NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1: Re:Born
Natsuki Subaru POV:
My name is Natsuki Subaru, your typical shut-in NEET just at the age of 17! A high-schooler dropout, a failure of a son and many, many things more. Just in one name - Natsuki Subaru. Surely, that sounds terrible right? But I wasn't always like that.
I can't quite remember how it started.
"You are definitely his kid!"
During my childhood, I was often referred to as a prodigy child. Always being better than any other child, faster, smarter and stronger.
My grades were the highest in the school, I was winning every school marathon or any other school related events.
I could tell that other parents really envied my parents for having such a child. Don't take me wrong, I was Natsuki Keochi's son! The only son of his! It was expected from me to reach such heights! I was his pride!
"You are definitely his kid!"
Surely, but it couldn't last long right? Fate can be... Unforgiving at times...
Slowly, some other people started getting better grades than me, I started losing in more and more school events. Everywhere I looked, there was always someone... Who is much better than me.
"You are definitely his kid!"
I stopped being "best" at everything I used to be "best" at. Slowly, some thoughts started creeping into my mind. What's the point of having the highest grades or being the fastest in the marathon when I can make people laugh? I thought it was much cooler, wasn't it?
I couldn't just make people laugh with only jokes, so I did this with actions. It all started with something small like knocking people's front door and running away. But each time I have to take it bigger.
I wanted them to think that I could do anything. So the things I did became more reckless and dumber. As long as they realize that I am not boring to hang out with, that they couldn't have this much fun with anyone else.
I don't know what I was doing at that point but the next thing I know that no one was around me.
I've finally come to the truth - there was nothing special about me.
"You are definitely his kid!"
From now on I decided to be more restrained and quiet, trying not to stand out.
This is how my middle-school went. Come to think of it, I completely messed up high-school as well.
I didn't really have any friends since middle-school, so it was obvious that I would not gain any relationships with other people due to my failed Interactions with them.
And one morning, I just felt... Not going to school anymore.
I started skipping school once per month, then it turned once per week, once per 3 days and now I haven't attended school for a few months already.
I am sure no one misses me there or wants me back, I was labeled as a "weirdo".
And at this moment, I lost all of my hope...
I wasn't worthy of being his kid...
...
...
...
...
...However, something unexpected occurred.
It was late evening. I was in a convenience store, buying some potato chips and fast-made ramen for another manga session.
My eyes caught a series of manga,Isekais to be more specific. I picked it up from the bookshelf before starting flipping the pages.
I imagined myself to be in such scenarios. Being in the alternative world, having OP powers with a cute heroine saving the world. My eyes caught a certain scene on the page.
"Ah I see, this is where they suck you in." As I said I flipped another page with an amused expression. I put it back into the bookshelf before moving into the next one, filled with food.
My eyes locked into an intense stare between Miso, Tempeh and Natto. I pondered a bit and after some time my soon-to-be meal.
"Nah, Natto." I said before something picked up my interest, I looked over the window and spotted it... It was a couple, happily chatting with each other passing by the window of the convenience store.
It made me frown and envy them. I carried it on and picked an ordinary bag of chips from the shelf before moving to the cashier.
"That would be 363 yen, sir." He said while looking at me.
I took out a wallet out of my pocket before pulling out a metal coin from it. I stopped to look at it before a realization hit me.
"Oh, I grooved-edge ten coin." I believe it brings more luck to people who own it, so I decided to keep it as my charm and gave the cashier another coin.
Having paid for the goods, I left the store preparing to cross the road to head back home. However, I decided to take a bit longer path, so I took the right path and walked down the sidewalks and who knows, if I had not made the right turn the story would have played out differently...
Come to think of it, my folks have never been angry at me for skipping school… At some point, I even want them to be angry at me, yell at me, scold me. I want them to be disappointed in me, yet they never did.
I kept walking before entering a dark alleyway. This area was known for having high criminal rate, however I hoped that I would not encounter anyone—
"Well, well, well, who do we get here?"
I turned my attention to the source of the voice - it was a biker blocking my way on his motorcycle. My eyes widened before panic started crawling onto me.
'Shit!' I cursed under my breath before turning back and sprinting out of the alleyway, however 2 more bikers blocked the exit.
I remember hearing the stories about ruffians on motorcycles, however I would not expect to meet them now. This is bad, really bad.
"Now, if you don't want to get hurt..." The biker said, before pulling out a bat from his back. "Hang out all of your goods, will ya?"
"A-alright, one second! I d-don't want any trouble!" My voice shook from the fear and panic and I dropped my plastic bag with food I bought from the convenience store.
One of the bikers came close to inspect the plastic bag, before throwing it away. "Bullshit!" He said as he pulled me by my shirt collar and pinning me to the wall. The impact caused me to grunt.
"You don't take us seriously? Huh?" A biker threateningly said.
