06/01/2025
My name is An. Normally, I wouldn't bother introducing myself—I mean, I live with myself every day, trapped in an inner hell I already know by heart. Or at least, that's what I would say if it weren't for the damn vegetable truck standing right in front of me. But given the situation…
My life is simple. Not to sound humble—it's just the truth. I study at Kurotsuki High School, a mid-level institution, nothing particularly remarkable. I live alone. Well… not always. Not before. But there's no point lingering on things that don't matter anymore. In the end, they're nothing more than ashes of a broken memory. Ugh. Whatever. We said we wouldn't stop there, right? Yeah. Moving on.
I have a small social circle—so small it might as well not exist—but I'm fine with that. It's not because I'm annoying or ugly. I mean, I'm introverted, sure, but looks aren't an issue. I'm 170 centimeters tall, black hair, pale skin—exactly what you'd expect from an average teenager. Maybe the only noteworthy thing about me is that I have exceptionally good eyesight. Which makes me wonder… if my vision is that good, how the hell did I fail to notice the truck that—oh, surprise—is only a few meters away from me?
The day itself was painfully normal for someone about to die. And yet—when the hell are you going to kill me? I've been replaying all of this for what feels like an eternity. How can I have so many thoughts and still not be run over? Wait.
How long have I been standing here?
I turned my right wrist and looked at my old Seiko watch. 1:55 a.m. Still, something felt wrong. I was far too calm for someone on the brink of death. As I tried to focus on my death—on the truck—I caught my reflection in the vehicle's surface. My eyes. I mean… they were beautiful. A deep, radiant gold.
Huh?
What the hell?
My eyes are black. They're not gold. No one has golden eyes. Not even with contact lenses. And yet—why am I still not being hit? Too much time has passed.
When I tried to move, I noticed something strange. The world felt… slow. A leaf from an old tree was falling—but why did it look frozen? I looked around. It wasn't just the leaf. The ants by the roadside were motionless. And that—was that a drop of water? Suspended in midair. Everything was moving impossibly slowly.
Was I slow too?
Impossible.
I looked at my watch again. I was moving normally. That meant—
I'm an idiot.
Why was I still standing there like a moron?
I ran to the side of the road to avoid the truck, and it was impossible not to notice it then: everything remained frozen despite my movement. It was as if the world itself stopped whenever I passed through it. When I reached the sidewalk, it became clear.
I was the only one moving.
Or… almost.
The truck, upon closer inspection, was still moving—but absurdly slow. Tch. Damn it. I was about to take note of the exact moment, already planning to sue the hell out of them, when something changed.
It felt like the blast of a cannon.
No—no, it wasn't external.
It came from inside me.
From my eyes.
It was as if the world shattered into pieces. The pain overwhelmed me in less than a second. My body lost all control. I only felt myself collapse, and my final thought was—
Don't stay lying on the sidewalk.
I have work tomorrow.