Author note: The actual story starts at chapter 1, when he is reincarnated. As of now this is a prologue explaining his backstory, so you may skip it if you want, though I advise otherwise. Happy Reading ^^

***

However way someone could look at it, Bruno Desiren's life was mundane at best. A man too tired to fight against the unfairness and cruelty of life, he lived a pitiful existence.

The story begins from when he was just a little boy, barely old enough to count to ten. It seemed as if he had already lost the game called life at the parent selection screen.

His mother was an escort - a woman who offered her body in exchange for money-, that's to say, she had no idea who his father was. Nonetheless, Bruno still loved her somewhat.

Although she could never afford to buy him anything for his birthdays, or sometimes neglected to feed him, the fact was, she hadn't dropped him off at a shelter. So to Bruno, her being around was enough.

Bruno was vaguely aware of what his mother did to get money, however as a kid who grew up in such an environment, he didn't really find it odd.

She would go to work in the evenings, just as the sunset, leaving Bruno alone in an old decrepit shack in the shanty districts.

This happening as often as it did, Bruno had learned to take care of himself from a young age. How to avoid danger, and how to work with what he was given.

But even then, a developing child still needed the love and affection of their parents, lest they grow cold and indifferent to human relations.

Sometimes Bruno would sneak out of the house, as a child he grew bored easily, and desperately missed his mother, so he would sometimes spy on her as she stood around the red light districts.

Sadly, it was on such a particular day that life's first jab hit him across the face.

As he made his way to the red light district his mother would usually hang around, he could hear the sound of police sirens.

A big accident seemed to have occurred across the road from where Bruno stood, as an ambulance was parked along side what looked to be a car wreck.

Bruno's little heart began fluttering, a certain fear crept up to him, giving him a sour taste at the back of his throat.

It all felt so odd to him, it was as if he was vaguely aware that his mother had been involved in this accident, but his body just couldn't accept it. It moved of its own accord, inching him ever so slightly towards the lifeless body that lay on the road.

"Stay back kid, this isn't something someone as young as you should have to see," warned a police officer as he noticed the young Bruno moving closer to the scene.

"What are you doing out so late? Where are your parents?" asked another police officer, worry audible in his voice.

"M-M-My mother," stuttered Bruno, his little finger pointed to the brunette lying lifeless just a few meters in front of him.

Tears began welling up as he confirmed that the clothes the woman was wearing matched those his mother had went out with.

Words couldn't describe the emotions that flooded Bruno at that moment. The police officers began muttering something into their walkies, but Bruno couldn't care less about what they were saying.

He struggled and jerked as the police officer picked him off the floor, his tears soaking the man's uniform as he cried for his mother.

"A kid shouldn't have to go through this," whispered the police officer as he put Bruno in the back of his police vehicle.

After crying for several minutes, Bruno went to sleep, exhaustion getting the better of him.

"Hey kid, wake up,"

"Huh,"

The police officer had brought him to an orphanage.

"This is your new home," he said,

"And I'm your new caretaker," added a woman dressed in a black suit.

She looked to be 30, but with all the makeup she had on, there was no telling her actual age.

"I-I don't want a new home," muttered Bruno, shuffling his way to the opposite side of the back seat.

"Don't worry, they're always like this at first. We'll have him speak to one of our social workers first thing in the morning," the woman said, before two men reached into the vehicle and dragged him out.

As he was carried off into the orphanage -screaming and jerking all the while- the police officer seemed to look at him with a sort of worried expression, before quickly disregarding it and driving away.

"Dump him in one of the rooms. I have to go edit the numbers to receive more funding," the woman ordered in a cold tone before walking off to her office.

The two men did as instructed, shoving Bruno into one of the many rooms within the orphanage.

His room seemed small, even in comparison to the shack he grew up in. A single desk stood at a corner of the room, while a bunk bed stood at another corner.

"Welcome to hell newbie," said a groggy voice from atop the top bunker.

Bruno made for the door, turning the handle with all his might, but to no avail.

"They lock the doors at night, so we don't escape. Just go to sleep, you're only wasting your time," the voice continued.

Bruno didn't stop, clawing and banging on the door, shouting for them to let him out.

"I hate it when the newcomers make a racket,"

***

Morning came, and Bruno was woken up by the light tapping of a black haired boy around his age.

"You have fun last night?" the boy teased, before walking out the door.

"It's open?" asked Bruno, his voice weak.

"Yeah, but the main door is still locked. Don't try anything funny, you're not the only one thinking of running away. And you won't be the first to be disciplined for trying either," the boy said, a bitter smile on his face.

"My name's Randy, what's yours?" the boy asked, holding out his hand in gesture for a handshake.

"B-Bruno,"

"Ahh so Bruny, go it," replied Randy with a smile, before pulling Bruno off the ground.