Chapter Text
Chapter 1
A new beginning
Kurusu Akira had a lot of regrets in his life one of them being Akechi’s death. Oh, how hard it was to choose between his friend and the world. Every part of him wanted to be next to his rival once again but…. He knew it would mean betraying their already fragile bond. Maruki’s offer was tempting not just to him. He wasn’t blind, he saw how his friends looked at the perfect world around them. He saw how Futaba was smiling with her mom; he saw the joy on Yusuke’s face as his mentor and father figure gave him tips on his art. He saw it all.
He wished he didn’t……
The guilt from his rival’s death forever haunted him. Maybe his time in Maruki’s reality messed him up. But whenever he closes his eyes, he swears he can hear his voice. Sometimes he feels a phantom touch on his hand. Sometimes he remembers the beautiful laugh Akechi would make as they pretend, he didn’t try to kill him once before. Pretending the other party wasn’t dead was easier with a deadline above their heads.
Akira Kurusu didn’t only die surrounded by loved ones but also surrounded by regrets.
When his eyes finally closed another pair opened.
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When he opened his eyes once again, he expected to be greeted by his former rival not the signature white of a hospital room. Machines sounded all around him. Doctors and nurses walking by him as a nurse cleaned and wrapped him up. The nurse gave him to a woman in a bed as her hands reached out. “Shh your mama’s here.” He heard the woman say as she cradled his body.
What did she mean? He raised his hand and instead of meeting the wrinkled skin of an old man he was instead greeted by the small and soft hands of a newborn baby. Ah… it suddenly hit him. Was he reincarnated? Why him? Why not his friends? Someone who still didn’t know who he was? What he is? Ah… what a cruel world.
His name is now Amamiya Ren his appearance didn’t change one bit from his time as Kurusu Akira. He is born to parents who love him. Is what he would like to say, but his parents are neglectful. They were caring and kind for the first five years of his life but suddenly stopped at his fifth birthday. Just like how Kurusu Akira’s parents practically abandoned him when he was on probation. In both times he didn’t do anything wrong. So why? It reminded him on just how similar his parents are be it in the present or the past.
As a child he never did make much noise. Still trying to process his rebirth. His parents were never worried about that. Maybe that was the first sign of how little care his parents have for him.
His first birthday went by and his parents showed no sign that they even knew it happened. His parents yelled and screamed at each other like normal. completely forgetting his existence.
It took him until his third birthday to finally realize he didn’t mean anything to his parents. Has he always been this ignorant? He recalled the pancake incident and nodded to himself. No… not ignorant but delusional.
At five he made a friend the first one after his birth.
His next-door neighbour Kim Dokja is a shy and recluse person. Who read stories every waking hour. A man ten years his senior and his very first friend. They had bonded over stories of legends of myths of heroes, really anything they could get their hands on. To him Kim Dokja was a way to spread his personas stories once more. And for Kim Dokja he was a person he could talk to about his favourite stories. Someone who held no prejudice towards him who was willing to listen to talk to him.
They met because of pure coincidence. At the time Ren was walking back home to his apartment after running an errand. When he went to unlock his door, he saw a boy taller and older than him sitting in front of the door beside his playing on his phone. He frowned it was already near dinner time and he was worried the man would get sick if he didn’t eat, especially because his body looked like it was made of bones already.
As he was looking at the man, he presumed to be his neighbour their eyes locked on each other. It didn’t look like the man wanted to speak first so he decided to speak first. “Excuse me o- umm hyung why are you sitting on the floor?” that was bad he almost called him oni-san he should be more careful with his words from now. He wasn’t supposed to understand Japanese yet.
The man blinked at him before answering. “My key broke. I’m waiting for the landlord to unlock it.” Oh, that’s it? Maybe…. “Excuse me hyung but can I try something?” the man nodded before moving out of the way. “Be my guest.” he said going back to his phone. Grabbing a bobby pin from his mom’s vanity he quickly inserted it into the key hole. He twisted it and pushed it before finally hearing the click that he knew meant it was open. “I’m done hyung!” he exclaimed turning around to the shocked man. “Thank you….” Oh, he didn’t introduce himself yet, did he? “My name Is Amamiya Ren! But you can call me Ren!” the man nodded. “My name is Kim Dokja.”
