You're worthless.

Why do you even exist?

You're just wasting your time doing stuff you can't do.

I feel bad for the family who raised him.

It's your fault for being here, to begin with!

These are the voices that he heard in this dark world, devoid of any light around him. He sees nothing but shadowy figures of people looking down on him like he's some sort of a helpless child; no one to have his back or be by his side. All they can do is bring him down emotionally.

"—It's not my fault! It's not my fault! It's not my fault! It's not my fault! It's not my fault!"

You're annoying!

You're the reason you're in our way!

Leave us alone!

We don't need you.

He tried covering his ears, but he can still hear the voices in his head.

He tried closing his eyes, but he can still see the shadows in his mind.

He tried covering his mouth, but he couldn't stop screaming.

He tried wiping away the tears, but he couldn't stop crying.

He tried running away from the shadows, but they always follow him wherever they go.

No matter how hard he tries to ignore the voices—how much he wants to deny the reality—despair will always follow him. The voices grew louder and louder, and there is no sign of stopping.

"But I'm trying to help. I want to help. Give me another chance! I'll be good! I can be a better person! Please, I don't want to be left alone again!"

He begs the shadows that he'll be a better person, become someone that he can be trusted towards and be with them, but the shadows say otherwise.

Look at you. You're pathetic!

You're so weak!

You're nothing but an obstacle!

I wish you would just go away.

Or better yet, crawl up in a cave and die!

No one will ever love you!

You're hopeless.

"Yes...hopeless. I'm...hopeless..."

He had come to a realization; all they said about him, all the harsh words they said to him were not mere threats, but words of despair that were infecting his mind. The shadows continued to harass him until...

"Hopeless. Hopeless. Hopeless. Hopeless. Hopeless. Hopeless. Hopeless. Hopeless. Hopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopelesshopeless—"

He finally snapped. They clouded his mind and he doubted himself as he couldn't control his own emotions. All the joy that is in him is slowly diminishing from his mind and slowly enters in pain and anguish.

"Why am I even trying? They don't care about me! They don't need me! They don't want me! They're right. I am hopeless. Everything I do just makes the situation worse. Why do I even bother? Why bother being nice? Why bother making friends? Why bother living? If my existence is a problem, then don't worry, I can get rid of the problem!"

Pain. Anxiety. Desperate. Despair. Depressed. Agony. Sorrow. Guilty. Unloved. Melancholy. Low-spirited. Lost. Suicidal. Hopelessness. Empty. These are all the things that he felt inside as he was being rejected by everyone around him.

If there was a ray of hope, a light would have helped him shine a path towards paradise. If there was someone who stayed by his side, he wouldn't have to find himself alone in the dark world. If there was someone who loved him, he would have motivation to be living with someone he admired.

He could've had everything he wanted, however, all he had was nothing, and because of that, he lost any purpose to continue living.

Are these his true feelings? Or—

❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋

"Hey, kid. You're alright?"

"Huh?"

Shouya opens his eyes and he sees the large, lavender-colored wolf-man in front of him. He sees the aftermath of what happened while he passed out; some of the flowerpots were destroyed and remains were scattered on the wooden floor and the interior of the store was damaged from the fight. This had left Shouya feeling a sense of drought when he saw the outcome of the store.

The wolf-man extends his large lavender arm to him, implying that he needs a lift off of the floor.

"You're ok, boy?"

"Y-Yeah. I'm alright."

Shouya grabs the wolf man's large meaty hand and he lifts himself off the floor.

W-Wow. His fur is actually soft, and fluffy, too.

Even though wolf-man's arm is very muscular, it is layered with short lavender fur on top of it. There was also a creamy white fur on both his palms and the front part of his upper body. It feels very soft and smooth to the touch. Shouya had felt animal fur before, so it's nothing new to him. But an actual living beast human's fur is something he has never felt before. So this is his first time experiencing what a beast human's fur feels like.

After being lifted off from the floor, with the help from the large wolf-man, he patted Shouya on the shoulder.

"My wife told me what you did. If you haven't stalled them long enough, I would just lose my shit. So thanks. The name's Gin, by the way."

"Oh, it's Shouya. And you don't have to thank me, really. I'm not really a good fighter."

