The accident that changed my life.

“Kazu, can you help me with this?”

“I’m coming.”

I approached the man who called me. He was wearing a huge dog costume, which made him easy to spot. When I got closer, I saw a box full of tickets on the ground. He was trying to pick them up, but couldn't.

“Again?”

“I can’t grab anything with these fingers!”

“I know, I’ve used that costume before.”

“Can you please attach the box to me?”

“I can, but I’m not fast.”

“Don’t worry, today is a quiet day.”

After confirmation, I grabbed a needle and a piece of fabric to attach the box to the costume without ruining the characters' aesthetics.

This might take a while, so it's a good time to introduce myself. I'm Kazu Yuki, an assistant in "Infinity Wonderland", an amusement park known for its numerous rides. I started working here two years ago, and during this time I've made sure to be a useful employee.

“And…ready.”

“It’s perfect!”

“That is nothing. Sometimes I have to fix the suits that Yuto uses.”

“You are the best! Wanna eat something during our breaks?”

“I can’t, I promised I would do the show in the entrance during that hour.”

“Working during a break? Please, rest a little.”

“For me being able to be in every single attraction it’s better than any break.”

“If you say so…”

After talking for a while, he went to another area, leaving me alone. I used my time before going to the entrance to clean some tables used by the clients to eat or eat.

I was fine with that…But maybe it would be better to clean a bigger place…

“...I wonder if they need help on the scenario…”

“Kazu! Can you help with this?!”

“...I’m coming!”

Trying to forget what I was thinking, I headed over to the spinning teacups and spent most of my time trying to remove something that had jammed the mechanism.

I would never say this out loud, but sometimes I feel just a little disappointed due to my work. Being useful is something I like, but when I think about the attractions I always saw…something doesn’t feel good.

The timing doesn't matter; I'm always needed for something. Even when I have the opportunity to be in places I love, like the scenario, the places where my bosses want me are almost never the ones that made me want to be here in the first place.

It's like I only move where a giant hand wants me to move.

“There it is.”

“A plushie?”

“Probably a child lost it. I’ll put it on lost and found.”

At first, I felt flattered to be so in demand, but at some point, I felt unable to go anywhere without prior orders. The most fun I had at this place that entertained everyone was cleaning the stages and repairing the damaged props, which ended up like that during what people described as "the best shows."

“...It’s almost time.”

I went to the entrance and put on a hat while I mentally prepared myself to be someone really happy and ready to put on a show.

“Uff…WELCOME TO INFINITY WONDERLAND, THE PLACE WHERE THE FUN NEVER ENDS!”

Sometimes I had the opportunity to fill in some blanks, but that only helped me remember how far I was from what I really wanted.

“...Delicious water…”

During the end of the day I hydrated myself while writing down in a notebook every single attraction I lost the opportunity to see and the times I actually was able to look at it or enjoy it.

I know this isn't professional and might put me in a bad mood, but it was a way to remind myself of what I really want. If I don't do this, I feel like my job will completely absorb me.

“I still can’t believe I had the opportunity to clean the scenario during a show two times. Some day I will get a third one.”

I smiled at that thought, but I knew I was just very lucky in those two moments. Having those desires was a very childish thing that could affect my work, so I saved them for closing. It's best to separate my own desires from my work.

“Kazu!”

“Huh?”

I looked to my right and noticed one of my bosses calling me very loudly, so I went to see what was happening.

“Is something wrong?”

“No, we just need help with something.”

“Right now?”

“Yeah, we’re gonna pay you for the extra hours, so please stay here a little longer.”

“...Yeah, I can do that.”

“Thanks, please go to the drop tower.”

I shook my head, trying to forget what I'd been thinking a few minutes ago, and headed to the drop tower. I thought my boss would be the only one there, but surprisingly, a silver-faced man in a futuristic suit was also there, watching the attraction.

“I can’t see the problem.”

“Yuto?”

“Hmm? Oh, Kazu! Thanks again for the silver paint!”

“Yeah yeah, just remember to use what I gave you to clean your face.”

“Haha, I will, this smells really bad."

Yuto was the most important actor from Infinity Wonderland. Most of the shows used him as the center, so he was the second face of Infinity Wonderland just being surpassed by the mascot. That only made me wonder even more why he was there, maybe he needed some sun after today's show.

“I thought you would be resting. I heard you did some hard robotic moves.”

“I did, but I wanna see the test, maybe this gives me an interesting idea for a show.”

“Test?...Oh, right.”

Just then I remembered that the drop tower had some problems so it was having some maintenance. My boss probably wanted me to see if it was safe to open. After all, my knowledge of machines was pretty good. I studied hard just to help in these kinds of situations.

“Kazu! Please help me with this mannequin.”

“Okay.”

With my boss' help a mannequin was put on a seat, ready to be the test subject. It was perfectly tied like a normal visitant would be, so any injury would be 100% accurate.

“The seats are okay, and the mechanism is in a perfect state.”

“Great, please both move to a safe zone.”

“Okay.”

Yuto and I moved to two separate safe zones and when everything was ready, the boss started the attraction.

“Nothing is wrong…the seats are shaking, we need to do something with that.”

“I can’t see anything, your eyes must be really good.”

“...Thanks. But as the star your eyes are probably better.”

“Haha. Unfortunately I have to wear contact lenses. I’m worse than a mole.”

I found it hard to believe that he actually had any flaws. For me, Yuto was probably the employee I admired the most. You could even say he was the reason I started working here, but I don't think I need to elaborate.

“It’s going well…”

“After this, wanna go to eat something? I owe you that.”

“...That would be great…”

Him inviting me was something I couldn't refuse and, at the same time, something that made me a little happy.

If things hadn't gone the way they did, maybe we would have enjoyed that meal together.

“Everything seems right, I’m gonna explain the situation.”

“Great.”

The problems seemed to be only that shaking, but suddenly, a weird sound filled the place.

“What was that?”

“I don’t know.”

Yuto looked back wondering if it was a car, and that made him unable to see the attraction suddenly breaking behind him.

“The seats!”

Yuto looked above, but it was too late for him. He didn't have time to react...But I did.

“LOOK OUT!”

I don't know how, but I quickly approached Yuto and just as the seats were about to crush him, I managed to push him, putting him in a safe place.

“...I did it…”

After saying that, everything went black. I admit I didn't expect things to end this way. I expected to die in a better place, and perhaps with more people. It's a shame my body probably won't be in good enough condition for a funeral.

But above all, I was happy. After all, the most important person wasn't the one who ended up like this.

“(At least, the star is safe).”

That way, my life…or at least the first one, went out.