Yuuya leaked a sigh as he bathed in the cool water. The chilly water clung to his skin as he walked out, a yawn suppressed at the edge of his lips.

It was the same as usual, to wake up before sunrise, yawning and sighing all the while. Bathing in freezing water before going to the kitchen, rays of morning light beginning to appear. Helping out the old lady to make breakfast for the little ones. Life at the orphanage has been like this, for what seemed like the past millennia.

He was Yuuya Nakajima. And he was an orphan. Neither abandoned, nor parents that died in a tragic accident. The old lady, the caretaker of all the children at the orphanage told him that he had just popped up at the orphanage one fine day. Either way, it had been a long time since then, nearly seventeen years. To Yuuya, the old lady was his mother.

Another sigh, as Yuuya washed the rice thoroughly. He looked out the window, at the sky that gradually lightened. His eyes were downcast, bored by his life. For Yuuya, the repetitive schedule in his life, that he had followed for nearly two decades had burned him out. Perhaps something new, something… novel.

A whistle sounded out, startling Yuuya from his reverie. With practiced motions, he poured out the steaming hot porridge into a pan. He lifted it, covering his hands with a wet cloth as he placed the hot pan in a bowl of water to cool it.

“It’ll be done in a minute, granny,” Yuuya called out, and in response, the clear sound of a bell rang out. Yuuya listened as the pattering of feet ran out as the kids gradually woke up, getting ready for the day.

The sun was up in the sky when the drawing of chairs sounded in Yuuya’s ears. Jumping off the counter, he picked up the porridge, heading into the dining room. As he rounded a corner, an old woman, with wrinkled skin and silver hair walked out, smiling at Yuuya. “Make sure to eat, Yuuya,” she said, smiling sweetly at him. Yuuya grinned at her, weaving around her as he headed into the dining room.

With a practiced gait he wove around and between the tables, pouring the porridge, a modicum of it in everyone’s plate. The steam rose up and the children greeted him as he swung by. The old lady hobbled behind him, laughing and greeting each of the children as she laid out bread and spoons for each one. With a cheer they delved into his porridge, for cooking came almost naturally to him. Yuuya couldn’t hold back from beaming as he surveyed the children tearing into what he had prepared for them, delight in their eyes. A familiar feeling surged up, and Yuuya grinned at them.

“Yuuya. Did you have some breakfast? You’ve been skipping out on meals lately,” Granny hobbled up next to him, leaning against her stick to support herself. Her eyes were tinged with age, age and worry. Yuuya grinned, rubbing her head affectionately as he ran by her. Without ado, he grabbed his bag, rushing out of the Morning Bee orphanage.

“It’s fine granny. I had some already,” he called out as he opened the door, not wanting to stick around for she’d surely drag him back to eat.

“Liar! I’ve raised you for 16 years! You think I don’t know when you’re lying?” Her reply came out, and Yuuya started, recognizing the calm that came before the storm.

“Later!” He yelled back, rushing out the door before she’d get her hands on him.

Yuuya walked down the street, with an occasional skip in his steps. He stared up at the clear sky, and a smile came on his face. One day, once he’d graduated and had enough money from a job, he’d leave. He’d leave and follow the sky, let the wind take him to all the different places in the worl-

“Yuuya! Wait up!”

A groan escaped Yuuya’s mouth as he recognized the owner of the voice. Scratching his head, he turned to awkwardly smile at the pink haired girl that ran toward him. She stumbled as she ran, trying to pull on her shoe at the same time. She came to a running stop before him, and looked up to glare at up.

“Sh-Shizuka… Erm, I had to submit my assignment that’s wh-,” Yuuya began, trying his best not to meet her eyes.

“Liaaar! Teacher didn’t give us any assignments! You should work on your lies more, liaaar,” she nagged, pulling on his sleeve. She was an entire head shorter than him, adorned in the school’s uniform, a stark white blazer and a blue skirt. Her pony tail stretched to her back, and her brown eyes gleamed with idiocy. But even Yuuya had to admit, she was quite the beauty. But to him, she was always Shizuka Oshino, the little girl that followed him around as long as he could remember.

Accompanied by her consistent babbling in his ear, Yuuya headed toward their school at an even pace. The school would open earlier than usual offices, and the streets were quite empty. Within minutes, they had arrived before the grand edifice.

“We’re here!” Shizuka chimed, tugging on his sleeve.

“No wonder, idiot,” Yuuya grinned, patting her head as he walked past her.

“Mou~, you’re the idiot!” Shizuka pouted, walking behind him, huffing. They walked past the humongous front yard, heading toward the grand Holy Dragon Institute.

With infrastructure and facilities that couldn’t be afforded by even ten schools in this area, this school was the epitome of prodigality. It was built like a grand palace, with carved pillars and sloped roofs. Yuuya couldn’t resist sighing as he walked closer to the entrance. This was a school he should never be able to afford to attend in his entire life. But somehow, the principal of this school, James Larson, was once a resident of their orphanage. With sizable donations that had never made Yuuya’s or any of the children’s childhood difficult and special exceptions in the school requirements, everyone from the Morning Bee orphanage could attend. Yuuya sighed exasperatedly at Shizuka, the idiot who didn’t understand any of this. She patted the pillars, staring in wonder at the carvings, her mouth wide open.

“Shizuka, you go ahead. I’ll come later. I’ve got some errands to run,” Yuuya said as they climbed up the stairs, splitting off from her before she could respond.

