As the teenager groggily woke up, she was met with a less-than-warm greeting from the elder woman. "Get up, bitch!" the woman bellowed, delivering a swift kick to the girl's stomach. "Since it's your fucking birthday, here's ten dollars," she spat, dropping two crumpled 5-dollar bills on the floor. "Get out. I don't have time to take care of you today because it's adoption day for the other kids," she sneered before quickly making her exit.
With a sarcastic tone, the girl muttered to herself, "Thank you, oh kind majesty, for your everlasting gift of joy!" She couldn't help but spit out a bit of blood from the kick, wincing at the pain. "Damn, that old woman... does she have feet made of iron or something? That shit hurts!" Grumbling, she grabbed the money off the floor, managing to stand up with a slight stumble.
Limping down the stairs, still feeling the effects of the violence from her so-called "caretaker" the night before, the girl couldn't help but scoff at the sight of the younger kids giving her a wide berth. "Hmm, I'm finally 15 today... and I still want to die," she thought with a heavy sigh as she walked out of the orphanage. The rain greeted her, and in its peacefulness, she found solace—the only comfort in her lonely life as an orphan.
After wandering for a while, she arrived at a local gas station that had become a frequent stop for her. She didn't hesitate to kick open the door, causing the bells to ring violently. "Oh... you again. What would you like today?" grumbled the peeved elder man behind the cash register. Ever since her first visit to this gas station, the Old Man had grown accustomed to her presence, allowing her to watch anything on the small corner TV. She was grateful to him, despite his less-than-friendly attitude.
"Aw! Come on, old man! You know you love me," she playfully responded, flashing a finger heart and batting her eyelashes. "One cupcake and some bandages, please," she requested, placing a 5-dollar bill on the counter. Concern creased the old man's face as he went to fetch the cupcake. "Did she hurt you again?" he asked, his brows furrowing.
"Oh, it's just a bruise and a scrape this time. I'm fine. But you, on the other hand? I think retirement should be on your mind. What if you get a heart attack? Old people have so much to worry about," she retorted, feigning tears as she pretended to wipe them away. Skillfully, she wrapped the bandages around her stomach, tending to her wounds.
"I'm fine. Stop calling me 'old man!'" he scolded, stuffing the money into the register. He was a bashful character, to say the least. "Or what some people would call a Tsundere," [Y/n] whispered under her breath, finding amusement in her own observation.
"What did you call me?!" the old man exclaimed, clearly ruffled by her remark. "Nothing," she replied, avoiding eye contact and focusing on anything but him.
"Can you put My Hero Academia on the TV, please?" [Y/n] asked, swiftly changing the subject as she excitedly grabbed a chair and positioned it in front of the small TV.
The elderly man grumbled but obliged. "Yes, your majesty," he retorted, grabbing the remote and turning on the TV. "Oh, right! Happy birthday, you brat," he added with a small smile. "Thank you, old man, for everything!" [Y/n] responded with equal energy. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he fetched a candle and a lighter, swiftly placing them into the cupcake. "No, thank you for making my life less lonely and brighter. Make a wish, kid," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Ugh! I might cry if you keep acting this sappy," she chuckled, fanning her eyes with her hands to stop the imaginary tears. She closed her eyes, contemplating her wish. 'I wish... to escape from this shitty reality and live a better life... ooh! Maybe in an anime or something. Gross. What the fuck am I thinking?' she thought to herself before blowing out the candle.
"Y'know... if you keep sighing like that, you'll get wrinkles like me," the man teased, flicking her forehead gently. "Be careful, old man, or I might kill you before old age does," [Y/n] huffed, rubbing the sore spot on her forehead.
"Bye Bye!" the young girl waved goodbye to the grumpy Old Man, who waved back. She stepped out of the gas station and began making her way back to the orphanage.
Meow
"A kitty!" she gasped, looking down to find a pure black kitten rubbing against her leg. The cat quickly darted towards an alleyway, glancing back to ensure she was following. She hesitated at first, considering the late hour, but then shrugged, realizing she had nothing to lose. With a curious spirit, she ventured into the alley. "Eh? Where did the kitty go?" she wondered aloud, peering into the dark and empty space. A gentle purr echoed from somewhere further down the alley, enticing the girl to venture deeper, hoping to find the elusive feline.
Suddenly, a portal materialized on the floor before her. "What the shit?!" she exclaimed, stumbling back in awe of the unexpected phenomenon.
After recovering from the initial shock, she cautiously approached the portal, revealing a breathtaking night sky beyond. Seemingly conspiring with the cat, who had tripped her up earlier, she found herself toppling into the portal and being caught by a pair of strong arms. "Woah! I've got you, princess!" a dirty blonde-haired man exclaimed with evident concern. "Man... you're a lot hotter in person..." the girl managed to say before succumbing to unconsciousness.
(??? POV)
"It's such a peculiar universe, isn't it? Ah, I'll never understand mortals," the man mused to the black kitten as they entered a grand castle. "Welcome, my lord," one of his knights greeted. In a transformation that defied logic, the elderly male and the cat turned into a tall, striking man with long white hair and a black panther by his side. Settling onto his throne, he smirked and stretched his back. "That form is so hard to maintain... I do hope she enjoys her journey," he chuckled. "Isn't she special?" he asked the panther, who nodded before curling up next to the throne, drifting off to sleep.
With the scene set, the man contemplated his next steps. "I'll visit her soon," he murmured, his smile hinting at a deeper connection. "After all, she needs all the luck she can get."
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