"Are you kidding? You did something that no one can do. That takes a lot of guts to face some crooks from the Blue Sharks."

"Yeah, but..."

Gin praises Shouya for his heroic act to protect his wife and children, but Shouya kept on denying it. It's like he didn't want to be praised by his lackluster act. Even though Shouya did try to save the mother and the children from harm, he doesn't want to be praised for something he lacks.

"I think you were cool."

A voice just spoke to Shouya. It was a little boy, clinging to Gin's leg. Right next to him is his sister, who is holding Gin's other leg. Looking at them up close, Shouya can see a clear look of the children.

The little boy has a dog-like frame just like his father. But unlike his father, Gin, the wolf boy's muzzle is smaller, a frame that is almost shaped like a puppy. As for the little girl; she has a similar facial structure as her mother: Human-like face, dog-like ears and tail, and long hair just like her mother's.

The differing factors of both wolf children are that the sister is slightly older than his brother—by two years, give or take—and their hair color is different; the dog girl's hair, ears, and tail color is the same color as her father while the wolf boy's fur color is the same as color his mother.

It comes to show that beast-humans can actually breed the same way humans can in this world as the genes from their respective parents are spread into their DNA.

As both of Gin's children are thanking Shouya while they're trying to hold back their tears. It's like they are going to start crying at any moment.

"Yeah, you were very brave."

"W-Without you, our home would've been destroyed."

"Hey now, don't cry you two. Your daddy is right here."

Gin pats both of his children on their heads to ease their sadness before they can burst into tears.

"Sounds like they took a liking to you, huh?"

"I mean, I guess... Anyways, my name is Shouya. What are your names?"

"J-Jakki. That's my sister, Gina."

Oh man, how can I say no to those faces?

Shouya can't help it but sees their adorable puppy-like faces. He crouches down to the wolf children's face level and he pats them on their heads.

"But yeah, your dad is right. You don't have to worry. I'll promise that as long as I'm here, I'll protect your family."

Man, I can't believe I said the cheesiest line. It's so bad that I wanna die.

"Y-You really mean it?"

"No! I mean, yes! I mean, man, there's so many things wrapping around my head."

"Maybe that guy has knocked you senseless. Why not stay here for the night?"

He offers Shouya that he can stay the night in their home. That is rather a generous offer that Gin put up. Since Shouya's money was stolen by Clugil, he doesn't have the money to buy food or stay another night at Gunther's inn, so staying in Gin's place is the only choice that he has left.

"Are you sure if that is alright to let a stranger stay the night over at your place? I mean, we've only just met."

"You did try to save my wife and children, it's the least I can do to offer you something."

"You don't really have to, honest. I mean, is it all right with your wife and children?"

"Oh, we don't mind having you staying in our place. We insist."

Aside from Shouya and Gin, the dog-eared woman, Enna—who is also Gin's wife—takes part in the conversation and offers him to stay at their place as well.

"Can he stay mama?"

"Yeah mister, please stay."

Even the kids too?

Not only the mother is begging for Shouya to stay, but the siblings are also begging him to stay. The family really wants Shouya to stay at their place. Shouya can only sigh as he has no choice but to accept the offer.

"Alright, I guess I can stay for the night."

Gin wraps his arm behind Shouya's neck whilst the siblings cheered as they heard him accept the offer.

"Then it's settled! C'mon, let's make some tasty grub!"

"I can help out with cooking if you want."

"Oh, you don't have to do that, I can take care of the cooking. But thank you for the kind offer. But I do need help with something. Can you help me clean this place?"

"Oh, sure!"

While Enna declines Shouya's assistance to help her with cooking, she offers him help around the store. He accepts it and helps her with cleaning the store. As much as Shouya would've liked to appreciate the hospitality that was given to him, he couldn't help but feel an unpleasant feeling. But he decides to shrug it off and enjoy the moment.

❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋

After accepting Gin's offer to stay at their place, he assists Enna to fix the store. Enna's job is to make and sell pottery, while at the same time, Enna and both of her beast children as assistants, work on planting, growing, and selling flowers. Basically, it's a flower store. Shouya helps out by making new potteries for her.