“O-oh ok Yuuya,” Shizuka replied, troubled. But she did nothing to stop him, already used to his daily ‘errands’.

With a leisurely gait, he headed to the restroom, and simply loitered around there. Sometimes the janitor would be there, who would stare at him strangely before leaving. For Yuuya, the restroom had been his “resting room” for a long time before he’d head to class.

The clock chimed seven, and Yuuya knew he could not wait around for much longer. The teacher would come in any time, and he did not particularly like her ‘reprimanding’.

Yuuya stopped before the door, and took a deep breath before heading in. He knew what was awaiting him, and despite how he despised it, he knew he had to bear with it. Bear with it, just for another year.

“Ara, who let the mongrel in?” Eiji questioned lazily as he saw Yuuya enter. With blonde hair that his foreigner parents bestowed to him, Eiji was unquestionably the ‘leader’ of their little clique. Their annoying little clique.

“Tch. It stinks now,” said another annoying voice. Yuuya did his best to ignore the annoying shorty, Mayumi. Her short temper was infamous, and he did not want to be the unlucky one to set this black star off. With barely a cursory bow toward the clique, he headed past them, toward the back where he sat.

Yuuya walked past Nanami, whose spectacled eyes wove up to regard him. With a glance, she returned to her book, tucking her short hair behind her ears. The badge pinned to her lapel shone in the light, proudly announcing her status as the class rep. Yuuya returned the same, completely ignoring her.

A certain idiot sat a few benches ahead, who hurriedly wove at him. Yuuya sighed at this clueless idiot, and nodded towards Ayumi, her best friend. Ayumi returned the nod, and did not speak any further. Her ponytail swished as she turned back to Shizuka. Next to her sat the long haired Rika, who completely ignored his existence, not even deigning to look up.

“Oho. Look who the guards let in. Seems even dogs can attend our school now,” Satoshi chuckled, regarding Yuuya with a grin on his face. He waved mockingly towards Yuuya, earning laughter from his stupid friends, Eiji and Mayumi. Hideki, the athletic over achiever, simply smiled toward Yuuya, who grinned back. Of the clique, Yuuya only agreed with one person. Hideki, the muscle-head that got along with everyone, even Yuuya.

Satoshi further tousled his tousled hair, and ignored Yuuya. Glad that the initial round was over, Yuuya rested his head on his chin, staring out the window. Until the first hour was over, he would probably not have to deal with anything else.

If only… If only life were a bit more interesting.

BZZZZT~ SSRRRKK!!!

Yuuya started, jumping out of his seat. All of a sudden, bolts of lightning appeared in the class, violently whooshing about. Everyone looked around wildly, eyes wide with surprise. A marked circle began appearing in the air, gradually spreading out, sending out wild sparks of electricity. Yuuya stared at the weird circle, his eyes widening. Was it a dream?

“Wh-Wha-What’s happening?!” Eiji stuttered, slipping and crashing into a desk. He was terrified by the bolts of electricity that fried the air, narrowly missing them.

“Eiji? Are you alright?” Mayumi rushed towards him, the lightning dancing about her as she struggled to lift him up. Her gaze was worried and Eiji looked immensely confused.

“A circle? What’s it doing?” Nanami tucked her book into her bag, staring up at the lightning filled circle. The light gleamed on her spectacles as she tried to back away from it.

“Is that electricity?! Are we gonna get electrocuted?” Hideki rambled, pushing the benches aside as he rushed to get out of the lightning field. For a split second, Yuuya had the urge to laugh at Hideki’s words.

“Shit. Guys, hold on tight! Seems like something’s gonna happen!!” Satoshi cursed, falling and curling up on the ground. He covered his head with his arms as he cowered, preparing himself for what was going to happen.

“Yuuya! Are you alr—,” Shizuka began, turning to him, her hand stretching out. Yuuya rushed forward, wanting to pull her out from the lightning. Yuuya felt terrified of the fierce lightning, although it did little to harm them.

But she couldn’t finish what she was about to say. Within the time he had taken to blink, she had vanished into thin air, her outstretched hand forming a ghost image in his vision.

What?

How was that possible?

Where had she gone?

“Shizuk—,” Ayumi yelled, startled as she had witnessed the same thing. She began moving, moving toward where Shizuka had been-.

And as she did, even she blinked out of existence, perhaps fried by the electricity.

“Did they d-die?! What happened to them!?” Rika, the one next to them, yelled, terror on her face. But the next second, she was gone.

“I can’t get out! There’s something like a force field!” Hideki yelled out, his arms smashing against what seemed like an invisible force field. He raised his muscled arms once more only to-

Boom. He vanished, the next second.

And one by one everyone disappeared, the stray bolts of lightning striking, perhaps consuming them. Yuuya’s terror began growing, except at the same time, he was excited. He was excited because he was guessing. Guessing, based on what had happened in the several novels that he had. A wild guess, an impossibility that could change his life.

A summoning.

The circle grew brighter and brighter, the lightning growing thicker as time passed. The shred of excitement intensified as Yuuya began wildly speculating. Was he the one? The one who would save them all, the special hero? Would he get a chance to finally be in a world that did not force him to be something? Would it be a world of infinite wonders?

The circle’s brightness reached its zenith as blinding light filled his vision. Yes. It would be so. He, Yuuya Nakajima would-

And then the circle shattered.

Yuuya stared, eyes widening.

Like fairy dust, golden specks of light cascaded down, their brilliance fading. The lightning vanished. The circle was gone. It was like a cold bucket of water had been dumped on him as he realized.

He was not a chosen hero.