Koketso, number one open geek in class, fourteen years, tall, dark, and handsome. Okay I was the only open geek in class, but still.

I was the kid that everyone stayed away from because I was too lame to be friends with. Their words, not mine. I know right, kids in high school are mean. Even despite my good looks they stayed away, smh.

I was sitting at the back left corner of the class as I read my light novel. I sat near the window which gave me a lovely view of the city that I honestly did not care much about. The view was good and all but I always used my eyes to read so I never paid much attention to it.

So if it wasn't for the view, then why did I bother sitting where I sat, everyday? If you hadn't noticed it yet, it was because I was occupying the seat of the protagonist in any school-oriented Anime, Manga, or Light Novel. That sounded cool right? It sounded cool for a while for me too, until I found out that they did that because it was easier to draw, so it was a budget cut seat.

Still, I loved the seat.

It was a few minutes away from school ending for the day and my classmates were happily chatting away about more cooler topics that I never bothered to pay attention to, as we all waited for the final bell that would start our weekend. Hey, if they never paid attention to me, why should I pay attention to them? If the world rejects me, I'll turn right back and reject the world too.

The bell finally came and I took my bag and headed out of class.

Leaving the school behind me, I couldn't wait to get home to start watching my Anime.

Anime, manga, light novels, those were my callings in life. It could be said that I was one of those people who were fortunate enough to find their place in the world early on, and I accepted it all with open arms.

Thinking about it though, all of it wouldn't have been possible without the hard work of my parents.

Mom, dad, thank you so much. I shed tears of joy thinking about how they worked so hard that I could live more leisurely.

To say I was a fanatic of the Japanese culture of Anime would've been an understatement of the millennium, because I was more of an addict. A top-tier Otaku in other words. And as such, I did all that I could to make time for my hobbies.

One such example of doing all that I could to make time for my hobbies is how I just skipped club activities today so that I could start early on my Anime marathon.

My phone rang the moment I finished the thought, and I fished the device out of my pocket with a sigh.

I was one of those people who never received phone calls. And on the event that I did receive one, I tended to ignore them because it always happened to be a woman on the other side scolding me. If it wasn't my mother telling me to come home, it was my upperclassman scolding me for skipping club activities.

Checking the caller ID, I saw that it was my upperclassman, which prompted me to ignore the call.

Leave me alone woman, I have more important things to pay attention to.

While some would argue that my sense of priority was skewed more towards the side of selfishness, I was of the firm belief that prioritizing my own happiness and peace of mind was important. I was also of the firm belief that most people were unhappy with themselves and their lives because they compromised their happiness and peace of mind for others, something I would never do.

So in order to never compromise my happiness and peace of mind, I decided early on in my life that after I finished high school, I'd get a measly college qualification, then have my mother and father put me in a grunt position in the family company. Somewhere quiet and peaceful; where I could have more time on my hands so that I could indulge in my hobbies during company hours while getting paid four times more than I should.

Okay, I know I sounded selfish but you have to know that I was the third and last child in a family of overachievers.

My older brother, the oldest child, had already finished school and gotten a fancy degree. Climbing the coporate ladder was easier for him and he was handling his duties well since he was earnest about taking over the family company one day.

My older sister, the middle child, was a year away from acquiring her fancy degree and she'd soon be in the management of the company too as she also displayed levels of ambition almost as palpable as our older brother's.

Gosh I was so proud of my older siblings for being such accomplished young adults! I didn't know how they did it - I didn't even want to honestly - but being that ambitious sounded tiring so I never bothered to aspire for greatness and stuff.

In a world where everyone wanted to leave their mark, I felt that the world already had enough marks as it was. So I decided that I'd take it easy for all those poor souls who worked hard their entire lives.

"Hmhaa!"

I stretched myself as I walked. Holding up a book for as long as I did took a lot of work after all.

Where was I? Oh yeah, my genius siblings and I.

So you must wonder where it put me when I had such cool siblings.