He had worked in arts and crafts before back in middle school, so this isn't really new to him. However, making pottery is something that Shouya hadn't made in a long time, so he felt very rusty when making them. He had made an attempt to make one, but he ended up making a mess and getting clay on himself. He made a couple more attempts and got used to it as he started to remember how to make them.

While Enna and her kids work at their store, Gin works in a blacksmithing business. He works on repairing and creating weapons and armor for the military, civilians for self-defense, or for adventurers who take on quests. He doesn't just make weapons and armor, he can also make other things like silverware, accessories, keys, or any other things. You ask, he'll make it.

Hours have passed and the sun has already started to set. Enna and their children close up shop as business time has come to an end for the day. Shouya felt a sigh of relief as he had finished working.

"Whew, I'm beat."

"Thank you for your assistance Mr. Kirikage."

"Oh please, you can just call me Shouya if you like."

"Alright, thank you Shouya."

Enna gives a slight nod to Shouya and he blushes beet red as Enna calls him only his first name. Then someone opened the shop door and it was Gin, who came back from his blacksmithing job.

"Oh, hon! You're here!"

"Heya! Has the boy given you a hard time?"

"He's amazing. He made such brilliant pots and we had so many customers. Oh! I'm preparing dinner tonight. I'll call both of you up when it's ready."

Enna heads upstairs to prepare for the family and Shouya, leaving both Shouya and Gin downstairs.

"Hey, thanks again for helping us clean and helping my wife with her business. It's nice to have someone to help her and the kids in the shop while I was gone. Hopefully, those rascals didn't push you too hard, did they?"

"Oh, it was no problem. It's been a while since I've done this before. Glad that I've put my artistic skills to good use."

"That's great to hear. Hey, how about I hire you to work with my wife?"

"Hehe, maybe I should. I mean, working here isn't so bad."

"Alright, you're hired!"

Wait, huh?

Shouya's face became perplexed when he heard Gin hired him to work at the shop. He wasn't sure if he meant it as a joke or he was being serious. He asks him just to make sure.

"Wait, you're serious, aren't you? I mean, if it's a joke, then that's a funny one."

"Do you really think I was joking?"

Gin turns to Shouya and shows his sharp white fangs, giving him a smile. He wasn't joking, he was actually being serious about hiring Shouya to work with them. He didn't think that he would get a job in this world.

"Wha- you're actually serious?!"

"That's right!"

"I-Isn't this happening way too fast? Getting a job instantly is too early. I didn't get a chance to do an interview. Ah! What about Enna? She's the one who owns this store, doesn't she get to choose who she hires?"

"Oh, don't worry, she knows. In fact, it was actually her idea to begin with. Besides, I don't know the reasoning behind it myself either."

"Huh?"

I mean, working with pottery is not a bad idea. But if that's true, then why didn't she ask me that in the first place?

The idea of hiring Shouya to work with Enna isn't a bad idea, but the only question is why? Why didn't she tell him this herself and ask him if he wants to work with her and help her with the store? That way, he would get a clear cut understanding of her proposal.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

I've always wanted to try out something new, something I can help others with and make them feel happy. You know what? I'm going to do it! Yeah! I'm in a new world and I want to start a new life with a new body! I don't care if this is a dream or not, if I'm stuck here, then fine. The old me is gone, the new me starts now!

His expression turns from worry and confusion to courageous and confident. If what he thought about is true, then he should have no problems living in this world without having any doubts pulling him down.

"I don't really have a choice, do I? Alright, I'll do it!"

Gin gives him a big hard pat on the back as he welcomes Shouya to their business. The pat hit Shouya so hard that he felt as if someone threw a tennis ball at him. This didn't stop him from smiling or at least shed a tear—at least a little.

"Hehe. Then welcome to the business! This calls for a celebration! Oh wait, we're having dinner tonight and you're already invited. It's a double whammy! Hm?"

But as before Gin can continue to cheer, someone knocks on the store's front door. Who could it be at this hour? The store was already closed, there is even a sign that says "The store is currently closed. Please come back tomorrow" in front of it.

Both Gin and Shouya couldn't wrap their head around it. But this doesn't stop Gin as he is the first one to respond to it.

"Don't worry, I'll get it."

