I just want to end it all.
Why does everyone have to be so fucking annoying?
I wish it would just all disappear.
I just want to stay invisible for the rest of my life.
So why is it, that I feel like I'm the most seen person on the planet?
I'm not popular, but girls sometimes talk to me. Just last week, Aoi asked me for my eraser.
Surely that would mean something, right?
**"Hikari."**
I find that wasting my time on trivial things such as that, will just distract me.
That's right. I don't need anybody else.
They always just leave.
Desert me when I need them the most.
I've been alone for 17 years and plan to keep it that way for 17 more.
**"Hikari."**
Stop looking at me like that.
Stop judging me.
Why are you looking at me with those eyes?
Why are you looking at me?
Stop it.
I know what you think of me. They all think the same.
Stop it.
Don't try to talk to me. You're just putting up a facade.
Stop it.
Stop it.
Stop it.
Stop it.
JUST STOP IT.
"Hikari!"
I look up from my desk with drowsy eyes and find my teacher yelling my name.
"Can you please answer the question on the board since you think you're smart enough to fall asleep in class?"
Everything's still blurry. I rub my eyes and squint at the board.
I stand up.
"62a+89b-0.4c."
Ms. Keiko looks impressed.
"Just make sure that you stay awake during class, okay?"
I nod my head and lay it on my arm. I was always one of the smartest. But, I don't like to put it that way. Perhaps I'm stupid, but all the other imbeciles are just even more simple-minded.
When is this class going to end?
I look at the clock.
3:08 PM.
Fuck. Really?
Just 7 more minutes.
I grab my pen and notebook and begin to doodle what appears to look like a dog with laser eyes, flying.
I chuckle.
It was a bit silly.
Out of my right ear, I hear a giggle as well. I turn to check the sound out. It was Aoi.
She examined my little sketch and tried her best not to laugh. By the way, it didn't work.
Aoi reaches her arm over to my desk and points to my notebook.
"What the hell is that supposed to be?"
She's still laughing, but tries to suppress it because she doesn't want Ms. Keiko to take notice.
I look back at my drawing.
What the fuck is supposed to be so funny? This drawing is nothing more than a doodle, yes. But why in the world do you think it's your right to laugh it? Don't fucking judge me.
I try my best not to let my inner thoughts come out and change my facial expression.
"It's supposed to be a dog trying to play superhero," I respond with a fake smile.
She bursts out laughing even harder. This time, not even trying to keep quiet and everyone's eyes were latched onto her.
"Aoi!" Ms. Keiko seemed annoyed, but not too much because class is going to be over in a few minutes anyways.
Aoi calms herself and tries to slowly breathe in order to keep her laughter in check.
Why the fuck is this so funny?
Do I just appear as a clown to her? Nothing more than a object in order to entertain her whenever she gets bored?
I hate people.
The bell rings and I quickly gather my stuff and exit the classroom.
I couldn't stand another second, being in the same space as that half-witted troll.
I make my way downstairs and to the lockers to change my shoes. I open my locker door and find a note inside.
What the fuck do people want from me?
"Hello Hikari,
I hope this finds you well and would just like to confess that I like you. I have liked you ever since I saw you at the entrance ceremony and was just wondering if-"
I crumple the note.
Utterly fucking worthless.
I've been getting more of those recently. I used to entertain these and actually follow up with these people, but it's gotten more and more tiresome each time. It's the same thing with every one. Do they have the same code built into them or something?
I find a trash can to dispose of the note with, and go through the doors, outside.
It's cold.
Of course it is. It's the end of November, and I forgot to bring a scarf.
I bring my hands together and exhale my hot breath onto them. It feels better each time.
Oh, that's right. The weekly JUMP comes out today.
I start to make my way to the nearest convenience store and cradle my arms.
It's way too cold for this.
I look across the street and see a couple of my classmates walking home together. They catch my gaze and wave at me.
I pretend not to notice and keep my head glued to the ground.
I don't fucking know you, it's just weird if you wave to me out of nowhere, is it not? People who are too outgoing like that, piss me off. You don't know me, so stop acting like you do.
As I'm making my way to the convenience store, with my eyes still focused on the sidewalk, I notice something between the cracks. It was glowing blue.
What is this?
I try to pry the ring free from the crack, but it was in there, tight.
An idea suddenly sprang, and I grab a pencil from my bag.
I pry the pencil into the crack and attempt to lever it beneath the ring, successfully popping it out, and it lands on the ground, still glowing. I grab the ring and examine it closely.
It has a bit of rust on it, but it doesn't seem invaluable. It must be someone's wedding ring that slipped off their finger and landed here. But still, why would a ring be glowing blue like that?
My eyes wander off to glance across the street and I spot the convenience store. There is already a crowd of people lining up to buy this week's JUMP.
I put the ring in my pocket and run towards the convenience store. "FUCK!"
Hurrying on inside and pushing against the crowd, I look upon the shelves and spot just a few left.
Thank God.
I make my way through the horde of people and quickly grab one, trying to get to the checkout as fast as possible.
I just want to buy this and go home.
I scan the item and place the money in the dispenser.
I stumble a bit due to the people behind me, shoving to be next in line.
Just wait your fucking turn. It's not the end of the world if you wait an extra 30 seconds. I mean it is for me, but you mongrels don't matter.
Grabbing my JUMP and the receipt, I hastily leave the store.
Finally.
I return to my house and swiftly take off my shoes, skipping each step on my stairs, and cannonball onto my bed.
No time to waste. I have to know what happens next in the manga I'm reading.
I finish up the entire magazine and lie there.
Amazing. Just an utter masterpiece. For there to be people out there, just able to distinctly create worlds like that and execute it perfectly, is just astounding.
I roll around my bed some more to show my sheer excitement to the pure art I just read and end up crumpling my bed, undoing all of the sheets. I then feel something in my pocket.
I reach into it and pull out whatever item was in it.
It was the ring. I fiddle with it and just stare.
Now that I'm actually looking at it from up close, it doesn't seem appealing at all. As a matter of fact, it just looks like a bent piece of metal in the shape of a ring.
I look closer and notice writing.
It must be the married couple's names engraved on it. It's not that uncommon. A lot of people do it to show their dedication and commitment to their spouse, and it makes for a cherishable ring as well.
I try to make out the characters that are imprinted.
It's tiny, but I could still faintly make it out.
Allon Kosmo.
Allon Kosmo. What an abnormal name. It doesn't sound local. Must be a foreigner. But still, though, how do you pronounce it?
"All-oon Koos-mo. Allun Kosmo. Allon Kusmoo."
Those don't sound all that right.
"Allon Kosmo."
That must be right. I wonder where they came from?
I rub my eyes from straining them too hard, trying to read the characters.
I open them and find myself lying on a dirt floor. I hold my hand out to block the burning sun from piercing into my eyes. My body, beginning to sweat bullets from the heat.
Heat? But it's November.
I perch my body up, only to be greeted with the scenery of vendor stalls and houses built from clay, all compact together. Men, women and children all wearing what appears to be wool clothing. The sounds of horses galloping and instruments being played throughout the area.
Where...
...am I?