//It's only gonna be about five or less chapters of backstory, just enough to fully give insight on the main character, and itll be weaved into the story as we go. Trust me, this is preferred compared to the standard, bland, MCs that lack solid motivations.

I could just toss him into the world but that wouldn't be fun.

Question for the lot of you. Whose your favorite waifu in the Pokemon franchise?

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

The sun was covered, completely obscured by the thick blanket of storm clouds spreading over the bustling streets of New York City. Strong winds whipped through the various lanes, scattering the mixture of dead leaves, dirt, and trash into the air. Occasional explosions of light pierced the dark afternoon sky, crackles of thunder rippling through the atmosphere, reminding everyone of the impending storm that could start at any moment. 

It had been that way for over a full week. No rain, no hail, no snow. Nothing. Just lurking cumulonimbus clouds.

Tenmei Hugo didn't really mind it too much. Sprawled out on the roof of the tallest academic building his high-school possessed, the black haired youth was enjoying the weather. The cool breeze that engulfed the immediate vicinity, the screeching of birds as they flew through the area whenever an eruption of sound escaped the clouds, and the feeling of the sturdy concrete beneath him. Around an hour had passed since school had let out for the day, and even despite that, Tenmei had no immediate plans to move, solely due to how comfortable he was. He had even taken it upon himself to pack a pillow in his bag and bring some earbuds to listen to music.

Still, he did admit that it was rather strange. A full week of stagnant grey clouds with no news of any impending rain, tornadoes, hurricanes, or really any severe weather. 

In all his years alive, he couldn't remember something like it ever happening.

Fwip!!

Tenmei's head slammed onto the concrete as his pillow was yanked out from under him, causing an earbud to fall out.

"I thought I'd find you out here, Tendork." A female voice reached the youths free ear before being unceremoniously slapped in the face with the very same stolen pillow. "As predictable as clockwork. When are you going to get a hobby?"

"The same day you stop stealing my me time, Emiloser," Tenmei rebutalled, rubbing the back of his head as he sat up. Pulling his phone out the pocket of his black hoodie, he swiftly flicked it on and paused his music, taking the other bud out of his ear. "Shouldn't you be somewhere else, kicking puppies and stealing candy from children?"

"Shouldn't you be off studying somewhere in order to get a C+? Kinda like what you got on the last essay."

Emilona Rodriguez, a girl with light brown hair and solid green eyes, took a seat next to the red eyed teenager, of whom was now giving her his full attention. Dressed in their high schools' standard female uniform, a white collared button-up shirt with long sleeves, grey skirt, and black tie, Tenmei took careful note of the way she was sitting and how she looked. The awkward movements she made, the bit of moisture on her neck, the loose tie she usually kept tight, and her slightly disheveled hair clumped messily into a ponytail.

"Rough day at tennis?" The red eyed teenager questioned, ignoring the jab she made towards his subpar studying. "Miss Crena giving you the work?"

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"How did you -"

"Your left arm is stiff, most likely sore, and your legs are barely able to support you. Your neck is still wet from the locker room shower, as are the tips of numerous strands of hair. Messy ponytail, loose tie, leggings underneath the skirt, and you're still at school instead of heading home like you normally do."

"Hmm, I could've been playing Volleyball," Emilona reasoned, leaning back as she crossed her legs. "Or basketball."

"Your entire body would've been aching if it was volleyball. Also, there are no bruises on your arms and legs. Additionally, last I checked, you don't wear leggings to volleyball since you don't wear a skirt."

"And for basketball, mister know-it-all?"

Tenmei grinned. "Coach Tammy is out sick. Girls basketball was canceled yesterday and today."

Clap! Clap! Clap!

The dual high-schoolers turned to look at the rooftop door, hues searching for the one throwing out the applause. 

"Detective Hugo closes another case. This man cannot be stopped." 

"Oh, Markus. It's just you."

"Just me? Don't know why that felt kinda harsh."

"HAH!! Wasn't harsh enough if you asked me."

"Good thing no one asked you then, Green Goblin. Shouldn't you be out pissing on someone's grandma? Did you take a day off from potion brewing to stalk Tenmei?"