Gin approaches the door and turns the lock to unlock the door. He then begins to open the door.

"We are closed for today, can you come by another time?"

"Oh, no, I'm not looking to buy anything. I am looking for someone. Have you seen a guy who has black and white fur, the same height as me, and his name is Shouya?"

"—Ah! Wait a minute!"

Shouya couldn't help but overhear someone saying his name. The way they talk to Gin sounds like they're worried about him. He looks at someone who is talking to Gin. He sees a familiar red furred fox in a maid outfit in front of him.

"Alisa?"

"Ah! Sho!"

The worried fox girl Alisa charges at Shouya and she gives him a big hug. Meanwhile, Gin just stands there as he quiescently looks at them.

"You know her?"

"Uh, yeah. Alisa, what are you do—h-hey!"

Before Shouya could say anything, Alisa's frantic bodily inspection for wounds took him by surprise.

"What are you doing?"

"Quiet now."

Her face remained as serious and determined as ever until the very last moment. The look of relief spread across her face.

"Thank goodness you're fine. I was so worried!"

"Hey, relax. I'm fine. I barely have a scratch on me."

"I know, but still..."

Even though Shouya looked unharmed, Alisa still worries about him. She is like a mother who worries about their children's safety. Despite the fact that they barely know each other for just one day, Alisa treats him like a child.

Shouya holds on to Alisa's hands to make her stop touching and deforming his face.

"Ok, I get it. But more than that, how did you find me?"

"I heard that you got into a fight with the Blue Sharks. Is that true?"

As she asks him that question, Shouya looks away from her, trying to not look at her bright emerald-colored eyes, but Alisa could already tell based on his facial expression. That would mean that she now knows what Shouya had done.

"What were you thinking of taking on the Blue Sharks by yourself?! Don't you know what they are? They are criminals, scumbags, they are doing this just for money! But thankfully you're alive, that's all that matters."

Alisa's worried expression changed to a face of relief. She was well aware that Shouya fought the Blue Sharks alone and how much humiliation he got when he was defeated. Luckily, Gin was there on the scene and defeated them, so she didn't have to worry about it anymore.

"Anyways, what are you doing here?"

"Well, I—"

"We've just hired him to work with us."

Before Shouya can say anything, Gin interrupted and explained to her for him. Alisa's eyes went wide as she didn't expect this outcome.

"Woah, really?! Just what kind of damage did you do Mr. Kirikage?"

"Wha-? I did no such thing! I chose it on my own volition!"

"Oh? Is this true mister?"

"That's right! He helped out my wife with the store and I asked him if he wanted me to hire him, he agreed and so, I hired him."

Did he just miss the part where it was his wife's idea?

Shouya became puzzled when he didn't mention the idea was from his wife Enna. He could point it out to Gin about that, but he didn't want to be put in an awkward situation, so he did the best he could by not mentioning it to Gin in front of Alisa.

She turns to Shouya and she smiles at him.

"Oh well. I'm glad that you got yourself a job. Hopefully, that would replace the money that was stolen."

"That's ri- ahh! I forgot!"

"What's the matter Sho?!"

"That guy! He was here!"

"Ehh?!"

The moment that Shouya had realized that he had forgotten what was his original objective. He was supposed to get his stolen money back from Clugil. He was sidetracked by so much stuff going on that he forgot to get it back from him. Now it is too late to find him and get his money back.

While Shouya was panicking about his missing wallet, Gin looks at him in confusion, not knowing what is going on.

"I'm...confused. Care to tell me what's going on?"

"Well you see, do you remember the guy who's in charge of invading the store and commands his guys to fight you?"

"You mean that bastard Clugil? Yeah, I know what you mean. What about him?"

"He's also the guy that stole my money from me and ran off with it. Now I don't know where he went off to."

"Oh! You mean this?"

Gin puts his hand and reaches down to his own pocket. Then he takes it out and shows Shouya a familiar small bag in front of him.

"—My wallet!"

"I figured who it belonged to. It was laying on the floor after the fight and I'd thought that I would use his money as payback for ruining the shop. Don't worry, all the stuff is still in there."

He opens his wallet to make sure that Gin was right. Thankfully he wasn't wrong. He sees all the content that was in his wallet was still intact, nothing was missing inside.

