YUTA POV
As I laid on the ground my mind drifted to the events that lead to this moment. How did I go from being a peaceful student with lots of aspirations to a bleeding coward that might die any moment from a stab wound.
The pain was indescribable. It's like a thousand knives stabbing me all at once. I could feel my heart racing, trying to pump blood to my brain, but it's got harder and harder. My vision started to blur, and I'm felt dizzy.
I tried to moving my body, but it felt heavy, like it was anchored to the ground. I tried screaming for help but my words got stuck. I was trapped, unable to escape the agony that overwhelmed me.
My eyes watered, fear took over. I was scared, scared of dieing. Not because I had anything to life for but before I didn't get to prove me. I was equally scared of the unknown, of what came next. I was scared of being forgotten.
Regret began to creep in, too. I thought about all the things I wanted to do, all the places I wanted to see, all the people I wanted to meet. I thought about the relationships I neglected, the way I pushed the kids away when they tried befriending me, all the opportunities I let slip away.
Tears poured out of me, in unison to the blood underneath me. As the life drained out of me, my entire body felt numb and I felt a sense of acceptance wash over me. I realized that, that was my reality and I was going to die, alone on the streets of Tokyo with nothing but flighting memories of the only family I ever knew, the orphans.
I tried to hold onto memories, to cling to the things that made me happy, the bright smiling faces of the children, their cheerful plays and haphazard laughter.
How, I wish I could have seen those once more.
I was not sure how much longer I can hold on. My body began shutting down, and my mind got cloudy. I was tired, so tired.
As the darkness began to close in, I was left with just one thought: I don't want to die.
Just then I saw a light emanating from a distance, it was a police car. My heart flutter, I forced a smile to my face, "it was finally happening, I was going to be saved" I thought.
A female officer alighted the car and ran towards me, "Kid, can you hear me?. Who did this to you?" She questioned with concern as she ducked to my level, "Sen... Senku... Senku's gang" I tried speaking but my voice had vanished due to crying, and I kept choking on blood in my mouth.
She turned to her college and yelled "Call a medic" before she turned and looked down at me, concern in her eyes and added,
"You don't have to say anything kids. You are safe now"
Her voice was all I needed at that moment to let go of every fight in me. I took in a sharp breath, reflecting on her words.
I was safe now. I could finally rest, and I so badly wanted to sleep. My eyelids felt heavy, my vision began fading, and I succumbed to tiredness.
I believe I fell asleep for a while and when I reopened my eyes open. I was lying on a white floor in the middle of nowhere.
"Where am I?" I wondered, as I pulled myself to a sitting position. I hurrily glazed down at my stomach which was supposed to be stabbed and yet it was completely healed, with no drop of blood.
The pain was gone as well, but that made no sense, I should have been sleeping in a hospital or something.
Unless.... Unless I was dead.
This revelation hit me like a tornado but instead of feeling anger, I felt nothing. It was like I was void of emotions. Guess that what if felt like to be dead.
"I wonder where the rest of the dead folks are at?" I wondered, as I rose to my feet and began scouting the environment. I looked all around but saw nothing, then suddenly a bright light appeared out of nowhere. The intensity of the light was so harsh that I was forced to close my eyes, by the time I reopened them, I found myself in a realm unlike any I had ever known. It looked like a disjuncted rainbow which kept spinning endlessly.
"Hello Yuta Katsuo" A gentle voice whispered in my ear, consequently sending a chill down my spine.
Quickly, I jolted around to see who it was, but what I saw left me utterly speechless.
It a minute girl with fair skin, porcelain doll face, and enchanting rainbow colored eyes. Her skin was completely covered with white bird like feathers and she had gigantic blue- black butterfly like winds on her back and a diamond crown on her long silk black hair.
"Who.... Who are you... and how.... did you know my name?" I muttered my hair standing on straight ends.
She stepped forward, her face radiating with purity and innocent, but the air around her spoke of immerse power, that woman was obviously trouble.
"Stay.... stay away from me" I command, with a shaking voice, my limbs trembling as I tried to stand my ground.
"Relax Yuta, I am not going to hurt you" She voiced, her voice gentle and sincere "My name is Aria Kokoro and I am your guardian angel" She added this time with a voice laced with pride and a big smile.
Her statement quickly took me aback
"What did you just say?" I asked nonplussed by her words.
"I said I am your guardian angel" She said maintaining her tone, consequently sending an angry chill down my stomach.
"You're my guardian angel, how is that even possible?. Where have you been all this while?. Why did you let me suffer all this whole time?" I doubted, as my blood boiled with rage. I had been constantly humiliated, and hurt. My mom died during child birth, my father married another, my step mother Vera was abusive and mean, some of the scars she gave me still hunt me to this day, at age four Vera died in a car accident while she was chasing me with a cane. Her death created a rift between I and my father and drove my dad into trying to push me down the steps, but instead he was the one who fell to his doom. I lived the rest of my life in the orphanage, like a pupper, unloved and under appreciated by all not just. I remember all the sleepless nights I had praying God would send me a guardian angel and she was here all this while relaxing.
"No, I didn't let you suffer..." She dared to lie, her pathetic lies makes my skin crawl.
"Don't you dare lie to me. Name one thing you ever did for me" I commanded, my voice venomous.
She stepped back, her eyes pleading
"Well, there was that time I helped you.... I am sure it was your 15th birthday, that day I did.... actually that day I had a foot ball game... but I am sure there was this one day I actually helped you..." She voiced, before coming to a halt after beginning unable to come up with anything.
I rolled my eyes, turned and began walking away, to no where in particular, I just wanted to be away from her pathetic face.
"Wai Yuta. I don't leave, I have a proposition for you" She claimed her tone pleading but still I didn't batter an eye lid in her direction until she said something, something that shock my roots.
"Yuta, you have been given a second chance at life."
I turned to her my heart racing from anticipation. Aria lips broke into a kind smile, "I have been sent by God Almighty to guide you through the land of the death. You have two options: return to your world or be reincarnated into a new one."
Aria's words hung in the air as my thoughts whirled. What world would I be reincarnated into? Would it be anything like the manga I have a loved, full of magic and adventure?
Aria's smile hinted at possibilities. "The world I speak of is one of wonder and danger. Magic exists, and those with power shape the destiny of realms. You will be given a new body, new abilities, and a chance to forge your own path."
My eyes widened as I considered the possibilities. What would I find, a new life be like? Would he find friends, or would he be alone? The prospect of adventure and magic was tantalizing "The choice is yours, Yuta. What will you decide?" She questioned and I froze.
What was I supposed to choose, life in a world I knew, or taking a chance with the unknown.?