Haruki sat inside a small, dimly lit restaurant where people came to eat and drink sake. He felt tired—really tired. The work had been piling up, and the stress from living in Tokyo was starting to weigh him down. The rent was high, the cost of living even higher, and it seemed like everyone in the city was constantly on edge. But tonight, all Haruki wanted was a drink. Tomorrow was his day off, a rare chance to finally relax.

He ordered a plate of food and a bottle of sake, hoping to drown out the worries of the week. When his order arrived, he slowly ate the grilled meat, savoring the flavor while taking sips of sake. The warmth of the alcohol made him feel a little better, melting away some of the tension in his body.

There was no rush to go home. Tonight, he had no plans, no deadlines. Just the comfort of the restaurant and the knowledge that tomorrow he could sleep as long as he wanted. His home was nearby, only a short walk away, so he could take his time. For now, all he wanted was to sit here and drink.

It wasn't much, but it was enough for Haruki.

After enjoying drink after drink, Haruki finally got drunk. His head felt light, and the world around him seemed to sway slightly. He paid for his meal, his hands fumbling with the money before he slowly stood up, feeling the weight of the alcohol in his legs.

"Hic… that was good," Haruki mumbled to himself, his words slurred. He felt the pleasant buzz of drunkenness spread through him, making him forget about the stress and the pressure of his daily life. For once, he didn't care about anything. He just wanted to savor this moment of freedom.

His steps were unsteady as he walked out of the restaurant, stumbling as he made his way down the dimly lit streets toward his apartment. The cool night air hit his face, but even that couldn't fully sober him up. He smiled to himself, enjoying the lightness in his head, the way the world seemed to move slowly around him.

"Geh... I'm drunk," Haruki muttered, realizing just how tipsy he was. A grin spread across his face as he started singing a random tune, his voice slurred and off-key. He didn't care. The streets were empty, and he was too drunk to worry about what anyone thought.

As he walked, stumbling, hummed to himself, occasionally letting out a soft hiccup. "Hic… eheh… life isn't bad… hic…" he mumbled between lines of his improvised song.

The cool breeze felt nice against his face, and despite the weight of his drunken state, Haruki enjoyed the walk. For once, nothing was bothering him—no work, no stress, just the quiet, empty streets and the warmth of alcohol in his veins. It was one of those rare nights where he could forget about everything.

While walking, Haruki noticed a group of men near the park. They were loud, clearly drunk themselves, and as soon as they saw him, their attention shifted. One of the men, who had his hair dyed a bright color, turned to Haruki with a sneer.

"What do you lookin' at, asshole?" the man spat, his tone challenging.

Haruki, already in a hazy, drunken state, snapped instantly. His temper flared, and he glared back at the man.

"What did you say, punk?" Haruki growled, stepping forward without hesitation. "You wanna die!?"

His voice was rough, filled with the confidence of someone who wasn't afraid to pick a fight, especially when drunk. He didn't back down, staring the guy straight in the eye, ready to throw down if it came to it.

The man, clearly irritated by Haruki lack of fear, pulled out a knife, holding it up in an attempt to intimidate him. "Think you're tough, huh?" the man sneered, flashing the blade under the streetlight.

But Haruki just laughed, his voice loud and mocking. "That's it? A little knife? You think you're scaring me?"

The man, angered by Haruki laughter, lunged forward, trying to stab him. Haruki caught the man wrist with ease, his grip strong despite in drunken state. Before the man could react, Haruki drove his fist into his stomach, knocking him out. The man doubled over, gasping for air.

Haruki, laughing out loud, threw the guy aside. "You're messing with the wrong guy here, kids… gahahaha!" His laughter echoed in the night as the other men watched, unsure if they should step in or run. Haruki stood tall, ready for more if they dared to come at him.

"Here!" Haruki shouted, throwing a hard punch straight into the man face, sending him stumbling back. The force of the hit made the guy nose bleed instantly.

Seeing their friend get knocked around, the rest of the group jumped in, rushing at Haruki all at once. But Haruki, even in his drunken state, moved with ease, dodging their attacks like they were in slow motion. He ducked under a wild swing, then sidestepped another, his grin only growing wider with each missed strike.

"Too slow, punks!" he taunted, laughing loudly as he delivered a sharp kick to one guy's ribs, sending him crashing to the ground.

He moved like it was a game, dodging and countering with ease, his laughter ringing through the air as he effortlessly took them down one by one. It was clear none of them were a match for him.

The other men, seeing how easily Haruki was handling their friend, panicked. Without a second thought, they turned and ran, leaving their beaten comrade on the ground. Haruki watched them flee, shaking his head with a smirk.

He walked over to the guy still groaning on the street and spat to his face. "Too early to pick a fight, kiddo... gehe..." he muttered, his voice filled with amusement.

Haruki straightened up, chuckling to himself. He didn't bother sticking around any longer. With the adrenaline fading and the alcohol still buzzing in his system, he turned and started walking home again, stumbling slightly but still humming a drunken tune. As he wandered down the street, his voice rose, slurring through his song, not caring about the mess he left behind.

Haruki continued to enjoy his walk, feeling good as he approached his house. His steps were unsteady, but he didn't care—he was almost home. Just as he reached for the door, a sudden flash of white light filled his vision, blinding him.

"Huh… am I that drunk?" Haruki muttered, stumbling back, his hand shielding his eyes. The brightness was overwhelming, making him think the alcohol had finally taken over.

When the light faded, Haruki slowly opened his eyes, expecting to see the familiar surroundings of his small apartment. But instead, he found himself standing in what looked like a massive garden. The place was lush and green, with perfectly trimmed hedges, vibrant flowers, and tall trees surrounding him. The scent of nature filled the air, and a soft breeze brushed past him—definitely not the city, and definitely not his home.

Haruki blinked in confusion, trying to make sense of what just happened. As he looked around, he noticed several other guys scattered about, all looking just as confused as he was.

"What the hell…?" Haruki muttered under his breath. His drunken haze was starting to lift as the strange reality of his new surroundings began to sink in. Something was definitely wrong.

( End of Chapter 1 )