Well since my parents got more than they bargained for from my over-achieving older siblings, they never really bothered me to be an over-achiever since they already had the children of their dreams. Heck, they didn't even want me pushing myself too hard at school.

While you may think that I was that way because my parents allowed it, or because I was neglected for my older siblings, then you're sadly mistaken!

It was all me baby!

Now I loved fantasy works where the protagonist comes from humble beginnings - going through trials and tribulations - to become a hero, but I wasn't interested in that type of character development for myself though. I wasn't a hero. If I had to assign myself a role, I'd call myself a mob. A dashingly handsome mob at that.

"Hey, stop!"

A high-pitched scream caught my attention as I was passing an alley, disturbing my awesome monologue.

How, dare you?! "Hey, I'm thinking here!" I turned to scold the person only to find her struggling against a large hand that gripped her throat!

Oops... I seemed to have unwittingly walked into a situation.

"Walk kid, this is none of your business." the burly man spoke with a rumbling voice.

Don't mind if I do. I turned on my heels and walked away.

Hey don't judge me okay?! I didn't want to carelessly put myself in danger. Plus the guy was twice my size, which was scary.

...

"I think it would be best if you stopped." I thought all that, so why the crud did I have the man's wrist in my grip, preventing him from slugging the woman in the face?

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I had already set my bag on the ground, my book placed on top of the bag.

"I told you to walk away kid!" the man snarled.

"..." I just stared at him, offering no response to his shout.

That really seemed to piss him off because he pulled out a knife with his free hand, the stainless steel gleaming in the shadowy alley.

"Die!"

He lunged with a swing, forcing me to let go of his wrist as I took a step back to avoid the stab. He was about to swing in reverse but I thrust my left palm at his elbow, preventing the arm from moving as I had locked it in place. All he could do was watch with wide eyes as my fist sank between his eyes.

I watched the blow send him crashing against the alley walls, the knife falling on the floor with a loud clank.

He groaned on the floor, looking up pathetically to see me standing over him. I offered him a glare I presumed was the scariest I could muster from my cute facial features. He eyed the knife with hope but I kicked it away, drowning him in despair instead.

"I think it would be best if you walked." The sentence left my parted lips coolly.

Wait, that line sounded so cool! I suddenly found myself fighting the urge to squeal in delight at how heroic I was being. Okay calm down Koketso, don't get carried away during battl-

"Huh?" left my vocal cords, my eyes widening.

I turned slowly, not quite believing what was happening.

"You bitch!" I swung at the woman but it was like my arm was in slow motion as she dove away from me, pulling the knife out of my side rather carelessly in the process, which left a gaping hole at my side that had blood pooling out in a way that made it clear that I was well and truly fucked. From how quickly I was losing strength, I could tell that she probably stabbed something important. And by that, I meant my kidney.

I tried to walk towards her but my strength was leaving me at an alarming rate, causing me to collapse on the cold concrete alley floor.

I watched - my consciousness slipping away as my vision got blurry - the woman pick up the burly man and they ran out of the alley together. They didn't even spare my bag a glance.

Which meant that I didn't walk into a well-orchestrated robbery, but a lovers' spat instead. Which meant that I should've just walked away as the guy suggested. But nooooo, I just had to be a hero, didn't I?! I guess that's what I got for doing something so out of character.

If I was going to die today though, couldn't it have been Truck-kun?! I couldn't help but wonder. At least then I would've been reincarnated as a prince of a rich country, or an overpowered main character, and still live my leisure life!

Okay that sounds too farfetched - I would gladly settle for being the son of a rich merchant or noble too if you're listening God. a guy could dream even in his dying moments right? Yes, that's how selfish human beings were!

As my eyes closed for what I could tell would be the last time, a single thought ran through my mind.

Damn, this hoe was loyal.

Then everything turned black.

■■■

...

Wait, my consciousness is still intact? I'm still alive! Wait, is this what it feels like to be in a coma? It feels... a tight squeeze cut off my train of thought.

Yes, it felt oddly tight, restricting my movements to nothing at all. It was hard for me to even breathe.

