The sky is blue, and the sun is bright. It was clear weather and a peaceful afternoon for me to stop by a café and continue reading that manga.
"I waited an entire month for this volume to come out! You better not disappoint me, Mr. Author," I said, feeling excited. I then went on to pick a table outside the café near the entrance. Soon, a waitress came over and took my order — the usual creamy latte with sweets as a complimentary treat.
With that being said, I opened my shoulder bag, which was in my lap, and grabbed a manga out of it. The smell of paper—ahh... such is the scent of a physical manga rather than a digital one. Anyway, what I'm currently reading is Naruto. He's just so adorable that I ended up taking a liking to this little protagonist when I was looking for something to read while bored at home.
(Uhuh... So, it's the part where he's currently learning the Rasengan... The training looks hard... Oh no! He hurt his hand again!)
I thought to myself while reading. My expression on the outside is normal, but my legs are stomping uncontrollably. The anticipation is visible throughout my body, but I'm trying to forcibly stop my habit of stomping while reading for now.
"Miss Mirai, here's your order... Miss Mirai... Miss..."
"Huh? Oh! I'm sorry, and thank you!"
I was so engrossed in what I was reading that I didn't even notice the waitress calling out to me. She gestured that it was alright and placed my order at my table. I thanked her once again and went on with my business.
Anyway, I am Mirai Kirisaki, a high school student at Teitan University, the same school as my cousin Ran and childhood friend Kudo Shinichi, that famous high school detective. I just finished my daily karate lessons earlier with Ran, and am currently sipping my latte and eating sweets to relax my mind a little before I return home.
But just when I was about to take another bite, a loud scream echoed inside the café. My eyes went to look for the cause of it and I saw two men with guns, wearing masks.
"Nobody moves! This is a robbery! Again, nobody moves?!"
The guy shouted. Although he's threatening the customers and staff, he seems afraid to shoot someone. No! This is really dangerous. A man who appears to have no knowledge of guns but is in fact holding one is far too dangerous to be around civilians.
"If that's the case then I can't do much aside from calling the police"
With that in mind, I took my phone out of the bag and dialed #110. When I finally got connected to the station, I carefully explained the situation.
"Ma'am, two patrol cars are heading to your location. Please avoid doing anything dangerous and do not let them notice your actions, or they might get scared."
"I understand. As of now, they are too busy keeping the hostages on the ground—so, if you could please—Ahk!"
*Bang!*
Before I could continue, a wave of pain rushed through my body. Looking at my abdomen, I saw that my body was dripping with blood.
"Shit! You just have to stay silent."
Right, there are also accomplices outside. I didn't notice them until now. Then police sirens sounded, and I was already kneeling on the floor with very little strength due to my body being exhausted, and the pain… it's unbearable.
◇ Confirmed. Pain Resistance successfully acquired. ◇
"Hey! Let's go! LET'S GO! It's enough!"
(Dammit, they're trying to escape, but I couldn't even move a muscle.)
"Kyaaa! Somebody got shot! Help! Help!"
(Ugh… The place is a mess… I'm in a mess.)
◇ Confirmed. Preparing to transfer the soul to a hostile dimension… Failed… Preparing to transfer the soul… Failed.
…In exchange for the failed attempts, the soul will be transferred to a made-up dimension… Successful. ◇
"Hang in there, miss! The ambulance is on its way here! Does anyone have a clean cloth? You, let me borrow that scarf! I need to apply some pressure to her wound!"
(My blood sure is thick… Just like that woman's hair… Ugh… I can't… My strength is slowly fading away… I still haven't finished reading that last page.)
◇ Confirmed. Preferred body type has been selected. Other qualities will be added as soon as the process is complete. ◇
(I've been hearing voices all around me. My vision is already blurry… My life is practically over, yet I still feel the need to survive…)
◇ Confirmed. Acquiring the unique skill" Scientia "… Successful. ◇
"Miss! We will be carrying you now. Just wait a little longer until we arrive at the hospital."
As my mind couldn't handle the stress from the pain, my vision completely faded and my consciousness drifted away, far enough for me to know what's going on nor to care what's happening.
◇ Confirmed. All data has been successfully acquired ◇
•••••••
•••••
•••
••
•
"Hey! Give that back! That's my mother's necklace!"
A girl with red hair, sky-blue eyes, and worn-out clothes shouted in desperation, trying to take back what was stolen from her.
"Just shut up! This thing can get us money to buy food… It's none of your business, so let go!"
*Tud!*
The boy shouted, punching and kicking the pitiful girl, who could do nothing but curl up in a defensive position on the ground.
"Stop!? Please!? Stop!?"
The girl begged for mercy, but she was still beaten by him. Soon, the other kids joined in hurting her, showing no regret but satisfaction on their faces.
"Hmpf!… You'd better not chase after us if you don't wish to die,"
The boy exclaimed, turning his back on the pitiful girl, who appeared to be almost dead from the abuse she had endured.
She didn't mutter anything; she couldn't do anything. She was just a powerless orphan child in a world at war. Her life didn't matter to anyone, and with the only item she had of her mother, to which unfortunately was stolen from her, she saw no reason to live any longer.
"I'd better lie here… forever."
Just as her eyes became blurry, a figure from the distant street approached her body, observing it for a while before lifting her.
"Young buds like you are decaying, but you'll become a beautiful flower once treated right."
The old man said with a grin, almost like a creepy grin, but nonetheless, he took her to a nearby hospital.