Keizo sat at his desk, a pencil in hand, a blank sheet of paper in front of him. He narrowed his eyes at it. His cat, Ichi, passed through his legs under the desk, wanting attention. 

     Keizo Yoshimatsu is an average 15 year old, living in  the suburbs of Yokohama, Japan, with his mother and his loving cat. After college, his brother had moved to Tokyo to follow his dreams in the world of business. Keizo, on the other hand, thought that was the most boring dream in the world. 

     “Why are you moving to the humongous giant city big brother?” he remembered asking as a child, “I don’t want you to leave!”

     “You don’t realize, this is an amazing opportunity, I’m very lucky! Don’t worry, I’ll visit all the time, I promise.” his brother had said. But that was the last Keizo ever saw of him.

     Keizo closed his eyes and sighed, setting the pencil down. He ran his hands through his black hair. “Mrowr!” He looked down at Ichi and smiled a little. Ichi purred, allowing her head to be petted.  

     “Keizooo!” a woman’s voice called. 

     “Whaaaaaat.” Keizo groaned. 

     “Lunch is ready!” 

     Keizo got up and walked out of his room, Ichi padding after him. His mother set his bowl of food at the table. Keizo sat on the floor in front of it, cross-legged. 

     They ate in silence for a few minutes until his mother asked, “Any luck?”

     “Nope.”

     “I’m sure something will happen soon.”

     They ate in several more minutes in silence, during which Keizo finished his food. “May I be excused?”

     “Uh, yes you may be excused…” His mother had a slightly worried expression on her face, but when he looked back at her she smiled a little.

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     Keizo returned to his spot at the desk, staring at the paper. His mother and Ichi exchanged looks, then Ichi chose to join him.

*  * *

     Keizo went to bed early that night. He fell to sleep rather quickly after his head hit the pillow.

*  * *

     Keizo woke up to a girl’s face less than a foot from his. “Ahh!” He yelled, stumbling backwards, now realizing he was actually standing. And not in his room, either. He was in some kind of metal box-shaped room, with a soft light coming from somewhere he couldn’t determine.

     “Hello, Keizo Yoshimatsu, you have been chosen for The Lottery!” The girl said. She looked about the same age as him, with light brown hair and orchid colored eyes. She was fairly tall and had a cheerful expression. She wore some kind of light plated armor.

     “Uhhh… The Lottery? How do you know my name?”

     “Don’t worry Keizo-kun, I’ll explain everything!”

     This girl is awfully cheery…

     “You have been chosen for The Lottery, which means you get to fight evil in our world, Rewarudo!”

     Keizo blinked. “Heh?”

     The girl grumbled. “C’mon, you’ve never even heard of The Lottery?”

     “Sorry but no.” He casually tried to pinch himself to wake up.

     The girl looked annoyed. “It’s an honor to be chosen in The Lottery, so you should at least be a little grateful!” Her expression quickly changed back to cheery. “Anyways, my name is Yume Nishikawa! I’ve been assigned to be your partner!”

     “Partner?”

     “Well you don’t think you can do this all alone, can you?”

     “Still not quite sure what ‘this’ is.”

     “I’ll explain more in-depth tomorrow, that’s when the fun will really begin!” She smirked at him.

     Keizo realized that the expression on his face must look really stupid. “Umm… ok.”

     “Wow, you’re not as fun as I thought you’d be…” Yume remarked.

     “W-what was that?! What did you say!?” Keizo demanded. Yume just giggled.

     Suddenly, a long, booming gong sounded. “Well, I guess I’ll seeya tomorrow, be prepared.” Yume smiled at him. 

     “But wait, wh-!?”

To be continued…