"That's all I have! I promis—" I was cut off short by a punch to my stomach. I fell to my knees, coughing, the pain enveloped me.
"Alright then, we wanted to do it nicely. Guys, strip 'em and take all the valuables. "
My eyes widened in horror as I saw them approaching me. However, the furthest biker suddenly fell to the ground, liquid leeking out of his head. Reddish liquid. Was that... Blood?
3rd person POV
The thud caused other bikers to turn around, eyes widened at the sight.
Next to the unconscious (or dead) biker, was standing a single man, a man in a balaclava with both crowbars in both hands.
One of the bikers with brass knuckles quickly asserted the situation before yelling and lunged at the man in a balaclava. "You little shit!"
Despite the biker's physical form being bigger, the man was unfazed. He twirled crowbars with ease, using them like tonfas.
The biker unleashed the barrage of quick and powerful blows that resounded with sharp thwacks against metal crowbars. Sparks flew as brass knuckles clashed with crowbars.
The sound of clashes echoed through the dim alleyway as the two men fought. Balaclava man wung a pair of tonfas with expert precision, landing blow after blow on the other man. The man with the brass knuckles was clearly outmatched, his attacks wild and sloppy. The tonfa-wielding man ducked and weaved, avoiding the other man's flailing punches and delivering a powerful kick to the man's midsection. The sound of ribs cracking was audible.
However, before Balaclava man could deliver the decision blow, the second biker with a metal pipe charged at the Balaclava man, swinging the metal pipe with brute force. The Balaclava man dodged out of the way, using his tonfas to deflect the strikes of the pipe.
Subaru was standing next to the wall, looking at the fight anxiously and in awe. That man hasn't seen anyone like him ever before. He was moving with such elegance and precision. He could tell that it wasn't his first fight.
However, as the second biker joined the fight, Subaru realized - the man was outnumbered, he didn't want to be useless so he decided to help, to at least help him in some sort of a way, he was cut off by the man.
"You shouldn't interfere. This fight is sorely on my own." He said in a rather cold and ominous voice, which caused Subaru to back off.
As the biker lunged forward, the Balaclava man seized the opportunity. He swiftly dodged a few steps to the side, ducking low and slamming his crowbar-tonfa directly into the man's knee. There was a sickening crunch as the man's knee dislocated, causing him to fall to the ground in agony. He ended his screaming by stomping his face.
The first biker, despite the pain and agony, gathered all his strength to try to stand up. He let out a guttural groan as he slowly stood up, his face contorted in pain. Despite his injured condition, he still tried to move towards the two fighters, determined to help his comrade.
However, the Balaclava man didn't give him a chance to interfere. He quickly stepped forward, delivering a swift and powerful kick to the first biker's face, sending him sprawling back to the ground, meaning the end of the fight.
He spinned his crowbars before putting them on his back.
Balaclava man POV:
Well, that wasn't too bad. The bikers were way too bad. No technique, no martial arts, bad footing and sloppy movements. Just brute force and raw power. Quite a disappointment. Although my entrance was lame, the boy's reaction was quite rewarding. I am one step closer in being the eminence in shadow.
Speaking of the boy, I recognise him. The boy from the same high school, Natsuki Subaru. A drop-out and a shut-in NEET, a perfect background character. He fooled himself on his first day of high school. You see, I am not the type of person to remember all of the NPC's names, however something about him made me remember his name.
He had a... Main character aura, despite having the background of your typical NPC. So I paid him a little bit more attention than others, until he eventually stopped attending the school. I paid little no attention to this, until today.
I turned my back, intending to leave just before leaving an epic line. "Be careful next time walking alone."
"W-wait!" He called me out. "Just who are you?"
"Me?" I smirked, however he couldn't see it behind my balaclava and the dim light of the alleyway. "I am just a Stylish Ruffian Slayer."
"S-stylish... Slayer?" He repeated in a confused note.
Despite his confused tone, I decided to drop another ominous line, to look even cooler. Maybe advice? Hmmm, I know!
"Comparison is a trap of the mind. Instead of wasting your energy on trying to surpass others, embrace your own path. Don't let the shadows of others diminish your inner spark. You are the master of your own destiny, and your own worth is not defined by anyone else's success. Rise above the shadows and let your own light shine. Remember, you are not just a reflection, you are the original. Own it."
His eyes widened, as if realization hit him. "W-what are you saying..."
However, I couldn't hear what he said, as I was already behind the corner.
2 weeks later.
Subaru POV:
It's been 2 weeks since the incident with the Stylish Bandit Slayer. I still find this situation rather absurd. I didn't manage to at least thank him, before he just disappeared from my sight.
However, there was one thing that engraved into my mind deeply. His advice. Sure, it was out of nowhere, but the impact was huge.
"You are not just a reflection, you are the original."
