Episode 1

(Note that what you're about to read contains some words other may find disturbing. Also, this is a work of fiction. Any names and events are all fictitious)

Life's so unfair, it makes me want to die. Especially when you're prostrate in hardship or poverty. And lost all the will to live, no family, no home to return to, no money and lastly, no girlfriend. I was hoping that one of those would save me from this hell, but I guess no one did. No, actually, a girlfriend's the least I wanted. If I have one, I'll have to buy her gifts, flowers or treat her on a date.

But here I am, tying the rope on the ceiling and making sure I won't fall when I hang myself. With this, I, can escape reality and swim through the endless sweet dreams I always had on my mind.The dream, where I am with my Mom and Dad, happily and peacefully living ourselves.

I wrapped around the rope on my neck and tie it a knot. I was hesitant, scared of what I'm going to do. I've already made it here, there's no turning back. I was treading on a small chair.

I tightened the rope that was wrapping around my neck, enough for me to choke a little.

Ahh, finally, I'm leaving this world. Mom, Dad, wait for me I'm coming.

I pushed the chair I was treading and the rope began choking me. At first, I didn't put up to it, I was just grabbing a hold of the rope. Then, I was slowly running out of air, I was trying to grasp for air but I couldn't. No matter how much you've made up your mind when you're at the face of death you'll struggle to obtain your life that you almost lost.

My memories from back then had flashed through my mind. There was this post that I've read, something about this on the internet. When you're about to die, your good memories will flashed all back, though I forgot how long it lasts.

Those memories were the good times. Those times where I was still with my Mom and Dad. Those days before I was in so much debt. I treasured those memories, memories that I won't ever forget even If I get an amnesia.

Those flashed of good memories had came to a stop and I was brought back to reality.

I was grasping for air, breathing as hard as I could. But, the air won't go in, uh-ah, so I'm finally dying huh?

Maybe I'll get reincarnated as a hero in another world and save the world from monsters and chaos. Or I might become the Demon Lord and enslave the whole world, killing only male beings, leaving the young and fresh girls behind. Or maybe, a potato, a potato that will serve as pig's food.

Really, what am I thinking right now? I'm dying...

The door slammed open and the landlord saw me hanging. She immediately came to my aid, helped me and called for an ambulance.

---

I woke up, it was all white. I thought, is this heaven? Am I in heaven? I thought killing oneself is a sin? So, why am I in heaven?

A voice suddenly went inside my ear.

"Hey! You're awake! How dare you try to commit suicide!? Good thing I was there. Now pay up your three months worth of rent! "

"Oh, am I seeing things? Why are you in heaven, Ms. L? No, I guess I'm not in heaven because I killed myself, ah. Evils do really goes to hell huh?"

Her brows arched up, "What are you saying!? Why am I suppose to go in hell? And you're saying I'm evil!? Huh!? If you won't pay then, I'll just kill you!"

"I'll kill you! Since you're trying to kill yourself and letting yourself off the hook" Ms. L puts both her hand on my neck and is choking me.

"Grghha grargh! I-I can't... breathe stop choking me Ms. L!"

"I'll send you to hell! You have not pay for your three months rent, I'm sending you not in jail but in hell. Rahahahaha!"

'Oh no she's really a devil!"

The doctor and nurse came in and they stopped her from strangling me.

"Hah! Hah! I almost died, again"

'So I'm in a hospital' I just noticed that I was in the hospital. I can't afford to be laying down on a bed in a hospital. The fees will be charge to my bank account again.

--

I waited for Ms. L to leave the hospital and the nurse, so that I could escape. My hospital fees will increase, the longer I'm here.

-

I was back in my apartment. Everything's a mess, my life's a mess. I don't have the time to clean my room. I went directly and laid on my bed. I began spacing out, looking at the ceiling where I tied the rope.

I'm not dead, that old hag stopped it from becoming so. Let's postpone this suicide for a while and try living one more time.

Jigsaw from the movie Saw might come knocking on my door. Saying that he wants to play a game, for redemption. Because I, who don't value my own life, shall be put in a trial in order to live and to be born, again or die since that's what I want.

And I, soon fall into a deep sleep.

--

I woke up past 9 in the morning. I still couldn't believe myself that I tried to suicide.

I rose from my bed and changed my clothes. I don't cook breakfast anymore, it's a pain in the ass and a pain on my wallet.

I went out to buy something to eat in a convenience store.

Summer vacation's almost done and another school year is approaching. I'm a 3rd-year high schooler. I rack my brains to apply for a scholarship and enter a private school even if it's just for a year.