"Thank you so much."

"Hey, don't sweat it. You can say that we're even now."

"I guess you can say that. Oh, is it okay if she is also invited to the dinner?"

"If she wants to, then sure!"

Shouya then turns to Alisa and asks her.

"Well Alisa, do you want to eat with us?"

"Oh, that's a kind offer, but I'm going to have to decline. I have to work on the night shift at the inn with Gunther, so I can't stay long. Sorry."

Ah, right, I forgot!

As she is saying this to Shouya, Alisa vigorously apologizes to him as she couldn't accept the invitation as she has to work in the inn. Shouya had forgotten that she works in an inn with Gunther, so of course, Alisa turned down the offer.

"Ah, so you're Gunny's kid."

"'Gunny?"

This is the first time Shouya has ever heard that name before. This is probably a nickname short for Gunther, it does make sense, but Shouya can't tell just yet. He begins to wonder how Gin knows him.

"Speaking of which, I'd better head back. You wouldn't believe how much work I have to do when the place gets at night. A lot of cooking and a lot of old men drinking."

"From what I'm guessing, among them is Gunther?"

"Yup! Anyways, see ya!"

Alisa quickly heads out the store to help out the inn. But before she leaves the store, Gin interrupts her by giving her a heads up.

"Hey, little miss, if you see that old man of yours, send him my regards."

"Will do!"

And with that, Alisa left the store. The only people that are left now are Shouya and Gin, and also Enna who is upstairs making food for the family and for their guest Shouya.

"That girl got spunk."

"Yeah, I guess you can say that."

"Do you two have a thing for each other?"

"W-What?!"

When Shouya heard that, his face became beet-red. He didn't think that both he and Alisa would be in that kind of relationship. Shouya and Alisa were just friends, but in Gin's point of view, he sees it more than that. Of course, when Gin first saw her and based on her reaction to Shouya, he had thought that the both of them were a couple.

Shouya, now flustered and his face is turning redder, he tries to explain to Gin about that misunderstanding.

"Me? Her? Nononono, we're not like that, honest! We just met each other just today! There's no correlation between- ack!"

But before he can say anything else, he raises his beefy hand to pat him on the head.

"Don't worry, this secret is between you and me. So you don't have to worry about it."

Shouya begins to slowly calm down and takes a deep breath. But yet, he is still embarrassed by the way Gin had said. He can't argue or correct him any further.

"Anyways, let's head upstairs. I'm starving!"

Gin heads to the staircase as he is getting ready to eat meanwhile Shouya follows behind him.

But it wasn't like that though, really...

❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋❋

"Alright everyone, dinner is ready!"

Enna announces to everyone that it was time for dinner. The food had already been set up on the table by the time Shouya and Gin had arrived upstairs.

Shouya couldn't help but widen his eyes in amazement as he saw how much wonderful food that was on the table.

"Wow! The food looks delicious!"

"That's Enna for ya! She can cook really good food. No one can replicate her amazing cooking talent."

"Oh, shush! Not in front of our guest. Don't listen to this doofus, I'm not really that good."

"No, you are. From looking at what I'm seeing, I've never seen anyone who can cook better than you."

"C'mon you guys, it's really embarrassing!"

Hearing both of Shouya and Gin's comments makes Enna's face blush. She tries to cover her face with her hands, but no matter how much she tries, her cheeks are still beet red.

The table is filled with a delicious large plate of juicy meat on the center along with various vegetables, rice, and noodles surrounding it. The only thing that is out of place is the strange substance that is on small bowls. Shouya points it and asks her what that is.

"What's that?"

"Oh? You've never heard of Quagi sauce?"

"'Quagi sauce'?"

"You've never heard of Quagi sauce?"

"Can't say. I've never had it before."

"Then you're in it for a treat! Come, let's eat!"

The three of them, including the dog children, gathered around the table and began their feast. Shouya picks one of each of every food that is on the table and places them onto his plate, including a bowl of noodles on his side.

He cuts a piece of meat, dips on a strange colored sauce—otherwise known as Quagi Sauce in this world—and places it in his mouth. Shouya's taste buds start to tingle as he tastes something that is out of this world.

