Uneasy Epigraph

As consciousness slowly returned, I found myself lying on the cold pavement of an Akiba street.

The bustling sounds of the city surrounded me, but there was something unnerving about the empty street and the absence of any passersby.

Groaning, I pushed myself up, my head pounding with each movement.

Glancing around, I realized I was alone.

Where was everyone? And what had happened to the idol who had been cradling me just moments ago?

My hand instinctively went to my side, expecting to feel the wound from the blade, but to my astonishment, there was nothing there. No blood, no injury—just smooth skin.

Confusion and fear gnawed at me as I struggled to make sense of the surreal events. Had it all been a dream? Or was I caught in the midst of something far more sinister?

Shakily, I rose to my feet, the neon lights of Gal-game advertisements and images scantily clad women flickering above me like silent sentinels.

With each step, I felt a growing sense of unease, as if unseen eyes were watching my every move...

I stood frozen in place, my mind swirling with confusion and paranoia.

Why was I suddenly the center of attention? Was this some sort of prank or elaborate setup?

I glanced nervously around, half-expecting to see hidden cameras or laughing bystanders, but the empty streets offered no answers—only eerie silence and the distant hum of traffic.

Fearing the worst, I hurriedly retreated to the safety of a nearby alleyway, my heart racing with each furtive step.

 Leaning against the cold brick wall, I tried to steady my ragged breathing and calm the chaotic thoughts swirling in my mind.

Komugitan... Where was she? And why did she utter those chilling words?

With a sinking feeling in my chest, I realized that I was in way over my head.

I was just a shitty-otaku—a nobody lost in a world far beyond my comprehension.

Desperation gnawed at my insides as I longed for the familiar comforts of my mundane existence.

All I wanted was to return to the blissful ignorance of my idol-filled days, where the only mysteries were the latest fan theories and oshi debates.

But deep down, I knew that things would never be the same again. Something had irrevocably changed, and I was powerless to stop it.

With a heavy heart, I sank to the ground, my back pressed against the cold pavement. Tears welled in my eyes as I whispered a silent prayer for things to return to normal.

But in the depths of my despair, I knew that the nightmare had only just begun.

And as the shadows closed in around me, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched...


...by forces far beyond my comprehension.