As I ninja run through the hallways, a lot of people are staring at me with confusion written all over their faces. Heh, it seems they haven't seen this technique before! If they read more novels, maybe they could do it too but I guess not a lot of people like to do that anymore ;_;

I was so absorbed in my thoughts while running that I did not even realize that the door to the office area was closed and I slammed into it just like a ram! OUCH! It hurts but at least I didn't pulverize the door as I did with my alarm clock, haha! After a couple of moments, I could hear Bungo coming over to the door shouting muffled insults trough his breath. Then, the door opened and I see Bungo looking at me with pity in his eyes.

" Get up already, you lazy ass! Come in and get back to work or I'll fire you!"

I crunch my teeth in dissatisfaction but I bear with it and reply to him. I don't have anything against working but does he have to be that mean...?

" Yes, Bungo-san "

And as I say that, I get up without much difficulty. Just as I was about to get past Bungo and enter the room, I suddenly fell to the floor. When I looked back, I could see Bungo smirking with his foot placed in front of me. I understood what happened...is picking on me his only way of being happy?

" HO HO, sorry Aki, I didn't notice you there, hehe. I hope we can still be good friends like we've been up 'till now! "

Bungo comes over to where I fell, crouches next to me and pats my shoulder two or three times. I feel so angry right now but what can I do, other than being trampled on...? I don't have any special powers, I don't have a lot of money or authority. What can a measly ant like me do?

" It's...alright Bungo-san. We are still friends.."

I get up and walk to my workspace in silence. I can see everyone looking in my direction and laughing in a hushed manner. The only one who isn't laughing is my best and only friend, Hiroki. He is looking at me with daggers in his eyes. Why is he mad? Why is everyone looking at me? Why is everyone laughing? Did I do something wrong?

I slowly get in my seat and start typing away at my computer. A short while later, when everyone is back to doing their own business, I bow my head and let a small tear run out of my right eye...Why am I crying..?

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about 4 hours later

It's time for the usual recreation period to start. We only have 15 minutes but that's enough to relax your mind and body. Most of the people working here go to the recreation room where they play table tennis or just chat on the sofas while watching some TV but I like reading mangas and light-novels on my phone while sitting in my comfy chair in the office room. As I open up my phone to go on Google and start reading, I can see Hiroki walking towards me. He comes to chat with me from time to time. He's a cool and chill dude. I greet him with a small smile and a hello. He doesn't seem too happy for some reason. Just as he comes near me, he punches me in the face! How much pain do I have to suffer today?? I can see tears slowly forming in Hiroki's eyes. I ask him a question out of curiosity.

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" What's wrong Hiroki-san? "

" Why? Why did you let him treat you like that you dumbass?!?! "

" I didn't want to get fired or to get my paycheck reduced. It's already as low as it is."

" That's why you let him make fun of you in front of everyone like that? Because of a goddamn paycheck? Do you know what everyone thinks of you? They think you're a clown. Trash on the sideroad. I always try to protect you in front of everyone else. All my friends are asking me why I'm still hanging out with a guy like you. Do you know why? Because I've always believed in you. In middle school when I got bullied, you always stood up for me. You always tried to help me. Since then, I have always thought of you like the brother I never had but now... I can't bear to see you self-destruct like this. Where's the cool and brave brother that I've always admired? Tell me!!!! "

" I... I'm sorry.  Times change...We're not in middle school anymore. This is real life... " 

As I say this, I pick up my phone once again to continue reading one of my favorite novels called "I'll die If I'm not beautiful ?!?!". Hiroki glared at me with a hateful expression on his face.

" That's it? Times change? Don't tell me that bullshit! You're just too much of a coward to do something about it! Even a place like this can hide salvation if you search hard enough! What you're reading right there is a map to a one-man maze with which you'll never see the sun! "

" Hiroki...You can insult me, my house, my family but you can't insult this book. This "map" as you call it is a place where the lost are the heroes and the evil is left to drown. A perfect world..."

" So basically a fairy tale. Let me tell you something that you told me when we first met. You may have forgotten these words but I did not. Fairytales are not found like the one you have there, they're written in the walls as you walk down in the dirt with a landslide approaching. You face the odds against you and run straight ahead into the fear you run from. That's what it means to be a true man, a HERO. When you decide to come back to your senses, don't hesitate to approach me but until then..."

 Haruki's sentence trails off at the end and he just walks away. I don't know what to feel. Anger? Sadness? Despair? Melancholy?...Have I really done the best I could all this time? Is this the much-needed slap in the face that I deserved so I could finally wake up? I've been such a coward this entire time and I didn't even realize it. Hiroki...thank you..my friend.

I spend the rest of my break looking at a wall and contemplating about life. I've decided on something. I don't want to live someone else's story anymore. I want to make my own story... To be the hero I've always wanted to be...

Word count:1140