"Woah! This tastes great!"

"Hehe, thanks."

After that delicious piece of meat that Shouya ate, he spreads a bit of Quagi sauce on top of another piece of meat and begins to wolf down on it. After which, his eyes turn to the bowl of noodles and starts to devour the glistering noodles.

The food is so delicious! I...can't...stop it!

Gin notices this and shows a wide grin on his face while holding a drumstick on his hand.

"Is this an eating competition? Alright, challenge accepted!"

Both Shouya and Gin gobble down the food like savages. Meanwhile, Enna warns them about how much they're eating.

"Careful you two, you might choke yourselves with all that food."

After a warning from Enna, the two of them gulped down their glasses of water.

"Haa... Man, you really can eat fast!"

"Really? Oh, sorry! I probably should've used table manners when I'm eating!"

"You don't have to apologize. It's normal for all of us to eat like that. We're not some rich snobs that's all about 'table manners' or anything else that involves being the higher echelon. We're not that kind of people, so eat till your heart's content."

It was something that Shouya hasn't heard before, but at the same time, it was really a heartfelt speech to hear. Eating without needing to worry about table manners? That was something that is unheard of.

"Really? So it doesn't bother you?"

"Nonsense! We're not strict. You're free to eat however you like, like a family."

"—!"

Before Shouya takes another bite of the food, his body freezes when he reacts to what Gin had said.

Like...a family?

Instead of eating any more of Enna's food, he gently places it back on the plate, not needing to eat any further. His face turns pale and he looks at the plate with a melancholic look on his face. Gina looks at him with a concerned look on her face.

"What's wrong mister? Does your tummy ache?"

"Huh? Oh, uhh, yeah! Oooh, probably used too much of your mother's sauce."

"Hehe, forgot to mention that my wife's cooking does have a 'kick' when it enters your stomach."

"It does not! Don't be such a liar!"

"Hahaha! Relax Enny, it's just a joke."

"Hmph!"

Enna angrily puffs her cheeks at Gin's bad but silly joke as she thought what he meant was true. Shouya looks at the wolf siblings and asks one of them.

"Is there a bathroom I can use?"

"The first door down the hall to the left."

While holding the bone at hand, Jakki points Shouya to the door that is right next to him.

"Oh, thanks."

He then leaves the table and heads to the door where the bathroom is and opens it. The place is not anything new, it's like what you see when you go to somebody's house; a bathtub, the sink, the toilet, and the mirror. It doesn't make you go and say "wow, this room is so fancy", it's just a regular bathroom from a regular home.

Shouya closes and locks the door behind him. He leans back on the door and thinks back on what Gin had said before.

"'Like a family' huh? I mean, c'mon. We just only met today, and yet, you treat me like family? What is with these people in this world? Alisa is being nice to me, Gunther is being helpful, and Gin and his family are taking care of me like I'm a member of the family. Are they really...he...hehehe..."

As he talks to himself, Shouya quietly laughs as he tries to figure out what is happening to his life. As he continues to laugh, tears begin to run down from his eyes.

"H-Huh?"

He tries to wipe off the tears from his eyes, but it barely does anything as it still continues to come down. He walks to the sink and turns on the faucet, letting the water run. He cups some water using his hands and splashes his face with it, wiping off his tears.

"Hah! Whew! ...Why was I crying? I don't feel sad, I'm happy. Yeah, I'm really happy! Happy that I'm living the life! I've met nice people, I've eaten good food. Even if this is a dream, I shouldn't feel bad, I should be happy."

"That is because that's the only way you think of that."

"—!!"

As Shouya talks to himself, he hears a voice. The voice that he heard from didn't sound like it was from outside of the room. This voice doesn't sound like anyone he knows; Gin, Enna, Alisa, Gunther, Clugil, or anyone. It sounds like the voice that is familiar to him—no, perhaps too familiar.

"They're only nice to you because they pity you, they feel bad for you. What they only give you is nothing but sympathy. They don't care about you, they don't want you, they only want to use you so they can make you work for granted until you've outlived your usefulness. You're nothing but their pet slave who is licking their master's shoes!"

