001. An Unusual Birthday.

"Fujimura Kun! where the hell are you going this time?"

"For a walk, I need to clear my head."

"What's there to clear when there's nothing there?" He mocked. "Just make sure you're back in time for supper, or you'll have yourself to blame."

"Yes, Yamaguchi Sama."

Fujimura Minato was an orphan, he didn't know how his parents died, or if they were even still alive. He grew up in the community home for children but he was framed for committing an offense he didn't, he got kicked out. Ever since, he had been struggling to make a life for himself.

"Fujimura Kun, are you leaving the mansion?"

"Yes, Fumiko San."

"Just a minute." The older woman walked back into her little room, returning a few seconds later with a single cupcake. "Happy birthday. I know it isn't much, but it's all I have."

"Thank you very much." Minato accepted the treat with an eager smile. "It means a lot to me."

"Aw, that's good to hear. Well I'm headed off to rest, an old woman like me needs to sleep a lot."

"Rest well, Fumiko San." She nodded and walked back inside.

Almost a year after he left the orphanage, he met Fumiko, an elderly woman who served as a nanny in the Yamaguchi family. She took him in and managed to get him a job as an errand boy.

It wasn't exactly a dignified job but it did put food on the table and he had a place to sleep at night. As much as Minato would like to say he was satisfied, he wasn't.

He wanted so much more.

The son of the Yamaguchi family, Kaito San, was only two years older and yet his life was so much better. He had everything he could ever want and more, something that Minato could only experience in his dreams.

For four years, Minato had been serving others, he was nothing more than a tool for others to use as they pleased, and he was tired of that life.

Everyday he thought about quitting his job at the Yamaguchi home, but where else would he go?

It took all his earnings plus a lot of help from Fumiko San just to keep up with his school fees, so renting a place was out of the option.

Then if he tried to look for better jobs, he lacked the qualifications to land anything good. His only option was to study with all his heart, graduate with the highest grade, and get a job at a respectable company. That way, he would receive the turn around his life desperately needed.

On nights when he felt like he needed to think, Minato would head into the nearby woods. The darkness provided by the trees and the sounds of the crickets and owls always gave him a sense of tranquility.

That particular night, he had ventured to the same place he always went to. Starting his stroll by the giant oak tree, down to the pond, then following the spring back to the town. It was free of any wild animals and people too.

As he walked along the woods, Minato felt a presence lurking in the shadows. At first he thought he might have been imagining it, but after a few minutes passed, he realized it wasn't just in his head.

He picked up the pace, and that was probably the worst mistake he could have made. A huge wolf jumped out of the shadows, its fangs beared at Minato, ready to tear him into pieces.

His quick reflexes kicked into action, tossing the cupcake in his hand at the beast while he made a run for it. Unfortunately for Minato, running had never been his stronghold but he dashed forward anyway. If he stopped for any reason, that would be the end of it.

Still running at his top speed–which wasn't that much – Minato noticed another wolf approaching from the front. It lunged at him, ready to attack but Minato was faster. He rolled underneath, causing both wolves to crash into each other.

Minato didn't stop running, even when he couldn't hear the sound of the animals after him. He thought that if he kept going, he'd eventually break out of the woods. Only problem was, he was completely lost.

While running for his life, he had taken a wrong turn, leading him deeper and deeper into the dark woods.

He finally stopped next to an old well, panting hard from his sprint. He crouched next to the concrete well, still trying to steady his breathing. The last time he had ran at his full speed was two years ago when Kaito San said he would have to sleep outside if he lost in a race between them. Of course, Kaito San, being a skillful runner won the race quite easily and Minato had to spend the night on the cold floor under the dark night sky.

After resting for a few minutes, Minato was back on his feet. He didn't want to be late or else he might have to spend the night outside again, or worse.

The surrounding had gotten evern darker and Minato couldn't see the puddle right in front of him until it was too late. His quick reflexes wasn't enough to save him that time though, as he stumbled backwards, falling into the small well behind him.

Overcome by panic and fear, Minato didn't know how to react to his predicament. His body fell freely down the well that seemed deeper than what he had expected. Waving his arms around, Minato tried to find anything to hold on to but there was none.

Was he going to die just like that?

After living such a pathetic life, without even being able to brag about one achievement?

That wasn't the end he wanted for himself.

If he was lucky enough to survive the impact from the fall, there was no way he could climb back up such depths without any form of support.

He couldn't call anyone for help because he didn't own a smartphone.

Maybe if people realized he was missing, they'd look for him, he thought. They were two hitches in his wish though;

One, he didn't have any friends or family that would worry about him enough to look for him. The only person that was on his side was Fumiko San, but the wonan was over sixty years old, and there was hardly anything she could do on her own.

Second, even if someone decided to look for him, no one knew where he was. Even he had no idea where he was, all he was sure of was that he was far from the town.

As much as it pained him to do so, Minato reluctantly accepted his fate and awaited his death.

In a split second, a bright light appeared in front of him, sucking him in with a force that made him feel disoriented.

"What the hell was that?"

"Welcome, our newest hero."