From the mucus like substance I could feel on my face, it was like I was pressed against a slimy wall. Then the tightness eased a bit, and I could've sworn that I could hear something sloshing before the tightness returned again.

This is unbearable, I want out of here! Someone! Anyone! Get me out of here!

As if that cry was a cue, I started to see a light but,

Oh God. Gross, it's in my mouth! It's in my mouth!

I had carelessly tried to take in a much needed breath of air when the slimy substance got into my mouth. I didn't want to die in the darkness, okay?

With the squeezing easing then tightening, the light got closer until it enveloped me fully.

Following the relief of being out of that tight spot, I took in a deep breath and sighed.

Haaah, finally, I'm out! I can breathe agai-

The light was unbearable on my eyes when I tried opening them, making me close my eyes in an instant as my celebration was cut short. From glory to ruin in an instant. It seemed life was still as cruel as I remembered it.

The sun, it buuuuuurns! I wanted to complain out loud but all that left out of my mouth was a soft cry. Wait...

"Congratulations, it's a healthy baby boy!" a deep voice, but definitely female, cut over my thoughts.

Huh?

Time seemed to come to a grinding halt for me.

......Did she just say?

I had just been given birth to.

Huh. I was at a loss for words.

So I had reincarnated with the memories of my previous life still intact.

Huh.

My eyes opened again, my vision blurry. The light stung at my eyes but I could feel that I was slowly getting used to it. When my vision got clear as my eyes had grown accustomed to the light, I looked around the room.

The first thing I saw was a sweaty woman on the bed, whom I assumed was my mother, if how she had her legs spread out as she breathed tiredly was anything to go by.

Huh. my mind was still scrambled. I mean, could you blame me? I was a virgin fourteen year old! Well, virgin newborn now I guess.

"Mother, why did he stop crying so suddenly?" a blue haired bespectacled man came within sight. "I'm glad my son is okay and all but aren't new borns supposed to practically wail?"

Cry? Cry?! I just bore witness to a monumental moment in my life and you expect me to cry?! I could not believe that the idiot was my father. Granted he didn't know that I still had the consciousness of my previous life intact, but still. Hey man, if you felt what I felt, and let me remind you that I swallowed some of whatever-that-was, you'd be just as shocked as I am, and crying would be the last thing on your mind!

"I know just the trick for that." The deep-voiced woman, who happened to be my granny, brought forth her thumb and index fingers that were held in a pinching motion.

Hn, good luck with that old hag. There's no way that will make me cry.

Pinch.

Ouch! That hurts!

I could feel tears welling up at the corners of my eyes in an instant as I took in a deep breath. The pain was so intense for my baby skin that I let out a loud wail.

"Waaaaaahhhh!"

"There." the hag smiled, pleased with herself.

I hate you you old hag! "Waaaahhh!"

"Come here my cute baby boy." A soft voice murmured, prompting the hag to hand me over to my mother, who now sat normally on the bed thankfully.

"Waaaaah!" I kept crying, though I felt more at ease once I got into my mom's arms.

There was just something about the way being in her arms felt so right, something that told me that everything was going to be okay because she was there. I guessed it was how infants bonded more with their mothers.

The feeling made me calm down to soft sniffles. I still felt like I could cry at any moment though because the pain was still there.

"It's okay now." my mom said, bringing up her hand over my cheek where the hag had pinched me.

I'll remember this you old hag! I wanted to glare at the old hag but my body did not follow the coordinates that I sent it. It was like my body was made of stone. Shit!

My mom's hand glowed a blackish hue in front of my eyes which made the pain recede in an instant.

Huh? Magic? Did she just use magic?! Healing magic at that?!

With the pain gone, I was finally able to quiet down from the torture session completely, and with that relief came a wave of lethargy that made me yawn.

No, I can't sleep now when I've discovered something so amazing! Eyes, please stop drooping! But I could feel that I had no say in the matter. I hate this useless baby body!

"That's a good boy." cooed my mother,bringing me to her chest. "Welcome to the world my beloved Sebastian Dragonborne."

That was the last thing I heard before falling asleep.