Proofreader: Future (Double Future) Me

At long last my university entrance exams had been completed, so here I sat looking at the new prospect of starting over in the “Enigmatic Academy.” It was by far the greatest otome/galge game in the world, not for amazing romance, but due to the hundreds of other features that exist. It took me a year to finish the game just once, however…

“Why…? Just why is this game perma-death!”

My vision became clouded as I reminisced about the hundreds of restarts. The main mechanic was, that once you die, it was all over. Many had poured tears attempting to even reach just halfway.

Although, there was a way around this, to simply enable the romance-only route which I’d never dare to touch.

Indeed! The fantasy elements, action, and everything else had captured my attention.

Yet, the biggest selling point of all, had been the hundreds of endings available. It had countless events, subplots, and romance scenarios, to the point that the community is still finding new content to this day.

“Hah… I wanna try a warrior archetype build- yet, how many times would this take to perfect?” I questioned my sanity at this junction in time.

I sat in my chair aloof, rubbing my chin as I decided what to do with my life.

“Ren! Come downstairs, we have your favourite!” My mum’s voice echoed as I stumbled out of my room. Clumsily, I slipped down stairs while putting on sliders.

Instinct prevailed over any other thought, and before I knew it, I was already preparing the dinner table for food.

“You’ve been pushing yourself very hard recently... so, me and dad thought you’d appreciate a hearty feast!” Her smile brightened up the kitchen immediately.

“Haha! As expected of my son," He slapped my back with a proud smile plastered on his face, "I’m sure you passed without a doubt."

An indescribable emotion welled at their words, and the corners of my lips undoubtedly began turning upward.

We readied our chopsticks and began our thanks.

“”Thanks for the food!””

Everything was perfect and yet, I felt a hunch. Butterflies reigned over my stomach, feeling an urge to leave. Had there been something that would ruin this day?

“Son, are you okay?” My dad asked carefully with his chopsticks carrying food.

I couldn’t answer as a premonition washed over me.

This morning when I checked my phone there had been news of runaway criminals in our prefecture.

“Dad I don’t think it’s safe-“

“Drop on your knees now!”

The door bursted open, masked pouring in like a wave of death.

Shots fired toward the walls behind my family, their expressions hardening immediately. We began dropping, not understanding what was happening.

However...

My brain felt as if I was being embraced by a serene wave. Danger surrounded me, but all I felt was calm.

“Boss! These are the hostages, keep them tied up, we need our escape route secured now.”

Their intentions became clear at a moment's notice, with there only two present right now. That's right, just two.

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While they were preoccupied talking to each other, my cowering family could run.

'A chance.'

I glanced toward my parents and steeled my resolve. My body trembled at my plan, but amps of adrenaline rushed through at the same time.

Right as it pumped through me, the world began to move.

The man talking approached us with a rope and gun in both hands. If I had to move, it would be now. He fumbled around with the items, unable unfurl it in an efficient manner.

Such movements indicated a sense of amateurishness, with their fingers getting tied up.

“Don’t m- move unless you wanna die,” I could sense the shakiness in his voice, as if something was chasing them.

As he began wrapping up the rope, I struck. The swift movements of kicking had been imprinted in me since I had been a child.

“Gah! Yo- you bitch!”

His shin crumpled as bullets sprayed around the room. The other man nearby readied his rifle in an unprepared stance.

‘Shit!’ I was forced to act without thinking.

I grappled the first burglar and held him in front, stealing the gun from his hands.

Before the other bastard could grasp the situation, I shot haphazardly.

Yet, as the recoil affected me, the man below me struggled. “Get! Off! Me!”

My vision slanted as I fell backwards, he managed to elbow me off his body due to my unstable hold.

I was backed into a corner with him, surrounded by two rifles laid on the floor.

Erratic breathing echoed between the two of us.

Bang!

What?!

My eyes darted to the perpetrator.

“Son!”

My father’s demeanour was anything but happy. I could see sweat dripping from his head to his drenched back. Reality began to sink in, that we both had killed someone.

I felt my breathing become rough.

‘No!’ I clenched my fists, ‘Focus!’

“Now, run to the back door! I’ll be behind you two!”

The kitchen was connected to the backyard, so there was no danger in that.

“S- son! Come now! Or-“

“You bitches behave!” A few men rushed in through the front door, startled by the commotion.

I hid under a counter as they walked to the open back door. Dad had already rushed out in fear, his face indicating immense regret.

“The hostages are about to escape, do we chase?” The man to the side checked the pulse of the other two.

“No point, we can hold off the police for a bit longer and our Plan B is on the way.”

Sweat had accumulated on my palms, a sense of incongruity emerging within me. A dead man, and a situation where I could be dead.

My grip had intensified as I stared at the mass killing machine in my hand.

It was now or never.

I aimed and shot, their shouts rang out in confusion. Bullets sprayed across the room, and I felt a burning pain rising from my shoulder.

“Fuck, men back out!”

I had only shot down one as the other ran out.

'Perfect!'

I took the chance to run, ignoring the searing pain.

The back door had never seemed so appealing to me before.

...

An ominous brush of air tickled my face.

“Wait! KID NO!” An officer shouted something I didn’t understand the meaning of.

“Brother!” “Son!” “Ren!” Desperate voices had reached my ears.

I felt it. My shoulder burned, a small black metal embedded within it. My vision blurred, and images raced past my mind.

Are you kidding me? All that, just to fall? From behind, there was still one watching.

It was an almost perfect escape…

Sorry mum, sorry dad. Yumiko, I’m sorry your brother won’t be able to wake you up anymore.

The world closed in on me, a gray scale of colours washing my vision.

Within it however, images like a film tape unrolled.

Huh?

A mage held her staff high and proud.

A swordsman presenting his sword to the masses, proving his worth.

A priest, a paladin, and at last… I saw an archer.

Vivid memories began speeding through my dying mind.

The game I had been playing for years, would be the life that flashed before my eyes.

Why would I see this in my last moments?

I laughed internally at the idea. This cursed, supposed romance game was showing up at my dying breath. The amount of times such romance had interrupted my play-through could not infuriate me more.

I could only swear, I would destroy the romance if it was me.