Chapter 0 - Aria

The last thing I thought about before leaving work was quitting.

Not immediately, obviously. I still had to get through the rest of my shift first, but the thought had been sitting in the back of my mind for a while now.

I mean, what was really stopping me?

My parents already paid for my apartment, my bills, and most of the other boring adult expenses. If I quit, I'd have way more free time to do whatever I wanted.

I could sleep whenever I wanted.

Play games whenever I wanted.

Stream whenever I wanted.

Actually, that last one might be a really good idea.

My friends had been telling me for months that I should take streaming more seriously. According to them, I had everything I needed: a decent PC, a good camera, enough personality to keep people entertained, and a pretty face that apparently helped get people to click on my streams.

I wasn't sure about the last part, but I wasn't going to complain.

The problem was that streaming didn't exactly pay enough to live off right now. I had a few regular viewers, and every once in a while someone would donate, but unless I suddenly became famous overnight, quitting my job probably meant saying goodbye to most of the things I liked spending money on.

And I liked spending money. A lot.

Takeout, for one. Gacha games were another problem. For my bank account, not me. I loved having my characters maxed out with their signature weapons. Then there were my manhwa subscriptions, K-pop albums, random merch I'd convinced myself I absolutely needed...

Yeah, maybe quitting wasn't such a great idea.

I stepped outside the coffee shop and stretched my arms above my head. My shift hadn't even been that long, but standing around serving coffee for hours had somehow managed to exhaust me.

I reached into my pocket for a cigarette, only to feel the empty pack between my fingers.

Right. I'd smoked the last one during my break.

I needed those too.

I sighed and started walking toward the convenience store. My fridge was probably empty anyway, so I might as well grab something to eat while I was there.

Actually, empty might have been an exaggeration. There was probably a bottle of water somewhere. Maybe some leftovers... from several weeks ago.

I should throw those out when I got back.

Anyway, nothing worth eating.

I really needed to start buying groceries. I'd been telling myself that for months. But cooking was such a hassle...

Maybe tomorrow.

Tonight, I could just get something quick.

I pulled out my phone while walking and opened my gacha game. There was a new banner, and I really needed that character.

I'd promised myself I wasn't spending any more money this month, but I was getting paid tomorrow, so it should be fine.

That was just basic economics.

I barely noticed where I was going as I kept walking, my attention fixed on the glowing screen in my hand.

Oh, there's gold!

Did I actually hit early pity?

My heart started racing. I loved that feeling.

Maybe I'd even get a double. That would make this the best day ever.

Then I heard a horn.

A very loud horn at that.

I looked up.

A truck was coming straight toward me.

My brain took a second to process what I was seeing.

Then another thought followed.

Oh, come on.

After all the isekai stories I'd read, this was really how I was going to die?

I stared at the truck getting closer.

I'm getting Truck-kun'd?

My eyes went back to my screen.

I lost the 50/50.