That advice... I wasn't able to sleep that night, thinking about it. Could it be... I was a fool all this time? Trying to be the reflection of my father, I was gradually losing the original myself. But I lived all my life to meet his expectations... Wasn't he proud of me? Of course he was, right?
My feelings and thoughts were conflicted, so the next day I decided to console my parents. I told them everything. The childhood, my first day I the high-school, the reason of the dropping out and my feelings. I thought they would be mad at me, I thought they would be yelling at me. I thought they would kick me out or not call me their son anymore.
But they didn't, they comforted me, although my father smacked my head with his own, calling me dumb and stupid if I thought that they would abandon me.
I heard the words I needed to hear, I expressed my thoughts I wanted to express. I broke down into tears as they hugged me. Now I knew for the fact that I didn't fail them and they weren't mad at me. So it means that I still have a chance to change myself.
So the day after I decided to attend high school for the first time in months. I was anxious, and for a good reason. I thought I left a bad impression of myself, so little anyone remembered me or paid attention to me.
This was where my life started from square one... No, from zero!
3rd person POV:
Natsuki Subaru was currently changing his shoes next to his locker. By sheer coincidence his locker was next to Minoru Kageno's.
Speaking of him, Minoru was on his way to his locker, before Subaru noticed him and greeted him.
"Oh, Hey Minoru-san!" He waved at him with a small slime. They weren't friends, but occasionally they would greet each other as their lockers were next to each other.
"Good morning, Subaru-san." Minoru greeted him, even though not as enthusiastically as Subaru. He knew for a fact that for some reason Minoru tried avoiding him and the only time they could talk, is being nearby their lockers.
Minoru dropped his bag with a metallic clag sound, which didn't go unnoticed.
"Say Minoru-san, what do you carry in this bag? It sure sounds heavy."
"I don't know what you are talking about. " Minoru nonchalantly replied as he placed his shoes inside his locker with a loud thud.
Before Subaru could reply, he was cut by a female voice.
"Good morning, Natsuki-kun and Kageno-kun." Subaru immediately recognized the voice, it was AKane Nishino. A beautiful teenage girl with long black hair and eyes. She was a popular girl in high school, a proper, well-mannered girl. She was a subject of discussion of many students in the high school, surely considering her beauty and job - an actress.
"Good morning, Nishino-san" Subaru greeted her in a casual way.
"Good morning, Nishimura-san" Minoru greeted her as well, purposely(or not) misnaming her.
Subaru gave him a knowing look before turning his attention back to Akane. He swore he saw her eye slightly twitching.
"Excuse me, Kageno-kun... My name... It isn't Nishimura." She said, trying to sound calm and collected.
But Subaru instead of interfering or staying, just put books in his bag and walked off towards his class. Such banter between them happens everyday and he knew how they would end. He witnesses it everyday since their lockers were nearby each other and they arrive at the same time.
He entered his class, greetid his new acquired friends and sat on his designated desk, waiting for the class to start.
And that's how most of the school days went for Subaru.
The next day however, was slightly different.
As usual, Subaru was changing his shoes and putting them in his locker before Minoru stood next to him, doing the same thing.
"Heya, Minoru-san." Subaru greeted him, like he does everyday.
"Sup, Subaru-san."
Subaru was putting books in his bag before another figure appeared.
"Good morning Natsuki-kun and Kageno-kun." She said with the same smile as always.
"Good morning, Nishino-san." Subaru and Minoru replied in almost unison.
Subaru eyes slightly widened as he heard Minoru spelling her name right.
Akane sighed. "How many times I have to tell you, my name isn't—" Akane's eyes widened at what she just heard.
Subaru grabbed his bag and went towards his class, not before mumbling under his breath. "What a character development..."
By the end of the last class, he was called out by Akane, which left him surprised. Akane Nishino? Telling him to wait for her at the entrance of the school? What does she want? Subaru anxiously thought about all the scenarios in his head.
He saw her approaching him, which caused Subaru to stiffen. "Hey Nishino-san, what's that you called me for?"
"Natsuki-kun." Akane started. "Can we talk in private? It's a serious matter."
Subaru was left flustered. Talk in private and a serious matter? It's not a love confession, is it? They barely talked and knew each other, there is no way that's true. "Yeah, sure."
They walked off until Akane was certain that no one was listening. "Natsuki-kun, have you heard about the Stylish Ruffian Slayer."
Subaru relaxed in relief since it wasn't that he thought before suddenly realizing what she just said. His eyes widened "Stylish Ruffian Slayer? Huh? Why?"
"I happened to meet him... He saved my life." Akane confessed. "And by your reaction you seem to know him as well."
"I do know him, I met him in person as well. He saved me from bikers." Subaru told her the truth.
'He seems like a sort of vigilante, eh? Coming in clutch and saving everyone at night. It's a bit refreshing knowing that such people exist.' Subaru thought to himself.
