Shizuka Hoshino always thought she was just another ordinary girl. Sure, she was a bit of a loner, always preferring games and books over real-world interactions. But who could blame her? The real world was dull. Predictable.

And then, of course, she died.

It wasn't a heroic sacrifice, nor was it some dramatic betrayal. No, her death was far stupider than that.

"Really? A freaking truck? I thought this only happened in anime!" Shizuka groaned, looking down at her lifeless body sprawled across the pavement. A crowd had gathered, some gasping, others filming the scene with their phones.

Blood pooled beneath her broken form. The truck driver was panicking. A woman was screaming. None of it mattered anymore. She could already feel herself slipping away.

"So this is how it ends..."

But just as darkness crept in, a voice called out from the void.

"No, child. This is how it begins."

A brilliant light consumed her vision.

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