The name of the school that I took the entrance exam is Kibou to Yuume Private Academy. Yes, I, study here in Japan. Mom's a Filipina and Dad's a Japanese, she became a citizen here when she married Dad. I'm fluent on both languages.

Ding* the usual sound of the convenience store whenever anyone had entered.

I picked the most cheap food I could afford, paid it at the counter and leave.

--

I was gonna enter my room when I saw my mailbox. There was an envelope inside and I took it with me.

I ripped the seal and read what was written.

[Dear Seth Kaneko, we would like to thank you for enrolling at our school, Hopes and Dreams Private Academy. We'd like to inform you that you passed the entranced exam with an average score of xx... blah blah. In regards, Principal.]

"Heh... the Principal wrote this himself huh?"

I passed, I passed that hard to answer test. Who would have know.

'Okay, it's decided. I'll try to live one more time and if it doesn't work I'll end it all. Wait, Hopes and Dreams Private Academy is pretty far from here. Hmm... guess I'll have to move to Aunt's house'

I heated the food I bought and began packing my things.

'Until graduation, if this doesn't work out'

I got my pen and circled the day before graduation, in case I forgot.

I picked up the food I heated and ate my fill. Cheap food has its own taste, this is better than nothing. I'm running broke again. I might starve, guess I'll have to look for a job first before the school year comes. I still have a month to work, but before that, I'll move out to Aunt's house first.

'I can't afford to pay Ms. L but I will have to. She might sue me if I try to escape without paying the rent'

-

I began packing my things, I don't have that much luggage but look at all that boxes, I can't leave them here. They're Dad's and Mom's mementos.

'Okay, I've paid my three months worth of rent and now I'm broke'

---

I live in Shizuoka (静岡市, Shizuoka-shi, [ɕizɯꜜoka]) is the capital city of Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, and the prefecture's second-largest city in both population and area. It has been populated since prehistoric times. As of 1 December 2019, the city had an estimated population of 690,881 in 106,087 households, and a population density of 489 persons per km².

The city's name is made up of two kanji, 静 shizu, meaning "still" or "calm"; and 岡 oka, meaning "hill(s)". In 1869, Shizuoka Domain was first created out of the older Sunpu Domain, and that name was retained when the city was incorporated in 1885. In 2003, Shizuoka absorbed neighboring Shimizu City (now Shimizu Ward) to create the new and expanded city of Shizuoka, briefly becoming the largest city by land area in Japan. In 2005, it became one of Japan's "designated cities"

Whilst Aunt live in Osaka with her daughter. This will be a long trip. Her husband died a year ago, it was cancer. Life insurance sure gave them a quite sum of money. I heard her daughter go to Hopes and Dreams Private Academy. If I remember correctly, she's a year below me or two. I don't know, I don't ask anything about my outside relatives.

I called her and she said I was just right in time when someone moved out of her house. It was a small run down five separate rooms, an old style house. She had it built by what's left of her husband's money. To support their expenses.

'I'm getting sleepy, hours of trip, guess I'll take a nap'

---

I woke up, right in time, I'm at the Osaka Station when I woke up from what I said to be a nap.

Osaka (Japanese: 大阪市, Hepburn: Ōsaka-shi, pronounced [oːsakaɕi]; commonly just 大阪, Ōsaka [oːsaka]( listen)) is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and the largest component of the Keihanshin Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Japan and among the largest in the world with more than 20 million inhabitants.

Osaka was traditionally considered Japan's economic hub. By the Kofun period (300–538) it had developed into an important regional port, and in the 7th and 8th centuries, it served briefly as the imperial capital. Osaka continued to flourish during the Edo period (1603–1867) and became known as a center of Japanese culture. Following the Meiji Restoration, Osaka greatly expanded in size and underwent rapid industrialization. In 1889, Osaka was officially established as a municipality.

Today, Osaka is a major financial center of Japan. It is home to the Osaka Securities Exchange as well as the multinational electronics corporations Panasonic and Sharp. Famous landmarks in Osaka include Osaka Castle - which played a pivotal role in the Siege of Osaka - and Shitennō-ji - the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan.

They weren't using the other three rooms so she decided to have those rooms rented. From what I could remember about her personality. I could say she's kind and always smiling, though I don't really know her that well. By the way, she is not my real Aunt. She and Dad aren't blood related. She was took in by grandma, when she was 8 and Dad's 12 at that time. They got along well.

--

I'm here, the house where I'll try to live longer and seek salvation, from the depths of debt. Maybe I'll try leeching on some rich kid and ripped them off their money. Just kidding, as if I'd do that. I'd rather not get entangled to them than hang out with those rich kids who's born with a silver spoon on their mouth. Money is just being wasted on useless things.

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