A man Drowned in Hatred

"Damn it, even this world's dogs are after me... What did I do in my life to deserve such an end?"

Even this alley, which kept him away from the terror reigning in this world, had ended up betraying him by taking away the only place where he could escape.

It forced him anew to confront death's inevitable fate, under conditions he wouldn't have wished even on the butcher.

Butcher: "You traitor! I would've killed you with my own hands, but my dogs deserve this."

Shinji: "I know nothing I say will change my fate. Let's get this over with once and for all."

Butcher: "Seems you're not so stupid after all... Go on, have at this bastard! Make him suffer till his last breath!"

Shinji knew struggling would only prolong his suffering.

"Mom... Dad..."

These words came back to him again at death's door. He no longer knew if he could allow himself to hope to see them again.

"Could I find them in the afterlife?"

He knew he was just making excuses for his cowardice. After all, he'd already died before and it had only led him to this world worse than hell.

Meanwhile, The dogs were advancing toward Shinji with unexpected caution.

Butcher: "I don't have time for this... Attack him!"

One dog, likely the pack leader, rushed at Shinji who, in fear, slipped and fell. He saw death with his own eyes when a stranger came to his aid, leaping down from the rooftop and placing himself between Shinji and the dog.

This time, the dogs didn't hesitate to attack the stranger, who managed to defend himself against the entire pack alone.

The stranger: "Go, this is the perfect opportunity!"

At that moment, another stranger attacked the butcher from behind and took him down with unsettling ease.

The two strangers appeared to be twins who would've been indistinguishable if not for their hair colors and mannerisms differentiating them.

The one who'd saved Shinji had red hair and seemed like someone who could be described as a brute.

The one who'd defeated the butcher had very light blue hair. He was much more cautious and seemed the cleverer of the two.

Together, they easily defeated the dogs and saved Shinji from impending death.

"Can I really have hope in this world?"

Shinji had just been saved. He never thought he'd find people in this world kind enough to save him from the painful death awaiting him.

"Did the divinity send these strangers to save me?"

The act of humanity he'd just witnessed didn't change his perception of this world.

Though he told himself this was hypocritical, he couldn't allow himself to return to that slim possibility that he was just hallucinating and this was a test he needed to pass to finally reunite with his parents.

Shinji: "I don't know how to thank you... I owe you my life!"

???: "You really were about to die moments ago... But you're worth the trouble, aren't you?"

Shinji: "What do you mean by that?"

???: "Stop playing innocent, we saw how those dogs feared you. Now explain yourself before I take your silence as provocation!"

Shinji: "I'm sorry, but I can't explain... I..."

Before he could finish speaking, the stranger who'd saved him violently grabbed him by the collar.

???: "I save your life and you decide to hide your secret from me? If you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish!"

Shinji: "No, please listen! I don't know why they feared me, I swear!"

At that moment, the stranger who'd taken down the butcher spoke up.

???: "That's enough, Ryouma, let him go. He doesn't seem to be lying. Without us, he would've been dog food."

Ryouma: "You're so easily fooled, Hayato... This isn't how you'll earn the right to lead the Zephyr family."

"I wasn't wrong then... This world is nothing but misery."

He understood they'd only saved him for their own interests. His hopes had collapsed once again.

He began wondering if life in this world was truly worth living.

Hayato: "This isn't the time for that, Ryouma. Let's handle this situation first. Tell me, what's your name, young man?"

Shinji: "I... I'm Shinji."

Hayato: "Shinji, you say? I've never heard that name before... Enough beating around the bush. The fear you inspired in those dogs shows you must be strong, even if you don't know it yet. How about working for the Zephyr family?"

Shinji: "Zephyr?"

Hayato: "I can understand you being unaware of your abilities, but don't pretend you don't know the Zephyr family. Our name strikes terror throughout Stygia."

Shinji: "Stygia?"

Hayato: "You don't even know where you are? I thought as much, given your clothes. Tell me, where are you from?"

Shinji's outfit would've gone unnoticed in Tokyo - a simple white t-shirt with his local baseball team's jacket and gray pants - but here it seemed more exotic than anything.

"Should I tell them the truth? What if they catch me lying? What will they do to me? How do I get out of this situation?"

Hayato: "Well? Are you going to answer?"

Shinji feared the consequences of his words, but ultimately decided to admit he was from Japan. He owed them that much for saving his life.

Shinji: "Yes, sorry. I'm from Japan, Tokyo specifically."

After these words, a silence fell as Ryouma and Hayato exchanged a sly smile.

Ryouma: "Japan, you say? Hey Hayato, you know what this means?"

Hayato: "I've waited so long for this... It's the perfect opportunity, we can finally gain influence. I'll become head of the Zephyrs!"

Ryouma: "We did right saving him after all... Boys, you can come out now. We've finally found one of them."

"One of them?"

Shinji didn't understand what he'd said to warrant this. In barely a day, he'd managed to face death for the second time.

He concluded this world only wanted his suffering and wouldn't be satisfied until he lost his sanity. To him, this world sought only to strip him of his humanity.

At that moment, several people jumped down from the roof, knives in hand.

Hayato: "Be careful, remember we need him alive to get the most out of this."

Ryouma: "Let them have their fun, Hayato. I'll stop them before the fatal blow. This kind of person deserves to suffer."

Hayato: "Fine, as long as he stays alive, do what you want."

After these words, the Zephyr family members unleashed themselves on Shinji with hate-filled eyes. A hatred he couldn't comprehend.

"What's happening? Why is this happening to me? Why me? What did I do to inspire such hatred?"

Ryouma: "And to think we almost hired trash like you into our family."

Hayato: "This can't get out, it would ruin our family's reputation. All our efforts would be for nothing."

They covered him in blood within seconds. The pain and smell of his own blood reminded him of a distant memory he couldn't visualize.

"What will they do to me? No point thinking about it... My very presence here proves I lived as scum before dying."

He was already weakening from blood loss when he heard Hayato whisper something to Ryouma:

Hayato: "Ryouma, look at his eyes. Since... none... dared show themselves in daylight. It's suicide, we're only talking about the Zephyr family now. If we can escort him, we could become..."

Ryouma: "But we're not strong enough to join them."

Hayato: "If we bring them a..., that won't matter."

Hayato couldn't contain his emotions. A drop of sweat betrayed his usually impassive demeanor.

As he was losing consciousness, from the corner of his eye he saw someone approaching fearlessly despite the waiting Zephyrs.

This person's eyes also burned with hatred, but Shinji found comfort in it. He saw himself in this person though he couldn't explain why.

He sensed this person shared his disgust for this world. He tried to read his lips:

????: "Don't worry, Enma hasn't abandoned you. You won't be alone anymore, Shinji."

"Enma?"

Shinji felt his blood run cold. Despite everything he'd endured in this world, he'd never felt what this name made him suffer.

With that, he lost consciousness completely, remaining in total ignorance of what would become of him.