~ SHUUSUKE ~
Life is like a race. When I was a kid, I have to be the best for my mom and dad to be proud of me. Even when I'm just playing, I have to be a winner.
When I start schooling, if I'm not in the top 1, then I'm nothing. I have to be second to none. So I have to sleep less and finish reading every day.
When I was in middle school, I started to be jealous of everyone but I can't, I have no time for that.
When I was in high school, I met someone, but I don't have time for her. I have to be the best. Maybe after I graduated, I can have time for myself too?
So I focused on my studies and be one of the early graduates. I wanted to finish it fast so they'll be proud of me again and again and I can have time for whatever I want.
However, the never-ending success won't cease. After graduating, my parents were excited to put me to work. They were proud but I felt despair. I asked them if I can have at least one day off, they told me, "A lot of things can happen in one day, son. If you rest for a day, others will have your position when you come back."
I could only nod.
Every day is like hell to me but I have to try my best... For my parents... Until... I died from overwork...
I thought maybe this time, my parents would feel guilty for making me work like a horse. I died in my office in the middle of the night. It was in the afternoon they realized I wasn't sleeping but dead.
Funny thing is, I can still watch them even when I'm just...somewhat air. For the first time, I can breathe, I wasn't suffocated like when I was living, for the first time I wasn't reading nor working. For the first time, I could see the beauty of my surroundings, even if I'm already dead.
When my parents came I was glad. Until the detective said it was overwork, they frowned and didn't shed a tear.
"Overwork?! What an incompetent child! You could have a rest for a minute if you're tired! Now you died even before you reach the top!"
That was what my mom told me...
For the first time, I felt something strange. Like fire in my chest that wanted to explode...
...I burst, "Who told me to never rest not until I finish my quota! Who told me I can't have a day off because others will catch up with me! Who told me I have to be the best...?"
Then I realized, "You did..." I went on my knee realizing after all I did, I didn't do anything for myself. After all those years of compliments from my parents, they have easily forgotten what I did for them. They could easily blame me for their fault.
Ahh... It wasn't their fault. It was mine. If only I stop asking for their attention. If only I did my best for myself. If only I live for myself... Then, I wouldn't regret living...
On my knees, while people took my physical body out of the office, while the people in the scene brush past me, tears won't come out and I could only feel despair, regret, and loneliness... I laid down.
"What have I been doing all those years?" I covered my face... "I wish in my next life, I wouldn't have to work my ass like this... I want to be lazy..." As I said those, a light emerged nearby.
Thinking it might be a place for reincarnation or rebirth, after all, if spirit exists then rebirth can also exist right? I walked and walked through the light. And I found other spirits beside me. I guess this isn't reincarnation but purgatory?
I found a place to lay down under one of those trees nearby. And fell asleep. While I was sleeping, I heard voices and it was annoying. I woke up and there's a huge tree with a light on my right side that people walked through.
So I went inside thinking it's part of the routine. However, I became a tadpole, and instead of shocked, it only made me sleep. I slept again without worries about being in the crowd of tadpoles. Maybe it's also part of the routine they have in purgatory?
However, while I was sleeping out of nowhere there was an earthquake! Who dares mess up with the tadpoles' home? I hope our frog parents would come home soon.
Wait, frog? Oh no... Don't tell me I really reincarnated into tadpoles?! I did want to be lazy but can they at least make me forgot my past self so I won't feel disgusted?!
I followed my brothers and swim away. Maybe our frog parents told the eldest what to do in an emergency and the rest followed him. Then, there were signs that I don't understand such as round 1, and such places with information.
Are those cities here? It's funny.
I swim and swim while trying to survive. It seems to me that living as a frog isn't easy as a lot wanted us to die! My siblings!
I tried saving some of my siblings on my way but there's only me. In the second place, I was carried away by the crowd! I have no choice to move forward.
Our frog parents must have told us to leave in 24 hours asap, it was when we heard a voice earlier. I couldn't understand what he said much but it's probably a warning. Something might happen if we don't leave the pod for 24 hours!
