Chihiro Hanagaki

Chapter 1

The scene that pained me the most to watch played on my phone as I waited for the train's next stop. I'd rather continue to watch Tokyo Revengers than go to work right now. Our company had this major time sensitive project we've been working on for the past month. It wasn't the project I dreaded, but the work in general. I never wanted to spend my life learning the family trade. But my parents never cared what I wanted to do with my life.

I only wanted to own or work at a bakery. My parents never once considered my wants. They laughed at me for hours for even telling them what I wanted to do instead. I spent the last five years working a job I could barely stand. My only escape from this life was watching anime, baking, and karate. I've been rewatching the anime Tokyo Revengers in anticipation of the third season. The manga was great, but seeing it animated gave it another kick.

All of the world's people could create made my life feel so mundane and boring. I could only get lost in those worlds for a time. Sometimes, I wished I could be a part of one of those worlds. "Farewell, "hero."." Kisaki's words filled my ears just as a shot rang out. But strangely, my chest felt like it was on fire, and I could smell iron and gunpowder. I looked up to make eye contact with a masked man pointing a smoking gun at me. I then looked down at myself to see blood staining my lilac blazer and white button-down.

This man had shot me, but I had no idea why this person wanted me dead. He shot straight for a vital point in my body. If he hadn't, my strength wouldn't be fading this fast. My vision began to get spotty, and the only thing I could think was how stupid this all was. I didn't want to die yet. I never got to live my life how I wanted to.

*Spirit World Office*

Examining an energy scale was a pale woman with long red hair and brown doe eyes. She wore a dark blue blazer, a white button-down shirt, a dark blue skirt, and black heels. The scale kept track of the amount of energy circling through Spirit World. The energy needed to be replenished every few millennia. This is done by sending a soul to another world brimming with spirit energy. It's called Immediate Rebirth. A funnel is created during Immediate Rebirth(1) that connects Spirit World to the Rebirth World.

The funnel allows energy to be sent into Spirit World to replenish it. She had been chosen to hand-pick a soul for this task. She spent hours going through all the souls in the Stream of Rebirth(2). Everyone suggested that she should pick from the souls that have been in the stream the longest. Others suggested that she pick from the souls whose lives were cut too short. All of her coworkers gave opinion after opinion. Those chosen for Immediate Rebirth retain all their knowledge of their past lives.

Among the millions of souls, she knew who to pick. The clipboard she had kept track of all the incoming spirits. She decided to choose the next soul to appear on her clipboard. The next name appeared: 'Lillian Porter. Aged: 25. DOB: October 3rd, 1997. DOD: November 17, 2022. COD: Murder.' She tapped her finger on that name on her clipboard as if she were clicking a link on a website. When her finger came off the clipboard, a glowing blue orb rose from it.

The information about Lillian Porter disappeared from the clipboard as well. "You should do just fine." she hummed to herself. The redhead proceeded to her desk, where she placed the orb onto a strange holder made into the desk. After being placed on the holder, a file appeared on her desk. The file had more detailed information about the soul's life. She went through Ms. Porter's twenty-five years of life, 'This poor soul never had a chance. Her parents pretty much ruled how she lived her life. She only had a few hobbies that made her happy. She has a great character.' Her decision was easy.

And she knew exactly where she was going to send her. With a smile, she stamped the file with her magical seal. After the file was stamped it disappeared, and a door across the room opened. What looked like a portal sat behind the door. "Hopefully, you have a better life." she hoped, pressing another button on the stand. The soul was dislodged from the stand before it was shot through the doorway.

Terms

(1) Immediate Rebirth: A soul is reborn into a world ripe with spiritual energy to restore the energy of Spirit World.

(2) Stream of Rebirth: A magical stream where souls wait to be reborn into their next life.