That was the start of their friendship whenever he was lonely, he would come to Kim Dokja and whenever Kim Dokja needed food he would cook for him. The skills that he learned from Sojiro can’t be wasted after all.
Their friendship lasted for years even when his hyung had to go because of his mandatory service they stayed friends.
Dokja hyung had officially adopted him after his parent’s death at eleven.
He didn’t feel anything at their funerals. Their existence was akin to that of a stranger. All he recalls from their funeral was the warm hand of his hyung as he tries to comfort him.
Despite being twenty-one himself his hyung worked tirelessly so they could have food on their table. Even when he asked him to allow a part time job his hyung still declined. “A child should stay as a child for as long as possible.” He said ruffling his hair.
Honestly that was one of the main reasons he loved his hyung so much. Despite being twenty-one hyung was already a better parent than his actual birth parents be it as Kurusu Akira or now.
So, he tries to be helpful to him whenever he thinks his hyung is too tired. Cooking was already a routine but he would read out the new chapter from hyung’s novel as his eyes drooped down. He would tidy his room when he comes back. He’d clean every nook inside the apartment until it was shining.
And finally, after years of reading and hours of info bombing hyung’s novel will finally come to an end. His hyung hadn’t been able to stop texting him about the end of Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World or TWSA for short. Honestly, he’s also excited for his hyung after all he had waited nearly a decade to see the end.
The story by his standards weren’t all that interesting honestly and sometimes the main character was so stupid kindergarteners would be baffled. Of course, he never said it out loud in front of his hyung.
He’s trying to be as nice as possible before his parting. After all he was finally seventeen! On one hand he was allowed to finally take in part time jobs by hyung but on the other hand he was going to be separated from hyung in just a year’s time.
He sighed remembering that fact. He looked at his watch 6:59 PM it read. Hyung should be on his way home by now.
He paid for his vegetables and made his way towards his bicycle. Before he could take away his bags however a sudden explosion occurred shaking everything in its vicinity. The bustling mall suddenly echoed with screams as debris fell and explosions accrued. “Wha?” he said the same time a sudden sound announced the end of the free planetary service. Suddenly a fluffy looking creature appeared he was suddenly reminded of those Dokkaebis from hyung’s stories. But there was no way, right?
Murmurs erupted from all around him. “Wha – what is that.” They would say some would scream claiming it was a terrorist attack. And then a sudden sound disrupted everyone’s thoughts. “Testing!!!” the Dokkaebi yelled its voice echoing around the mall. Ren covered his ears just hearing the creatures voice hurts his ears. “Now can everybody listen to me please?” the thing asked.
“What is that thing?”
“Is it a mascot?”
“It talks funny.”
Suddenly the thing lost its patience. “Oi I said listen to me.” His eyes widened as blood splattered near him. Huh? Bodies fell and blood covered every inch of the once bustling mall. The red painted the walls the floors and anything in its reach. Another noise echoed. “Channel #BI-8943 has opened.” He tried remembering every information his hyung has told him. “The constellations are now making an entrance.” Right, he needs to stay calm.
Channels are self-explanatory and the one who watches them are constellations i.e. gods. No big deal he has met lots of gods in his past life even if they were only humanity’s version of them. But…. Looking at the gory scenery in front of him makes him want to puke. He can feel his stomach churn at the sight.
Suddenly blue game like screens appeared simultaneously in front of everyone’s faces. It held one order. Kill a living being or die. Panic filled as people raged and screamed begging for a way out. People were praying fear in their minds. “Gah!” a scream called to his attention. Ugh people have started turning on each other. “I just need to kill someone right?” a person said before punching someone in the head. Chaos started to unfold as more blood began to pour.
I just need to kill someone? He thought looking at his hand. No, snap out of it, Ren. He shook his head violence only leads to more violence. Breath in breath out. Now think what did hyung say about the first scenario? His eyes led him to a fish swimming about in the sea goods section. Right a living being doesn’t mean humans.
