The world was filled with religions.
Countless beliefs. Countless gods.
Each one claiming supremacy, each follower clinging to their own truth as if it were absolute.
But I never cared.
Not about their gods. Not about their faith.
And no—I don't hate religion.
I hate the people who follow it.
They speak as if their belief stands above all others, as if the books they worship were written by something divine… never once questioning if they were nothing more than stories—crafted, just like the novels written by authors today.
They preach morality.
Right and wrong. Good and evil.
I don't hate those ideals.
What I hate… is the hypocrisy.
They talk about virtue, yet fail to follow their own teachings. They act as if their religion is the only truth in this world, dismissing everything else without a second thought.
Blind faith.
Arrogance disguised as devotion.
…
And now you're probably wondering—why am I even thinking about this?
Simple.
Because I'm an otaku.
A word people love to mock.
I don't hate the word.
I hate the people who ruined it.
This world… it's beyond saving.
…
My eyes drifted to the clock.
8:00 AM.
…Shit.
I'm late for school.
I should stop overthinking things.
I need to dress up quickly.
He wore a neatly pressed white shirt tucked into grey trousers, the fabric smooth and unwrinkled. A dark navy blazer rested over his shoulders, its gold buttons catching the light, with a small crest stitched neatly over the chest. Around his neck hung a red tie with diagonal stripes, tied just loosely enough to suggest ease rather than carelessness.
-
On the way to school, I let out a quiet sigh.
Ahh… this world is so boring.
Before the thought could fade, a loud voice exploded from behind me—
"Yoo! Good morning, Kyūsei!"
A weight suddenly slammed onto my back.
"—Hansuke! Don't jump on me like that!"
"What? That's how friends meet!" he laughed. "Where's the fun in just saying hello normally?"
I clicked my tongue but didn't push him off immediately.
"…Hansuke," I said after a moment, my voice quieter now. "Have you ever thought about when this world is going to get better?"
He blinked, then shrugged without a second thought.
"Nope. Why would I?"
He stepped beside me, hands casually tucked behind his head.
"No matter how much we think about it, nothing's gonna change. We're just normal people. What can we even do?" he said, his tone light—too light. "We'll get some decent job… and then die."
I glanced at him.
"So I don't think about stuff like that," he continued with a grin. "Just enjoy life. It's short anyway. Don't waste it—do whatever you want."
…Typical Hansuke.
I exhaled slowly.
"Yeah… you're right."
Maybe thinking too much really is pointless.
—
The sharp ringing of the school bell cut through the air.
Oh no.
"We're gonna be late!" I muttered.
"Yoo, Kyūsei!" Hansuke suddenly grinned, already stepping back. "Let's race—whoever gets to the classroom first wins!"
Before I could respond, he dashed off.
"…This idiot."
I took off after him anyway.
-
-
-
At the end of the school day—
"Hey, Kyūsei, wanna come over?" Hansuke called out, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "I got some new games."
Kyūsei shook his head.
"Sorry. I've got somewhere to be today."
Hansuke's eyes widened, a grin slowly creeping across his face.
"Ohh? What's this? Meeting someone? A girl? A girlfriend, maybe?" he teased, dragging out the last word.
Kyūsei frowned.
"What are you talking about? You know I don't have a girlfriend… and there's no way I'd get one. Stop messing with me."
"Alright, alright," Hansuke laughed, raising his hands in surrender. "We'll play some other time."
"…Yeah."
Without another word, Kyūsei turned and left.
—
He went home first.
Changed clothes. Washed his face. Picked up a small bag.
Inside it, he carefully placed a few things—flowers, a box of sweets, a bottle of tea, and a bundle of incense.
Today… wasn't just any day.
—
The cemetery was quiet.
Too quiet.
Kyūsei stood in front of a simple grave, the engraved name worn slightly by time.
He placed the flowers down gently. Set the sweets and tea beside them. Then lit the incense, the thin trails of smoke rising into the evening air.
"…It's been five years, Grandpa."
His voice was low.
Unsteady.
"My life hasn't changed at all."
The wind passed softly through the trees.
"I go to school every day. I hang out with Hansuke… we go to different places sometimes."
He let out a faint, hollow laugh.
"I tell you this every year, don't I?"
Silence answered him.
"…It's lonely."
His fingers clenched slightly.
"Mom and Dad still send money… but they never come to see me. They don't even call."
His gaze dropped.
"They didn't even come to your funeral."
The words lingered in the air—heavy, unresolved.
"…Well. There's no point talking about it now."
He exhaled slowly.
"I'll come again next year."
Kyūsei turned, his expression empty, and began to walk away.
—
Night had already fallen.
The streets were dim, lit only by scattered streetlights.
Kyūsei walked alone, lost in his thoughts.
He didn't notice the sound.
Didn't see the headlights.
Didn't hear the desperate shout—
"HEY! WATCH OUT!"
A truck kun sped toward him, out of control.
The brakes had failed.
The driver panicked, yanking the wheel, slamming the pedal—but nothing worked.
"MOVE!!"
But Kyūsei didn't move.
His mind was somewhere else.
—
Darkness.
—
"…Ahh…"
Kyūsei slowly opened his eyes.
"Where… am I?"
There was nothing.
No ground. No sky.
Only endless darkness.
"…What is this place?"
Then—
A light appeared.
Blinding.
Like a miniature sun erupting into existence.
"Ahh—!"
He shielded his eyes, staggering back.
His thoughts spiraled.
What's going on? Am I dead? Is this…
The light grew stronger.
And from within it—
A figure emerged.
Tall.
At least seven feet.
Draped in flowing white garments that seemed to shimmer like liquid light, untouched by dust or shadow. The fabric moved without wind, as if it had a will of its own.
His skin was pale—almost flawless.
His face… inhumanly perfect.
Golden eyes glowed softly, yet within them lay something ancient.
Something sorrowful.
The being looked down at him.
Then, in a voice that echoed as if it came from everywhere—
"WELCOME… MY CHILD."