even hear the noise from outside...

[Mahiro-kun, good morning!]

This soft, gentle voice that always calms me everytime I got annoyed by Yuuji... It was my friend and fellow otaku, Nishio Tatsuo. We always talks about anime and manga, so we never ran out of topic. For me, I'm so lucky to have him as my friend... because these days it's hard to find a friend who has the same likes as you.

[Ohh, hey Nishio... what's up?]

[Well... I just want to ask if you already got the first DVD release of "Last Crusade"?]

[What?!.. the DVD was already released?!]

[Well, yeah... I think it was scheduled yesterday]

[Shit... how could I missed it?]

[This is bad... what if the store already ran out]

I panicked a little... because... you know it was one of the anime's I plan to buy. But how could've I missed it?!...

[Hehe, well calm down Mahiro-kun]

[To tell you the truth... I got us a reservation from a store in which a friend of my dad works]

[So now, we just need to go get it... and we can finally watch it!]

This guy... is just... awesome!!!

To think he already think ahead of time... and what's more he also got one for me!...

I just wish that Yuuji would become more like him.

[Uwahhh!! Nishio-kun!!, you're such a good friend!]

[You're the best!!, Uwahhh!!]

[Thank you!, thank you very much!... I promise to return this debt someday!]

[Now, now Mahiro-kun... don't be so dramatic, it's only natural to help a friend]

[And besides, it's no big deal]

[Uwahh!! Nishio-kun!!]

[Haha... well Mahiro-kun, how about we get it today after school?]

[Of course!... since I have no club, I could go home early]

[Well then it's settled... see you after school]

[Okay!]

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[Oohoho... what is this?]

Ughh... this annoying person is here again, I bet he just wants to mess with me after flirting with his girlfriend...

[It's none of your business]

[Now, now Mahiro-kun... don't be like that, we're bestfriends remember?]

[Ughh... you're so annoying]

[We are just talking about regular anime stuff]

[Now, is that ok?]

[Ohhh... regular anime stuff... huh]

[Haha!! that's what I would expect from someone who has no girlfriend, haha!]

Damn!!! this kid really sure knows how to run his mouth. I'm so pissed off right now, that I could punch him!. But knowing he's still my bestfriend, I calmed my self and ignored him to restrain myself from hitting him...

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After a few minutes our teacher came inside and started the class...

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My whole day in school was normal, except when Yuuji is messing with me. I just wish he would just change... but knowing him, he would not. I know that he's just doing that to convince me to get myself a girlfriend... but sometimes it's just getting so annoying.

After school... I met up with Nishio, because we are now going to buy the DVD at the store where he made a reservation. Oooohhh... I can't wait!, I'm finally getting to watch

"Last Crusade."

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[Mahiro!!!]

[Are you going home now?]

Well, what do you think... of course it's him again. I wonder what's he's up to again... If he's just going to tease me, I would definitely hit him now to teach him a lesson...

[What? are you gonna mess with me again?]

[If you are... let me warn you, I'm gonna hit you definitely this time]

[Haha, of course not... I just want to go home with you]

[Huh? what happened to your girlfriend?]

[Well, the thing is... she has a club activity now so she can't go home with me today]

[Ohh, I see... so she already ditched you, hehe]

[Of course not!]

[Okay, okay I understand, but we need to stop by a store]

[I've got something to get]

[Okay]

[Well then let's go]

The three of us went to the store mentioned by Nishio...

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[Ohh... so this is the store]

[Yes... well then let's go inside]

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[Ummm, excuse me... were here to get our reservation]

On the counter, there was a nice looking man... he has this soft and warm appearance, which makes you feel comfortable... it was rather strange...

[Ohh!... you must be Nishio-kun]

[I've heard about you from the manager, so can you wait here and I'll go get the item]

[Yes, please!]

While we waited, we wandered around the store... they have many kinds of games and DVD's, so they must be quite popular in this area...

After a few minutes, the man returned carrying the items that Nishio came to get...

[Nishio-kun, here are the items]

[Yes, thank you!]

[Well, please do come again]

We're about to go out, but the man suddenly grabbed my shoulder...

[Ummm... do you need something?]

[Kid... be careful]

After saying that he just gave me a warm smile... I didn't know how should I respond, well that's to be expected, because I don't know what's he talking about, so I also gave him a smile and left the store...

[Hey, Mahiro what took you so long?]

[Hehe, well that man just told me something]

[What did he tell you?]

