Amidst the sounds of Tokyo's noisy streets, the coming and going of a crowd of people heading to their homes after a long day of work.
It was just another typical day in my routine. I graduated from college, got a job in a general contractor's office, and with my older brother looking after our parents for me, I was currently enjoying all the countless benefits of bachelor life. And I was a virgin.
I sighed as I spoke to myself.
"Just another day as a salaryman. Seriously, I don't know when I'll be able to keep this up."
I felt like nothing more than a cog in a machine called society. The only thing that could bring me happiness at the moment was my beloved manga and my Blu-ray anime collection.
As I walked, I thought to myself about what I would do when I got home.
(I guess it's time to watch Hunter x Hunter again. Damn, wouldn't it be better just to buy instant ramen and watch a movie instead?)
These thoughts occupied my mind while I stood there, head down, stopped at the corner of the crosswalk near my house, waiting for the pedestrian light to turn green.
However, that's when I suddenly looked up after hearing a desperate woman's scream. There, I saw a child, maybe five or six years old, in primary school attire, running after a ball on the other side of the street. At the same time, I heard the horn of a truck heading toward the little girl, who was currently in the center of the road.
"What the hell..."
Suddenly, my body moved on its own. Before I knew it, I was already running toward the girl. With my arms outstretched, I pushed her backward with all my might.
(What the hell am I doing?)
At the exact same moment, less than a second later, I felt my body collide with the truck. The massive metal structure relentlessly slammed into my body, pushing me as if I were nothing more than a sack of meat.
I heard my bones crack as my vision blurred and pain took over my entire body.
Even with blurred vision and infernal pain, I could still see the blue sky. I thought to myself:
(So this is how it all ends? Damn it, if anything bad happens to me… I hope someone will please take care of my computer. Put it in the bathtub, turn it on, and fry everything on the drive for me.)
I summoned the last bit of strength my body had to turn my head and look toward the girl.
She was fine.
(That's good...)
Then suddenly, I felt all the strength in my body draining away. My vision began to darken until everything went black.
It's strange how death isn't as lonely as I thought. That was the last thought I had on the mortal plane.