The mysterious voice threw such vulgar words onto Shouya's mind, trying to dig in deep, make him feel bad, and change his mind about the decision he chose. Shouya tries to deny it as it is his own decision that he had made.

"You're wrong, I chose this. It was my decision—"

"'Your decision? Hahahahaha! Yeah, right! Did you forget? Did you choose to be sent into this world? Did you choose the clothes you get to wear? Did you choose to be hired and work for those people? Of course not, you don't get to make those decisions. Life is choosing it for you. I mean, look at you. Do you really wanted these clothes? Do you really wanted to work for them? If not, then too bad! You're suck with it all because you can't make your own decision."

"..."

He went silent as the voice inside of him reminded him of his indecisive outcomes. It was generally correct; all of these life choices that Shouya has until now were chosen for him by everything that is around him. He wasn't given a question to choose from these choices, they were handed to him with no questions asked.

"That may be true, but...I don't care."

"Oh?"

"Even though I didn't get a choice, I still believe that I can still live with myself. I don't care if I didn't get a choice of what I want, this is my life, and I have no intentions to go back. I want to live with it, no matter what life throws at me!"

Despite what the voice said to him, Shouya doesn't plan to give up his new life in the new world. Even if things don't go in his favor, he still wants to enjoy the new life that is given to him and venture the world with a smile on his face.

However...

"So that's what you choose. You would rather live in a world where you have freedom and deny yourself over going back and accepting reality? I am disappointed in you. Your family will be disappointed in you. In fact, they would be disappointed in you if they were alive."

"—!!"

Shouya's reaction to what the voice said to him changed his emotions from confident to a frustrated look. Something has switched his attitude

"Did I strike a nerve, or did you forget about your family on purpose so that you deny their existence?"

"—"

"Oh well, it's not like they even care about your existence either. I mean, it's not like they ever love you since they abandoned you."

"—"

"Oh, wait, I think it's too late for that. Now they're not gonna see or love their happy little boy anymore because they're DEAD!!

The more the voice talks to him, the madder and madder Shouya gets. He tries to restrain himself, holding back his anger inside of him, he even grips his own head and covers his own ears as he didn't want to hear the voice anymore.

"—Shut up."

"Aww, what are you gonna do, cry? Throw a temper tantrum? Or maybe even kill yourself?"

"Shut up..."

"Hahahaha! Look at you, that is what you are! You're weak, pathetic, a coward! You couldn't even hold your ground for ten seconds and got your ass beat by that thief! You're a failure! Not a single living being will ever come to save you, they just use you as a stepping stone for them to achieve greater heights for them. You're like a shadow, just like me."

"Shut up... Shut up... I'm not like you, I'm nothing like you!"

No matter how many times Shouya has to ignore the voice's words, they continue to antagonize him. But he couldn't ignore it anymore.

"Fufufufu, it's useless to deny it. You're nothing but a weak, powerless, idiot, boy. You can't run away from me forever. You want to know why? Open your eyes."

Shouya didn't want to listen to the voice that is in his head, but he has no choice but to do what they say. He looks up slowly to see his own reflection on the mirror. There has been no change in appearance; a black furred dog-like demi-human wearing the clothes that he had bought in this world. He has been like this ever since he had been transported into another world.

However, there is one small difference. Unlike Shouya, where he is struggling to keep himself together, his mirror self is looking at him, smiling.

"In a world where nobody needs you, you're hopeless."

"I said shut up!"

Shouya finally snaps and shouts to his other self, and fueled with rage, he clenches his right hand into a fist and punches it, leaving a ball-sized crack on the mirror. When he punches the mirror, the voice suddenly stops talking to him. The voice is finally gone from his head. The false image of himself is not going to bother Shouya anymore.

"Haa.....haa.....haa....."

Shouya's effort to get rid of his other self was a success, however, he is in pain both emotionally and physically. He looks at his own knuckles, he sees small cuts on his hand when he smashed the mirror, but it doesn't bleed that much.

".....Ah! Crap! The mirror!"

Shouya realizes what he had done. He had broken the mirror that is a property of Gin and his family. This situation has turned for the worst as he feels awful for breaking their mirror. Shouya tries to think of a way to get out of this. He stares at the cracked mirror, hoping that he has an excuse for breaking the mirror. That's where it hit him.