He raced to the aquarium throwing his hand and crushing the fish to death. A voice rang in his head. He completed the first mission. He let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. He should hide. Well easy he was part of the Phantom Thieves he could do this. Now somewhere relatively outside of the field of vision. Got it he thought but before he could run someone suddenly grabbed his shoulder.
“Ugh.” He rubbed his shoulders as he was pushed back. “Huh?” six people looked at him all of them visibly older. “I’m so sorry about this kid.” One said and he was suddenly all to aware of the items they were holding. No, he can’t die here. He still needs to meet with his hyung. So, he ran in and out jumped up stands anything so they won’t get to him. He did this until he knew he was safe as he hid in his spot. He waited it out looking at the time as he tried to even out his breathing and then…... “Your time has run out. Proceeding with checkout.”
Screams and blood once again greeted the mall. People’s heads were blown out blood gushing out. Bodies fell with a small sound that was drowned out by peoples screams.
[Main scenario #1 prove your value has ended.]
[Number of survivors in mall ### floor LG supermarket east wing : 12]
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.
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“Oh wow!!! There are so many survivors here!!” the Dokkaebi said smiling unaffected by the gore.
[Due to killing a non- resistant organism your reward will be halved.]
[You have obtained 300 coins as a basic clear reward.]
[100 coins will be deducted for the channel usage fee.]
How many stars…. 15 if he remembers correctly that means there are 15 constellations currently watching. That explains why its smiling.
[Some constellations are impressed by your athletic skills and quick thinking.]
[The constellations have gifted you 300 coins.]
“Now as a reward you’ll be able to choose your sponsor!!” it yelled before continuing. “Huh why isn’t anybody excited?” that’s because you haven’t explained what a constellation is…
“Hmm no matter!!” The Dokkaebi snapped its fingers and another screen appeared in front of him.
- Select a constellation
- The selected constellation will be your reliable sponsor
1. Pillager of Twilight
That name…...Arsene? with a steady breath he pressed the name.
He gasped feeling the familiar company of his personas after not being with them for decades was weird. But it was relieving his face morphed into a smile as his personas greeted him.
“Big brother! We meet again.” Alice said in his mindscape.
“Trickster.” Arsene greeted.
It went on and on with each voice from his persona his heart felt lighter. It was as if an invisible burden was lifted from his shoulders.
He felt a change of weight in his hand and raised it. In his hand was the compendium Lavenza would always hold. Carefully he opened the book as he leafed through the pages, he can’t help but cry as the information of his personas filled his field of vision.
He wiped the tears from his face. He can’t believe this is real. Once he closed the book its size shrank to the size of an eraser.
That’s……
Putting his head in his hands he sighed. Even if carrying a whole book in the apocalypse was hard, carrying something so small would be even harder.
Does it size back up if I think about it? Turns out it did. Right, he could work with that.
Then how about if I put it somewhere else? The book once again appeared in his hand before returning to its original size. After that the book shrank once again and teleported to the place, he put it a couple moments before.
Maybe….looking around it seemed everyone was still picking their sponsor. Alright this must be quick. If his memories serve him right then there should be someone promoting earrings here.
Found it. He first took of the charm on the actual earing before hooking in the book. Now the hard part, stabbing his ear with this. Picking a good spot he slowly inserted a pin needle. Small drops of blood poured from his ear. He then took out the needle and inserted the earing in its place.
There he thought that should do it. If his theory is correct then if he summons it, it should appear in his hand. And appear it did once he stopped it returned to its spot on his ear.
“Okay! It looks like everyone is done! Now let’s have a small break before the next scenario!”
Everyone visibly relaxed at that. He too let out a breath. Collapsing to the floor he started talking to his personas once more. It seemed like everyone was teleported inside the compendium after the initial introduction. The system looked to be like the one he had back in his time as Joker but he didn’t need to pay with money this time. Something he is thankful for.
He picked his strongest personas plus some to do reckon and healing and let his eyes droop down for a bit as the sound of the persona’s chatter filled his ears.