"I'm finally done!"
Shinn leaned back in his chair, stretching as he let out a relieved sigh. The stack of homework he'd just completed sat triumphantly on his desk. He glanced at the clock.
12:03 AM.
"Geez... I really need to fix my schedule."
A Few Hours Later
The morning sunlight slipped through the curtains as Shinn groggily opened his eyes. He rubbed them, yawned, and stumbled into the bathroom to brush his teeth.
Minutes later, he was in the kitchen, still half-asleep.
"Hmm... what's for breakfast?" he mumbled.
He fried some eggs and bacon, set them aside to cool, then measured rice and loaded it into the rice cooker. After everything was done, he plated his breakfast and ate in silence.
Once finished, Shinn changed into his school uniform, locked his apartment door behind him, and made his way to school.
Shinn entered his classroom and sat at the back, as usual.
"Yo, Shinn."
It was Ken—his best friend. Always energetic, always reliable.
Their homeroom teacher walked in, introduced herself, and class began. The students stood, bowed, and took their seats.
The hours dragged on.
Later that day, as Shinn walked home, he witnessed a group of thugs harassing a woman in a quiet alley.
Without thinking, he dashed in.
"Hey!"
He kicked one thug square in the chest and launched another with a spinning heel kick.
One by one, he took them down.
The woman bowed deeply. "Thank you!"
She vanished into the crowd, leaving Shinn to process what just happened.
The Next Morning
Shinn went through his routine again: brushed his teeth, cooked breakfast, put on his uniform, and left his apartment.
But this time... something felt off.
As he walked, a strange sensation crawled down his spine. He glanced behind him.
No one.
"Odd... feels like I'm being watched," he muttered.
Later that day, on the school's second floor, Shinn stood by the window, holding a small notebook titled Diary.
"Dear diary," he whispered as he wrote, "I feel like someone's been following me... I hope it's just a stray cat."
"Shinn?"
A voice broke his thoughts. Suzuki, one of his classmates, ran up to him, panting.
"I've been looking all over for you!"
"Sorry... I was just admiring the view."
"Well, the teacher wants you in the library to help out."
Shinn sighed, nodded, and followed her.
After school, exhausted and starving, he returned home, played a few rounds of video games, ate dinner, bathed, and collapsed into bed. But he couldn't sleep.
That feeling... it's still there.
Weeks Later — Exam Week Ends
Shinn strolled through the Kyoto National Garden, enjoying the peace—until a strange, distorted voice echoed in his ears.
"Shinn..."
The voice called repeatedly.
"Shinn... Shinn!"
He stopped.
"Who's there...?"
"Do you really want to know?"
Shinn's heart raced.
"On February 21st, 2025, at exactly 11:59 AM... you will be shot in the head and die."
His eyes widened.
"WHAT?! Who?! Why?!"
"Calm down, Shinn. I'm not here to scare you. I'm here because that day... will be your reincarnation."
"...Reincarnation? Are you serious?"
"You'll understand soon. Until then... farewell."
---
Back Home
Shinn turned on the TV and tried to distract himself with soccer.
"Right... next year's the 2026 World Cup..."
But something gnawed at him.
Could it be... the thugs I stopped? Are they after me?
He turned off the TV and forced himself to sleep.
---
Five Days Before February 21st
The voice returned.
"Shinn... it's five days from now. You'll be shot. This is your last warning. Listen to me—I have a plan."
Shinn ignored it.
Outside, he met Shindo, a friend from another school.
They walked and talked about exams and school, until—
"Shindo," Shinn asked, "what would you do if someone warned you... that you'd die in five days?"
"Where the heck did that come from?" Shindo laughed.
"Just answer me!"
"Well... I'd be careful, obviously."
"Do you believe in reincarnation?"
"Seriously? No way."
Shinn forced a laugh, then excused himself.
"I hope this isn't real," he whispered as he walked off.
Then the voice shouted again.
"RUN! The one who will kill you is nearby!"
Shinn froze, panicked.
"Why is this voice haunting me?!"
He ran—straight to school.
---
In the Classroom
"Under your desk. There's a bomb. Cut the red wire."
The voice was calm, urgent.
Shinn found the bomb. His hands trembled as he grabbed the wire cutter. He snipped the red wire—
Click.
Safe.
"Do you believe now, Shinn?"
"Yes," Shinn muttered, heart pounding. "But... what about reincarnation?"
"You'll know soon. For now, protect the people close to you."
"But... why are my friends involved?"
"They may be using them to get to you. The thugs? They're not human. They're monsters—from my world."
Shinn's breath hitched.
"Monsters...? Is there a way to defeat them?"
"Forgive me—I don't have time!"
---
Suddenly
He noticed a pistol on the teacher's desk—glowing with a blue aura.
"What the...?"
As he touched it, the aura engulfed him.
And vanished.
The gun remained.
Shinn kept it. Just in case.
---
February 21st — The Final Day
Alleyway. Chaos. Shinn fired his gun—
BANG! BANG!
Different sounds of bullets heard, the gun of solfege.
Each note transformed into a bullet—each with a different effect.
Suddenly, a hooded figure stepped forward, holding a musket.
"Who are you?!" Shinn shouted.
Before he could react—
BANG!
A single shot.
Straight to the head.
White Void
"Shinn... Shinn... wake up..."
A red-haired girl in a long white blouse stood over him. He jolted awake.
"Where... am I?"
"Calm down, Shinn," she said gently. "I'm the voice that guided you. Sadly... you're dead."
"Who are you?"
"My name is Akasuki."
"Akasuki..."
"This is your chance. Choose a name for your next life."
Shinn thought.
"Haneul. I want to be called Haneul."
"Very well. Choose a weapon. Will you keep your gun?"
"I will. But... I'd like an extra skill."
"Request granted. Now go. Enter the portal—create your new life in the world of monsters. Defeat them all."
Akasuki summoned a red portal.
Haneul looked into her eyes, nodded, and stepped forward.
"Goodbye..."