Daniel's POV
What's left to hope for in a world consumed by chaos? A world entangled in broken systems, endless issues, and the same relentless problems that greet us every day. It's loud, messy, and filled with the toxic behaviors of people around me. Sometimes, I wonder: What's so great about living in this world that we keep enduring it?
The hum of my computer fan is the only thing anchoring me to reality. Outside my door, I can hear the muffled sound of a neighbor's car alarm or someone arguing in the street—background noise to a life that feels like it's on permanent standby.
If you look at most people's lives, it's the same monotonous cycle—wake up, go to work or school, get stressed, go home, sleep. Repeat. They spend over a decade studying, hoping for a better life, only to end up trapped in a dull, predictable routine.
"Sigh..."
A heavy sigh escapes me as these thoughts swirl in my mind. This world, to be blunt, is boring and meaningless. Yet, no matter how much I resent it, I have no choice but to go with the flow—until I grow old, until the world crumbles.
My name is Daniel Muntingbato, 25 years old, and a NEET. In simpler terms, a jobless shut-in. I spend my days doing nothing but indulging in distractions, as if I'm just waiting for the world to end—whenever that might be. It sounds harsh, I know, but that's how deeply I've grown tired of life.
The one thing that keeps me going, my sole "will to live," is my love for Japanese anime and manga. Yes, you heard that right. If I were to tie the noose hidden under my bed and end it all, I'd miss out on the epic anime episodes and manga chapters I've been eagerly following. For now, that's reason enough to keep going. Anime has become my refuge from loneliness, my savior.
I'm not your typical otaku. I'm not the die-hard fan who attends conventions or screams about their favorite characters. I'm a silent fan, quietly enjoying my fantasies. To me, being an anime fanatic is my escape—a way to flee the complexities of reality.
When I rise from my bed, I head straight to the kitchen to prepare food for my housemates before they leave for work. The linoleum is cold under my feet, and the smell of frying eggs fills the small space. It's a quiet, mechanical process.
"Breakfast is on the table," I mutter as one of them passes by, checking their watch.
"Thanks, Dan," they reply without looking up.
After that, it's back to my usual routine. I'm the "house boy" here—cooking, doing laundry, cleaning. Once everything's done, I settle in front of my PC, catching up on new anime episodes or browsing for updates. My life is simple, and though it's boring, it's comfortable.
But why did I end up like this? I wasn't bullied as a kid or anything dramatic like that. I'm not angry at the world or its people. I'm just an introvert. I have friends, but I chose to be alone, locked in my room with my anime and games. It's more comfortable this way, even if I know deep down it's just an excuse I tell myself.
I close the windows and turn off the lights as I wait for my computer to boot up. The room dims, the blue light of the monitor casting long shadows against the walls. Sitting on my soft chair, my fingers dance across the keyboard, browsing the internet for something to entertain me today. While clicking away, my hand accidentally knocks over a small book on my desk—a red book with a black-framed design.
"Huh?"
I frown, puzzled. I don't recall owning a book like this. Could it belong to my siblings? No, they never come into my room—not even my nagging mother would dare, knowing it'd spark a fight. Curiosity gets the better of me, so I pick up the book and pause my internet browsing. On the cover, I read the words: "Book of Life."
The texture of the cover is strange—smooth, yet it feels slightly warm to the touch. At first, I think it's some kind of anime merchandise, but no matter how hard I rack my brain, I can't recall any famous book with this title. The name feels strange, so I flip it open to a random page to see what's inside.
The moment I do, a powerful gust of wind slams into me, forcing my eyes shut. How could there be wind in my room when all the windows are closed? I don't know, but right now, I just want it to stop. As the cold air brushes against my skin, strange noises grow louder—clashing metal, collapsing buildings, and screams that sound like a battlefield.
Slowly, I open my eyes, and what I see sends a chill down my spine: a city in ruins, ravaged by nature's wrath. I'm clinging to a pole, desperately holding on as a massive tornado looms just half a kilometer away, tearing through houses and buildings. The streets are cracked, the structures around me reduced to rubble, as if the infamous "Big One" earthquake had finally struck.
Explosions echo in the distance, coming from burning parts of the city. I'm not sure if they're grenades or something else, but they grow louder and more frequent. My eyes widen as I spot blood staining the streets—bodies buried under collapsed debris. For the first time in my life, I see the dead, and I don't know whether to feel repulsed by their exposed flesh or pity for their fate. All I know is the fear creeping into my chest.
"If this is a dream, please let me wake up..."
I want to run, to scream, but my legs refuse to move. Maybe it's the fear, or maybe I know there's nowhere to go with that tornado raging nearby. In the midst of the chaos, a loud crash erupts from a building beside me. Something like a meteor smashes through, destroying half the structure. Instead of running, I grip the pole tighter, my mind too overwhelmed to think clearly.
From the thick smoke, a figure lands in front of me. A woman with short blue hair, adorned with white flower ribbons as a headband. Her sapphire eyes glow with an otherworldly light. She wears a black-and-white maid outfit, clutching a chain connected to a spiked iron ball.
A goddess has descended from the heavens—no, something beyond a goddess, something breathtaking. The world around me seems to slow as I take in every detail of her, from her head to her toes.
"This... this can't be real..."