0 - Guess what, I died! (1)

" How did this book get published?!" I laugh, putting the book down.

The cover shines under the sunlight: a beautiful artwork representing a beautiful blonde girl surrounded by multiple love interests. Like this isn't enough, the title is printed in a calligraphy font: “Everyone Thinks I’m a Lady, But I’m Actually Just an Illegitimate Child!”.

I snort. This is so absurdly cliché that it makes me want to roll on the floor. I don't understand why my roommate begged me to read it.

"What made you say that?" she asks.

Her face is slightly off, but I put that on her motion sickness.

"Well, first of all, the plot is overused," I start. "It isn't necessarily a bad thing, but this story is so predictable! I already guessed the whole story from the beginning! I mean, I don't see one trope that wasn't used in this book. Secondly, the other characters are barely developed: they are very cliché, and their world revolves around the main character. Oh, let's talk about Ivonne. How can she be so dense? I get that there is hype around the clueless girl, but this is just exhausting and just beyond believable! Finally, the emotions are rushed, and there isn't any explanation of why everyone loves the protagonist: she is just a plain Marie-Sue."

As I talk, I notice that Noa's eyes are gradually darkening.

When I finish my explanation, she asks with a small voice, "So this story is bad?"

"Huh, obviously."

I lay back on the uncomfortable train seat. It's been two hours since we departed from the station. The hot summer air fills the compartment, as the buzzing sound of the speakers echoes.

'Mamonaku, shin'ōsaka ni tōchaku itashimasu. Doa wa hidarigawa ga hirakimasu. O ori no sai wa, o wasuremono no nai yō go chūi kudasai. Go jōsha arigatōgozaimashita.'

I started to gather my belongings in my backpack. It has been a year since I lived in Japan. My family history could be one of the main protagonists of a novel: after finding out that all the money I saved for my studies had been stolen by my gambling brother, I applied for several scholarships to study in Japan. This country had always fascinated me, and the farther I was from my family, the better I was. Fortunately, my cousin had a very good friend living in Tokyo. Rei and I quickly became friends, and we lived together in a small studio.

She is the kindest person I've ever met. She cooks for me when I come back late at night from my night lessons, she drags me every weekend somewhere new: a café, a museum, a park... I've never seen her angry or even sad until today.

"I wrote it."

The straps of my backpack glide out of my hand. My bag falls loudly on the floor. My laptop is inside it, and I should probably be worried about it being broken.

"Wh-what?"

'Please tell me this is a joke.'

Rei looks down, twitching her hands, "I wrote that book."

It feels like a slap. I feel my cheeks burning up. At that moment, I wished for nothing but to throw myself under the train.

"It-it wasn't bad, it just needs some edits! But it can probably become a huge hit!"

My roommate smiles bitterly and mumbles some words that I can't translate.

I stopped talking; I'm just digging up my own grave. I really am an awful friend. How could I not notice that Rei was writing her own book? I knew that she was a big fan of light novels and manga, but I never imagined her wanting to write her own.

I wonder what kind of face I make because she gently forgave my lack of observation, "It is alright, first year at law school is very hard. You have so much work to do, with your studies, your night class, and your job, plus your family situation is delicate. All of this is more important than my hobby."

It is true, I am drowning under the assignments and the lessons, but I never find it bothersome. It has always been my dream to be a lawyer.

'So that I can bring that little rat to court!'

The stupid face of my brother, followed by the faces of my useless parents, pops in front of me.

For a moment, I thought that my future had crumbled when I found out that my parents had taken my savings to pay off the debts of my brother. I took the best decision I could: break off contact after spraying neon green paint on their house. Ungrateful child or not, I do not regret my decision in the slightest.

"I didn't know you liked to write."

"I was finding at first to pass the time. I have an hour of transport every day," she mumbles. "But as I was writing, I fell in love with the world and the characters, so I was thinking about publishing it."

"You could still try, "I suggest grabbing the book. I try to make an encouraging smile, but it feels wrong. "After a bit of revision."

She finally smiles. At that moment, everything goes down. A loud screeching noise rips my eardrum. I am projected to the side. The violence of the impact makes me fall, as an unbearable pain hits my neck and everything becomes black.

°°°

"Welcome to the desk of the After World. How can I help you?"