I honestly can't remember when I started reading novels for escapism.
All I know is that I've consumed this kind of media for as long as I can remember.
Was it because I was bullied?
Or was it because my parents never paid any attention to me?
Eh, I guess it doesn't matter.
Why?
Because I'm filthy rich now!
Yes, that's right, I have evolved from an avid reader to a light novel author.
And a pretty successful one too, in fact.
'I alone am the honored one.'
'Does my step-sister have feelings for me?'
'Leveling up in a Fantasy World.'
And many more.
Yes, those are all novels I wrote, and they were all a hit.
Well… except one, and honestly, I don't even remember the title.
Though I'm pretty sure it's one of the earlier novels I wrote.
But… that was all in the past.
One day, as I was about to publish my new book, the company that I was contracted to suddenly cut me off and took the rights of all my books.
Of course, I still had some money left, I was an established author after all.
But like I said, that was all in the past.
Now?
I'm fucking broke, my rent was due, I'm still unemployed, and I was honestly starving.
I never finished college since I dropped out during my second year.
I mean, I was making big bucks with my books, so why would I waste my time at school?
But now, I honestly regretted that choice, I have no degree and I can't apply for any job.
What was the point of life if it didn't treat me well to begin with?
Should I just end it all?
Or will lady luck finally bless me?
That's just wishful thinking, after all, I'm not a protagonist of a novel, but it would honestly be great if I were.
Well, if I were to choose one of my novels to reincarnate to, it would be 'Does my step-sister have feelings for me?'.
I mean, don't judge me, but the main character had the time of his life there.
What am I even thinking?
I have no time for this.
I need to find some place to eat, something cheap.
I only have 5,000 yen with me right now.
TING
Ah, finally the pedestrian signal turned green, that felt like forever.
I motioned to walk in the pedestrian lane and there it was, light!
I stared at the light that was coming towards me, wait… that isn't light… It's a goddamn truck!
Holy shit, what was I thinking?
I needed to get away.
Good thing it was still a few centimeters away.
And with that, I escaped my inevitable death.
It's funny though, in light novel tropes, that's usually when the main character gets hit by a truck and reincarnates in another world.
Of course, I'm not that crazy.
Who would believe in something like that to begin with?
Me of course.
But my survival instincts kicked in and I just had to save myself.
Suddenly, I see a man rushing towards me.
What does he want?
STAB-
"AGKK!"
Did I just get stabbed?
Who is this guy?
And why did he stab me?
Wait, he looks familiar…
Ah, it's that guy that's always hanging around with the editor I worked with.
I see, he must've been ordered to kill me just in case I'd try to go against them.
I had already tried that and it was useless, so why did they have to kill me?
It honestly hurts… I've never felt this kind of pain before.
But what the hell?
A stabbing cliché?
I at least wanted the truck one.
And let me guess, after I die I'll suddenly wake up in a fantasy world?
"Haa…"
Once again, wishful thinking…
I lay there on the cold hard ground, I could see people around me and I could faintly hear the sirens beeping.
Ah, this is it, this really is it.
It wasn't a bad life… well it was after the company stabbed me in the back.
Literally.
But it wasn't a bad life, but honestly I had enough.
I'm too tired, too exhausted to continue living.
And then I closed my eyes…
On this day, Hiroto Yamada had drawn his last breath.
…
====
[STATUS]
Name: Unknown
Level: 0
Race: Human
HP: 0/0
MP: 0
Class: None
Strength: F
Intelligence: F
Dexterity: F
Charisma: F
[SKILLS]
None
====
I opened my eyes and that was the first thing I saw as I was trapped at what seems to be a void.
Ah, I'm still alive.
I felt relief knowing that, despite the fact that I did want to end the suffering, but at the same time, I'm also afraid of death.
But is this what I think it is?
A system interface?
Is this even real?
Honestly, it's kinda cliché.
I've read an exact scenario like this back when I was an avid reader, and I've also written a book like this.
"..."
After that, a bright light started to emerge within the void and engulfed me.