After being woken up by my alarm clock, I forced my body to get up and covered my mouth as I yawned. I immediately grabbed my phone to check the time, worried that I might have unconsciously snoozed it multiple times due to my grogginess.
Seeing that was not the case, I sighed in relief and slipped on my slippers before heading to the bathroom.
I grabbed my toothbrush after entering and mindlessly stared at my reflection as I brushed my teeth. Once I was done, I gargled and spat the water out.
Taking a towel, I stripped off my clothes and started my morning shower. The water hitting my head calmed my mind and my mood a little.
After the bath, I came out and dried myself, preparing for work. I took the kettle from the cabinet and turned on the faucet, filling it with water for my instant ramen.
While waiting for it to boil, I turned on the TV to watch the news. It started with the prime minister waving, but my attention was drawn to the beautiful black haired woman with a hime cut standing beside her, clad in the Anti Demon Corps uniform.
Looks like the current Supreme Commander is still looking as fresh as ever. It was unbelievable how someone like her could be absurdly strong, strong enough to wipe out an entire Shuuki horde in the blink of an eye.
"It is really unfair, huh..." I sighed, standing up to turn off the kettle as it began to whistle. Lifting it, I poured the hot water into my opened curry flavored instant ramen.
I set a timer on my phone and closed the lid, letting the noodles soften.
Damn peaches. Why can men not have powers too?
I am not going to sugarcoat it. Ever since high school, I have been envious of my female classmates and colleagues. Their abilities made life so much easier.
Those blessings completely destroyed the gender balance. Guys like me were reduced to workers and servants, while women stood at the top. Being in the workforce is a miserable experience, but I do not really have a choice. I definitely do not want to end up living on the streets.
That said, having no powers did give me the perks of forcing me to learn how to take care of myself.
I handled my own chores and worked out regularly on less busy days while also maintaining my martial arts training at the same time.
It is better to know how to fight, even if women could easily beat me without breaking a sweat.
Just in case.
I should probably focus more on cardio as well. If a Shuuki ever showed up, running as fast as possible might be my only option.
When the timer buzzed, I opened the lid of my ramen, chopsticks waiting beside it.
"Thanks for the food," I said calmly, pressing my hands together.
After splitting the chopsticks, I started devouring my meal until something on the news caught my attention.
[A celebrity last night experienced an unexpected transport to Mato]
"A Mato mishap, huh..." My stomach tightened.
That was the one thing I really, really hoped would never happen to me.
Getting sent to Mato out of nowhere would scare me beyond belief. Even if I managed to outrun a Shuuki, my body probably would not last long, especially if I was unlucky enough to get killed before an Anti Demon Corps member shows up to save the day.
I turn off the TV, finish my ramen, and throw the container into the trash can. A couple of minutes later, I step out of my apartment, lock the door, and head to the train station.
Finding a job here in Yamanashi feels like a luxury, one I know I won't forget unless I get transferred. With how cheap the apartments are compared to big cities like Tokyo, it's hard to complain.
The company I work for is only one station away, so commuting isn't much of a hassle. My hobby of going outdoors during my off days is especially enjoyable here, with lakeside campsites and many other places I can stay at.
Nothing beats a bottle of beer and some grilled meat after a week of hectic work.
========
I sit down at my desk and work on expense reports and invoices.
With one final keystroke, I finish my workload for the day. With the boss already gone, I can safely say I'm free to enjoy a wonderful dinner.
"Finally," I mutter to myself, stretching my body and taking a candy out of my pocket as a small energizer.
After shutting down my computer, I stare at the glass panel. Seeing the night sky somehow makes me even hungrier. I'm really craving a bowl of fried rice tonight.
Once I finish neatly gathering my things, I say my farewells to my coworkers and exhale as I step out of the main door.
Thankfully, the diner I regularly go to is just nearby. Without wasting any time, I walk toward it. It doesn't take long before I arrive and take a seat at the counter. The owner, an old man, made the rice bounce around in his wok.
After an agonizing wait, a steaming plate of spicy fried rice is placed in front of me.
Thanking him for the food, I ate until not a single grain of rice was left, smiling in satisfaction despite the heat invading my tongue from the spiciness.
After finishing my dinner, I got out of the establishment to get my much deserved rest on top of my bed
Still, the place is still quite lively. I just saw a sales lady handing out flyers using her hair, and a girl in her school uniform walking vertically up a tree to retrieve a ball stuck on it.
Staring at my hand, I clenched it, then let out a long sigh. It is what it is. Why can't I just accept the fact that guys can't have powers?
Can't help it, you know. I watched a lot of anime and read a lot of manga when I was a kid, never minding how stupid I looked doing Kamehameha or Hadouken poses in the playground.
I might not be as hopeful as I was back then, but there's still a trace of it left in me. A belief that I'll someday break out of this boring cycle of life and do something enjoyable in the future.
"Hey, maybe a meteor will fall from the sky and give me a watch that lets me transform," I said while staring up at the sky. "Or a robot from space that can turn into a car will show up at my front door and help me fight the Shuuki."
I couldn't help but close my eyes and chuckle at my own thoughts. I'm already an adult in everyone's eyes, but my brain is still childish. I might as well dream big, even if reality is already slapping me in the face.
When I opened my eyes, instead of lights and buildings, I saw a depressing sky and a spiky, desolate landscape.
Blinking rapidly and slapping my cheeks, I refused to accept what was happening. But it seems goddess luck is kicking my ass right now.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me," I muttered, my voice shaking as nervousness crept through my body.
Why am I in Mato?! I've been a good boy every Christmas, you know? So what's with this early, awful gift from Santa's naughty list?!
Did I jinx myself this morning? If so, this is fate messing with me again! I asked for a superpower, not a goddamn Nightmare difficulty run with average stats that won't increase no matter what I do!
Calm down. Take deep breaths. I'll just wait for the Anti Demon Corps to save me, and everything will go back to normal.
Looking around, there were no signs of Shuuki. Maybe I landed in a relatively calm zon—
Alright, I should stop raising death flags, because I'm seeing a bunch of big guys running straight toward me, staring like I'm a piece of meat.
Cracking my neck, I took a deep breath and prepared the special move I invented for special occasions where martial arts absolutely won't work.
"FUCKING RUN!!!"