The sound of his arm clock buzzed through the cramped apartment, a shrill, unwelcome reminder that another mundane day had begun. Shinzo groaned, forcing his eyes open as he zily reached out to silence the device. The dim light of the early morning barely filtered through the thick curtains, casting a dull glow over a room overflowing with manga volumes, anime figurines, and unopened limited-edition collectibles.

  He pushed himself up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he gnced at the clock. 6:30 AM. Like always, just enough time to get dressed and catch the train.

  After dressing in his standard office attire—wrinkled scks, a white button-up shirt, and a loosely hung tie—Shinzo grabbed a half-empty energy drink from his cluttered desk. With one long gulp, he finished it off, grimacing at the now-warm liquid before tossing the can toward an overflowing trash bin.

  His breakfast? A packaged rice ball he had picked up two days ago, unceremoniously eaten as he slipped on his shoes. There wasn’t time for anything better, not that he would have put in the effort anyway.

  Stepping outside, he sighed as the reality of the day settled over him. Another train ride. Another lifeless day at work. Another countdown to when he could finally be free to immerse himself in the only thing that mattered—anime and manga.

  The train station was as packed as ever, a sea of bnk faces, business suits, and murmured conversations. Shinzo stood pressed between two sarymen, one distractedly scrolling through his phone, the other already half-asleep despite standing. The rhythmic sway of the train was familiar, even comforting in its monotony.

  He let his thoughts drift, the distant chatter fading as he daydreamed about the new manga volumes he pnned to pick up that evening. The pop-up shop would open that afternoon, and he had every intention of being one of the first inside. His mind buzzed with thoughts of rare collectibles, exclusive figurines, and the limited-edition prints only avaible at the event.

  At work, Shinzo performed his usual routine. He greeted his coworkers just enough to avoid suspicion, answered emails at a painfully slow pace, and spent most of his breaks checking anime news forums. As long as he appeared busy, no one questioned his ck of actual productivity.

  The real focus of the day was escaping as soon as the clock hit six. He had pnned his route, checked the train schedules, and even mapped out the fastest walking paths to the event. Everything was set.

  When the final hour arrived, Shinzo was already packed up, waiting for the moment he could bolt out the door without drawing attention. As soon as the second hand struck its mark, he was gone, weaving through the crowds like a man on a mission.

  The sky had turned dark, thick rainclouds rolling in just as Shinzo stepped onto the streets. He hadn’t brought an umbrel, but luck was on his side—there was a convenience store just outside the station.

  He grabbed the cheapest umbrel he could find, paid without a word, and hurried outside. The rain was already falling in heavy sheets, drumming against the pavement as he navigated the crowded sidewalks. The shop was close. He could already picture the shelves lined with Naruto merchandise, the exclusive prints hanging proudly behind gss dispys.

  He turned the corner, crossing the street as a wave of excitement pulsed through him. Just a little further.

  A loud horn bred through the night.

  Shinzo barely had time to process the sound before his vision went white.

  The sensation of grass against his back was the first thing he noticed.

  His eyes fluttered open, greeted by an expanse of endless sky, void of stars, sun, or any distinguishable feature. There was no wind, no shifting clouds—only a vast, heavy stillness pressing down on him.

  He sat up slowly, blinking in confusion as he took in his surroundings. A wide field stretched in all directions, no ndmarks, no buildings—just grass.

  Shinzo pushed himself to his feet, brushing off his office scks. His shirt was still damp from the rain, but there was no sign of the storm. Where was he?

  He turned, expecting to see some sort of cityscape, but instead, his gaze met a swirling wall of bck mist. It loomed at the edges of the field, dense and impenetrable, shifting ever so slightly as if it were alive.

  A shiver crawled down his spine.

  Testing his own body, he ran a hand through his hair—only to find his fingers passing straight through himself.

  His breath caught in his throat. What the hell?

  He tried again, touching his chest, his arms, his legs—each time, his hands slipped through his own form like he was made of smoke.

  Panic fred in his chest, his heart pounding despite the eerie silence of the realm. Was he dead? A ghost? Was this some kind of dream?

  Desperate for answers, he took a step toward the mist. It was the only thing here, the only thing different in this void of sameness. Maybe it led somewhere. Maybe—

  As soon as his foot crossed the threshold, his vision twisted. A strange pulling sensation gripped his entire body, and before he could react, he found himself standing on the opposite side of the field.

  He spun around, staring at the mist. What just happened?

  Without hesitation, he tried again, walking straight into the darkness—only for the same thing to occur. No matter where he entered the mist, he would always emerge on the other side of the field.

  He was trapped.

  Hours passed, or at least, it felt like they did. There was no way to tell time here. No sun, no stars, no shifting shadows. Only the grass beneath his feet and the mist blocking any escape.

  Shinzo sat down, running a hand through his hair. Alright, think.

  What were the possibilities?

  He was in a coma, and this was some eborate dream his subconscious had created.He had died and was in some kind of afterlife, waiting for whatever came next.This was some kind of transition before reincarnation.He was being tested.The st thought made him shiver. If this was a test, who was administering it? And for what purpose?

  He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to stay calm. There had to be a reason for all of this. There had to be an answer.

  Shinzo y back down on the grass, staring up at the void above. If this was death, it wasn’t quite what he had expected.

  With no other options, he closed his eyes and waited.

  Whatever was going to happen next, he would be ready.