Markus Fletcher calmly strolled over, giving his black haired compatriot a quick custom handshake before plopping down on the other side of him. With bright blonde haired and light blue eyes, he was an easy standout compared to the other two individuals. Clutched in his right hand was a folded up scrap of paper, something that he readily handed over to Tenmei the moment he took note of it. With a grin, the newcomer set aside his bag and got comfy, stretching out his legs.

"So, it's my turn," the blonde said, grinning from ear to ear. "What was I up to Detective Hugo?"

"Napping in an empty classroom." Tenmei didn't even miss a beat as he unfolded the piece of paper. "You still have some drool on the side of your lip. Might wanna wipe that off, Casanova."

The slip of paper Markus had handed off was actually three sheets of copy paper, something Tenmei was only able to tell after he had fully opened it. Each page was typed up in a standard font and full to the brim with neat block paragraphs. At the very front of the three sheets, written in big block letters, were the words "Set In Stone," of which was almost completely encompassed by the overly large B+ written in sharpie marker. Unfortunately, Tenmei was able to recognize it almost immediately, the essay he had been forced to write as extra credit for English Class, the same class he was failing. It was an expository essay on whether or not one believed destiny existed.

"Set In Stone?" Emilona questioned, looking over Tenmei's shoulder. "That's an interesting title."

"It's alright, I suppose. It was supposed to fit the theme."

"Our teacher wanted me to give you it." Markus carefully wiped the edges of his mouth with a wet napkin. "She said that while she doesn't necessarily agree with your argument, she still believes it to be your best work within the history of her class."

"What was the essay about?"

Tenmei just looked at the paper, red hues skimming over its content, getting lost in thought. After a while, the youth let out a sigh and handed it off to his female companion.

"It's an essay about whether or not one's destiny is truly preordained. Do we make our own way, or is our path chosen for us, that kinda thing."

"Well, obviously, it's of our own making," Emilona said, taking the paper. "Nothing in life is truly carved out. We have to work towards it."

"Gonna have to agree with the troll on this one," Markus chimed in. "There are far too many people in the world making their own moves and doing their own thing to actually have a set destiny. The actions of others cause others to stray from decisions and changes lives."

The trio fell silent after that for a bit as Emilona read through Tenmei's essay, the two males playing a game of tic-tac-toe on the concrete with a piece of rock. Each and every move Markus played was countered in some way, shape, or form, leading to Tenmei's win or an eventual draw. After a number of losses, the blonde called it quits and admitted defeat, tossing the chunk of concrete off the side of the building. Laughing to himself, Tenmei avoided attempted blows from his own pillow, enjoying his friends' own immense frustration.

"Okay. So, from what I can see, I can firmly see where you're coming from." Emilona flicked the paper before offering it back to her friend. "I also think you had quite a creative outlook on things, an out of the box perspective. I still don't agree but I guess it works for the overall theme."

"Thanks."

"Still a loser though," Emilona said, side eyeing the black haired teenager. "A creative loser is still a loser."

"Was wondering where the insult was coming in."

Silence.

"Why do you think that everything is set in stone? Do you actually believe nothing you do would change your fate?"

The air turned heavy, the atmosphere becoming much more dense than it had been moments prior. The wind kicked up slightly, blowing over the three students as they watched the dark clouds shift and turn, changing the afternoon into a perpetual night. It was unknown how long they sat there, the ever shifting storm making it near impossible to tell time, but it seemed like hours before Tenmei rose from his seat on the roof, dusted his pants off and grabbed his pillow. Readjusting his watch, the black haired teen gave each of his fellow students a soft nod, acknowledging them despite neither one of them saying a word. 

"I'll talk to you guys another-"

CRACKLE! ZAP! BOOM!

A flash of light. Searing pain. Shouts and screams. An explosion.

It all seemed to happen in an instant before Tenmei's consciousness faded to black, before the entire world was shut off. He couldn't see, couldn't feel, couldn't hear. His mind remained intact, but the rest of him was just gone, as if all senses had been cut.