Across countless universes, where life and death intertwine, where the illogical and law-defying are mundane occurrences... a cold, emotionless, purposeless man named Uzuki Anekawa suddenly becomes the centerpiece of a cosmic joke.
A "System" appears—
but it grants no power, no privileges.
Instead, it brings only trouble, burdens, and a journey he never wished to take.
The universe is shifting.
Laws are crumbling.
And at the heart of it all stands Uzuki—
a man who never wanted to be a hero.
So... what awaits him at the end of this unwanted path?
*Run...*
*Huff... huff...*
In a narrow alley reeking of machine oil and rusted metal, a teenage boy panted heavily, his panicked eyes darting behind him.
"...Hahh, looks like... I got away..."
He leaned back against the wall, legs trembling as if ready to collapse. On the other side, hovering vehicles zipped by at breakneck speeds, scanning for his whereabouts.
"Shit... those guys are freakin' fast..."
He gasped for breath, glancing up at the misty sky with a sigh.
"Now\... I just need to find a way off this planet..."
*Click.*
A soft metallic sound rang out, and something cold pressed against his neck.
"—WHAT THE HELL?!"
An arm tightened around him from behind, a blade thin as paper grazing his windpipe.
"Don't move."
A low, gravelly voice whispered into his ear.
"Hey, man... security guard, right? Can't we talk this out?"
"...I'm not a guard."
The words cut cold and sharp, like the blade resting on his throat—ready to spill blood without a second thought.
"Just a bounty hunter."
At that moment, the boy's tone shifted—trembling, pleading.
"H-Hey! If you let me go, I'll split the cash with you! How about that?!"
The man behind him stayed silent for a moment, then let out a soft sigh. The blade remained steady.
"..."
"Useless."
"Huh?"
Before he could respond—
*Thud!*
The boy crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
Uzuki Anekawa stood above him, pulling off his gloves, eyes unreadable. His gaze was cold, irises and pupils dyed in a pitch-black void.
He crouched, checked the stolen cash, then hoisted the boy over his shoulder like a sack of trash. At nearly 1.8 meters tall, Uzuki towered like a grim reaper dragging his victim toward the underworld.
In the frigid night air, he turned slightly and began walking under the moonlight. Above, a vast, velvety sky stretched endlessly—speckled with stars. Among them, pale blue and snowy-white planets floated faintly, like pearls drifting through the cosmic sea.
---
**Police Station – 10:43 PM**
"Oh? Another wanted guy, huh?"
A young officer looked up, surprised to see Uzuki entering with the unconscious criminal in tow.
"Just happened to be on the way."
"That attitude of yours, seriously—ah, whatever."
"Hey! Take him to the holding cell!"
*Clack...*
The officer tapped his wrist and muttered something.
"All done. I've sent the money over. Got it?"
Uzuki silently checked his watch.
"Full amount."
Without a thank-you or goodbye, he turned and walked away.
The young officer stared after him, bewildered, and asked his colleague:
"Hey Kaine... who is that guy anyway? Looks like some kind of thug."
Kaine crossed his arms and exhaled briefly.
"His name's Uzuki Anekawa. I think he's 21? Lives in the next city over."
"Bounty hunter?"
"Yeah. Freelance type. I've seen him bring in perps like that before—unconscious every time."
"Hmm... so he's a pro?"
"No. He's more like... emotionally frozen. Inhumanly cold."
A sharp voice shouted from the command room:
"NO TALKING DURING WORK HOURS!!"
The two flinched and stood at attention.
---
The room was dark and minimally furnished. Only the sound of the automatic door echoed behind him.
Uzuki stepped inside, removed his gloves and coat, and placed a small bag down.
*Beep!*
A mechanical chime sounded.
A small hovering robot emerged from a nearby cabinet, glowing faintly.
"HI! Host! You've completed your bounty mission! Here comes your random—!"
Uzuki lifted his gaze and shot it a half-lidded glare.
"If you popped out just to say that..."
"...then get lost."
"Y-Yes sir! Retreating at once!"
*Zoom!*
Without a flicker of expression, Uzuki walked away calmly.
*Clack... clack... clack...*
His footsteps echoed through the air as hovering cars drifted past in the futuristic cityscape.
His black hair fluttered slightly in the breeze, revealing eyes so dark they seemed bottomless—as if no light could pierce them. His face remained expressionless, sending shivers down anyone who looked too long.
Step by step, Uzuki walked toward his home.
He stopped in front of a modest-looking house left behind by his mother—simple and unassuming compared to the sleek, modern buildings nearby. Raising his hand, he pressed it gently against the door, tilted his head slightly in thought, then pushed it open.
*Click...*
A soft sound broke the stillness of the night. The door creaked open.
Uzuki stepped inside.
*Clap clap.*
Two sharp claps triggered the lights, illuminating a sparsely decorated home.
He walked in slowly, hands still in his pockets, and sat down on the sofa in the middle of the living room, his body slightly weary.
Pulling out his phone, he tapped something.
*Whoosh—*
A mechanical noise sounded.
Suddenly, from the kitchen, a robotic arm extended, holding a flat tray. On it sat a single cup of coffee.
Uzuki reached out and picked it up with grace, sipping it elegantly.
Then he looked back at his phone.
*Ting...*
A notification rang. He tapped it immediately.
A holographic image of a young woman appeared—cute but exuding the aura of a confident commander.
"Oops—Uzi—no wait, Uzuki, you're in!"
Her voice was cheerful but assertive.
"You've been assigned to Team D."
"I'll explain more tomorrow when we meet, so just wait till then."
"..."
"Alright, see ya!"
The call ended abruptly, returning Uzuki to his familiar silence.
"Looks like tomorrow's going to be a busy day."
He didn't say it aloud—only thought it, staring into the void of the quiet night.
*Ting... Ting... Ting...*
The blaring sound of an alarm clock echoed in the empty room. Sunlight pierced through the windows, heralding a new day.
*Click.*
The door creaked open. Uzuki emerged from the bathroom, dressed in a sharp black suit and freshly adjusted black tie.
He walked over and silenced the screaming clock like a fed-up Asian parent waking their child for school.
*Clack... clack... clack...*
Each footstep echoed softly on the wooden floor as he descended.
Stepping to the doorway, he glanced at his watch.
*6:05 AM*
Then, he reached into thin air.
*Ting.*
A soft sound rang out like a bell, and a small, square-shaped object dropped into his hand.
He peeled it open—some kind of futuristic ration bar—and took a bite before heading out.
*Whoosh... whoosh... whoosh...*
*Zoom... zoom...*
Outside, groups of students in silver-gray uniforms zipped past on glowing NeonTora-X hoverboards, streaking down the streets like speed gods on a neon highway. (NeonTora-X is a popular hoverboard with glowing accents and hover-tech, trendy among youth.)
Uzuki barely glanced at them before turning away, continuing down the path, unmoved.