"I have a suspicion that Minoru is the one who saved us. The Stylish Ruffian Slayer."
Subaru was perplexed at what he just heard. "Minoru-san is a Stylish Ruffian Slayer? How did you get such an assumption? And why are you talking with me out of everyone?"
"You and I are the only ones who happened to know him. Have you not noticed his behavior for the last few weeks to this day?"
"I don't know what you are talk—" Subaru said before shutting instantly. "I think I know what you are indicating."
Subaru started solving the puzzle by the pieces. The bags under his eyes, indicating the constant lack of sleep. Unreasonably heavy bag. Could it be that he hid crowbars in there?
And today he noticed something else about him. It's his eyes. They were hollow and filled with... Disappointment? As he was upset about something.
"Say Nishino-san. What exactly happened when he rescued you?" Subaru said before his eyes widened and he quickly apologized. "I am sorry for such a question, if you are not comfortable revisioning such memories."
"It's fine. He entered through the rooftop, quickly dispatching... The first guy." She shuddered, as she remembered what the first guy was intended to do with her. "Then he engaged in a fight with the ex-military soldier, he easily dealt with him, however the soldier left a scratch on him."
'A scratch? That's something. When he was fighting those bikers, he was dealing with them with ease.' Subaru thought to himself.
"I see. I'll think this through, Nishino-san."
"Thank you Natsuki-kun, I hope I am not being a little bit paranoid." She said scratching her cheek. "See you tomorrow."
"See ya." Subaru waved as he started walking off the sidewalk.
Subaru POV:
I was walking towards my home with deep thoughts. Minoru as a Stylish Ruffian Slayer? The more I thought about this, the more I started piecing everything together. Slowly, I came to the conclusion that it's actually him. But to make sure, I decided to do something.
I turned around, before walking in a different direction, towards Minoru's house. He should be at home right now, so I want to pay him a little visit, reasoning that I forgot to write homework's tasks.
It didn't take long enough before I reached his house. It was rather a plain house for a family. Nothing too luxurious nor pitiable. I knocked his door a few times, waiting for a response. However it never came.
I looked out the house window, trying to see if someone's in here. One of his neighbors noticed me and called me out.
"Young man, are you perhaps in need to see Kageno-san?" The middle-aged man asked me.
I turned my attention to him. "Yeah, I am his classmate, I need help with my class, so I decided to ask Minoru-san for help. But it appears he is not home."
"Kageno-san appeared to leave his home just 15 minutes ago. Though his appearance was unusual. A white robe and a bag." Man pondered a bit before saying. "He walked towards the forest, I am not sure why."
"Thank you sir, I appreciate for help!" I thanked him before walking towards the forest, I could see the fresh footsteps, so I followed it.
Man's words left me confused. Apparently, Minoru was wearing a white robe which is not a clothing required for forest gathering and carrying a bag. I had a slight bad feeling about this.
I was progressing through the forest, following the footsteps until I heard something, as I thought a voice.
The sound was louder as I kept approaching, before I finally managed to properly identify it.
"Magic!"
It was a voice. It was Minoru's voice. He was repeating the chant with a thud following after.
I came in closer, before I saw the scene which caused my eyes to widen in horror.
"Magic!" Minoru was yelling that word and banging his head against the rock with a full force.
"M-Minoru-san?" I called him, my eyes shaky from the sight.
He didn't seem to hear me... No... He didn't even acknowledge me.
"Magic... Magic... Magic..." Suddenly he stopped banging his head and turned his attention to the right, like he noticed something.
I looked over where he was looking and there was nothing, and then he stood up and started walking to the right while repeating the same chant.
Asserting the situation, I decided to try and stop him from harming himself and followed him. "Minoru-san, wait! You are hurting yourself!"
"Magic. Magic. Magic! Magic! MAGIC! MAGIC!" He started sprinting and yelling the same word as my pace increased.
I was slightly faster than him, so after I came close enough, I lunged at him trying to tackle him to the ground.
As both of us were sent out of bushes, I realized we were in the middle of the road.
The last thing I saw was the lights of a truck driving at full speed towards us.
"AHHHH—"
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
"Claire always wanted a little brother, but two? She will be overjoyed!"
I heard a voice. Manly voice. My eyes were adjusting to the lights as I felt I was being in someone's arms. I saw a bald man hovering over me with a goofy smile. Next to me was an infant and above us was a woman who was holding us.
"But something isn't right..."
The moment those words left the mouth of the man, other infant started crying.
Wait. An infant? And I am being holder that easily? And the language, I don't understand it. Could it be? Reincarnation? I... Died? All those memories? All those new friendships? My parents? My life? When it all just started to improve? Just like that?...
As the first baby was crying loudly, the second one joined him as well, for a completely different reason.