[It's nothing]

[Ooohhh... is it love advice?]

[Shut up, Yuuji]

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[Hey, Nishio can I get my copy now?]

[Ohh, here it is]

[Thank you]

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[Well then, we're gonna head this way, Nishio]

[Okay, be careful]

[Okay, you too]

We parted ways with Nishio... so I'm stuck again with him. I hope he would just keep quite, just this once.

Fortunately, he did...

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[Hey , Mahiro... are you afraid of death?]

I was surprised when he suddenly asked me about that... I was about to make a joke out of that, but... after looking at his serious expression I hesitated...

[Well, yeah... of course I'm afraid]

[Haha... of course normal people would say that...]

[But you know, Mahiro... It's not death I'm afraid of, but rather what's going to happen to me after I die]

I didn't know what to answer... because I don't really know. So I just answered him with what's on my mind...

[Well... it's useless to think about it now. We're still young, we just need to think about how we are going to get a happy long life]

After hearing my answer, the serious expression in Yuuji's face disappeared and he formed a smile, which made me feel relieved.

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While we're walking, I saw a child running towards the road while trying to catch his ball. And at that moment I noticed a truck coming, but it seems that it didn't noticed the child and didn't hit the brakes. I was about to scream, but my body suddenly moved to save the child. But the truck was fast and I didn't have time so the only thing I have done, was to push the child out of the street and then...

*Crashhhh

While my consciousness began fading away... I realized that I'm the one who has been hit instead....

Ughhh... my head hurts...

My body's aching all over...

*cough

[Mahiro!!!]

[Are you okay?!]

That time I heard the trembling voice of my bestfriend...

[Hey, hang in there! I'm gonna call for help!]

Yuuji desperately called for help... but I already knew, that I can't hold on any longer.

Damn!!! *Sob

I wanted to watch that DVD, but now I'm dying... this sucks. *Sob

But, I know it's imposible... the only thing I can do now is to accept my fate and give my last words to my annoying bestfriend...

[Yuu... ji..]

[Hey, Mahiro stop talking!]

[I don't have much any longer]

[Mahiro... don't say that!] *Sob

[You're going to live!]

[You need to watch that DVD right?] *Sob

[I wanted to watch it, but... It's imposible now]

[So now shut up and listen to me...]

[This is the last thing I wish for... You.. and Nishio...]

[Treat each other nicely and help him when he needs help]

[Yes] *Sob

[I'm glad that you two were my friends]

[I won't forget you two, so don't foget about me okay, haha] *Cough

[And, please tell my family that, I'm sorry and goodbye]

[Okay, I will] *Sob

After I said those words my consciousness began fading away... my eyes slowly closed... and my heart stopped...

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[Mahiro!!!]

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I never thought that I would die at such a young age, and even worse... I didn't had the chance to have a girlfriend. Man! what a life that was!. But it was great, even though Yuuji is such an annoying brat, he has been a good friend. There's also Nishio, I'm glad I met him.

Those days with them has been fun...

*Sob

Damn... I'm getting emotional because of them, I just hope they don't forget about me.

But if they actually do, I will make sure to come back and haunt them...

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As time passed... I noticed that I still have my consciousness, but I can't feel my body.

This is weird... Is this what happens when you die?.

I was so confused, so I waited a little much longer...

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This is weird!!!

What's going on?!!

Why am I still conscious, but I can't feel my body?!!

Was I saved?!!

I need to calm down and think...

Accumulate all of your knowledge, and think Mahiro!

So I tried to think as hard as I can...

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But!! I have literally no knowledge about death!!

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*Gasp

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At that time, I realized something unbelievable...

I knew that it was very unthinkable... but I thought that this must be "Reincarnation!!"

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I know it's imposible but... in most isekai anime when the mc dies, he thinks that he already died but... but next thing he knew is, he already came to an another world...

And this is somehow similar to what I'm experiencing now...

So I focused and waited for what will happen next...

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After a few moments... I suddenly felt pain, like my body was aching...

Huh?! my body... was... aching?!

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I tried to check if it's true that I had a body...

I tried to move my limbs... but for some reason, I can't and I feel intense pain if I tried to move.

So instead of my limbs, I tried opening my eyes...

There was a bright light...

A big blue sky...

And I saw my body... it was somehow looked like it's been beaten up badly...

So that explains the pain I feel everytime I tried to move my limbs...

Well... this is a bit different from what I have imagined...

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But you know... It feels great to be alive again.

[✓]