Don't worry frog parents, I'll help my siblings get the hell out of this place!
And I did, when there were tadpoles in danger, I slap those invaders whatever are those then my siblings grabbed me with them. It's nice knowing your siblings care for you too.
Ahh, this carefree life is much better than in my previous life. Even if I became a tadpole, it's better since I have siblings to care for me without forcing me or expecting great things from me.
Though I'm a slow swimmer, my sibling helped me swim fast so that a giant invader wouldn't smash us. I wonder if we grow up, we'll see each other's faces for real? They said from tadpoles to frogs, it'll have a lot of changes. I'm excited!
However, reality hits me. One of my siblings died in my place. I felt guilty. I did ask for rebirth but not like this. I turned around and stared at my other sibling who likes the shiny one who died, just like me, he was stunned too.
I'm sorry...
If only I'm not slow...
Before I could feel despair once again, I was been dragged again by my sibling to get out. He was strong... Earlier I could feel his guilt and sadness, but to make sure the rest stays alive, he pulls us to swim together.
He's moving forward even with those emotions.
He's amazing...
From that time, I wanted to become just like him...
A person who moves forward whatever happens... Only it wasn't a person but a tadpole...
While changing in the stopping place, I was reflecting... It wasn't my parents why I died and lived like that. I chose that path... I chose to seek attention... I chose to reach the top for them and myself... I chose everything...
It wasn't their fault... It was mine...
I shook my head, just like my idol sibling, I won't stay in the past and move forward!
From millions of tadpoles from the start, now it was less like a hundred and smaller than that... I failed to protect my siblings...
Even so, I'll make sure the rest will get out of here!
It was a long swim after the stop spot, some tadpoles fell and I tried to help them swim until we reach the safe place but they evaporated...
Still, I didn't give up and tried to help the rest...
Then, I met my idol sibling... I could distinguish him as he has a thinner and short tail than the rest... However, looking at him, he doesn't know where to swim... He bumped to the squishy wall sometimes and almost return to swim back...
I'm guessing, he must have lost his eyesight! I swam towards him and push him in the right direction. I followed him while I push him in the right direction from time to time and on the way helped the others to swim up.
However, I slowly deteriorated... My energy started to depleted... I was almost there to reach the end but I have no energy left...
Until my idol sibling started to go to the wrong place again so... One last time... I kicked the floor using my tail and push him to the right place before he reached the end...
I was happy...
Even if I didn't survive in my new life... At least my siblings finished it... At least there are four of them who reached the end... I hope our frog parents would be happy that there are at least four who survived than none...
And I was gone... Good luck, my siblings...
....
~ ENCHANTRIX STADIUM ~
[REQUEST VOTE: 10/11]
[Player Name: Shuusuke]
[Reason(s): Funny, positive, want a change]
[Job: Protector, Savior, Bridge, Stepping-stone, Heart Filler]
[SHUUSUKE: ACCEPTED]
"Wow, seriously, even he died there, he still hasn't realized he was a sperm..." V chuckled.
Virus tapped his shoulder, "I know right! Funny thing is, one more vote and he'll be the first person to have all votes... Who didn't vote?"
Note raised his hand, "I did, not really my liking..." Virus shrugged as everyone certainly has different views. Besides, that guy was already accepted.
"I can't believe Enchantress voted again... Gosh, this game, she had voted for four people?" Ivy commented.
Faya nodded, "Yeah, what about those five people yet? Including the first and fastest sperm? They hadn't died yet so we don't know if she'll vote again..."
"Yeah," V went his attention back to the screen. They need three or more souls to participate, if not, then there'll be another game... again... "Sigh," being a system isn't easy...
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Note:
There are five chapters left before this arc ends and the real deal will begin! I hope you hang in there till the end, Trixters!
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KircheLeaf
Arc 1: Enchantrix Race!
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~END of CHAPTER EIGHTEEN~