-- tell me.

Prologue

The Year was 2003. 

It was a warm and sunny morning when you graduated from your dream school, the moment felt... satisfactory but what now? I mean, you saw your parents' proud expression, you're now deemed a qualified and intelligent adult by society but what do you do now? Should you take a break or go immediately into a career? It's been about a week or so since you've had this thought. You've been hunched up living with your parents and pondering about time and time again; usually while making your way to the kitchen. To be clear, it's not like you hated spending time or found them annoying ,However, it really gets to you when you've been accustomed to sitting in silence while your roommate studied in their corner. Your biggest fear was to be officially be declared as a NEET by your parents so you had to act fast. You picked up your crappy 5 year old motorola flip phone and dialed up your older siblings for that sweet, sweet, older sibling advice. One ring. The second ring was in process when you heard that distinct tired voice.

 "Yello?" 

"Hey, Takuya."

"What do you need?"

"I have a question. I need your advice and I don't want criticism from mom or dad or I had my life together when i was your age type of talks... What did you do after college..? Do you feel like it was the right choice? What should i do?"

You could sense the overwhelmed tone in your older siblings response, "ehh??... well... as soon as I graduated I got into the workforce quickly but did i have my life together? Kind of? I guess It naturally ended up okay in the end, so i guess it's okay to start working early on but do i regret it? No, what i do regret is not going out more and partying or just going out in general, y'know? Now i'm a slave and a half to the corporate world haha. its fine. i'm doing fine."

(He was in fact, on the edge of a mid life crisis at the age of 30!)

"Ive been thinking of moving out, maybe go to a rural city or something, somewhere calm, quiet.. scenic..", you began. "Maybe I should get a temp job there as a preschool teacher or something. I like working with toddlers. they're funny when they're mean. and cute when they're too good for the world." you reminisced the perfect job in a quiet perfect place, your own little wonderland, as you will.

You could hear your sibling smile lightly through the phone. 

"Yeah." There was a long pause. "Honestly, trust your gut and have fun out there, kid. Oh. and tell Mom and Dad that I miss them and that i'll visit soon, m'kay?"

"Yeah, sure, stinker." 

You hung up the phone as he was about to say "Hey!" and you giggled your butt off at the cut off, then, stood up, took a deep breath and stretched every part of your body after laying in bed and rotting in your own navy blue bed comforter. You went to your parents usual locations around the house and told them the goals and aspirations you had in mind, mentioned Takuya's recent call and the message he left for you to deliver to your parents. Your parents were overall thrilled you had a goal set in mind instead of just lazing around the house. Your mother even helped you pack for your trip and your father helped you search for a wonderful apartment in your dream city all in the span of 2 weeks.

Once everything was set, all you had to do was board a long train and hope for the best, really.

At the train station, you hugged your family members starting from oldest: your mother, father, Takuya, and 2 younger sisters, both in high school, gave them all kisses goodbye and went of to find that sweet, average, slice of life world you so dearly yearn for.

During the Train ride itself, you saw many faces some handsome faces, some downright ethereal, you'd be a criminal if admitting you had a crush on these photogenic strangers was a crime, hell,  you'd be considered a serial criminal. Some faces were very... distinct but that is okay.  you believed that they had a very important role to live in their life, however some people on that train were downright demented. 

Exhibit A: A creepy old man taking pictures of young women on the train. instant disgust and rage flood through your veins. Luckily he's very distracted and you quickly swept away his phone and chucked it out 2 stops after the one he got off. You made sure that device got on the tracks and got crushed. You can probably say that you got a temporary ego boost. Good job. You're a decent person.

Exhibit B: Some lady that had a staring problem. This wasn't your average old lady. This lady gave THE MEANEST face to you. whatever, as long as long as she wasn't harming anyone, she was okay in your books. a little mean mug never hurt nobody.

After long, grueling hours, the first thing you did when you arrived to Seasoning City was go hit up the local corner store to raid their onigiri section and got a small pack of flavored beer, which, wasn't exactly your cup of tea but you decided to try it anyway. Making your way to your new apartment, you take a fat whiff of that new apartment air. Before you made your way here, your parents and you helped you carry your college belongings, passed on furniture from your parents, and other trinkets you had in boxes, in ,now, what you can officially call your home. Setting your groceries down on the wooden floor while you took your shoes off in the entryway, you notice something in the corner of your eye. A woman? 

"What. What the hell?"  

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Oh my gosh?? Whaat?? A Reigen and reader fanfiction? In 2024?

lololol

stay tuned freaks

 i know how  rabid you reigen fans are. 

See y'all in the next update :3

---     ratseok

01.21.24