It was a typical day, the kind where you go to school in the morning, come home, and start studying after lunch until you go to bed. A normal day in the life of a high school student. I was supposed to live a normal student life like that, but it didn't happen.
That early spring morning, students walked in groups making their way to school, proud—happy—noisy, students excited for a new school day on the first day of spring, with the blossoming sakura flowers clearly visible on the trees lining the road.
I observed this scene from the window, my unkempt hair obscuring the strong sunlight, hindering clear vision. Not that I minded; I hadn't bothered with my hair for a while, letting it grow long before I realized it. I was grateful I'd forgotten to get a haircut recently, as it shielded me from the harsh sunlight.
I don't recall the last time I saw the sun; I'm not a fan of heat, anyway. Given a choice, I'd pick the moon. I'm a nocturnal creature, pursuing my favorite activities in the dark; I rarely leave the house. I spread my silent influence in the darkness... just like the Batman who saves the world at night. I do almost the same thing.
Late, after midnight, I silently spread my influence in small convenience stores, rescuing my empty stomach from starvation. I buy all sorts of delicious snacks; I can't cook, naturally, so much of what I eat is the "3-minute" kind.
Small convenience stores are the best! The biggest enemy for a shut-in like me is sunlight; since it's miles away, it's like the final boss in a game.
But this boss has a devastating weakness: If you don't reveal yourself, it can't harm you. Therefore, prevention is better than cure, so to speak...
While thinking this, I inadvertently raised my head and felt a burning sensation in my eyes.
"Ouch!" Just by losing a little bit of my caution, the final boss seized the opportunity and dealt 2 points of damage. A dirty move; that's why I dislike the light.
"Ah, damn it, the sun is burning me; tactical retreat."
I quickly closed the window and retreated to the darkest corner of the room, near my gaming console.
Contemplating in the darkness, I imagined myself regaining my HP in a healing process under the shade of the room's corner. Before this scene, I was sitting in my messy, dark room, and I still am. I've been playing video games since yesterday.
I haven't had enough sleep today, or any day recently. But today I have a good reason not to sleep; I reached the final event in Eldrion Legacy: the Blazing Tempest Dragon. And because I want to defeat it, I'd read about this dragon in the game's lore.
I even read some online articles about dragons. I want to defeat it to this extent; I want to finish the game at any cost. What about school? you might ask. I never cared for going; I have absolutely no desire to leave my room, ever.
It's not like I was bullied or anything; it's not that at all. If I had to give a specific reason for my reclusive nature, I'd say it's simply how I was born, most likely. I'm not a social person...
Going out in groups, karaoke, sports, socializing—I'm not interested in any of that. Instead, I spend my time playing games, reading manga, and novels. This is who I am, and this is the path I chose for myself.
Despite saying that, I'm not a failure. I do study, occasionally. I've earned a good reputation and my face is known among the convenience stores; I've gained fame unintentionally. I experienced this recently during my nighttime convenience store adventure.
"The Ghost!"
"Huh?! " At first, I didn't understand what that boy meant.
"You're the boy who goes between convenience stores every day, right?"
"A boy in a tracksuit with unkempt hair covering his eyes, his tone so calm that you feel he's a ghost, not a human; you are the pride of the small convenience stores, and everyone talks about you."
Wait… When did I gain this reputation? Did I become famous somehow? Maybe my striking appearance is the reason, most likely.
Despite that, I was hit with a sudden bout of anxiety. I haven't had direct contact with humans in a long time, and I'd reached a high level of anxiety at the moment someone speaks to me without warning. This left me unable to return a proper greeting, let alone have a decent conversation. This is extremely dangerous for me, and I almost became paralyzed, my facial expression freezing in shock for a while.
"The Ghost"—when did I get this nickname? But…it has a nice ring to it. I like it.
While my eyes gleamed with admiration at this sudden nickname, a notification sound from my phone interrupted that moment.
I pulled my phone from my pants pocket to see the notification, and my eyes fell on the screen in complete shock—
"This…!" A new event in Eldrion Legacy…the long-awaited event—the Blazing Tempest Dragon—will be available at 3 AM!
Meaning it'll be added to the game in about an hour. Damn, no time to waste; I need to prepare properly too!
"Excuse me," I dashed inside and quickly grabbed some ramen, pausing only for a moment to pay the boy.
"Thank you, goodbye."
I heard some words from the boy, "Ah, man; I wanted to get his autograph."
Seriously, what is it with convenience store employees these days! I arrived home just in time.
My family is asleep now, no sound; complete silence. I look at the clock hanging on my room's wall.
I carefully watch the steadily moving hands of the clock as the second hand ticks three times before the clock strikes three exactly. "Yosha! Time to play!" With an enthusiastic declaration, I grabbed the controller and turned on the game.
Wait, what! Whoa, what's happening? I suddenly feel incredibly sleepy. Is this due to lack of sleep lately?
But I want to at least play that event before bed; my record of achieving the top ranking in the game's history is on the line. Please, my body, hold on a little; I don't want to sleep yet. Ah, damn it, my consciousness is fading. I don't want that.
At some point, my vision blurred; I no longer felt my body. In the next moment, I fell to the ground and...everything went black.