"Oh! I got it, but that would mean... No! I have to do it! I don't even care about myself anymore! I don't care what anyone says! It's my choice!"

He pushes his hands on the wall around the cracked mirror and places his forehead on the spot he punched it. He can feel the shards of hard glass touching him, like feeling small ant-sized knives are poking him.

"Just hope that it works..."

He takes a deep breath and pulls his head back away from the glass while holding on to the wall. He pulls back as far as he can until only the fingertips are still touching the wall. Then, in a split-second, he headbutts himself to the mirror.

"Arrg!"

The pain of hitting glass shards by using your head may have caused damage to a human's body—or in this case, a demi-human's body—some facial damage. Shouya flails on the floor in agony as the pain of smashing his own head onto something sharp. It has exposed a large cut on his forehead and a drop of blood crawls down from his head.

As for the glass itself, the crack from the glass had increased its size when Shouya headbutted. He had headbutted on the same place where he had punched it before. It covers any indication of when he had punched it, making the excuse more believable. It was a sacrifice that he had made as he had no choice.

The blood still drips from Shouya's forehead and as he calms down, someone knocks on the door from the other side.

"Umm, Shouya, are you okay in there?"

"Oh, I'm okay. Well, actually..."

Shouya uses his one hand to get up from the floor while he holds the wound with his other hand. He still felt the pain that he had caused himself, but it was the only way to fake his reasoning for shattering the mirror. He unlocks and opens the door, seeing Enna in front of him. She looks shocked when she sees him in this condition.

"Oh my, what happened to you?"

"Oh, I slipped myself. But it's nothing, really."

"It looks more than a 'nothing'. Let me see your head."

"Please, you don't want to—"

"Let me see Mr. Kirikage."

"A-Alright..."

No matter how hard he tries to neglect Enna to not show her the wound, her demeanor shows that she is being serious and worries about Shouya. He ended up showing his wound to her.

"How did this happen?"

"I...slipped and bumped my head into the mirror. Also, sorry about your mirror."

She turns her eyes to look at the broken mirror that is in the bathroom. The mirror has a huge crack that she had never seen before. Usually, owners would complain to the person who broke their property and get them kicked out of the house, but Enna, she's different. She takes a deep breath and sighs.

"Well, don't worry, accidents happen."

"W-Wha?"

What did she mean by "accidents happen"?

Shouya doesn't quite understand what that meant. He looks at her, but instead of an angry and unsettling face, she smiled.

"It doesn't look too bad. Here, hold still."

Enna raises her hand and places two of her fingers—both the index and the middle finger—to where the wound is in front of it by a centimeter apart. Then, a small bright yellow light starts to glow from the fingertips.

Is this...healing magic?

He couldn't believe it, but he recognized it from playing fantasy RPGs or watched anime that have magic in them. This is, of course, a healing spell. The light begins to close the wound on Shouya's forehead and the wound magically disappears, acting as if nothing happened.

"There you go!"

"W-Wow..."

"Now about that mirror."

"Huh?"

Enna heads inside the bathroom and approaches the broken mirror. Shouya couldn't understand what she had meant. He just looks at her and sees what she is going to do.

She stretches out her arm at the broken mirror with all five of her fingers open and a bright light begins to glow in front of it. Instead of a bright yellow light that healed Shouya, a bright jade-green light appears in front of her. As the light begins to glow, the mirror starts to act up. The glasses start taking shape and the shards of glass begin to come together piece by piece. Then finally, the mirror was suddenly fixed. Fragments of glass shards forged together to form a new mirror, it acted as if time had rewind itself.

After Enna repaired the mirror, she took a deep breath and then exhaled.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Who knew using so much magic is making me tired."

"You know you don't have to do that. I mean, I can pay a new mirror for you."

"Don't be silly, save your money. I wouldn't want to see you spending job's pay for something so small."

"Ah, so I guess you've heard it from Gin?"

"That's right! I very much appreciated and thankful that you joined us. C'mon, everyone is waiting at the table, unless you want the leftovers."

"Ah, r-right!"

Enna heads out from the bathroom and joins Gin and the siblings. Shouya follows suit and heads towards the table and continues eating the food.