At sixteen, Shoko made a deal with death. Take her life and, in exchange, give her the power to keep the others safe. Death allowed her to live, and as punishment for trying to barter with a god, he killed everyone else around her. Her best friends, classmates, lovers. Everyone, except her. She never wanted life, but she can't seem to escape it. A punishment from a god is the only explanation for her curse. Some would say her technique is a blessing, the reversal of a curse, but it has never been that for Shoko. To her, it has always been a reminder that death follows her, but life is inescapable.